Technology

Artificial Intelligence Big Data Cloud Computing Cyber Security Data Management Electronics Enterprise & Network Technology Financial Technology Hardware Mobile & Wireless Nanotechnology Semiconductor Software Telecommunications
News Release Digital Asset Direct

Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Mark Barnes Shares Keys to Tripling Sales & Growing Into Million-Dollar Business in Bakersfield, CA

Minuteman Press International Inc.

In the three and a half years since Mark Barnes purchased the Minuteman Press franchise in Bakersfield, CA located at 4500 Easton Drive, he has more than tripled his sales. Mark shares, “Before the acquisition in December of 2019, the prior year’s sales totaled just under $500,000. Our current 12-month sales (as of August of 2023) is just over $1.75 million.” In 2023, Mark became one of the newest members of the Minuteman Press International President’s Club for top performers (based on 2022 yearly sales). Mark shares his keys to growing the business as well as his journey to Minuteman Press in Bakersfield. He also gives his thoughts on the printing industry today, what it’s like owning a business in Bakersfield, the ongoing franchise support he’s received from Minuteman Press, and more. What does it mean to you to be a member of the Minuteman Press President’s Club? Mark Barnes: “Making the President’s Club has always been a goal from the very beginning! We knew it wouldn’t be easy and it would take a lot of hard work and a little time, but we knew with the right team, and the right approach, it was only a matter of time before we got it. 3 years in, and we made it!” What are the 3 biggest keys to your sales growth and success? Mark Barnes: “Our sales growth success has been through a variety of factors. I feel like we have taken an ‘all of the above’ approach. We incrementally increased our ad spend, and tested and adjusted as necessary We took a focused approach on our networking opportunities We added product lines and revenue streams to our offering mix, and we have looked for strategic partnerships that made sense We were already doing wholesale print for what you might consider our competitors, but we are equipped and positioned to do more, better, with our facility and equipment mix, so when we realized there was some untapped potential to expand on that, we actively pursued those opportunities as well. If we don’t get the account directly, due to, perhaps, a relationship, we will look to get them indirectly through wholesaling to our competition that can’t offer what we can.” What are your high-demand products and key growth areas? Mark Barnes: “We have many high-demand products and services. Our high growth areas have been direct mail marketing and compliance mailings, programs for events, signs, branded apparel, and “operational” things like blueprints. Promotional items have also played a large role.” Why do you think printing remains so vital to businesses today? Mark Barnes: “Print remains vital because it drives behavior. Think about your daily life, do you stand in the wine aisle and judge a wine by its label when looking for a decent wine? Imagine if all of those labels were blank and you just had rows of bottles, how would you ‘know’ what to choose? You wouldn’t. If this is you, you are relying on print to drive your behavior. Maybe you casually look at a speed limit sign to adjust your driving speed, those are printed folks, and you have just relied on print to change your behavior in that moment. Print is ubiquitous and has been around all of us our entire lives; for that reason, print has an inherent trust built in because we rely on it day in and day out, and we don’t even realize it. I have had people ask me if print was dying and I asked, ‘Why because the credit card companies want you to go ‘green’ by paying your bills online?’ They certainly do this, but they turn around and send you all of these offers for new credit cards via direct mail, because they know direct mail works to drive revenues and new acquisitions. Need more proof that print is here to stay? Just ask the savvy marketers that rely on us for their campaigns, and even their clients’ campaigns. Spend a day in our office and you will see how high emotions can run when a marketer has waited until the last minute for something, or when blueprints are needed to submit plans by a deadline, and then ask yourself why these people bring us food and snacks as a way of saying thank you. How many businesses have their clients bringing them food? Print is vital – and everyone from marketers to admins that need to make sure they have the things they need for their team – understands this.” How would you best describe your business community in Bakersfield? Mark Barnes: “I would put our business community up against any in the nation. We have a robust and growing business community in both our local Bakersfield area and our county as a whole. In fact, this entire region is that way. The San Joaquin Valley where we are located feeds the world when it comes to many fruits and vegetables and nuts. The scale of the reach of businesses here blows my mind. Maybe more importantly, our business community is active and involved, supports one another, and I am honored to have developed personal relationships with so many of the business owners and leaders here. Many have become friends, and even mentors (whether they realize it or not).” What was your previous background and why did you choose Minuteman Press? Mark Barnes: “I was in the corporate world in the oil and gas industry for nearly 15 years. Prior to acquiring Minuteman Press, I was the Regional Manager for an oil and gas manufacturer and supplier of key products for the industry. I was tasked with leading a turnaround effort in that role where the company was looking to regain market share. I earned the trust of the tenured staff, got some wins early, and then we added a completely new product line that I had background with from a previous career. After getting market share with that product line, we then identified other locations to expand. We opened a new location a few hours away, secured the business we were going after there, and began due diligence on the next location. I was traveling back and forth to our manufacturing facility in Texas and learned a ton about manufacturing processes in general, being lean, and I felt like there was a lot of overlap with Minuteman Press. Minuteman Press is a manufacturer and I felt like there were a lot of similarities – the processes, the tenured staff in place, the reputation and book of business in place, and I felt like Minuteman Press was simply producing ‘a different widget’ and that the transition would be relatively smooth as a result. Of course, we didn’t account for a global pandemic three months after taking over, supply chain issues, employee shortages, and those things. With that said, because of my corporate experience and with the support of Minuteman Press, we were well-equipped to manage through these challenges when they did come up. As you can see, we managed through them relatively successfully. We continue to learn and improve as we go. That’s what it’s all about, continuous improvement.” What has the franchise support from Minuteman Press been like for you? Mark Barnes: “The support from Minuteman Press has been great. Obviously, something like the pandemic presented many challenges for all businesses, but being new in business for myself, the support we received was critical. They rolled out new programs; they provided marketing support and operational support when we needed it; and my favorite part has been the best practice training we continue to get regionally. Every 3-6 months, we have the 54 owners in my region get together and exchange best practices on just about everything from marketing, operations, product/service mix, staffing, accounting, etc. This has been vital as the different owners have their own experiences and insights that we get to learn from. They are also at different locations in the region so we get to see how they have their operation set up and it just goes a long way with exposure to new ideas or confirming what we are already doing. The President’s Club meeting was also important because those owners were top performers and the advice and conversations there, along with the new relationships established, have elevated us even further.” What are the biggest personal and professional rewards of owning your business? Mark Barnes: “The biggest personal reward of owning my own business is simply fulfilling the long-standing desire to own my own business. I’ve always been entrepreneurial and I feel so good every single day that I am in control of my own destiny. I love that I’m able to help provide for staff that can then provide for their families, and that we are able to help our business partners provide for their families (because at the end of the day we are helping businesses grow or become more efficient, and that improves their own lives by extension). Even when things are hard or stressful, that feeling overrides all of that for me, and I feel lucky. Professionally, I’m just proud to have developed great new friendships and mentorships in the business community here. I’ve been able to give back in various ways; I’m on the board of a non-profit, I’m on the board of the Bakersfield Rotary, and these have led to wonderful opportunities to give back but also to learn from such strong and high level leaders; I’m just very fortunate.” What are 1 or 2 key pieces of advice would you give to other owners? Mark Barnes: “My biggest piece of advice for other Minuteman Press owners is to think big. We look at ourselves as commercial printers, marketers and designers. We are not a quick copy model; we are a commercial level organization helping other organizations achieve their business goals by being a trusted and valued partner of theirs. We look to align ourselves with organizations as partners – the Robin to their Batman – supporting them from recruiting employees and marketing their value propositions in the marketplace to supporting their operations internally with critical items used in the day-to-day operation of the enterprise. We don’t need the limelight; we just aim to add value to the full life cycle of a given day in their operation. As our clients succeed, we will succeed… so we have a vested interest in their success and making sure we are acting as a good partner in every way we can.” Minuteman Press in Bakersfield is located at 4500 Easton Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93309. For more information, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/ca/bakersfield/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

September 08, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Cybersecurity Tech Company Sekur Reports Increased Traffic And Conversion Rates After Launching Revamped Website

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga This month, Sekur Private Data (OTCQB: SWISF) (CSE: SKUR (FRA: GDT0) announced the launch of its updated website, featuring all new product pages for its leading secure and private communications solutions: SekurVPN, SekurMessenger and SekurMail. The move is part of Sekur’s larger 2023 strategy to increase sales by growing brand awareness and driving more traffic to their site. “We are now seeing the beginnings of the strategy bearing fruit and are very encouraged to stick to our strategy,” said Sekur CEO Alain Ghai. “Our site visits are increasing, and our conversion rate is increasing as well.” The Revamped Website Better Showcases The Security And Privacy Features Of Each Sekur Solution The new website provides dedicated pages for each of Sekur’s major security and privacy solutions, giving consumers better information on how each solution works and what separates it from other products on the market. SekurVPN, for example, offers the world’s first commercially available Swiss-hosted, data mining-free, non-bigtech hosted, private encrypted virtual private networks (VPNs) on the market. Where other providers often rely on third-party hosting or bundle their VPN service with third-party add-ons like anti-virus software or ad blockers, therefore sharing users’ data with third-party service providers, Sekur’s VPN solution is truly private. It’s hosted exclusively on Sekur’s own Swiss-based servers and doesn’t tack on any third-party services. That exclusivity is key in a market where data mining and data leaks are serious issues. While VPNs are meant to protect a users’ data, some VPN providers, including a Meta (NASDAQ: META) subsidiary that was fined $20 million earlier this year, have been caught tracking browsing history and sharing other sensitive data that users thought they were keeping protected by using the VPN. Even when the VPN provider itself isn’t data mining, those third-party services that get bundled with the VPN might. This can make it challenging to truly guarantee a secure and private connection. By leaving out the add-on services and relying only on its own data servers, Sekur is able to guarantee users that their traffic and other data are not being monitored, logged or shared. Launched in April, the new SekurVPN service adds to the company’s portfolio of successful services including SekurMail and SekurMessenger. Both are also hosted entirely on Sekur’s Swiss-based servers to ensure no Big Tech or other third-party companies have access to that data. SekurMessenger is a mobile messaging app that offers multilayer encrypted messaging and the ability to communicate securely and privately even with people who don’t have the app. No phone number or other identifying information is required to register, and an optional self-destruct feature lets you program your messages to automatically self-destruct after a specified amount of time. An enterprise version is coming in Q4, offering mass onboarding and archiving of employees’ data for compliance purposes and the possibility of creating a complete private intra-company messenger service. SekurMail is a similar service but for email, giving your emails the same multilayer encryption and data privacy as the messenger app. Users can add password protection to individual emails so that only those with the password can read the email. It also offers a similar self-destruct option that can be programmed to delete the email after a certain expiration date or to delete it once it’s been opened a certain number of times. An enterprise version is also coming in Q4, offering mass onboarding and other email protections for C-level executives and management staff. Looking ahead, Sekur said it plans to market all its solutions to the 30 million small businesses and enterprises across the United States, starting with a series of digital marketing campaigns slated to begin in the fourth quarter of this year. 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

September 08, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

WIN SOURCE Announces New Strategic Partnership with Supplyframe

Win Source

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 8 September 2023 - To help companies strengthen their electronics supply chain and reduce procurement costs and risks, WIN SOURCE and Supplyframe have entered a strategic partnership at Electronica China this year. As part of the partnership, WIN SOURCE will leverage Supplyframe's Design to Source Solution into its B2B e-commerce platform to accelerate its Supply Chain Services and deliver a better customer experience. The high volatility of the electronic supply chain has created multiple crises ever since 2018, affecting more than 169 industries, which peaked during the Covid-19 pandemic with unprecedented product launch delays and eye-opening surging costs. It is an urgent wake-up call for every industry player, whether manufacturers, distributors, or suppliers, to re-evaluate supply chain strategies, validate current partners, and optimize backup plans, to secure the best possible resilient supply chain before the next crisis hits. WIN SOURCE has taken quick action to help itself and its customers. As revealed in the announcement of WIN SOURCE and Supplyframe's partnership, WIN SOURCE e-commerce platform will connect to Supplyframe's AI-empowered component intelligence, capturing and interpreting numerous market signals of millions of sellable components, generating actionable insights as to how to optimize the sourcing decisions at the best time window. Customers of WIN SOURCE will directly benefit from this upgrade, where they can search, compare, and order more than a million ready-to-ship components, now better equipped with real-time sourcing intelligence covering price fluctuation, lead time changes, and potential risk notification. The partnership is also regarded as a strategic move of WIN SOURCE. Synchronizing its fast rise on the distribution horizon, WIN SOURCE shows great determination to adopt state-of-the-art technology, further honing its supplier management and inventory control skill, and broadening its global reach in servicing clients worldwide. About WIN SOURCE WIN SOURCE, established in 1999, has emerged as Asia's first overseas B2B e-commerce platform specializing in electronic components. The company, listed among the Top 50 Electronics Distributors in the world by Supply Chain Connect in 2023, is renowned for its commitment to reducing production costs for various customer groups, including EMS, OEM, and ODM. With an extensive inventory surpassing a million components and a robust procurement network, WIN SOURCE enables manufacturers to fulfill all their product requirements efficiently, significantly enhancing procurement efficiency. With a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and a vast inventory, WIN SOURCE delivers exceptional value to businesses worldwide. About Supplyframe Supplyframe, headquartered in Pasadena, California, has redefined supply chain management with its comprehensive ecosystem of targeted marketing solutions, engineering resources, and supply chain tools. Specializing in Design-to-Source Intelligence (DSI) solutions for the global electronic components industry, Supplyframe's platform interprets billions of signals related to intent, demand, supply, and risk, offering valuable insights throughout the product life cycle. Through its collaborative approach and innovative technology, Supplyframe ensures its clients are always at the forefront of industry trends and developments, empowering businesses to navigate the complex electronics value chain with ease. Contact Details WIN SOURCE Media Contact +86 755 8395 7316 service@win-source.net

September 08, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Introducing Hari Hats: The Revolutionary Wearable Technology Transforming the Way We Breathe

Client Valley

In a world plagued by escalating air pollution and its detrimental effects on human health, a groundbreaking solution has emerged to provide fresh, filtered air wherever you go. Meet Hari Hats, the brainchild of Honeyfeinated, a cutting-edge fusion of engineering and fashion. Hari Hats represents a patented, state-of-the-art wearable technology designed to revolutionize the way we breathe. With millions of lives lost each year due to outdoor air pollution, the need for immediate action is paramount. While global green initiatives work tirelessly to combat pollution, the process is slow and time-consuming. Hari Hats recognizes this urgent problem and takes a different approach by cleaning the immediate breathing zone, offering a more efficient method to ward off harmful pollutants that can irritate the respiratory system. The innovative technology employed by Hari Hats centers around a filtered turbulent air flow system. This ingenious mechanism captures and displaces hazardous particulate matter away from the face, ensuring a clean and healthy breathing experience. What sets Hari Hats apart from its competitors is its unwavering commitment to user comfort and convenience. Unlike bulky and uncomfortable alternatives, Hari Hats boasts a sleek design, user-friendly interface, durability, energy efficiency, and portability. To address varying levels of air pollution, Hari Hats includes two interchangeable filters, providing users with the flexibility to adapt to their surroundings. Whether you're taking a leisurely stroll, embarking on a challenging hike, or enjoying a camping adventure, Hari Hats is your trusted companion for maintaining a pollution-free breathing zone. The visionary behind Hari Hats is none other than Dr. Honey Gupta, founder and CEO of Honeyfeinated. Driven by her personal experience with a son suffering from respiratory conditions that impacted his daily life, Dr. Gupta embarked on a mission to create a solution that would restore freedom and vitality to individuals battling outdoor allergies, asthma, and other respiratory ailments. However, as air pollution continues to escalate, even healthy individuals are at risk. Hari Hats serves as an essential defense against harmful particulate matter that easily infiltrates the bloodstream and poses long-term health risks. Hari Hats offers a hassle-free alternative for individuals aged 12 and above. It is especially beneficial in densely populated states where air pollution and allergies are pervasive, as well as regions prone to wildfires, and dust storms—think California, New York, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Arizona, Florida, and more. The remarkable journey of Hari Hats began 6 years ago, driven by an unwavering commitment to research and development. Rigorous quality checks, engineering design, and safety certifications were meticulously conducted for each individual component. The goal was to create a hat that looked and felt like any ordinary baseball cap, while every minute detail was custom-made to deliver unparalleled performance. Honeyfeinated, the visionary brand behind Hari Hats, seamlessly merges engineering and fashion. Embracing diversity and inclusivity, Honeyfeinated celebrates vibrant colors and indulges in luxurious, authentic textiles, bringing a unique blend of activewear and Indo-Western flair to the forefront. The launch of Hari Hats marks a significant milestone in the fight against air pollution and respiratory health challenges. With its innovative features, unparalleled performance, and commitment to user well-being, Hari Hats empowers individuals to "Breathe Better, Be Better." Spread the word and let the world know that relief is at hand—Hari Hats is here to revolutionize the way we breathe. Honeyfeinated's revolutionary creation, Hari Hats, provides not only a practical solution to the ongoing air pollution crisis, but also addresses the need for style and comfort in wearable technology. Leading environmentalists and health organizations have praised the ingenuity behind Hari Hats. Dr. Olivia Martinez, an esteemed environmental scientist and Immunology Professor at Stanford University, commended the product, stating, "Hari Hats is a game-changer in the fight against air pollution. Its ability to create a clean breathing zone while remaining inconspicuous and user-friendly makes it an invaluable tool for individuals concerned about their respiratory health." The public response to the unveiling of Hari Hats has been overwhelmingly positive. Health-conscious individuals, outdoor enthusiasts, and those suffering from respiratory conditions eagerly anticipate the opportunity to experience the benefits of this cutting-edge technology. In addition to its environmental and health benefits, Hari Hats also aligns with Honeyfeinated's mission to help alleviate a large public health burden that is becoming more prevalent today. By incorporating a novel blueprint streamlining engineering and apparel, Hari Hats showcases the brand's commitment to increasing the quality of life with an everyday accessory. Whether it's for a morning jog, a day at the beach, or a casual outing, Hari Hats seamlessly blends into any fashion ensemble. Hari Hats' potential extends far beyond personal use. The product also has significant implications for occupational safety and protection. Workers in industries exposed to high levels of air pollution and second-hand smoke, such as traffic police, security guards and fast food restaurant workers, can benefit greatly from the added protection Hari Hats offers. By safeguarding their respiratory health, employees can focus on their work without compromising their well-being. As the global community grapples with the long-term consequences of air pollution, the introduction of Hari Hats brings a renewed sense of hope. It represents a tangible solution to combat the adverse effects of pollution on human health, enabling individuals to reclaim their freedom and enjoy life to the fullest. With its innovative technology, unmatched performance, and unwavering commitment to user well-being, Hari Hats is poised to become a household name and an essential companion for anyone seeking a breath of fresh air. As Honeyfeinated continues to push the boundaries of wearable technology, the future looks bright for those seeking a healthier, cleaner world. So, don't wait any longer. Join the movement, embrace Hari Hats, and take control of your respiratory health. With Hari Hats, you can breathe better and be better, no matter where life takes you. The revolution has begun, and Hari Hats leads the charge towards a future where clean air is accessible to all. Learn more at https://www.honeyfeinated.com Contact Details Paul Mayers +1 205-476-2934 office@9figuremedia.com Company Website http://www.honeyfeinated.com

September 07, 2023 07:26 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Video

News Release

Despite SEC’s Alleged Cardano Bias; Cardano, Solana and Borroe.Finance are Trending

Blockchain Digest

Even though the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been cracking the whip against various crypto players, such as Cardano, the cryptocurrency together with others like Solana and Borroe.Finance ($ROE) continue making notable strides. Borroe as an Upcoming Gem Given that revenue financing is not a walk in the park in any sector, the Borroe.Finance network intends to streamline this process in the Web3 space through an AI- driven NFT marketplace. By enabling Web3 participants to get upfront cash by changing their future earnings into non-fungible tokens, Borroe’s transformative power is being felt across the board by eliminating the liquidity stumbling block. Through the fundraising marketplace, sellers are able to dispose of their minted NFTs since interested buyers get an automatic notification. As a result, Borroe is emerging as the best NFT to buy based on its transformative marketplace that renders benefits, such as discounts and special rewards. Since the Borroe network is pegged on the Polygon blockchain, it enjoys significant scaling capabilities, security, and fast transactions, making it the best cryptocurrency to buy today. Through its governance token dubbed $ROE, the Borroe ecosystem continues to attract more players based on impressive adoption rates. For instance, more than 72% $ROE tokens have been sold at Stage 1 presale, representing more than 68 million coins. Investors and early adopters are already enjoying a 25% return, given that $ROE’s price has increased to $0.0125 from $0.01 recorded at the Beta Stage. Based on a recent security audit conducted by leading firm BlockAudit, Borroe got a clean bill of health, and this explains why its adoption rate is going through the roof. Therefore, $ROE is stamping its authority as the best coin to invest in based on Borroe’s transformative quest in the Web3 and NFT sectors. >>BUY $ROE TOKENS NOW<< Cardano and Solana Continue Making a Strong Case The Cardano (ADA) network recently celebrated a major milestone as the ecosystem recorded more than 1.3 million stakers, illustrating soaring adoption rates, according to Cexplorer.io data. Cardano’s decentralized finance (DeFi) market has also been going through the roof after recording a whopping 200% increase as new projects, such as Hydra and Mithril continue making airwaves. Therefore, these developments have enabled ADA to erase its bearish trend after breaking the RSI divergence, making the eighth-largest cryptocurrency rise to the $0.25 zone. On the other hand, the Solana (SOL) network is being eyed by more players, given that MakerDAO co-founder Rune Post recently revealed that they were considering the blockchain for a newchain implementation. Solana is already sitting on a significant support level at $17 and this is accelerating its bullish momentum. The tenth-largest cryptocurrency was trading at $19.55 at the time of writing, according to CoinGecko data. With ChatGPT forecasting that Solana could surge to the $50 zone by the close of 2023, it seems the sky’s the limit for SOL. Learn more about Borroe ($ROE) here: Visit Borroe Presale | Join The Telegram Group | Follow Borroe on Twitter Contact Details Borroe Finance PR press@borroe.finance

September 07, 2023 04:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time

The Best AI PR Agencies You Must Know

Benzinga

By James Wells, Benzinga Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize a variety of industries. A technology with this much potential naturally prompts strong reactions from the public. Some reactions are positive. Others are hesitant and apprehensive about technology many aren’t familiar with yet. This is where public relations (PR) agencies come in. While everyone has encountered or used AI technology before whether they know it or not, a portion of the public still hasn’t made up their minds on it. PR agencies specializing in AI play a crucial role in educating your audience about the ins and outs of the technology as it relates to your product or service and demonstrating the benefits AI can bring to the table. Additionally, to increase brand awareness and credibility, a knowledgeable AI PR agency can land great coverage for your company and the knowledge leaders who are part of your team. SlicedBrand: Deep Understanding Of AI & Strategic Storytelling AI-focused PR agency SlicedBrand has a true passion for AI and many clients in the space – from Aimi’s generative music platform to HubKonnect’s AI platform that helps restaurants and other retail stores transform data into corresponding Local Store Marketing (LSM) campaigns. SlicedBrand’s team is well-versed in machine intelligence and learning, natural language processing, the inner workings of AI technology and more. This deep knowledge helps SlicedBrand craft stories that are easily digestible for the media and the general public. SlicedBrand focuses on the importance of strategic storytelling to the media, which serves a dual purpose. First, it enables the agency to navigate the complexities of emergent technologies effectively. Second, it cultivates strong relationships between brands, publications and their audience. The team identifies key narratives, formulates compelling pitches, and secures targeted media coverage. This focus amplifies client visibility and has benefitted a diverse range of companies, including industry giants like Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Xayn, Airobotics, CloudSight, Unbabel, Wasteless, Zebra Medical Vision, Syte, UVeye, and more. You can see their great work with top AI companies here. Key Features & Benefits: Brand Messaging & Media Relations: SlicedBrand makes sure to push creative and timely brand messaging to its extensive network of media contacts and key influencers. The wealth of journalistic experience of CEO Ayelet Noff, a tech writer since 2006, ensures that AI stories are spread to the right audiences in the right way. Thought Leadership: SlicedBrand identifies critical AI industry dialogues, positioning their clients as thought leaders. This tactic draws from their extensive experience working with thousands of diverse companies across numerous sectors of technology. Commentary and Podcasts: As the world turns to AI experts for understanding and advice, SlicedBrand helps AI specialists find the right platform to position themselves whether it’s through sharing their insights in an article or placement on a podcast. Speaking Opportunities: Years of experience in the technology sector have given SlicedBrand a unique insight into the network of international events that push the AI industry forward. Utilizing its strong connections with event organizers, SlicedBrand places its clients exactly when and where they need to be to share their vision and connect with other innovators and leaders. Edelman: Creativity & Global Leadership In The AI Sector As the world's largest PR agency, Edelman excels in the health, technology, and public affairs sectors. Established in Chicago in 1952, Edelman now operates more than 60 offices across the globe. Unlike SlicedBrand, which leverages strategic storytelling strategy to distill complex concepts within tech-centric and emerging sectors, Edelman aids clients in maintaining agility in the evolving tech landscape. Edelman prides itself on creativity and innovation, expanding its team to over 600 creatives and planners in recent years. Founder Richard Edelman substantiates the firm's commitment to evolve into an integrated marketing services player that remains at the forefront of emerging trends such as AI. Key Features & Benefits: Market Leadership: Edelman's extensive experience with both Fortune 500 companies and tech startups places it at the cutting edge of innovation and success in the AI and technology sector. Global Outreach: Thanks to its diversified involvement across various industries, Edelman equips companies to cultivate their brand and reputation on a global scale. Weber Shandwick: Data-Driven Insights & Ethical AI-focused agency While SlicedBrand champions a storytelling approach, Weber Shandwick, another key player, leans toward a quantitative, data-driven strategy, possibly lacking the personal touch and journalistic savvy inherent in SlicedBrand's operation due to SlicedBrand CEO’s deep roots in journalism. Nonetheless, Weber Shandwick is committed to promoting its clients' ethical data acquisitions that ensure an unbiased analysis and compliance with complex regulatory landscapes. This commitment positions Weber Shandwick strongly within the AI sphere, especially during a time when AI-driven misinformation is rampant, making high-quality data more essential than ever. Weber Shandwick’s expansive team of over 150 members is comprised of data scientists, market researchers, and engineers. This diverse set of expertise combined with their unique technology and deep, client-centric knowledge allows Weber Shandwick to address a wide range of business challenges using data science. Key Features & Benefits: Data-Driven Insights: Weber Shandwick's AI capabilities enable them to analyze billions of data points from thousands of sources. By quickly executing complex procedures and integrating multiple models, they deliver meaningful, actionable insights for AI startups at the technological forefront. Narrative Intelligence: Recently, Weber Shandwick entered into a partnership with Blackbird.AI, harnessing the power of narrative intelligence. The partnership equips Weber Shandwick with AI models and network visualizations to monitor bots, activists, and evolving narratives – enhancing their PR capabilities when working with top AI startups. Embracing Tomorrow's Possibilities: AI Public Relations PR agencies have a tremendous role to play for each AI company that they work with. In addition to educating mainstream users, they actively work to counter the partially negative narrative associated with the technology. While each is known for its own secret sauce, SlicedBrand, Edelman and Weber Shandwick all push for a main goal – positive client coverage. In an industry so hot and ever-evolving, it’s important to bring on an agency that is in the thick of the AI movement already. Choose the professionals to get professional PR results. 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

September 07, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE) Accelerates Towards Profitability As Q2 Earnings Showcase Healthy Revenue Growth, Expects Adjusted EBITDA Profitability Earlier Than Expected

Benzinga

By Jad Malaeb, Benzinga FiscalNote Holdings Inc. (NYSE: NOTE) has once again exhibited its prowess with the release of its Q2 2023 earnings report. The company's consistent growth is evidenced by notable financial achievements, strategic strides and technological innovations. Below are some highlights from FiscalNote’s results: Revenue: The company witnessed a notable 21% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year, highlighting its unwavering dedication to driving growth and delivering value to its stakeholders. Subscription revenue – which comprises approximately 90% of total revenue – also grew 21% year-over-year. Gross Profit: FiscalNote maintained a solid gross profit margin of 80% on a non-GAAP adjusted basis, a testament to its efficient operational management and commitment to sustainable growth. Adjusted EBITDA Loss: The company narrowed its Adjusted EBITDA loss to $4.3 million as it continues to accelerate toward profitability, with company guidance indicating positive Adjusted EBITDA of $0.2 million to $1.0 million in Q3 2023. FiscalNote reports that it has implemented efficiency programs that are expected to significantly benefit Adjusted EBITDA in the 2H of 2023. Cash + Cash Equivalents: With cash and cash equivalents totaling $38.1 million and approximately $94 million of additional debt capacity, FiscalNote seems well-positioned to support its current growth plans and M&A opportunities without requiring additional capital raises to achieve its plan. Tim Hwang, CEO of FiscalNote, expressed his satisfaction with the company's performance, saying, "We are pleased to report another quarter of strong financial results, reflecting our dedication to innovation and client-focused solutions. Our team's hard work and commitment have contributed to these impressive numbers." The results reflect ongoing demand for FiscalNote’s trusted, AI-enabled policy and market intelligence that empowers organizations to mitigate risk and navigate their businesses. FiscalNote's dedication to innovation is evident in its advancements in AI technology. The company has strategically partnered with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) new AI-powered Bing, leveraging Microsoft's Azure cloud platform to deliver even more powerful insights and predictive analytics to clients. The company's AI innovations extend to its breakthroughs in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms. These advancements have enabled FiscalNote to provide clients with deeper insights into regulatory trends and developments, empowering them to make informed decisions in complex and rapidly changing environments. In addition to technological advancements, FiscalNote has achieved several noteworthy operational and business milestones: Global Expansion: FiscalNote has expanded its global reach by establishing a presence in key international markets, enabling it to better serve clients across the world and provide tailored solutions to regional regulatory challenges. Strategic Acquisitions: The company's strategic acquisitions have bolstered its portfolio and strengthened its capabilities, allowing it to offer a comprehensive suite of solutions to clients seeking to navigate regulatory complexities. Enhanced Client Engagement: FiscalNote's dedication to superior customer service has led to the development of innovative AI-driven tools such as FiscalNoteGPT that empower clients to access real-time regulatory information, ensuring they remain well-informed and agile in their decision-making. For more information about FiscalNote's Q2 2023 financial results, view the official press release here. 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

September 07, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

WagerWire Announces Marketplace Integration Partnership with Betr

WagerWire

WagerWire, a marketplace technology and media company serving sportsbooks and bettors, announced today it has signed a technology integration and media partnership deal with industry innovator Betr. As part of the partnership, WagerWire’s proprietary tech, which empowers bettors to buy and sell active sports bets and fantasy entries, will be fully integrated with Betr’s platform in the future, allowing for trading inside both Betr and WagerWire’s mobile apps. WagerWire transforms traditional bets into assets that can be bought and sold at any time, unlocking new ways to strategize, speculate and profit. The partnership serves to further differentiate Betr’s core user experience in an industry inundated with commoditized products, while placing WagerWire’s innovative offering at the forefront of the sports betting industry. The deal positions Betr, who is rapidly advancing towards product parity with incumbent operators, to vault ahead of the field by becoming the first to combine the trifecta of microbetting, traditional, and secondary markets. “While secondary markets are commonplace for things like concert tickets, trading cards, and even fashion, it has yet to exist at scale in sports betting – until now.” said Zach Doctor, Co-Founder and CEO of WagerWire. “We have great admiration for what Joey Levy, Jake Paul and the entire team at Betr have accomplished as both a gaming operator and media company.” “WagerWire’s technology creates a new category that supercharges the fan experience. Sports betting should be as fun and exciting as the sports themselves,” Doctor continued. “This can only be achieved through a holistic approach that pairs an intuitive and gamified product with engaging media and an impassioned community. I’m proud to say Betr shares this vision.” An independent survey earlier this year found that if a sportsbook offered their users the option of a secondary marketplace, 76% would place more bets and 72% would place larger ones, growing the overall pie. Additionally, 84% would place more parlays and 80% would place more futures, improving the book’s overall bet mix in these profitable categories. The same survey found 90% of bettors would rather sign up for a sportsbook offering a secondary betting marketplace, and 76% would spend more time inside that sportsbook’s app. “We are excited to partner with the WagerWire team, who shares our perspective that there is a significant opportunity to enhance the sports betting user experience through product innovation,” said Joey Levy, Founder and CEO of Betr. “We are looking forward to integrating their technology into our new V1 sportsbook platform being built on top of the recently acquired Chameleon platform, which remains on track to go live next year.” The partnership also extends to both companies’ rapidly growing media divisions. In just their first 10 months, Betr Media and the WagerWire Media Network surpassed 1.3B and 250M impressions on social media, respectively. The two already rank among the most engaged sports communities on the internet, with both being finalists for Best Sports Betting Content at the 2023 Hashtag Sports Awards, which Betr went on to win. WagerWire’s technology fits hand in glove with Betr’s social ethos, creating new ways for fans to ride bets together and share in the action with their favorite influencers as well as their friends. The companies will kick off the partnership by co-producing their first original video series this year with other projects to follow. WagerWire first came onto the scene when it announced its seed round in 2022 with backing from the likes of Miami Marlins co-owner Roger Ehrenberg (IA Sports Ventures and Eberg Capital), 305 Ventures, NBA All-Star Richard Jefferson, and SimpleBet co-founder Scott Marshall, among others. Betr was co-founded in 2022 by Joey Levy and Jake Paul and is backed by Roger Ehrenberg and Florida Funders as well as NFL players Dez Bryant, Ezekiel Elliot and other high profile personalities. Betr recently announced the closing of a 35M Series A2 round. About WagerWire WagerWire empowers bettors to take control of their action and treat their bets as assets that can be bought and sold at any time. WagerWire’s proprietary marketplace technology can be directly embedded into sportsbook apps, and also powers the WagerWire app that serves as an aggregated marketplace of bets across partner sportsbooks. WagerWire also has a Media Network that generates daily content “By Fans, For Fans”. You can find WagerWire @WagerWire on Twitter and LinkedIn, or @WagerWireLive on TikTok and at WagerWire.com. WagerWire is dedicated to providing users with a responsible gaming environment. If you think you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, resources are available. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. About Betr Founded in 2022 by Joey Levy and Jake Paul, Betr is a leading sports betting and sports media company through Betr Gaming and Betr Media, respectively. Betr Gaming is an online sports betting and gaming business focused on a unique product experience with a simplified user experience that is catered to the casual sports fan, enabling Betr to capture more of the underpenetrated online gaming addressable market. Betr Gaming began with a microbetting-only online sports betting (OSB) product, allowing users to bet on individual plays and events – such as pass or rush on the next play in football or the outcome of the next pitch in baseball, and is expanding its OSB product offering to include additional markets with full sportsbook capabilities, as well as planning to expand into other real money gaming verticals. Betr Media is the fastest growing sports betting media brand in the United States that has grown to over 1.6 million followers, 1.6 billion impressions, and 84 million engagements across its social channels since publicly launching in August 2022. Betr is creating a unique flywheel by investing in content creators to drive brand awareness and affinity, which drives more audience and engagement with the Betr brand, allowing Betr to monetize its user base through a suite of gaming products which then enables further investment in content and brand affinity. For more information on Betr, visit betr.app or follow @betr on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. To learn more about responsible play, please visit betr.app/responsibility. Contact Details Hot Paper Lantern Bailey Irelan birelan@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://www.wagerwire.com/

September 07, 2023 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Brine Fi hits $100m valuation with $16.5m round as it launches top ranking decentralised exchange

Brine Fi

Centralised Exchanges (CEXs) that trade crypto currencies have been under fire ever since the FTX fall out. This led to a surge in interest for Decentralised Exchanges (DEXs) for traders seeking some safeguards for their portfolios. Yet these DEXs remain cumbersome for users to execute trades and manage profitability. Innovating the decentralised finance space, Brine Fi is today announcing a $16.5m series A funding round having launched its orderbook platform just weeks ago that is already running monthly volumes of $300m, becoming the top ranked DEX globally. The funding round was led by Pantera Capital with participation from Elevation Capital, Starkware Ltd, Spartan Group, Goodwater Capital, Upsparks Ventures, Protofund Ventures and angel investors. Brine Fi is an orderbook spot DEX and has set out to address the shortcomings being faced by crypto traders when trading. A DEX allows users to trade on-chain i.e. traders can get their orders executed on the blockchain and hold full custody of their assets with them while placing these trades. While they are the safest way to trade, many traders opted for a CEX to counter higher trading fees on DEXs, price slippage, transaction fees ($5-25 per transaction), liquidity issues, the absence of an orderbook, transaction delays and an inability to provide privacy on orders causing frontrunning attacks. These issues can impact profit margins and substantially increase the uncertainty of specific trades. The crypto market is known best for its volatility which creates opportunities for traders but all too often the trading engines of DEX can’t keep up and fail to execute orders instantaneously, which leads to price slippage. Brine Fi is able to execute orders in milliseconds while remaining fully non-custodial and this feature has helped them onboard some of the largest hedge-funds, exchanges and high frequency traders in the world by helping them diversify their asset allocation and mitigate counterparty risks. Brine Fi also solves another common issue prevailing in DEXs called frontrunning, wherein a user places an order of a huge value on a DEX, it becomes public to everyone and this information can be used by anyone by getting their order executed first at a better price, which might lead to the previous order not being executed. To tackle this issue, Brine Fi makes use of zkP (Zero Knowledge Proofs) technology, powered by StarkWare, which enables privacy on trading positions, so that traders can get their high volume orders executed with ease. Moreover, users can trade gasless and pay a trading fee as small as 0.05%. Users can also claim up to 50% of their referrals’ trading fee as a rebate on Brine Fi. Moreover with the launch of Brine Fi’s Trading Leaderboard, top traders can now claim USDC rewards every month. Shaaran Lakshminarayanan, co-founder and CEO at Brine Fi commented: ““Having built one of the largest crypto exchange previously, we have had to diversify users assets constantly in multiple exchanges and venues to reduce asset loss risk due to troubled exchanges/parties, with Brine Fi we make it easy for institutions, centralised exchanges, HFT traders and retail users to reduce their counterparty risk and at the same time get the best price for their orders in the industry”. The Brine Fi team includes former execs from CoinBase, PayPal, Venmo, Flipkart, Harvard, and MIT and are on a mission to deliver the best DEX experience possible to traders and institutions alike. Brine Fi was founded by university friends Bhavesh Praveen, Ritumbhara Bhatnagar and Shaaran Lakshminarayanan. Paul Veradittakit, Managing Partner at Pantera Capital commented: “Brine tackles some of the most important challenges holding back institutional and mainstream user adoption in DeFi. There's an urgent demand for a self-custodial execution layer that is faster, more reliable, user-friendly, and cost-effective.” Vaas Bhaskar, Principal at Elevation Capital commented: “We have seen Shaaran and team since Day One at Brine. The team brings together a unique blend of understanding both, complex technologies and evolving user needs. We are are excited to continue to invest in Brine, in their mission of abstracting complexities of blockchain technology and making it more accessible to end users and institutions” About Brine Fi Brine.Fi is the world’s leading decentralised exchange for institutions and high frequency traders. Presently ranked as one of the top 10 decentralised exchanges in the world by trading volume backed by Pantera Capital, Elevation Capital, Starkware Ltd, Spartan Group, Goodwater Capital, Upsparks Ventures, Protofund and Marquee angel investors. About Pantera Capital Pantera Capital is the first institutional investment firm focused exclusively on bitcoin, other digital currencies, and companies in the blockchain tech ecosystem. Pantera launched the first cryptocurrency fund in the United States when bitcoin was at $65/BTC in 2013. The firm subsequently launched the first exclusively-blockchain venture fund. In 2017, Pantera was the first firm to offer an early-stage token fund. Pantera Bitcoin Fund has returned over 32,000% in nine years and has returned billions to its investors. Pantera manages $4.7bn across three strategies – passive, hedge, and venture. About Elevation Capital Elevation Capital is a leading venture capital firm that provides seed and early-stage capital for emerging companies. Elevation Capital has deployed almost $2 billion of capital in over 150 companies. The firm announced its eighth pool of capital of $670 million in April 2022. The firm is led by Co-Managing Partners Ravi Adusumalli and Mukul Arora, along with Partners Mridul Arora and Mayank Khanduja. The firm has invested in over 150 companies across Consumer Internet, SaaS, Fintech, Consumer Brands, Edtech, Healthtech and Web3/Crypto and has offices in Bengaluru, Gurgaon and Salt Lake City. Contact Details Brine Fi Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.brine.fi/

September 07, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

1 ... 229 230 231 232 233 ... 652