EchoStor Technologies appointed Cale Anjoorian as Chief Information Officer to lead enterprise technology strategy and managed services. Anjoorian brings over 25 years of experience, including roles at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Elizabeth Arden, Avid Technology, and Manulife. EchoStor realigned its leadership, moving Daniel Clydesdale-Cotter to Chief Innovation Officer and Matt Hoeg continuing as Chief Technology Officer. The company is expanding its market presence in the Northeast and Tri-State areas and has recently received industry recognition, including placement on the 2025 Inc. 5000 List and several CRN awards.

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Forty-two percent of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses report that another cost increase could lead to closure, with 35 percent managing finances themselves and 13 percent relying on friends or family instead of professional accountants. Only 30 percent use external financial experts, while 27 percent still depend on manual processes and just a third are fully automated. Nearly one in five business owners spend up to 40 hours monthly on financial administration, and 24 percent experienced cashflow issues in the past year. Forty-five percent believe they would be better leaders without financial admin burdens, and 35 percent say they spend more time on finance than business growth. Half of leaders find future planning nearly impossible, and only a quarter prepare for recession scenarios.

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Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud after U.S. attorneys accused him of inflating the fintech company’s revenue by disguising payment sources and fabricating financial documents. Sanberg used these false claims to secure $145 million in loans and worked with board member Ibrahim AlHusseini to overstate assets, resulting in over $248 million in losses to lenders and investors. Despite the company’s financial state, Sanberg continued to solicit investments into 2025.

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Y Combinator filed an amicus brief supporting Epic Games in its legal dispute with Apple, stating that Apple's App Store fees and restrictions have limited startup growth and discouraged venture capital investment in app-based businesses. The dispute began when Epic Games sued Apple over its 30 percent commission and anti-steering policies. A judge ordered Apple to allow alternative payment options, but Apple imposed a 27 percent fee on those transactions, leading to further legal challenges. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 21.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill partnered with Zipline to launch Zipotle, an autonomous drone delivery service for digital orders in the Dallas area. Customers place orders through the Zipline app, and Chipotle employees prepare the food, which is delivered by electric drones that lower orders to the ground from 300 feet. The drones are designed to operate in various weather conditions, produce zero emissions, and bypass traffic and flooded roads. The initiative targets Gen Z consumers and includes a new rewards program for college students.

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Small businesses are preparing for the holiday season by analyzing past sales and inventory data, optimizing e-commerce websites for increased traffic, upgrading technology and point-of-sale systems, launching early marketing campaigns using digital and AI tools, and starting seasonal hiring and training in advance to meet anticipated demand.

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Google announced Gemini for Home, an AI-powered voice assistant that will replace Google Assistant on Nest smart speakers and displays starting in October. The assistant will support complex voice commands, manage tasks such as lists and reminders, and offer conversational interactions through Gemini Live, which is expected to be part of a paid subscription tier. The rollout will begin with an early access program and include both free and paid options. Google aims to compete with Amazon’s Alexa Plus, while Apple has not yet introduced a similar AI-powered home assistant. The launch may coincide with new Nest hardware, and Google will use its Public Preview program to test features and ensure security for critical home devices.

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Veteran Ventures Capital closed its $60 million Veterans Fund II, which was oversubscribed by 20 percent and triples the size of its first fund. The fund focuses on veteran-led companies developing dual-use technologies for defense and commercial markets, including space, autonomy, quantum sensing, robotics, edge computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Portfolio companies have secured over $250 million in non-dilutive government funding. The fund attracted institutional investors such as the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, the State of Tennessee, university endowments, and family offices. Early investments include Agile Space Industries and Turion Space, which address propulsion and satellite technology needs in defense and aerospace. Veteran Ventures Capital supports its portfolio companies with additional funding access, go-to-market strategies, and operational development.

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Atlanta chocolatiers Elaine Read and Matt Weyandt of Xocolatl Small Batch Chocolate report increased operational challenges due to tariffs, as highlighted during a visit from U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock. Matt Weyandt states that tariffs function as a tax on small businesses, impacting profitability. Highland Forge, a custom metal hardware company, experiences a 40 percent sales increase by sourcing domestically. State Senator Josh McKoon explains that tariffs aim to promote domestic manufacturing and job creation. The Trump administration implements a 10 percent baseline tariff on most imports, with supporters citing economic and national security goals. Atlanta small businesses respond to tariffs with varied outcomes.

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