BusinessStartupsTechnology

Amazon Partners with Rivian Spinoff Also for Electric Cargo Quad Fleet Expansion

Amazon is reportedly expanding its electric delivery fleet through a multi-year partnership with Also, a Rivian spinoff. The agreement includes customized pedal-assist cargo quads capable of carrying over 400 pounds, set to launch in 2026 across the U.S. and Europe.

Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Urban Logistics

Amazon has reportedly entered into a multi-year collaboration with micromobility startup Also, a company spun out of electric vehicle maker Rivian, to integrate thousands of pedal-assist cargo quad vehicles into its delivery network. According to reports, the TM-Q electric quads are designed to transport over 400 pounds of packages while navigating bike lanes, addressing last-mile logistics challenges in dense urban areas.

BusinessInnovationStartups

Kelly Services Trims Corporate Staff Amid US Hiring Slowdown

Staffing giant Kelly Services is cutting approximately 2% of its corporate workforce, affecting about 100 employees. The restructuring comes as US employers’ hiring plans reach their lowest level since 2009, according to industry reports.

Staffing Industry Leader Announces Workforce Reductions

Kelly Services, one of the nation’s leading staffing and recruiting firms, is implementing a targeted reduction of its corporate workforce, according to company statements. The Troy, Michigan-based company confirmed it is cutting approximately 2% of its corporate employees, which sources indicate would affect about 100 workers from its 5,000-person corporate team.

BusinessStartupsTechnology

Craft Ventures Leads $42 Million Investment in Government Tech Platform Starbridge

Government technology startup Starbridge has raised $42 million in Series A funding led by David Sacks’ Craft Ventures. The platform helps businesses identify and pursue public sector contracts through AI-powered data aggregation and analysis.

Major Funding for Government Technology Innovation

Starbridge, a startup focused on modernizing how businesses sell to the public sector, has secured $42 million in Series A funding led by David Sacks’ Craft Ventures, according to reports from TechCrunch. The substantial investment round signals growing investor interest in the traditionally challenging government technology sector, sources indicate.

SemiconductorsStartupsTechnology

Qualcomm’s Arduino Buy Targets 33 Million Developers in IoT Market Shift

Qualcomm’s acquisition of Arduino represents a strategic pivot to engage 33 million IoT developers previously inaccessible through its enterprise sales model. The move aims to position Qualcomm’s Dragonwing processors in prototyping phases where future production decisions are made. This approach addresses fundamental market access challenges in fragmented IoT and robotics sectors.

Strategic Shift in IoT Market Access

Qualcomm has reportedly acquired Arduino in a move that analysts suggest represents a fundamental shift in how semiconductor giants approach emerging hardware markets. According to reports, the acquisition provides Qualcomm with immediate access to approximately 33 million IoT developers who traditionally operated outside the company’s enterprise sales framework.