MAN Truck & Bus has signed a memorandum of understanding with Improtex Trucks & Buses (MAN's local partner) and the Government of Azerbaijan to establish local xKD production of electric buses. The agreement marks a further step in the company's international expansion strategy. The MoU was signed in Baku by Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, Samad Bashirli, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Fizuli Alakbarov, President of Improtex Trucks & Buses LLC.
Oura Health Oy, the maker of the Oura health and fitness ring, is raising $875 million in a new Series E financing round valuing it around $10.9 billion, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The round, which is expected to close by the end of the month, would double the company's $5 billion valuation from its Series D round announced last December. The report notes that the Series E round could still exceed $900 million.
Next could easily have been a real casualty of the digital age but, again, has shown its ability to not only stay relevant but prosper, thanks to its ability to adapt and benefit strategically from online retail. While the fast fashion brands have blazed and faded, Next has nurtured its brand portfolio, online platform and customer base steadily in a real tortoise and hare story.
XPLN.AI, the ad attention measurement and optimisation specialist, announces the opening of its new office in Milan along with the appointment of Anna Iuculano as managing director Italy. Following a recent €7m (£5.9m) fundraising round, XPLN.AI is significantly accelerating its international expansion, with the opening of six offices in Europe, the United States and Asia Pacific in 2025, to meet the rising demand for attention-based solutions to measure advertising effectiveness.
This funding from NatWest is a game-changer for us. It allows us to manage our cash flow more effectively, ensuring timely payments to our suppliers and preventing any disruptions in our supply chain. With this support, we're well-positioned to continue our growth trajectory and explore new market opportunities as well as building on our success in the US.
Today, it's the world's largest streaming platform with over 300 million global subscribers and a proven ability to reinvent itself. The company's crackdown on password sharing, expansion into advertising, and disciplined content strategy have all helped reignite growth over the past two years. But for investors, the question is less about what Netflix has accomplished and more about where the next phase of growth will come from.
One of Airbnb's most underappreciated competitive advantages is how it has quietly become a home for long-term travelers. In 2024, stays of 28 nights or more made up 18% of gross nights booked, according to company filings. That's not a small niche -- it's nearly one in five stays. This trend aligns with broader shifts in how people work and live.
Reddit went public in 2024, nearly 20 years after the social media site launched. The company has been slow to monetize its massive user base, but that effort is now kicking into high gear. Reddit generated $465 million in revenue from advertising in the second quarter, up 84% year over year, as it grew its user base and invested in its advertising platform.
The biggest mistake we see is overthinking," explains Sarah Mitchell, CEO of EcoWrap, whose biodegradable packaging solutions now serve clients in 12 European countries. "We spent six months researching every possible regulation and requirement, when we could have started with one country and learned as we went.
We've always believed stories shape stories - but we've also learned that visibility alone isn't enough. Our role today is about making the right introductions, amplifying the right signals, and helping the region's most promising players connect with capital, customers, and talent across borders.
The X9 aims to redefine the MPV segment with its futuristic design, spacious interior, and cutting-edge technological features, enhancing Xpeng's international ambitions.
"This investment marks a pivotal moment for Clickdrive as we double down on our mission to modernise driver education across Europe," says Joost van Suijlekom, founder and CEO of Clickdrive.
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