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Hacks Have Taken Billions From Both Centralized And Decentralized Crypto Exchanges — Is Swopblock The Answer?

Benzinga

By James Wells, Benzinga Learn more about and invest in Swopblock via Wefunder The crypto community has faced a series of unfortunate incidents over the past two years, punctuated by the collapse of FTX, a large centralized exchange (CEX). These situations have led many investors – who are still awaiting compensation – to question the reliability of CEXs. Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) propose a solution by removing third parties and allowing users to handle their own assets. Nevertheless, many DEXs still rely on centralized components such as bridges and pipes, limiting their reach to full decentralization. Swopblock, a pioneering decentralized crypto exchange, stands out by enabling cross-chain trading with 100% liquidity distribution across user wallets. This could surpass the limitations of existing DEXs and CEXs, potentially positioning Swopblock as a leader in the decentralized finance (DeFi) field. Centralized Exchanges: A Double-Edged Sword Centralized Exchanges (CEXs) such as Binance, Coinbase and Kraken are popular cryptocurrency platforms known for their reliability and a range of benefits, including liquidity, fast transactions and user-friendly interfaces. However, these advantages come with a downside: CEXs have a custodial nature, which means they hold users' assets on their behalf. This setup increases the risk associated with relying on the exchange as an intermediary. The increased counterparty risk in CEXs can lead to potential problems. For example, some exchanges like Celsius have faced insolvency issues, while others like FTX experienced irretrievable losses of funds due to unethical practices. While CEXs offer convenience by simplifying asset management through exchange-managed wallets, it requires users to place significant trust in the exchange, making them vulnerable to these risks. Transition To Decentralization: Not The Ultimate Solution Yet Cross-chain Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs) attempt to mitigate CEXs' counterparty risk by compartmentalizing custodial control into pipes and bridges, but this does not completely eliminate the risk of custodial control failure. This can lead to single points of failure, causing significant losses if compromised (hacks, bugs, etc.). DEXs like Uniswap mitigate CEXs' counterparty risk by prohibiting cross-blockchain trading altogether, this requires using these CEXs to gain access between DEXs on other blockchains. According to Binance Research, DEXs were the most used type of decentralized application (dApp) among institutions in Q2 2023. While CEXs are an established technology, DEXs retain most centralized exchange capabilities and often provide access to more niche and experimental projects. The Swopblock Solution: Distributed Liquidity for Complete Decentralization Swopblock is a trailblazer in the DEX industry as the first fully decentralized exchange. Unlike its competitors, such as Thorchain or PancakeSwap, Swopblock ensures an impressive 100% liquidity distribution across all user wallets, significantly reducing vulnerability to liquidity pool and bridge hacks. Despite liquidity pools being decentralized, these remain susceptible targets for attacks due to the accumulation of assets. The alarming $2.1 billion lost to hacks and exploits in 2022 alone emphasizes the urgent need for more decentralized liquidity distribution. The true innovation of Swopblock lies in its decentralized liquidity distribution, setting it apart from other platforms. Powered exclusively by SWOBL, users contribute liquidity individually for their trades while retaining full control within their wallets. This approach not only addresses self-custody issues typically associated with Centralized Finance (CeFi) but also eliminates the 'honeypot' risks inherent in traditional DEXs like Trader Joe, Uniswap, and PancakeSwap. Swopblock: Ushering in a New Era of Genuine Decentralization in Crypto Exchanges As the DEX sector continues to thrive in the aftermath of the FTX fallout, and with the increasing focus on self-custody, it's crucial that both investors and developers maintain their focus on the overarching goal of crypto: decentralization. Many decentralized projects, despite their emphasis on improving capital efficiency, user-friendliness, and other metrics, have overlooked the enormous flaw of integrating any kind of single-point custodial-control failure into a decentralized exchange system. Swopblock, with its innovative technology emphasizing distributed liquidity powered by its protocol driven medium of exchange, stands as a truly disruptive force that prioritizes decentralization. As the demand for a genuinely decentralized exchange method grows, Swopblock stands ready to meet it, raising the bar across the industry. Learn more about and invest in Swopblock via Wefunder. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 15, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

OLB Group (NASDAQ: OLB) Acquires Controlling Interest In Prepaid Phone Platform, Potentially Expanding Its Services For The Underbanked To An Additional 31,000 Locations

Benzinga

By David Willey, Benzinga OLB Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: OLB) is a diversified payment and omnicommerce technology services provider that provides the benefits of traditional banking to financially underrepresented communities. It is boosting its services to the underbanked through the acquisition of a controlling interest in Cuentas SDI LLC, a company that owns the platform of Black011.com along with a network serving over 31,000 convenience stores. OLB acquired an 80% share in the company and will offer its services, including the prepaid General Purpose Reloadable (GPR) program, to the stores and customers already on SDI’s network. The company has appointed a new Vice President (VP) of Sales, Jeff Jorgge, to lead the expansion. Jorgge has over 15 years of experience leading similar projects with other major companies. His campaign will involve rebranding the SDI platform under the OLB Payment Platform and ECO payment system and offering OLB’s services to the 31,600 convenience stores currently part of SDI’s network. The campaign will highlight the ability of members on the Black011 platform network to use one integrated Point-of-Sale (POS) system so their customers can purchase products and reload their phones from the same system. Jorgge commented, “I have been involved in indirect channel distribution for the past 15 years in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area and am very excited about all the additional unique services that OLB will bring to the merchants on the SDI network. The OLB Group applications of in-store and on-mobile online App and will help to bridge the digital divide for the unbanked, underbanked, and underserviced population.” OLB’s Current Focus – The First 1,000 Locations OLB believes this controlling acquisition of SDI will increase its service to convenience stories and their customers. The company is starting its campaign by targeting 1,000 prime locations, including convenience stores and ‘bodegas,’ in the tri-state area. These locations often serve unbanked or underbanked households, which represent almost 18% of America’s more marginalized communities. There are over 150,000 convenience stores in the U.S., and it is estimated that over 90% of Americans live within a short distance of one of these stores. However, these stores can struggle in the changing economic environment, and OLB’s acquisition will allow it to better serve this significant market. OLB Group CEO Ronny Yakov commented on the acquisition, “We are excited to move forward with this exciting next step in our relationship with Cuentas. Our plan is to immediately focus on adding as many as 1,000 new stores to the network in the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut area and then ramp up from that initial base.” Expanding SDI Services Cuentas Inc. (NASDAQ: CUEN), which used to own Cuentas SDI, still owns almost a 20% share of the company. It will continue helping SDI serve financially underrepresented communities and plans to add the network to its new Cuentas Mobile Wireless Service. It will also continue working with the leading global financial services company InComm, to add innovative digital solutions to the SDI network in aid of the underbanked. OLB will be able to offer these locations numerous benefits, including access to OLB’s network of customers, wallets with instant credit and the ability to issue loans and other financial services. The acquisition of the SDI network will also enhance OLB’s GPR program. GPR cards function like debit cards, except they are pre-paid and reloadable, and unlike debit cards, they are not connected to a bank. Integrating the SDI network with OLB’s financial services means owners of merchant locations will be able to reload funds to their accounts as well as use OLB’s electronic portal to offer customers instant access to digital products. Other companies that offer services similar to OLB, including integrated fintech/payment, are large-cap names like Shopify, Inc. (NYSE: SHOP) and BigCommerce Holdings (NASDAQ: BIGC). This initiative to expand into a very large underserved market could be a major contributor to OLB’s revenue and income growth going forward as the company executes on their roll out plan to the new market sector of bodegas and convenience stores. Want to read more about what OLB Group is doing to serve the underbanked? Check out its website. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 15, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Claravine Makes the Inc. 5000 for Fourth Consecutive Year

Claravine

Inc. revealed today that Claravine ranks No. 2426 on the 2023 Inc. 5000, its annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other household name brands gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. "It is an honor to be recognized four consecutive years in the Inc. 5000,” says Verl Allen, CEO of Claravine. “The past four years have been transformative for Claravine and earning a place in the Inc. 5000 is a testament to the incredible success of our clients, which include over a quarter of the Fortune 100, and our world-class team. We plan to continue building on this momentum to power higher quality data decisions across our customers using data standards.” The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. Among this year’s top 500 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate ticked up to an astonishing 2,238 percent. In all, this year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 1,187,266 jobs to the economy over the past three years. For complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, location, and other criteria, go to www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine, available on newsstands beginning Tuesday, August 23. “Running a business has only gotten harder since the end of the pandemic,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “To make the Inc. 5000—with the fast growth that requires—is truly an accomplishment. Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that are building our future.” This acknowledgement comes on the heels of a milestone year for Claravine. Recently, Claravine acquired Netra, Inc, a content classification company powered by artificial intelligence, and added its services to AWS Marketplace. Claravine was also recently named for the second consecutive time to AdExchanger’s Programmatic Power Players list, as well as awarded the 2022 AdExchanger Award for Best Data Technology. Claravine was also named a cool vendor in the 2022 Gartner Cool Vendors in Marketing Data and Analytics report. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Methodology Companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2019 to 2022. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2022. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2019 is $100,000; the minimum for 2022 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. About Inc. Inc. Business Media is the leading multimedia brand for entrepreneurs. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of our community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating our future. Inc.’s award-winning work reaches more than 50 million people across a variety of channels, including events, print, digital, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Its proprietary Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to rank the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion on this and other prestigious Inc. lists, such as Female Founders and Power Partners, gives the founders of top businesses the opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com. For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, slated for October 31 - November 2 in San Antonio, visit http://conference.inc.com. About Claravine Claravine is The Data Standards Company aiming to give people, teams and technology a shared understanding of their data. Claravine helps brands and agencies deliver on the promise of modern marketing by standardizing taxonomies, naming conventions, and metadata across all digital experiences at the source of data creation. The Data Standards Cloud empowers a proactive approach to marketing metadata naming conventions and taxonomy for fast, accurate and rich business insights that help deliver the experiences customers want. Claravine partners with a quarter of the Fortune 100 to define, apply and connect standards across their ecosystem for faster decisions, greater agility, and increased ROI. For more information, visit www.claravine.com. Contact Details Kite Hill PR Michael Kocher +1 704-960-2295 michael@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.claravine.com/

August 15, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Sekur’s Suite Of Encrypted And Private Communication Tools Will Now Be Available To Morocco’s Largest Telecommunications And Banking Companies Thanks To New Agreement

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga This month, Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQB: SWISF) (CSE: SKUR) (FRA: GDT0) announced a new distribution agreement with Digital Smart Solution Sarl (DSS), a Morocco-based IT services consulting company. The agreement will see Sekur’s suite of privacy solutions, including SekurMesenger, SekurVPN and SekurMail offered to some of Morocco’s largest companies in the telecommunications and banking sectors. Sekur Is A Leader In Developing Truly Private And Secure Communication And Internet Access Among the solutions that will be distributed under the new agreement is SekurMessenger. The proprietary chat, voice-message and file-sharing app allows users to communicate via a secure and very private channel without disclosing their phone number or other contact information. It also comes with a self-destruct timer that users can set to automatically clear message history at regular intervals. That’s true even when using the app to chat with someone who doesn’t have SekurMessenger through its chat-by-invite feature. The enterprise version archives all communications at server level for compliance, and offers full users’ permissions and onboarding, offering a compliant true private closed loop communications solution for businesses and their client base and offering an alternative to other non-compliant messaging applications in use today by many employees in the financial, legal and medical sectors. According to a CNBC article dated Aug 8th, 2023, U.S. regulators announced a combined $549 million in penalties against Wall Street firms that failed to maintain electronic records of employee communications. That level of privacy and data protection could be a game changer in a market that currently suffers from a lack of robust cybersecurity. “Approximately 90% of African businesses are operating without cybersecurity protocols in place, making them vulnerable to cyber threats, such as hacking, phishing, and malware attacks,” said Sekur CEO Alain Ghiai. Privacy is still an issue even within the cybersecurity services market, though. Data mining and third-party leaks are major issues among virtual private network (VPN) providers, for example. VPNs are meant to offer users a way to browse the internet while concealing their IP address and making the rest of their data less vulnerable to hackers. But many VPN providers structure their service in a way that leaves glaring loopholes for data leaks. In July, for example, Meta (NASDAQ: META) was fined AU$20 Million by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission after its subsidiary, Onavo Protect VPN, was found to be monitoring and logging user activity and sharing that data with its parent company. Even when a VPN provider promises that it doesn’t log user activity, it might use third-party servers or bundle its VPN with third-party services like ad blockers or anti-virus software that don’t make the same data privacy guarantees. That’s what Sekur wanted to solve with its SekurVPN launched in April. The VPN service is hosted entirely on Sekur’s own servers based in Switzerland, where data privacy laws are especially strict. It’s also a pure VPN service with no other third-party add-ons bundled into the plan. The result is a no-frills, easy-to-use VPN that not only guarantees that it won’t monitor or log user data but avoids the risk of third-party providers tracking or sharing that data as well. This level of privacy and security is especially important for businesses that are often handling not just their own data but that of customers and, as a result, are more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals. DSS Distribution Agreement Aligns With Sekur’s Recent Push Into Enterprise Security Market Under the new deal, DSS will start by approaching two of the largest telecom operators in Morocco which serve a combined mobile subscriber base of well over 20 million users. This comes as Sekur takes major steps to grow its enterprise services segment, including plans to launch major marketing campaigns by the fourth quarter of this year targeting the 30 million small businesses in the United States, where two-thirds of today’s VPN users are based. Alongside its expanded distribution and marketing strategy, the company is also developing a suite of Sekur Enterprise solutions to better cater to this segment as its network of enterprise customers grows. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 15, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Zuma Payroll & Processing Makes the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

Zuma Payroll & Processing

Zuma Payroll & Processing (“Zuma”), a leading payroll, processing, and talent management software provider, today announced it was named to the Inc. 5000 Annual List for accomplishing three-year revenue growth rate of 339 percent. It’s the second consecutive year that Zuma was named the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Zuma helps small and medium businesses (SMBs) handle their complex payroll, tax, and human resources obligations more efficiently and effectively. Over the past three years, Zuma has experienced a transformative phase of growth, more than tripling its revenue and doubling its team of experts. Zuma has seen a surge in demand for its award-winning, all-in-one HR platform for SMBs, including tremendous growth from the construction sector. The company specializes in handling intricate union reporting requirements. “We're seeing surging demand for our payroll, tax, and HR services, particularly in our specialty solutions for the construction sector," said Chris Caputo, CEO of Zuma. "Our ongoing investments in people and technology enable us to serve more clients and solve their complex payroll and tax challenges. Being named to the list for the second consecutive year is a testament to our team's hard work, dedication, and commitment to client excellence.” The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. “Running a business has only gotten harder since the end of the pandemic,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “To make the Inc. 5000—with the fast growth that requires—is truly an accomplishment. Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that are building our future.” About Zuma Payroll & Processing Founded in 2006, Zuma has evolved into a crucial solution-provider for businesses, particularly in the realm of payroll and human capital. The company has experienced monumental growth in the construction sector, owing to its expertise in intricate union reporting requirements. A 30% expansion in its dedicated team and pivotal investments into technology have propelled Zuma to redefine the sales process and enhance the client journey. With its headquarters in Melville, NY, Zuma continues its endeavor to streamline operations and offer top-tier services to its ever-growing clientele. For more information, kindly visit https://www.zumapay.com/. About Inc. Inc. Business Media is the leading multimedia brand for entrepreneurs. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of our community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating our future. Inc.’s award-winning work reaches more than 50 million people across a variety of channels, including events, print, digital, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Its proprietary Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to rank the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion on this and other prestigious Inc. lists, such as Female Founders and Power Partners, gives the founders of top businesses the opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com. Contact Details LoBello Communications Sivan Ron Sivan@LoBelloCommunications.com Company Website https://www.zumapay.com/

August 15, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge: OPPO Announces 15 Finalists and the Opening of Voting for the People’s Choice Award

OPPO

15 innovative proposals exploring the two categories of "Inspiration for People" and "Inspiration for the Planet" qualified for the Global Final Demo Event where they will compete for the top 5 places and the chance to bring their ideas to life with support from OPPO and its partners. The poll for People's Choice Award will start at 2PM on August 15 th (GMT+8). Click here to vote for your favorite proposal in each of the two categories with the chance to win an OPPO Find N2 Flip phone! SHENZHEN, CHINA - Media OutReach - 15 August 2023 - OPPO today announced the 15 tech start-ups shortlisted for the Global Final Demo Event of the 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge following the successful completion of regional demo events in Boston, Shenzhen, and Bangkok earlier this month. The 15 start-ups and their innovations will meet in Singapore in October where they will compete for a spot in the global top 5. The 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge received a total of 687 innovative proposals from 66 different countries and regions focusing on the two entry categories of "Inspiration for People" and "Inspiration for the Planet". Following a thorough evaluation process, the top 15 solutions in each region were selected to take part in three regional demo events in Boston, Shenzhen, and Bangkok. Industry Experts Inspire Further Innovation Hosted by OPPO Research Institute in partnership with the Harvard GSAS Entrepreneur Community, the first regional demo event of 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge was held at the Harvard Club of Boston on July 27. During the event, 15 selected start-ups from Europe, the United States, and Israel pitched their solutions to the judging panel. Following their pitches, entrants also had the opportunity to engage in in-depth technical discussions with Jason Liao, Head of OPPO Research Institute, and executives from Harvard Business School and investment institutions. On July 31, the second regional demo event took place in Shenzhen in partnership with the China University-Enterprise Collaboration Innovation Alliance (CUEC). OPPO Vice President and President of China Market, Bobee Liu, and the Head of OPPO Health Lab, Leo Zeng, both attended the event, where they were joined by other judges from Qualcomm Ventures, Amazon Web Services, GSMA 5G IN, and Beihang Investment. During the event, attending media and guests also voted for the winners of the "Media Choice" and the "Virtuous Innovation" awards. The last regional demo event took place in Bangkok on August 7. In partnership with one of the APAC region's most influential universities – Chulalongkorn University – OPPO also invited experts from Amazon Web Services and Deloitte to participate in the judging process. Professor Kaywalee Chatdarong, Vice President of Chulalongkorn University said in her closing remark that "Chulalongkorn University is honored to be OPPO's regional partner. Together, we envision a future full of possibilities and innovations for our nations and the global society." 15 Innovative Solutions Shortlisted for Global Final Demo Event Based on the four criteria of feasibility, innovation and originality, long-term potential, and social value, the professional judging panels from each of the three regional demo events have now selected their top 5 respective proposals to make up the shortlist of 15 entrants that will compete in the global final of 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge. Together, these solutions and the start-ups behind them are leveraging the power of digital health, accessible technology, and sustainability to build a better world for all. For more information about the 15 finalists and join People's Choice Award to vote for your favorite innovative proposals, please visit https://www.oppo.com/en/proposal/finalists-2023/. To further facilitate the development of the proposals via internal and external collaboration, OPPO will partner with KPMG to hold the Acceleration Camp prior to the Global Final Demo Event. During the camp, senior executives from OPPO will join technology experts, investors, and industry partners to provide assistance to the top 15 global start-ups. Following this, the top 5 winning solutions will be selected at the Global Final Demo Event. Each winning start-up will be awarded a prize of US$50,000 along with opportunities to help further build their ideas, including productization and commercialization opportunities, strategic partnerships, investment, and exposure at global technology events. Together with its partners, OPPO aims to empower global entrepreneurs and technology professionals to bring innovative solutions to life. For more details about the Global Final Demo Event and the 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge, please visit https://www.oppo.com/en/proposal/. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find X and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world. Contact Details Media Contact press@oppo.com Company Website https://oppo.com/en/proposal/

August 15, 2023 08:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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AFWERX Selects OnSeen for SBIR Phase II Contract to Develop Intelligent Installation Management System (“I2MS”)

OnSeen, Inc.

OnSeen, Inc. announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase II contract in the amount of $1,249,991.00 focused on the development of an AI-based, Intelligent Installation Management System (“I2MS”) to address some of the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on 08 August 2023, OnSeen will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. “We are incredibly honored to have been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase II contract,” said Randy Smith, President of OnSeen, Inc. “We are excited for the opportunity to develop and enhance our AI-based, I2MS technology to revolutionize IROC’s emergency/disaster response processes, and potentially in the future, to transform many other mission-critical, AFIMSC processes, such as logistics, civil engineering, facilities maintenance, communications repair, and others.” The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. About OnSeen, Inc. Founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 2017, OnSeen, Inc provides mobile workforce management software for the government, insurance, healthcare and military markets. The OnSeen family of services, including LiveGov, LiveClaims, and LiveCare, is focused on helping organizations intelligently manage their remote people, places, and things, using AI/ML-based decisioning, smart forms and robust API technology. OnSeen is a veteran-friendly company. About Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Sole organization leading the planning and execution of U.S. Air Force & U.S. Space Force science & technology programs. Orchestrates a world-wide government, industry & academia coalition in the discovery, development & delivery of a wide range of revolutionary technology. Provides leading-edge warfighting capabilities keeping air, space and cyberspace forces the world's best. Employs 10,800 military, civilian and contractor personnel at 17 research sites executing an annual $4B budget. For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com. About AFWERX The innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within AFRL. Brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. Employs approximately 215 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4B budget. Since 2019, has executed 4,671 contracts worth more than $2B to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com. Contact Details OnSeen, Inc. Randy Smith Randy.Smith@OnSeen.com Company Website https://www.onseen.com/

August 15, 2023 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Comcast, Hillsdale in Miami County and the City of Paola Announce Multi-Million Dollar Project to Deliver High-Speed Internet to Homes and Businesses Across the Area

Comcast Greater Kansas City

Comcast announced it is expanding its smart, fast, reliable fiber-rich network – the Xfinity 10G Network – to homes and businesses in the city of Paola and the area of Hillsdale in Miami County to further enhance broadband connectivity and better serve its citizens with fast, reliable internet service. Working with the City of Paola and Miami County, Comcast will bring secure gigabit broadband service to more than 4,000 homes and businesses and will invest millions in a two-year project to expand its fiber-rich Xfinity 10G Network infrastructure over 107 miles in the area. As part of its commitment to bring connectivity to more homes in Kansas, Comcast worked closely with the City of Paola and Hillsdale in Miami County to make fast internet a reality for over 4,000 homes and businesses. The expansion will bring residential broadband speeds faster than 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) and business speeds up to 100 Gbps. In the last three years, Comcast has invested nearly $40.3 million in the State of Kansas including more than $11.4 million in technology and infrastructure, such as network upgrades to deliver innovative, reliable and affordable broadband service to everyone in the Comcast service area in Kansas. “Comcast’s announcement to expand further south into Miami County provides additional service options to some customers but also brings service to some areas currently without any high-speed provider,” said Janet McRae, Economic Development Director for Miami County. “The need for our residents and businesses to have high speed internet options is only going to continue to increase in the future. We look forward to the opportunities this investment in our county will bring.” "We are excited for Comcast's commitment to bring high-speed internet to our residents and businesses. Members of our staff have already begun meeting with Comcast to help streamline their construction needs and hopefully minimize any disruptions that may occur,” said Randi Shannon, City Manager, City of Paola. “High-speed internet supports so many parts of our daily lives. Increased access benefits not just those who work from home or enjoy digital entertainment, but it also brings vital healthcare and similar services into the homes of our most vulnerable residents. We are grateful for Comcast's investment and are excited to see the opportunities it brings." “Comcast is proud to partner with Paola and Hillsdale to connect businesses and residents to our reliable, high-speed Xfinity 10G Network,” said Kalyn Hove, Regional Senior Vice President for Comcast. “As the world we live in becomes increasingly digital, we remain focused on not only bringing our broadband network to more homes and businesses in Kansas, but also on future-proofing our network to meet the ever-increasing appetite for education, business and entertainment.” Residential customers will be able to take advantage of Xfinity’s full suite of internet products, including the company’s Internet Essentials program that provides low-cost, high-speed broadband for income-constrained households. Since its inception in 2011, the program has connected more than 6,400 Kansas residents. Comcast also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides qualifying households with a $30 monthly credit toward internet and mobile services. Powered by the Xfinity 10G Network Comcast’s network and Internet experience are powering homes and businesses today and into the future: Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect nearly 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. The Xfinity 10G Network with the next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. Fastest Internet: More than a third of Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products, and symmetrical gig speeds are planned to come to the first homes later this year. Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get wall-to-wall WiFi coverage with a powerful Xfinity WiFi Boost Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas, with plans for an offering of increased support for in-home WiFi through a “boost guarantee” later this year. Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network – the Xfinity 10G Network – that passes 60 million homes and businesses and counting. The company plans to launch a new device that is “storm ready” with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity 10G Network and the latest Xfinity Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home. For local businesses, Comcast Business offers a suite of connectivity, cybersecurity, managed solutions and Comcast Business Mobile products designed specifically for their employee’s needs. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable and Internet provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading providers to larger organizations in the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Corporation Jill Hornbacher jill_hornbacher@comcast.com Venice Communications Jayne Siemens jsiemens@vencomm.com Company Website https://corporate.comcast.com/

August 15, 2023 07:00 AM Central Daylight Time

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VINCUE Secures Series B Funding to Scale and Advance Innovative Technology

DealerCue Automotive Corp.

For Immediate Release – DealerCue Automotive Corp. (“VINCUE”), maker of VINCUE, the revolutionary end-to-end inventory lifecycle solution for retail automotive dealerships, today announced the completion of its Series B investment round led by Holman, a global automotive services organization, and followed by Autotech Ventures (“Autotech”) and Automotive Ventures, a pair of venture capital firms with portfolios spanning automotive, transportation, and technology. The investments are the first major institutional investments for VINCUE and enables the company to scale operations, advance its product roadmap, and meet increasing market demand. “Holman is a remarkable organization with an unsurpassed collection of automotive competencies and is held in extremely high regard across the entire industry. We’re thrilled Holman believes in the significant potential of our technology and is at the forefront of this investment in our company,” said Chris Hoke, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technology Officer of VINCUE. “Holman is an innovator in our industry and the organization’s forward-thinking mindset along with its strategic capital investment will help to fuel our company’s continued growth.” Holman delivers a unique range of automotive-centric services and operates one of the largest privately owned dealership groups in the United States with more than 30 franchise dealerships across eight states from coast-to-coast. Danny Zaslavsky, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of VINCUE says that the collaboration started as a simple customer/vendor relationship, but both companies realized there were a number of natural synergies. “As Holman piloted our platform in several of their dealership locations, it quickly became apparent that our technology would help them further optimize operations while also enhancing our own capabilities,” said Zaslavsky, “we’re proud that Holman shares our vision for the future of automotive retailing and we’re honored they’ve invested in our innovative inventory management solution.” Through its unified platform, VINCUE offers a comprehensive suite of solutions and capabilities to manage every step of the inventory lifecycle including buying plans, multi-channel acquisition sourcing, market pricing and appraisal, merchandising and syndication, and digital marketing. The goal of a unified platform is to help dealers unlock prevailing strategies that increase gross and turn through providing real-time market and competitor data to make better buying and merchandising decisions - and outperform the market. "The mission of our growth ventures team is to align with early-stage businesses who are driving innovation in the industry and complement Holman’s collective automotive competencies. VINCUE certainly fits that profile and we’re excited to invest in their next phase of growth,” said Bill Cariss, President and CEO, Growth Ventures, Holman. “The VINCUE team is extremely talented and continues to think differently about inventory lifecycle management. Their intuitive platform is poised to disrupt the status quo of the retail automotive sector and offers dealerships a solution that empowers insightful decision making.” As part of its investment in VINCUE, Holman is also poised to integrate the technology at additional locations across its family of dealerships. By leveraging VINCUE's platform, Holman is able to further enhance its market intelligence to introduce new operational processes and procedures that it hopes will set the standard for the future of automotive retailing. “Through our initial use of VINCUE’s technology, we believe it provides the data intelligence and tools necessary to make impactful decisions, measure success, and ultimately, outperform the rest of the market in real-time,” says Chris Morgan, Vice President, Retail Operations, Holman. Following Holman, both Autotech and Automotive Ventures will also be providing capital as part of the Series B investment. Autotech Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm with more than $500M under management and a mission to solve the world’s ground transport challenges with technology. Its investment team includes: Quin Garcia, Managing Director; Alexei Andreev, Managing Director; Maurice Gunderson, Managing Director Emeritus; Burak Cendek, Partner; Daniel Hoffer, Venture Partner; Tony Rimas, Venture Partner; and Esat Canli, Analyst. "Automotive as a whole has largely been left out of the digital transformation happening in other retail industries, often relying on lagging indicators for buying and selling decisions from legacy software tools built decades ago.” said Rimas. “VINCUE offers modern solutions built on real-time data and intelligence to help dealers outperform the market instead of race to the bottom of it.” Led by Steve Greenfield, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Ventures promotes itself as funding the next wave of innovation in transportation technology. Its leadership team includes: Justin Charbonneau, Venture Principal; Andrew Gordon, Head of Value Creation; Adam Lafferty, VP of Operations; Brian Reed, Operating Partner; and industry veteran Chip Perry, Operating Partner. “VINCUE fits our mission perfectly,” says Greenfield, “they are looking into the future of technology and automotive and building solutions for today and beyond.” Greenfield says their decision to invest was as much about product as it was about the vision. “We know the industry and the market is changing, VINCUE is doing something about it,” he said. “We have a team here in Kansas City that truly believes in our vision, our mission, and most importantly the success of the entire dealer body,” said Hoke. “To have these institutions, true industry leaders, share our vision and put their belief in us is humbling.” Hoke says that VINCUE’s top priorities are now growing its Performance Management and Development teams, and investing in operational improvements that will allow them to get more done, faster. “We have the benefit now of dealerships seeking us out in the industry, wanting to understand how we can help them win,” he said, “so right now it’s about how we scale, grow, and meet their expectations.” # # # About VINCUE VINCUE is transforming the retail automotive software industry by providing dealers with new, innovative end-to-end inventory lifecycle management and market pricing solutions. This gives dealers access to real-time data and tools in a single system to stock smarter, increase turn, compete effectively, and above all else â maximize profits. For additional information, please visit www.VINCUE.com. Contact Details Angela Rizzo +1 913-200-3301 angelarizzo@dealercue.com Company Website https://vincue.com/

August 15, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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