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Comcast and The Arc Partner to Expand Tech Training and Special Education Advocacy for People with Disabilities

Comcast Colorado

Comcast announced that it is expanding its partnership with The Arc of the United States to foster digital and advocacy skills in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. The expansion comes in the form of Comcast providing two new grants to The Arc totaling $710,000, which includes $22,000 for The Arc of Weld County. The funding will allow The Arc to establish more Tech Coaching Centers at chapters across the country, including one at The Arc of Weld County. The centers will offer The Arc@School special education advocacy curriculum to Spanish-speaking families. These programs have already helped over 3,500 people with IDD develop more independence, equity, and opportunities for their future. “We know and deeply understand that digital access is essential to inclusion and many times it can be the great equalizer to support community participation,” said Amelia Koehmstedt, Executive Director of The Arc of Weld County. “Tech coaching centers address digital inequities while providing a unique niche for learners of all abilities to gain skills that translate into greater independence. Transitioning this opportunity to include family and caregivers allows these individuals to learn alongside those they care for with IDD and maximize opportunities and effectiveness of digital literacy. By supporting all community members, the inclusion of people with IDD and their success with technology grows exponentially. These opportunities support our vision of inclusion, acceptance and belonging for all.” A first grant of $560,000, will support The Arc’s Tech Coaching Centers at 10 locations across the country. It will also expand the training model to include caregivers and family members of people with IDD to ensure they can support in the implementation of technology across all environments, including assistive technology. With technology being an increasingly vital part of navigating and participating in today’s plugged-in world, including transportation, employment, recreation and social interaction, people with IDD face unique barriers to understanding and adopting digital tools, which is exacerbated by a higher rate of poverty and lower overall income. Since 2014, Comcast has supported The Arc’s Tech Coaching Center, reaching nearly 2,500 people with IDD through 19 chapters and giving them access to devices, services, and training that advance measured outcomes in employment, health, independent living, education, and interpersonal connections. “We know that digital skills training can open new doors to opportunity and help people living with disabilities gain independence,” said Dalila Wilson-Scott, EVP and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation. “That’s why we are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with The Arc to reach even more people with IDD – including their caregivers and families — and to create pathways that can help enrich their lives.” A second grant of $150,000 will go towards advancing efforts to help marginalized communities better advocate for their education. This investment will allow The Arc to fully translate the curriculum into Spanish to better meet this population’s needs and increase access to the content. Academic achievement and graduation rates for students with disabilities lag far behind their peers, trends marked by inordinate discrimination, suspensions, and isolation within school settings across the country. In 2016, The Arc created The Arc@School, an evidence-based, self-paced online training program designed to help families, educators, and advocates navigate the special education system. Since 2021, Comcast has partnered with The Arc to connect underserved communities to these educational advocacy resources. To date, more than 500 families of color and low-income households have been given free access to The Arc@School, in addition to a facilitation guide, Spanish language overview of the special education process, and cultural competency resources and sections. These grants were distributed through Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion commitment to reach tens of millions of people in order to advance digital equity and help create a future of unlimited possibilities. About The Arc of the United States The Arc advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy, and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of nearly 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with IDD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis. Visit www.thearc.org or follow us @TheArcUS to learn more. Editor’s Note: The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase. 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 connectivity, 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. Contact Details Comcast Colorado Leslie Oliver +1 303-810-6326 leslie_oliver@comcast.com Company Website https://colorado.comcast.com/

April 19, 2023 07:45 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Circles Modernizes Group Support with First Free ‘Audio-Only’ On-Demand Service

Circles

In the middle of the night when you are overwhelmed with grief, reeling from a job loss or just in need of someone who knows what you are going through, where do you turn. Technology company Circles is on a mission to solve that problem. Today, the company announced that Circles On-Demand, the first of its kind on-demand audio support group app, is now available to the general public. Circles fills a void in the e-therapy market by focusing on the therapeutic value of sharing and listening to others with the same pain, issue, or challenge. Circles has modernized the support group by empowering users to find emotional support from people who are dealing with the same issues, in real time. The wide ranging topics of groups includes: single dads rebuilding their lives after divorce, adults coping with disability, women navigating infertility and people grieving the loss of loved ones. Circles taps into the power of finding and giving support to those who are going through the same issues. “ People still need people, and that is especially true when you are faced with life's challenges,” says Irad Eichler, Co-Founder and CEO of Circles. We have learned from our community that although people often have a support system, they still feel alone. It has been our mission to provide a safe place where people feel seen and heard, whether they are going through divorce, experiencing illness, struggling with body image or navigating a layoff. We understand the power of connecting with people who understand exactly what you are going through and with this new offering we are proud to provide easy real-time access to emotional support for anyone who needs it.” Since the company launched in 2020, they have been a source of support for 50,000 people. Circles On-Demand opened to limited users in 2022 and already has 200 and growing support groups. During the beta, divorce and cancer accounted for 35% of all rooms, but in the past two months, demand for groups dealing with narcissistic relationships grew by 100%. Each Circles group is led by a facilitator. Since the beta launch of Circles On-Demand, more than 200 groups have already formed validating the need that people need help and feel better connecting with others that face the same challenges. Circles On-Demand is free of charge and anyone can start or join a group. The app allows people to be anonymous and only requires a first name to sign-up. The company provides training materials to help facilitators be successful, and is currently working on an AI integration that will provide help to guides in real time. Circles On-Demand has helped people to find community and connection when they most need it. During the holidays, groups hosted happy hours to help people feel less lonely. There was even a comedy hour for grief support, providing users with an outlet to laugh through a difficult time. Julie Edstrom has used Circles to support her through grief, and says, “I lost both of my parents 16 days apart in 2021 to COVID. I am a retired Grief and Trauma Therapist so I have high expectations for grief groups. Circles exceeds my expectations.” Circles user, Mark, is healing from a narcissistic relationship and offers, “The group is comfortable and open. Being able to express what's happening and feeling others' stories. There's no judgment nor criticism. People can talk freely and share their pain, their growth and seek that light at the end of the tunnel.” To join or start a support group, download the Circles app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. About Circles Circles was founded in 2020 in Israel with a mission to make support accessible and affordable to everyone. The global company launched in the United States in 2021 and differentiated itself from the e-therapy market by focusing on the therapeutic value of sharing and listening to others with the same pain, issue, or challenge. The company closed a Series A round of $16.5 million in May 2022. Contact Details Circles Karen Swim circles-pr@wordsforhirellc.com Company Website https://circlesup.com/

April 19, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Bing Ventures Concluded Its Boutique Side Event at Hong Kong Web3 Festival 2023

Bing Ventures Limited

Bing Ventures, a pioneering VC firm in Asia that backs entrepreneurs and early-stage startups in Web3 and blockchain, concluded its side event entitled “Web3 Reimagined” at the Hong Kong Web3 Festival 2023 on April 14. The event, in partnership with AI-driven Web3 content aggregator Followin, convened some of Asia’s leading VCs, startups, and media leaders to reflect on the opportunities and challenges of the road ahead for Web3 amid the complex and ever-changing industry landscape. Top Investment Themes for 2023 Before a packed auditorium, Wayne Wu, Partner of Bing Ventures delivered keynote remarks that shared the VC firm’s views on the top investment themes for 2023. “Although been through a treacherous 2022, the industry has shown its tenacity in the first quarter of 2023. The recovery of the industry will be driven by technological innovations,” he said. Wu shared the specific innovations that Bing Ventures is looking at under six investment themes including Web3 infrastructure and applications, TradFi’s integration with DeFi, Ethereum scaling, collaboration tools for DAOs, GameFi, and the intersection of digital identity (DID) and social networking. “We think GameFi projects utilizing new human-computer interaction technology such as VR, AR, and ChatGPT and delving deep into the in-game uses of NFTs are promising, especially those with innovative token economies,” he explained. His forward-looking and insightful speech set the tone for the rest of the event. A Boom in Consumer-facing Applications is Coming Besides the keynote speech, the event included two panel discussions highlighting diverging perspectives from the point of view of entrepreneurs in the first and a more digital-assets-focused discussion in the second. Speakers on the two panels include Josh Du, Head of Digital Asset Portfolios at Animoca Brands; Christian Ng, Partner at GBV Capital; Calvin Poon, Investment Associate at The Spartan Group; Albert Chang, Managing Partner at Chiron Partners; Kevin Shao, Cofounder of Bitrise Capital; Shier Han, Cofounder of NFTScan; Niels Ma, Initiator of BuidlerDAO; Lionel Yuan, CEO of DeSyn Protocol; Gabriele Bandi, VP of Sales & Business Development at Hex Trust; Robert McCracken, Ecosystem Lead, Alchemy Pay; and Wego C., Cofounder of BlockTempo. The first panel was moderated by Andrew Han, Chief Branding Officer of Followin, while the second panel was moderated by Yanyan (Chunyan) Liang, Co-founder & CMO of Blockchain Academy Group. It was worth noticing that panelists on both stages shared positive views on the development of the industry and believed the flipping point for a boom in Web3 consumer applications may be imminent. Entrepreneurs in several sectors indicated that the fundamentals of the industry were not shacked by the high-profile black swan incidents and bankruptcies in 2022. Talents continue to flow into the space, entrepreneurial activities are strong, and regulators worldwide are gradually learning about Web3. In addition, empowering technologies such as AI are bringing new possibilities to the industry. Sector-wise, several investors including Animoca Brands mentioned that they are doubling down on consumer-facing applications from gaming, fashion, music, and education to custody solutions, payments, and social networking. As more and more already-successful Web2 companies realize that their business models can work better with Web3 technologies, the number of consumer-facing applications will grow exponentially. The event ended after a lively cocktail party and was attended by over 200 invited guests. “As a research-driven VC firm, we host and support events from workshops to hackathons to help facilitate meaningful exchanges of ideas. We are glad the side event was a success and look forward to meeting more industry participants at our future events,” Wu commented. About the Web3 Festival The inaugural Web3 Festival, co-hosted by Wanxiang Blockchain Labs and HashKey Group and supported by the Hong Kong government, is the largest crypto-focused conference Hong Kong has ever hosted. This four-day event will see over 10,000 attendees, 300 distinguished industry speakers, VCs, and senior finance and FinTech executives, about 100 Web3 project exhibitors, community partners and media partners around the world congregate to network, share, and learn through high-level content and panel discussions. About Bing Ventures Founded by former J.P. Morgan and Standard Chartered bankers, Bing Ventures is a pioneering venture capital firm that backs startups and entrepreneurs driving the next wave of Web3 and blockchain innovations. Its team of crypto veterans and natives collectively brings decades of experience in investing in, incubating, developing, and marketing Web 3.0 projects. With a sector-agnostic, value-investing approach, it now has a portfolio spanning DeFi, NFT, GameFi, DAOs, infrastructure, Web3, and more. Bing Ventures is headquartered in Singapore and has team members decentralized across Asia, the UK, and the US. For more information, please visit https://www.bing-ventures.com/. Contact Details Bing Ventures Limited Jenny Liu +86 159 2140 1005 jenny@bing-ventures.com Company Website https://www.bing-ventures.com/

April 19, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Sekur Private Data, Ltd. (OTCQX: SWISF) (CSE: SKUR) (FRA: GDT0): A Comprehensive Suite of Data Privacy Solutions to Help Individuals and Enterprises Battle Rising Cyber Threats

Sekur Private Data, Ltd.

The global cybersecurity market is witnessing a significant surge in demand as organizations across the world are increasingly recognizing the importance of securing their digital assets, communications, and infrastructure. With the rapid expansion of e-commerce platforms, deployment of cloud solutions, and proliferation of smart devices, the threat landscape has evolved, making cybersecurity a top priority for businesses and governments alike. As a result, the market is projected to experience substantial growth in the coming years. In 2022, the global cybersecurity market was valued at USD 202.72 billion, and it is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% from 2023 to 2030. This impressive growth can be attributed to the rising number of cyber-attacks and the increasing adoption of intelligent and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. To combat these evolving threats, organizations are investing heavily in advanced cybersecurity solutions that can detect, mitigate, and minimize the risk of cyber-attacks. Revenue in the cybersecurity market is projected to reach US$162.00 billion in 2023, with the largest segment being Security Services, which is expected to have a market volume of US$85.49 billion in the same year. The global data privacy software market, valued at USD 1.68 billion in 2021, is projected to grow from USD 2.36 billion in 2022 to USD 25.85 billion by 2029, exhibiting a remarkable CAGR of 40.8% during the forecast period. This rapid growth can be attributed to the increasing adoption of advanced technologies, the rise in cyberattacks, and the growing awareness of data privacy solutions across various sectors, including BFSI, IT and telecommunications, retail, government, manufacturing, travel and transportation, healthcare, energy and utilities, and others. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the need for effective cybersecurity privacy solutions becomes increasingly crucial to protect sensitive information and maintain trust in the digital ecosystem. Enter Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQX: SWISF) (CSE: SKUR) (FRA: GDT0), a company dedicated to providing cutting-edge privacy solutions that safeguard your personal and professional data. In this article, we will delve into the various products and services offered by Sekur Private Data, highlighting their unique features and benefits. Overview: Sekur Private Data Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a leading cybersecurity and internet privacy provider that specializes in Swiss-hosted solutions for secure communications and data management. With a suite of encrypted emails, VPN, encrypted messenger, secure communication tools, secure cloud-based storage, disaster recovery and document management, the company caters to consumers, businesses, and governments worldwide. The company distributes its products through its websites www.sekur.com, www.sekurvpn.com and www.sekursuite.com, as well as through various approved distributors and telecommunications companies across the globe. One of the key differentiators of Sekur Private Data is its Swiss-based data storage, using its own servers, and no third party hyperscaler big tech provider, such as AWS or Microsoft Azure cloud. All client-user data is stored in Switzerland in a state-of-the-art ISO-certified data center, which has been approved by Swiss banks. This ensures that all information is completely confidential and safely stored under the protection of the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (FADP) and the Swiss Federal Data Protection Ordinance. These laws offer some of the strongest privacy protection in the world for both individuals and entities. Furthermore, the data centers used by Sekur Private Data are also utilized by Swiss and global banks, United Nations organizations, international corporations, and governmental organizations, ensuring the highest level of security and confidentiality. In addition to the robust Swiss privacy laws, Sekur Private Data employs military-grade security measures to protect user data. This includes physical, network, and proprietary, and non-open-source encryption security, ensuring that all information is held in a safe place and manner. By combining proprietary, non-open source, and military-grade encryption security with Swiss data privacy, Sekur Private Data offers unparalleled protection for its users' sensitive information. The company's product offerings are designed for strategic use by key personnel in large organizations, such as C-Level executives and board members, as well as high net-worth individuals (HNWI) who require heightened privacy and security. This focus on catering to users with sensitive data needs sets Sekur Private Data apart from other cybersecurity providers. Switzerland's stable, prosperous, and high-tech economy further bolsters the company's unique position in the market. The country is ranked as one of the wealthiest in the world per capita and is home to several large multinational corporations. Additionally, Switzerland's economy is considered the most competitive globally, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report, and is ranked by the European Union as Europe's most innovative country. Overall, Sekur Private Data offers a unique combination of Swiss-based data storage, military-grade security measures, and a focus on catering to users with heightened privacy and security needs. This, coupled with Switzerland's strong economy and reputation for innovation, makes Sekur Private Data a standout choice for individuals and organizations seeking the ultimate in cybersecurity and privacy protection. SKUR: Products & Services SekurMessenger: Secure Communication at Your Fingertips One of the flagship products of Sekur Private Data is SekurMessenger, a secure messaging platform designed to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of your communications. Unlike other popular messaging apps, SekurMessenger does not require users to share their phone numbers or personal information, thereby minimizing the risk of data breaches and identity theft. The platform employs end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read the messages. Additionally, SekurMessenger offers self-destructing messages and remote message deletion features, giving users complete control over their communication history. SekurMail: A Safe Haven for Your Emails Emails are an indispensable part of modern-day communication, but they are also vulnerable to hacking and data leaks. Sekur Private Data addresses this issue with SekurMail, a secure email service that prioritizes privacy and data protection. SekurMail uses advanced encryption algorithms to safeguard your emails from prying eyes, while its Swiss-based servers ensure compliance with stringent data protection laws. Furthermore, SekurMail offers a unique "Compose in Sekur" feature, which allows users to send encrypted emails to non-SekurMail users, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected even when communicating with external parties. SekurSuite: A Fortified Storage Solution for Your Files In addition, to secure communication tools, Sekur Private Data also offers a robust file storage solution called SekurDrive. This encrypted cloud storage service allows users to store, share, and access their files securely from any device. With SekurSuite, you can rest assured that your sensitive documents are protected from unauthorized access, thanks to its state-of-the-art encryption technology and strict access controls. Moreover, SekurSuite's Swiss-based servers guarantee compliance with the highest data protection standards, providing an added layer of security for your valuable files. SekurVPN: A Secure and Private VPN Service SekurVPN is a highly private and secure VPN service that was recently launched on April 7, 2023. It offers robust data encryption, no data tracking, no IP address leaks, no DNS leaks, a kill switch, and multi-factor authentication. Unlike most other VPNs, SekurVPN uses its proprietary infrastructure and does not rely on big tech hosting providers. Hosted in Switzerland, it provides users with Swiss IPs, ensuring enhanced privacy and protection from hackers and data miners. Ideal for privacy enthusiasts, e-banking, online shopping, and regular internet usage, SekurVPN guarantees high-speed connections and strong encryption. With a special launch price for the first 5,000 registrants, SekurVPN aims to provide true data privacy and security for individuals and businesses alike. Click HERE to View Sekur’s Investor Presentation Upcoming Product & Service Launches Sekur Private Data is also working on some new and upcoming products & services, which are estimated to be available through next year: SekurPro: A private video conferencing service that includes encrypted calls, emails, and messages for enterprises. SekurPro is estimated to launch during the fourth quarter of 2023. SekurVoice: A service that allows clients to communicate privately in a secure environment. SekurVoice is also slated for a Q3 2023 release. SekurIdentity: An identity theft product that will help clients keep and protect their personal information away from thieves and hackers. This product has an estimated launch of next year. Sekur 2023 Budget and Guidance Sekur Private Data’s management team has announced its finalized budget for the fiscal year 2023. The company has successfully cut nearly 50% of its expenses, amounting to CA$3,200,000 (US$2,360,000), while still expecting an increase in sales. Sekur is ending 2022 with an annualized monthly sales rate of CA$555,000/year (US$410,000/year) and had cash and cash equivalents as of the date of the announcement, of CA$4,050,000 (US$3,000,000) with no debt or convertible debt. The company plans to focus on establishing more B2B relationships and expanding its direct-to-consumer base in 2023, without the need for additional funding. In February 2023, the company announced it had launched SEO marketing efforts. To reduce its Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), the company has kickstarted optimization and SEO marketing for its Sekur website. The goal is to get the CAC below US$75 by 2023 and further down to US$60 by 2024. Sekur aims to draw in more customers and SMBs to its privacy and security communications platform, all while cutting down on marketing costs, by focusing on targeted digital marketing campaigns and website optimization. Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur Private Data stated: "We have lowered our budget for 2023 and are focused heavily on our CAC for this year and moving forward. Our focus on direct marketing is to lower our acquisition cost and we should have more data to share with everyone in the coming weeks and months. Once we achieve US$75 CAC or lower, we plan to accelerate spending on AdWords and digital marketing to increase our subscriber base at a higher rate than we are doing today. Our prime directive is to provide private and secure communications for everyone, and, as we are not connected to any Big Tech platform, we offer a truly independent, private, and secure means of communications without any data mining, through our proprietary technology and our secure servers based in Switzerland. We look forward to continuing to offer true data privacy to all individuals and their businesses and protect their intellectual property, and their privacy, from data miners and malicious hackers." The rapidly evolving digital landscape has made cybersecurity and data privacy essential for businesses and individuals. Sekur Private Data, a Swiss-hosted company, offers advanced privacy solutions, including SekurMessenger, SekurMail, SekurSuite, and SekurVPN. With the cybersecurity market projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% until 2030, now is the time to invest in reliable privacy solutions that protect your digital assets. Upcoming products from Sekur Private Data include SekurPro, SekurVoice, and SekurIdentity, providing even more comprehensive protection. Don't wait any longer; safeguard your personal and professional data with Sekur Private Data's cutting-edge products and services today. Disclaimer: Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement. All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. Spotlight Growth and its employees are not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker Dealer or a member of any association for other research providers in any jurisdiction whatsoever and we are not qualified to give financial advice. The information contained herein is based on external sources that Spotlight Growth believes to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Spotlight Growth may create reports and content that has been compensated by a company or third-parties, or for purposes of self-marketing. Spotlight Growth was compensated two thousand dollars cash for the creation and dissemination of this content by the company. This material does not represent a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Certain statements contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. The above communication, the attachments and external Internet links provided are intended for informational purposes only and are not to be interpreted by the recipient as a solicitation to participate in securities offerings. Investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors and may not be permissible in certain jurisdictions. Spotlight Growth and its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may have bought or sold or may buy or sell shares in the companies discussed herein, which may be acquired prior, during or after the publication of these marketing materials. Spotlight Growth, its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may sell the stock of said companies at any time and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. For more information on our disclosures, please visit: https://spotlightgrowth.com/disclosures/ The Post " Sekur Private Data, Ltd. (OTCQX: SWISF) (CSE: SKUR) (FRA: GDT0): A Comprehensive Suite of Data Privacy Solutions to Help Individuals and Enterprises Battle Rising Cyber Threats " First Appeared On Spotlight Growth. Contact Details Sekur Private Data, Ltd. Spotlight Growth info@spotlightgrowth.com

April 19, 2023 05:35 AM Pacific Daylight Time

News Release

Star Navigation Systems announces reseller agreement with APS Aerospace

Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd

Star Navigations Systems Group CEO Anoop Brar joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news about the company that provides in-flight Safety Monitoring Systems, including STAR-ISMS. The company provides real-time capability of tracking, performance trends and predicting incident-occurrences to increase flight safety. Brar tells Proactive the company has agreed to a re-seller agreement with Ottawa based APS Aerospace Corp. The deal will provide a complete end-to-end ecosystem of in-flight and post-flight analysis. Contact Details Proactive Investors +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

April 18, 2023 12:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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SofySense: World’s First Mobile App Testing with AI and No-Code Automation Integrated

Sofy

Today, Sofy, a testing platform for software developers which accelerates product release times by 95 percent, is launching SofySense — the world’s first mobile app testing solution that integrates AI and no-code automation. SofySense enhances Sofy’s existing platform with GPT-integrated intelligent software testing AI technology. SofySense removes the burdensome, cumbersome, and mundane processes and tasks in writing test cases, freeing up testers for more strategic efforts and greatly accelerating product release times. It is also a significant step towards true self-healing software. Software developers currently spend 20 - 50 percent of their overall time on testing, figuring out the order of operations and the right tests to identify errors in code. This testing is expensive, accounting for 23 - 35 percent of overall IT spend. And while test automation generally reduces development time and associated costs, with SofySense, the benefits of automation increase exponentially. SofySense intelligently looks at the technical documentation and generates testing operations so software testers can modify them to suit their needs and focus on more impactful tasks. “SofySense is not just a mobile app testing solution, it's the future of intelligent test automation. With years in the making, SofySense builds upon the team's 20 plus years of experience and shared knowledge to integrate AI and no-code automation seamlessly,” said Syed Hamid, founder and CEO, Sofy. “Similar to how ChatGPT can generate human-like text in a matter of moments, with SofySense we’ve enabled AI technology in a useful way, helping testers author and execute tests in seconds.” SofySense leverages the power of OpenAI's large language models to provide advanced insights, analysis, and assistance for all of an organization's QA needs. This allows users to quickly identify patterns and trends in their test results and generate test cases that can be used to make informed decisions about their overall testing strategy. The integrated solution is an intelligent resource providing answers to specific test questions, giving users knowledge about their test cases and results, empowering them to test earlier and more often with greater confidence. With SofySense, organizations can streamline their testing processes while ensuring high-quality releases. It provides a modern way to quickly gather test results, augment test creations, and find answers to questions in one place. For additional information on SofySense, please see “ Introducing SofySense: AI Assistant to Speed Up Your Testing Process,” or visit the SofySense product page. Or for more information on Sofy, please visit https://sofy.ai/. About Sofy: The best way to automate is not to write automation code but rather leverage the power of AI to create resilient, no-code automation so QA teams can focus on testing. Sofy is an intelligent tool that simplifies testing and saves time, increases productivity, and shortens testing cycles. Sofy is powered by machine learning and real devices to let QA teams simplify manual, automated, and robotic testing while saving time and money. Contact Details Forrest Carman +1 206-859-3118 forrest.carman@gmail.com Company Website https://sofy.ai/

April 18, 2023 09:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

DataWeave’s New U.S. Apparel Report Analyzes 40,000+ SKUs: Pricing, Discounting, and Availability Changing in Inflationary Times

DataWeave

Stock Availability for Premium products averaged 80%—higher than for regular products Discounting rose sharply from July 2022 to January 2023 Regular prices dropped across most retailers during this period DataWeave, a leading provider of Competitive Intelligence and Digital Shelf Analytics for consumer brands and retailers globally, recently released a new report, US Apparel eCommerce: Pricing and Stock Availability Trends on the Backdrop of Inflation. The report provides a data-rich overview of the fashion and apparel market, with pricing changes, stock availability, and discounting tracked across top retailers and brands. Across more than 40,000 leading fashion apparel SKUs between July 2022 and January 2023, DataWeave analyzes price changes, discounting, and product availability across top retailers in light of post-pandemic market dynamics and an inflationary environment. DataWeave’s US Apparel eCommerce industry report 2023 looks at the impact of inflation on pricing in apparel, tracking consistent price drops across five major retailers over the past few months (with slight prices increases across two more). Analysis on pricing and availability of fashion apparel provides insight into broader trends during economic downturns or inflationary periods. “Apparel is seen as a discretionary spend, and as consumers feel the pinch of inflation, many are likely to cut down on their apparel purchases.,” said Karthik Bettadapura, CEO of DataWeave. “Amid this, our analysis identifies a trend of reducing prices across retailers and brands. This is also a sign that inventory has caught up with and overtaken demand.” The US Apparel eCommerce report analyzes product availability in the last six months, and finds that across most retailers, it has risen and leveled out during this period. It goes on to compare stock availability of premium versus regular products. The report also includes a section on the complexities of product matching in apparel and how retailers can use this to improve their competitive price positioning. “Pricing competitively is an important area of focus not only for retailers but also for brand manufacturers who sell on marketplaces,” said Krish Thyagarajan, President and COO of DataWeave. “With the price-conscious consumer market we’re experiencing, this includes keeping an eye on their online presence and benchmarking their discounting and pricing against competitors across all their products. Our US Apparel eCommerce report provides retailers and brands with a view into the current state of online apparel retail, as inflation continues to inform pricing decisions, and stock availability has rebounded after months of pandemic-driven supply chain challenges.” # # # Report Methodology To reach its findings, DataWeave tracked the data of 40,000+ leading fashion apparel SKUs to analyze stock availability and discounts. The timeline of the analysis spans July 2022 to January 2023, capturing the state of the market as the economy moved from a supply-rich post-pandemic environment to a belt-tightening inflationary one. DataWeave is a SaaS-based digital commerce analytics platform that provides competitive intelligence to retailers and digital shelf analytics to consumer brands globally. With DataWeave, retailers can make smarter pricing and merchandising decisions while consumer brands can optimize their digital shelf for KPIs like share of search, content quality, price competitiveness, and stock availability. DataWeave’s AI-powered proprietary technology aggregates and delivers actionable eCommerce insights across 500+ billion data points globally, 400,000 brands, 1,500+ websites, 20+ verticals, and 25+ languages. Learn more at DataWeave.com. Contact Details Meir Kahtan Public Relations, LLC (MKPR) Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://dataweave.com

April 18, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Inboxbooster launches with $1m funding round after fixing YCombinator’s email spam problems

Inboxbooster

Over 3.5 million legitimate emails are sent every second and yet nearly 85% will be destined for spam folders including opt-in emails and even payment notifications. Helping companies address and overcome this challenge, Inboxbooster has launched from stealth today with a $1m pre-seed funding round to help email senders get their comms into the primary inbox of their audience. The funding round includes participation from Y Combinator, and angels Francois Lagunas, Razvan Roman, Julien Lemoine and Ralph Gootee. Built on a dataset of 100 million emails, Inboxbooster detects and fixes email in spam folders. The Inboxbooster resolution test initially confirms the issue by querying spam filters to understand what is wrong with the emails and then build a step-by-step guide such as removing specific words,, changing the form of some URLs or steps to improve a poor domain reputation. The tool also analyzes the delivery infrastructure and offers solutions, this includes evaluating the reputation of the domain and the sending IP while analyzing the content of emails to flag what part of the email is triggering the spam filter. Inboxbooster builds a personalized step-by-step guide to make emails compliant with filter requirements and get it back to the primary inbox. Inboxbooster co-founder Nicolas Toper commented: “In the world of emails, spam is the equivalent of the bottom of the ocean. No one wants their email to end up in spam yet, a good number of those are ending up there and avoiding it can be more difficult than you would think. Inboxbooster accurately tells you why you're in the spam or promotion folder and what to do to move back to the inbox. “Email is the only open communication left and it’s important to preserve this and make it accessible to all. Large companies can deploy expensive consultants and remedy their issues but we are filling a significant gap in the market for others because no other solution fixes the problem in the same way and we’re redressing the competition. And this affects everyone sending emails, not marketers. For example, we fixed the payment notifications for a mortgage provider sending approval notices. This is a real and really painful issue for many”. The Inboxbooster journey began in 2017 when founder Nicolas Toper was experimenting with various opportunities with email. He connected with co-founder Marcus Engene at the Summer 2020 Y Combinator 3-month programme. Whilst testing and building their product, the founders noticed that Y Combinator's popular weekly newsletter on how to build startups was landing in spam and promotion on Gmail. Having applied their model on it, Inboxbooster moved the newsletter back to the primary inbox and improved their click rate by 35%. Inboxbooster detected the words of the email that were sending the email outside of the inbox and improved the subscriber targeting. Today, Inboxbooster already has over 3,000 users. Prior to setting up Inboxbooster, Nicolas Toper founded CritSend where he helped clients successfully send 50 billion emails. While Marcus Engene founded Pond5 - the media marketplace - which was backed by Accel and Stripe and acquired for over $200M. Nicolas Toper added: Looking ahead, we are going to make a deeper dive into how various software connected to email will work in the future and explain what and how the spam AI filter is deciding to do and why”. About Inboxbooster Founded in January 2021, InboxBooster is a deliverability platform built on a dataset of 100 million emails that detects and fixes email in spam folders. The Inboxbooster resolution process confirms the issues by querying spam filters to understand what is wrong with the emails and then diagnoses issues. Inboxbooster builds a personalized step-by-step guide to make emails compliant with filter requirements and get it back to the inbox. Inboxbooster works with email senders, email service providers, marketing platforms to solve deliverability issues across Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc. Founded by Nicolas Toper (former Critsend founder) and Marcus Engene (former Pond5 founder), Inboxbooster has over 2,000 customers including YCombinator, Zengo, and Wizbii among others. For information please visit: https://inboxbooster.com/ Contact Details Inboxbooster Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://inboxbooster.com/

April 18, 2023 07:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Executive VP & Director of Training Michael Jutt Talks Minuteman As We Celebrate 50 Years of Minuteman Press

Minuteman Press International Inc

As Minuteman Press International celebrates 50 years in business, we are continuing the celebration of our history. Michael Jutt first started with Minuteman Press as a press operator in the original Farmingdale shop in October of 1974, which was the second location that opened after Plainview. At just 19 years-old, Mike was hired by Roy Titus, and the rest is history. When Minuteman Press decided to become a franchise, Mike was promoted to Director of Training; he created the first Minuteman Press training program and became an integral part of the company’s expansion into franchising. Mike remains a huge part of our success today as Minuteman Press International’s Executive VP & Director of Training. How did you first get started with Minuteman Press and the Titus family? Mike Jutt: “I was hired in October of 1974 by Roy Titus. George Holzmacher worked for Roy already and he said I should meet with Roy about a job in Farmingdale. At the time, I was working two jobs, one being in printing, and I wanted to be an attorney. I wasn’t sure I wanted to commute to Farmingdale since I lived and worked in Merrick and was attending Nassau Community College. I went to the Farmingdale shop to meet with Roy. When he arrived, we went outside of the shop, behind the building. Roy and I spoke about what he wanted for the Farmingdale shop, as he was looking to make some changes. He asked me how much I was making. At the time, I was making $110/week at the printing job. Roy offered to match, but I explained the extra gas money and time I’d be spending on the commute. He smiled and then offered me $120/week to get started, and I accepted the offer. That’s how my time with Minuteman Press started, working in the Farmingdale shop that Bob Titus was managing. We worked very hard to get the business up and running, it was fun.” What was it like working in the Farmingdale shop when you first started? Mike Jutt: “I had worked in one other neighborhood quick print shop before Minuteman Press, and I was very impressed my first day of employment when I saw Bob Titus come back to the shop with a marketing assistant. The fact that they were out knocking on doors and direct marketing our printing service was to me very different and unheard of at the time for printers. I asked the other press operator who that was that just walked in, and he said that was Roy’s son Bob. The differences between Minuteman Press and other print shops were a few things. First, I saw that they were actively marketing to build the business. We had a ton of work. Second, the type of equipment that we had – Multi-Graphics equipment – had better capabilities than what other quick printers were using. Third, we also had a huge focus on customer service, shop appearance, and quality work. Another game-changer is when Roy came in one day and handed me a brochure for a new piece of equipment made by 3M, which was a superior plate system to enable multicolor printing. This was the missing piece of what we needed to bring Minuteman Press to the next level. We had the press, we just needed a better plate system that could handle color inks as well as it did black ink. We thoroughly tested the plate system with the press and evaluated the cost. The result was that we now had the perfect package to achieve multicolor printing when other quick printers did mostly single-color or just black. The 3M plate was the ticket.” When Minuteman Press started franchising, what was it like for you creating the first training program? Mike Jutt: “The next major thing that happened was Roy discussing expanding the business and moving into franchising. He promoted the business opportunity and brought interested parties into the Farmingdale location to see what we were doing. The interest was really high from the people that Roy brought in, and years later, Roy told me it was during this time where he really noticed and recognized my abilities as a hardworking young man. At age 20, Roy made me Director of Training, and it was my responsibility to teach the new franchise owners everything about our business.” What do you think are the key reasons for the success of Minuteman Press as the franchise kept growing? Mike Jutt: “I credit the success of Minuteman Press as a franchise to leadership, hard work (long days and long weeks), treating the owners as true partners, caring and supporting our owners, and helping them achieve their success. Roy Titus said you need to treat people like you want to be treated. Roy not only preached it, but he also practiced it, and that was one of the biggest keys of our success as we grew and expanded the company.” What are some of the key aspects of the original training program that remain as core principles today? Mike Jutt: “From the launch of the training department, we have focused and communicated the importance of owners becoming experts in 5 major areas: Customer service Marketing their business Delivering quality products Keeping an incredible top appearance of their business and anything that represents their business Management with an emphasis on financial management Within each of these areas, there is extensive training today covering every detail of what these items actually encompass.” What are some of the key ways that the training program and Minuteman Press have evolved over the years? Mike Jutt: “The biggest areas that we’ve always been at the forefront of are research, development, and technology. Printing technology and enhancements with 3M products in the early days got better and better. With that said, one of the big first big efficiencies was added when our first pricing program was developed. In 1977, a new franchise owner from Dallas, Texas named Cal Baker came to the training program. Cal previously worked for EDS (Electronic Data Systems). He noticed that all of our formulas were mathematically logical and that they could be automated to save hours and hours when pricing jobs. I was intrigued by Mr. Baker’s knowledge and what he was going to do, and after he wrote the software, I told Roy I had to go to Dallas to look at what he created. Roy told me, “Whatever you have to spend to research anything that helps our owners and our company, spend it. If it’s going to help our owners, it’s going to help all of us. So, I went to Dallas and saw that the computer was made by Radio Shack. The original model was called a TRS 80 and it had 16K of memory. The program was stored on a regular cassette and at the time, this was a real game changer. After the trip to Dallas, myself and Dave Scadin enrolled in a programming course offered by Radio Shack and we learned basic programming to enhance and modify what we had. We would never ask our owners to buy equipment such as a computer until we tested it. I contacted the Tandy Corporation in Fort Worth, Texas and convinced them to give us 10 computers as a trial, which we distributed to owners to test at 10 locations. We let the owners test it for 60 days and then they had to either give it back or buy the computer. 100% of the owners purchased the computer and none of us have ever looked back. From that point forward, we continued to invest in software development uniquely written to our policies and production. This protected us from software companies going out of business and gave us long-term advantages that we still benefit from to this day.” Mike continues: “Another key milestone for us was the advent of digital printing. The first Apple Mac computer that came with a printer was released in 1984. Digital printing technology emerged with desktop publishing thanks to companies like Apple, IBM, and HP. For our industry, this was great because we could create various different styles and designs on very economical equipment. It also replaced photo typesetting, which took a lot longer and was a very big investment. We quickly recognized that digital printing would evolve. In the beginning, we also recognized that the two technologies could coexist. Today, approximately 40 years later, that is absolutely what happened. The ability, production, and ease of use of the digital equipment has only made Minuteman Press an even better company. And partnering with our key suppliers Xerox, Konica-Minolta, and Hewlett-Packard has brought us improved productivity and profits.” Is there anything else you’d like to share? Mike Jutt: “Minuteman Press today has evolved to be so much more than what it was when we first started. We have developed and refined systems, policies, procedures, and a company that has a long-standing culture of caring for our owners in 5 countries. And from a personal perspective, with the diversity of products and the need for those products, the opportunity for entrepreneurs is incredible. I personally feel honored to be able to experience the emergence of such a fantastic company, Minuteman Press International.” For more information on Minuteman Press products and services, visit https://minuteman.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

April 18, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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