What you should know
Incentives, Grants & Opportunities
 AMEX Shop Small Grants Program– To help small businesses grow, innovate, and support their local communities, American Express is teaming up with Main Street America this Small Business Saturday® to launch the Amex Shop Small Grants Program. The Program will provide an initial $5 million to fund 250 grants of $20,000 each to eligible small business owners across the U.S.Deadline: January 17, 2026AMOUNT $25,000 Learn more |
 Santander’s Cultivate Small Business– Santander’s Cultivate Small Business helps early-stage entrepreneurs build and sustain businesses in the food industry, with a focus on historically underserved founders in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. The program is completely free for eligible entrepreneurs and provides a 12 week food-focused curriculum, mentorship, and capital grants.Deadline: February 2, 2026AMOUNT $2,500 – $20,000 Learn more → |
 Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Program– The goal of the Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Program (NDEP) is to increase business leadership opportunities for people with developmental and/or cognitive differences such as autism, dyslexia, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD and other related diagnoses. Companies with neurodiverse leaders serve as role models for future entrepreneurs while illustrating that neurodiversity can be a strength and an asset for other firms.Deadline: April 15, 2026AMOUNT $19,000 in Grants and Services Learn more → |
Upcoming Business Events
 22nd Puerto Rican Symposium of Anti‑Money Laundering February 26, 2026 (San Juan) A major compliance and financial‑sector event drawing banks, fintechs, and corporate leaders.Focus: AML regulations, risk management, compliance updatesVenue: Centro de Convenciones de Puerto RicoIdeal for: financial institutions, legal teams, regulated industriesWhy it matters: one of Puerto Rico’s largest professional compliance conferences |
| Pharma Forum March 22-25, 2026 The Westin Copley Place10 Huntington Ave. Boston, MA 02116 United States |
What may Benefit Your Company
| Federal Tax Law: One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) – Signed July 4, 2025This tax overhaul builds on the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and includes numerous business-friendly provisions, many of which became effective in January 2026. 🔍LEARN MORE
✅ 100% Bonus Depreciation becomes PermanentBusinesses can immediately deduct the full cost of qualifying assets (machinery, equipment, vehicles, etc.) purchased after January 19, 2025 ✅ Section 179 Expensing IncreasedFor 2026, the immediate expense limit is $2.5 million, phasing out after $3.63 million in asset purchases. ✅ Research & Experimental (R&D) Expense DeductionFull and immediate expensing of domestic R&D costs (instead of amortizing), applicable to software and other research, made permanent ✅ Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction Made PermanentThe 20% deduction for pass-through business income is permanent, expanded thresholds and a $400 minimum deduction for qualifying business income ✅ 1099 Reporting Thresholds RaisedStarting 2026, businesses only need to issue 1099-NEC and MISC forms for payments over $2,000 (up from $600). 1099-K thresholds also revert to $20,000 and 200+ transactions. ✅ Payroll Tax Breaks for Tips and OvertimeNew deductions ensure no federal tax is applied to earmarked tips and overtime pay through 2028. IRS announces first day of 2026 filing season; online tools and resources help with tax filing IR-2026-02, Jan. 8, 2026The Internal Revenue Service announced Monday, January 26, 2026, as the opening of the nation’s 2026 filing season. This year, several new tax law provisions of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill become effective, which could impact federal taxes, credits and deductions. |
What Works
| Build an AI‑ready data foundation. Most companies want AI, but few have the clean, organized data needed to use it well. Preparing now means: ✅ Centralizing your data so customer info, sales, operations, and marketing aren’t scattered across tools ✅ Standardizing formats, so AI systems can read and learn from your information ✅ Setting clear data quality rules to avoid “garbage in, garbage out” outcomes. Strong data practices also make it easier to adopt tools like predictive analytics, automated reporting, and AI‑driven customer engagement. Networking Insight: Strengthen relationship‑driven networks, not just contact lists. Most companies collect contacts but don’t build real relationships. The businesses that win in 2026 will be the ones that: This creates a network that actually works when you need it—introductions, referrals, and early access to opportunities. References: Bloomberg.com & Harvard Business Review |
Top Headlines in Business
| 📈 Tesla’s $1 Trillion Bonus Plan Sparks Investor DebateFinancial Times reports that Tesla’s proposed compensation package for Elon Musk, worth nearly $1 trillion, is testing shareholders’ willingness to prioritize stock performance over governance concerns. Investors face a dilemma: approve the plan for potential gains or reject it over concentration of power. [🔍 ft.com]
📈 Switzerland Embraces Crypto RegulationFT’s Business Insight highlights Switzerland’s move to establish itself as a global crypto hub, leveraging its reputation for trust and stability. The country is creating frameworks to attract blockchain and decentralized finance projects, signaling a major shift in traditional banking norms. [🔍 ft.com] 📈 AI Boom Drives Big Tech Spending SurgeNYT’s latest coverage shows tech giants—Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon—accelerating AI investments despite bubble concerns. Spending exceeds $70 billion for infrastructure and talent, with Nvidia emerging as a $5 trillion market leader in AI chips. [🔍 nytimes.com] 📈 Berkshire Hathaway Prepares for Leadership TransitionNYT reports Warren Buffett is stepping back from active leadership, signaling a new era for Berkshire Hathaway. His farewell note emphasizes philanthropy and succession planning, with major implications for conglomerate strategy and investor confidence. [🔍 nytimes.com] |