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Spangle Secures $15 Million Funding To Redefine AI-Powered E-Commerce Personalization

Spangle, led by former Bolt CEO Maju Kuruvilla, has raised $15 million in an all-equity Series A round, elevating its valuation to $100 million. This milestone follows a successful $6 million seed round at a $30 million pre-money valuation and brings the company’s total funding to $21 million with the backing of NewRoad Capital Partners, Madrona, DNX Ventures, Streamlined Ventures, and strategic angel investors.

Revolutionizing E-Commerce With AI

The rise of AI tools and advanced recommendation engines is transforming online retail. As consumers increasingly rely on digital platforms for product discovery, Spangle positions itself at the forefront by offering software that personalizes shopping experiences in real time. Leveraging its proprietary ProductGPT model, the platform dynamically generates product recommendations based on user behavior, search queries, and referral sources, ensuring that every visitor encounters a fresh, tailored retail environment.

Impressive Growth And Enterprise Adoption

Since emerging from stealth mode in March last year, Spangle has secured nine enterprise clients, including leading fashion retailers like Revolve, Alexander Wang, and Steve Madden, whose collective online sales reach approximately $3.8 billion. The platform has achieved a 57% month-over-month increase in traffic, with users expanding their adoption of its features. Notably, Revolve reports a 60% improvement in return on ad spend and a 50% increase in revenue per visit, underscoring the business impact of Spangle’s innovative approach.

Driving Real-Time, Data-Driven Personalization

At the heart of Spangle’s offering is its ability to replace static, pre-built pages with dynamic, AI-driven interfaces. By routing shoppers to a blank page that is populated in real time based on contextual data, Spangle empowers retailers to adapt instantaneously to evolving consumer needs. This methodology not only enhances user engagement but also optimizes key performance metrics, effectively transforming traditional e-commerce strategies.

Strategic Vision And Future Expansion

Drawing from his extensive experience at Bolt and a decade-long tenure at Amazon, Kuruvilla has leveraged his deep industry insights to build a platform geared towards sustainable growth and technological innovation. Alongside co-founder and CTO Fei Wang, a former Amazon principal engineer with notable contributions at Saks Off 5th, Spangle is poised to become a modern, AI-native commerce system. With plans to further invest in research and development, expand its engineering team, and scale its sales operations, Spangle is well positioned to meet the evolving demands of digital retail.

Embracing The Future Of Commerce

As AI continues to reshape how consumers interact with digital content and make purchasing decisions, platforms like Spangle offer a glimpse into the future of e-commerce. By harnessing the power of real-time data and machine learning, Spangle provides brands with the tools necessary to not only meet but exceed the expectations of today’s digitally savvy shopper.

Cyprus Hits Historic Tourism Peak As Overtourism Risks Mount

Record-Breaking Performance In Tourism

Cyprus’ tourism sector achieved unprecedented success in 2025 with record-breaking arrivals and revenues. According to Eurobank analyst Konstantinos Vrachimis, the island’s performance was underpinned by solid real income growth and enhanced market diversification.

Robust Growth In Arrivals And Revenues

Total tourist arrivals reached 4.5 million in 2025, rising 12.2% from 4 million in 2024, with momentum sustained through the final quarter. Tourism receipts for the January–November period climbed to €3.6 billion, marking a 15.3% year-on-year increase that exceeded inflation. The improvement was not driven by volume alone. Average expenditure per visitor increased by 4.6%, while daily spending rose by 9.2%, indicating stronger purchasing power and higher-value tourism activity.

Economic Impact And Diversification Of Source Markets

The stronger performance translated into tangible gains for the broader services economy, lifting real tourism-related income and overall sector turnover. Demand patterns are also shifting. While the United Kingdom remains Cyprus’ largest source market, its relative share has moderated as arrivals from Israel, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Austria, and Poland have expanded. This gradual diversification reduces dependency on a single market and strengthens resilience against external shocks.

Enhanced Air Connectivity And Seasonal Dynamics

Air connectivity has improved markedly in 2025, with flight volumes expanding substantially compared to 2019. This expansion is driven by increased airline capacity, enhanced route coverage, and more frequent flights, supporting demand during shoulder seasons and reducing overreliance on peak-month flows. Seasonal patterns remain prominent, with arrivals building through the spring and peaking in summer, thereby bolstering employment, fiscal receipts, and corporate earnings across hospitality, transport, and retail sectors.

Structural Risks And Future Considerations

Despite strong headline figures, structural challenges remain. The European Commission’s EU Tourism Dashboard highlights tourism intensity, seasonality, and market concentration as key risk indicators. Cyprus records a high ratio of overnight stays relative to its resident population, signalling potential overtourism pressures. Continued reliance on a limited group of origin markets also exposes the sector to geopolitical uncertainty and sudden demand swings. Seasonal peaks place additional strain on infrastructure, housing availability, labour supply, and natural resources, particularly water.

Strategic Investment And Market Resilience

Vrachimis concludes that sustained growth will depend on targeted investment, product upgrading, and continued market diversification. Strengthening year-round offerings, improving infrastructure capacity, and promoting higher-value experiences can help balance demand while preserving long-term competitiveness. These measures are essential not only to manage overtourism risks but also to ensure tourism remains a stable pillar of Cyprus’ economic development.

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