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Freelance jobs grow despite AI, finds new data from Freelancer.com

FREELANCER.COM

Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN), the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, today released its quarterly Fast 50 Index for Q2 2024 based on data from 251,000 jobs posted to the platform. Computer Security (up 27.1% from 868 to 1,103 jobs) emerges as the fastest-growing freelance skill on Freelancer.com, based on job postings across more than 2,000 skill categories from April 1 to June 30, 2024. This trend in cybersecurity skills suggests more small-to-medium businesses are turning to freelancers for cyber security support, further backed by Network Administration (up 9.9%, from 1,229 to 1,351) also placing in the top 25 fastest growing jobs on the platform. The data also shows no negative impact on generative AI tools on freelance jobs, evident in the growth of Writing, Business Service, and Legal Skills seen in this quarter’s Fast 50 report, all of which were predicted to decrease with the rise in generative AI. PDF writing (up 26.7%, from 2,533 to 3,210) was the second fastest growing job, followed by third place being Microsoft Word (up 23.9%, from 3,368 to 4,173) projects which are also associated with content writing. Writing job Copy Typing came in at the 16th place, growing 11.6% (from 4,428 to 4,941). Legal jobs, which were expected to have been ‘at threat’ to AI, have also increased (up 12.0% from 1,138 to 1,274), as well as Legal Research (up 10.8% from 917 to 1,016). In addition to the index, Freelancer.com ’s annual AI survey, which surveyed more than 4,100 workers globally, investigated AI impact on income and the initial results are shedding light on earnings. When asked how the introduction of AI tools have impacted earnings, more than half of workers (52.5%) reveal they’re earning either the same or more. One fifth (19.2%) say that they’re earning a lot more since generative AI tools were introduced, while only one sixth (17.7%) admit to earning less. “AI is creating more jobs than it takes. While many critics continue to speculate which jobs will be made redundant with AI tools, the data shows that freelance jobs which are labeled as the ‘most at risk to AI disruption’ are in fact growing. The preliminary results from our AI survey also dispel the myth that freelancer are earning less since the introduction of generative AI as more three quarters of workers we surveyed are either earning the same or earning more, with a subset taking advantage of AI and earning a lot more.” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer.com. Cybersecurity threats are on the rise across all organizations, but are particularly harmful for small-to-medium sized businesses (SMBs) which have little-to-no security expertise and usually minimal protection. As a result, businesses turned to freelancers for help. In 2Q24, Computer Security jobs ranked as the fastest growing skills (up 27%), indicating there has been an uptick in cyber security threats targeting SMBs. Many of the projects posted throughout the quarter require help with network security, security assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities, and creation of cyber security response play books. General business services are also increasing on the platform as more employers are hiring freelancers to support their small businesses. A clear indication of this is the popularity of Market Research and Telemarketing jobs coming in as the fourth and fifth fastest growing skills in Q2 2024, up by 21.1% (from 1,525 to 1,859) and 19.4% (from 1,177 to 1,405), respectively. Other business related skills grew in Q2 2024, including Sales (up 15.5% from 3.467 to 4,005), Lead Generation (up 12.2% from 1,802 to 2,021) and Business Plans (up 10.9% from 1,197 to 1,328). A sudden increase in General business services means that many of the new businesses, which are usually started at the beginning of the year, now require further assistance in helping grow and scale their business. Fastest Falling Skills for Q2 2024 The main category of jobs that fell in Q2 2024 was eCommerce related jobs, which saw a significant increase in Q1 2024. Shopify Templates, ranked as the fastest falling skill and was down by 13% (from 1,476 to 1,284). CSS, which is commonly used in website development, was also down (11.8% from 9.486 to 8,368). Both WooCommerce (from 1.072 to 952) and Shopify (2,545 to 2,269) also fell in the quarter. The easing of eCommerce jobs in this quarter was mainly due to seasonality. Typically, entrepreneurs will start a business at the beginning of the year, requiring help to set up their websites or eCommerce platforms. From there, the entrepreneur either pivots to hiring freelancers for other business services, such as sales or research which we’ve seen in Q2 2024 fastest growing jobs, or are equipped with enough to run their business without any further help. Fastest Growing Overall Job The most popular online freelancing job by total volume is currently Graphic Design with almost double the amount of projects than the other top skills. Graphic Design is followed by PHP (programming), Photoshop, Website Design and HTML (programming). These are typically the best skills for any new freelancer to focus on initially when starting their freelancing journey. How Electronic Repairs Are Becoming the Fastest Growing Skill Globally Electronic Repairs has emerged as one of the fastest-growing job categories on the platform over the past year. In Q2 2024, it ranked 19th among the top 25 fastest-growing jobs, with a 10.7% increase (from 14,945 to 16,548 jobs). However, its most impressive growth is evident in the year-over-year comparison, where Electronic Repairs jobs surged by 162%, from 6,315 in Q2 2023 to 16,548 in Q2 2024. Electronic Repairs are in-person jobs where freelancers are deployed across select countries and cities to fix laptops, printers and computer hardware as part of the Freelancer Global Fleet Program. ##### Freelancer.com Fast 50 The Freelancer.com Fast 50 index is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 251,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer.com platform between 1st April to 30th June 2024. Data: Fast 50 Quarterly Index – Q2 2024 2023 Q2 v 2024 Q2 Fastest Growing Jobs for Q2 2024 Fastest Falling Jobs for Q2 2024 About Freelancer Twelve-time Webby award-winning Freelancer.com is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 74 million registered users have posted over 23.8 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, astrophysics, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer owns Escrow.com and Loadshift. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Contact Details Freelancer.com Marko Zitko +1 650-800-6863 mzitko@freelancer.com

July 18, 2024 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Total Liquidity Pledge to HTX DAO Hits $42.5M After 2nd Round - Bolstering Decentralized Ecosystem

HTX DAO

HTX DAO has announced its receipt of the second Ecosystem Liquidity Pledge took place on July 16, 2024. Through this pledge, 80,223,880 TRX and 9,631,105,301,954.7 $HTX (worth 21,500,000 USDT) have been allocated to SUN.io to enhance liquidity and all LP tokens have been credited to a zero address. As of press, HTX DAO has reportedly received a total liquidity pledge of $42.5 million. The pledge details can be viewed based on the following transaction hash via TRONSCAN, the TRON blockchain explorer. (The amount of $HTX tokens contributed to liquidity is calculated based on the real-time price of $HTX.) 1. Adding Liquidity Hash: acd664c12d9c32e50dce2fd1c9efea4a6b19793949c515ed49ac06cb620e1331 2. LP Tokens Sent to Zero Address Hash: 4a3912ed71f10ca59fbcc2fd61378a4cc54171f78e10f4b091cb0c5aeedfb44e Learn more about the pledge: https://htxdao-1.gitbook.io/announcement-en According to HTX DAO, the Ecosystem Liquidity Pledge mechanism is an innovation crafted to build a decentralized community empowering the ecosystem and address security-related concerns and allegations of centralization. This carefully structured mechanism not only bolsters the resilience and self-sufficiency of the HTX DAO ecosystem but also ensures transparency and accountability in all its operations. As per the previous report, HTX DAO received the initial liquidity pledge on March 15, totaling $21 million. Additionally, the next pledge is slated for October 15, 2024. HTX DAO's liquidity pledge boasts several sources including a portion of the quarterly revenue from HTX (currently 50%) and contributions from other key HTX DAO participants. This pooled pledge is used to add liquidity for the $HTX token on decentralized exchanges, with the resulting LP tokens being permanently burned. It is noteworthy that any HTX DAO participant has the opportunity to voluntarily donate liquidity to $HTX or TRX. This safeguard improves the practicality and decentralization of asset management and ensures that no single pledger within the HTX DAO can exercise exclusive control over the treasury. A proactive approach is taken to manage liquidity in a decentralized fashion, which systematically addresses the matter of centralization in fund custodianship while simultaneously fortifying the security of the pool and $HTX applications. Founded on January 18, 2024, HTX DAO has enlisted 19 major builders to its ecosystem, including HTX, TRON, Poloniex, BitTorrent, Spark Digital Capital, APENFT, Stratified Capital, JustLend DAO, OIG Group, Double Peak, stUSDT, Zebec, USDD, ANKR, SUN.io, Merkle 3s Capital, WINkLink, TUSD, and Owlit Finance. These major builders are all prominent figures from various sectors within the blockchain industry. HTX DAO upholds exceptionally high standards in terms of transparency and community participation. Looking ahead, it fosters a diverse and dynamic landscape where contributors, innovators, and stakeholders collectively shape the trajectory of blockchain evolution. About HTX DAO As a multi-chain deployed decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), HTX DAO demonstrates an innovative governance approach. Unlike traditional corporate structures, it adopts a decentralized governance structure composed of a diversified group, jointly committed to the success of this organization. This unique ecosystem advocates openness and encourages all DAO participants to propose ideas that can promote the development of HTX DAO. Contact Information Website: www.htxdao.com About HTX DAO As a multi-chain deployed decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), HTX DAO demonstrates an innovative governance approach. Unlike traditional corporate structures, it adopts a decentralized governance structure composed of a diversified group, jointly committed to the success of this organization. This unique ecosystem advocates open values and encourages all DAO participants to propose collaborations and protocol enhancements that can promote the development of HTX DAO. Contact Details HTX DAO media@htxdao.com

July 17, 2024 12:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Leaders in Real Estate Advocate for Cooperative Approaches to Address Housing Crisis

K3 Holdings

K3 Holdings, a privately held real estate investment firm with extensive holdings throughout the United States is advocating for collaboration as stakeholders consider housing policies to combat homelessness. In a recent article published by The Mortgage Note and a blog post at the K3 Holdings and Alpine LA Properties websites, leaders stressed the need for cooperative approaches to policies that can address housing options, especially for disadvantaged populations. “At K3 Holdings and Alpine LA Properties, we experience firsthand the complex challenges faced by both landlords and tenants in the quest for safe and adequate housing. The ongoing economic turbulence, driven by higher interest rates and inflation, underscores the urgency for cohesive, sensible housing policies. As political leaders seek effective solutions, expanding the perspectives at the table is essential,” stated Nathan Kadisha, a K3 Principal. “Safe and adequate housing is a cornerstone for community stability and prosperity—it is a moral imperative. When families struggle to find stable homes, the repercussions ripple through society, leading to increased homelessness and pressure on social services. This issue affects every facet of our communities, highlighting the critical need for effective policy solutions.” According to Kadisha, effective housing policy should create mutually beneficial outcomes for both landlords and tenants. Unfortunately, policy debates often frame these groups as adversaries, competing for limited resources. This adversarial mindset overlooks the shared goals and common interests that can unite landlords and tenants. While often considered unlikely allies, landlords have a vested interest in advocating for policies that support tenants and promote vibrant, inclusive communities. Advocacy from property companies can help ensure the financial health of investments and fosters environments where tenants can thrive. “As stakeholders continue to seek solutions, policymakers should work collaboratively to address the root causes of housing insecurity while protecting property owners' interests. This approach can solve critical issues facing all parties. Unlike so many political battles, when it comes to affordable housing policies, one group does not have to lose for another to win,” Kadisha continued. One key area for sensible policy action is rent stabilization. Thoughtfully implemented rent stabilization can provide tenants with the stability they need while allowing landlords to earn a fair return. By capping annual rent increases at a rate tied to inflation, we can ensure rental housing remains affordable without imposing undue burdens on property owners. Ensuring fair treatment for tenants and landlords alike helps build stronger, more resilient communities. “As property managers, we bring a unique perspective to the table, balancing tenant needs with our business interests. Lopsided policies can harm the broader community, making it imperative for us to advocate for balanced, unifying housing policies. By working together, we can bridge the gap between stakeholders and pave the way for a more equitable, sustainable housing market.” Addressing the current housing crisis demands bold, visionary leadership from policymakers. By prioritizing policies that promote stability, fairness, and inclusivity, stronger communities where everyone has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing can be built. Property managers are ready to collaborate with policymakers, tenants, and other stakeholders to realize this vision. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with a K3 spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or dan@danrene.com Contact Details K3 Holdings Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 dan@danrene.com

July 17, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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BestGrowthStocks.Com Issues Comprehensive Analysis of Fuelcell Energy

Fuel Cell Energy Inc.

NEW YORK, NY / NewsDirect / July 17th, 2024 / Best Growth Stocks, a leading independent equity research and corporate access firm focused on finding and reporting on the best growth stocks utilizing exclusive ai-assisted research recently issued a comprehensive analysis of Fuelcell Energy, Inc. a global leader in decarbonizing power and producing hydrogen through proprietary, state-of-the-art fuel cell platforms to enable a world empowered by clean energy. Fuelcell Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) has garnered significant investor attention following several strategic developments and innovations. Best Growth Stock's full report includes a comprehensive analysis of Fuelcell’s operations, current pending legislation that could impact Fuelcell’s business, potential catalysts, current short interest, potential growth drivers, financials, share structure, chart setup with support and resistance zones, and more. Access this full analysis with no obligation: https://bestgrowthstocks.com/access-fuelcell-energy-analysis/ Access this full analysis with no obligation: https://bestgrowthstocks.com/access-fuelcell-energy-analysis/ About FuelCell Energy FuelCell Energy, Inc. is a global leader in sustainable energy technologies that address some of the world’s most critical challenges around energy, safety, and global urbanization. It collectively holds 531 fuel cell technology patents in the United States and globally. As a leading global manufacturer of proprietary fuel cell technology platforms, FuelCell Energy is uniquely positioned to serve customers including businesses, utilities, governments, and municipalities with sustainable products and solutions. The company’s solutions are designed to enable a world empowered by sustainable energy, enhancing the quality of life for people around the globe. Learn more at fuelcellenergy.com About Best Growth Stocks Best Growth Stocks is a leading independent equity research and corporate access firm focused on finding and reporting on the best growth stocks utilizing our exclusive ai-assisted research. BGS is also a financial news provider, focused on giving investors direct access to CEOs of promising, publicly-traded companies, and market experts. Our CEO interviews aim to answer the questions that rest on the minds of current and future shareholders. This is not to be construed as financial advice. Please consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Media Contact Best Growth Stocks Senior Editor: Steve Macalbry Editor@BestGrowthStocks.com SOURCE: BestGrowthStocks.Com Contact Details Media Source LLC Steve Macalbry +1 989-274-7778 Editor@bestgrowthstocks.com

July 17, 2024 08:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Reid Hoffman Wished Death Upon Trump & Funded ‘Lawfare;’ He Must Be Removed from Microsoft’s Board & Defense Innovation Board

NLPC

Following the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pa. on Saturday, National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) is calling upon tech entrepreneur Reid Hoffman to resign his seat on the board of directors for Microsoft Corporation. Should he refuse to step down, then the Microsoft Chairman and Lead Independent Director must take steps along with fellow directors to remove him. The shareholder group is also calling for Hoffman’s removal from the Defense Innovation Board (DIB), a body organized under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to make recommendations regarding technological modernization of the military. DIB is currently chaired by Michael Bloomberg. At the billionaires’ retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho, this week, Mr. Hoffman reportedly engaged in a vigorous debate with fellow tech executive Peter Thiel over how the LinkedIn co-founder’s funding of “lawfare” has turned Trump into a “martyr.” According to a report by Puck News, Mr. Hoffman responded to Mr. Thiel, “Yeah, I wish I had made him an actual martyr.” Previously, Hoffman was also widely known for introducing Jeffrey Epstein to other Silicon Valley figures. According to Luke Perlot, associate director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project: “As shareholders of Microsoft, we call on Mr. Hoffman to resign, or be removed, from the board of directors. His ongoing presence on the board is a stain on Microsoft’s reputation and would implicitly condone his statements and actions.” According to Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project: “Sarcasm or not, Hoffman has made clear that he doesn’t think Donald Trump has any civil rights, and that he and other billionaires should pick the president, not the American people. Some holders of great wealth seek to help the less fortunate or promote freedom and decency. Hoffman has instead sought to undermine democratic norms and values. We repeat our call that we made last year that Mr. Hoffman be removed from Microsoft’s board as well as the Defense Innovation Board.” According to Peter Flaherty, NLPC Chairman: “The Defense Innovation Board is engaged in the task of using technology to strengthen our defense in a dangerous world. It conducts serious business. It is no place for an unserious character like Reid Hoffman. For one thing, his associations with Jeffrey Epstein make him a security threat. For another, funding lawsuits by the likes of E. Jean Carroll and wishing martyrdom on Donald Trump should disqualify him from any government board or position.” Founded in 1991, the National Legal and Policy Center promotes ethics in public life through research, investigation, education and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

July 14, 2024 09:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Celebrated Chef Antonio Caruana: Culinary Mastermind Behind Restaurant’s Luce and Luce Secondo

Luce Resturant

Chef Antonio "Tony" Caruana, the dynamic force behind Luce in Norfolk and Luce Secondo in Chesapeake, has been named "Best Chef" by the readers of Coastal Virginia Magazine in their annual CoVa Best Of Readers' Choice Awards. This prestigious accolade comes as no surprise to those familiar with Chef Caruana's innovative approach to Italian cuisine and his unwavering dedication to excellence. Chef Caruana's culinary journey is marked by his fearless spirit and a relentless pursuit of perfection. He has been at the helm of Luce, where his modern take on traditional Italian dishes has garnered widespread acclaim. This year, Luce has been recognized in multiple categories in the CoVa Best of Awards, including Best Restaurant Overall, Best Fine Dining, and Best Service/Waitstaff, solidifying its status as a premier dining destination in the region. In addition to his recent accolades, Chef Caruana has been featured on the cover of the 2024 food issue of Coastal Virginia Magazine. The magazine highlighted him among a select group of chefs who are "helping define our region's cuisine," a testament to his significant impact on the local culinary landscape. Chef Caruana's passion for food extends beyond the kitchen. His adventurous spirit is reflected in his love for motorcycles, bringing an electrifying fusion of traditional cooking and high-octane intensity to his creations. Each dish crafted by Chef Caruana is a narrative rich with tales of his travels and the adrenaline rush of his rides, offering diners a unique taste of freedom and authenticity. Luce Secondo, Chef Caruana's latest venture at Summit Pointe in Chesapeake, promises to elevate the dining scene with his signature Italian fusion cuisine. Set in a beautifully designed space, Luce Secondo is poised to become a central hub for food enthusiasts, offering a vibrant expression of life's most exhilarating moments through meticulously crafted dishes. "Food is more than just a meal—it's a vibrant expression of life's most exhilarating moments," says Chef Caruana. "At Luce and Luce Secondo, we pay respect to the origins and traditions of Italian food while infusing it with our own twist, taste, and flair." As Chef Caruana continues to push culinary boundaries and create unforgettable dining experiences, his contributions to the restaurant industry and the community are undeniable. His fearless approach and meticulous eye for detail have set a new standard for excellence, making every meal at his establishments a bold statement of respect for heritage and a thrilling pulse of contemporary life. About Us Lucé in Norfolk and Lucé Secondo in Chesapeake are the culinary creations of celebrated Chef Antonio "Tony" Caruana. Known for their exquisite blend of traditional Italian cuisine and contemporary innovation, both restaurants deliver award winning and exceptional dining experiences. Chef Tony's passion for quality and creativity shines in every dish, using the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. Recognized by Coastal Virginia Magazine in their CoVa Best Of Readers' Choice Awards, Chef Tony continues to set new standards in the industry.For more information, visit https://lucenorfolk.com and https://www.lucesecondo.com. #LucéNorfolk, #LucéSecondo, #ChefTony, #ItalianCuisine, #FineDining, #CulinaryExcellence, #GourmetDining, #NorfolkVA, #ChesapeakeVA, #CulinaryInnovation, #LocalIngredients, #CoVaAwards, #BestChef, #ItalianFusion, #DiningExperience, #Foodie, #Restaurant, #Gastronomy, #ModernItalian, #ChefLife, #EATalian, #FoodPassion, #EatLocal, #CulinaryArtistry. Contact Details Luce, Luce Secondo Nicki Pelone +1 757-502-7260 Company Website https://www.lucenorfolk.com

July 12, 2024 03:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Zingly.ai Expands Leadership Team with New CMO and CRO

Zingly

Zingly.ai, a leading innovator in AI-powered customer experience solutions, recognized as one of the Top Ten Contact Center Technologies of 2024, announced today the expansion of its leadership team with the appointment of Pat Oldenburg as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Gary Chan as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). This strategic expansion aims to further strengthen Zingly.ai’s market presence and accelerate its growth trajectory. “The last two decades were about cloud technologies and agent facing solutions. The next two will be about customer facing CX and AI experiences, and for these two things we need true innovation with real ROI on AI investments.” said Gaurav Passi, CEO of Zingly.ai. “Gary's experience has given him an invaluable understanding of the digital experience needs from top financial companies. Pat brings a wealth of knowledge in CX and AI trends across industries from his time at Five9 and Motive, and a customer-centric mindset in his approach to marketing.Their collective expertise will be crucial as we continue to expand our market presence and redefine the customer experience landscape, in our mission to make CX truly collaborative.” Gary Chan joins Zingly.ai as Chief Revenue Officer, bringing over 12 years of leadership experience in financial services and SaaS sales. Prior to Zingly, Gary was most recently Head of Sales at EasySend. Prior to that, he was a founding sales leader at Glia, where he pioneered Digital Customer Service for financial institutions. In his new role, Gary will oversee go-to-market (GTM) and sales strategy, customer and partner development, and market expansion. Gary has already begun to assemble a high-performing revenue operations team, focusing on scaling sales processes, enhancing customer relationships, and identifying new market opportunities. "With the imbalance of agents and consumers, and the added cost and inflation pressure we are experiencing today, businesses need to fundamentally rethink customer service, and acquisition. The Zingly solution is a transformational rethinking of traditional Contact Center approaches and I couldn’t be more excited to partner with our current and future clients to build relationships bigger than business," said Gary Chan. Pat Oldenburg joins Zingly.ai as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing over 20 years of experience in enterprise and cloud software marketing. In his role, Pat will lead all aspects of marketing strategy and execution, helping the company accelerate its CX category leadership. His dynamic leadership ensures that Zingly.ai's groundbreaking relationship-building tools resonate and thrive in the global market. Pat has been actively building a dynamic marketing team, dedicated to leveraging innovative CX and AI strategies to strengthen the brand, market expansion, GTM strategies and enhance customer experiences. Pat joins the Zingly team from Motive, where he served as VP of Global Demand Generation. He has also held leadership roles in digital marketing, operations, content, and customer marketing at ServiceMax, Five9, McAfee, and EMC Corporation. "With the shift in customer behavior from traditional, siloed channels like 1800 numbers to digital platforms, coupled with rapid advancements in generative AI, there is an urgent need to rethink customer experience strategies within relationship-centric organizations. With visionary CEO Gaurav Passi, as well as industry leaders and veterans from Five9, Talkdesk, and Glia, and more, we have a massive opportunity to help bring collaboration to the forefront of the CX landscape. I look forward to partnering with the team to drive demand, strengthen customer connections, and discover new avenues for growth and success," said Pat Oldenburg. About Zingly Zingly.ai is the new way for businesses to meet, onboard and build lasting relationships with customers. Built by industry insiders in collaboration with Fortune 500 service providers, Zingly is a faster, cheaper, more secure, and better-organized solution than today's chatbots and 1-800 calling, eliminating friction and accelerating use cases like customer acquisition, onboarding, and support. Zingly makes online customer experiences delightful and personal by intelligently combining GenAI + Humans + Data to provide infinite scale for businesses and hyper personalization for customers to drive revenue acceleration and create exceptional customer experiences. Zingly serves businesses across multiple industries including Banking and Financial Services, Insurance, Education, and Healthcare. Visit https://www.zingly.ai/ to learn more. Contact Details Zingly.ai Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.zingly.ai/

July 11, 2024 12:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Claravine Launches Connected Application on the Snowflake AI Data Cloud

Claravine

Claravine, The Data Standards Company, today announced the launch of a connected application Powered by Snowflake, connecting The Data Standards Cloud to the Snowflake AI Data Cloud. Organizations and marketers can now manage and mobilize their data faster and more efficiently, gaining intelligence and proving the business value of marketing campaigns. By leveraging the Snowflake AI Data Cloud, Claravine's connected application dramatically reduces manual data preparation tasks, breaks down data silos and accelerates both data availability and quality. Claravine provides a marketing data foundation, standardizing metadata within Snowflake, to streamline efforts across the marketing organization, many of which have the potential to impact AI initiatives, including AI use cases such as propensity scoring, personalization, prescriptive email content, and customer support co-pilots. Claravine's solution allows Snowflake customers to access dimension table management and enables seamless integration of creative metadata from a Digital Asset Management (DAM) system into media campaigns, providing a comprehensive data ecosystem. "Today marks an important step in our partnership with Claravine," said Jim Warner, Global Field CTO for Advertising & Marketing, Snowflake. "The new connected application enables joint customers to pass standardized marketing metadata directly into Snowflake to power campaign intelligence. With Claravine and Snowflake, marketers can make more confident, data-driven decisions that drive their business forward." In the dynamic and highly competitive marketing environment, marketers must have a comprehensive understanding of their performance metrics. Yet, marketers are confronted by a multitude of channels and data silos, diminishing marketing budgets and the acceleration of campaign and creative output. This creates a complex and financially demanding challenge. Claravine and Snowflake can assist their joint customers by delivering a solid infrastructure for marketing data. “Launching The Data Standards Cloud and Snowflake AI Data Cloud integration is a game-changer for our joint clients and their marketing teams,” said Chris Comstock, Chief Growth Officer, Claravine. “This connected application streamlines marketing data management – reducing errors in data preparation and providing a reliable source of marketing metadata. As more customers centralize their core data infrastructure on Snowflake we believe metadata is an essential component to a successful data strategy." To become a Snowflake partner and access Snowflake’s self-service partner resources, please click here. 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. To become a Claravine partner, please click here. Contact Details Kite Hill PR +1 704-960-2295 Claravine@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.claravine.com/

July 11, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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IZEA Is Making Moves With Share Buyback, Acquisition And 40% Managed Services Growth

Benzinga

By James Blacker, Benzinga IZEA Worldwide (NASDAQ: IZEA), the influencer marketing pioneer helping lead the world into the creator economy era, recently made two pivotal announcements that highlight the company’s strategic moves to improve its market position and deliver value to its shareholders: the launch of a $5 million share repurchase program and the acquisition of 26 Talent by its subsidiary Hoozu. The company also recently announced Managed Services contract bookings of $10.3 million in the second quarter of 2024 – representing year-over-year growth of 40%. Expanding Reach In APAC With 26 Talent Acquisition According to Cognitive Market Research, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) influencer marketing market is currently worth $3.18 billion and accounts for around 23% of the global market. This market size is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 40% from 2024 to 2031, driven by a huge population coupled with growing internet penetration and social media usage. To take advantage of this massive market opportunity and continue its global M&A strategy, IZEA, through its recent subsidiary Hoozu, acquired Australian talent management agency 26 Talent on 1 July for an undisclosed sum. The company not only expands Hoozu’s talent pool with its portfolio of top-tier influencers and creators but also broadens its service offerings with innovative marketing solutions. Using 26 Talent’s expertise and network, the acquisition is set to boost Hoozu’s capability to drive impactful campaigns across the APAC region, catering to the growing demand for localized, authentic content that resonates with regional audiences. “[26 Talent’s] impressive roster of talent and innovative approach to influencer marketing perfectly aligns with our mission to lead the industry in APAC,” said Hoozu CEO Natalie Giddings. Boosting Shareholder Value: IZEA's $5 Million Stock Buyback In a move that underscores IZEA’s financial health and confidence in its long-term growth prospects, the company also announced on 28 June that its Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program. The program allows IZEA to buy back up to $5 million of its common stock from time to time, subject to market conditions. The move is aimed at capitalizing on what IZEA perceives as a market undervaluation of the company. For shareholders, reducing the number of outstanding shares is expected to increase the earnings per share, making each share more valuable. “We are encouraged by the year-over-year growth in bookings and substantial increases in our pipeline, which have not yet been reflected in our stock price. IZEA’s Board of Directors and management team firmly believe that the market currently undervalues our core business, technology assets, and cash reserves. This share repurchase program grants us the flexibility to buy back stock over time, provided market conditions remain favorable,” stated IZEA Chairman and CEO Ted Murphy. Growing Demand: Managed Services Bookings Hit $10.3 Million In Q2 In another sign that the future could be bright for IZEA, the company announced on July 8 that its Managed Services team secured contract bookings of $10.3 million in the second quarter of 2024, a year-over-year increase of 40% from $7.3 million in the same period of 2023. In the first half of the year, Managed Services bookings grew 46% to reach $19.6 million. “While we benefited from some of our acquisitions in the quarter, more than 90% of these bookings were generated organically, underscoring the underlying strength of IZEA’s core offering,” said Murphy, adding that second half financial performance is expected to improve as the benefits of these bookings begin to materialize. “Our pipeline remains strong, with the addition of multiple new managed services clients, including a new Fortune 50 customer,” he said. Murphy also pointed out that while Managed Services make up the majority of IZEA’s revenue, the company is also seeing continued growth in its SaaS customer base, particularly with its FormAI software, and saw a record number of active SaaS customers at the end of the second quarter. IZEA’s stock buyback and the acquisition of 26 Talent are key components of the company’s overall strategy – demonstrating a commitment to expanding its market presence and boosting shareholder value. The strong growth in Managed Services bookings shows that it has a robust core product and highlights the effectiveness of its acquisitions. This positive momentum, along with a growing SaaS customer base and a strong pipeline for the rest of the year, is an indication of IZEA’s long-term growth potential. The company was founded in 2006 as one of the first influencer marketing platforms and has now grown to more than 150 team members in 13 countries worldwide. It has completed nearly 4 million transactions between marketers and brands and currently processes tens of millions of dollars to creators each year. To learn more about IZEA's services, visit the company's website. Featured photo by Diggity Marketing on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 11, 2024 08:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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