Instacart Deploys AI-Powered Shopping Carts
Building on its Instacart delivery partnership, Weis Markets is now deploying Instacart’s Caper Carts. Edge AI carts trained on more than 1.6 billion online orders to recognize items, accelerate checkout, and personalize the trip with digital coupons and repeat-purchase prompts tied to shoppers’ Weis Rewards profiles.
PE Has Officially Entered College Sports
Utah’s private-equity deal is both ambitious and risky, but school leaders say standing still would be riskier, so they’re turning their athletic department into a one-of-a-kind business platform. By partnering with Otro Capital, the school is handing commercial operations to Crimson Brand Partners in hopes of creating a major new revenue stream and reshaping how college athletics is financed.
Big 3 Joining The NYSE
The first publicly traded US professional sports league is coming: BIG3 BASKETBALL combines with Graf Global Corp. at a $290 million pre-money valuation. The transaction delivers $50 million minimum net cash, includes 2 million earnout shares at $15.00 strike, and will list as Big3 Basketball Holdings under "TONT" in Q4 2026.
A $250M Bet on Creator Led Businesses
In a return to the deal side of the creator space, CAA and TPG’s Integrated Media Company have launched Compound Creative Holdings, committing $250 million to deploying a buy and build strategy targeting businesses founded by top online creators. The new holding company will be run by Tucker Brown, an alum of CAA Evolution and investment banking, who will work with CAA and IMC leadership to package capital, strategic guidance, and operational resources for YouTubers, podcasters, and other digital-native brands looking to scale beyond sponsorships into durable media franchises.
Scientist Reveal Battery Free Solar
Researchers in Japan have unveiled a battery-free artificial photosynthesis device that turns sunlight, water, and CO2 into formic acid fuel using a self-regulating electrolyzer that automatically performs maximum power point tracking as it heats up, keeping output stable without extra power electronics.
Restaurant M&A on The Uptick
Through early 2026, restaurant M&A activity is ticking up on the back of motivated strategic and sponsor buyers, even as sluggish traffic and a bifurcated consumer keep the operating backdrop challenging. Same-store sales are positive but largely price-mix driven, putting a premium on cost control, value positioning, and guest experience, especially in Casual Dining, where brands like Chili’s are outperforming. Leading chains are leaning hard into AI and digital across drive-thru, loyalty, forecasting, and back-office systems to lift throughput, expand margins, and differentiate four-wall economics, which is increasingly central to acquirer diligence. In the deal market, take-privates, divestitures of non-core assets, and franchisee roll-ups are reshaping ownership, with valuations down from 2021–2023 peaks, but high-quality concepts still commanding premium multiples.
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