The MoneyMakers newsroom

Latest edition 3 Oct 2026

Business & startup news, page 42

The latest on emerging businesses, funding, acquisitions, AI and automation.

Topic

Format

Latest reporting

Newest first

Illustration of an unmarked ledger binder beside a computer keyboard.

Acquisitions & ownership· News

Advent agrees to buy majority stake in Mexican software provider CONTPAQi

Advent International announced an agreement on October 1, 2026 to acquire a majority stake in CONTPAQi. The Mexican business-software provider reports more than 1.2 million businesses using its products and more than 6,000 distributors. Co-founder René Torres is to retain a significant minority stake. The acquisition remains subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals; financial terms were not disclosed.

2 Oct 2026 · MoneyMakers

Illustration of an unmarked travel suitcase with a search-shaped handle.

Business automation· News

Airbnb introduces US-first AI trip search, expands local services and plans host pricing tools

Airbnb's September 30 fall update introduces natural-language and voice search starting in the US, alongside location-limited services. Its Help Center says AI Search mode is restricted to users with access and currently works in English on desktop or laptop browsers. Baby-gear rentals are planned for November and new host pricing controls for later this fall.

30 Sept 2026 · MoneyMakers

Business & startup news, page 42

Latest reporting

QPE-backed Canford Group acquires Lemonaid Motor Legal, adding broker-facing claims intake

Stryten completes acquisition of C&D Technologies and Trojan Battery

SEMIFIVE signs $52 million U.S. AI-chip development contract, with part of its value conditional

Fed approves Fleur Capital’s revised plan to acquire Simmesport State Bank

AnaCardio announces €62.5 million Series B as KDventures plans SEK 30 million write-down

Eni and Ares complete €1.56 billion Plenitude capital increase and joint-control deal

ArcLight funds complete purchase of InfraBridge’s 50% IATP stake

CMA says nexfibre’s proposed Substantial acquisition could weaken wholesale broadband competition

CAISO and SPP set Western grid coordination plan, leave redispatch costs open

Rakuten places card and securities holding companies under its bank, estimates ¥23 billion tax expense

Relay announces $36 million financing led by customer International Paper

SoftBank completes DigitalBridge acquisition at $16 per common share; preferred shares remain outstanding

Advent agrees to buy majority stake in Mexican software provider CONTPAQi

Blackfuel reports over $250 million in customer agreements as Barcelona AI cluster awaits service

Kuro announces €10 million seed round to expand construction AI for contractors

Harbinger says FedEx ordered 2,000 electric trucks worth over $300 million

Cotierra’s €2.6 million round targets commercial coffee biochar deployments

Airbnb introduces US-first AI trip search, expands local services and plans host pricing tools

Kahua announces Bain Capital minority investment at valuation above $1 billion

TransDigm completes approximately $1.066 billion cash purchase of IGP-backed Prince & Izant