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Silicon Valley SaaS Luminaries Open Seed Round for Enterprise AI Startup CIPIO

CIPIO.ai

CIPIO, a B2C Subscription Customer Success company, today announced that Tony Alika Owens and Marge Breya have joined its board of directors and started its seed round. Owens, who previously served as President of Sales Force and Group Vice President of Oracle will be the resident SaaS Growth expert at CIPIO. Having led the launches of multiple Salesforce Portfolio Products, including Einstein, Owens has gathered priceless knowledge on how to roll out and rapidly scale AI-powered SaaS products – a skill that will prove indispensable to CIPIO as it accelerates innovation and growth in the coming months. Breya currently serves as a strategic advisor for 8X8, a leading VoIP solution provider and her leadership in B2B Marketing and Customer Success Strategies for multiple high-growth startups and enterprises will be indispensable in CIPIO’s product roadmap and market expansion. She has extensive B2B GTM and Customer Success expertise spanning over 25 years as a General Manager, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer – as well as a board veteran – at some of the world’s leading software companies, including SAP, MicroStrategy, Ionic Security, Informatica Corporation, and HP. Breya has also held public company board positions at Jive Software, LSC Communications, and Document Sciences Corporation. “There is no better way for a startup like CIPIO to come out of stealth mode and launch than with a vote of confidence from Tony and Marge,” said Sundeep Sanghavi, Co-Founder and Chairman of CIPIO. “These two powerhouses are proven experts at building, leading, and scaling SaaS companies fast. Their joint decision to invest in CIPIO and kick off our seed round is a strong validation of our team, unique IP, and massive opportunity in one of the fastest growing economies of B2C Subscription.” B2C Subscription Economy is predicted to be @ $478B by 2025 at 68% CAGR, yet its churn rate is double its counterparts in B2B SaaS Economy. CIPIO is uber obsessed with driving growth for B2C Subscription companies through its Domain Infused Data Apps Platform™. “We no longer live in a world where customer lifecycles are linear,” said Owens. “With massive shifts in consumer behavior, B2C Subscription companies need better solutions to minimize churn and boost upsell opportunities. CIPIO’s domain infused Data Apps enables B2C Subscription companies to analyze customer triggers faster, proactively address engagement blindspots and maximize customer impact for repeatable growth and lifetime value.” “CIPIO is determined to bring the power of customer acquisition and retention machine learning to high-churn consumer subscription markets,” said Breya. “Two out of three B2C Subscription companies lack a robust strategy to prevent customer churn. CIPIO’s unique algorithms predict and recommend who, when, what, why, where, and how across mediums and channels enabling B2C Subscription companies to retain customers and drive continuous growth, regardless of transient market dynamics.” About CIPIO: CIPIO is pioneering the Industry's first domain-infused Data Apps Platform™ that humanizes and automates predictions and recommendations to increase Subscriber engagement, retention, and growth for B2C Businesses. CIPIO's early adopters include Crunch Fitness, Industry's Gym, Xponential Fitness, Motor City Church, Pure Barre, Club Pilates, AKT, YogaSix, NCFit, Cyclebar, RowHouse, Stretch Lab, and Stride who have witnessed a significant return on investment in a short time. Contact Details CIPIO Chris Foudy +1 831-238-1905 chris@cipio.ai Company Website https://cipio.ai/

April 27, 2021 01:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Sixty-Nine BIPOC-Owned Small Businesses In Washington To Receive Free Computer Equipment and Internet Services or Advertising from Comcast RISE

Comcast Washington

Comcast today announced it will award technology, and, or marketing resources to 69 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned small businesses statewide as a part of the company’s latest round of grants from its Comcast RISE program. These recipients are part of roughly 2,500 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected as awardees since the program’s inception in November, including approximately 100 in Washington state. According to a National Bureau of Economic Research study, the number of Black business owners plummeted last year from 1.1 million to 640,000 in four months — a 41% loss. Other communities of color also experienced deep losses, including immigrant (a 36 percent drop), Latinx (32 percent), and Asian (26 percent) business owners. Comcast RISE was formed in 2020 to give BIPOC-owned small businesses the tools needed to not just survive, but thrive. The program provides grants to Black and BIPOC-owned small businesses nationwide, which includes Hispanic and Asian American-owned businesses, among others. Comcast also announced a goal to support 13,000 small businesses by 2022 through the program with a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv; or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business; or a monetary grant. “Our small businesses are incredibly resilient, and have adapted to constant change over the past year. Seattle is a technology hub, however, we quickly realized that some small businesses—many of which are owned by Black, Indigenous and other people of color—did not have the same level of technological infrastructure that other businesses had when it was time to quickly pivot to an online based business model” said Pamela Banks, Interim Director of the Seattle Office of Economic Development, and Director of Recovery and Equitable Investments. “Comcast has been a critical partner for OED, as we have worked together to respond to the digital divide that is impacting our small businesses owned by people of color, immigrants, and refugees. These grants will be a game changer, as we move forward in a world so heavily reliant on technology and marketing capabilities.” Through Comcast RISE, the company creates sustainable impact and meaningful support for communities that have been hit hardest by the global pandemic and the BIPOC-owned small businesses that shape them. More BIPOC-owned small businesses throughout Washington are encourage d to apply now and take advantage of this opportunity Eligible businesses can apply directly online at www.comcastrise.com/apply/. Eligible businesses can apply for the following: Marketing Services: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including: Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period. Creative Production: Turnkey 30-second TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and a 90-day linear TV media campaign. Consulting: Advertising and marketing consultations with local Effectv marketing, research and creative teams to gain insights on how to drive business. Technology Makeovers: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.) Monetary Grants: The Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide $5 million in grants to 500 BIPOC-owned small businesses in five cities: Philadelphia/Chester, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit. Comcast plans to expand that monetary support to other cities across the country over the next year. “Congratulations to all of the grant recipients across our state today. Comcast Business is dedicated to lifting up businesses and providing a human touch that offers them the support they need, and we are truly proud to be able to support these owners through Comcast RISE,” said Robert Brenner, VP of Comcast Business in Washington. “We have now been able to offer 100 grants to businesses across our state since we launched this program in November, and we’ve seen firsthand how marketing and technology resources can have a true impact on owners and help them bounce forward into 2021.” Quotes from Comcast RISE Winners Across the Puget Sound Region “It was a pleasant surprise to be chosen as one of the first Comcast RISE winners in Washington! Comcast gave Your Money Matters Mentoring technology and equipment that will be a tremendous help for our organization. Being a nonprofit mentorship program for youth this support helped us tremendously as we have had to go digital to continue to provide our financial training programs. The work we do in the community is about empowering youth, particularly young people from communities of color, by helping them understand how to set themselves up for a better financial future. Change can’t come for our underserved youth and for minority-owned businesses without people and organizations in our community coming together to support one another. It is great to see a big public company like Comcast helping in this effort, and we are grateful for their support.” – Clinton Taylor, Founder and Executive Director of Your Money Matter Mentoring in Auburn “When COVID-19 hit, I found myself starting over. I made the tough decision to close a consulting business I had led for 20 years. But challenges like this bring new beginnings, and I set out to create a new business over the last year that combines my Latinx roots and my passion for creating something that our community loves. I'm honored to share Komadre Kombucha with friends and neighbors in Tacoma. It has been a fantastic journey, and community partnerships and support from organizations like Comcast have helped turn this dream into a reality. We are excited to open our doors this year, and I know that the technology resources from Comcast will help us serve the community con sabor (with flavor).” – Julie Davidson, Owner-Operator of Komadre Kombucha in Tacoma “As a Black-owned business, we are honored to be selected by Comcast to receive this award. We plan to use this award to continue providing world-class service at our client-focused firm.” –KD Hall, the CEO and Principal Consultant at KD Hall Communications in Federal Way. “COVID continues to make it difficult for our staff to meet with each other and clients in-person, so technology is essential to help us get work our done and keep everyone collaborating from afar. “We greatly value our clients and the technology makeover from the Comcast Rise program will help us be able to communicate with them and each other better than ever. And that’s good for business.” – Janelle Bailey, owner of Washington Injury Law in Seattle. "Blessings is so grateful to be a recipient of the Comcast Business Grant! This grant provided exactly what Blessings needed and just in the nick of time!" – Delphia Brewton, Blessings From My Heart to your Table in Tukwila Comcast RISE also invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. The program has partnered with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide grant recipients with business coaching to help build skills in company foundation, growing customers and financial stability. All Comcast RISE recipients will also have a specialized online networking community within Ureeka with access to educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts such as U.S. Black Chambers, National Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker’s Legacy and Operation Hope. A key part of Comcast RISE is ensuring business sustainability. As such, Comcast has already invested more than $2 million in more than 20 community-based organizations and diverse chambers of commerce to provide additional support to BIPOC-owned small businesses. About Comcast Business About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866- 429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 30 million households with video service. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Nick McDonald +1 425-977-5565 Nick_McDonald@Comcast.com Comcast Andy Colley +14252485438 Andy_Colley@Comcast.com

April 27, 2021 06:03 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Velocity Global achieves ISO 27001 international data security certification

Velocity Global

Velocity Global, the leading provider of global employment solutions, announced today it achieved ISO 27001:2013 certification, the international standard for information security management. The ISO 27001 standard, published by the International Organization for Standardization, specifies the requirements to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve an information security management system (ISMS). Brands rely on Velocity Global’s expertise and global infrastructure to hire a compliant global workforce without the cost or complexity of setting up their own foreign legal entities or state registrations. As the Employer of Record (EoR), Velocity Global manages in-country and in-state compliance, payroll, and benefits for its clients’ supported employees. “Compliance is a cornerstone of our business and our industry, and this third-party certification demonstrates our commitment to uphold the highest international security standards,” said Dave Martelon, Velocity Global chief technology officer. “Hundreds of brands trust us with their data, and more importantly, that of their global remote workforce. We foster a culture of security to earn the trust of our clients, and this milestone is a testament to the dedication of our team.” Clients that use EoR services rely on Velocity Global to remain compliant with global employment regulations, including protecting sensitive data for their supported employees. Non-compliance is costly and disruptive to their business. The ISO 27001 certification validates Velocity Global’s data security process according to the standard that also emphasizes continuous improvement, aiding the company’s ability to stay ahead of evolving global legislation. Velocity Global announced its ISO 27001 certification just weeks after it announced a $100 million growth investment from private equity firm FFL Partners, and its acquisition of iWorkGlobal, an established authority in global workforce management. The combined company is the largest global Employer of Record at scale, in 185 countries and all 50 United States. Velocity Global also offers Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors globally. The company achieved its certification from Schellman & Company, LLC, a leading independent provider of attestation and compliance services. Velocity Global's certification is publicly available for verification at Schellman’s certification directory. ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its platform enables businesses to employ remote teams and expand internationally through global expertise, best-in-breed technology, and scale. More than 700 brands rely on its Employer of Record model and infrastructure, also called an International PEO (Professional Employer Organization), in 185 countries and all 50 United States to compliantly employ thousands of supported employees, access global talent, and grow revenue. Named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall, Velocity Global is a strategic partner to its clients through additional comprehensive services including Immigration, Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors globally. Founded in 2014, the company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with regional headquarters in Amsterdam, Bogotá, and Singapore, with local employees in 16 countries. Contact Details John Hall +1 720-650-4348 johnhall@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

April 27, 2021 07:02 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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100 BIPOC-Owned Small Businesses in Houston Receive $1,000,000 in Grants from Comcast RISE

Comcast Houston

Comcast today announced it will award $1,000,000 in grants to 100 BIPOC-owned small businesses, which includes Hispanic and Asian American owned businesses among others, in Houston. More than 150 businesses in the area will also receive technology and marketing resources. These recipients are part of nearly 2,500 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected as Comcast RISE awardees since November. Houston was one of five cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia, selected to award $10,000 grants to 100 local businesses from the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, for a total of $5 million across 500 businesses. Through Comcast RISE, the company also announced it will support 13,000 BIPOC-owned small businesses with monetary grants; a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv; or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business by 2022. In Houston, recipients include: “COVID-19 made a tough year of 2020. As a small business, what hurt most was being deemed non-essential and having to close our doors,” said Angelus McFarlane owner of Ravlin Martial Arts, Houston, Texas “I’m extremely excited that a business, like Comcast has taken an interest to support small businesses. I believe that the technology resources from Comcast will help us, which will then bring more people back and help us grow.” In addition, Comcast RISE invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. The program has partnered with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide grant recipients with business coaching to help build skills in company foundation, growing customers and financial stability. All Comcast RISE recipients will also have a specialized online networking community within Ureeka with access to educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts such as U.S. Black Chambers, National Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker’s Legacy and Operation Hope. “Comcast RISE represents a holistic program that can help advance BIPOC entrepreneurs. The commitment to coaching, capital and connections is critical for historically overlooked communities in achieving economic prosperity,” said Melissa Bradley, Co-founder of Ureeka. “We are humbled and excited to partner on this program.” Comcast RISE was formed in late 2020 to give BIPOC-owned small businesses, from bakeries and barber shops to childcare centers and cleaning services, the tools needed to not just survive, but thrive. The 2,500 recipients are from 422 cities across 34 states. “When we launched Comcast RISE, we knew a profound need existed in many of the communities we serve,” said Ralph Martinez, regional senior vice president, Comcast Houston Region. “We now see firsthand how the program’s marketing and technology resources are benefiting Houston business owners, who are working to rise above 2020.We anticipate these awards will have a long-lasting, positive economic impact on these businesses and beyond.” Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” is part of an expanded Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitment that Comcast announced last summer, as well as a coordinated cross-company effort to address digital inequities through sustainable programming and investments such as Internet Essentials and Lift Zones. Eligible businesses can apply for the following: Marketing Services: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including: Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period. Creative Production: Turnkey 30-second TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and a 90-day linear TV media campaign. Consulting: Advertising and marketing consultations with local Effectv marketing, research and creative teams to gain insights on how to drive business. Technology Makeovers: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.) Monetary Grants: As noted above, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide $5 million in grants to 500 BIPOC-owned small businesses in five cities: Philadelphia/Chester, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit. A key part of Comcast RISE is ensuring business sustainability. As such, Comcast has already invested more than $2 million in more than 20 community-based organizations and diverse chambers of commerce to provide additional support to BIPOC-owned small businesses. All small business owners can visit the Comcast RISE destination on Xfinity X1, which features aggregated small business news, resources, Comcast RISE recipient stories and more. The destination is designed to help businesses grow by empowering them through inspiration, education and entertainment. Just say “Comcast RISE” into the X1 voice remote. Visit www.ComcastRISE.com to apply, for more information and the latest updates. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866- 429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 30 million households with video service. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. Contact Details Comcast Michael Bybee +1 281-605-9658 Michael_Bybee@cable.comcast.com Comcast Misha McClure +18325476783 Misha_McClure@cable.comcast.com

April 27, 2021 06:00 AM Central Daylight Time

YoReSpot - A NEW Social Media Platform Available for both Apple and Android Smart Phones

YoReSpot

The world of social media has opened up yet again with another app and website. YoReSpot is a new app designed around two concepts – unity and community. Unlike many social media services, YoReSpot is against censorship, negativity, and a closed mind. Even those with conflicting views have the opportunity to come, have a voice, and use it without fear of repercussion. Founder Brandon Irlbeck grew weary of watching opposing views to social media moguls and giants censored. Irlbeck’s background in computer science, a drive to be better than the others, a strong sense of family, and 100 percent unbiased towards anyone’s views, personal identifications, religion, or much anything else. The only things absolutely censored are anything inappropriate for children. Irlbeck is a father of four, one of whom is non-verbal autistic. YoReSpot is 100 percent independent and is hosted on a secure and private server. This means there is no 3rd party interference with the app, website, or users. The system also allows for video calling, live streaming, blogs, groups, pages, a marketplace, and videos. There is no charge to sign up, and doing so only takes a few seconds. Irlbeck summed it up best, “giving back to our members is something that YoReSpot is proud of. We want to make sure that our members know we are all about how we can help each other as a community.” Many would see this as empty words from a new social media platform trying to gain traction against established giants. Irlbeck has so far proven to many this is not the case and will continue to do so as YoReSpot continues to grow and thrive. Recently, as part of the app’s official launch, Irlbeck held a raffle for his family car. The proceeds went to help the Bayard Public Library in Irlbeck’s hometown. Colton Truitt of Ankeny, Iowa, was the winner of the 2006 Chevy Uplander. Amanda Cole of Carroll, Iowa, won the $1,000.00 prize. Irlbeck and his family are soon to set out in their RV. They are planning to travel and assist users of YoReSpot in any way they can. Their goal is to share the platform with as many people as possible and help as many as possible along the way. Their first stop is Marion, Iowa, home of Adrian Hicks. The Irlbeck’s plan on helping Hicks with roofing his home before moving onto the next person and YoReSpotter in need. YoReSpot is available on Android and iOS. Download, or visit https://yorespot.com for details. Contact Details YoReSpot Kelly Bennett +1 949-463-6383 kelly@bennettunlimitedpr.com Company Website https://yorespot.com/

April 27, 2021 05:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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doublEE’s Multifunctional Solution Expands Applications of Portable Disinfectors

doublEE

HONG KONG - Media OutReach - 26 April 2021 - Supported by an exclusive node of production having more than 3,000 headcounts, doublEE has been launching their first masterpiece, Casee. Its story started in the early 2020, when the needs for disinfection surged to all-time highs. “We had to roll out something different,” said Mr. Keith Wu, the General Manager of doublEE. “Though many UV disinfectors were available, after trying them twice people were often going back to wipes and ethanol. I think it’s due to their monotonous use and clumpy looks.” The One that Nails It Disinfection: Safer and more effective than ever, there are a total of 10 UV LEDs in the optimally-curved chamber, 5 on the ceiling and 5 at the base, ensuring a thorough, multi-sided action against all kinds of viruses and microbial cells. Casee takes special care of the potential UV leakage, by a sturdy interlock, a sensor and a circuit breaker on the lid. Adjustable wireless charging panel: Casee could be the first case to place the wireless charging coil outside the chamber. The size of electronic devices which undergo wireless charging is no longer restricted by the chamber size. While charging you can enjoy your clips or send instant messages. One-hand control: Hinges of every movable part of Casee are specially made, making the opening and closing of the lid, placing and removing items, adjusting the panel and pressing the switch, are all possible to carry out using only one hand. Elegance: As a warm and inclusive solution, Casee has a minimalistic, edgeless design with a trendy semi-reflective finishing. We now have Teal Blue and City Yellow for you. We are rolling out Casee, so stay tuned for details: www.ee-inno.com Kickstarter Super Early Bird: HKD449/USD58 (Original Price: HKD599/USD78) Kickstarter Launch Date: 28th April, 2021 About doublEE A Hong Kong-based startup created with a sense of doubling the enchantment, ease, excellence, and elegance. In the 2020’s doublEE keeps striving to move people’s way of life beyond by sharing our products, along with our values, with all who believe the source of coziness and the origin of inspiration can emerge anytime, anywhere we feel homeful. Official Website: www.ee-inno.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/doublee.ee.inno IG: https://www.instagram.com/doublee.ee.inno Email: info@ee-inno.com Tel: (852) 3686 0280 Contact Details doublEE doublEE +852 3686 0280 info@ee-inno.com

April 26, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Leader in AI Research Introduces Object Manipulation in Robotics Testing Scenario

AI2

The Allen Institute for AI (AI2) announced the 3.0 release of its embodied artificial intelligence framework AI2-THOR, which adds active object manipulation to its already impressive testing framework. ManipulaTHOR is a first-of-its-kind virtual agent with a highly articulated robot arm equipped with swiveling joints to bring a more human-like approach to interacting with a variety of objects. AI2-THOR is the first testing framework to study the problem of object manipulation in more than 100 visually rich, physics-enabled rooms. By enabling the training and evaluation of generalized capabilities in manipulation models, ManipulaTHOR allows for faster training in more complex environments as compared to current real-world training methods, while also being far safer and more cost-effective. “Imagine a robot being able to navigate a kitchen, open a refrigerator and pull out a can of soda. This is one of the biggest and yet often overlooked challenges in robotics and AI2-THOR is the first to design a benchmark for the task of moving objects to various locations in virtual rooms, enabling reproducibility and measuring progress,” said Dr. Oren Etzioni, CEO at AI2. “After five years of hard work, we can now begin to train robots to perceive and maneuver through the world more like we do, making real-world usage models more attainable than ever before.” Despite being an established research area in robotics, the visual reasoning aspect of object manipulation has consistently been one of the biggest hurdles researchers face. In fact, it’s long been understood that robots struggle to correctly perceive, navigate, act, and communicate with others in the world. AI2-THOR solves this problem with complex simulated testing environments that researchers can use to train robots for eventual activities in the real world. With the pioneering of embodied AI through AI2-THOR, the landscape has changed for the common good. AI2-THOR enables researchers to efficiently devise solutions that address the object manipulation issue as well as other traditional problems associated with robotics testing. “In comparison to running an experiment on an actual robot, AI2-THOR is incredibly fast and safe,” said Roozbeh Mottaghi, Research Manager at AI2. “Over the years, AI2-THOR has enabled research on many different tasks such as navigation, instruction following, multi-agent collaboration, performing household tasks, reasoning if an object can be opened or not. This evolution of AI2-THOR allows researchers and scientists to scale the current limits of embodied AI.” In addition to the 3.0 release, the team is hosting the RoboTHOR Challenge 2021 in conjunction with the Embodied AI Workshop at this year’s Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR). AI2’s challenges cover RoboTHOR object navigation, ALFRED (instruction following robots), and Room Rearrangement. About AI2: AI2 conducts high-impact research and engineering in the field of artificial intelligence, all for the common good. Founded in 2014, AI2 is the creation of philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and is led by Dr. Oren Etzioni, a leading researcher in the field. AI2 employs a diverse team of over 150 top-notch researchers and engineers from around the world, taking a results-oriented approach to complex challenges across several important domains of AI. Stay up to date with new research and news from AI2 by subscribing to the AI2 Newsletter and following AI2 on Twitter @allen_ai To read AI2-THOR’s ManipulaTHOR paper: prior.allenai.org/manipulathor/manipulathor.pdf Contact Details Forrest Carman +1 206-859-3118 forrestc@owenmedia.com

April 22, 2021 09:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Inovo catalyses global investors as it closes new fund on €54m, to scale Polish startups

Inovo

Inovo, the venture capital fund investing in technology startups across Poland and Central & Eastern European region (CEE), has today announced the final close of its second fund, Inovo II, at €54m. A range of global funds, entrepreneurs and family offices joined the European Investment Fund (EIF) as the cornerstone investor. Inovo specialises in identifying disruptive tech startups and supporting their development and growth through participation in early-stage, post-traction seed and Series A funding. Having a diverse range of LPs in the fund will enable portfolio companies to secure global funding as they scale and expand abroad. The new fund has already committed funding to several investment opportunities with leading international investors, including European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Andreessen Horowitz, Hoxton Ventures and Point Nine Capital. Notable investments include: Spacelift, Infermedica, Jutro Medical, AI Clearing, Zowie, Preply, Packhelp, Intiaro, Tidio, Allset and Eyerim. This fundraise follows the success of Inovo I which generated 3.2x return on investments from a portfolio of 15 high-growth tech startups, most of which have since been sold profitably, two have IPO’d, and three top-performing remain in the portfolio. One of the remaining investments is Booksy, the marketplace for beauty services where Inovo invested at the Seed stage. Now the company is one of the world’s top 100 marketplaces with 10 million app downloads and raised $70m in a Series C round (led by CatRock). Booksy is widely considered to become one of the first unicorn startups (those that have a valuation of $1b) from Poland. Tomasz Swieboda, Managing Partner at Inovo commented: “The tech ecosystem in the CEE region is growing at an exceptional pace. In Poland the growth rate is 70% year-on-year. In 2020, almost €500m in venture capital was deployed to 300 companies, which will almost certainly grow this year. It is our expectation that this decade will produce 10 unicorns and a few decacorns from Poland.” With the launch of its second fund, Inovo is aiming to cement its reputation as one of the leading early stage investors in Poland and the CEE region, while helping enterprising startups realize their potential, paving the way for later-stage funding from international VCs. “With 38 million people, Poland is a large market itself. Last year we've seen IPOs of two tech companies valued at over $1bn and focused on the domestic market - Allegro and InPost. Market size is both an advantage and an obstacle, resulting in Polish ecosystem being not very well connected to the West. At Inovo we strive to change that. We are perfectly placed to act as a catalyst to accommodate the new wave of ambitious local founders who want to follow in the footsteps of Booksy, Brainly and Docplanner and target global markets. Through our collaborative approach and international network we can help bridge them to larger investors ” added Tomasz Swieboda. Stefan Batory, Cofounder & CEO at Booksy commented: “The growth of the Polish startup ecosystem will accelerate after seeing success stories, proving that it’s possible to build global businesses out of the CEE region. I am certain that Booksy will serve as one such example, and then many will follow in our footsteps. However, for this to happen, startups need access to VCs like Inovo, which will provide not only capital, but also guidance and international connections for businesses to scale rapidly.” About Inovo Inovo is a venture capital fund investing in rapidly growing tech companies at Seed / Series A across Poland and the Central and Eastern Europe region (CEE). We back early-stage, post-traction startups with up to €3M of initial investment, and help them build global brands, while driving growth of the local startup ecosystem. We take great pride in being close to top founders who think big. We’re investors in: Booksy, Restaumatic, Sotrender, Infermedica, Spacelift, Tidio, AI Clearing, Zowie, Jutro Medical, Intiaro, Packhelp, Preply, Eyerim, Allset. Contact Details Inovo Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://inovo.vc/

April 22, 2021 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Industries look at transition opportunities as they work towards decarbonization

Morgan Marketing & Communications

In recognition of Earth Day, Purify Fuel’s CEO, John Carroll, reports that the company’s nanO2 fuel additive catalyst is proving to be a significant contributor to companies seeking to reduce their emissions in order to meet corporate and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) goals that stakeholders and shareholders are demanding. Use as a tool for decarbonization by the mining, fracking, power generation, offshore and maritime industries using diesel fuel is accelerating leading to wholescale adoption of the technology. “In this period of increased concern about climate change impacts, industrial companies are seeking interim measures to reduce their emissions while they examine long term energy alternatives,” Carroll stated. “Purify Fuel’s nanO2 fuel additive is proving to be an effective tool to reduce emissions today, without making large capital investments in new engines or infrastructure. It is not yet clear what technologies will be adopted to reach the United Nation’s goals for limiting climate change. Until that clarity is achieved, and large-scale investments made, Purify Fuel’s nanO2 can support their desire to reduce emissions and achieve ESG goals today.” Purify Fuel’s nanO2 technology is a proprietary combustion catalyst which causes diesel fuel to accelerate its combustion process, creating 8% more power using an average of 9.2% less fuel and producing up to an average of 17% lower CO and 20% Nitrous oxide. Further, usage tests have demonstrated a 50& decrease in opacity. “We are partnering with our customers to help them achieve immediate ESG goals through reduced emissions from their diesel fueled engine use,” stated Carroll. “Especially on Earth Day, we are honored to be a transitional solution to reducing emissions and helping reverse the effects of climate change to achieve global goals.” Purify Fuel’s nanO2 is a game changing product scientifically proven to optimize fuel combustion to save fuel, reduce emissions, and protect engines without equipment modification or disruption in operations. With nanO2 fuel optimization, a practical, scalable solution to diesel energy challenges is available now. For more information, go to Purify Fuel nanO2 ESG technology. Contact Details Purify Fuel Carleen Lyden Walker +1 203-260-0480 c.walker@purifyfuel.com Company Website https://morganmarketcomm.com/

April 21, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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