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OPULUS BEAUTY LABS Announces Launch into Saks Fifth Avenue & Neiman Marcus

OPULUS Beauty Labs

OPULUS Beauty Labs, the pioneer in Freshly Activated Beauty™, announces the launch of its Retinol+ Starter System into Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus digital flagships, known as being premier destinations for luxury beauty, fashion, and wellness in the United States. This expansion represents the next steps in OPULUS Beauty Labs' distribution into the luxury space. “I am thrilled to partner with Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, as both partners offer best-in-class retail programs, expertly curated luxury assortments, and exceptional services and standards,” says OPULUS Beauty Labs Founder Robb Akridge, Ph.D. (aka Dr. Robb), also known for co-inventing the game-changing Clarisonic. “These partnerships enable us to meet our customers where we know they are already shopping and provide them with an elevated experience from the moment they purchase to usage at home.” OPULUS Beauty Labs invented, and manufactures, the patent-pending OPULUS Activator and a never-seen-before cosmetic format called an Opoule™ Treatment. This duo, a novel appliance and a 3-dimensional individually dosed formulation, function together as a mini at-home lab to create high-potency, fresh-made cosmetic products in 100 seconds with the push of one button. The technology is so cutting-edge that TIME Magazine selected the brand’s first market introduction, the Retinol+ Starter System, as a “Best Invention of 2021 ”. The Retinol+ regimen delivers a gentle yet potent result where the skin looks rejuvenated, calm, and restored, imparting an overall younger-looking appearance. With this system, consumers reap the benefits of retinol, while minimizing redness or dryness often associated with retinol use. “Saks & Neiman Marcus offer high-touch experiences that provide customers with access to emerging brands. Just like we are reimagining beauty, they are redefining luxury shopping through new and engaging digital-first services,” says Dr. Robb, “which is why it is the perfect step to take us beyond our direct-to-consumer channels.” OPULUS Beauty Labs Retinol+ Starter System and Ramp-Up Night Cream Regimens 1, 2, and 3, featuring increasing concentrations of retinol, are available at both retailers online starting May 2022. In support of this launch, OPULUS Beauty Labs is working with its new retail partners to roll out a robust marketing plan incorporating in-person events, seasonal trunk shows, digital promotions, and more. ABOUT OPULUS Beauty Labs OPULUS Beauty Labs was founded in 2019 by Dr. Robb, who pioneered the beauty device category with the launch of Clarisonic. The passionate power team behind OPULUS Beauty Labs has 100+ collective years of experience, marrying the freedom and imagination of a tech start-up with the wisdom and credibility of the world’s most successful beauty brands. OPULUS Beauty Labs is a vertically integrated business with in-house R&D, cosmetic manufacturing, and product assembly. The company is implementing the next stage of its business to expand distribution and provide customers with access to incredible innovations. OPULUS Beauty Labs launched in 2020 as the first and only brand on the market that delivers freshly activated skincare at the moment of application. The brand launched with its award-winning Retinol+ Starter System, containing the first handheld cosmetic appliance, the Activator, and new cosmetic format, the Opoule Treatment. The Activator (your forever cosmetic jar) transforms the Opoule into an optimally warmed, ready-to-be-absorbed cosmetic product. By modifying its ingredients, an array of never-seen-before cosmetic products are possible, from skincare to hair care, ranging in texture from serums to balms. In April 2022, OPULUS Beauty Labs demonstrated the flexibility of its technology by launching another novel treatment system, the Glow Rituals Collection. Focusing on getting radiant-looking skin for customers with different skin concerns, these three spa-worthy facial therapies are based on three different scientific processes of exfoliation: chemical peel, enzymatic activity, and mechanical action. OPULUS Beauty Labs continues to reimagine the beauty market, bringing customers exciting, cutting-edge technology with proven results in an elegant format. For more information on OPULUS Beauty Labs, its award-winning technologies, and how it minimizes its impact on the environment (no jars/no plastic), visit OpulusBeautyLabs.com or follow on Instagram or Facebook. ABOUT SAKS Saks is the premier luxury e-commerce platform, driven by a mission to help Saks Fifth Avenue customers express themselves through relevant and inspiring style. Through its website and app, Saks offers a highly personalized experience and an expertly curated assortment of fashion, as well as professional stylists and fresh editorial content. The company is redefining luxury shopping with a digital-first service model and a seamless connection to an extraordinary network of 41 Saks Fifth Avenue stores across North America. Follow @saks on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and @thesaksman on Instagram. ABOUT NEIMAN MARCUS Neiman Marcus is a Dallas-based luxury retailer, providing customers access to exclusive and emerging brands, anticipatory service, and unique experiences since 1907. Each day, Neiman Marcus connects with customers worldwide while delighting them with exceptional experiences across a 37-store presence in the U.S., the largest U.S. e-commerce luxury platform, and industry-leading remote selling and personalization technology. From delectable dining and indulgent beauty services to bespoke experiences and exclusive products, there's something for everyone. To keep up with the latest news and events at Neiman Marcus, visit neimanmarcus.com or follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Neiman Marcus is part of the Neiman Marcus Group. We lead with love in everything we do for our customers, associates, brand partners, and communities. Our strategy of integrated luxury retail is about creating long-term relationships. It's this connection that creates emotional and high lifetime value potential with everyone we serve. Through the expertise of our 9,000 associates, we deliver across our three channels of in-store, e-commerce, and remote selling. Investments in data and technology allow us to scale a personalized luxury experience. Our brands include Neiman Marcus®, Bergdorf Goodman®, Neiman Marcus Last Call®, and Horchow®. Contact Details Rell Marketing + Communications Kaitlyn Palocsko +1 215-870-8193 kaitlyn@incommn.co Company Website https://opulusbeautylabs.com/

June 16, 2022 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Webio secures $4m to scale conversational AI in the collections and payments industry

Webio

Irish start-up Webio, a leader in Conversational AI in the credit, collections and payments industry, has today announced a series A funding round led by Finch Capital. Webio is primed to scale-up following the digital shift during the pandemic and the uncertain economic climate to make difficult conversations about payments easy through their Conversation AI. Webio’s technology has enabled leading UK and European companies to communicate conversationally with customers throughout their credit and collections journey. Customers can ask questions, change payment dates, or organise a new repayment schedule, all tailored to their circumstances, all done through Conversational AI and automation. Customers experience the assurance that they have been engaged with, listened to, and interacted with fairly and appropriately and in turn, are more likely to be able to keep to their repayment schedules. The jewel in the crown is Webio’s ability to ‘move the needle’ in predicting conversation outcomes by analysing what is said and how it is said. Identifying characteristics such as a person’s potential vulnerability early and accurately, and then guiding that customer conversations through a range of best next steps dynamically is an example of a critical capability in this market. Webio clients can manage their collections conversations on a level like never before. They can know faster, act sooner, and do so with confidence. “Conversations about money are stressful and difficult, not only for the customer but also for agents tasked with having these conversations. Going digital means companies can create a whole new set of digital experiences that help customers feel more confident in having those difficult conversations and ultimately, stop them from falling into unnecessary and significant financial difficulty. And we are excited that Webio’s conversational AI is enabling companies to engage with customers in a more empathetic manner, at scale”, says Cormac O’Neill, Co-Founder and CEO at Webio. “We are growing at more than 100% year on year, and we are targeted to double our headcount with this investment in the next 6 months. I am confident that Webio will maintain its rate of growth and may look to raise additional capital to enter new markets. There are very exciting times ahead for us. We are certainly in the right market and at the right time. All I can say is watch this space” added Cormac O’Neill. Historically, the credit and collections functions have not received much technology attention, but now digital transformation is a necessity. During the pandemic, companies had to sell services online and provide customer service entirely digitally. Taking a call at the kitchen table was not practical where sensitive financial conversations were involved, so companies moved to digital messaging over WhatsApp, SMS, and Webchat. A recent Deloitte study states that 60% of organisations reported progress on connecting service channels during this time, with 11% reporting that they can transition customers across channels and experiences seamlessly. The number of financial services organisations implementing conversational AI and digital assistants doubled over the pandemic and the privacy-first custom assistant model provided by Webio is finding resonance in the collection’s world. As customers move their spending online there has been a corresponding growth in the consumer appetite for alternative payment options such as open banking facilitated payments, digital wallets such as Apple Pay, and buy now pay later (BNPL) offers. The BNPL market is worth $23bn today and is projected to grow to $91bn by 2028. Even the mighty Apple has announced the availability of Apple Pay Later, so most analysts expect even further growth in this sector. However, BNPL Companies such as Klarna and Afterpay, with other alternative consumer finance companies, are now coming under pressure from customer past due payment behaviours, and this is leading to increased levels of bad debt. The economic environment continues to undergo a seismic shift. Inflation is running between 8 to 10% and significant interest rate rises are predicted by the end of the year. ONS Data finds that almost half of adults find difficulty in paying for electricity and gas, and by October 2022 over 1.5 million UK households will struggle to pay food and energy bills. Paying every creditor on time, and in full, will stretch many to breaking point. All companies will experience more late payments, bad debt, and resultant pressure on cash flows. Companies are now seeing that they need a plan to service these customers with care and empathy, not only because this is mandated, but if treated well, these customers will continue to buy from the brand in the longer term. Webio will use the new funds to deepen their capabilities in conversational AI and additional digital offerings. They plan to triple the company’s R&D team, expand the sales and marketing teams, and expand its customer success teams to address the market demand in the UK and European markets. “Webio is reimagining the way customer credit conversations take place in the collections industry. This sector is ripe for disruption, its approach to its customers is outdated and it’s an extremely large market which is set for significant growth. Webio has established itself as an award-winning provider with triple digit growth in this market and is well positioned to help the sector overcome key challenges around digital transformation and the adoption of AI. Finch Capital is delighted to continue to support this experienced team with its ambitious plans for rapid growth and expansion”, says Mike Brennan of Finch Capital. About Webio Webio makes having difficult customer conversations easier for Credit, Collections and Payment businesses with trusted Conversational AI. Leading UK and Irish brands like The Very Group, Studio Retail, Hoist Finance, DCBL, NCO Europe, Anglian Water use our conversational platform to orchestrate millions of customer conversations at scale and have convenient and highly personalized conversations. The no-code platform allows Webio customers and partners to get up and running with conversational AI over SMS, WhatsApp, Webchat and other channels in hours, not months. Webio’s AI is predicting the seemingly unpredictable in digital collections conversations.Founded in 2016, Webio’s platform enables the credit industry to positively and empathetically engage with their in-debt and vulnerable customers. Webio is on a mission to rebalance the Credit, Collections and Payment ecosystem by reimagining the way lenders engage and converse with customers. Webio was ranked #2 and #8 in the 2020/2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards and is the founder of one of Europe’s leading conversational interface conferences – ConverCon. For more information, please visit https://www.webio.com. About Finch Capital Founded in 2013, Finch Capital is a Thematic Growth Investor in European technology companies in Finance, Real Estate and Health run by exceptional entrepreneurs. Our mission is to fund and support the best entrepreneurs creating products that will shape the future of these themes. We have a track record of backing future industry champions including AccountsIQ, Fourthline, Goodlord, Hiber, Symmetrical, Lantum and NomuPay. Finch Capital consists of a team of 12 investment professionals with wide entrepreneurial experience (e.g., Adyen), prior investment experience (e.g., Accel) and industry backgrounds (e.g., Facebook, McKinsey), located across offices in Amsterdam and London. Finch Capital is an active producer of original research on the State of European Fintech and its other themes. For more information see www.finchcapital.com. Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.webio.com/

June 16, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Long-Time Indianapolis Fruit Leader Stepping Back

FreshEdge

Indianapolis Fruit, a member of the FreshEdge family of produce and specialty food companies shares that, effective July 4, 2022, John Cunningham will transition from COO of Indianapolis Fruit to Distribution and Retail Advisor. He will focus on deepening customer relationships, mentoring and developing the evolving executive team, and advising on strategic initiatives. “We’re excited for John to continue positively impacting our team and our customers’ business. He has a tremendous track record of elevating performance,” said Daniel Corsaro, President of Indianapolis Fruit Company. “John has been a great member of our family and has been critical to our growth and development! We are very grateful for everything he has done and look forward to the insight and great things that he will accomplish with our evolving leaders,” said Greg Corsaro, President and COO of FreshEdge, LLC, the parent company of Indianapolis Fruit. “I’m excited to announce that after 40 plus years in the produce industry and 19 with Indianapolis Fruit and the FreshEdge Team, I’ve decided to step back. I’m looking forward to enjoying my personal and professional life at a different pace. I’m eager to continue to work with Daniel Corsaro and our team to enhance our retail merchandising and education programs,” said John Cunningham, Indianapolis Fruit Company. Indianapolis Fruit will continue to be led by Daniel Corsaro, President, and the existing executive team. As part of this transition, Ross Nelson will transition from Vice President of Retail Execution to Vice President of Procurement. About Indianapolis Fruit Indianapolis Fruit, a FreshEdge company, distributes fresh produce, value-added, specialty foods, and floral to retail grocers in 20 states across the Midwest, central, and southeastern areas of the United States. Offering more than 3,500 available skus, 500 plus organic items, and a full-service fresh cut division, Indianapolis Fruit continues to deliver on what consumers want. For more information, visit www.indyfruit.com Contact Details Indianapolis Fruit Company Daniel Corsaro, President +1 317-981-3442 dccorsaro@indyfruit.com Company Website https://indyfruit.com/

June 14, 2022 10:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Dorai Home Welcomes Alicia DeFinis as New Chief Executive Officer

Dorai Home

Dorai Home, a leading developer of eco-chic home products that help prevent mold with instant-drying materials, today announced it has appointed retail leader, Alicia DeFinis, as its Chief Executive Officer. In this new role, DeFinis will help scale Dorai Home’s operations in 2022 and beyond through the expansion of its team as well as the introduction of new market channels and innovative products. The company’s founding partners, Jason Klug and Kelsey O’Callaghan, will remain on the Board of Directors and will continue to partner on future product design and manufacturing through Klug’s company, Klugonyx. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Alicia as the first CEO of Dorai Home,” said Jason Klug, CEO and founder of Klugonyx and Dorai Home co-founder and President of the Board of Directors. “Her impressive track record of driving innovation across multiple retail platforms will benefit the entire Dorai team, as well as our customers. We are confident she'll continue to lead the company with a clear focus and help grow Dorai as it enters into untapped markets.” With over a decade of experience in the retail and e-commerce industries, DeFinis most recently served as Vice President of Partner Growth at Walker Edison (a Blackstone Company), where she was responsible for their North American partner ecosystem including development, channels, sales, and onboarding. Prior to joining Walker Edison, DeFinis held several positions at Walmart Marketplace as well as senior positions at both Amazon and Pure Storage. With a continued 300 percent year-over-year growth since the founding in 2018, Dorai Home aims to become a $100 million dollar brand in the next three to five years with DeFinis’s lead in omnichannel sales strategy into new global markets. “I’m humbled and honored to take on the role of CEO at Dorai Home,” said Alicia DeFinis, CEO of Dorai Home. “The company’s continued momentum is astounding and I look forward to taking Dorai’s vision of becoming the leading eco-chic home brand offering thoughtfully designed housewares to the next stage of growth.” DeFinis holds a bachelor's degree from Drexel University's LeBow College of Business. She currently resides in Utah with her husband. DeFinis will be attending The Global Ecommerce Acceleration Summit 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah, from June 15-16, 2022. To schedule a meet and greet, please reach out here. About Dorai Home Dorai Home, eco-chic home products that help prevent mold with instant-drying materials, is a rapidly growing D2C brand that creates thoughtfully designed housewares made of eco-friendly materials that dry instantly. Dorai products are made from Diomat®, Dorai’s instant-drying technology that combines the moisture-banishing properties of diatomaceous earth with recycled paper fibers—a natural, eco-friendly way to prevent mold. Dorai Home was started in 2018 by two founders with operational expertise that has enabled 300% YOY growth. The company is headquartered in Salt Lake City. Learn more at https://doraihome.com/. Contact Details Dorai Home Sara Reister +1 215-896-3243 info@doraihome.com Company Website https://doraihome.com/

June 14, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Velocity Global and Oracle Join Forces to Enhance the Future of Work

Velocity Global

Partnership delivers ideal global workforce management solutions Velocity Global now part of Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) Provides shared and new clients global Employer of Record (EoR) solution Velocity Global, a leading provider of global talent solutions, announced today that it will be partnering with Oracle to enhance the future of work for companies around the world. Oracle’s unparalleled approach to supporting international workforces combined with Velocity Global’s work platform gives clients and prospects the resources needed to succeed with increased efficiency. “This is the beginning of an exciting, robust relationship with Oracle that will lead to enormous efficiencies for our existing and future shared clients. Oracle’s long-standing reputation in technology along with their client-focused approach to revolutionize the future of work mirrors our own, and we’re thrilled to blaze this trail together,“ said Annie Thompson, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Velocity Global. “Velocity Global’s impact on the future of work as a leading Employer of Record redefines how global businesses hire and operate, and Oracle is proud to forge this collaboration in an effort to take our shared vision to uncharted heights,” said Dan Haller, Group Vice President, NAA Alliances, Strategic Partnerships, and Resale, Oracle. Through Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), both companies will offer and pair their respective solutions to streamline the client experience. The Global Work Platform TM delivers Velocity Global’s capabilities as the largest global EoR, with solutions in over 185 countries and all 50 United States, to manage supported talent and provide compliance, payroll, and benefits regardless of state or international borders. Additional information on how existing and potential clients can access these new solutions can be found on Velocity Global’s page on Oracle PartnerNetwork. Trademarks Oracle, Java, and MySQL are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. ### About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work for anyone, anywhere, anyhow. Its Global Work Platform™ simplifies the employer and talent experience through its proprietary cloud-based talent management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. The platform offers a full suite of talent solutions, including global Employer of Record and Contractor Management, to help companies onboard, manage, and pay talent in more than 185 countries and all 50 United States. Thousands of brands rely on Velocity Global to build international teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information, visit velocityglobal.com. About Oracle PartnerNetwork Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) is Oracle’s partner program designed to enable partners to accelerate the transition to cloud and drive superior customer business outcomes. The OPN program allows partners to engage with Oracle through track(s) aligned to how they go to market: Cloud Build for partners that provide products or services built on or integrated with Oracle Cloud; Cloud Sell for partners that resell Oracle Cloud technology; Cloud Service for partners that implement, deploy and manage Oracle Cloud Services; and License & Hardware for partners that build, service or sell Oracle software licenses or hardware products. Customers can expedite their business objectives with OPN partners who have achieved Expertise in a product family or cloud service. To learn more visit: http://www.oracle.com/partnernetwork. Contact Details Velocity Global Janessa Rivera +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

June 13, 2022 07:01 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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CleverTap Completes Acquisition of Leanplum

CleverTap

CleverTap, world’s No.1 retention cloud, today announced it has completed its acquisition of San Francisco based Leanplum, a leading multi-channel customer engagement platform. The acquisition, originally announced on 19th May, was closed in a record time of 3 weeks. With this acquisition, CleverTap has strengthened its footprint in the US and Europe. CleverTap will combine the product stack of both organizations and extend its world-class solutions and technology to all its customers and prospects worldwide. Momchil Kyurkchiev, Co-Founder of Leanplum, has joined CleverTap’s leadership team as Chief Strategy Officer. With the completion of the acquisition, CleverTap also welcomes marquee investors Norwest Partners, Shasta Ventures, Canaan, and Kleiner Perkins as its shareholders. The acquisition becomes revenue accretive for CleverTap from June 1st 2022. “We are very excited to welcome Momchil and all Leanplum employees to the CleverTap family and expect full integration of the two companies, including an integrated product in the market to get completed over the next 3-4 quarters,” says Sunil Thomas, CleverTap Co-founder and Executive Chairman. “With this acquisition customers will now have a wide variety of product features and options to choose, from the best of both product line-ups (A/B Testing, Segmentation,Campaigns, Journeys etc.). At the same time, the acquisition provides a much bigger growth, exposure and learning opportunities for employees and collectively we will now become a dominant force with a large global footprint”. “The Martech landscape the world over is evolving at an exponential rate and hyper-personalized digital engagement at scale is the need of the hour. I am sure that together, Leanplum and CleverTap will address this need and continue to drive innovation in this space. CleverTap and Leanplum individually have had a robust presence in terms of geographical reach, industries, and categories. Collectively we will now become a dominant force with a large global footprint,” says Momchil Kyurkchiev, Chief Strategy Officer at CleverTap. “As we expand globally, we are looking to retain as well as grow 100% of the Leanplum customers by bringing all combined capability on one platform in due course. We also plan to increase our headcount in the US and Europe. Together, we aspire to be recognized as a SaaS talent powerhouse built on a strong people-first culture driven by values and equality,” added Sunil. About CleverTap CleverTap is the modern, integrated retention cloud that empowers digital consumer brands to increase customer retention and lifetime value. CleverTap drives contextual individualization with the help of a unified and deep data layer, AI/ML-powered insights and automation enabling brands to offer hyper-personalized and delightful experiences to their customers. 1200+ customers in 60+ countries and 10,000+ apps, including Gojek, ShopX, Canon, Mercedes Benz, Electronics Arts, TED, Jio, Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, Papa John’s, and Tesco, trust CleverTap to achieve their retention and engagement goals, growing their long-term revenue. Backed by leading venture capital firms, including Sequoia, Tiger Global Management, and Accel, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in Mumbai, Singapore, Sofia, São Paulo, Bogota, Amsterdam, Jakarta and Dubai. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap’s belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could amount in the actual result being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release or any related damages. Contact Details Sony Shetty sony@clevertap.com Company Website https://clevertap.com/

June 13, 2022 06:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time

IAQG selects SAE International as global publisher of standards

International Aerospace Quality Group

The International Aerospace Quality Group® (IAQG) formally announces SAE International as the organization’s international standards publisher. The IAQG/SAE Standards Development and Publications Agreement takes effect on all new and newly revised standards moving forward. The first standard to fall under this new agreement will be the IAQG 9137 (IA9137), scheduled to be released later this year. Under the IAQG/SAE Standards Development and Publications Agreement, organizations will be able to turn to SAE or one of their many global resellers to purchase new and/or newly revised standards. This agreement is designed to streamline the development and publication process using a single, common workflow that increases the speed to market while improving global distribution management. “The IAQG/SAE Standards Development and Publications Agreement is based on a 25-year partnership between SAE and IAQG,” stated Andy Maher, IAQG president and member company representative for BAE Systems. “Their solid reputation and proven process of global standards development makes this agreement a natural evolution.” Currently, published standards will remain under the same sector-related distribution channels. In addition to having a singular, global publisher, the new and newly revised standards will have a consistent look and format. For example, the naming structure for newly developed and released standards will follow the standard naming prefix of IA (for International Aerospace). Previously released standards will transition from sector designations of AS, EN, SJAC or JISQ to the new singular designation at the time of revision. “SAE International is honored to continue and enhance the longstanding and successful partnership with IAQG in the development and publication of global quality standards for the aerospace and defense sectors,” said Sr. Director Standards David Alexander for SAE International. “SAE’s recognized consensus process and platform, coupled with worldwide distribution through direct and reseller networks will accelerate the speed and availability of the standards.” IAQG sets the standard for quality within the worldwide supply chain within the aviation, space and defense industry. IAQG currently maintains 26 active standards that establishes common/shared tools and methods for quality improvement. To learn more, visit https://iaqg.org. About the International Aerospace Quality Group: As an international non-profit association under the Belgian law with office registered in Brussels (Belgium), the IAQG sets the standard for quality within the worldwide supply chain of the aerospace industry. The organization is comprised of member companies within the aviation, space and defense industries who design, develop, manufacture and support original equipment at system or subsystem levels. The IAQG is committed to establishing commonality of quality systems and improvement standards. These standards are documented, published and applied internationally by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and circulated throughout the supply chain. To learn more, visit https://iaqg.org. About SAE International: SAE International is a global organization committed to advancing mobility knowledge and solutions for the benefit of humanity. By engaging nearly 200,000 engineers, technical experts and volunteers, we connect and educate mobility professionals to enable safe, clean, and accessible mobility solutions. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including award-winning programs like A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™. More at http://www.sae.org. Contact Details Susan Matson at Atlas Marketing on behalf of IAQG susan@atlasstories.com

June 09, 2022 02:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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AAVRANI, Mission-Driven Ayurvedic Beauty Brand, Secures Series A Funding

AAVRANI

AAVRANI, a pioneer in Indian-inspired beauty and modern Ayurveda, raised $7 million Series A funding. The holistic beauty brand plans to further its mission, bringing Ayurveda to the forefront of the Global Beauty Industry through both education and product expansion. “When I started AAVRANI in 2018, the average US consumer hadn’t yet caught on to the concept of the Indian Beauty approach, and many investors didn’t see the value. Now, my mission around sharing Ayurvedic Beauty with the world is clear. I am honored and humbled to be a part of this shift in perspective, as AAVRANI continues to propel Indian Beauty to the global stage,” says Rooshy Roy, AAVRANI Co-Founder and CEO. This round of fundraising is the third and largest for AAVRANI, following a $2 million seed round in 2021. After a brand refresh in 2020, AAVRANI has experienced annual sales growth of 400-percent, with product demand regularly exceeding projections and selling out. “AAVRANI is a natural fit for us because we focus on backing exceptional South Asian founders and South Asian-focused brands. We believe in the AAVRANI mission and look forward to being part of this next phase.” says Joey Mullick of Skara Ventures. Challenging quick-fix beauty solutions, AAVRANI bridges the gap between beauty and wellness by uniting ancient Indian wellness rituals with modern science. The chemical-free products embody the duality of Roy’s personal lived experiences as a first-generation American: uniting scientifically-proven, ready-to-use formulas with generations of Indian beauty secrets. Each product is intentionally crafted, starting with ancient Ayurvedic ingredients and generational knowledge. AAVRANI’s team of R&D chemists then elevate each formula by harnessing modern science and clinical trials. The rigorous hands-on process delivers Ayurveda in a way that allows India’s time-honored traditions to be compatible with more modern lifestyles in an authentic way. “We are focused on brand growth and expansion, but my main goal is to shift the consumer mindset from quick fixes to daily rituals. That’s the real difference between Ayurvedic wisdom and the Beauty Industry that we’ve come to know. Ultimately, Beauty is embedded in the choices we make and rituals we practice every day—it’s the sum of those rituals over a lifetime. AAVRANI encourages us to practice these rituals, so we will never promise a miracle in a jar. We want to celebrate and empower our community to feel beautiful as they’re intended to be, without unrealistic pressures or expectations,” adds Roy. AAVRANI has evolved as both a leading clean skincare brand and a mission-based Ayurvedic beauty brand. Continuing this growth, the brand plans to increase both distribution and production while building their internal team. Breaking into new categories can be expected over the next year, with an expanding product pipeline. ### About AAVRANI: AAVRANI is the Ayurvedic beauty brand solving common skin concerns with chemical-free formulas that are scientifically proven to work. Developed by Rooshy Roy as a way to share ancient Indian beauty secrets with the world, AAVRANI is centered around centuries’ old beauty traditions (Ayurveda), generational knowledge, and modern science. The products, rooted in self-care, form a skincare ritual. Offering a holistic approach, each product has an optional 5-minute practice for optimal skin health, which evokes its inner glow. Safe for all skin types, including those with sensitivities and women who are pregnant or nursing, all products are made without mineral oil, parabens, sulfates, irritants, synthetic fragrances, or animal cruelty. Contact Details AAVRANI Roxanne Ierino Ricketts hello@aavrani.com Company Website https://aavrani.com

June 09, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Selma Blair and GUIDE BEAUTY Partner to Advance a Culture of Inclusion in Beauty

GUIDE Beauty

GUIDE Beauty, a collection of makeup tools and products that has reimagined the way we apply makeup, is thrilled to announce Selma Blair as their Chief Creative Officer. Internationally acclaimed actress, author, advocate, and style and beauty icon, Blair will join GUIDE as a partner and take a leadership role in product and brand development for the multi-award-winning company. Combining forces with GUIDE’s Founder Terri Bryant, Blair will help the brand to accelerate its mission to expand inclusivity in the world of beauty through thoughtful, universally-designed products for everyone. "We are proud to welcome Selma to the family," says Bryant, Founder of GUIDE Beauty. "Her devotion to creative expression and advocacy for all people fits perfectly with GUIDE Beauty’s mission and practice of Universal Design - when we design with all people in mind, we create the best products for everyone. From the novice to somebody who has challenges with movement or strength and even the professional makeup artist on set, GUIDE’s products enhance the lives of makeup users everywhere.” In the prime of her career as a makeup artist and beauty educator, Bryant started to notice stiffness in her shoulder and a loss of dexterity in her hands. Makeup artistry that had been second nature was becoming a real struggle due to the inaccessibility of products that suited her needs. She was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Empowered by knowledge and a life-long love of makeup, she partnered with human factors designers and clean chemists to create a better and easier way and a new, more inclusive approach for the beauty industry with products designed for the broadest universe of makeup users. “As a professional makeup artist, I felt a natural ability that most of my friends, family, and clients did not share,” continues Bryant. “When that ability shifted due to the onset of Parkinson's Disease it became so clear that my needs, like so many, had not been considered in the design and development of the products I had always used, so I decided it was time to create them." “When I first held the GUIDE Wand, I immediately felt more confident than I ever had with a traditional pencil liner and found myself looking forward to doing my own makeup for the first time in a long time,” says Blair, who revealed her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2018. “Upon meeting Terri, we bonded instantly over our mutual love of makeup and its ability to transform a face and a day. I’m thrilled to join her and GUIDE to create and advocate for a more inclusive world of beauty.” GUIDE Beauty today also introduces its new makeup brush collection utilizing its patented GUIDE Ring to steady the hand and make application smooth and easy as well as its first eyeshadow palette that has been designed with Blair to showcase beautiful, easy-to-wear neutrals for everyday or a special red-carpet moment. In addition to the new launches, GUIDE’s debut collection, which launched in early 2020 and revolutionized ability-inclusivity in beauty, includes Lash Wrap Mascara and Brow Moment Brow Gel, both featuring the GUIDE Ring, and the award-winning GUIDE Eyeliner Duo. The Eyeliner Duo has become the hero SKU among customers, influencers, and media, receiving Allure ’ s Best of Beauty Breakthrough, ELLE ’ s Future of Beauty, O, The Oprah Magazine ’ s O-Ward, and Essence ’ s Best in Black Beauty, among other prestigious awards. The GUIDE Wand eyeliner applicator is celebrated for its unique, forward-thinking, ergonomically and universally-designed shape paired with the GUIDE Line pressed-cream eyeliner to make looks like tightlining, waterline application, and even winged liner a cinch. All GUIDE Beauty formulas are cruelty-free, 100% vegan, and formulated without known toxins or harsh ingredients. Blair, Bryant, and the GUIDE Beauty team are currently developing additional universally-designed makeup products to improve the lives of makeup users and are committed to advocating for inclusive and empowering beauty for all. For more information, please visit www.guidebeauty.com and @guidebeautycosmetics on social media platforms. About GUIDE BEAUTY GUIDE BEAUTY is a collection of makeup tools and products that has reimagined the way we apply makeup. Achieve a new level of skill and confidence with makeup that literally GUIDES your hand to better application. In the prime of her career as a makeup artist and beauty educator, GUIDE Beauty founder Terri Bryant started to notice stiffness in her shoulder and a loss of dexterity in her hands. Makeup artistry that had been second nature was becoming a real struggle due to the inaccessibility of products that suited her needs. She was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Empowered by knowledge and a life-long love of makeup, Terri partnered with human factors designers and clean chemists to create a better and easier way and a new, more inclusive approach for the industry. The result is an award-winning and patented collection of truly innovative and unique makeup tools and clean, vegan formulations that debuted in early 2020 and revolutionized ability-inclusivity in beauty. The addition of Selma Blair as Chief Creative Officer, who revealed her diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis in 2018, will allow the company to accelerate its product development and mission to make beauty better and easier for all. GUIDE’s new makeup brush collection, which launched in the summer of 2022, features its patented GUIDE Ring to steady the hand and make application smooth and easy as well as its first eyeshadow palette that was designed with Blair. GUIDE Beauty offers a truly fresh approach to makeup that puts artistry into your hands and creates empowering beauty for all. Contact Details Elyse Koenig: Beauty & Wellness Consulting Brittany Marshak +1 516-906-9063 Brittany@elysekoenig.com Company Website https://www.guidebeauty.com

June 09, 2022 09:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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