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It was a difficult week for hardware companies, with iRobot, Luminar, and Rad Power Bikes all declaring bankruptcy. While each business grapples with its own combination of tariff pressures, supply chain disruptions, and changing market conditions, their collective struggles highlight the broader difficulties of manufacturing physical goods amid global trade tensions and intense competition from overseas producers. From the Roomba manufacturer that nearly merged with Amazon to the e-bike firm that remained tied to its Chinese supply chain, these recent bankruptcies serve as a cautionary tale for hardware startups everywhere. Tune into the full episode for additional news from the week, covering:

How “slop” earned the title of Merriam-Webster’s word of the year—and why its significance now extends beyond just AI-generated content.

The reasons behind Databricks securing $10 billion in funding at a $134 billion valuation through a Series L round, rather than pursuing an initial public offering.

The merger between Coursera and Udemy, and the question of whether online learning platforms can endure in the age of artificial intelligence.

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