Latest news with #Xpand
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Xpand raises $6m to support autonomous retail stores growth
Israel-headquartered retail technology startup Xpand has raised $6m in a funding round to expand its AI-powered autonomous retail stores globally. The investment, led by Ibex Investors and Emerge, will support the launch of Xpand's first smart autonomous store in Vienna, Austria, and 'the company's plan to expand access to efficient, frictionless retail infrastructure worldwide'. The new funding will be instrumental for Xpand as it enters the next phase of growth, with a focus on the deployment of its "store-in-a-box" units. The modular stores operate without staff, using robotics, computer vision and real-time inventory management to provide a 24/7 shopping experience. The new capital will expedite the rollout of stores across Europe and North America, as well as expanding the company's sales, marketing and technology teams. The executive team's participation in the funding round included chairman and CEO Joel Bar-El. Bar-El, who co-founded Trax Retail, brings industry expertise to the company, along with other senior team members from SAP, Retalix, Bringg and Magic Leap. 'With this new investment, we are ready to move from vision to global execution,' Bar-El stated. 'The Vienna store is only the beginning. Our leadership team is deeply committed to bringing scaleable, autonomous retail to life.' Xpand was originally founded as 1MRobotics in 2021. It underwent rebranding to better represent its transition from research and development to commercialisation. Bar-El added: 'Our mission is to power the next generation of retail - autonomous, scaleable, and always on. We are excited to partner with global retailers to bring this model to life.' "Xpand raises $6m to support autonomous retail stores growth" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Israeli Startup Xpand Raises $6M to Launch Autonomous Retail Stores Worldwide
TEL AVIV, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 10, 2025-- Xpand, a retail technology startup building autonomous, AI-powered retail stores, today announced it has raised $6 million in a funding round led by IbexInvestors and Emerge. The company's executive team, including Chairman and CEO Joel Bar-El, also participated, signaling strong internal alignment and confidence in the company's strategic direction. The new funding will support Xpand's next phase of growth, beginning with the launch of its first smart autonomous store in Vienna. This milestone marks a major step in the company's plan to expand access to efficient, frictionless retail infrastructure worldwide. 'With this new investment, we are ready to move from vision to global execution,' said Joel Bar-El, CEO of Xpand. 'The Vienna store is only the beginning. Our leadership team is deeply committed to bringing scalable, autonomous retail to life.' Xpand develops modular 'store-in-a-box' units that integrate robotics, computer vision, and real-time inventory management. These unmanned plug-and-play stores are designed to operate 24/7 without staff, giving retailers a fast, flexible way to grow their footprint and provide a seamless, personalized shopping experience. Founded in 2021 under the name 1MRobotics, the company was rebranded as Xpand to reflect its shift from research and development to commercial deployment. The new capital will accelerate store rollouts across Europe and North America and fund the expansion of the company's sales, marketing, and technology teams. Xpand is led by a team of seasoned operators and entrepreneurs with deep roots in retail, logistics, and enterprise technology. Bar-El previously co-founded Trax Retail, a global retail AI unicorn. Other senior team members bring experience from leading companies including SAP, Retalix, Bringg, and Magic Leap. 'Our mission is to power the next generation of retail - autonomous, scalable, and always on,' said Bar-El. 'We are excited to partner with global retailers to bring this model to life.' View source version on CONTACT: Media Contact Yael Costi [email protected] KEYWORD: AUSTRIA EUROPE ISRAEL MIDDLE EAST INDUSTRY KEYWORD: START-UP DATA MANAGEMENT OTHER RETAIL TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUPERMARKET ROBOTICS CONVENIENCE STORE RETAIL SOFTWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOURCE: Xpand Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 08/10/2025 02:29 AM/DISC: 08/10/2025 02:30 AM
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
No more bending over to tie your shoelaces with this gadget — and it's down to $10
We love the convenience of slip-on sneakers — pulling them on means not being stuck bent over to tie your shoes. But, if we're being honest, nothing beats the classic style of lace-ups. Luckily, we found a gadget that will turn all your favorite sneakers into slip-on shoes, making them super easy to pull on and take off: the Xpand No Tie Shoelaces System. Once you put these laces on you'll never have to worry about tying your shoes again and right now, you can grab a set on sale for just $10. You can't really put a price on something that eases pain as well as simplify day-to-day tasks. That said, this doodad goes on sale throughout the year, but the price rarely dips lower than $10. Perfect for seniors, people with disabilities, kids or just anyone who doesn't want to deal with loose laces, Xpand No Tie Shoelaces are stretchy and adjustable, so you can customize them for the ideal fit with the right amount of support and comfort. They use the brand's patented Lace Anchor locks to firmly secure them inside your shoes. Once installed, the locks will hold your desired tension in place until you decide to change them. These one-size-fits-all wonders can be used on all manner of footwear, including men's, women's and children's sizes, and everything from running shoes to casual sneakers and even boots. There are 37 color options, from classics like black and white to bold neon options and even reflective laces which keep you visible — and safe — if you like to walk or run at night. Best of all, once they're on, shoppers say they look like regular laces. Over 23,000 Amazon shoppers have given them a five-star rating. 'If you are handicapped like myself and have been struggling with traditional shoelaces, Xpand elastic shoelaces are a game changer,' raved one. 'They are designed to eliminate the need for tying and untying shoelaces, making them ideal for people with limited mobility or dexterity. With Xpand laces, you can easily slip your shoes on and off without any fuss, and they'll always stay secure on your feet.' "Exactly what I needed, exactly what they promised," shared another five-star fan. "I have problems with my left foot swelling. I've tried shoe horns and have had to buy from a limited set of shoes for years to get my shoes on. I prefer Nike walkers. So on a lark, I bought these 'stretchy' shoe laces. They worked perfectly. I can now slide my feet into both shoes without much effort, and without untying the laces. Once on, they fit fine and it's possible to pull my feet out easily." "Never going back to tying laces!" declared another happy shopper. "I mostly wear slip-on boots ... untying and trying shoes is such a pain. This has allowed me to get back into my sneaks by making them essentially slip-ons. I usually don't like slip-on shoes because I like my shoes to fit tight. These laces allow the shoes to fit tight and they look just like normal laces except no excess laces flopping around. I may never use regular laces again. Color options seem to be on the wish list of some shoppers."Best $10 I've ever spent," shared one shopper. "I do wish they had an off-white because it is obvious that this brilliant white did not come with the shoe, but that's minor."Another shopper wrote: "Desperately wish they came in many more colors, even patterns." If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chamber development program targets young professionals
A new professional development series — designed by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce — aims to teach young workers ways to determine their specific strengths, acquire valuable workforce skills and act appropriately during formal business meetings. Emily Pettinato, workforce development specialist for the chamber, stressed the organization recognizes the importance of attracting more young professionals — specifically those graduating from college or moving to the area — and providing them with opportunities to advance their careers. Pettinato believes participating in the Xpand Professional Development Series could help up-and-coming workers find their footing in a competitive job market. 'I think it would be a really great confidence boost entering the workplace,' she said. 'I know when you first start somewhere it's scary and intimidating, so just being able to listen to others and learn from them, I think they'll get a sense of community, a sense of confidence and be able to excel in their positions.' Pettinato (Courtesy Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce) The Xpand series will consist of three sessions, but participants may sign up for one, two or all three. The program is open to young professionals under the age of 40 who work in Northeast Pennsylvania. Those interested in attending the session may register at until Feb. 21. For information on the sessions, including pricing, visit the chamber website. Nicole Morristell, executive director of Leadership Lackawanna, the chamber's community leadership and professional development organization, will lead the first session — 'Unlock Your Strengths' — March 6 from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the chamber building, 222 Mulberry St., Scranton. 'We believe learning leadership skills at any time in life is essential to being a quality worker, so offering various workshops like these really fine-tunes the skills needed by today's employees,' Morristell said. 'We're hearing that call from employers, so we tried to think outside the box a little bit.' MORRISTELL (Submitted) Pettinato will facilitate the second session — 'Building Your Career Toolkit' — April 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Scranton Enterprise Center, 201 Lackawanna Ave. The session will cover tips for being more productive during meetings, building a professional network, and honing communication and teamwork skills. Stephanie Decker, associate vice president for advancement at Lackawanna College, who launched a School of Hospitality in 2010 when she first joined the college, will offer guidance for proper behavior in a professional dining setting — from table manners to greeting and cellphone use — during an interactive business etiquette dinner April 16 at 5 p.m. at the AV Restaurant, 320 Penn Ave., Scranton. Throughout a decade of leadership, Decker steadily built up the hospitality program at Lackawanna. 'When we started, we had a vision for building a world-class School of Hospitality locally for students who wanted an affordable education, but also wanted the best that would come from some of the biggest hospitality schools in the world,' she said. 'We assembled a team of professionals who all studied at those schools, and it's become our mission and 'secret sauce' to bring the best of those institutions right to our students' backyard at a price they can afford.' A big step occurred in 2018 with the opening of 409 on Adams — a student-run restaurant — which provides students with the necessary training to succeed in the hospitality business, Decker said. 'It's a really special place because we focus largely on workforce development,' she said. 'When you graduate with one of our four degrees, you've served customers in a live setting.' Morristell feels participating in development programs gives both job seekers and those looking for a promotion an advantage. 'Anytime you attend a workshop or training event, that shows you went above and beyond and it's putting you ahead of your competitors,' she said. 'You're one step ahead, which makes you valuable. It's a talking point during a job interview and something to put on your resume.'
