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Venture capital may still dominate Silicon Valley headlines, but most early-stage founders aren’t relying on it to fund their businesses. A May 2025 Mercury survey of 1,500 U.S. entrepreneurs running companies less than six years old found that VC investment ranked only fifth among top funding sources, behind self-funding, business loans, revenue-based financing, and support from friends and family. In fact, Mercury reports that more than half of early-stage tech companies surveyed reported they hadn’t raised any VC funding since their inception.

Learn How is VC’s losing its crown, founders are funding themselves, and the startup game’s getting a remix.

Chipotle (CMG -1.90%) is cooking up more than burritos  and increasing revenues with flavor and purpose. The fast-casual chain posted 3% year-over-year revenue growth in Q2 2025, hitting $3.1 billion, as new restaurants did the heavy lifting, driven by digital expansion, community loyalty, and a deeper embrace of Latino heritage.

Chipotle reports 3% growth in Q2, driven by a Latino-focused strategy and community impact initiatives.

It’s a fact that not everyone will wear a new Gucci belt or rock the limited high-end brand pieces released occasionally for a selected few. However, with the resale culture, common folk will get access to luxury and high-end fashion items at more affordable prices. You’ll get to experiment with new styles and brands without breaking the bank. All this is thanks to the emergence of various resale platforms and strategic partnerships with retail giants who want to venture into the billion-dollar industry. OfferUp, the mobile marketplace’s 2025 Recommerce Report reveals that 93% of Americans bought a secondhand item in the past year and 54% sold a secondhand item.

See How Fashion’s second life is booming, 93% bought secondhand last year, proving resale is the new luxury.

As the spookiest time of the year rolls around, a record-breaking celebratory spirit is taking hold nationwide. Americans are set to invest a staggering $13.1 billion on Halloween festivities this year, a bit of a dip from last year’s $11.6 billion, according to recent projections from the National Retail Federation (NRF). A whopping 66% of Americans plan to hand out candy, ensuring that the tradition of trick-or-treating remains alive and well.

See how Wall Street’s buying spree is turning Black homeownership into big business

End your week with fresh vibes! This week’s CBX Vibe: “Fake Name” Che Ecru—a reminder that consistency still wins louder than the noise.