Suns Out, Funds Out: Turn up the heat, not the CAC

Dear founders and friends,

Another fiscal year finito at Igloo! F** ME that went really fast!! As we surpass our three-year marker, it’s always wonderful getting to work with the best teams and founders.

Alex and I have continued to expand our Igloo Assistant arm of the business, and pushed founders to be pragmatic about their approach to agency partnerships, and whether or not it’s worth bringing highly skilled folks in-house to help them as an alternative. Meanwhile, Amazon has continued to grow, and we have some pretty aggressive goals in mind for ‘25. Stay tuned, as we’ll be doing a better job (I promise), on what’s to come this following year.

For those keen to stay in the loop on our philosophy, tune in to Dollar Commerce. On that note, I encourage everyone reading this to take some time this next year, to be philosophical! It’s helped me research, meet people, and learn by necessity on what’s happening in e-commerce as well as provide value to team members and founders alike.

So, let’s dive in.

New homepage, who dis?

We dusted off the homepage and gave it the digital equivalent of a double espresso and a haircut. It’s bolder, cleaner, and looks like we actually know what we’re doing (because we do, most of the time). It’s got new wins, fresh messaging and a better breakdown of what we offer. More pages to come! Don’t be shy, take it for a spin.

May news roundup: e-commerce implications

Ecom is moving fast, literally. From billion-parcel partnerships to AI-fueled fulfillment upgrades and big-name logistics reunions, here’s your rapid-fire roundup of the headlines shaping how stuff gets from cart to doorstep.

📦 Logistics Giants Unite: In a significant move, DHL has acquired a minority stake in Evri, formerly Hermes UK, merging their UK operations. This partnership aims to enhance delivery services, handling over 1 billion parcels and business letters each year. What does this mean for e-commerce stores?

🤖 Shiprocket Unveils AI-Integrated MCP Server: Shiprocket launches India's first AI-powered Model Context Protocol (MCP) server to revolutionize autonomous e-commerce operations. As the company prepares for its IPO, Shiprocket's new AI-integrated MCP server aims to enhance real-time decision-making and personalize consumer experiences. This innovation is set to streamline commerce processes and solidify Shiprocket's market leadership in India's rapidly evolving digital commerce landscape. How Will This Change E-Commerce?

📦 Amazon & Fedex Reignite Partnership: After a six-year hiatus, FedEx will now handle the delivery of sizable items to Amazon's residential customers. This move comes as UPS plans to reduce its Amazon shipping volume by over half by late 2026, highlighting the shifting dynamics in e-commerce logistics. Learn More About This Breakthrough.

Venture capital spotlight: May 2025

This month in venture capital has been nothing short of dynamic, with significant investments signalling strong confidence in sectors like AI, health-tech, and fintech. Here's a roundup of the top 5 venture-backed developments:

• TensorWave's $100M Series A
  AI infrastructure startup TensorWave secured $100 million to scale its AMD-powered GPU clusters, aiming to democratize access to advanced AI computing resources. - Read More

• 🧠 Coworker Secures $13M
  San Francisco-based startup Coworker, has raised $13 million in seed funding to develop AI "teammates" designed to execute high-level workplace tasks such as research, planning, code writing, and sales support. - Read More

• Classiq's $110M Series C
  Quantum computing software firm Classiq attracted $110 million to develop its quantum algorithm design platform, positioning itself as a leader in the quantum software space. - Read More

• RevenueCat Lands $50M
  Subscription management platform RevenueCat has raised $50 million to support its growth in response to increasing demand from AI-driven consumer apps and gaming platforms. - Read More

Tariff update: kinda relief for e-commerce…for now

In a significant development for the e-commerce sector, the U.S. and China have agreed to a 90-day tariff reduction, easing tensions that have strained online retail. Effective May 14, 2025, the U.S. has lowered tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while China has reduced its tariffs on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%.

This temporary reprieve reinstates the "de minimis" exemption, allowing low-value shipments under $800 to enter the U.S. with reduced tariffs, 54% for USPS deliveries and 30% for commercial carriers like FedEx and UPS. However, as far as we’re aware a lot of e-commerce brands will be affected in both private and public markets.

E-commerce giants such as Shein and Temu, which heavily rely on direct-to-consumer shipping from China, stand to benefit from these changes. However, the relief is temporary, and the future remains uncertain as negotiations continue. - Read More

Hear it from our Igloo brands

At Igloo, we always want to be pragmatic with founders and with expectations, which is why for Canadian based Psyched Wellness, we helped stress the importance of 1 key factor: creative strategy. With a super lean team, and a bottom line focused approach, a lot of the work was done in-house, at low cost, but at high quality. Pulling Meta and TikTok together, Igloo helped scale the account from $200 to $1K+ in daily ad spend combined, after just 6 weeks!

“Igloo Media has been a fantastic partner in scaling my small business. They’re super responsive, knowledgeable, and attentive to our needs. Highly recommended.” - Jonathon Furstenberg, Psyched Wellness

Visit more case studies

Listen of the week

Here are a few of our favorite listens to catch you up to speed.

• Limited Supply: Get unfiltered, behind-the-scenes takes on scaling DTC brands. Nik and Moiz share real-world experiences, from marketing wins to operational hiccups, making it a must-listen for e-commerce enthusiasts

• Smartless: Hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, SmartLess is where celebrity interviews meet hilarious detours and unexpected insights. Each episode features a mystery guest and the kind of charming chaos only three best friends (and A-list comedians) can deliver. Come for the laughs, stay for the surprisingly smart moments.

• A Conversation with Mark Zuckerberg: Dive into Stripe's vision for the future of commerce in this keynote session. Discover how they're leveraging AI, expanding global payment solutions, and introducing new tools to empower businesses of all sizes.

I can train AI to sell, but can I teach it to smile?

Does human intervention still have a necessary placement in the future of Facebook advertising? _{👉 Read the full piece on training AI to sell like a human.}

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