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Hi-Tech Holiday Gift Guide for 2021

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/zjUnQ2hCLeM Despite supply chain issues, consumers are eager to shop and spend close to 135-billion dollars on gear and tech gadgets this holiday season. Tech Expert, Stephanie Humphrey has compiled a list of some of her favorite must-have hi-tech holiday gift picks in time for this year’s holiday shopping season. STAY CONNECTED: Families with children have been particularly challenged over the past two years with regards to staying connected with remote friends and family members. Humphrey says, “The families that talk and play together — stay together!” This year, one of her must-have technology gifts is the Amazon Glow. The new interactive projector and video calling device helps keep families close. The tech lover says, “Kids and remote family members are connected on a video call, while playing and interacting with the same fun games, books, drawing, and more. All that fun is projected from Glow for kids to interact with, and it shows up on a tablet for grownups.” The Glow makes it easy to get creative with lots of colors, stickers, pencils and brushes. Humphrey highlights “the awesome scanning feature.” She says kids can scan in toys or art and turn them into digital stickers to draw with — again, all done at the same time. Additionally, Glow comes with a wide selection of games, like a fun twist on charades, checkers, card games, tic tac toe, and more that are fun for all ages. There are also unique games, like Tangram Bits, that use physical pieces to solve puzzles, and it’s also a game kids can play side-by-side if they aren’t connected with someone on a video call. Humphrey added that the Amazon Glow can help children learn to read. “We know how much fun it is to read together, and friends and family members can join in the experience. “Remote grand parents can read with their grand kids. You can actually turn the pages together and put a digital spotlight on the page to help kids focus.” For more, search for “Amazon Glow” on amazon.com or via the Amazon app. https://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Amazon-Interactive-Projector-Togetherness/dp/B09DWNZQYM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amazonglow/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmazonGlow GIVE A BOOST: One trend that surfaced during the pandemic has been in transportation. The nation saw an increase in bike ridership, and Humphrey says there is a lot of excitement in the world of cycling tech. Over the past year-and-a-half people have been changing their daily routines and behaviors. Many have turned to bikes instead of mass transit. However, the tech expert points out that, “Many of us are also biking for leisure and exercise.” For that reason, e-bikes have made it onto Humphrey’s hi-tech holiday gift list. “Everyone has fond memories of their Huffy Bikes,” Humphrey said, noting how the brand expanded its product line to include e-bikes and e-scooters. Both offer a superior riding experience with an e-powered boost to ride further and easily climb inclines or hills. The Huffy Oslo e-bike has a compact, folding frame with a telescopic seatpost and handlebars. Ideal for the everyday rider, commuter and camping enthusiast looking for a convenient ride with a speed boost. The brand’s catalogue also includes The Everett+ E-cruiser bike and Transic+ E-mountain bike which offer traditional bicycle frames while also providing an electric boost for all levels of biking experience. E-bikes are not the only craze these days, Humphrey points out how e-scooters are also favorites this season, saying, “they’re perfect for that last leg of your journey.” The Huffy H350 and H300 scooters are both folding, ideal for storing in tight spaces and the H350 even comes with a seat for more support. For more, go to huffybikes.com. https://www.huffybikes.com/electric/ Instagram: @HuffyBicycles Facebook: @HuffyBicycles Twitter: @HuffyBicycles PRIORITIZE SECURITY: It’s important to keep safety top of mind during the hectic holiday season, especially during holiday festivities and visits from loved ones. Humphrey says home security should be a priority now and throughout the entire year. The tech and lifestyle expert says, “It’s a wonderful time of year to celebrate, but don’t let your guard down,” adding, “With family reunions to plan and stockings to be stuffed, the last thing you want to worry about this season is whether your home is properly protected.” Another technology gadget making her 2021 gifting list is from the brand SimpliSafe. The Essentials Kit and the Video Doorbell Pro protects homes and loved ones inside it with award-winning technology. SimpliSafe provides whole-home protection against everything from intruders to fires, water damage and more. Humphrey says the products’ DIY installation makes it easy to secure the home inside and out in under an hour, without the need of professionals or intimidating tools. The hi-tech gift item allows people to arm their homes, monitor gift deliveries, or say hello to carolers even while away via an easy-to-use app. Find out more at simplisafe.com. www.simplisafe.com Instagram: @SimpliSafe Facebook: @SimpliSafe Twitter: @SimpliSafe STAY SMART: The final brand making Humphrey’s hi-tech holiday gift list includes a device to make homes smarter. She highlights how homes are getting smarter, and it often begins with a smart garage.” The myQ Smart Garage Control lets people link an existing garage door opener to its app, allowing them to control, secure, and monitor their home’s busiest entryway from a smartphone. Humphrey urges shoppers to think about it, saying, “Friends and family will never have to worry if they left the garage door open. They can get alerts, and/or check the status of the door from anywhere with the app.” Additionally, it works with Amazon Key for convenient In-Garage Delivery of Amazon packages and groceries. The technology expert says the price point of $30 is great and makes the device a perfect stocking stuffer. You can find out more at myQ.com www.myQ.com Instagram: @ myqconnect Facebook: @ myqconnect Twitter: @ myqconnect Hashtags: #myQconnected #InGarageDelivery #AmazonKey About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 23, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video

100 Small Businesses Owned by People of Color in Oakland Awarded a $10,000 Grant from Comcast RISE Totaling $1 Million

Comcast California

Comcast today announced it will award $1 million in total grants as well as technology and marketing resources to 100 Oakland small businesses owned by people of color. The recipients are among nearly 6,700 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected through the Comcast RISE program, which provides marketing, technology, and capital support to small business owners. To further build on the program’s success and provide support to even more small businesses, Comcast also announced today a major expansion to eligibility, enabling all women-owned small businesses nationwide to apply. This expansion recognizes and seeks to help address the persistent inequities women continue to face in accessing the resources and funding that are critical to success. Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, initially launched as a response to help small businesses owners of color hardest hit by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to focus on uplifting small businesses, ensuring they continue to prosper in an ever-shifting post-pandemic economy. “The pandemic had a huge negative impact on our business. We had to shut our doors for several months and once we re-opened there wasn’t a lot of foot traffic here in downtown Oakland. We applied for several loans, but all were rejected,” said Viviana Rodriguez-Smith, co-owner of E14 Gallery in Old Oakland and one of the 100 RISE recipients. “The $10,000 grant from the Comcast RISE Investment Fund is giving me peace of mind. It will allow me to buy more inventory and continue collaborating with other artists in Oakland.” “As we continue to rebuild and emerge from the effects of the pandemic, small businesses will continue to be the backbone of our economy – and we must take every opportunity to help them thrive,” said Dave Watson, President and CEO, Comcast Cable. “Looking forward, this expansion will enable Comcast RISE to further empower and strengthen even more small businesses that are the heart of our local communities across the country.” In the year since its inception, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $11 million in grants and $50 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services, impacting more than 6,700 entrepreneurs of color in 432 cities across 34 states. By the end of 2022, 13,000 businesses across the country are expected to benefit from the Comcast RISE initiative, either through the grant program or from the resources provided through Effectv and Comcast Business. In addition to the financial and business support services provided, a key part of the program is ensuring the long-term sustainability of businesses. To help address this, Comcast invests in and partners with organizations such as Ureeka to provide ongoing mentorship and resources to help small businesses succeed over the long-term. Comcast RISE, which stands for Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment, is part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need to thrive. Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs and partnerships that will reach an estimated 50 million people with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The program will continue to be open to racially and ethnically diverse small business owners and the expanded Comcast RISE eligibility to all women-owned businesses will be effective on January 16, 2022. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. Contact Details Comcast Adriana Arvizo +1 925-200-1919 Adriana_Arvizo@comcast.com Fionna Hutton & Associates Maddie Moore +1 707-502-7209 mmoore@fionahuttonassoc.com

November 23, 2021 09:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

100 Houstonians in Harris and Ft. Bend Counties Awarded a Total of $1 Million Through Comcast RISE, National Initiative to Support Small Business Owners

Comcast Houston

Comcast today announced the 100 recipients of the Comcast Rise Investment Fund grants. Each small business will receive a one-time $10,000 grant from the fund. More than 100 businesses in the area will also receive technology and marketing resources. The recipients are among nearly 6,700 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected through the Comcast RISE program, which provides marketing, technology, and capital support to small business owners. “We are proud of all of our small businesses, the impact they have in Fort Bend County is invaluable. Many of our business owners, particularly our minority owned businesses, have faced unprecedented challenges over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and require a wide range of support to help their businesses survive,” stated Fort Bend County Judge KP George. “The Comcast Rise Investment Fund Grant provides these business owners with the critical financial lifeline and the resources needed so they can sustain and grow their businesses.” Through Comcast RISE, the company also announced it is on track to support 13,000 small businesses by the end of the year with marketing or technology support such as a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity services from Comcast Business. “Since we launched Comcast RISE a year ago, we have assisted more than 200 small businesses throughout the Houston area with either marketing, technology, or monetary grants. This round of Comcast RISE grants will provide even more small business owners of color with the resources and tools they need to thrive,” said Ralph Martinez, senior vice president for Comcast’s Houston region. “We look forward to empowering their success.” To further build on the program’s success and provide support to even more small businesses, Comcast also announced today a major expansion to eligibility, enabling all women-owned small businesses nationwide to apply. This expansion recognizes and seeks to help address the persistent inequities women continue to face in accessing the resources and funding that are critical to success. Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, initially launched as a response to help small businesses owners of color hardest hit by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to focus on uplifting small businesses, ensuring they continue to prosper in an ever-shifting post-pandemic economy. “As we continue to rebuild and emerge from the effects of the pandemic, small businesses will continue to be the backbone of our economy – and we must take every opportunity to help them thrive,” said Dave Watson, President and CEO, Comcast Cable. “Looking forward, this expansion will enable Comcast RISE to further empower and strengthen even more small businesses that are the heart of our local communities across the country.” In the year since its inception, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $11 million in grants and $50 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services, impacting more than 6,700 entrepreneurs of color in 432 cities across 34 states. By the end of 2022, 13,000 businesses across the country are expected to benefit from the Comcast RISE initiative, either through the grant program or from the resources provided through Effectv and Comcast Business. In addition to the financial and business support services provided, a key part of the program is ensuring the long-term sustainability of businesses. To help address this, Comcast invests in and partners with organizations such as Ureeka to provide ongoing mentorship and resources to help small businesses succeed over the long-term. Comcast RISE, which stands for Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment, is part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need to thrive. Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs and partnerships that will reach an estimated 50 million people with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The program will continue to be open to racially and ethnically diverse small business owners and the expanded Comcast RISE eligibility to all women-owned businesses will be effective on January 16, 2022. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. To help drive outreach and awareness about Comcast RISE and provide additional support, training and mentorship, Comcast has also awarded $50,000 in grants to local community partners – Houston Hispanic Chamber, Houston Black Chamber, Empresarios Latinos Foundation, Houston LGBT Chamber, Asian Chamber of Commerce, Greater Houston Women’s Foundation and East End Chamber of Commerce. 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 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. Contact Details Comcast Foti Kallergis +1 832-986-0196 Foti_Kallergis@comcast.com Comcast Misha McClure +1 832-547-6783 Misha_McClure@cable.comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

November 23, 2021 09:31 AM Central Standard Time

100 SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN KING AND PIERCE COUNTIES AWARDED A TOTAL OF $1 MILLION THROUGH COMCAST RISE

Comcast Washington

Comcast today announced it will award $1 million in total grants as well as technology and marketing resources to more than 100 small businesses owned by people of color in King and Pierce Counties. The recipients are among nearly 6,700 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected through the Comcast RISE program, which provides marketing, technology, and capital support to small business owners. To further build on the program’s success and provide support to even more small businesses, Comcast also announced today a major expansion to eligibility, enabling all women-owned small businesses nationwide to apply. This expansion recognizes and seeks to help address the persistent inequities women continue to face in accessing the resources and funding that are critical to success. Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, initially launched as a response to help small businesses owners of color hardest hit by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to focus on uplifting small businesses, ensuring they continue to prosper in an ever-shifting post-pandemic economy. With today’s announcement, 100 selected businesses in King and Pierce Counties will each receive a $10,000 grant. Additional small businesses will receive marketing or technology support such as a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity services from Comcast Business. A complete list of the 100 Comcast RISE grant recipients in King and Pierce Counties is available at: https://washington.comcast.com/. Some of those recipients are already making plans with how to leverage the grant to improve their business. “This grant is like a new beginning for my business after the struggles of the pandemic,” shared Michael Douangluxay-Cloud of Mainasty Productions, which produces short films, feature films, web series, podcasts, and commercials with a focus on People of color narratives. “I can’t wait to be able to explore my ideas and be able to take risks to take our business to the next level.” “For us at Mediums Collective, the Comcast RISE Grant represents hope, equity, and economic growth for ourselves and our community,” added Roger Maldonado, Mediums Collective founder. “This grant will serve as motivation for us to continue putting in the work and becoming industry leaders. As a minority-owned business, we often face many systemic barriers when it comes to accessing capital. To know that companies are stepping up and providing financial opportunities is movement in the right direction” “We know that there is an immense and ongoing need to support small businesses, especially when those businesses represent some of the most marginalized communities. GSBA has been committed to actively promoting the Comcast RISE program to our members and to local small businesses owned by people of color to connect them with this much-needed help,” said Mark Rosen, Acting President & CEO, GSBA. “This kind of work helps us all move the mission to build a more just and equitable society and we thank Comcast for their partnership and collaboration to make a difference.” “As we continue to rebuild and emerge from the effects of the pandemic, small businesses will continue to be the backbone of our economy – and we must take every opportunity to help them thrive,” said Teresa Ward-Maupin, Senior Vice President, Digital and Customer Experience, Comcast Business. “Looking forward, this expansion will enable Comcast RISE to further empower and strengthen even more small businesses that are the heart of our local communities across the country.” In the year since its inception, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $11 million in grants and $50 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services, impacting more than 6,700 entrepreneurs of color in 432 cities across 34 states. By the end of 2022, 13,000 businesses across the country are expected to benefit from the Comcast RISE initiative, either through the grant program or from the resources provided through Effectv and Comcast Business. In addition to the financial and business support services provided, a key part of the program is ensuring the long-term sustainability of businesses. To help address this, Comcast invests in and partners with organizations such as Ureeka to provide ongoing mentorship and resources to help small businesses succeed over the long-term. Comcast RISE, which stands for Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment, is part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need to thrive. Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs and partnerships that will reach an estimated 50 million people with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The program will continue to be open to racially and ethnically diverse small business owners and the expanded Comcast RISE eligibility to all women-owned businesses will be effective on January 16, 2022. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Andy Colley Andy_Colley@Comcast.com Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

November 23, 2021 06:32 AM Pacific Standard Time

BRITISH TECH VISIONARIES BUILDING THE VIRTUAL WORKPLACE METAVERSE #virtualworkplacemetaverse

PixelMax

VIRTUAL WORKPLACES WILL DRAMATICALLY REDEFINE THE OFFICE & WORK CULTURE OF THE FUTURE TECH INNOVATORS PIXELMAX OUTLINE THEIR VISION IN THOUGHT LEADERSHIP British tech innovators PixelMax have outlined their vision for the hybrid work revolution and the future of the virtual workplace metaverse in a ground-breaking thought leadership blueprint that will reshape how the workplace and office of the future will evolve. With so much attention and media chatter on what the metaverse will look and feel like, PixelMax have not only outlined their visionary plans, but have also been innovating and developing in this space for the past two years. Entitled ‘The Virtual Workplace – Enter The Metaverse’, https://pixelmax.com/virtual-workplace/metaverse-thought-leadership the thought leadership document outlines its vision for the virtual workplace, including how the office and work culture of the future will adapt to change. At the core of its thinking is how businesses and economies are future proofed to deal with changing dynamics of workforces, consumer demand and global events, such as future pandemics. It goes further to outline the importance of how this will impact employee well-being, mental health and work-life balance – all of which play crucial roles in shaping the virtual workplace we work in, as well as how we hire and retain the best employee talent. In turn, this also affects wider issues of global warming and climate change because of individual and workplace carbon footprints. PixelMax defines the virtual workplace as ‘a virtual space that enables employees and wider communities to effectively communicate, collaborate and co-create regardless of location’. Every company will eventually have a hybrid of the virtual workplace. BMW, for instance, has already partnered with Nvidia to build a virtual factory as a digital twin: a virtual representation and real estate of its physical assets, systems and processes. The possibilities for car manufacturers to have virtual showrooms, as well as training centres for technicians and engineers, are endless. Manchester-headquartered PixelMax are innovators in building 3D worlds, digital real estate and online corporate assets, creating immersive multi-platforms. This can range from building the #WePlayStrong UEFA Women’s Champions League final fan engagement event in an immersive world, to a multiple blue-light emergency services simulation and training exercise with first responders and mass-casualty incidents for the ATACC Group. 2020 dramatically changed the way we worked. Practically overnight, businesses were forced to adopt a remote-first work model – and employees, businesses, Governments and students were all forced to grapple with the worlds of Microsoft Teams and Zoom. A dramatic sea change, which under normal circumstances would have likely taken years, was accelerated exponentially. Zoom and Teams were not built to become the sole form of communication in everyday life, as exemplified when people regularly disengaged from the platforms, turning their cameras off during video calls. The overnight shift allowed businesses and global economies to conduct a degree of normality in business life and enabled global economies to retain some functionality, albeit in ‘limp-mode’. With this dramatic new way of working came issues of connectivity, ‘Zoom fatigue’ and working in a 2D environment, not to mention the mental health issues that came pre-packaged with this imperfect way of business and workplace communication. What this did do, however, was open our eyes to the benefits of remote working and greater work-life balance. It meant not spending two hours commuting every day, saving hundreds of pounds in car parking, fuel and travel costs, all of which contribute on a daily basis to global warming and climate change. At the same time, air quality in the majority of cities drastically improved during the lockdown period and air pollution was at record-low levels in 2020. The sea change in the workplace environment also showed how vulnerable businesses and global economies were to a pandemic. Lockdowns had huge impacts on companies, management of employees, their productivity and output. Supply chains, logistics and fulfilment were all impacted. 2020 showed our vulnerability to a physical virus and the impact of a post-Brexit economy. PixelMax focused its technical expertise and development on multi-user cloud deployment, partnering with AWS and other cloud service providers during the pandemic. This enabled PixelMax and its clients to host and showcase virtual conferences and global events that companies, employees and delegates could attend virtually. During this period, PixelMax saw exponential growth and garnered several awards, including the Top 10 Manchester-Based Start-Ups to Watch in 2021, a list created by EU Start-Ups. More recently, the company was highly commended in the Rapid Growth category at the Prolific North Tech Awards. The PixelMax thought leadership piece was borne from analysing how 2020 impacted the office and workplace environment. It led its three visionary founders, Shay O’Carroll, Andy Sands and Rob Hilton, to understand how the virtual workplace could become a hybrid: the new enterprise metaverse. The virtual workplace metaverse of the future will exist in a virtual and real-world parallel, a mixed and immersive reality. There is a popular belief that virtual reality has to be viewed and experienced using VR Headsets or 3D glasses, but this is not the case. The mixed immersive reality of the virtual workplace is entered through your computer, laptop, smartphone or smart device, making it accessible to the entire workforce. Prior to Covid, around 85% of employees were in the office working every day/most days, with around 42% of the workforce conducting remote working once a week and around 32% never having remote-worked from home before. Post Covid, the preference for future working is quite revealing, with 32% wanting to work remotely every day and 52% wanting to work two to three days remotely. Only 12% want to work remotely once a week. This demonstrates that over 84% of the workforce want a hybrid model for the future. The benefits of a hybrid workplace to the corporate workplace are immense, with increased productivity from employees, reduced absenteeism, happier and more productive employees. With increased employee well-being comes higher staff retention and improved performance, as well as an attractive brand culture to work for. The virtual workplace metaverse will allow: Companies to create, design and own their virtual workplaces alongside their physical offices or workplace. To create a virtual workplace that is a true representation of company brands, values and cultures. To provide an engaging hybrid experience for productivity, where employees co-create regardless of their location. A platform that encourages a positive company culture and work environment that brings together and energises remote and hybrid teams. The virtual workplace that incorporates third-party platforms all in one place. Applications such as Slack, YouTube and Dropbox can all be integrated and linked seamlessly for work productivity and integration. Dedicated employee well-being areas and activities. Access to on-demand physical well-being where employees can meditate, do yoga or Pilates classes and receive mental health counselling. A virtual workplace that allows for some separation between home and work environments, where staff can have the experience of walking into and out of a virtual office each day. The current lack of separation between home and office is a widely documented challenge of home working. Employees can order food and drink in their virtual workplace and have it delivered to their physical or virtual workplace location. The virtual workplace will also have an impact on global warming and increasingly, companies and employees are being asked to consider their own carbon footprint reduction. Reducing commuting and business travel generally would lead to a decrease in air pollution for the environment and credits towards carbon reduction programmes. The average employee can save around £1,234 per annum on fuel costs and around £500 per annum on parking and congestion charges, as well as air pollution taxes. The virtual workplace means the average person will also save on average around two hours per day commuting, which equates to around 10 hours per week in productivity. PixelMax is not advocating such a radical change that the ‘in-person’ real-world of the office or workplace will cease to exist; quite the contrary, as we all need human physical interaction. In the gaming world, this has been achieved. It is the immersing and embracing of technology and the real world to create the perfect hybrid enterprise metaverse for the office or workplace of the future that creates the perfect balance. ‘The Virtual Workplace – Enter The Metaverse’ The PixelMax-authored thought leadership piece is available to the public to view and download here https://pixelmax.com/virtual-workplace/the-virtual-workplace-enter-the-metaverse For more information on PixelMax, please go to www.pixelmax.com For more information, please contact Gerard Franklin @i5Media e: gerard@i5media.co.uk w.www.i5media.co.uk PixelMax CEO Rob Hilton is available for media interviews Available for download by WE TRANSFER https://we.tl/t-iN6ka9U60D Images of the Virtual WorkPlace Metaverse Video animation of the Virtual WorkPlace Metaverse Logo’s and images of PixelMax Co-Founders ABOUT PIXELMAX Founded in 2019, PixelMax has changed how organisations network, promote, inform and educate its users. Their 3D immersive communications platform has been used by brands like UEFA to deliver world-first virtual events. Their latest product offering is the virtual workplace. PixelMax integrates an organisation’s physical and remote working environments to enable the hybrid workplace of the future. Hybrid is now a necessity, PixelMax energise this, making it engaging and fun. PixelMax has created an enterprise version of the most immersive gaming experiences, allowing organizations to produce compelling and engaging virtual workplaces that meld seamlessly with the physical world. This allows a business to project its personality, creating an experience that is the embodiment of both the organisation and individual. As a PaaS, PixelMax will provide a platform that any third party can seamlessly integrate with to further enhance the overall experience and deliver a true unified workplace, with everything finally in one place. ABOUT PIXELMAX CO-FOUNDERS Rob Hilton | Andy Sands | Shay O’Carroll | PixelMax was founded by three entrepreneurs, Andy Sands, Shay O'Carroll and Rob Hilton in 2018, trading as Imagin3D. Andy's role is Head of Technology and he's an experienced technical development manager with a proven track record of successfully managing 3D technology teams in high growth environments. He is passionate about the use of immersive technologies to enhance and improve existing processes and experiences with proficiency of achieving this across multiple industries such as education, health and manufacturing. What drives Andy is innovation and disruptive technologies, not for a gimmicky, prescriptive use but using something new to improve a process, a workflow or a way of life. Shay, who's the Head of Sales at PixelMax, has extensive levels of experience working in various businesses throughout the UK. In his last role, Shay built the 3D technology sales division of an established communications service provider, which enabled the business to grow from £800k to £3.1m revenue in just three years. He's overseen several award-winning projects in the immersive technology space and led one of the first major virtual reality pilots on the governments Manufacturing Made Smarter programme in 2020. Rob was a senior programme director who was heading up the Project, Programme & Commercial Management Practice globally for Mott MacDonald. He has recently left Mott MacDonald after circa 15 years to become the CEO of PixelMax. Rob brings with him over 20 years' of successfully leading, assuring, governing and delivering complex mega projects across a multitude of sectors. He has worked with many blue-chip companies both UK and internationally. Rob is a dynamic leader who is personable, driven and conscientious with a focus on stakeholder development and management. His career has been shaped as a result of over 20 years of successful delivery and growth in many sectors. Contact Details i5Media Gerard Franklin gerard@i5media.co.uk

November 23, 2021 09:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

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100 TWIN CITIES BUSINESSES AWARDED A TOTAL OF $1 MILLION THROUGH COMCAST RISE, NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

Comcast Twin Cities

Comcast today announced it will award $1 million in total grants as well as technology and marketing resources to more than 100 Twin Cities small businesses owned by people of color. The recipients are among nearly 6,700 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected through the Comcast RISE program, which provides marketing, technology, and capital support to small business owners. To further build on the program’s success and provide support to even more small businesses, Comcast also announced today a major expansion to eligibility, enabling all women-owned small businesses nationwide to apply. This expansion recognizes and seeks to help address the persistent inequities women continue to face in accessing the resources and funding that are critical to success. Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, initially launched as a response to help small businesses owners of color hardest hit by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to focus on uplifting small businesses, ensuring they continue to prosper in an ever-shifting post-pandemic economy. With today's announcement, 100 selected businesses will each receive a $10,000 grant. Twin Cities grant recipients include: The Greenery Minneapolis LLC Stunning Beauty Supply Revival Training LLC Maraki Beauty Salon The full 100 businesses that received a $10,000 grant can be found here. “This opportunity is a positive aspect to my business and the community. Not only will we be able to reach more future prospects, we’ll also be able to add a few employees to the team," said Henrietta Smaller of Stunning Beauty Supplies in Burnsville, Minnesota. “It feels great to know someone believes in me and my dream.” “As we continue to rebuild and emerge from the effects of the pandemic, small businesses will continue to be the backbone of our economy – and we must take every opportunity to help them thrive,” said Kalyn Hove, Regional Senior Vice President, Comcast Twin Cities. “Looking forward, this expansion will enable Comcast RISE to further empower and strengthen even more small businesses that are the heart of our local communities across the country.” In the year since its inception, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $11 million in grants and $50 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services, impacting more than 6,700 entrepreneurs of color in 432 cities across 34 states. By the end of 2022, 13,000 businesses across the country are expected to benefit from the Comcast RISE initiative, either through the grant program or from the resources provided through Effectv and Comcast Business. In addition to the financial and business support services provided, a key part of the program is ensuring the long-term sustainability of businesses. To help address this, Comcast invests in and partners with organizations such as Ureeka to provide ongoing mentorship and resources to help small businesses succeed over the long-term. Comcast RISE, which stands for Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment, is part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need to thrive. Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs and partnerships that will reach an estimated 50 million people with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The program will continue to be open to racially and ethnically diverse small business owners and the expanded Comcast RISE eligibility to all women-owned businesses will be effective on January 16, 2022. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Jill Hornbacher +1 651-425-1695 Jill_Hornbacher@comcast.com Company Website https://twincities.comcast.com/

November 23, 2021 08:00 AM Central Standard Time

ASMBLE launches powerful micro-community platform for brands, influencers, and their superfans

ASMBLE

Micro-community network ASMBLE has today announced the public launch of its platform for brands, creators, influencers, and superfans. Brands are using ASMBLE to build communities of influencers, creators, and superfans to identify and develop direct relationships with these powerful creators. These brand-owned micro-communities serve as a launchpad enabling content co-creation, influencer campaigns, focus groups, and customer insights. Following a year of beta testing with 2000 influencers and a range of brands in the US, ASMBLE is now accessible globally for all creators, influencers, and brands to join. ASMBLE was launched to help brands with creator-powered marketing while also addressing major underlying problems faced by the average semi-pro creator. Over 35 million semi-pro creators report burnout, isolation, and negative outcomes stemming from social media. In addition to financially rewarding creators through brand communities, ASMBLE’s creator-led communities provide creators with in-app tools, educational content, and peer support around topics of interest. Micro-communities from TikTokTips, to BlackParenting, to MindSet Matters - and dozens of other micro-communities - provide valuable industry insight and support that creators can’t find anywhere else. Nadeem Mazen, CEO and Co-Founder of ASMBLE commented: “The creator economy is today worth $100B every year and growing. Creators and influencers are the future of advertising because they wield authenticity and unprecedented audience trust, while the ground is shifting under traditional digital tracking and digital ads. Everything from streaming studio content wars to Big Tech acquisitions hinges on creators. Creators - as technologists, as producers, as trend-setters, and as subject-matter experts - are the fulcrum on which enormous industries tip. Trillions are at stake.” How ASMBLE works Brands purchase a seat to spin up one or more micro-communities in ASMBLE A dedicated community-building consultant is assigned to each brand. Brands and community-building consultants populate their micro-communities by inviting influencers, creators, superfans, or customers with whom they have an existing relationship. Brands invite influencers and superfans to their micro-community from other relevant micro-communities in ASMBLE, in order to grow their base and extend their creative capacity or reach. Brands create conversations, contests, focus-groups, live in-app events, and paying influencer marketing projects within their micro-community to learn from members or leverage their valuable skills. All micro-community members see when the brand responds to any given community-member - whether that is approval for a project idea, feedback on co-created content, or instant payment from the brand. Each community member learns from feedback that any other community member receives, creating a race to the top in ideation, collaboration, and quality content. Regarding the problem that ASMBLE has set out to solve, Nadeem Mazen said: “The creator economy is naive in its current state - almost every corner of this brave new world is messy, painful, stressful, and unsustainable for stakeholders on all sides. Marketplaces are lackluster, brands are skeptical, influencers get squeezed, and new creator business models fail to capture enough influencer buy-in to really scale. Both long-standing influencer marketplaces and new business models implicitly rely on creator trust and wellbeing in order to scale - yet explicitly treat popular creators as disposable and interchangeable. ASMBLE addresses these problems by addressing creators’ needs: creators are our partners and our fuel. By committing deeply to collective creator community and individual creator wellbeing - something largely missing across the social internet - we assemble a foundation of creator trust, retention, and activity that brands can leverage for their campaigns and strategic imperatives.” Looking ahead Nadeem Mazen added: “ASMBLE creators takes the opposite approach of the industry at present. Instead of focusing on how to woo paying brands, we offer influencers access to real, substantive emotional, professional, and creative support. The core of what we do is offer influencers and creators a safe space where they can talk about their work - which is seen as a cake walk from the outside, but is actually one of the highest pressure jobs” “ASMBLE will become the Y-Combinator for creators - an entire ecosystem of entrepreneurship curriculum, peer and mentor support, and even direct investment where we take a stake in content development and other financial growth.” About ASMBLE As the only social network for influencers and content creators, ASMBLE is uniquely positioned to accelerate brand awareness and market penetration for businesses. Our mobile-first platform promotes collaboration that raises the bar for compelling, authentic content. Our community focuses on human development, peer/mentor connections, and the value of authenticity. ASMBLE is deploying its network of talented, brand and product-obsessed creators against the toughest challenges of today’s leading brands. To explore ASMBLE, please visit: https://asmble.online/ Contact Details ASMBLE Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://asmble.online/

November 23, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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milestoneBased Announces Launch Update. The First Blockchain DAO for Milestone Collaboration Between Investors and Startup Companies

milestoneBased

milestoneBased, the first company to leverage a blockchain DAO (Distributed Autonomous Organization) in a ground-breaking milestone collaboration platform for investors and startups, today provided an update regarding its Beta user availability and upcoming launch. Started in 2018 by a group of global blockchain and startup experts, milestoneBased enables early-stage crypto startups to list company roadmap and milestone goals, then connect with crypto VC and Angel investors to fund them. Funding decisions and governance are voted on by the investor token holders as part of the DAO, funds are securely held in an escrow smart contract, then released when a funded milestone is verified complete. The platform offers investors superior capital efficiency, process efficiencies, and automation of a collaboration process that can take many months. Investors can be confident funds are secure, they benefit from data-driven insights for decision making, and the path to monetization and liquidity of their investments is faster. Startup teams gain access to crypto investors and funding, and more motivation to achieve specific milestones for strengthened performance. “Our team has been working hard to create a next-generation platform to solve existing problems of a broken funding management process in the crypto ecosystem” said Founder, Ian Arden. “Our mission is to automate and dramatically improve milestone management and collaboration between crypto investors and their portfolio startups, resulting in a more sustainable financing model''. He added “We see a huge opportunity for this platform to be adopted beyond the crypto ecosystem, to all startups and investors. We look forward to the launch of our platform and token offering in the coming weeks.” A Beta launch will commence in December; the company is currently qualifying interested VCs and startup users. An IDO (Initial Dex Offering) token launch is planned in the first quarter of 2022. It will be conducted through a Power Launch with no private sales or pre-sales, but a registered list of contributors wishing to add value will be given first opportunity to buy. Potential Beta users or those interested in registering for the token launch can find more information/sign up on the company web site. W ebsite: www.milestonebased.com Telegram group: https://t.me/milestoneBased Twitter: https://twitter.com/MilestoneBased The company is also planning a Sustainable Finance Forum in 2022, exploring blockchain as an enabler of financial equality and societal goals in the startup funding ecosystem and beyond. About milestoneBased: milestoneBased is on a mission to fix a legacy system of VC capital inefficiency by revolutionizing collaboration on milestone management between crypto investors and startups. We are the first company to leverage a blockchain DAO and escrow smart contract capabilities, in an automated governance and milestone achievement management platform. Early-stage investors achieve greater capital and process efficiency, better security, transparency, and data-driven insights, for a faster path to liquidity and monetization of deployed funds. Startup teams become milestone focused and motivated for strengthened performance. www.milestonebased.com Contact Details Linda Montgomery, Chief Communications Officer linda.montgomery@milestoneBased.com

November 23, 2021 06:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise introduces new desk phones

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, a leading provider of communications, cloud and networking solutions tailored to customers’ industries, has launched a new range of desk phones designed for the digital age. In line with the evolution of workstyles such as hybrid and remote working, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise has developed the new range of desk phones to meet the expectations of a variety of users. The range offers advanced features to enable communications from anywhere, underlaid by the latest technology and a modern design. Innovations include 3D voice capture for meetings in large rooms, connections to wireless networks, embedded VPN client for remote working, as well as a vast choice of colours and accessories. There are three categories in the new range of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise desk phones: Basic: With a compact format and SIP connectivity, this desk phone is compatible with Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise communication servers and provides advanced telephony business features. Essential: Features a streamlined design, excellent audio quality, and a unique port enabling hybrid digital and IP connectivity. Enterprise: Provides a modular, stylish design, unmatched 360°audio quality and available in four colours through customisation kits. These desk phones feature a multitude of connectivity options and are ideal for office and remote working situations. Nicolas Brunel, EVP, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Communication Business Division, said: “The new Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise desk phones are part of the latest generation of devices that leverage the most advanced technological innovations to offer unprecedented audio quality. The desk phones have been made to connect to the enterprise environment, even when working remotely. Their design and advanced capabilities make them an essential component of any digital workplace in combination with our communication servers and Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s cloud-based Rainbow UCaaS platform.” The introduction of the new desk phones follows the recent launch of the OmniPCX Enterprise Purple communications platform and further enhances Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s communications solutions portfolio. The launch is also part of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s Digital Age Communications (DAC) strategy which centres on three pillars: The digital workplace: Enabling employees to work from anywhere (at the office, at home, or remotely), with efficient communications, collaboration, and customer service, cloud-based solutions available at any time, from any device. Communications as the catalyst for enterprise agility: Connecting everything (people, applications, and objects) to enrich traditional business interactions, accelerate decision-making, automate business processes, and proactively detect potential incidents before they occur. Flexible cloud-model solutions and architecture: From enterprise premises to a full-cloud solution (private, public, or hybrid), organisations can decide on the best approach to support their transformation in terms of budget, timeframe, and objectives. Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise desk phones are available through the company’s network of partners. About Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise delivers the customised technology experiences enterprises need to make everything connect. ALE provides digital-age networking, communications and cloud solutions with services tailored to ensure customers’ success, with flexible business models in the cloud, on premises, and hybrid. All solutions have built-in security and limited environmental impact. Over 100 years of innovation have made Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise a trusted advisor to more than a million customers all over the world. With headquarters in France and 3,400 business partners worldwide, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise achieves an effective global reach with a local focus. al-enterprise.com | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Press contact: Global Press Carine Bowen press@al-enterprise.com Contact Details Carine Bowen +33 1 55 66 31 09 press@al-enterprise.com Company Website https://www.al-enterprise.com/

November 23, 2021 05:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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