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Ethena Suffers Crypto Slump, As Raboo Outclasses TRON With Exceptional Activity

Total Media

The DeFi coins are in sharp decline, as they are yet to turn around their latest bearish losses. Ethena (ENA) is in a worse situation, as the token's community is furious at their latest token policy. Tron (TRX), on the other hand, hasn't resolved its TRX price issues, but its stablecoin trading has reached another milestone. It's trying times for the top crypto coins, especially as their holders turn to meme coins like Raboo ($RABT) for profits this year. The $RABT presale is offering 233% ROI, but that surely isn't everything. That $RABT presale could be your passport to profits this year. Ethena revamp sparks criticism among traders From 'fan favourites' to ‘heavily despised,' Ethena has made quite the drop lately. The token launched in February, doubling its opening price days after listing. Ethena's staking APYs and stablecoin trading have also endeared users to its blockchain. There seem to be more scalp traders than actual investors on the network, skewing the actual capital value and hindering growth for the ENA token. To curb that, the developers released a statement requiring all new airdrop recipients to lock at least 50% of their ENA coins or risk losing them all. The new policy is, no doubt, quite inconvenient for the users. And that might be a reason Ethena is trading at significant 23% losses in the past seven days. It's a huge dip, and we wonder how low the ENA price can get before it bottoms out. Tron hits new stablecoin achievement; TRX price spikes, too The Tron ecosystem has thrived on being user-friendly for years, as TRX-based transactions are never as costly to execute as transactions on other networks. Now, the traffic on Tron seems to be yielding rather positively; the stablecoin Tether had recently surged over $53 billion in trading volume. That value is often reserved for payment processing outlets, like Visa and MasterCard, and Tron's USDT trading volume just leaped past theirs. Tether is gradually becoming a more popular token than even the top crypto coins; it is more used than BTC in Latin America. And Tron holds about $100 billion worth of reserves in traditional banking institutions. That's an influential position to hold, and the ripple effects are impacting everything on the Tron platform, even the TRX price. It's on a three-day profit streak, and the consensus is that Tron might be back for the bull run. Or not. Tron has never been the go-to coin for profits. The long game is a boring one, especially when you have far better tokens to cash out from. Raboo's offer is still on the table. Experience the future of memes on Raboo! The meme coin sector is one of the most reactionary parts of the crypto market; the average investor won't go near a meme coin with a ten-foot pole. Yet, here they are all over Raboo–you can be sure it's not just presale profits they are after. Raboo's real-world applications are centered on bringing the best out of memes, and there's no other meme project doing it better. With the prospects of AI development in sight, Raboo has incorporated a generative AI to assist with creating memes on the platform. No, we won't be getting AI-generated content for memes, either. It's AI-enhanced, meaning that Rabooscan, the generative AI algorithm, will only be taking the meme creation process a step higher. With members of the Raboo community regularly posting their memeable pictures, Rabooscan will never run out of pictures and ideas to piece together. Raboo is a call to join a growing community of like-minded meme lovers. At any rate, you're in for a fun ride. Conclusion The good news is, a fun ride isn't all you'd be getting from Raboo. The 233% presale profits, as we said, are just a tip of the rest of the goodies. Raboo's potential growth will follow the trajectory of AI development in the crypto market. And as AI continues to penetrate the market, Raboo's value keeps rising. There's some 10,000% profit to be gained as soon as Raboo makes a major exchange listing. So get ready for Raboo today; get your $RABT tokens at $0.0048 before the presale ends. You can participate in the Raboo presale here. Telegram: https://t.me/RabootokenPortal Twitter: https://twitter.com/Raboo_Official Contact Details Total Media Solutions media@Totalsolutionspr.io Company Website https://rabootoken.com?&utm_source=marketing&utm_campaign=NDPR&utm_id=2506-13

June 25, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Lenovo’s Meet Your Digital Self: Technology and Mental Health Come Together

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/49oPilpLHZc Technology can play a transformative role in promoting mental health and resilience - when used for good! We know that stressors abound for young people and mental health concerns are prevalent. With that in mind, innovative tech solutions are emerging as valuable tools for enhancing emotional well-being and building resilience. Meet Your Digital Self is the first time that powerhouse PC’s, servers, monitors, professional services, AI and more have come together to enable the creation of an AI avatar capable of having a natural conversation- something only Lenovo could do with its unique pocket to cloud portfolio. Lenovo looks to bring further awareness to this issue as well as leave a lasting impact through technology and mental health support, in partnership with Crisis Text Line, to uplift and nurture our future generations. On June 12th, a nationwide media tour was conducted with Dr. Shairi R. Turner, Chief Health Officer, Crisis Text Line to discuss Lenovo’s Meet Your Digital Self. Topics that were discussed included: • Why Lenovo saw a need to develop this technology to address the global societal issue of mental wellbeing impacting young people today. • The technology that supported the development of this experiment. • How Lenovo is working with Crisis Text Line to provide access to mental health resources for young people and making it easier for young people to open up about who they truly are with their closest friends and family. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 25, 2024 11:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Business Photo AI Launches Cutting-Edge AI-Driven Headshot Service

Rev Up Marketers

Business Photo AI, an innovator in AI photography, has launched a new AI-driven headshot service designed to set new standards in professional photography. Business Photo AI provides customizable, AI-driven headshots that are indistinguishable from traditional photography. These AI tools empower professionals to build a strong personal brand, leveraging advanced technology in a competitive digital environment. Business Photo AI provides professionals with high-quality, AI-driven photography to elevate their brand image effortlessly. Users can upload photos and receive over 120 headshots with various poses, backgrounds, and clothing options. Viresh Jagesser, CEO of Business Photo AI, commented: "We understand many professionals have had negative experiences with traditional photography services. High costs, limited photo selections, and unsatisfactory results are common issues. Business Photo AI addresses these concerns head-on. Our service offers an affordable, efficient alternative that guarantees multiple high-quality AI headshots – indistinguishable from real images, saving time and money." Business Photo AI emphasizes transparency and straightforward pricing, ensuring that users know exactly what to expect. The service includes a satisfaction guarantee, reflecting the company's commitment to user trust and confidence in their product. Jagesser added, “We are dedicated to providing the future of AI photography to everyone, aiming to meet and exceed user expectations. Our transparent pricing and satisfaction guarantee reflect our confidence in the quality of Business Photo AI.” For more information about Business Photo AI, please visit Business Photo AI. About Business Photo AI: Business Photo AI is a provider of AI-driven photo enhancement tools designed to help professionals elevate their online presence. The company's technology ensures high-quality results quickly and affordably, making professional-grade photography accessible to everyone. For more information, visit Business Photo AI. Contact Details Business Photo AI Viresh Jagesser info@businessphoto.ai Company Website https://www.businessphoto.ai/

June 25, 2024 10:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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FortiCard Experiences Unprecedented User Growth, Proactively Expands Global Financial Partnerships

Rev Up Marketers

FortiCard, a prominent leader in financial services, is reporting a remarkable surge in user growth this quarter, outpacing the rate at which orders from financial institutions are increasing. This imbalance has spurred the company’s business development team to intensify negotiations with financial institutions worldwide to ensure investment capacities keep pace with user demand. This quarter, FortiCard’s user base expanded by an impressive 40%, driven largely by the influx of new team leaders applying to become FortiCard partners. This rapid growth, while indicative of the market’s robust confidence in FortiCard’s innovative financial solutions, has led to a potential challenge. Although the order volume from financial institutions has grown, it has not matched the accelerated pace of user sign-ups. This discrepancy raises concerns about potential limitations on investment allocations in the near future. FortiCard’s Chief Business Officer comments on the situation: “Our user growth has been phenomenal, primarily fueled by the surge in applications from new team leaders eager to join our partnership programs. However, this has created a unique challenge as the order volume from our financial institution partners, although increasing, is not keeping pace. We are proactively addressing this by expanding our negotiations with current and potential financial partners globally.” To mitigate any potential investment allocation constraints, FortiCard is working diligently to secure additional partnerships with global financial institutions. The aim is to enhance the company’s financial backing and ensure that the service offerings can meet the growing user demand without any disruptions. Moreover, due to the surge in partner applications, FortiCard is considering revising the criteria for partnership to ensure that the quality and commitment of new partners align with the company’s high standards and strategic goals. “Adjusting the threshold for becoming a partner is something we are contemplating to maintain the integrity and efficiency of our partnership model,” says the Chief Operations Officer. FortiCard is committed to its mission of providing secure, efficient, and innovative financial solutions to its users. By strengthening existing partnerships and forging new ones, FortiCard aims to sustain its rapid growth and continue delivering exceptional financial services. As part of its strategy to manage the growing demand, FortiCard is also looking to enhance its presence in emerging markets. These markets present untapped opportunities, especially given the high rate of financial technology adoption, and can significantly contribute to easing potential investment constraints. FortiCard’s proactive approach to managing its expansion-balancing user growth with robust financial partnerships-highlights the company’s adaptability and commitment to leading the financial services industry. For more information about FortiCard and its services, please visit the company’s website. About FortiCard FortiCard is a leading financial services provider recognized for its innovative solutions and customer-centric approach. The company offers a diverse range of products and services designed to meet the dynamic needs of modern consumers and businesses worldwide, emphasizing security, user experience, and accessibility. Contact Details FortiCard Limited Alexander Jonathan Williams admin@forti-card.com Company Website https://forti-card.com/

June 25, 2024 09:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Activate Announces $37M Debt Financing from RBC Royal Bank and Export Development Canada to accelerate US Corporate Expansion

Activate

Activate Games Inc. (“Activate”), the pioneering force behind the world’s first active gaming experience announced today their accelerating global expansion plans, with 40 net new openings planned by the end of 2025. Activate, and their global development partners, have been working with international, national and regional landlords to secure attractive real estate locations for expansion. Activate plans both corporate and development partner openings across North America, including entering California, New York, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Colorado markets in the United States, as well as British Columbia, Quebec, and Saskatchewan in the Canadian market. These North American openings are in addition to the planned international expansions in the Middle East and UK markets with development partners Majid Al Futtaim and We Do Play, as recently announced. “Our vision for Activate has always been to take Activate well beyond the Canadian border, beginning with our US expansion with our development partner, Breakout Games in 2019. We are excited to now open our first corporate site in the US this summer, and over the next 18 months bring our adrenaline-pumping adventures to millions of fans in their communities, providing an unforgettable entertainment experience for players of all ages,” said Adam Schmidt, Founder and CEO of Activate. Activate is also pleased to welcome Dan Haroun, CPA, CA as Global CFO, after 15 years of broad executive experience in finance, real estate, strategy and analytics across global consumer businesses, including Restaurant Brands International, Walmart Canada, and Freshii. “Dan has been working with us as an Executive Advisor over the past year, and we are excited to have him join us as our CFO. Dan’s background in both Corporate and Licensed / Franchised environments, along with his success in scaling large businesses and partnering with leadership teams focused on execution makes him a great fit for Activate” said Adam Schmidt, Founder and CEO of Activate. “I am excited to be a part of the team at Activate. Activate’s platform is exactly what customers are looking for today. This business model is well positioned to scale, and I see incredible opportunities for Activate’s growth. I look forward to partnering with Adam and the team to bring Activate to communities around the world, creating value for our shareholders and our development partners” said Dan Haroun, CFO of Activate. As part of the planned expansion, Activate is also pleased to announce a completed debt financing from RBC and EDC providing $37M in financing to fuel Activate’s US corporate expansion. The all-debt financing will be used to fund the capital requirements for new corporate sites. “RBC and EDC understood our needs and structured these facilities to effectively enable our growth and expansion. We appreciate their partnership and are excited to be opening new locations this summer as a result,” said Dan Haroun. “EDC is pleased to support Activate Games as they expand their international footprint and bring Canadian innovation to the United States", says Guillermo Freire, EDC's Senior Vice-President, Mid-Market Group. “Canadian medium-sized businesses like Activate Games are the engine of our national trade growth, and we stand ready to support them so they can thrive in global markets.” For investor relations please contact investor@playactivate.com For information about Activate’s global development opportunities, please contact franchising@playactivate.com. For real estate inquiries please contact riley.court@playactivate.com. Activate is the world’s first active gaming experience where players #EnterTheGame. Activate offers a unique blend of physical activity and gaming that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Each Activate location provides fun and interactive rooms for players to compete, earn stars and track achievements. With the global headquarters located in Winnipeg, Canada, Activate has grown to 30 locations across Canada, the U.S. and now the world! To join the active gaming movement, visit playactivate.com. Follow Activate on social media: Facebook: Activate Instagram: @activategames TikTok: @activategames Contact Details Jalila Singerff +1 613-614-6777 jalila@jiveprdigital.com Company Website https://playactivate.com

June 25, 2024 09:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Gold Prices Continue On An Uptrend – Is It The Right Time To Buy The Metal Now For Profits In 2024?

Priority Gold

By James Blacker, Benzinga Gold has had a remarkable run so far this year, continuing its strong performance from 2023. The precious metal ended last year at around $2,070 per ounce and, after an initial slide to below the $2,000 mark, shot up to a record high of over $2,450 in May. As we approach the latter half of 2024, gold has pulled back to around $2,300, but is still up around 11% since the start of the year and 27% since the October low of $1,813. Gold is typically seen as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty, so with inflation starting to slow, along with strong growth trends and equity markets, it might have come as a surprise to some that gold has performed so well this year. However, there are myriad factors driving the price of gold. Let’s look at some of these factors and what impact they could have on the gold price during the second half of 2024. The Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Policy A critical factor affecting gold prices in the coming months will be the Federal Reserve’s stance on interest rates. This is because gold typically has an inverse relationship with interest rates, so a cut could mean that gold continues its uptrend. The Fed rate has remained within the range of 5.25%–5.50% since July 2023 after rising by 525 basis points over 11 consecutive hikes since March 2022 in response to rising inflation. It is at its highest level in 23 years, and many experts think a rate cut will come soon. Two-thirds of economists surveyed by Reuters in May said the Fed will cut its key interest rate twice this year, starting with a cut to 5.00%–5.25% in September. The proportion of economists with this view increased from just over half surveyed the previous month. It should be noted, however, that while inflation has slowed somewhat, it remains above the 2% target. The Fed has said that we are not likely to see an interest rate cut until inflation has fallen further, and there is even a risk that inflation could rise again. Economic And Geopolitical Uncertainty As a safe-haven asset, gold thrives in times of economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war in Gaza are likely contributing factors to the gold price surge over the last year. This economic uncertainty is driving consumers and investors in China to buy gold at a record pace. According to Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), it is this robust retail buying in Asia, coupled with central bank accumulation, that is underpinning the gold rally. Expert Predictions For 2024 With gold still in a strong uptrend, several financial institutions have updated forecasts made at the start of the year to reflect this ongoing strength. Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) initially predicted gold to reach $2,400 in 2024; it is now saying it could reach $3,000 by 2025. UBS (NYSE: UBS) previously predicted that gold would reach $2,200 in 2024. In its latest forecast, it says it will reach $2,600. Goldman Sachs has updated its forecast from $2,133 to $2,700. Citi (NYSE: C) now predicts the price of gold will rise to $3,000 by 2025, after a previous forecast of $2,400 this year. Time To Buy Gold? As we look toward the second half of 2024, several key factors point to a continued upward trajectory for gold. With ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, it remains a sought-after asset, while many expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates later this year. Expert predictions remain bullish, with some financial institutions even predicting a price of $3,000 by 2025. Investors looking to add gold to their portfolio might want to consider a company like Priority Gold, which provides access to a wealth of knowledge, resources and guidance to navigate the complexities of precious metals investment. Explore options with Priority Gold to capitalize on this trend and secure your financial future by clicking here. Featured photo by Jingming Pan on Unsplash. Priority Gold is known as "America's Precious Metals Dealer" and is one of the leading precious metals retailers in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company focuses on helping customers diversify their savings and retirement holdings with precious metals. They are also proud partners of the World Champion Texas Rangers major league baseball team! Since its inception in 2015, Priority Gold has played a pivotal role in facilitating IRA rollovers into gold and silver, collaborating with Preferred Trust Company to provide custody services. The company has earned top accolades such as an A+ rating from BBB, AAA rating from Business Consumer Alliances, and a 5-star rating on Trustlink. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Alex Lin alex.l@prioritygold.com Company Website https://prioritygold.com/

June 25, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Bitdeer (NASDAQ: BTDR) Scores Bullish Rating From Top Wall Street Firm Cantor Fitzgerald

Benzinga

By Gerelyn Terzo, Benzinga Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald has recognized Bitcoin mining company Bitdeer as a leader in the industry, and as an emerging key player in the high-performance computing sector. Cantor Fitzgerald’s Brett Knoblauch has initiated coverage on the Bitcoin mining stock with an overweight rating. Additionally, Knoblauch assigned a $13 price target, reflecting upside potential of 44% as of mid-June. In response to the positive note, Bitdeer shares ballooned by 33% to a market capitalization of over $1.2 billion. Buying has been on higher-than-usual trading volume, reaching 4.3 million shares in a display of strong conviction among bullish investors. Knoblauch is particularly impressed by Bitdeer’s commercial Bitcoin mining capacity, fueled by the expansion of its SEALMINER technology. He believes it could catapult Bitdeer to the top of the heap among publicly traded Bitcoin mining companies as internal mining rig development indicates vertical integration and positions Bitdeer as a key vendor in a niche hardware market. Cantor’s Knoblauch pointed to several other catalysts fueling his growth outlook on the company, including Bitdeer’s diversified business model. In addition to Bitcoin mining chip production, Bitdeer is engaged in self-mining (via the company’s proprietary account ), artificial intelligence (AI)-based cloud computing services and cloud hashrate, a unique business unit that offers mining rig subscription plans and shares mining income with select customers. Bitdeer boasts half a dozen data centers, which host servers minting newBitcoins into supply, strategically located across the United States, Norway and Bhutan. The company is on pace to increase its hash rate - which measures a network’s computing power and efficiency – by an impressive 3.4EH/s this year. That captured the attention of Wall Street analysts, including Cantor Fitzgerald. Bitdeer’s performance coincides with the batch production of its cutting-edge SEALMINER A1 rigs, boasting a power efficiency of 18.1J/TH. Bitdeer is in the midst of an aggressive expansion of its data centers comprising the addition of 1,079 MW of power, which stands to bolster its mining speed by close to 60 exahash (EH) per second, enhancing its competitive position even further. As part of this growth, Bitdeer is targeting an increase in its self-mining capacity from 7 EH, currently comprising 1% of global Bitcoin mining, to 30 EH. With Bitdeer’s stock trading below its 52-week high, Cantor suggests the market isn’t fully appreciating Bitdeer’s potential in this bullish Bitcoin-price environment. Wall Street Analysts United In Bullish Outlook On Bitdeer Stock In 2024 Cantor Fitzgerald also previously identified Bitdeer as a leading listed Bitcoin miner poised for continued profitability in a post-Bitcoin halving environment. As of early 2024, Bitdeer’s mining cost-per-coin hovered below $18,000, due to its cost and energy efficient mining rig technology coupled with an attractive hashrate. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin price is currently hovering at $64,000 per coin. Cantor Fitzgerald isn’t the only analyst firm that’s turned more bullish on BTDR shares of late. Earlier this month, ROTH Capital Partners reiterated its buy rating on Bitdeer stock, with a bullish price target of $14 per share attached. ROTH issued the positive outlook in response to Bitdeerr’s recent acquisition of Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design company Desiweminer. Not to be outdone, fellow analyst firm BTIG in Q1 initiated coverage of Bitdeer stock with a buy rating, citing the company’s “competitive power infrastructure.” Bitdeer: On The Precipice Of A Breakout There’s a reason that Bitdeer is getting noticed now. The company appears to be on the precipice of a breakout in which it is advancing closer toward its long-term development targets. In April, the Bitcoin-halving month, the company was responsible for mining 265 Bitcoins, a year-over-year increase of nearly 14%. In the midst of its growth, Bitdeer’s data centers have maintained stable operations, owing largely to attractive power pricing agreements it has secured for these sites, the company says. All seven Wall Street analysts covering Bitdeer have assigned buy ratings to the stock. With an average price target of $14.08 per share, the stock is seemingly undervalued with a runway for another 54% in capital appreciation. Investors who are seeking to gain diversified exposure to the Bitcoin mining sector and the next-generation of ASIC chip design could consider the advice of these Wall Street experts. Featured photo by lo lo on Unsplash Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

June 25, 2024 08:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Influencers Are Driving Consumers To Discount Clubs And Major Retailers Like Costco Finds IZEA’s Latest Survey

Benzinga

By James Blacker, Benzinga As digital marketing continues to evolve and consumer behavior is increasingly swayed by social media personalities, influencer marketing has become a critical strategy for brands aiming to expand their reach. Recent research by IZEA Worldwide (NASDAQ: IZEA) sheds light on the powerful impact that influencers have on purchasing decisions at discount clubs and major retailers, driving sales in brick-and-mortar stores such as Costco (NASDAQ: COST), Sam’s Club (NYSE: WMT) and BJ’s (NYSE: BJ). Based on a survey of over 1,100 U.S.-based consumers, the report reveals that 68% of respondents have an active membership at a discount club store. The percentage of influencers with an active membership is a notable 81%, of whom 93% have recommended a product they purchased inside a store to someone else. This shows that influencers not only promote these clubs to drive consumer interest but also participate in these clubs themselves. Influencer-Driven Purchasing Decisions IZEA’s report underscores how effective influencers can be in getting people to buy products. Among the respondents, 58% said they had purchased a product after seeing it being used by an influencer. Broken down by the discount club, 74% of BJ’s members have made an influencer-driven purchase, compared to 68% of Sam’s Club shoppers and 66% of Costco shoppers. Interestingly, influencer posts were shown to have the greatest impact on product consideration compared to other forms of marketing. This is the case across all age groups, but especially so for the 18-29 age group, with 39% of this demographic saying influencer posts are the most likely to persuade them to try a product. In terms of content preferences, short video content emerged as the most influential medium, with 41% of respondents in the 18-29 age group saying it is the type of content most likely to drive them to a store to make a purchase. Another revelation was that discount club members are also likely to search on social media before making a purchase, with 41% of BJ’s club members indicating that they do this. YouTube was the top platform used for this kind of product research. “Our latest report provides fascinating insights into the intersection of influencer marketing and discount club memberships,” said Ted Murphy, IZEA CEO and founder. “When it comes to shopping at brick-and-mortar locations, Influencers are significantly more likely to drive purchases at discount clubs among club members. This is especially true for Costco members, who are 2.3 times more likely to make their influencer-inspired purchases at the store vs. Target or Walmart.” Strategic Opportunities For Brands With IZEA The findings from this report highlight the significant opportunities available for companies to partner with influencers to boost sales through discount clubs. As a trailblazer in the influencer marketing space, IZEA offers a suite of tools and services designed to facilitate these partnerships and help make the most out of them. The company’s award-winning, next-gen influencer marketing platform, IZEA Flex, connects creators with brands to facilitate collaborations. Brands can also use it to track and measure campaign performance with detailed analytics. IZEA furthermore offers a suite of AI tools called FormAI, which brands and creators can use to create high-quality content. IZEA's recent research underscores the growth potential of influencer marketing. As a leader in the space, IZEA seems well-positioned to continue helping brands leverage this increasingly relevant form of digital marketing. To read the full report and learn more about IZEA’s services, visit the company’s website. Featured photo by Grant Beirute on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

June 25, 2024 08:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Kartoon Studios Gears Up To Launch Most Ambitious Project Yet With New Winnie-The-Pooh Franchise; Backed By $30M Of Non-Dilutive Financing From Catalyst Venture Partners

Benzinga

By Meg Flippin, Benzinga Winnie-The-Pooh, the classic novel by A.A. Milne, has warmed our hearts, opened our imaginations and kept us enchanted for decades. It has also made its licensees a lot of money. After all, the franchise has generated over $80 billion in sales over the past forty years and is estimated to generate $3 to $6 billion in annual revenue for Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS). It's also the subject of the next big project from Kartoon Studios (AMEX: TOON), a global company specializing in creating, producing, distributing, marketing and licensing entertainment brands. Kartoon Studios ’ Winnie-The-Pooh is the most ambitious project yet for the company, encompassing an animated holiday movie, five holiday specials and a four-year/104-episode series and 5 Holiday specials to premiere on Amazon.com Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) Amazon Prime Video, via Kartoon Channel!’s subscription service on the platform. Concurrently, the global retail program will kick off with the debut of products featuring an array of special features, distributed through Alliance Entertainment Corporation (“AEC”)(NASDAQ: AENT), which distributes to Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), Barnes & Noble and Amazon. At launch, AEC will debut an exclusive steel case video package with unique bonus features as part of Kartoon Studios’ global merchandise program. The series is being financed through non-dilutive joint venture production financing of $30 million provided by WTP SPV 1, a subsidiary of Catalyst Venture Partners. “We have committed to provide $30 million to the Special Purpose Joint Venture for this exciting new version of A.A. Milne’s ‘Winnie the Pooh’ from Kartoon Studios, which is non-dilutive to any of TOON’s existing stakeholders. Being able to participate in a timeless and proven children’s classic such as Milne’s ‘Winnie-The-Pooh,’ through the production of original animated content and the licensing of consumer products from those proprietary character designs and stories, is a unique opportunity we are very excited about,” said Steven A. Horowitz, Sr. Managing Director of WTP SPV. “Andy Heyward and the team at Kartoon Studios have a long history of producing hit properties for children. An all-star array of award-winning talent across development, production, marketing, consumer products, and distribution has been assembled to manage the brand launch, and we are excited to be a part of what we are confident will be a hugely profitable and enduring business.” It Doesn’t Get Any More Iconic “Disney created an iconic and tremendously successful global brand with ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ that we have all admired so much. When the property went into the public domain, we knew we could only undertake creating Pooh for a new generation, if we could bring a completely different and unique look that was contemporary, protectable, and gave voice to the characters and stories created by A.A. Milne, as has never been done,” said Kartoon Studios Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward when announcing the deal. “We are thrilled to launch with Amazon Prime Video, and Alliance Entertainment distributing through Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, to deliver unique and exceptional content, as we build out a new iteration of this entertainment brand and Winnie-The-Pooh branded consumer products to the global marketplace.” Been There, Done That Kartoon Studios has a lot of experience with merchandising around a popular franchise. This spring Kartoon Studios – which is the controlling partner of "Stan Lee Universe, LLC" – unveiled a new dedicated storefront on Amazon, exclusively featuring products related to Stan Lee. This Stan Lee storefront, powered by Meteor, offers a wide range of branded apparel and merchandise adorned with graphics that pay homage to the legendary "Godfather of Comics." This new storefront further enhances the brand's connection with its digital community of passionate fans. Kartoon Studios also has a YouTube channel dedicated to everything Stan Lee for his legions of fans – “Stan Lee Presents,” now rebranded to Cinematica – which features a diverse range of content sourced from Stan’s personal archives, digital Stan Lee comic books, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, seldom-seen historical materials as well as sneak peeks of upcoming projects from the Stan Lee Universe. Kartoon Studios plans to take a similar approach to merchandising around Winnie-the-Pooh. The Amazon series is in pre-production and will kick off with the animated Christmas movie, set to premiere December 24, 2025, on Amazon Prime Video through Kartoon Channel!’s $3.99/month subscription distribution arrangement. Alongside the movie, Alliance Entertainment will distribute steelcase videos with plush and a unique array of special features. through its retail and online partners. The company is developing its Winnie-the-Pooh content with what it says is a unique “yarn-based” design and palette for the characters and backgrounds, along with original modern stories inspired by Milne’s beloved classic books. The imagined yarn gives the characters depth and warmth, reports Kartoon Studios. The stories will be told in a “Seussian style” rhyme to provide an enriched dimension. AI In The Driver’s Seat To achieve all that, Kartoon Studios is leveraging artificial intelligence. “In designing ‘Kartoon Studios’ Winnie-The-Pooh,’ using both AI and by hand, the unique look of the characters and backgrounds could not have been imagined prior to the advent of AI in our industry,” said Heyward. “Moreover, our use of AI will enable us to bring a level of efficiency, speed to market, and creativity to the production heretofore not possible.” Kartoon Networks is aiming to lift families' spirits with Winne-the-Pooh focusing on its goodness, grounded in family, friendship, kindness and love. Those are values Kartoon Studios’ version of Pooh will showcase. If Kartoon Studios is able to replicate its prior success, the news could bring cheer to fans and investors alike. Featured photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

June 25, 2024 08:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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