Latest news with #socialcommerce
Globe and Mail
7 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
iPower and Borg Rise U.S. Enter Strategic Partnership to Expand Social Media Commerce
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iPower Inc. (Nasdaq: IPW) ("iPower" or the "Company"), a tech and data-driven eCommerce service provider and online retailer, today announced a strategic partnership with Borg Rise U.S., a dynamic and fast-growing player in digital content and social media commerce. This partnership marks a key milestone in iPower's strategy to expand its omnichannel presence through influencer-driven and content-based sales models across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Borg Rise U.S., with its strong network of content creators, livestreaming infrastructure, and experience in cross-border digital commerce, will collaborate with iPower to build and scale innovative social commerce campaigns. These campaigns will bridge content and conversion, enabling more direct, engaging, and high-converting consumer experiences. "We're excited to team up with Borg Rise U.S. to unlock the potential of social-driven retail," said Lawrence Tan, CEO of iPower. "This collaboration strengthens our ability to connect brands with audiences where they spend their time and attention—on social media—by turning inspiration into seamless purchasing." Under this partnership, iPower and Borg Rise U.S. will work together to: Co-develop influencer campaigns, live selling initiatives, and digital storefronts Expand iPower's SuperSuite service offerings into social commerce enablement Leverage content performance data to enhance targeting and personalization Onboard emerging brands and help them scale through creator ecosystems This strategic alliance is expected to further iPower's mission to empower sellers and entrepreneurs with the tools, data, and distribution channels needed to thrive in today's evolving digital retail landscape. About iPower Inc. iPower Inc. is a tech and data-driven online retailer, as well as a provider of value-added eCommerce services for third-party products and brands. iPower's capabilities include a full spectrum of online channels, robust fulfillment capacity, a nationwide network of warehouses, competitive last-mile delivery partners, and a differentiated business intelligence platform. For more information, visit About Borg Rise U.S. Borg Rise U.S. is a next-generation digital commerce company focused on livestreaming, influencer marketing, and cross-border social commerce. With strengths in content development, platform operations, and community-driven conversion, Borg Rise U.S. empowers brands to unlock growth through immersive digital experiences. Forward-Looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical fact in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that iPower believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as 'may,' 'will,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'aim,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'believe,' 'potential,' 'continue,' 'is/are likely to' or other similar expressions. iPower undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although iPower believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and iPower cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results and performance in iPower's most recent Report on Form 10-K and in its other SEC filings.
Entrepreneur
a day ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Kosmc AI Secures $200,000 Pre-Seed Round to Bridge Gap Creators and Commerce
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Kosmc AI, a social commerce infrastructure startup, has raised $200,000 in pre-seed funding from a group of undisclosed angel investors based in India and the Middle East. According to a press release issued by the company, the capital will be used to enhance its no-code product suite, expand affiliate integrations, and scale operations across India and Southeast Asia. Kosmc AI is tackling what it calls a fundamental mismatch between how users interact on social platforms and how commerce actually happens. While platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram drive high engagement, the company argues that monetisation mechanisms remain outdated and inefficient. "Social platforms are now where discovery and engagement begin, but monetisation still relies on traditional e-commerce systems," said Ankur Gupta, CEO, Kosmc AI. "Kosmc is building infrastructure that allows individuals and brands to convert conversations and content into commerce, without needing code, commissions, or technical complexity." With over 160,000 monthly active users across 25 countries, the platform primarily serves content creators, digital-first entrepreneurs, and early-stage consumer brands. Its toolset includes link-in-bio storefronts for direct sales via social media, chat automation to handle customer interactions, mobile-optimised checkout Smartlinks, and affiliate tools to connect brands with creators and micro-influencers. The rise of short-form video, chat-based transactions, and influencer marketing is reshaping how consumers discover and purchase products. Kosmc AI is aiming to serve as a backbone for this emerging model of commerce—one that bypasses traditional e-commerce gatekeepers. Manavta Narula, co-founder and COO, underscored the company's broader ambition. "Commerce today needs to be creator-first, mobile-native, and frictionless," she said. "We are building tools that allow anyone to own their narrative, engage meaningfully, and earn from their presence online without heavy dependencies."
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Trade war with the US starts taking its toll on China
New Delhi: The trade war with the U.S. has started taking its toll on China. Exports to the lucrative American market have shrunk. At Chinese export hubs in south-eastern China, factories are lying closed and workers have been laid off. Stocks of finished products are accumulating in warehouses. China signed an agreement with the U.S. on May 12 for a temporary reduction in tariff but this did not have the desired effect. Factory activities in China continued to contract in May, with the Purchasing Managers Index at the end of May being 49.5. A PMI value less than 50 indicates contraction in business activities compared to the previous month. Because of a contraction in export, business houses in major export hubs in places like Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Jiangsu are announcing factory holidays; suspending production and reducing work hours and wages of employees. To clear the stockpile of goods at a discount, they are trying the social commerce platforms. Products ranging from yoga pants and footwear to home appliances and blankets which used to sell in the U.S. at fancy prices are now being sold online by Chinese exporting houses at bargain prices. A survey carried out by Radio Free Asia last April at a warehouse at Jiaxing in the Zhejiang province, where export items constitute the main business activity, has revealed heaps of merchandise originally meant to be exported now lying abandoned. Products selling at $100 in the U.S. do not sell in China even at a deeply discounted price of only a few dollars. Rubber clogs of U.S. footwear brand Crocs manufactured in China can sell in the American market for as high as $70 a pair but in the Chinese markets it is difficult to sell them even for a few pennies. The comparative advantage of China lies in its large manufacturing base and thoroughly integrated supply chains; particularly in hi-tech and green industries such as electrical vehicles and their batteries and solar energy. These sectors are heavily dependent on open markets and steady demands. Now the prohibitive tariff imposed by the Donald Trump government in the U.S. coming in the wake of earlier tariff restrictions imposed by the U.S., Europe and Canada on the import of Chinese electrical vehicles has caused demand to drop significantly for Chinese goods. Experts argue that China remains highly reliant on the U.S. as its top export market, to which it had exported goods worth nearly $450 billion in 2024. The crisis in the export market has hit even items that are produced only for the domestic market in China because of the overall economic downswing. The crippling tariff rate imposed by the U.S. has stood in the way of the recovery of the already sagging consumer sentiments in China since the pandemic. Like, the Chinese knife brand Zhang Xiaoquan is sold mostly in the domestic market; with exports accounting for less than one percent of the annual sales. But even that knife is selling at a few cents per knife. One factory is pushing its employees to sell overstocked blankets online. A factory manager had lately managed to sell 60 blankets to his own relatives and friends. Workers in the factory at Suzhou city in Jiangsu were told that their working hours would be reduced and they would be paid only their basic wages. An angry Beijing has threatened countermeasures against countries which are signing trade deals with the U.S. at the expense of China to get tariff exemptions from Washington. This threat has followed recent reports that President Donald Trump is seeking to use the tariff talks to push partners of the U.S. in trade to curb imports from China. In return, these countries could secure reductions in additional tariffs imposed by the U.S. The Trump administration has said it is in negotiations with more than 50 countries; among them Israel, Japan, the U.K., Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, India, Australia, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Malaysia, Indonesia and the European Union countries. Beijing has threatened to target all these countries in turn. Following the May 12 agreement with China, Washington had lowered its 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods to 30 percent for 90 days to allow for more negotiations. Donald Trump had all along been accusing China of exploiting the U.S. in external trade, and arguing that his tariffs were necessary to revive domestic manufacturing in the U.S. and return jobs to American workers. China, too, had reduced its taxes on imports from the U.S. to 10 percent from the earlier 125 percent. But this agreement is now in the process of coming unstuck. On May 30, the U.S. President accused China of violating a bilateral deal to roll back tariffs and announced a general increase in the tariff on the import of steel and aluminium to 50 percent. Although China does not export much steel to the United States since the imposition of a 25 percent tariff in 2018 to shut out Chinese steel, it ranks third among aluminium suppliers to the U.S. Washington has indicated that Beijing has been slow on its promise to issue export licences for rare earth minerals. Last December, China announced a ban on exports to the U.S. of critical minerals, including gallium, germanium and antimony. Beijing announced more export controls on rare earth minerals last April after Donald Trump had announced the U.S. tariffs. The May 12 agreement in Geneva called for China to lift measures to restrict its export of critical metals needed for U.S. semiconductor, electronics and defence production. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said in a recent interview that talks with China had stalled. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said China has not removed non-tariff barriers as agreed. 'We haven't seen the flow of some of those critical minerals as they were supposed to be doing.' The trade war with the U.S. has thus started taking its toll on China and there is little possibility that pressure on the Chinese economy will end soon.
Entrepreneur
4 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Kosmc AI Raises Pre-Seed Round to Power AI-Driven Social Commerce
The fresh funding will be used to enhance Kosmc AI's no-code product suite, deepen affiliate integrations, and scale operations across India and Southeast Asia. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Delhi-based startup Kosmc AI has secured USD 200,000 in pre-seed funding from undisclosed angel investors across India and the Middle East to expand its AI-led social commerce infrastructure. The funding will be used to enhance Kosmc AI's no-code product suite, deepen affiliate integrations, and scale operations across India and Southeast Asia. The startup is on a mission to simplify how creators and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands monetise content and engagement across platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Founded in 2024 by Ankur Gupta and Manavta Narula, Kosmc AI is building infrastructure that bridges the gap between social media engagement and actual commerce. The startup claims to have already supported over 160,000 monthly active users in more than 25 countries. "Social platforms are now where discovery and engagement begin, but monetisation still relies on traditional e-commerce systems," said Ankur Gupta, Founder and CEO of Kosmc AI. "Kosmc is building infrastructure that allows individuals and brands to convert conversations and content into commerce—without needing code, commissions, or technical complexity." Kosmc AI offers a powerful suite of four tools: Link-in-bio storefronts for selling directly via social media for selling directly via social media Chat automation tools for handling customer conversations for handling customer conversations Smartlinks to simplify mobile checkout journeys to simplify mobile checkout journeys Affiliate infrastructure that connects creators with D2C brands The company's no-code approach empowers digital-first entrepreneurs, content creators, and early-stage brands to own their commerce journey in a mobile-first, creator-led economy. Co-founder and COO Manavta Narula added, "The company's mission is to make the digital economy more accessible. Commerce today needs to be creator-first, mobile-native, and frictionless. We are building tools that allow anyone to own their narrative, engage meaningfully, and earn from their presence online without heavy dependencies." As the creator economy continues to surge, Kosmc AI positions itself at the forefront—enabling seamless monetisation where content, community, and commerce converge.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bambuser Teams Up with Gaprise to Market Video Commerce Platform and Strengthen Its Position in Japan
STOCKHOLM, SE / / May 27, 2025 / Bambuser AB (STO:BUSER)(FRA:5JL) - Tokyo/Stockholm, May 27, 2025 - Bambuser has partnered with Gaprise, a key player in bringing top SaaS solutions to the Japanese market through its consulting and technology services. This collaboration will empower Japanese businesses to incorporate shoppable video and capitalize on Japan's booming social commerce market, expected to reach US$25.33 billion in 2025. Bambuser is pleased to announce its partnership with Gaprise Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Ryoji Kai), an international SaaS trading company that supports digital businesses. Through this collaboration, Bambuser will expand its presence in Japan, with Gaprise as a strategic partner to introduce its innovative solutions to local businesses. Trusted by more than 250 brands, Bambuser's international streaming services are available in 240 countries, including Japan. The social commerce market in Japan is expected to grow by 9.9% on an annual basis to reach US$25.33 billion in 2025. The social commerce market in the country experienced robust growth during 2021-2024, achieving a CAGR of 10.9%. According to research by As the market grows, Gaprise and Bambuser's partnership reflects an urgent need for more accessible shoppable video technology. " As the live commerce market continues to grow significantly in Japan, we sought to provide a platform trusted by many brands in the global market, which led us to form a partnership with Bambuser. "Comments, Ryoji Kai CEO of Gaprise INC Giving businesses the ability to purchase Bambuser's platform, will enable brands to host shoppable livestreams and integrate shoppable videos across all of their digital channels. As a SaaS offering, Bambuser presents a convenient and affordable way for businesses to make shopping more interactive and elevate the customer experience. Live commerce has proved to resonate well with consumers across Japan, with studies showing that over half (54.8%) of viewers actually purchase products. A more detailed breakdown showed that the rate of purchase was 66.2% for customers in their 20s, and 59.6% for those in their 30s. These figures are consistent with a generational shift towards live commerce - statistics from NTT Com Research's "Live Commerce" survey. "We are delighted to be working with Gaprise, and to expand our offering to businesses across Japan," comments Maryam Ghahremani, CEO of Bambuser. "As one of the fastest growing markets in Asia, we are proud to be able to deliver the most intuitive and powerful shoppable video platform to Gaprise's network of leading businesses. Ultimately, our objective is to empower businesses to elevate their customer experience, boost their revenue, and engage the next generation of mobile-first consumers." About GapriseGaprise is a company that supports digital business, with a focus on digital marketing. The company actively searches the globe for groundbreaking and valuable technology solutions, introducing these innovations to new markets and client companies. Since launching sales activities in 2012 with a forward-looking approach to emerging markets, Gaprise has helped numerous growing companies integrate advanced technologies into their operations. In doing so, the company has played a modest yet meaningful role in the development of new markets . About BambuserBambuser is the world's leading virtual commerce company, with the largest customer base in its industry. Trusted by more than 250 brands, Bambuser's international streaming services are available in 240 countries. Bambuser is truly global with headquarters in Stockholm and offices in New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Turku, and with a passionate team speaking more than 30 languages. Founded in 2007 as a livestreaming pioneer, trusted by the world's leading news agencies, Bambuser pivoted to Live Shopping in 2019, leveraging its legacy as the industry leader in video-first technology. Contact informationBambuserpress@ Follow usSubscribe to Bambusers press releases here .Bambuser on LinkedIn. Attachments Bambuser teams up with Gaprise to market video commerce platform and strengthen its position in Japan SOURCE: Bambuser AB View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
