Week in Review: Most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of June 22, 2025
Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of June 22, 2025.
Sign up to receive these updates every Sunday in your inbox by subscribing to our GeekWire Weekly email newsletter.
Most popular stories on GeekWire
UW pulls the plug on anchor research building in planned Seattle innovation district
The University of Washington and a prominent developer have abandoned plans for Brightwork, a facility for research and business tenants that was meant to anchor an ambitious 69-acre innovation district abutting the UW's main campus. … Read More
Newlywed Jeff Bezos sells $5.4 billion worth of Amazon stock
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is selling more than $5.4 billion worth of Amazon shares, according to a new regulatory filing made public Friday, part of the billionaire's ongoing effort to diversify his wealth. … Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
4 minutes ago
Canadian Prime Minister Carney says trade talks with US resume after Canada rescinded tech tax
TORONTO -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said late Sunday trade talks with U.S. have resumed after Canada rescinded its plan to tax U.S. technology firms. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he was suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue with its tax on technology firms, which he called 'a direct and blatant attack on our country.' The Canadian government said 'in anticipation' of a trade deal 'Canada would rescind' the Digital Serves Tax. The tax was set to go into effect Monday. Carney and Trump spoke on the phone Sunday, and Carney's office said they agreed to resume negotiations. 'Today's announcement will support a resumption of negotiations toward the July 21, 2025, timeline set out at this month's G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis,' Carney said in a statement. Carney visited Trump in May at the White House, where he was polite but firm. Trump traveled to Canada for the G7 summit in Alberta, where Carney said that Canada and the U.S. had set a 30-day deadline for trade talks. Trump, in a post on his social media network last Friday, said Canada had informed the U.S. that it was sticking to its plan to impose the digital services tax, which applies to Canadian and foreign businesses that engage with online users in Canada. The digital services tax was due to hit companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb with a 3% levy on revenue from Canadian users. It would have applied retroactively, leaving U.S. companies with a $2 billion U.S. bill due at the end of the month. Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, called Carney's retreat a 'clear victory" for Trump. "At some point this move might have become necessary in the context of Canada-US trade negotiations themselves but Prime Minister Carney acted now to appease President Trump and have him agree to simply resume these negotiations, which is a clear victory for both the White House and big tech," Béland said. He said it makes Carney look vulnerable to President Trump's outbursts. 'President Trump forced PM Carney to do exactly what big tech wanted. U.S. tech executive will be very happy with this outcome,' Béland said. Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne also spoke with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday. 'Rescinding the digital services tax will allow the negotiations of a new economic and security relationship with the United States to make vital progress,' Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a statement. Trump's announcement Friday was the latest swerve in the trade war he's launched since taking office for a second term in January. Progress with Canada has been a roller coaster, starting with the U.S. president poking at the nation's northern neighbor and repeatedly suggesting it would be absorbed as a U.S. state. Canada and the U.S. have been discussing easing on goods from America's neighbor. Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum as well as 25% tariffs on autos. He is also charging a 10% tax on imports from most countries, though he could raise rates on July 9, after the 90-day negotiating period he set would expire. Canada and Mexico face separate tariffs of as much as 25% that Trump put into place under the auspices of stopping fentanyl smuggling, though some products are still protected under the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement signed during Trump's first term.
Motor Trend
6 minutes ago
- Motor Trend
2026 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Lineup Gains New "Sport Trims" Mirroring Light Duty Offerings
If you're looking for more interesting pickup trucks, 2025 has been the year for you. Ford recently expanded the sporty Lobo package to the F-150 from the smaller Maverick, GMC's adding an AT4 off-road version of its all-electric Sierra, and now Ram—after bringing the Hemi V-8 back to its 1500 lineup—is expanding both the Warlock and Black Express trims to the 2500 Heavy Duty truck line. Ram refers to these trims as their 'Sport Truck' options, but maybe don't think too hard about how any Heavy Duty truck can be 'sporty.' The 2026 Ram 2500 lineup introduces the Black Express and Warlock sport trims, based on the affordable Tradesman model. Both feature powerful engines and distinct styling, with prices starting at $53,735 and $57,165, respectively. Available for order, deliveries begin in Q3 2025. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next What will be great news to these potential owners is that both of these 2026 Ram 2500 sport trims are based on the affordable Tradesman model and slot below the Rebel HD in the HD hierarchy. Both trims can come with either the 6.4-liter gas-fed Hemi V-8 with 405 hp and 429 lt-ft of torque or the Cummins 6.7-liter turbodiesel with 430 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. Either engine will also come with the Torqueflite HD eight-speed automatic transmission. Both get Crew Cab bodies that will come in Diamond Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal, Silver Zynith, Forged Blue, Flame Red, Ceramic Grey, and Molten Red. They will both also come with power adjustable Convex tow mirrors, 20-inch wheels, cloth bench seats, and cloth carpet as standard. From here, the Black Express and Warlock deviate. The 2026 2500 Black Express is offered in rear- or four-wheel drive with a long or short bed, making it a bit more tailored to a working environment while still being a 'Sport Truck.' The body features a sport performance hood and body-color bumpers and grille surround. Along the rocker panels will be a set of black cab-length side steps while the 20-inch wheels will be finished in black. Inside drivers and passengers will see carpeted floor mats while the driver will have added assurance while parking with the standard front and rear parking sensors. In all, the Black Express will add a very reasonable $2,495 to the cost of the 2026 2500 Tradesman for a starting price of $53,735. The 2026 2500 Warlock is only available with four-wheel drive and the short bed, which wears 'Warlock' decals on its bedsides. The grille surround, flares, and bumpers are all finished in black, while the 20-inch diamond cut wheels are wrapped in 34-inch Goodyear Duratrac A/T tires and the transfer case gets a skid plate. Oddly, the Warlock doesn't get any sort of step bar or rock slider option for its rocker panels, though it is possible such pieces would be available through Mopar later on. It's also mechanically distinguished from both the standard Tradesman and the Black Express thanks to a standard limited slip rear differential, Bilstein dampers tuned for both pavement and off-roading, and hill descent control. Inside, the major difference comes in the form of all-weather floor mats for front and rear bench seat occupants. This also means that the price of the Warlock is higher than the Black Express, boosting the price of a Tradesman by $2,995 to a starting ask of $57,165. If either of these trims tickle your fancy, you can order these 2026 Ram 2500 Tradesman-based Black Express or Warlock right now and it should arrive at your dealer by the third quarter of this year, after being assembled at the Saltillo, Mexico plant.
Forbes
6 minutes ago
- Forbes
4 Easy Ways To Add Value To Your Business
Whether you're preparing for a potential sale or just looking to boost profitability, adding value ... More doesn't have to be overwhelming. Want to add value to your business but don't know where to start? Whether you're preparing for a potential sale or just looking to boost profitability, adding value doesn't have to be overwhelming. With some focused effort, you can make changes that not only increase your bottom line but also make your business more attractive to business buyers down the road. Let's dive into four easy ways to add value to your business that you can implement starting today. 1. Spend Less Without Compromising Quality Cutting costs is one of the simplest ways to increase profit margins, and it can have an immediate impact on your business's valuation. The key is to do it strategically, without sacrificing the quality of your products or services. If you've been working with certain suppliers for years, you may have built up goodwill by consistently paying on time or increasing your order volumes. Use this as leverage to renegotiate better terms. For example: Small changes in supplier agreements can add up to significant savings over time, directly boosting your profit margins. Review your regular expenses and look for inefficiencies. Common areas to evaluate include: Waste can drain resources. Whether it's excessive materials in production or unused inventory, minimizing waste can save money and make your business more efficient. Implement a regular review of inventory and operational processes to spot areas of unnecessary expenditure. By carefully managing costs, you'll see an immediate boost in profitability, and because buyers pay close attention to profit margins, this makes your business more appealing when it's time to sell. 2. Earn More by Working Smarter Increasing revenue is a direct path to adding value, but not all income is created equal. To truly boost your business's worth, focus on strategies that maximize profitability. Many business owners overlook the importance of regular price adjustments. When was the last time you raised your prices? If you haven't done so recently, you're likely leaving money on the table. Consider: Not all sales contribute equally to your bottom line. Analyze your product or service portfolio to identify: Once you have this data, double down on what's working. Shift your marketing, sales, and operational focus toward these profitable areas to maximize earnings. Upselling (encouraging customers to buy a higher-priced option) and cross-selling (offering complementary products) are proven techniques for increasing revenue. Train your team to identify opportunities for these strategies, and make it easy for customers to say yes. Extra Resources: How To Grow Your Business In 2025: 4 Low-Cost Ideas 10 Ways To Grow Your Small Business And Make It Attractive To Buyers By strategically increasing prices and focusing on high-margin offerings, you're not just growing your revenue—you're also demonstrating to potential business buyers that your business has a solid growth strategy in place. 3. Make Your Business Easier to Run Efficiency is a game-changer for any business. When operations run smoothly, costs go down, customers are happier, and your team is more productive. More importantly, an efficient business is a sign of a strong business model, something every buyer is looking for. The first step to improving efficiency is to document how things are done now. Then, work with your team to identify the best way to handle each task and standardize those processes. Examples include: When everyone follows the same procedures, you'll reduce errors and improve consistency across the board. Automation tools can save time and reduce human error. Consider automating tasks like: Happy customers lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth. To streamline their experience: Extra Resource: 5 Ways AI Can Help Grow Your Business And Sell For 10X An efficient, well-documented business doesn't just save you money, it also makes your company more attractive to business buyers. It shows that your business can operate smoothly, even under new ownership. 4. Make Your Business Independent of You If your business relies heavily on you, it's not truly sellable. Buyers want to know that the company can thrive without you at the helm. This means shifting the focus from you to your company brand, and empowering your team to take on leadership roles. If customers associate your business too closely with you, it's time to spotlight your company brand instead. Strategies include: The goal is to show that the business has value beyond your personal involvement. Extra Resource: From Personal To Business Brand: 3-Steps Shift If you're the sole decision-maker, you're creating a risk for potential buyers. Start delegating key responsibilities to trusted team members. This can involve: A formal succession plan ensures that your business can transition smoothly to new ownership. This plan might include: Extra Resource: Why Being A Jack Of All Trades Entrepreneur Is Holding You Back By making your business less dependent on you, you reduce the risk for business buyers, and that means a higher valuation. You're also setting your company up for long-term success, even after you've stepped away. Why Adding Value Matters Adding value to your business isn't just about increasing profits today; it's about building a stronger, more sustainable company for the future. Whether you're planning to sell in a year or a decade, the steps you take now will have a lasting impact on your business's worth. Final Thoughts Adding value to your business doesn't have to be complicated. By focusing on these four areas—spending less, earning more, improving efficiency, and reducing dependence on yourself—you can create a business that's not only more profitable but also more attractive to potential buyers. The best time to add value to your business is now. Whether you're looking to sell in the near future or simply want to build a stronger company, these steps will set you on the path to success. Remember, every improvement you make today will pay off tomorrow—in higher profits, smoother operations, and a business that's ready for whatever the future holds.
