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New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Orders NYC to Drop Foie Gras Sales Ban

Catskill Foie Gras Collective

Hudson Valley duck farmers, organized as the Catskill Foie Gras Collective, announced today that the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has ruled that NYC’s proposed ban on the sale of foie gras in NYC restaurants and retail stores violates State law. The Department has issued an Order directing that New York City “immediately comply with the provisions of Section 305-a of the Agriculture and Markets Law” and refrain from taking any action “that would restrict [the farmers’] ability to sell their product in the New York City market.” Agriculture and Markets Law § 305-a prohibits municipalities, like New York City, from enacting laws that unreasonably restrict farming operations in certified agricultural districts. The Hudson Valley duck farms are located within certified agricultural districts. The Department issued its Order after investigating the farmers’ complaint that NYC’s sales ban, which is known as Local Law 202, would unreasonably restrict their operations. “After reviewing our complaint, the Department of Agriculture has determined the City’s proposed actions do, in fact, violate New York State Law,” said Marcus Henley, a spokesperson for the Catskill Foie Gras Collective. “We are extremely grateful that the Department has taken this action, as hundreds of Sullivan County farm worker jobs were hanging in the balance.” Local Law 202 would have become effective on November 25, 2022, but in a separate lawsuit, a Manhattan judge issued a preliminary injunction that enjoins the City from enforcing the law pending further proceedings in that suit. Had Local Law 202 gone into effect at that time, the sales ban would have caused millions of dollars in revenue loss to the State, New York City, restaurants, wholesale distributors, retail store owners, and related transportation companies. “On a broader scale, the order stops local municipalities from establishing a dangerous precedent of dictating to us what farmers can grow and what people can eat,” added Henley. “It’s great news for farmers and fine diners everywhere.” Proponents for the sales ban, including animal rights groups, mistakenly claim that ducks are treated inhumanely during the foie gras production process. Hudson Valley Foie Gras and La Belle Farms respond that their ducks are well cared for, are allowed to roam freely, and are processed in a government-inspected facility, strictly adhering to animal welfare and federal regulations. Both farms produce foie gras using a special hand-feeding method, like no other farm in the world, so as not to harm the ducks. “These well-funded groups are reactionary and powerful, often times acting without knowing all the facts,” said Sergio Saravia, President of La Belle Farms. “We welcome politicians and reporters to visit our poultry farms and see, firsthand, the farming practices we have in place.” New York City has thirty days to challenge the Department’s Order by filing a court proceeding in Albany County. “We hope the City will accept the Order given the Department’s authority and expertise enforcing the Agriculture and Markets Law, but we will continue to fight to protect our farms if the City decides to spend even more taxpayer dollars on taking the matter to court in Albany.” For more information about foie gras production visit: https://foiegrasfacts.org. About Catskill Foie Gras Collective: The Catskill Foie Gras Collective is comprised of Hudson Valley Foie Gras and La Belle Farm, the main producers of foie gras to restaurants and retail food stores. The collective serves as a resource for factual information and independent articles about our farming. For more information, visit: https://foiegrasfacts.org/ Contact Details Lynn Munroe +1 845-548-1211 lynn@maracaibomedia.com Company Website https://foiegrasfacts.org/

December 15, 2022 11:58 AM Eastern Standard Time

A Holiday Gift Selection Curated by Industrial Designers: Kearney’s PERLab Releases Its Annual Gift Guide

Kearney

· 20 items across 6 gifting categories selected from a product engineer’s viewpoint · What makes these gifts so cool? Descriptions of/reasons for each choice · Key criteria: inclusivity and sustainability · High tech values prevail, even in apparel and footwear categories Today global management consulting firm Kearney’s Product Excellence and Renewal Lab ( PERLab ), the firm’s industrial redesign practice, released its annual Holiday Gift Guide 2022, a connoisseur-worthy roundup of the season’s hottest tools, toys and togs selected from an industrial designer’s perspective. The guide assesses 20 top products across six archetypal recipient categories, with succinct descriptions as well as rationale for suitability along criteria such as design, inclusiveness, sustainability, and technological wizardry. “Despite inflationary belt tightening, this holiday season still holds a fascination with getting the perfect gift for that ultra-discriminating loved one,” said Bharat Kapoor, Kearney partner and global lead of PERLab. “After unending debates and loads of products to choose from, we’ve selected an extraordinary array of the gifts we loved the most, across a half-dozen categories, which we think would awe any lucky recipient.” PERLab’s Holiday Gift Guide 2022 includes gifts for a wide range of design-conscious people, including: - The Fitness Fanatic - The Homebody - The Tech Connoisseur - The Adventurer - The Discerning Child - The Beauty Product Aficionado “This season I honor my own background, growing up in a family business surrounded by electronics and gadgets. I could never resist taking apart products and building them back,” noted Bharat Kapoor. “So it’s a childhood dream come true to be running PERLab, where our engineers and designers spend every day taking products, deconstructing them, and reimagining them around principals of good design, sustainability and inclusivity. Symbolic of this, our gift guide bears the hallmarks of our PERLab approach, as we share our list of the most impressive high-design and high-tech products we’ve come across. In doing so, we especially hope to instill an interest in the design of great products in younger generations.” # # # A copy of the PERLab Holiday Gift Guide 2022 is available here. About PERLab Kearney’s Product Excellence and Renewal Lab ( PERLab ) is the firm’s industrial redesign practice. PERLab helps our clients make the products that customers fall in love with. It's a design-driven approach to gross margin transformation that offers end-to-end capabilities – we can support growth at any point in a product’s life cycle. Our experts in product design, product development, sustainability, user experience, industrial design, IoT, consumer insights, product engineering, packaging design, and manufacturing excellence help organizations disrupt markets and leapfrog the competition. PERLab has studios in Chicago, Stuttgart, and Bengaluru, with clients ranging from Fortune 500 to PE portfolio companies. Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm. For nearly 100 years, we have been the trusted advisor to C-suites, government bodies, and nonprofit organizations. Our people make us who we are. Driven to be the difference between a big idea and making it happen, we help our clients break through. Contact Details Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.kearney.com

December 15, 2022 10:53 AM Eastern Standard Time

ADDING A LITTLE “YAY” TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON Meaghan Murphy – Author of Your Fully Charged Life and Lifestyle Expert Provides Tips to Enhance the Holidays

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/3imJXHAmsTQ It’s the time of year to celebrate with friends and loved ones. Lifestyle Expert and Author or Your Fully Charged Life, Meaghan Murphy has a few ways to add a little “YAY” to the holiday season. DRESS FOR THE OCCASSION Trends experts predict robust spending and larger gatherings over the coming weeks. Murphy says a great way to get started is to set the overall tone. “Think about the ambiance… lighting, decorations, and mood music. However, you also want to look the role,” she adds, “So, if you’re like me and planning to host your friends and family this holiday, I suggest shopping J.Jill to find your perfect holiday hosting outfit.” This Wearever Draped-Front Midi Dress is the perfect dress for any hosting occasion. It has flattering crossover draping and the midi length makes it perfect with tights and boots. Murphy says, “These garments also make the perfect gifts for the favorite women in your life, or yourself,” she continues, “I love the Pure Jill Reversible Sherpa Jacket. One side is a plush faux suede and the other is plush cozy Sherpa, so it's like having two coats in one. A blanket scarf is the epitome of cozy, and this one has a brushed texture for added softness.” J.Jill also has extended sizing, XS – 4X online and XS – 2X in-store. Visit your local J.Jill store or JJill.com to find your favorite pieces. Social media handles: Facebook: @ jjillstyle Instagram: @ jjillstyle GET CONNECTED This is the season to connect with friends and loved ones and Murphy says everybody loves a holiday greeting card, or e-card that shows up in your email. But these days, it’s really about using technology to engage with those around us. “That’s why I love the Nextdoor app,” says Murphy, “It’s a neighborhood network that connects you to your neighbors online and in the real world.” Nextdoor’s purpose is to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can rely on—and that’s especially important during the holiday season. “Whether you're hosting a cookie exchange, donating to a local charity, or looking for hidden gem boutiques to shop small, Nextdoor is your neighborhood holiday hub. This is a great way to sell things, organize events, and spread the word locally. Download the app or head to nextdoor.com to join your neighborhood,” says Murphy. For more information go to https://nextdoor.com/. Social media handles: @Nextdoor RECIPE LIFESAVERS The lifestyle expert says it’s important to prepare the menu ahead of time, adding “Over the next few weeks there’s a lot going on and a lot to plan. Think about the guests invited to your party and if there are any dietary restrictions. If you aren’t sure, it’s alright to ask within the invitation.” She always recommends starting with some easy apps and meals. One tip is to use frozen meatballs in a holiday recipe. “I grab Farm Rich Meatballs at my local grocery and stock my freezer. This time of year, I like to make pomegranate glazed meatballs. It usually takes about 15 minutes prep time and 30 minutes to cook… the end result is fantastic,” says Murphy. She highlights the many different ways frozen meatballs can enhance a dish. “You can also add them to easy to make turkey meatball soup and cola glazed recipes,” Murphy says, “Personally, I really love adding them to a charcuterie tray. All of these dishes are warm, hearty, and satisfying. Your guests will absolutely love them.” For more information and easy to make recipes, go to FarmRich.com Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 15, 2022 09:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video

Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition Gains Momentum in Fight to Protect Giant Sequoias Threatened by Unprecedented Wildfire Risk

Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition

Officials from the State of California, USDA Forest Service (Forest Service), National Parks Service (NPS), Tule River Indian Tribe of California and Save the Redwoods League ‒ all members of the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition ‒ announced today that they have made significant progress to restore the giant sequoia range and help protect it from severe wildfires. In its first year of large-scale collaboration, the Coalition far exceeded its goals, treating 4,257 acres ‒ more than double the acres originally targeted for restoration in 2022 ‒ in 36 of approximately 80 groves. Members also planted more than 248,000 native conifer seedlings, including giant sequoias, in groves that had burned in recent years. The Coalition gathered at Calaveras Big Trees State Park today to issue a progress report on the work conducted throughout 2022 by the public and non-governmental organizations. Giant sequoias are the largest trees in the world and severe wildfires have killed approximately 20% of the mature trees since 2015. The two federal agencies that own and manage the majority of giant sequoia lands ‒ USDA Forest Service and National Park Service ‒ implemented emergency actions this summer to accelerate the pace and scale of work. “An unprecedented crisis demands an unprecedented response,” said Jessica Morse, deputy secretary for forest and wildland resilience, California Natural Resources Agency, which houses the California State Parks system. “Federal, state, nonprofit and tribal partners have teamed up to protect critical old-growth giant sequoia groves. Unprecedented funding and a shift in government business practices – like deploying emergency authorities for the National Environmental Policy Act – have enabled us to scale and speed up crucial resilience projects. The loss of more than 10,000 giant sequoias is a somber testimony to the severity of the crisis. These resilience projects will make the difference between these monarch trees surviving or succumbing to the extreme climate pressures they face." Additional highlights from the 2022 progress report include: Collaboration to successfully protect Placer County Big Trees Grove in Tahoe National Forest from the Mosquito wildfire and Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park from the Washburn wildfire; Research lead by Coalition partners and their academic and nonprofit affiliates continued to investigate sequoia health and changing ecology, documenting new phenomena driving fire behavior and tree mortality and completing post-fire assessments Public outreach and education included electronic and print publications, community meetings, webinars, field trips, media events and news releases that resulted in more than 10,000 stories. The Coalition’s work in 2022 was conducted by 824 people at a cost of $10.5 million. The complete progress report is available here. “How the giant sequoia species emerges from this existential threat will be determined by the choices that we make now. We, collectively, must take responsibility for what happens next,” said Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League. “We, again, urge elected officials and policymakers to take further action to provide funding and personnel, enact policy changes and help us reduce fuels now so we can address the problem at scale.” The members of the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition are: National Park Service, represented by Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Yosemite National Park USDA Forest Service, represented by the Sequoia National Forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sierra National Forest, and Tahoe National Forest Bureau of Land Management, stewards of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area Tule River Indian Tribe of California, stewards of all or parts of five sequoia groves California State Parks, stewards of Calaveras Big Trees State Park California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), stewards of Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest University of California, Berkeley, stewards of Whitaker’s Forest Tulare County, stewards of Balch Park Save the Redwoods League, stewards of parts of two sequoia groves (special coalition affiliate member) Note to media: Images of GSLC projects and places are available for download here. * * * About Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition The Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition (GSLC) is a collaboration of public and non-governmental organizations with a shared commitment aimed at the conservation of giant sequoia grove ecosystems. The Coalition is comprised of all federal, tribal, state, local agencies and groups that manage giant sequoia groves in public, tribal or private non-profit ownership. Affiliate partners include select federal and state conservation agencies, non-governmental organization conservation groups and academic research partners with a shared commitment to protect giant sequoias and their ecosystems from emerging threats associated with climate change and the extended absence of natural, low-severity wildfire. More information at giantsequoias.org. # # # The Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition (GSLC) is a collaboration of public and non-governmental organizations with a shared commitment aimed at the conservation of giant sequoia grove ecosystems. The Coalition is comprised of all federal, tribal, state, local agencies and groups that manage giant sequoia groves in public, tribal or private non-profit ownership. Affiliate partners include select federal and state conservation agencies, non-governmental organization conservation groups and academic research partners with a shared commitment to protect giant sequoias and their ecosystems from emerging threats associated with climate change and the extended absence of natural, low severity wildfire. More information at giantsequoias.org. Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-766-0927 redwoods@landispr.com Company Website https://giantsequoias.org

December 14, 2022 04:24 PM Pacific Standard Time

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This Company Is Looking To Replace Long Commutes With Accessible Personal Air Travel

LIFT Aircraft

Interested in the opportunity to invest? Click here to get started! In the early 1900s, Ford Motor Company ’s (NYSE: F) Model T car democratized driving by making cars affordable for all. Now LIFT Aircraft is spreading its wings to democratize flight and make air travel accessible without requiring an expensive and time-consuming pilot license or certification. The company is currently making a Reg A+ offering of common stock. The average person commutes in their car for an hour every day. These commutes – the vast majority of which are 15 miles or less – translate into wasted time, and expensive fuel costs, and also have a measurable impact on decreased workplace innovation and income lost to commute time. Concerns around transportation also include climate change emissions. Transportation accounts for the largest segment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the US, with lightweight and medium-to-heavy vehicles making up 83% of all transportation emissions. Safe Drone Flights Without Expensive Pilot Certification LIFT Aircraft is attempting to revolutionize travel, making flight available to all with its electrical, vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, HEXA. Through this human-scale drone, the company plans to deliver personal, point-to-point travel to the urban air mobility (UAM) market currently worth $2.2 billion. As ultralights, HEXA aircraft don’t require expensive and time-consuming pilot certification under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 103. This means that about one hour of training - including ground school and virtual reality (VR) flight simulator training - is enough for most to be able to fly these straightforward aircraft. The company is starting by providing recreational flights out of its vertiport locations, however, LIFT’s vision is that these ultralights will eventually provide a viable alternative to cars for most commuters. Designed for short-range flights and capable of speeds of 90 mph, HEXA could be perfectly suited to replace commutes of 15 miles or less, which account for 85% of all traveling in the US. The company has simplified procedures to make HEXA – which has zero CO 2 emissions – simple and straightforward to fly. Equipped with a triply redundant autopilot computer, autopilot capabilities, and automatic wind-speed adjustments, the aircraft is easily flown with a single, 3-axis joystick. Meanwhile, all of LIFT’s recreational flights are monitored by trained professionals able to take remote control of the aircraft in case of emergency. LIFT doesn’t seem to be taking any shortcuts when it comes to safety. The company says it self-regulates its aircraft according to rigorous FAA safety guidelines to ensure maximum safety compliance for its aircraft. LIFT’s safety advisory board includes Dr. Charles Justiz, a leading expert in aircraft safety and former Chief of Aviation Safety at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The company’s commitment to making flight both accessible and as safe as possible means that almost anyone can fly without the prohibitive cost of expensive certification. After what it says was a highly successful Reg CF fundraise, LIFT has now launched a Reg A+ stock offering. Interested in the opportunity to invest? Click here to get started! Learn more about LIFT Aircraft by visiting its website. Austin, Texas-based LIFT Aircraft is leading the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) revolution. LIFT is working with the US Air Force and first response organizations to utilize their aircraft for defense and public service while also launching the world’s first flight training and pay-per-flight operation centers business, based on an entirely new type of personal, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. HEXA, LIFT Aircraft’s multi-rotor, amphibious, ultralight vehicle democratizes the experience of piloting an aircraft, making the joy and utility of personal, vertical flight accessible to all. Find out more at www.liftaircraft.com Benzinga may receive monetary compensation from the issuer, or its agency, for publicizing the offering of the issuer's securities. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. This is a paid ad. Please see 17b disclosure linked in the campaign page for more information. LIFT Aircraft's Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC.This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. For more information about this offering, please view LIFT's offering circular and risks associated with this offering. Contact Details Kenny Miller, CFO Kenny@LIFTAircraft.com

December 14, 2022 08:15 AM Eastern Standard Time

Holiday Jewelry Gift Guide from Jared, Kay, and Zales

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/CsgiPFnJKbM The holiday season is all around us and consumer data shows that consumers are shopping more thoughtfully this holiday season, particularly in the over $500 and over $5000 categories. Shoppers are actively buying gifts that are symbolic or personal to the recipient. If you are thinking about giving the gift of jewelry you might be wondering, where do you start, how do I shop for something with meaning, what are the hottest trends, how do I stay in the know and get the best value and style? Here are ways and categories to start with: Jewelry gift with meaning this holiday season: Look for gifts that tell your story. KAY, Jared and Zales have meaningful ways to honor your relationship this holiday season. One great gift to show your everlasting love is KAY’s new Love Entwined Collection which features a signature center diamond and interlinking design that represents your hearts and lives forever intertwined by love. Jared’s Shy Creation Diamond Ring – a fashion-forward design with multiple stacked bands – is also a gorgeous piece symbolizing the interwoven fabric of love. Zales’ You’re the One collection introduces beautiful pieces featuring a stunning center stone to honor and celebrate the one person that is your everything. Gifting gold for both men and women Yellow gold continues to be a hot trend and you can never gift or get enough. Stacking, layering, and mixing gold tones is still the trendiest way to sport the trend and KAY’s Italian Brilliance collection features an artisan-refined gold-cutting technique that gives each gorgeous piece a faceted look that really gives it a unique sparkle when light reflects from it. Such a modern design element that really makes it a conversation starter. Every 14K gold piece from Jared’s Italia D’Oro Collection is inspired by the history of the most romantic and sophisticated cities of Rome, Milan, Tuscany, Venice and more – with styles for women and men. Classic jewelry options never go out of style? You can never go wrong gifting jewelry box essentials like classic diamond hoops and big, bold 2-carat rings with Lab-Created Diamonds by KAY. In fact, all diamonds and lab-created diamonds are 100% conflict free! Box sets offer amazing value, too. Gift them together or check multiple people off your list by breaking them apart into multiple gifts. For the guy on your list, there is the Citizen Eco-Drive Crystal Accent Watch and Link Bracelet Set you can pick up from Zales. A classic, forever piece that features a sleek black dial with gold-toned hands and crystal markers with technology that harnesses light, so it never needs a new battery. Getting proposal ready during this season of celebration It’s the perfect time of year for a proposal and Jared has you covered! They’ve partnered with some of the most celebrated bridal designers on gorgeous collections. Their Pnina Tornai ONE series features options for the classic and non-traditionalist bride and is accented with a signature 14k rose gold cuff. From Zales, we have the Vera Wang LOVE collection, designed by international wedding icon, Vera Wang. This year, some of the most popular engagement rings include items from the TRUE Lab-Created Diamonds collection which feature fancy-cut stones such as pear, oval, and marquise for an elevated, glamorous look. And from KAY, there is the gorgeous Monique Lhuillier BLISS collection which carries engagement rings and bands inspired by the delicate floral details of her bridal collection. It also features her newly launched men’s bands! For more information: KAY.com, Jared.com and Zales.com for all of your responsibly sourced jewelry and don’t forget that experts are available online and in-store to help you find the perfect gift, even during that last-minute rush. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 13, 2022 05:32 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video

Mike Bako Captures the Holiday Season with GoPro Hero 11 Black

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/qjpGbNVC1x0 Some of the biggest trends of the year come from social media and platforms like TikTok. Mike Bako says, “That means content creators of all ages will love the GoPro HERO11 Black. It's one of my favorites!” The GoPro HERO11 Black delivers the highest resolution with 5.3K video and 27 megapixel photo, highest 10-bit color depth, highest level of video stabilization with HyperSmooth 5.0 and widest field of view ever featured on a GoPro HERO camera. Bako adds, “Sharing memories on-the-go has never been easier with HERO11 Black’s auto highlight video feature, which automatically creates highlight reels of your footage with the GoPro Quik app and a GoPro Subscription, which comes with unlimited cloud storage.” Find out more at GoPro.com. Direct Link: https://gopro.com/en/us/shop/cameras/hero11-black/CHDHX-111-master.html Social media handles: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gopro/ Instagram: @gopro Twitter: @GoPro Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 13, 2022 04:10 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video

PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD APPROVES JOCK MKT TO BECOME STATE’S FIRST APPROVED STOCK MARKET FOR FANTASY SPORTS

Jock MKT

Backed by many of the giants of the sports betting industry and inspired by a traditional stock exchange, Jock MKT ( Jock Market ) announced it is fully operational in the State of Pennsylvania as of December 2022. Jock MKT allows users to buy and sell virtual shares of athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, PGA Tour, and NASCAR in real time during every second of every game for real money. Jock MKT is available via iPhone, Android, and the web for adults 18 and over and physically located in approved states. Launched in 2020, Jock MKT executives spent nearly two years working with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to obtain a license to operate in Pennsylvania. The platform is now available in 35 states, including the nearby states of New Jersey and Ohio. As of Dec. 13, Jock MKT customers have traded 19.3 million shares, placing orders that exceed a combined $218 million on the platform. “With some of the nation’s most knowledgeable and passionate sports fans residing in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, we know residents in Pennsylvania are going to enjoy the strategies and intricacies of Jock MKT,” said Jock MKT CEO Tyler Carlin. “Like a traditional stock market, our platform involves skill. However, with today’s news, we may see demand surge for shares of Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and Joel Embiid on one side of the state and Kenny Pickett and Sidney Crosby on the other.” Jock MKT’s main differentiator is its cash market format – this unique offering gives users more flexibility and optionality versus typical daily fantasy contests. Customers can join at any time and for any dollar amount. They can buy and sell shares of athletes in real-time, lock in gains by selling early hot performers to another customer in-game, or hold to the end and receive fixed Jock MKT payouts tied to final player rankings based on overall fantasy scoring. Each cash market starts with an “Initial Player Offering,” or an IPO, where users have their first opportunity to bid on shares before any contest. As an organization, Jock MKT has tripled its workforce over the last year and plans to continue adding new features and offerings for fans. Jock MKT recently introduced longer-term markets that allow users to root for a player for a month or longer while having the opportunity for a monetary return in the short term. Jock MKT’s co-founder is Tyler Carlin, a 2013 MIT Sloan School of Management graduate. The platform raised its first round of funding led by Will Ventures, followed by a Series A round led by Left Lane Capital. Will Ventures’ Founding Partner and Managing Director is Isaiah Kacyvenski, a retired eight-year NFL veteran with a Harvard MBA. About Jock MKT Headquartered in Boston and launched in 2020, Jock MKT ( JockMKT.com ) is a skill-based fantasy gaming platform where customers can make real money – every minute, every second, of every game. Inspired by a traditional stock exchange, Jock MKT allows customers to buy and sell shares of athletes in real time. Jock MKT was co-founded by Tyler Carlin, and investors include Left Lane Capital, Will Ventures, Ryan Moore, Brandon Adams, Benjie Cherniak, Tim McSweeney, and Alumni Ventures Group. Available in the U.S. in 35 states, Jock MKT offers gaming options for events tied to the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, PGA Tour, and NASCAR. # # # Contact Details Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://jockmkt.com/

December 13, 2022 09:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

Wellness Access Institute launches to accelerate the speed of innovation from the science to shopper

Wellness Access Institute

The fast-growing global health & wellness industry is now worth US$1.5 trillion and is projected to grow at a rate of 5-10% per year ( Mckinsey & Company ). While every company rushes to bring new products to market to take a slice of the revenue opportunity, consumers are faced with a different dilemma. What innovations or brands can they trust? Which products are genuinely backed by science-based evidence and real-world proof? What actions can they take now to support their long term health and wellness? And how can they get a hold of the latest cutting edge research and solutions sooner? Wellness Access Institute (WAI) aims to position itself as the leading authority and innovation accelerator in the Wellness industry. Established in June 2022 by Greg Macpherson and Warren Liu, WAI (Pronounced ‘why’) aims to address the industry's biggest problems. Whether it's predicting the future of the industry, educating consumers on the science, addressing the trust deficit or tackling issues with supply chain quality and speed to market for products. WAI’s goal is to establish an independent industry body that is funded by the industry it hopes to serve. Warren Liu, Co-Founder of WAI says “WAI aims to enforce, advance and advocate the wellness movement to benefit the health of the human race. The idea came to me and my co-founder Greg given our work together on launching the SRW Cellular Health brand. We realised a number of issues in bringing genuine innovation to market with a lack of platforms, information and support for those that haven’t been through the process before. It's from this realisation that we had the idea to create a solution”. Ahead of the launch today, Warren and Greg have been able to establish an initial advisory board featuring some of the best minds from across the industry. “With our advisory board we hope to answer the what, why and how of the industry in a way that helps accelerate the wellness movement globally” says Greg Macpherson, Co-Founder of WAI. “Along with solving some of the key industry issues; this advisory board will work on their collective 2030 vision for wellness and support with the latest scientific research”. The wellness advisory board features 8 prominent individuals: From Aubrey Levitt the founder of microbiome startup ‘Postbiotics Plus’, to Dr. Matt Yousefzadeh who has published over 30 scientific publications to Michael Heinam who has secured patent applications and contracts with leading universities and researchers, in over 145 countries around the world. The initial team brings with them a network of thousands of potential collaborators across the globe. Warren Liu added: “Ultimately this diverse panel is what makes WAI different. It's no longer just businessmen and scientists trying to create new products to sell. It's an open dialogue and vision setting agenda involving people at every stage of the journey and starts with making knowledge on the primary factors for wellness accessible to all. From a discussion on what you can do today to be healthier, right down to the young person suffering acne problems who may end up buying a product from TikTok” The WAI accelerator program will also be a critical ignition tool for change. The industry is known for its red tape and often our best scientists take years to bring the latest innovations to people who need them, let alone in a way that is accessible and affordable. For the first time WAI will be able to connect scientists with the best minds in R&D, Entrepreneurship, Technical Production, Supply Chain, Marketing, Culture, Education, Government and Industry. Greg Macepherson said: “WAI is here to surface foundational aspects of how we all age healthier and make this knowledge accessible to all. We are here to foster conversation and change to move humanity’s health and wellness forward. There is something fundamentally broken at a population level around health and wellness and an urgent paradigm shift is needed if we are to support an ageing population sustainably and improve our collective and individual health as we age. WAI aims to accelerate our understanding and access to wellness and wellness innovation in a way that is trusted and available to all. Improving “Access’ to the latest innovations is core to our mission.” Warren and Greg have been discussing specific problems in the industry that they believe they can begin to solve right away. With Greg’s background as a biotechnologist, futurist, Founder of SRW Laboratories and author of ‘The 9 Hallmarks of Ageing’ he has identified an issue that is very personal to both of them. “How we classify, understand and provide cutting edge solutions to ageing will be one of the group’s first missions. How we think about our cellular health and supporting a dialogue to classify ageing as a disease is a fundamental issue to raise awareness of. A similar parallel is when scientists reached consensus that microbes caused infections. This consensus caused a change in behaviours such as adopting basic hygiene principles saving hundreds of thousands of lives and then led to the discovery of antibiotics that saved millions more. Once we think of ageing as a disease then it will drive changes to behaviours that cause us to slow the ageing process and ultimately will lead to the discovery of “antibiotics” for ageing that will lead to increased health-spans and lifespans for us all - the benefits of this for humanity are significant” added Greg Macepherson. Beyond addressing core facets of how we improve accessibility to knowledge around health and wellness that will drive a step change in how well people age, an issue right now is that there are some amazing breakthroughs happening in the research space. We need to set up frameworks to massively accelerate research and access to these breakthroughs. The reality is that most everyday citizens don’t know that there is clear science on how to slow aging. Or how to even begin to translate this and take action for themselves. By focusing on raising awareness of the issue itself, WAI hopes to educate the end customer on what solutions are available. And collaborating directly with scientists, labs and researchers to help bring affordable solutions to customers right now. WAI also aims to raise awareness about the benefits of gut health and nutrition as ways to ward off disease. Most consumers aren’t aware of the latest research in phytonutrients and how they can act as the ingredients for your body's own compound pharmacy - your gut microbiome. One that can produce its own medicines, now known as postbiotics, that support our overall health. When we think about nutrition we have actually been sold a lie for many years. We can all remember the phrase ‘eat your greens’. This was actually born out of an opportunity to sell green supplements to those who didn’t eat green fruits and vegetables because they didn’t like the taste. Fast forward to today and the market is flooded with hundreds of greens based supplements and multivitamins. We seem to have forgotten about the other 5 major colours based on this clever marketing ploy. We actually need to be eating red, purple, blue, yellow, green and black fruits and vegetables of every colour. And these need to contain genuine phytonutrients in order for our bodies to be able to create their own solutions. 90% of the health and wellness market doesn’t even consider this. Finally they have also set our sights on the beauty industry and its endless and often toxic pursuit of beauty. We aim to raise awareness of the skin biome and how that affects how we think about beauty from the inside out. Warren has previously worked with ‘Vida Glow’ who pioneered the ingestible beauty industry so he knows this space well. “We aren’t just talking about marine collagen here however; we are looking to tackle the serious issue of beauty culture through education and innovation” commented Warren Liu. Full list of WAI Advisory Board members: Aubry Levitt, Dr Andrew Clark, Dr Matt Yousefzadeh, Michael Henain, Aki Ueda, Dr Ross Walker and Dr Albert Dashi. About Wellness Access Institute Wellness Access Institute (WAI, pronounced ‘why’) is a non-for-profit organisation that aims to position itself as the leading authority and innovation accelerator in the wellness industry. Established in June 2022 by Greg Macpherson and Warren Liu, WAI aims to solve some of the industry's biggest problems. Whether it's predicting the future of the industry, educating consumers on the science, addressing the trust deficit created by untrustworthy sellers (citizen scientists) or tackling issues with supply chain quality and speed to market for products. For more information please visit https://wai.institute/ or follow via Linkedin or instagram. Contact Details Wellness Access Institute Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://wai.institute/

December 13, 2022 06:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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