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Investing app Infina secures US$6m as it seeks to democratize investing in Vietnam

Infina

Vietnam-focused retail investing app Infina today announced they have closed US$6 million in seed funding from investors such as Sequoia Capital India’s Surge, Y Combinator, Saison Capital, Starling Ventures, Alpha JWC, and AppWorks. Additional investors who have backed Robinhood, Coinbase, and similar models in other markets also participated in the funding. Infina joins the retail investing app revolution with companies like Ajaib in Indonesia, Groww in India, and Tiger in China that have enabled a new wave of avid retail investors around the world to access financial markets like never before. The Infina app is designed to make investing more accessible, easy, and safe for the young, tech-savvy Vietnamese who are looking to start their investing journey. Vietnam has a young population of 97 million that is made up mostly of Millenials and Gen Z, many of whom are seeing increased incomes and have an appetite for investing. Vietnam’s benchmark stock market index hit record highs last year, rising 28.1% year-to-date in December 2021 and outperforming many of its Southeast Asian equity markets. Vietnam also registered more than 1.3 million new stock trading accounts in 2021, which was more than three times the number for 2020. The number of Vietnamese participating in crypto and NFT is even greater, estimated at around 6 million. Off the back of the surge in retail investing in Vietnam, Infina has seen hyper growth in its users, clocking a compound monthly growth rate of 64% in funded accounts in 2021. Infina aims to democratise investing by making investing accessible for everyone, regardless of income group, and caters to young and first-time investors whose needs have not yet been well-addressed by existing solutions in the market. Through Infina, users can choose from a wide range of asset classes, from fixed-income products to mutual funds, and more recently stock trading. Expensive investment products are fractionalised, so users can now invest in a diverse portfolio of assets with low minimum amounts. Infina is also making investing widely available to everyone by growing its presence across third party ‘super’ apps. For example, users can now access Infina’s investing products via the popular e-commerce app Tiki. “Infina’s mission is to empower the rise of retail investors to participate in existing and emerging asset classes so that everyone has a real stake in the economy and prosperity of the country. We’ll be using the funding to continue to build out a world-class team that can develop great technology, deliver the best experience to our users, and drive even faster growth so that we can serve a large portion of the new investors joining the market in the next three years.” said James Vuong, founder and CEO of Infina. “We are excited to be a part of Infina’s journey because at YC, we love to back founders who are building something people want. The need for a new generation of retail investing apps like Infina is clear, not just for Vietnam but globally,” said Gustof Alstromer, Group Partner at Y Combinator. Infina is part of Surge's sixth cohort of 20 companies that build fresher, smarter solutions to help consumers and businesses adapt to a changing world. Infina was founded by James Vuong, a Silicon Valley engineer turned SE Asia VC investor, turned serial entrepreneur. He previously founded Lana Group, which was acquired by LINE Corp. Prior to that, James was VP of Investment and Kauffman Fellow at IDG Ventures. He received his MBA in Technology Management from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and BSc in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley. About Infina Infina, dubbed the "Robinhood of Vietnam", is a leading retail investing app for a young population of close to 100 million. It’s mission is to make investing more accessible, frictionless and safe. The ‘one-stop shop’ mobile app currently offers numerous investment products including stocks, securities and real estate. Infina’s platform fractionalises high-minimum investment products to smaller amounts, as little as $22. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices. Infina also allows users to invest in their offerings via other e-wallets and e-commerce platforms. About Surge Surge is Sequoia Capital India’s rapid scale-up program for startups in India and Southeast Asia. Surge combines $1 million to $2 million of seed capital with company-building workshops, a global curriculum and support from a community of exceptional mentors and founders. The program’s goal is to supercharge early-stage startups and give founders an unfair advantage, right out of the gate. For more information on Surge, visit www.surgeahead.com. Contact Details Infina Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.infina.vn/

February 08, 2022 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Comodo Scores 100% in Protection and Detection Tests by AV-TEST Institute

Comodo

Comodo Security Solutions today announced that Comodo Advanced Endpoint Protection scored 100% in the most recent protection and detection tests conducted by the AV-TEST Institute. Comodo Advanced Endpoint Protection (AEP) is a formidable collection of multiple security technologies wrapped in an easy-to-deploy and managed package. AEP unifies zero-day prevention with an integrated endpoint management console and its cloud-based malware analysis platform, Valkyrie, to create a security platform applicable to enterprises of any size. During November and December 2021, AV-TEST continuously evaluated 20 endpoint protection products. They focused on realistic test scenarios and challenged the products against real-world threats. Products had to demonstrate their capabilities using all components and protection layers. In the tests looking at detection of and protection against malware infections, Comodo scored: 100% in protection against 0-day malware attacks, inclusive of web and email threats. 100% in the detection of widespread and prevalent malware discovered in the last 4 weeks. With an overall score of 17.5 out of 18, Comodo received a Top Product nomination in the Corporate Endpoint Protection category. “Once again, Comodo has shown the effectiveness of our solution during this most recent evaluation by AV-TEST,” said Fatih Orhan, EVP of Engineering at Comodo. “As our customers already know, Comodo AEP is a comprehensive solution and, as the results of these tests illustrate, highly effective in both the detection of and prevention against malware infections.” About Comodo Headquartered in Bloomfield, NJ, Comodo's global development team and threat intelligence laboratories deliver innovative, category-leading security solutions for thousands of companies' endpoints, network boundaries, and internal networks. Comodo helps customers avoid breaches with groundbreaking isolation technology that neutralizes ransomware, malware, and cyber-attacks. Comodo's products provide superior security by maximizing intelligent sharing between every component of the platform. For more information, visit https://www.comodo.com/. Contact Details Comodo Nicole Baker nicole.baker@comodo.com Company Website http://www.comodo.com

February 07, 2022 01:30 PM Eastern Standard Time

Bedard Law Group and Provana Create New Compliance Paradigm

Provana

Provana, provider of the industry’s first unified platform for compliance and performance management, today announced a strategic collaboration with Bedard Law Group (BLG), to bring 360-degree compliance to the Accounts Receivable Management (ARM) market. The new solution combines BLG360 services with Provana’s comprehensive compliance management suite. BLG360 is an on-demand subscription service to BLG’s expert attorneys, while Provana’s GRC technology platform is tailored specifically to CFPB requirements. Announced at RMAi’s 25 th Annual Conference in Las Vegas, the solution comes at a pivotal moment as the ARM industry continues to grapple with Regulation F compliance. The only such combination available today, this new offering provides an unbeatable and intelligent solution for managing policies, audits, training, remediation, certification, complaints, and all aspects of CFPB compliance. John Bedard, Managing Partner of BLG, noted, “I have seen Provana’s products and services growing within my client base for many years. Automation is a must in ARM, and we at BLG felt we should work with the premier provider of compliance and performance management solutions in our industry to deliver the unique value of BLG360 as part of an automated suite.” “We are excited to work with one of the preeminent compliance firms in ARM to enrich our compliance management capabilities for customers,” said Sean Clark, Provana’s SVP of Platforms. “Adding BLG360 as part of our compliance solutions provides a level of intelligence and support unparalleled in ARM, enabling collection entities drive higher revenues with less risk.” To learn more about the benefits Provana and BLG360, specifically in the context of Regulation F, register for the webinar, where the companies will share a complete overview of new, foreclosure-specific solutions and services. About BLG Bedard Law Group, P.C. is a full-service law firm serving the credit and the collection industries. Founded in 2009, the firm delivers superior service, sound advice, and unparalleled value to all of its clients. The firm’s services include Defense Litigation, Compliance Advice, Collection Letter Review, On-Site Compliance Auditing, Nationwide Litigation Management, General Corporate Counselling, Policies and Procedures and BLG Insight Speech Analytics. To learn more about its suite of products and services online at https://bedardlawgroup.com/. About Provana Provana's SaaS-based digital operating platform is the first of its kind, giving leaders control over process-intensive operations. We serve law firms, insurance companies, accounts receivable agencies and networked enterprises in the US market that are tightly regulated by the CFPB and other authorities. Built on decades of experience in machine learning, natural language processing and business process management, Provana helps customers manage sensitive interactions, analyze unstructured data, process personal information, and ensure compliance. Provana is backed by a NYC-based Fintech PE, most recently raising funds in November 2020. Learn more at www.provana.com. Contact Details Britney Schaeffer +1 469-774-2409 britney.schaeffer@provana.com Company Website https://www.provana.com/

February 07, 2022 07:42 AM Pacific Standard Time

Avvir Launches Onsite, Turn-Key Reality Capture Services for the Construction Industry

Avvir

Avvir, a reality analysis company providing a system of record for buildings to the construction industry, today announced the launch of its newest service, Avvir Onsite. The offering provides end-to-end reality capture services for construction site managers across the country, and allows for the real-time extraction of data from the field for immediate analysis. Avvir’s new Onsite service offers construction managers a one-stop shop for reality capture needs, from traditional stationary 3D Lidar scanning, to 360° photo capture, to drone photography. Additionally, Avvir is one of the only providers of 3D mobile scanning services using the high accuracy NavVis VLX. Mobile lidar scans allow for quick capture of large areas of construction projects and provide significant cost savings and benefits for the project team. Currently, Avvir Onsite’s mobile scanning service is available in the northeast region of the U.S., with plans to expand nationwide later this year. “Avvir provides value to its customers by removing unnecessary barriers in the construction buildout process, and we do that by leveraging technology in a holistic and accessible way,” said Raffi Holzer, CEO and Co-founder of Avvir. “During our conversations with construction teams, we regularly heard that they would love to effectively harness 3D data and AI capabilities, but they didn’t have the means to scan their projects in the field. We realized this was a huge obstacle to fostering more intelligent, data-driven construction sites, so we set out to create a solution for it.” Avvir Onsite’s 3D scanning and photo capture services provide enhanced findings both as a standalone product and in conjunction with Avvir’s existing offerings. This free-flow of information drives efficiency and reduces the risk of inaccuracies on construction sites because of both the high quality and sheer volume of data made available. Construction teams understand the benefits of engaging with services like building information models (BIM) and database projects, though there is still an impediment when it comes to extracting and analyzing the data. Avvir’s suite of solutions integrates seamlessly with existing models and dashboards to get an intimate and complete view of the project at-hand and its nuances, acting as the bridge between the digital and physical worksites. For more information please visit avvir.io About Avvir Avvir aims to transform the way human beings interact with the built world. Avvirâs reality analysis platform enables construction professionals to reduce costly rework by detecting mistakes and taking immediate action, transform their BIM into an official system of record, and take project insights to the next level with automated progress vs. schedule and earned value tracking. Avvir delivers the only hardware agnostic platform that not only provides critical insights but closes the loop by updating the BIM, allowing customers to focus on solving issues, not finding them. Contact Details Amber Clavette +1 860-839-0046 aclavette@n6a.com Company Website https://www.avvir.io/

February 07, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

G Medical Innovations (NASDAQ: GMVD) to Open One of the Largest COVID-19 Test Processing Labs and Walk-in Testing Facilities in the U.S.

G Medical Innovations Holdings

G Medical Innovations Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: GMVD), a telehealth, medical device, and remote patient monitoring company providing clinical-grade solutions for consumers, medical professionals, and healthcare institutions, today announced that it has secured a 26,000 square foot site in Laguna, CA, to open one of the largest COVID-19 test processing laboratories in the United States for its G Medical Labs, Tests and Services division. “The new facility will enable us to process a dramatic increase in samples we have begun receiving via the distribution success of our LiveNow At-Home PCR test kits developed in partnership with McDade Products, LLC. The first million test kits began shipping to retailers nationally last week, and millions more will be on retailers’ shelves in the coming weeks,” said Dr. Yacov Geva, President, and CEO of G Medical Innovations. The Laguna lab will enable the company to process approximately 100,000 samples per day. The site will also offer same-day, walk-in COVID-19 PCR testing for the general public and has the capacity to process samples for other labs and entities that require expedited results. The facility is expected to open by next week. In January, Pittsburgh-based McDade Products, LLC and G Medical Tests and Services partnered to make millions of FDA EUA-approved COVID-19 PCR collection test kits available for retailers in response to a national shortage of COVID-19 test options. The LiveNow COVID-19 PCR Test Collection Kits provide 24 to 48-hour certified lab results and retail for $9.99. Visit https://www.mcdadegrp.com/ to place orders for the LiveNow PCR Collection Kits. G Medical Labs, Tests and Services currently operates storefront testing locations in California. During the next few months, the company expects to expand its network of storefront testing locations in other U.S. regions to be announced at a later date. About G Medical Innovations G Medical Innovations Holdings Ltd. is an early commercial-stage healthcare company engaged in the development of next-generation mHealth and telemedicine solutions and monitoring service platforms. The Company’s solutions and services can empower consumers, patients, and providers to better monitor, manage and improve clinical and personal health outcomes, especially for those who suffer from cardiovascular disease (or CVD), pulmonary disease, and diabetes. The Company’s current product lines consist of its Prizma medical device (or Prizma), a clinical-grade device that can transform almost any smartphone into a medical monitoring device, enabling both healthcare providers and individuals to monitor, manage and share a wide range of vital signs and biometric indicators; its Extended Holter Patch System, a multi-channel patient-worn biosensor that captures electrocardiography (or ECG) data continuously, including its QT Syndrome Prolongation Detection Capabilities Patch. In addition, the Company is developing its Wireless Vital Signs Monitoring System (or VSMS), which is expected to provide full, continuous, and real-time monitoring of a wide range of vital signs and biometrics. Its monitoring services include provision of Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility (or IDTF) monitoring services and private monitoring services. Visit https://gmedinnovations.com/. About McDade Group McDade Products is a division of McDade Group, a privately held specialty sales, marketing, and distribution company serving the U.S. retail industry. Founded in 1994, McDade Group is a growing and dynamic sales, marketing, and distribution services company headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. The company has expanded to provide solutions in distribution, category management, full-service merchandising, and consulting across the U.S. retail industry. Many of the world’s leading CPG manufacturers rely on the ability of McDade Group to build strong industry relationships and deliver services, insights, and expertise for hundreds of their products. Visit: https://www.mcdadegrp.com/ or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mcdade-group/. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other Federal securities laws. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For example, G Medical is using forward-looking statements when it discusses opening one of the largest COVID-19 test processing laboratories in the United States, that the new facility will enable the company to process a dramatic increase in samples, distribution of At-Home PCR test kits, the processing capacity of the Laguna lab, and that it will offer same-day, walk-in COVID-19 PCR testing, the timing of the opening of the facility, and that during the next few months, the company expects to expand its network of storefront testing locations in other U.S. regions to be announced at a later date. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on G Medical’s and McDade Products’ current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, performance, or achievements of G Medical and McDade Products could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained or implied in this press release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in G Medical’s prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 28, 2021, the registration statement on Form F-1 filed on January 31, 2022 (registration no. 333-262422) and in any subsequent filings with the SEC. Except as otherwise required by law, the companies undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. G Medical and McDade Products are not responsible for the contents of third-party websites. Investor Relations CONTACT: G Medical Innovations Contact Details G-Medical Innovations Kobi Ben-Efraim, CFO +972 8-958-4777 Kobi@gmedinnovations.com Company Website https://gmedinnovations.com/

February 07, 2022 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Get SAT Introduces New Micronized Mobile Broadband SATCOM Terminals for SES’s O3b network

Get SAT

Get SAT, a leading manufacturer of efficient portable satcom terminals offering high data-rate satellite communication for ground, air and maritime applications, announced it's Milli SAT H and Milli SAT W have been successfully tested on the SES’s O3b network and can provide versatile data communications of up to 20 Mbps for mobile applications. Unlike other terminals in the industry which require two terminals to be used with the O3b constellation operating in medium earth orbit (MEO), Get SAT terminals users can use a single terminal weighing around 15kg to access the O3b network. Operation includes seamless handover from satellite to satellite, leading to significant savings on equipment, installation, and maintenance. SES’s O3b is the only commercially successful non-geostationary satellite communications system providing high-throughput, low-latency, carrier-grade capabilities for a variety of applications, including communications on the move (COTM). Ranging from 20-60 cm, Get SAT’s micronized terminals are designed to deliver broadband communications with a high data rate and low latency. Combined with SES’s O3b, Get SAT’s terminals provide highly versatile solutions for applications that require smaller terminals, delivering an in-vehicle on-the-move broadband experience for a mobile office or tactical missions. The lightweight LM terminals also boast a significant SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) position within the government market, to work effectively with Class 2 UAVs. As the leading provider of a new generation small terminals, Get SAT sets the standard for lightweight, small-sized, and low-power consumption communication devices. The company’s advanced-tracking technologies, specifically designed for on-the-move applications, apply a miniaturized interlaced flat panel antenna that combines receive and transmit elements and is capable of moving at speeds of 200 degrees per second. Get SAT terminals support extremely dynamic platforms. The data transfer rate is being kept while on the move in challenging environmental conditions, which are enabled by the quick and seamless handover between O3b satellites. “Get SAT’s unique terminal solution brings the power of SES’s low-latency, high-throughput O3b service to the tactical edge, enabling any government vehicle to operate on-the-move with the full set of live video, situational awareness and cloud-based tools critical to government operations,” said Jack Deasy, VP of Government Product Management at SES. “With our next-generation soon-to-be-launched constellation, O3b mPOWER, we will be deepening our collaboration with Get SAT to develop and test expanded services.” “Our terminals achieve much more at a smaller size and weight. By moving to a single terminal, customers on O3b networks can simplify installation challenges, and optimize location placement on mobile platforms,” commented Get SAT CEO Kfir Benjamin. “We are proud to be a leader of easy to implement ‘on-the-move’ broadband communications programs.” Get SAT’s terminals are based on the patented InterFLAT flat panel antenna technologies, which miniaturize components without sacrificing quality. Get SAT is an industry leader, as it creates next generation terminals and solutions engineered specifically to provide fast, reliable communications for on-the-move applications. Meet us at booth #1043, Satellite 2022 Show at the Gaylord convention center in Washington, D.C. About Get SAT A privately held company located in Rehovot, Israel, Get SAT Communications provides portable and extremely efficient antenna and terminals that offer high-data-rate satellite communication for ground, air, and maritime applications. Get SAT provides services for government and military use, enterprises, first responders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and humanitarian groups. For more information, visit www.getsat.com Contact Details Ayala Pinhasi +972 76-530-0700 info@getsat.com Company Website https://www.getsat.com/

February 07, 2022 03:18 AM Central Standard Time

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The Importance of Indoor Air Quality

YourUpdateTV

Aire Serv®, a Neighborly® company, is a global franchise providing installation, maintenance and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and indoor air quality systems. Aire Serv® franchisees provide services to residential and commercial customers from more than 200 locations worldwide. Established in 1992, Aire Serv® is part of Neighborly®, is the world’s largest home services franchisor of 29 brands and nearly 5,000 franchises collectively serving 10 million+ customers in nine countries, focused on repairing, maintaining and enhancing homes and businesses, united under one platform serving 10 million+ customers in nine countries. Neighborly® brands are found at Neighborly.com and through the Neighborly App. For more information about Aire Serv®, visit AireServ.com. The quality of the air we breathe has a direct effect on our health and comfort. You may notice some of the more prominent side effects of indoor air pollution, like an unpleasant odor, but many others go undetected. These include headaches, fatigue, respiratory issues, and other serious, long-term conditions. Recently, Hall of Famer and Super Bowl Champion, Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, teamed up with Aire Serv, a Neighborly company, on a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the importance of indoor air quality, especially when it comes to how pollution can impact workouts. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/moFVmGsuRK0 Jerome was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 14 and as an avid athlete, making sure he wasn’t aggravating that condition was critical to his performance level. As a result, he started learning about different air pollutants and discovered that many are actually found within the home. When you’re constantly breathing in air pollutants, it can take a toll on your breathing over time and especially make it difficult to breathe deeply while exercising. When you don’t get enough oxygen, your energy level decreases, which directly impacts the intensity and performance of your workouts. The cleaner the air you breathe, the better you’re setting up your body for a successful training session. Something as simple as changing the air filters quarterly can have a great impact on indoor air quality. Also, being more mindful of the items in your household will help, such as opting for real plants that will help purify the air indoors, buying beeswax or organic candles, and even swapping out dryer sheets and fabric softeners for more natural alternatives. The experts at Aire Serv recommend making sure you have proper ventilation and filtration throughout the home, as well as air treatments to get rid of any bacteria or viruses. To determine what’s best for your home, call a service professional from Aire Serv to test for you, as this will eliminate a lot of the guesswork. Aire Serv service professionals will go through a discovery stage that discusses issues in the home such as dry throat, allergies, asthma, headaches, and fatigue before analyzing the air quality inside of the home. Once the analysis is complete, the service professionals can recommend additional measures to improve the quality of air in the home, including air and duct cleaning, duct sealing, UVC protection, and ionization. For more information, you can visit AireServ.com, or Neighborly.com to learn more about their other home service brands. About Jerome “The Bus” Bettis: The former Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back is one of the best all-time running backs in the NFL (6th overall in rushing). Jerome Bettis was also the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2001. “The Bus” finished his NFL career in January 2006 after 13 seasons, retiring immediately following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit. Diagnosed with asthma at age 14, Bettis is a tireless advocate for asthma education and awareness. Bettis founded and establish “The Bus Stops Here Foundation” in 1996 to help improve the quality of life for disadvantaged and underprivileged children. About Aire Serv ®: Aire Serv®, a Neighborly® company, is a global franchise providing installation, maintenance and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and indoor air quality systems. Aire Serv® franchisees provide services to residential and commercial customers from more than 200 locations worldwide. Established in 1992, Aire Serv® is part of Neighborly®, is the world’s largest home services franchisor of 29 brands and nearly 5,000 franchises collectively serving 10 million+ customers in nine countries, focused on repairing, maintaining and enhancing homes and businesses, united under one platform serving 10 million+ customers in nine countries. Neighborly® brands are found at Neighborly.com and through the Neighborly App. For more information about Aire Serv®, visit AireServ.com. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 04, 2022 02:54 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Truck It In raises the largest seed round in MENAP trucking space

Truck It In

Homegrown logistics tech startup Truck It In has closed a $13 million seed round jointly led by venture capital firms Global Founders Capital and Fatima Gobi Ventures. The seed round is the largest of its kind in the MENAP (Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan) region, blowing out previous highs seen in 2021, which was already a banner year for Pakistani startups. The latest seed round brings the total raised capital to $17.5 million, which will support Truck It In’s mission to transform Pakistan’s road freight industry. The round also saw participation from Wamda, Picus Capital, Millville, Graph Ventures, Zayn Capital, i2i Ventures, ADB Ventures, Cianna Capital, Reflect Ventures, and K3 Ventures. Pakistan is one of the largest road freight markets in the Middle East and North Africa, representing a $25 billion annual opportunity, 10% of national GDP. Truck It In aims to be the nexus of road freight in the country by simplifying business for Pakistan’s three million SME businesses and SME truckers (80% of the supply market), who operate in an increasingly complex and deeply fragmented industry. Muhammad Sarmad Farooq, CEO of Truck It In, said, “This seed round comes at an opportune time, as the funds will be deployed to expand our business, driving hiring across all functions, focusing on engineers to help double down on product development and increase our digital penetration in the market. SMEs are reliant on mental notes and telephone calls to run their businesses. Truck It In is leading efforts to bring efficiencies here by building a platform to ensure that SMEs have the right tools and services to thrive today. We are looking to transform the experiences of shippers and truckers, heralding them into the digital future. We are on an exciting journey creating value and solving deep-rooted challenges. In the past year, our revenue has grown 37x, we have expanded into 100+ trade lanes, and added 200 talents, as Truck It In continues to create impact every day. The impact generated allows truckers to lead better economic lives while serving the country.” Truck It In is another key investment by Global Founders Capital that partners with fast-growing companies with huge potential to transform their industries. Tito Costa, the partner at Global Founders Capital, said, “The team at Truck It In is transforming the logistics industry in Pakistan at an unprecedented pace. We are honored to back them again to expand their coverage further and bring their solution to shippers and truckers across the country. ” Fatima Gobi Ventures (FGV), a VC focused on backing promising early-stage Pakistani ventures, is also excited to play a role in developing such an impactful company. Ali Mukhtar, General Partner of FGV, said, “The pandemic has accelerated digital adoption among larger players, widening the gaps of the haves and have-nots in the logistics world. We believe Truck It In is key to closing this gap by making it easy for SME truckers to streamline operations and compete on a more level playing field while keeping costs competitive and serving as a vital lifeline for Pakistan’s thriving economy. With Sarmad and his team at the wheel, Pakistan’s SMEs are in pole position for a strong, sustainable, digital future.” Alejandro Montealegre from Millville Opportunities Master Fund said, “We are excited to back Truck It In’s high caliber team who are providing tremendous value to a critical sector of Pakistan’s economy." Kalsoom Lakhani, Co-Founder & GP at i2i Ventures, said, “Pakistan’s trucking industry presents an enormous opportunity for innovation & disruption, and we have a deep conviction in the Truck it In team, who are tackling this head-on. We are impressed by their execution and honored to support them on their journey as their investors.” Faisal Aftab, Co-Founder Zayn Capital, said, “The Truck It In team has exhibited exceptional scaling ability by rapidly capturing significant market share in this fragmented industry. The team has the tenacity to solve problems unique to Pakistan, creating efficiency for customers and suppliers.” About Truck It In Truck It In is Pakistan’s fastest-growing road freight tech platform servicing clients across Pakistan. The company started operations in 2020 and aims to unlock more than $1 billion for Pakistani businesses through its trucking platform. https://www.truckitin.com/ About Global Founders Capital Founders drive incredible opportunities in the world, and we are their greatest advocates. That’s because our team has built multi-billion dollar technology businesses from scratch and has thrived through all the twists and turns of entrepreneurship along with it. Over the past two decades, we have backed over five hundred entrepreneurs worldwide. Facebook, LinkedIn, Zalando, Lazada, Traveloka, Trivago, Jumia, Away Travel, HelloFresh, Eventbrite, Funding Circle, Slack, Revolut, Canva, Delivery Hero and HomeAway represent a few of our global successes. Global Founders Capital manages over $1.2 billion of committed capital and invests out of eleven offices worldwide. https://www.globalfounders.vc About Fatima Gobi Ventures By bringing together one of the largest conglomerates in Pakistan, Fatima Group and one of the most active multi-national venture capital firms in Asia, Gobi Partners, Fatima Gobi Ventures is fusing local expertise with regional VC know-how. We invest intelligently, using data collated from the flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystems of Northeast and Southeast Asia to identify companies locally that have the edge and drive to go beyond Pakistan’s borders. Simultaneously, we accelerate the growth of founders by benchmarking their businesses and linking them to the developed markets in Asia. For more information, please visit https://fatimagobi.vc/ About Wamda Wamda accelerates entrepreneurship ecosystems throughout the Mena region by joining Wamda’s multi-stage, sector-agnostic investment vehicle, focused on partnering with high growth technology or technology-enabled startups, as well as the leading knowledge platform offering integrated programmes including thought leadership and research, community development, Wamda’s fellowship programme Wamda X, as well as corporate and government advisory services to the various stakeholders of the Mena startup ecosystem. Contact Details Truck It In Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.truckitin.com/

February 04, 2022 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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DeFi startup Pillow raises $3M led by Elevation Capital and marquee angels

Elevation Capital

Pillow, a DeFi (decentralized finance) startup that helps generate yields on crypto, has raised $3M in seed funding led by Elevation Capital and a host of prominent crypto angels, including Scott Lewis (Co-founder, DeFi Pulse), JD Kanani & Sandeep Nailwal (Co-founders, Polygon), Prabhakar Reddy (Co-founder, FalconX), and Aniket Jindal (Co-founder, Biconomy) and industry stalwarts like Ramakant Sharma (Livspace), Farid Ahsan (Sharechart), Kush & Sambhav (FamPay), Mukund Jha (Dunzo) amongst others. The funds will be used to build alpha-generating DeFi strategies for popular crypto assets (including $BTC, $ETH, and popular stablecoins), accelerate global expansion, build a strong user community, and grow the Pillow brand to make DeFi accessible worldwide. Founded in 2021 by Arindam Roy, Rajath KM, and Kartik Mishra, Pillow is an exclusive community for users worldwide who want to earn market-beating interest rates on their crypto, instead of letting them lie idle. Arindam and Rajath are DeFi maximalists, deeply entrenched in the DeFi space since its inception. They are also active Web 3 advocates. Kartik is an early crypto adopter, buying his first bitcoin in 2013. He’s been actively participating in and advocating for DeFi since 2020. Pillow’s platform helps generate downside-protected interest on crypto assets by investing in curated, actively managed DeFi strategies created by the team. It takes away the complexity of DeFi as users can invest and earn high yields in just 1-click without worrying about gas (transaction) fees, underlying chains and tokens, etc. In under three weeks of launching their beta in December 2021, Pillow has organically scaled to more than $1M in AUM (Assets Under Management) on the back of their stablecoin strategy, which provides 17.8% yield. To ensure customers' crypto assets are secure, Pillow uses BitGo, the world's leading custodial services, for custody management and also leverages Gnosis Safe for multi-sig capabilities. “We want to create a future where accessibility to decentralized finance is democratized, if not more than traditional finance. We’re fulfilling this vision by letting our users gain access to DeFi yield opportunities in a simple, safe, and secure manner,” said the Pillow founders. They added, “Our users have shown unequivocal faith in our platform in our private access program, and we’re on track to scale this to new heights. We’re grateful for the mentorship and guidance of Elevation Capital as we scale, along with some of the best builders in the Web 3.0 space, including Sandeep, JD, Prabhakar and Aniket. We’re elated to have the ecosystem rally behind us as we build our platform and community.” Vaas Bhaskar, Principal, Elevation Capital, said, “We believe the next big unlock in Web 3.0 is going to come from significantly improving user experiences. Pillow fits right into that theme by abstracting away the complexities of DeFi - and hence making It more accessible. We’re impressed with Arindam, Rajath and Kartik's depth of understanding and clarity of vision, and are thrilled to partner with them in this journey.” Speaking about his investment in Pillow, Scott Lewis (of DeFi Pulse) said, “I’m excited to partner with them on their journey as they become the world's first borderless DeFi accessibility platform." Decentralized finance is an emerging financial system that does not rely on centralized intermediaries, such as banks, stock exchanges, or brokers. Instead, DeFi protocols use smart contracts to immutably record transactions and transfer funds. DeFi is a nascent but fast-growing space: the TVL (total value locked) has exploded in just a year, from ~$20 Bn in January 2021 to ~$250 Bn in January 2022. The challenge is in making it simple and user-friendly enough for mass adoption. Arindam, Rajath, and Kartik’s mission is to create a safe, accessible, borderless DeFi investment platform and make DeFi accessible to everyone globally. Pillow is available for download on Google Playstore and Apple App Store, and will provide users with strategies and market-beating rates for popular crypto assets that include $USDC, $USDT, $BTC and $ETH. About Elevation Capital: Elevation Capital is a leading venture capital firm which provides seed and early stage capital for emerging companies in India. Elevation Capital has been investing in India since 2002 and is currently investing out of its seventh pool of capital. The firm is led by Co-Managing Partners Ravi Adusumalli and Mukul Arora, along with three Managing Directors Mridul Arora, Deepak Gaur and Mayank Khanduja. The firm has invested in over 150 companies across Consumer Internet, SaaS, Fintech, D2C, Edtech, Healthtech and Web3/Crypto, and has offices in Bengaluru, Gurgaon and Salt Lake City. Contact Details Marc Brailov marc@trustrelations.agency Nicole Hopwood nicole@trustrelations.agency

February 04, 2022 12:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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