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Last week, at the Abundance Summit in Los Angeles, billionaire entrepreneur Travis Kalanick gave attendees a rare glimpse into his vision for the future of his newest company, CloudKitchens. While today the eight-year-old L.A.-based outfit is known for a growing real estate portfolio that it uses to it host – and set up – restaurants that use its kitchens to fulfill food deliveries, Kalanick hinted at a full-stack future. In fact, he appears to be aiming to eventually deliver AI-perfected meals directly to customers. Kalanick brought up the topic twice, in different contexts. First, during his informal sit-down with conference…

We’ve been blown away by the overwhelming response to speak at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on June 5 in Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley. After thorough consideration, we’ve selected six standout finalists. The power to choose who will take the stage and share their AI expertise with 1,200 AI leaders and enthusiasts is now in your hands! This Audience Choice voting will last until March 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT. You get one vote, one speaker — make it count! Meet the finalists Get to know the six exceptional Audience Choice finalists and their proposed sessions, and vote for the speaker…

Town has raised $18m in a seed funding round to enhance its tax support services for small businesses.The round was led by First Round Capital, with participation from Conviction, Alt Capital, Defy, Depth, Mischief, and WndrCo. Prominent angel investors, including Adam D’Angelo, Christina Cacioppo, Helen Min, Immad Akhund, Soleio Cuervo, and William Hockey, also contributed.This capital injection will accelerate Town’s efforts to refine its AI-powered tax automation, expand its services, and grow its product, go-to-market, and accounting teams.Small businesses play a crucial role in the economy, driving job creation, fostering innovation, and keeping wealth circulating within local communities. However, the…

Klarna has announced a new partnership with OnePay, a leading consumer finance app, to exclusively power installment loans for purchases at Walmart in the US.The collaboration will enable millions of Walmart’s weekly customers to access flexible payment options both online and in stores. The service is set to be integrated directly into Walmart’s checkout process later this year.OnePay, backed by Walmart and Ribbit Capital, is already embedded in Walmart’s digital and physical channels, providing a broad range of financial services to consumers and Walmart’s 1.6 million U.S. associates. The platform acts as a comprehensive consumer financial services hub, offering banking,…

Virgin Money customers will soon be able to access and manage their credit card and current account balances from multiple banks through the Virgin Money Credit Card App.This enhanced functionality is made possible through a new collaboration between Virgin Money and Mastercard, leveraging the latter’s open banking technology to provide a seamless, consolidated financial overview for users.The partnership reflects Virgin Money’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative digital tools to its more than 6.6 million retail and business customers in the UK. By integrating Mastercard’s advanced open banking capabilities, Virgin Money aims to simplify financial management, allowing users to view all…

Kuady, a digital wallet provider, has partnered with Deriv, a global online trading platform, to enhance payment services for traders in Latin America.The integration aims to provide a seamless and secure experience for deposits and withdrawals. As part of this initiative, users will benefit from a faster and more efficient payment system that enhances their trading experience.Through this collaboration, Deriv users will gain direct access to Kuady’s standalone payment button, allowing them to add funds and withdraw earnings effortlessly. Initially focused on Latin American markets, the integration is expected to expand to Africa in the future. Additionally, an exclusive promotion…

Chetwood Bank, a UK-based digital challenger bank, has introduced a new range of fixed rate savings accounts, offering customers a selection of short-, medium-, and long-term savings options with competitive interest rates.The latest products require a minimum deposit of £1,000, with no upper limit, and benefit from protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).This move follows the bank’s recent expansion of its savings offerings, including the introduction of an Easy Access savings account in October 2024. That product launch coincided with the company’s transition from Chetwood Financial to Chetwood Bank.Ben Mitchell, savings director of Chetwood Bank, said, “These new…

Airwallex has announced a collaboration with Discover Global Network, enabling its merchants to accept Discover and Diners Club International cards.Through this partnership, Airwallex merchants can now process transactions via Discover Global Network, which includes 345 million cardholders across more than 200 countries and territories. The expansion covers key regions such as Australia, Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, helping businesses reduce cart abandonment rates and improve customer satisfaction by supporting preferred payment methods.Airwallex chief revenue officer Kai Wu said, “Our collaboration with Discover Global Network reflects our dedication to broadening payment acceptance for businesses worldwide.“By enabling Discover and…

For someone who wants solar panels, the question is often: “How many?” And for a heat pump, it’s “how big?” Answering those questions typically requires a contractor to set foot on your property.  Yet over the last decade, solar installers have trimmed that time-consuming process considerably. Some, like Tesla, have eliminated it entirely. The secret is software — which, when coupled with a range of data sources, allows installers to model exactly how many panels a house will need.  Like many other solar installers, Palmetto has its own internal tool to assess potential projects, which is built on software it…

OakNorth, a leading digital commercial bank for entrepreneurs, has announced the acquisition of Community Unity Bank (CUB), a Michigan-based, FDIC-insured community bank.The deal, structured as a stock-for-stock transaction, is subject to regulatory approval. This move follows OakNorth’s regulatory authorisation in August 2024 from the Federal Reserve and the New York State Department of Financial Services to establish a Representative Office in New York. The acquisition will enable OakNorth to expand its business lending operations across the United States, particularly in Michigan.Founded in 2015, OakNorth focuses on supporting lower mid-market businesses—those with revenues between $1m and $100m—by offering tailored financial solutions…