Shopping ExperiencesThursday, August 6, 2026
Collectibles livestream marketplace Whatnot raised a $225M Series F in October 2025, demonstrating that niche, high-engagement livestream verticals can still attract late-stage, billion-dollar-valuation capital.
Venture capital investment is increasing in AI-enabled platforms that digitize tasks for non-desk employees, a trend validated by the recent $11 billion IPO of ServiceTitan.
DoorDash announced a $3.9 billion acquisition of Deliveroo to expand its European footprint.
Restaurant and retail technology deal values increased by 180% in 2024, with 115 food and beverage deals closing in Q1 2025 focused on AI and IoT for supply chain optimization.
YOOBIC introduced Store Manager Copilot, an AI tool that integrates operational data and external signals to generate actionable plans for frontline retail staff.
Modernizing Medicine secured a majority investment from Clearlake Capital in 2025 at a $5.3 billion valuation.
