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DealCart enables affordable ecommerce for 220m Pakistanis as it secures $4.5m funding round

DealCart

With record levels of inflation around the world and households looking for savings on purchases. Social commerce platform DealCart has launched to provide them with access to affordable products in a gamified and interactive manner. In doing so, the startup is today announcing a $4.5 million pre-seed funding. DealCart unlocks value by enabling communities to 'buy together and save together' with a focus on providing national visibility to locally manufactured brands. It’s one the largest investments in the MENAP region for early-stage startups and comes just three months into their operational set up. The round was led by Shorooq Partners with participation from Fatima Gobi Ventures, Vibe Capital, 500 Global, i2i Ventures, Julian Shapiro, Rally Cap Ventures, Alex Lazarow and several strategic angel investors. DealCart founders Haider Raza and Ammar Naveed are addressing the unmet needs of the ecommerce marketplace in Pakistan by bringing value to underserved customers. Despite the burgeoning growth of smartphone and internet penetration, e-commerce usage remains low among the middle and lower middle-income segments that constitute the majority of the country's 220 million people (and primarily serving higher income segments). As such, the current e-commerce landscape in the country is skewed towards large ticket electronics, fashion and the convenience value proposition provided by quick commerce. With DealCart, the idea is to unlock value for the majority of the country that values affordability above all else. By allowing users to buy in groups and sharing deals on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, DealCart will empower customers and give them the ability to place larger orders versus buying alone. This will unlock lower prices and provide an engaging new way to shop. Founders Ammar Naveed and Haider Raza understood the need for their product through their previous experience in the tech startup ecosystem in Pakistan where they scaled and focussed on profitability. Ammar was a senior director at ride hailing app Careem overseeing the operations across the Middle East & Pakistan while Haider launched and scaled mobility startup Swvl in Pakistan in addition to building a tourism startup previously as a co-founder. They have a shared passion for social commerce and a drive to make an impact in the region at scale. Haider Raza, co-founder of DealCart, commented: “Pakistan has recently seen a surge in social media users, a phenomenon that generally precedes these users transacting online for their daily needs. DealCart seeks to use this opportunity to introduce their group buying platform with the aim to enable more people to get access to their favorite brands at extremely affordable prices. With our target market spending upwards of 50% of their household income on groceries and essentials, DealCart provides the already inflation burdened Pakistani consumer much needed relief”. Ammar Naveed, co-founder of DealCart, commented “Our focus from day one has been the long-term commercial sustainability of the venture; we want to create a business which has solid foundations and is aligned with the new reality of the global financial markets. We plan to do this by having a super lean cost structure, while expanding and growing the business primarily through our technology”. Omer Zabit, Principal at Shorooq Partners commented: “We are humbled to be partnering with DealCart and to be taking part in the take-off of this incredible journey. The founders' customer-centric approach and strong commitment to growth, make us certain they are the right partner to back in Pakistan's first group buying app. Given our deep expertise in consumer tech, we have no doubt that this will be a unique success story and are very excited to see what the future holds for DealCart”. DealCart is going after a $60 billion total addressable market and wants to build an institution that the regional start-up ecosystem can be proud of. It will deploy the funding to invest in further developing its engineering and technology capabilities that will build an intuitive product. The clear priority is to inspire the best talent to join this journey. Fatima Gobi Venture’s General Partner Ali Mukhtar commented, “Given the broader macro environment and the rising cost of living seen across the world, there is greater demand for solutions like DealCart that are enabling access to affordable daily necessities. We have high conviction in the team and model as it fits perfectly within FGV’s investment strategy which is to fund high-growth tech companies that have the ability to generate scalable impact. We look forward to supporting Haider, Ammar and their team and we’re excited to be part of their journey.” About DealCart DealCart is reinventing e-commerce in Pakistan. They are on a mission to provide first-time internet users with access to affordable products in a gamified and interactive manner. They unlock value by enabling communities to 'buy together and save together' with a focus on providing national visibility to locally manufactured brands. For more information please visit https://dealcart.io or follow via LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube Contact Details DealCart Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://dealcart.io

July 28, 2022 11:12 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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COMCAST OPENS XFINITY STORE IN SPRINGFIELD, OREGON

Comcast Oregon / SW Washington

Comcast is hosting a Grand Opening celebration on Friday, July 29 for its new Xfinity store in Springfield, Oregon. The 2,700 square foot store is located at 1808 Pioneer Parkway West, in Springfield. The ribbon-cutting will take place at 1:00 p.m. with the festivities running until 4:00 p.m. The public is welcome to enjoy beverages, snacks, and giveaways. This opening marks the 18 th Xfinity store in the Oregon/SW Washington region and the second to open in the mid-Willamette Valley to meet customer growth. With a welcoming and interactive environment that highlights Comcast’s entertainment and technology offerings, customers will be able to buy cell phones, pay bills, return equipment, and demo the company’s latest residential and business product offerings. Xfinity store employees will happily demonstrate the X1 entertainment platform, show how to use xFi tools to manage home internet functions (like shutting it down at dinnertime or bedtime, or ensuring the security of your network), as well as educate customers on the free mobile apps available so you can take your saved TV programs and movies on the go with you wherever you are. Jacob Mitchell, Comcast Oregon/SW Washington’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing is excited about opening the new store. “It’s an amazing location, right next to the busiest Starbucks in Springfield, so we’re expecting it to be very easy for the community to access.” He went on to say, “Xfinity has such a compelling story to tell with our unbeatable internet, and all our products and services. A new, exciting physical location for our customers to come in and hear about our products is the right investment to make.” The new store employs eight people, and offers customer-friendly hours, open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays. 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 Oregon/SW Washington Amy Keiter +1 503-310-3879 amy_keiter@comcast.com Company Website https://corporate.comcast.com/

July 28, 2022 07:02 AM Pacific Daylight Time

CSG to Present at Oppenheimer’s 25th Annual Technology, Internet & Communications Conference

CSG

CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS) today announced that the company will present at Oppenheimer’s 25th Annual Technology, Internet & Communications Conference on Wednesday, August 10th. The presentation will be held at 2:05pm EST and will feature comments from CSG chief executive officer Brian Shepherd. The conference presentation will be available via webcast here. About CSG CSG is a leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions that make ordinary customer experiences extraordinary. Our cloud-first architecture and customer-obsessed mindset help companies around the world launch new digital services, expand into new markets, and create dynamic experiences that capture new customers and build brand loyalty. For 40 years, CSG’s technologies and people have helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands solve their toughest business challenges and evolve to meet the demands of today’s digital economy with future-ready solutions that drive exceptional customer experiences. With 5,000 employees in over 20 countries, CSG is the trusted technology provider for leading global brands in telecommunications, retail, financial services, and healthcare. Our solutions deliver real world outcomes to more than 900 customers in over 120 countries. To learn more, visit us at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Copyright © 2022 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names which are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. Contacts: John Rea Investor Relations +1 (210) 687-4409 john.rea@csgi.com Contact Details Tammy Hovey +1 917-520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

July 28, 2022 07:30 AM Central Daylight Time

ShopAgain’s Latest Release Provides Respite to E-commerce Advertisers in a Privacy-First World

ShopAgain

ShopAgain, a Shopify app by a North Carolina-based startup, has released an easy to use, single product that can help ecommerce sellers get the best insights on their online store visitors, create audiences seamlessly, personalize user experience and run email, SMS, and Direct mail campaigns in an automated way. Due to the latest AI technology from ShopAgain, Shopify stores are able to somewhat counter the challenges faced due to the recent advertising restrictions brought about by the ad tech giants in tandem with regulators across the globe. “ We are focused on building omnichannel marketing products for eCommerce companies to help them make the most of their existing user base. Our first product is for Shopify, and we will soon have products for other ecommerce platforms as well,” says Maruti Agarwal, Founder and CEO of ShopAgain. What makes apps like ShopAgain extremely vital in 2022 are the recent changes in digital advertising processes and scope. All these years, marketers with a fair media budget had it reasonably easy. The ad tech platforms did the heavy lifting of collecting and classifying online user data. Marketers could simply order the audience that they precisely needed. However, in recent years we have witnessed a whole lot of changes. In 2018, the EU passed the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), showing how it's done to the rest of the world. The CCPA (California Customer Privacy Act) was passed shortly after. As a result, the tech companies that control most of the world's advertising today had to actively take measures to protect user privacy. Be it Apple's iOS update that allows users to opt out of data sharing or Google's decision to remove third-party cookies from Chrome by 2023, all point in the same direction: A privacy-first future! " Marketers will have to think differently. The recent changes make it all the more important to focus on the data you own as a company. It can be either the zero-party data that customers willingly share with you, such as gender, and personal preferences, or first-party data that you can collect through their interactions with your brand. We have customers who have successfully grown revenue up to 24% using cross-selling and up-selling opportunities identified via ShopAgain without spending an extra penny on acquisition. It helps pull up the overall brand ROI substantially,” adds Agarwal, who comes with years of experience in handling AI and data science products and teams. Agarwal's views find support in recent publications by marketing tech majors such as HubSpot, whose advice is to focus more on retention than acquisition for better ROI. Products like ShopAgain are helping eCommerce store-owners make the most of the customer and user data to sharpen their marketing toolkit. Features like easy creation of audience segments, personalized communication via all available channels (direct mail, email marketing, SMS, pop-up forms, etc.), AI-enabled insights, and profound analytics are helping storeowners, upsell, cross-sell and also close on prospects. ShopAgain, has been funded by Softeq, a venture capital company based in Houston, Texas. As per, Joel Carter, CMO of Softeq & a veteran marketer, “ In the early days of database marketing, zero-party was one of the only options for marketers. After the rise of third-party lists, the paradigm shifted from static analog form to real-time digital which exposed numerous privacy issues. Now access is retreating. Building a relationship with customers in which they will freely volunteer valuable data is mission critical. We believe that ShopAgain will help ecommerce firms achieve just that! ” Along with Maruti Agarwal, ShopAgain is co-founded by Roshan Singh, who is the CTO of the company. Agarwal and Singh were colleagues at Meltwater, an industry-leading media monitoring and social analytics platform. Contact Details ShopAgain Maruti Agarwal +1 919-758-6084 maruti@shopagain.io Company Website https://www.shopagain.io/

July 28, 2022 07:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Cloudrise announces $10M in total funding

Cloudrise

Cloudrise, a tech-enabled services firm focused on securing data wherever it resides, is pleased to announce it has completed financing to raise the company’s total to-date funding to $10 million. Since launching the company in October of 2019, Cloudrise has worked with 100s of global customers, including numerous Fortune 500 enterprises, on their data protection and cloud security projects. During this time, Cloudrise has continued to exceed all stated financial targets and is investing significantly to expand service delivery and research and development teams, while raising the bar for data protection. To help further growth and innovation, Cloudrise secured additional funding in July from Three Kings Capital, with add-on capital from existing investors Stormbreaker Ventures and the Greater Colorado Venture Fund. With success comes the need to add more talent to Cloudrise’s Board of Directors, and Bill Ryckman, Managing Principal at Three Kings Capital, will join the Cloudrise board. "We are very pleased to be partnering with Cloudrise and its proven management team led by Rob Eggebrecht," Ryckman said. "Cloudrise is a well-known leader in the data protection market, with particular expertise in the cloud, and a reputation for delivering exceptional service. As more and more businesses embrace the cloud, Cloudrise has become an integral partner to a diverse set of clients across the country and around the world, helping to keep their data safe from cyber criminals. With its high-quality team and technology-enabled platform, Cloudrise is well-positioned to serve our collective mission on a much wider scale.” Cloudrise co-founder and CEO Rob Eggebrecht is excited about the future ahead for the company. “Our latest funding venture is a major milestone, allowing Cloudrise to fast-track industry-changing initiatives for how professional services are delivered in the cyber industry via our tech-enablement approach,” Eggebrecht said. “The current status quo for delivering professional services in the cyber industry is outdated, inefficient, and does not scale to the world of cloud computing in global enterprises today. While organizations are contending with the exponential growth of data and an excessive amount of cyber security application/platforms, traditional service providers are stuck in a mindset of a help-desk, ticket-driven world, attempting to throw more people at the problem.” Instead of throwing more time and resources at complex data security challenges, Cloudrise leverages a proprietary service delivery platform to increase efficiencies, enable better collaboration, and reduce time needed to deliver high-value outcomes. By bundling software and humans, Cloudrise delivers tech-enabled services that allow customers to realize an immediate impact for their business. Cloudrise continues to build on what has been a groundbreaking 2022, in which the company announced: The acquisition of CyberOrchard, an information security managed service organization located in the United Kingdom Jason Bird, CyberOrchard’s founder and CEO, as CTO at Cloudrise Cloudrise named as Netskope’s Global Services Partner of the Year Placement on the Managed Security 100 on CRN’s Managed Service Provider 500 list for 2022 ‘Best Solution in Data Security’ at Global InfoSec Awards by Cyber Defense Magazine Hiring Rob Zillioux as CFO The opening of a new global headquarters facility in Grand Junction, Colorado About Three Kings Capital Three Kings Capital is a mission-driven, family office-backed private equity platform that invests exclusively in cyber security companies. Its mission is to protect the world's assets, critical infrastructure, and personally identifiable information from cyber threats. Aided by an Advisory Board of government and private sector cyber security experts, Three Kings seeks to enable and partner with mission-driven companies at any stage of development. Its permanent, flexible capital base allows Three Kings to invest in any type of security within the capital structure. Three Kings is headquartered in New York City but seeks investment opportunities from around the country and certain other parts of the world. For more information, please visit www.ThreeKingsCapital.com. About Cloudrise Cloudrise is a technology-enabled services firm, specializing in delivering data security services customized to meet organizations’ business needs. Drawing from 20+ years of experience in the field, we have tailored our services to be laser-focused on securing organizations’ data wherever it resides. Cloudrise helps organizations elevate their data protection and privacy programs through assessments, technology enablement, and managed services. Cloudrise can be found at www.cloudrise.com or on LinkedIn. Contact Details Cloudrise Robert McLean +1 800-917-7619 sales@cloudrise.com Company Website https://cloudrise.com/

July 28, 2022 05:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

7 Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Financial Advisor

Benzinga

Choosing a financial advisor is a major life decision that can determine your financial trajectory for years to come. A 2020 Northwestern Mutual study found that 71% of U.S. adults admit their financial planning needs improvement. However, only 29% of Americans work with a financial advisor.1 The value of working with a financial advisor varies by person and advisors are legally prohibited from promising returns, but research suggests people who work with a financial advisor feel more at ease about their finances and could end up with about 15% more money to spend in retirement.2 Consider this example: A recent Vanguard study found that, on average, a hypothetical $500K investment would grow to over $3.4 million under the care of an advisor over 25 years, whereas the expected value from self-management would be $1.69 million, or 50% less. In other words, an advisor-managed portfolio would average 8% annualized growth over a 25-year period, compared to 5% from a self-managed portfolio.3 SmartAsset’s no-cost tool simplifies the time-consuming process of finding a financial advisor. A short questionnaire helps match you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors that serve your area, legally bound to work in your best interest. The whole process takes just a few minutes, and in many cases you can be connected instantly with an advisor for a free retirement consultation. Advisors are rigorously screened through our proprietary due diligence process. Being aware of these seven common blunders when choosing an advisor can help you find peace of mind, and potentially avoid years of stress. 1. Hiring an Advisor Who Is Not a Fiduciary By definition, a fiduciary is an individual who is ethically bound to act in another person’s best interest. Fiduciary financial advisors must avoid conflicts of interest and disclose any potential conflicts of interest to clients. All of the financial advisors on SmartAsset’s matching platform are registered fiduciaries. If your advisor is not a fiduciary and constantly pushes investment products on you, use this no-cost tool to find an advisor who has your best interest in mind. 2. Hiring the First Advisor You Meet While it’s tempting to hire the advisor closest to home or the first advisor in the yellow pages, this decision requires more time. Take the time to interview at least a few advisors before picking the best match for you. 3. Choosing an Advisor with the Wrong Specialty Some financial advisors specialize in retirement planning, while others are best for business owners or those with a high net worth. Some might be best for young professionals starting a family. Be sure to understand an advisor’s strengths and weaknesses – before signing the dotted line. 4. Picking an Advisor with an Incompatible Strategy Each advisor has a unique strategy. Some advisors may suggest aggressive investments, while others are more conservative. If you prefer to go all in on stocks, an advisor that prefers bonds and index funds is not a great match for your style. 5. Not Asking about Credentials To give investment advice, financial advisors are required to pass a test. Ask your advisor about their licenses, tests, and credentials. Financial advisors tests include the Series 7, and Series 66 or Series 65. Some advisors go a step further and become a Certified Financial Planner, or CFP. 6. Not Understanding How They are Paid Some advisors are “fee only” and charge you a flat rate no matter what. Others charge a percentage of your assets under management. Some advisors are paid commissions by mutual funds, a serious conflict of interest. If the advisor earns more by ignoring your best interests, do not hire them. 7. Not Hiring a Vetted Advisor Chances are, there are several highly qualified financial advisors in your town. However, it can seem daunting to choose one. Our no-cost tool makes it easy to find a qualified financial advisor. The entire matching process takes just a few minutes. Click here to get matched with up to three financial advisors who serve your area. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 27, 2022 02:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time

DataWeave Releases 2022 Alcohol Report: Digital Alcohol Sales Show 3 Newly Emerging Trends

DataWeave

Price hikes seen as early as December 2021 for 27.5% of the 20,000+ alcohol SKUs tracked A switch to healthier, Ready-to-Drink beverages & premium agave-based spirits A retailer focus on hyperlocal growth strategies as measured by our Hyperlocality Index DataWeave, a global leader in eCommerce intelligence and AI analytics, today releases its 2022 Alcohol Report: Digital Visibility Is Reforming the Alcohol Industry. The report provides a data-rich view of online alcohol pricing, distribution, and demand trends across retailers and brands. DataWeave examines price changes and assortment composition by category and retailer in light of pandemic, supply chain, and market-driven economic changes. Analyzing over 20,000 alcohol SKUs, the report offers a Hyperlocality Index to showcase how successfully retailers have employed a hyperlocalized approach to the assortments they carry, along with growth trends in healthier ingredient categories like ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails and agave-based spirits. DataWeave’s 2022 Alcohol Report shows price changes by online alcohol category from December 2021 to May 2022, as well as price changes by retailer and state-by-state geography for the same period. It also indicates shifts in product availability. “Looking at these aspects of nationwide online alcohol prices state by state provides insight into why alcohol retailers are moving toward hyperlocal strategies. In addition to ongoing global supply chain constraints and inflation, distinct regions of the country show strong preferences for particular beverages. This has amounted to significant variations seen across the country in price changes and availability,” said Karthik Bettadapura, CEO of DataWeave. “Our state-by-state analysis revealed how online alcohol retailers focused on expanding their geographic reach across the country as delivery laws evolved.” The 2022 Alcohol Report reflects changing consumer preferences and an increasing interest in health consciousness across categories from December 2021 to May 2022, with ready-to-drink beverages increasing in availability across categories, for example. The premiumization of agave-based spirits such as Tequila and Mezcal resulted in a 30 percent year-over-year sales bump, the report notes, as it contrasts this category with growth in others; there is also a deep dive into Share of Search insights for top brands in the whiskey category. “With inflation looking to remain at about 9% and dynamic pricing changing the competitive landscape daily, online alcohol retailers will need to focus on improving their inventories by expanding local reach, decreasing their delivery time, optimizing pricing, and improving the customer experience,” said Krish Thyagarajan, President and COO of DataWeave. We see our 2022 Alcohol Report as a bellwether for online alcohol sales trends as inflation continues to dominate the consumer mindset.” Report Methodology To come to its findings, DataWeave analyzed 20,000 SKUs, tracking price variations and stock availability across 12 online alcohol retailers and 1,500 brands, dating from December 2021 to May 2022, noting price variations and stock availability by retailer, state-by-state, and by category. # # # DataWeave is a leading provider of advanced sales optimization solutions for e-commerce businesses, consumer brands and marketplaces. The AI-driven proprietary technology and language-agnostic platform aggregates consumable and actionable Competitive Intelligence across 500+ billion data points globally, in 25+ languages, with insights to drive performance for more than 400,000 brands across 1,500+ websites tracked across 20+ verticals and ensure online performance is always optimized. Learn more about the power of big data and global level analytics in understanding the rapidly changing retail industry at DataWeave.com. Contact Details Meir Kahtan Public Relations, LLC (MKPR) Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://dataweave.com

July 27, 2022 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

5 Ways to Get the Best Bang for Your Buck on Gas While Prices Remain High

Benzinga

Save your wallet from sky-high gas prices by researching money-saving tips and tricks. For many drivers, gas remains a necessity, so make the most out of each trip to the pump by using fuel rewards, strategic driving, paying in cash and remaining open to new money-saving options such as mobile applications. Strategic spending such as getting the most out of rewards programs and cash-back credit cards can lessen the financial strain created by high gas prices. Consider combining strategies with mindful driving habits to save money before you even open your wallet at the gas pump. Fuel prices are high, but your overall gas pump anxiety doesn't need to be. Consider using one or all of these helpful tips to try to bring down the final price that you will pay at the pump. Use Those Fuel Rewards Credit cards, gas brands and grocery stores offer discounts, rewards or cash-back offers tied to paying for gas. Credit cards can offer fuel-related rewards that decrease your final total at the pump while offering rewards. Stronger credit cards provide fuel rewards such as up to 5% in savings. Top credit cards for fuel rewards usually do not charge annual fees. Fuel rewards offered by traditional credit cards can extend beyond the pump by offering cash-back and bonus rewards. In contrast, credit cards intended to be used at specific gas stations will likely be easier to obtain than a traditional credit card. For example, the credit card application for specific gas brands will most likely have more relaxed requirements than those associated with typical credit cards. Gas brand-specific credit cards offer rewards designed to incentivize individuals to visit frequently and can quickly add up to large savings for frequent drivers. A potential drawback for people interested in obtaining a credit card associated with a certain gas station is that such cards often only work at affiliated locations. >> Click Here for the Best Gas Credit Cards of 2022 If you have lower credit, secured credit cards can allow you to obtain rewards on gas payments. Secured credit cards are credit cards that need a deposit to determine your credit line. For example, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card provides 3% back on select purchases such as gas and dining. A secured card is typically easier to obtain for individuals with a low credit score because it requires a minimum deposit that acts as a form of collateral for the bank. Drive Strategically Drive strategically to reduce the amount of gas that you use throughout the week. Before heading out on the road, consider combining errands that are close together or purchasing items from a one-stop shop to decrease the amount of time spent driving between places. In addition, consider exactly how you drive in terms of your level of forcefulness. Aggressive driving — hard acceleration and rough braking — tends to use fuel less efficiently and more quickly wear down your car. Simple maintenance tips can also improve fuel efficiency, so be aware of your tire pressure when out on the road. Deflated tires can lower fuel efficiency and decrease the longevity of your vehicle while also being unsafe. For example, low tire pressure increases the likelihood of your tires overheating, which can potentially blow a tire. Proper maintenance saves money while also increasing your safety on the road. Use Mobile Apps to Find Cheap Gas Take advantage of technology and use a mobile application to help save money on gas. Certain mobile applications like GasBuddy allow you to find specific gas stations in your area with lower prices that meet your specific needs. For example, the mobile app allows users to filter the results using specific interests such as the type of fuel or brand of gas. Mobile apps can prove beneficial when heading out on a road trip or deciding which gas pump will offer you the most bang for your buck. If you are interested in helpful discounts, consider the benefits of joining a rewards program or signing up for a mobile app that has a sign-up bonus. Pay Cash for the Savings Paying in cash often lowers the price per gallon that a person spends at the pump. Usually, gas stations display a sign that explains the difference in prices between paying using debit or credit as well as paying using cash. For example, many gas stations have lower prices for a person that intends to pay cash. The lower prices are offered as an incentive for individuals to purchase gas using cash so that the gas station can avoid paying the processing fees associated with credit cards. Although lowered prices provided on all fuel types when paying in cash are typically only a few cents, the discounts have the potential to accumulate over time for a person that continuously pays for gas using cash. Refuel at Night or in the Early Morning Fueling up your tank at night or in the early morning can help with fuel efficiency because fuel tends to expand with heat. When gas becomes heated, it tends to expand and the vapor increases. However, at many gas stations, gas is stored in underground tanks, so the temperature variation throughout the day mildly impacts the gas stored within the actual tanks. Filling up in the early morning or late at night can save you from the longer gas pump lines that tend to happen during more highly trafficked hours of the day. Avoiding peak fill-up times has the ability to save you time as well as gas that would likely be spent idling as you wait in line for the pump. Save Money at the Gas Pump Saving money at the gas pump can reduce the financial burden on your shoulders and better safeguard your wallet from overspending. Take advantage of the wide range of fuel rewards programs associated with specific gas companies, grocery stores and traditional credit cards. Such rewards programs can reduce your bill over time and allow you the freedom to spend your money elsewhere. Small actions have the ability to add up, so keep your car in good working order, have your tires properly inflated and drive in a mindful manner. Frequently Asked Questions When deciding how to put gas in your tank, contemplate the benefits of fueling up your tank all the way. Examine your specific car to understand if it requires a certain type of fuel while researching local gas stations with the lowest prices. Why should you fuel your tank all the way up? It’s recommended to completely fill your tank when you are at the pump. The initial fee might seem substantial given the current price of gas, but it’s still considered better in the long run. Fully fueling your tank can help you in a sudden emergency or unforeseen event by allowing you to travel farther without needing to waste time stopping for gas. Avoid overfilling your tank because that has the potential to harm your engine. Should you drive your car until the tank is almost empty? For multiple reasons, it’s not recommended to drive your car to the point that your tank is almost empty. One key reason is that the sediment that’s settled to the bottom of your gas tank could get pulled into the motor. In addition, having minimal gas in your tank could ruin your fuel pump if you end up running out of gas. Over time, running out of fuel will decrease the lifespan of certain car parts. If possible, try to keep your gas tank above 25% full to avoid having your motor suck in sediment and to also account for unplanned or extended drives. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 26, 2022 10:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time

IMA Financial Group Issues First Insurance Certificate on the Blockchain

IMA Financial

IMA Financial Group, which earlier this year launched Web3Labs, is now the first insurance broker to issue a certificate of insurance (COI) on the blockchain. The COI, completed on behalf of client Engiven, was transacted as a non-fungible token (NFT) through Web3Labs, IMA’s research and development facility in Decentraland. Founded in 2018, Engiven is the first B2B cryptocurrency donation software servicing nonprofit organizations. James Lawrence, its co-founder and CEO, sees today as a meaningful step forward in the use of distributed ledger technology in insurance. “As a company on the forefront of blockchain technology, we have often blazed our own trail,” said Lawrence. “With IMA as a partner, we can double our impact and advance the adoption of blockchain technology in insurance and across many industries.” Certificates of insurance (COIs) are documents containing essential details of an insurance policy in an easily digestible, standardized format. Despite contractual requirements to maintain the documents, particularly in the construction and oil and gas industries, COIs are rarely updated or reviewed, leaving companies at risk. The delivery of certificates as NFTs solves these maintenance issues by providing an updated, accessible, verifiable record. “The issuance of certificates is a key tactical procedure for all brokers, with hundreds of millions issued nationwide each year,” said IMA Senior Vice President and Director of Innovation and Strategy Garrett Droege. “Despite the buzz around NFTs, the tools aren’t widely used in business. COIs are the perfect utility to illustrate their value, and blockchain leader Engiven is the perfect partner.” “Web3Labs allows us to research opportunities to support our clients and lead the industry in the adoption of Web 3.0 technologies,” added IMA Senior Vice President and Web3Labs Director Justin Jacobs. “The COI process is a logical starting point as we can create usability and value for our clients and their downstream and upstream partners.” About IMA Financial Group Based in North America, IMA Financial Group Inc. is an integrated financial services company focused on protecting the assets of its widely varied client base through insurance and wealth management solutions. Because IMA is employee-owned, its 1,800-plus associates are empowered to provide customized solutions for their clients’ unique needs. About Engiven Engiven is a leading cryptocurrency donation management platform providing an end to end giving solution benefiting nonprofits and their donors. Engiven’s nonprofit clients include some of the most respected charities and ministries in the United States including The Salvation Army, US Figure Skating, Compassion International, Texas A&M, and North Point Ministries. For more information about Engiven, visit https://www.engiven.com. About IMA Financial Group IMA Financial Group is a North American insurance brokerage firm with market-leading risk management, insurance, employee benefits and wealth management practices. Among the largest independent, employee-owned brokerage in the U.S., IMA employs more than 1,350 associates with highly specialized expertise in a broad reach of growing industries. The company’s mission is to protect assets and make a difference for its clients, associates and communities. Contact Details IMA Financial Group Ruth Rohs +1 303-615-7513 ruth.rohs@imacorp.com Center Reach Communications Alexandra Campbell +1 201-790-6038 alexandra@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://imacorp.com/

July 25, 2022 01:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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