The HOBT: 💻Shopify AI | 🪙Crypto Soar | 🔥Celebrity Brand

Hey 👋🏼Did you know that Shopify is quietly building something big? With AI baked deep into its tools and culture, it’s not just helping merchants launch stores faster; it’s reshaping how business gets done. From Store Builder, which creates entire storefronts instantly, to Sidekick acting like a 24/7 digital teammate, the company is lowering the barrier to entry while speeding up results. Internally, employees are expected to be AI-native, making the entire operation leaner and quicker. All these points point to one thing: scalable growth with serious upside potential.

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WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?

JPMorgan says crypto inflows have surged to $60 billion year to date amid regulatory push

📈🪙 Crypto is catching serious momentum. JPMorgan reports capital inflows into digital assets have hit $60 billion this year, soaring nearly 50% since May. What's fueling it? A friendlier U.S. regulatory climate, thanks to the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts, is setting global benchmarks and drawing in investors. Altcoins like Ethereum are gaining traction, crypto IPOs are heating up, and even venture capital is back on the move. With ETFs, staking strategies, and legislative clarity lining up, digital assets are starting to look less like a gamble and more like a calculated move.

💼🔥 Sydney Sweeney is stepping beyond the screen and into business with a lingerie brand quietly backed by Coatue Management, a firm now powered by $1B from Jeff Bezos and Michael Dell. Though they’re not direct investors, their capital fuels the same fund supporting Sweeney’s venture. With Coatue traditionally rooted in tech giants like OpenAI and SpaceX, this move signals a new wave: blending celebrity influence with high-growth capital. Sweeney’s strategic rollouts and brand deals hint this isn’t just a side project, it’s a calculated play in the evolving world of culture-led entrepreneurship.

🔇🏙️ A new ultra-thin material out of Switzerland is turning down the volume on city life, literally. Developed by EMPA, this foam-like absorber is just 2 inches thick yet cuts traffic noise by 4 decibels. It’s a secret? A tunable structure with varied pore sizes that traps sound like a much bulkier material would. It's fireproof, weatherproof, and recyclable, with applications ranging from courtyards to classrooms. While it’s still handcrafted and not perfect at blocking high frequencies, plans for mass production are already underway. Silence, it seems, is getting smarter.

MORE NEWS

💰🌐 Just ahead of Hong Kong’s upcoming stablecoin regulations, crypto exchange OSL Group has raised $300 million in fresh equity. The capital will fuel its push into payment and stablecoin services, plus support acquisitions and balance sheet strength. As the city gears up to allow stablecoin issuance and expand digital asset oversight in August, OSL is positioning itself to be a major player in this newly regulated market, right from the front row. Read

💻✨ Infleqtion is making waves with a $50 million investment to build a quantum computer in Chicago’s South Side, transforming a former steel mill into a futuristic tech hub. This move places them alongside giants like IBM in the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, a $9 billion project aimed at creating a powerhouse for quantum research, manufacturing, and innovation. With plans to expand their team and collaborate across Illinois’ growing quantum ecosystem, Infleqtion is tapping into the state’s vision to boost new industries and generate billions in revenue. Quantum computing’s power to revolutionize fields like drug discovery and AI is drawing major players, and Chicago is positioning itself as the next global hotspot. Read

RECOMMENDED READS

Bitcoin bull Tim Draper raises $200 million for new venture fund

Avalanche Energy hits key milestone on the road to a desktop fusion reactor

The General Theory of Enshittification

MARKETING IN ACTION

Encouraging customers to spread the word through rewards or discounts can rapidly grow your audience. People trust recommendations from friends and family, and thus referrals are one of the most effective ways to gain new business.

LET’S TALK MONEY

Chasing hype and flamboyancy can lead to expensive mistakes. Stick to businesses & industries you really know about and believe in. Smart investing is rooted in clarity and confidence, not fear of missing out.

INSIDE THE CONVERSATION

Facts just inform, but stories get stuck in their heart. Wrapping your message in a relatable narrative triggers emotion, builds connection, and makes your point hard to forget.

THE WISDOM LINE

“Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself.”

- Oprah Winfrey, global media leader, producer, and actress

Thank you so much for reading this far. Have a good day! Bye 👋