The Great DEI Breakup Text
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We (KNO) Commerce.KNO Commerce merges with Stamped and Repeat in a leadership reshuffle that sees Jeremiah Prummer taking the helm as CEO. The consolidation signals a growing commerce tech stack consolidation trend, particularly in the reviews and retention space, which calls back to our ‘age of agglomeration’ trend from our predictions report back in January.
Missouri's "Woke" Hunt. The Show-Me State takes aim at Starbucks over DEI initiatives, claiming discrimination. The lawsuit challenges corporate diversity programs in what appears to be a politically-motivated assault on progressive business practices.
Our Take: The quiet devolution of corporate DEI initiatives paints a fascinating pendulum swing of American commerce in transition. With Costco standing nearly alone in defense of DEI among major retailers, this emerging schism suggests we're entering what might be called a "post-progressive" era of corporate governance, where the performance of values is being replaced by a more austere form of shareholder capitalism.
The timing, coming just as various state AGs launch their crusades against corporate DEI programs, feels less coincidental and more like a standoff between political theatre and boardroom pragmatism.
His Airness Takes Flight (Again). Jordan Brand's 40th-anniversary celebration includes an ambitious 1,200-drone light show over the Bay Bridge during All-Star Weekend, simultaneously launching their most accurate Air Jordan 1 retro remake to date. The multi-year effort to recreate the iconic sneaker demonstrates the obsessive detail required to satisfy increasingly discerning sneakerheads.
The Kids Are (Not) Alright. Tech giants unite under the Robust Open Online Safety Tools (ROOST) initiative, a new non-profit organization to address online child safety. Google, OpenAI, Roblox, and Discord's collaboration suggests Silicon Valley may finally take its "think of the children" moment seriously, though skeptics might wonder if this is preemptive regulatory appeasement; this, a year after an activist shortseller accused Roblox of being overrun with sexual predators. The group will collectively invest in open-source safety tools.
The timing of this alliance is particularly noteworthy as AI adoption among youth accelerates, and metaverse platforms continue to blur the lines between digital and physical spaces. This could represent genuine concern or strategic positioning ahead of inevitable regulatory scrutiny.
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