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Panasonic Connect’s New Visual Solutions Create Impactful and Impressive Experiences

Panasonic Professional Imaging & Visual Systems

Panasonic Connect North America announced today new turnkey, immersive solutions to streamline productions and expand the possibilities of entertainment. As the world enters into a new era of engagement, entertainment venues are looking for AV technology that allows them to captivate their audience through elevated levels of experiences by visually stimulating their senses and creating emotional and lasting connections. Panasonic Connect’s expanded ecosystem of audiovisual solutions that are perfect for live experiences will be on display at Panasonic's InfoComm booth (#N1629) from June 8-10, 2022. Panasonic Connect’s audiovisual (AV) portfolio provides flexible production environments, interactive projection mapping technology, significant workflow advantages and more, enabling these venues to develop eye-catching visuals ideal for engaging activities in entertainment applications and markets. These solutions create experiences that bring attendees into the storyline to become a part of the event instead of simply watching a show or looking at art. “Content creators across music, art and other live event venues are seeking ways to better connect with their audiences and envelop them into the experience,” said John Baisley, Senior Vice President of Professional Imaging & Visual Systems, Panasonic Connect. “Panasonic Connect provides complete and customizable AV solutions that encompass the technology, support and expertise needed to produce immersive environments which help customers provide exceptional, memorable experiences to their audiences." More About Panasonic Connect's New Solutions for Live Experiences PT-RQ25KU Series 3-Chip DLP® 4K SOLID SHINE Laser Projectors: Panasonic Connect introduces the new PT-RQ25KU Series[1], the world’s smallest and lightest 20,000lm 3-Chip DLP® 4K laser projector.[2] Understanding the continued demands for providing captivating content, simplified setup and remote functionality, the PT-RQ25KU Series is designed for venues hosting live events, concerts and festivals, along with theme park and location-based entertainment attractions. With exceptional image quality and significant workflow advantages, the PT-RQ25KU Series is 40% smaller and 35% lighter than its predecessor, simplifying everything from transport and storage to installation and set-up. It delivers up to 20,000lm of high brightness at 4K resolution (3840 x 2400) with extremely detailed life-like visuals. Designed for maintenance-free reliability for over 20,000-hours, it is Panasonic Connect’s first projector to be Intel® Smart Display Module (SDM) ready so customers can integrate their preferred interface(s) via compatible third-party modules and optional proprietary terminal boards, such as 12G-SDI, DIGITAL LINK. Further time-saving set-up features come from the Smart Projector Control application and Near Field Communication (NFC) function. These features make it easy to read and change basic setups by holding a mobile device against the projector’s touchpoint. The Remote Preview Lite function checks the content signals from a remote PC via Multi-Media Control Software or a web browser, while the preactivated upgrade kits for Geometry Manager Pro automate edge-blending via a camera to enable sophisticated masking functions. The PT-RQ25KU Series 3-Chip DLP® 4K SOLID SHINE Laser Projectors will be available starting November 2022. PT-FRQ60 1-Chip DLP® 4K SOLID SHINE Laser Projector: Meeting the rising demand for ultra-fine detailed resolution, Panasonic has added Quad Pixel Drive to its proven 1-Chip DLP™ SOLID SHINE laser projection technology to create the 6,000lm PT-FRQ60U projector, producing extraordinarily detailed 4K images that retain natural sharpness and clarity. The PT-FRQ60 delivers smooth and richly detailed 4K images ideal for education, corporate, art and museum exhibitions, while also supporting high-speed frame rates with minimal latency – widening the scope for applications such as simulation and esports. The projector creates an impressive sense of realism with the finest details and textures resulting in smooth, grid-less images. The PT-FRQ60 includes two HDMI inputs supporting CEC commands from compatible devices; an easy-to-integrate DIGITAL LINK connection for 4K video and control-signal transmission over long distances. Pre-activated Geometry Manager Pro upgrade kits enable sophisticated masking functions and automatic, simultaneous multi-screen calibration, streamlining the most complex edge-blending and projection-mapping installations. The projector will be available in black (PT-FRQ60BU7) or white (PT-FRQ60WU7) cabinets starting in July 2022. EQ2U Series 4K LCD Professional Displays: Offering 500 cd/m² brightness, the new EQ2U Series ensures high visibility of graphic rich, high-resolution content delivering an exceptional visual experience. The displays offer an anti-glare panel that suppresses the reflected glare of surrounding natural and artificial lighting, producing perfect color, no matter the viewing angle. The EQ2U displays can be tilted vertically and horizontally, up to a 20-degree tilt angle, for proper installation in any setting and fit a majority of devices via three HDMI input and USB-C terminals. Functionality can be expanded through support of the Intel® SDM specification. The ability to position the display in portrait or landscape mode, along with 18 hours of continuous operation make the EQ2U Series displays perfect for digital signage applications. The EQ2U Series offers six (6) screen sizes, in choices from 86/75/65/55/50/43-inches and shipments are scheduled to begin June 2022. EF2U Professional Display: The need for digital signage continues to expand for transportation, storefronts, large entertainment, concert halls, museums, reception areas and more. In these situations, the signage must be easy to read to capture attentions quickly, as well as be flexible and compact enough for installation in a limited space. The new EF2U 32-inch professional display enables effective information sharing for up to 16 hours per day of operation. This display can be installed vertically, horizontally or even tilted up to a 20-degree angle, accommodating a variety of installation plans. For situations that need to dynamically distribute information across multiple screens in various locations throughout a venue, the EF2 Display’s USB memory stick eliminates the need to configure settings when deploying signage on multiple displays. The EF2U display will be available in June 2022. Panasonic Connect will also be displaying its KAIROS IT / IP Video Processing Platform, which gives a seamless experience in managing the complexities, workflows and scale of broadcasted, streamed and projected content by managing the overlap so no other hardware is required for edge blending. Show attendees can also see the PT-RQ50KU 3-Chip DLP® SOLID SHINE 4K+ Laser Projector that provides an all-in-one design with key features such as simple, easy operation, flexible installation and 50,000lm of high-brightness. For more information about Panasonic's portfolio of progessional imaging and visual systens, visit https://na.panasonic.com/us/audio-video-solutions [1] Includes: 20Klm PT-RQ25KU (4K) & PT-RZ24KU (WUXGA) and 16Klm PT-RQ18KU (4K) & PT-RZ17KU (WUXGA) [2] Based on publicly available dimensions and weight for DLP™ laser projectors with 16,000lm brightness and above as of January 2022. Please refer to specifications table for brightness value of individual models. PT-RQ25K/RQ18K only with Quad Pixel Drive [ON]. About Panasonic Connect North America Established on April 1, 2022 as part of the Panasonic Group’s switch to an operating company system, Panasonic Connect North America is a B2B company offering device hardware, software and professional services to provide value to customers across the public sector, federal government, education, immersive entertainment, food services and manufacturing industries. With the mission to “Change Work, Advance Society, Connect to Tomorrow,” Panasonic Connect North America works closely with its community of partners, innovators and integrators to provide the right technologies to address customers’ ever-evolving needs in today’s connected enterprise. Connect with Panasonic Professional Imaging & Visual Systems: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram Contact Details Racepoint Global Lauren Klug +1 415-694-6714 PanasonicVisual@racepointglobal.com

June 02, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

“It’s Worth the Wait” - Justin Bieber shows his commitment to his Tim Hortons collab and perfecting his Biebs Brew in new 60-second commercial

Tim Hortons

The new 60-second commercial for Justin Bieber’s next Tim Hortons collab has dropped, with Justin reconnecting with his Tims partner Pam and showing his devotion to co-developing the perfect Biebs Brew. Justin is the last one in the Tims office and pulling an all-nighter so he can be the first to try Biebs Brew, which is made with 100 per cent premium Arabica beans and is slowly steeped for 16 hours to enhance the bold and smooth flavor. The first part of the Tims x Justin Bieber collab was focused on Justin putting his own spin on his favorite treats at Tim Hortons: bite-sized Timbits donuts. For the second collab, Justin and Tims decided to develop a new twist on what the iconic brand is best known for: brewing the perfect cup of coffee. In product brainstorms with the Tims team, Justin shared that he prefers his coffee on ice, which led to working on a new flavor of Tim Hortons Cold Brew. Also inspired by a slight sweet tooth and his love for hints of delicious vanilla flavoring in his coffee, Justin and our beverage innovation team developed a creamy French Vanilla flavor to go with our Cold Brew. Biebs Brew is the perfect blend of those two beloved Tims flavors. "We couldn't stop at Timbiebs, we needed a Biebs Brew too. And we are bringing both to Tims next month,” said Justin. "Doing a Tim Hortons collab had always been a dream of mine. I grew up on Tim Hortons and it's always been something close to my heart." All three Timbiebs flavors – Chocolate White Fudge, Sour Cream Chocolate Chip, and Birthday Cake Waffle flavours – will return to Tims restaurants in Canada and the United States along with Biebs Brew on June 6. Guests in the US can get a $5 Biebs Bundle*: a large Biebs Brew and a 10-pack of Timbiebs for $5 when ordered through the Tims app. In the US, Tims restaurants will also be bringing back limited quantities of Timbiebs merchandise for guests, including the beanie, fanny pack, and tote bag that were developed in collaboration with Justin. When guests buy any Tims x Justin Bieber merch they get 50% off a second item**. “Timbiebs was a huge success – truly beyond all of our expectations – and what made it so great was the authenticity of the partnership,” said Hope Bagozzi, Chief Marketing Officer for Tim Hortons. “Even before the Timbiebs collaboration, Justin had often shared with fans how he’d grown up with Tim Hortons and was obsessed with the brand. His commitment to working with us to develop a natural and authentic twist on the Tims experience is what made Timbiebs a hit and we know guests are going to love Biebs Brew and his take on Tims Cold Brew.” * No substitutions. Valid on bundle only, if items are added à la carte, promotional price will not apply. Ends 7/5/22. Add'l terms apply: timhortons.com/offer-terms. ** Buy 1 item at reg. price, get 1 for 50% off, while supplies last. No substitutions. Tax extra. Cannot be combined w/ any other offer, including food & beverage offers. Not valid on digital orders. “Justin Bieber” and “Biebs” are trademarks of Bieber Time Holdings, LLC. TM & © Tim Hortons, 2022. “Worth the Wait” was developed by creative agency GUT Toronto and The French Shop. CREDIT LIST Tim Hortons Axel Schwan - Regional President Hope Bagozzi - Chief Marketing Officer Solange Bernard - Sr. Director, Marketing Communications Dibba Iran-Parasti - Director, Marketing Communications Anthony Campos - Sr. Manager, Media Michael Oliveira - Director, Communications Meghan Giffin - Manager, Communications Ashley Hum - Sr. Analyst, Marketing Communications Jay Pritchett - Director, US Marketing Rebecca Eidelstein - Director, US Marketing Communications Pamela Estupinan - Sr. Manager, US Marketing Communications Samantha Owen - Sr. Manager, US Media & CRM Elizabeth Knox - Manager, US Marketing Communications Justin Bieber SB Projects Allison Kaye - President Jules Ferree - Executive Vice President GUT Accounts Laura Cavalcanti - Account Supervisor Ryan O’Hagan - Business Director Ali Joyaa - Account Executive Gurpriya Seth - Account Coordinator Production Kelly Mark - Senior Producer Athena Kouverianos - Director of Production Vivian Poon - Producer Strategy Dino Demopoulos - CSO Gvantsa Dataushvili - Senior Strategist Emily Barnes - Director of Content Strategy Chantal Legge - Content Supervisor Will Ramos - Social Strategy Director Creative Brynna Aylward - Executive Creative Director, Creative Lead Matthew Kenney - Creative Director Frederick Nduna - Creative Director Sophia Kossoski - Senior Art Director Laura De Santis - Senior Copywriter Daniel Zhang - Art Director Chris Vena - Copywriter Monica Herrera - Designer Alex Allen - Associate Creative Director Andy Tamayo - Associate Creative Director Beth Barnes - Creative Resource Manager Junia Parodi - Creative Manager TFS Client Service Thomas Dayon - Account Director Gabrielle Papineau - Account Manager Sabrina Desjardins - Account Manager Creative Team Joëlle Fournier - Managing Director, Adaptation Valérie Forget - Adaptation Director Brigitte Hébert-Carle - Adaptation Copywriter Production Julie Lorazo - Producer MTL Vendors La Majueure - Sound Recording and Mixing Denise Charest - Casting Media Monks Christina Ho - Team Lead Daisuke Kazuya - Senior Account Manager Lajor Cole-Etti - Senior Account Manager Gustavo Manrique - Project Lead Luke Rocks - Account Manager Tiffany Ko - Account Manager Sonio Kulkarni - Associate Account Manager Horizon Sheri Rogers - SVP, Business Solutions David Mear - Director, Business Solutions Tim Harris - Associate Director, Business Solutions Cobi Zhang - Director, Media Investment & Activation Tanya Cross - Associate Director, Media Investment & Activation ALISON BROD MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Adrianna Lauricella - Vice President Erika Berg Henty - Account Supervisor Tatum Treffeisen - Senior Account Executive Kate Beeks - Account Coordinator Craft Lisa Pasquin - President Ali Azzopardi - Vice President Brontë Wright - Account Manager Duncan Peng - Account Manager Kayla Mclean - Account Executive Robert Van Horne - Account Executive Emily Callahan - Account Coordinator Daisy Kling - Account Coordinator Red Apple Creative Nik Postinger - Audio Producer Luke McPeake - Engineer Holly Williams - Interim Client Success Executive Boy in the Castle Production Crew Colin Tilley - Director Jamee Ranta - EP/Producer Cora Johnson - Head of Production Clark Jackson - Line Producer Elias Talbot - Director of Photography David Cho - Production Supervisor Kevin Chang - Production Coordinator Nike Phillipides - 1st AD Mitchell Dillon - 2nd AD Kyle Schifflett - 2nd 2nd AD Colleen Smith - Improv Coach Camera Department Quaid Baca - 2nd Unit DoP Travis Montgomery - CAM OP Trevor Taylor - 1st AC - A cam Sharla Cipicchio - 1st AC - B cam Bryce Platz - 1st AC - C cam Seth Craven - 2nd AC - A cam Andy Kennedy - 2nd AC - B cam Sam Petroc - DIT Electric Department Brian “Red” Hickman - Gaffer Adam Flores - BB Electric Matt Hall - Electric Michael Koepke - Electric Alfredo Rodriguez - Electric Tomas Magana - Driver Grip Department Adama Shambour - Key Grip Jay Lopez - BB Grip Richie Warren - Grip Marissa Castrejon - Grip Randy Crisco - Grip Issac Cedano - Grip Art Department Brandon Mendez - Production Designer Duane Russell - Construction Coordinator Crystal Griego - Art Coordinator Dean Styers - Art Director Robb Duncan - Prop Master Benjamin Minty - Art Lead Richard Roraback - Set Dresser James Enrich - Set Dresser Armando Nunez - Set Dresser Joshua Ponce - Set Dresser Alfonso Ariana - Art Driver Jevon Dismuke - Art PA Priscilla Medina - Art PA Tim Madison - FX Operator VTR and Audio Rul Yacob - Boom Operator Ignacio C. Martinez - VTR Ignacio Martinez - Mixer Talent Eileen O’Connell - English Team Member Thomas Derasp-Verge - French Team Member Pierce Mayer - Stand-in Mike Fishbein - Talent Solutions Rep Grayson Music Ryan Kondrat - Director Chris Masson – Engineer Brian Bernard - Engineer Kelly McCluskey - Executive Producer Rich Hamilton - Music Supervisor Rooster Paul Proulx - Editor Jordan Giles - Editor Mariam Fahmy - French Editor Melissa Kahn - Executive Producer Soch Nwakaeze - Assistant Editor Austin Blackmore - Assistant Editor The Vanity Andrew Exworth - Colourist Jordan Benegbi - Colour Assistant Brock Cruess - Colour Assistant Michael Medeiros - Lead VFX Artist Adam Silcox-Vanwyk - Lead VFX Artist Sean Cochrane - VFX Artist Naveen Srivastava - VFX Artist Scott Olthoff - VFX Artist Noah Matikainen - VFX Artist Kalem Cahill - VFX Artist Andrew Farlow - VFX Artist Asher DiGiuseppe - VFX Artist Nicole Labbe - Producer Stephanie Pennington - Executive Producer About Tim Hortons Tim Hortons® is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of guest tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, teas and our famous Iced Capp® beverages), fresh baked goods, hot breakfast sandwiches, breakfast snacking items, and other food products. Tim Hortons has more than 4,800 system wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States and around the world. More information about the company is available at www.timhortons.com. Contact Details Alison Brod Marketing + Communications Adrianna Lauricella +1 212-230-1800 tims@abmc-us.com Company Website https://www.timhortons.com/

June 01, 2022 06:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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SleepX approved by the Helsinki Committee to conduct clinical trial with the SleepX PRO smartphone application

Appyea

SleepX, a subsidiary of AppYea (OTC: APYP) focusing on the development of accurate wearable monitoring solutions to treat sleep apnea and snoring, announces it received approval from the Helsinki Committee to begin its planned clinical trial on the SleepX PRO application. This follows the company’s recent update that it intends to test the SleepX Pro application at a hospital sleep lab. The trial is the first step towards applying for an FDA approval under the first-of-its-kind medical device category for contactless detection of sleep apnea to be performed through the Artificial Intelligence (AI) analysis of breathing during sleep. SleepX Pro, which is designed to diagnose sleep apnea using only a smartphone, requires no physical contact with the subject. Global Smart Sleep Tracking Products Market to Garner a Revenue of USD 11,234.55 Million by 2028 and Grow with a CAGR of 17.50% during 2020-2028; Surge in Concern for Sleep-Related Disorders to Drive the Market Growth, according to Kenneth Research (May 16, 2022). “Poor sleep is associated with the compromised immune system, heart problems, reduce physical and mental performance, mood problems, obesity and many other health problems”, said Neil Kline, Founder & former CEO of the American Sleep Association, and a AppYea Board Member. “Unfortunately, most people with sleep disorder breathing problems, like sleep apnea, are undiagnosed and untreated. Our goal in this unique technology is to raise the awareness to the problem and to improve people’s they can live healthier and more fulfilling lives.” “SleepX PRO makes for a unique, quick and friendly diagnosis tool that will prevent subjects from having to spend nights at sleep labs while saving the healthcare system and insurance companies hundreds of millions of dollars”, said Boris (Bary) Molchadsky, President and CEO of SleepX, and Chair at AppYea. “We plan to make our diagnosis solution highly accessible so people get tested easily. SleepX is an Israeli research and development company recently acquired by AppYea. The company had developed a unique product for monitoring and treating sleep apnea and snoring. The technology is protected by several international patents and the company plans to start serial production in 2022. The company currently focuses its activities on the development and commercialization of its flagship product DreamIT. Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release includes forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth herein. No statement herein should be considered an offer or a solicitation of an offer for the purchase or sale of any securities. Although APYP believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies, and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties, including but not limited to adverse economic conditions, intense competition, entry of new competitors and products, adverse federal, state and local government regulation, inadequate capital, unexpected costs and operating deficits, increases in general and administrative costs, unanticipated losses, financial condition and stock price, inability to carry out research, development and commercialization plans and other specific risks. APYP does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement. Neither APYP nor SLEEPX are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. Contact Details Asaf Porat +1 800-674-3561 info@appyea.com Company Website http://www.appyea.com

May 31, 2022 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Telematics can Now Issue Crypto Token for Driver Engagement, Powered by Damoov

Damoov

We are fast advancing to an age where the lines separating our real life from our virtual life are blurring. From Virtual Concerts to sites that let you buy virtual property anywhere in the world - it's all there already, and there is more coming up. In the latest development, Telematics major Damoov has announced the integration of the popular crypto networks of today, Solana and NEAR, to its Telematics platform. The integration opens up two significant possibilities. Firstly, companies building telematics-based apps can provide drivers with new ways of engaging by accruing crypto tokens for safe driving, eco driving or driver performance. The crypto tokens that have all known benefits and may be transferred to wallets across the entire blockchain ecosystem. On the other hand, gaming companies can easily build Play to Earn games where gamers can be rewarded with crypto for their real-life driving skills. Telematics is the field that studies vehicle movement and position data to arrive at actionable insights about driving skills, safety, and vehicle longevity. Companies like Damoov use machine learning to analyze the data to derive such insights. Damoov's APIs have been used by Automakers, Fleet Management Companies, Driving Schools, and Insurance companies to build their smartphone app for telematics. As per Ivan Shornikov, the CEO of Damoov, the promise is immense. " All existing smartphone telematics products are struggling with low driver's engagement. That is a game-changing step for driver engagement and future telematics. The new service unlocks huge opportunities to use crypto to improve safe driving, eco-driving, and driver performance," says Shornikov. " Most Importantly, this engagement feature doesn't require months of development. In as little as 30 mins, you can add crypto earning capabilities to your existing telematics-based apps for safe driving. " So, how does it work? Damoov's proprietary machine learning-based algorithm measures smartphone sensors data and translates it into driving behaviors, vehicle position and other variables to calculate Safe Driving Score, Eco Driving Score, and other performance metrics. These metrics can then be used as input for rewarding drivers as well as vehicle utilization. While such rewarding capabilities were already present in Damoov's telematics suite, the rewards get more real with the new developments. When it comes to Crypto gaming, we are also looking at some exciting possibilities. " We are in talks with Crypto Game Developers as well. We will soon see games where your real-life driving skills are linked to your virtual car and can reward you in the virtual world via crypto tokens," adds Shornikov. Damoov supports any 3rd party tokens launched on Solana or NEAR protocols, so Developers can launch their own tokens and connect them to Damoov platform. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Washington, Damoov has so far raised funding from Alchemist Accelerator and StartaVC. Contact Details Ivan Shornikov PR Contact connect@damoov.com Company Website https://damoov.com

May 25, 2022 07:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Spiceology Launches Two New Spice Blends With Chef Kwame Onwuachi, Bringing His Culinary Roots to Life

Spiceology

Spiceology, the fastest growing spice company in America, today announced its partnership and new product line with Kwame Onwuachi, James Beard award-winning chef and acclaimed author. This launch follows the release of Chef Kwame’s newest book, “ My America: Recipes From a Young Black Chef.” The two new spice blends capture key flavors represented throughout the cookbook and are inspired by the ingredients Onwuachi grew up with and still cooks with to this day. “I don’t remember a time where there wasn’t ‘house spice’ around,” said Chef Kwame Onwuachi, describing his mother’s secret spice blend that seasoned all of the food he grew up eating. “Trying to remember the moment when I was first introduced to house spice is like asking me the first time you had salt - it was just always there. I’m grateful Spiceology was able to help me bring these spice blends to life so that everyone can experience the flavors that sparked my passion for food.” The new blends created by Spiceology and Chef Kwame bring a modern twist to some of Onwuachi’s earliest memories: Kwame’s Mom’s House Spice ($14.95): This all-purpose blend embodies the flavors of Kwame’s mother’s secret recipe. The pairing possibilities are endless with flavor profiles of garlic, onion, black pepper, cayenne, and worcestershire. Intended to be eaten on and in “anything in your house,” Kwame’s Mom’s House Spice pairs with steak, chicken, Cajun food, curries, veggies, and more. Toasted Curry Powder ($14.95): This balance of spices that Onwuachi says “tastes like a symphony” is a combination of Jamaican and Trinadadian curry powders with notes of fenugreek, mustard seed, allspice, turmeric, and coriander. This blend goes beyond traditional curry dishes and can be used on popcorn, pickled veggies, rice dishes, potato salad, and jollof rice. “We’re firm believers in flavor innovation and storytelling with our collaborations and products,” said Chef Tony Reed, Senior Director of Innovation and Partnerships. “Being able to work with Chef Kwame helps us continue to push the needle, bringing his unique flavors to homes and dishes everywhere. These blends offer a complex yet approachable explosion of flavor and a way to experiment with new cuisines.” The blends are available for purchase on Spiceology.com and are available in 9 oz jars. Chef Kwame’s book can be found wherever books are sold. ABOUT SPICEOLOGY Founded in 2013, Spiceology is the fastest-growing spice company in America and is on a mission to bring the magic back to spices, the world’s first currency. The chef-owned and operated, one-stop spice shop develops innovative blends and offers over 400 ingredients that are ground fresh in small-batches and shipped fresh to consumers and chefs. Spiceology’s “experiment with flavor” ethos is not only embraced through excellent ingredients and unique combinations, but also through responsible business practices designed to create a better world with diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of the workforce. Spiceology products can be found on spiceology.com, in specialty retailers and grocers, in restaurants around the US, and as far away as Australia and Dubai. Visit spiceology.com for more information or to place an order, or follow Spiceology on Facebook and Instagram. For recipe inspiration, visit here. ABOUT CHEF KWAME Kwame Onwuachi is a James Beard Award-winning chef and author of the critically acclaimed memoir “Notes from a Young Black Chef,” which is being adapted into a feature film by A24. Kwame’s resume is incomparable as he has been named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs, Esquire Magazine’s 2019 Chef of the Year, and is a 30 Under 30 honoree by both Zagat and Forbes. He was featured on the TIME 100 Next 2019 List and has been named the most important Chef in America by the San Francisco Chronicle. Kwame currently serves as Food & Wine’s executive producer. In this recently-appointed role, Kwame collaborated on big brand moments and events including the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, where he hosted cooking demonstrations and events. He also serves in the new role of Food & Wine’s pro ambassador to the hospitality industry and creator of “The Family Reunion: Presented by Kwame Onwuachi,” an annual multi-day event that takes place in Middleburg, Virginia and celebrates diversity in the hospitality community. In September 2021, Onwuachi hosted the esteemed James Beard Awards in Chicago. Kwame recently released his first-ever cookbook “My America: Recipes from a Young Black Chef,” which is a follow up to his critically acclaimed memoir “Notes from a Young Black Chef.” Contact Details Spiceology Cassidy Levine +1 908-770-7880 cassidy@spiceology.com Company Website https://spiceology.com/

May 24, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Metaverse UGC platform BUD raises $36.8M Series B

BUD

BUD, a metaverse user-generated platform, announces its $36.8M Series B round led by Sequoia Capital India with participation from ClearVue Partners, NetEase and Northern Light Venture Capital. Existing investors GGV Capital, Qiming Venture Partners and Source Code Capital also participated in the round. Founded in 2019 by former Snap engineers, Risa Feng and Shawn Lin, Singapore-headquartered BUD is a leading global metaverse UGC platform encouraging users to create and share 3D interactive experiences with its easy-to-use creation tools. To date, over 15 million 3D experiences and assets have been created on the platform and user-generated 3D assets have been traded more than 150 million times. Since its global launch in November 2021, BUD skyrocketed to the list of top 10 social apps in more than 38 countries around the world including North America, Southeast Asia and South America. With the right mix of technology and art, BUD greatly fulfills Gen Z's desire for entertainment, creation and sharing. It is becoming a preferred platform for Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha to socialize in 3D immersive worlds. In addition to customizing unique avatars, users can also create and explore millions of experiences ranging from hangout places to battle royale games. The mobile-native creation tools require no prior coding knowledge. Without providing any preset 3D templates, BUD allows creators to build 3D experiences from scratch by using geometric modules and interactive props. Apart from adding texts, pictures, music and videos to enrich experiences, lighting and sky-box can be adjusted as well to create an immersive environment. Many aesthetic scenes and interactive experiences in BUD can look like they are created using professional PC software by professionals but they are actually all created by users on their mobile devices.. BUD’s users are young and digital natives, most of whom are teenage girls who likely do not have any coding experience but are creative and love self-expression. BUD is a virtual platform for them to showcase this creativity and get to know others with similar interests. The company intends to use the fresh funding to further develop its creation tools, grow its global user base and roll out web3 products for its metaverse ecosystem. The company has revealed clear plans to launch its own NFT marketplace. "The media of the next era will not be limited to familiar forms like text, pictures or videos, but will turn to more immersive and interactive formats. BUD is such a user-generated platform for the 3D world where everyone, not just hard-core gamers or professionals, has the chance to create and share whatever they want," shared Risa, CEO and co-founder at BUD. Graduated from Cornell with a degree in Computer Science, Risa joined Snapchat’s AR Division in 2017 and worked on frontier Lens experiences prior to founding BUD. "While BUD makes 3D content creation possible for mainstream gen-z consumers, we will continue to bring blockchain to mainstream consumers and allow our creators to truly own and monetize their creations," said Shawn, co-founder at BUD. Prior to founding BUD, Shawn spent three years at Snap, working on its performance optimization, developer framework and user growth. “BUD is establishing itself as a social destination for GenZ while uniquely enabling ownership of content in the metaverse. Millions of users are creating content on BUD and sharing their creations on social media, aiding the inherent virality of the BUD platform. We are impressed by the passion with which the founders have built BUD, and are excited about their future plans for localisation and growth.” Aakash Kapoor, VP, Sequoia India. “The immersive and interactive experience created by BUD users brings happiness to GenZ around the world. We’re excited for the progress BUD has made and look forward to the launch of its new web3 products.” said Jenny Lee, managing partner at GGV Capital. “With the immersive 3D experience of the product and explosive growth among GenZ users around the world, BUD is rapidly growing as a leading UGC platform in the emerging metaverse,” said William Chen, Founding Managing Partner of ClearVue Partners. "We are excited to work with this innovative team and to bring together our resources and experience in the global consumer, media, and entertainment industries.” About BUD BUD is a leading global metaverse UGC platform encouraging users to create and share 3D interactive experiences with its easy-to-use creation tools. Former Snap engineers Risa Feng and Shawn Lin founded BUD in 2019, and have grown the firm into a team of more than 100 people strong. It is expected to reach 200 employees by the end of this year. Headquartered in Singapore, BUD will have localization teams across the world. To date, over 15 million 3D experiences and assets have been created on the platform and user-generated 3D assets have been traded more than 150 million times. Since its global launch in November 2021, BUD skyrocketed to the list of top 10 social apps in more than 38 countries around the world including North America, Southeast Asia and South America. BUD has become a digital social hub where millions of people come to create, play and hangout. Contact Details BUD Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmoood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.joinbudapp.com/

May 23, 2022 02:09 PM Pacific Daylight Time

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ZERO LATENCY PUSHES IMMERSIVE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FORWARD WITH NEXT GENERATION PLATFORM RELEASE, AVAILABLE GLOBALLY NOW

Zero Latency

Zero Latency, the company that introduced the world to free-roam VR, has partnered with tech giant HTC to launch a first-of-its-kind multiplayer immersive entertainment platform. For the first time ever, groups as large as eight can discover Zero Latency’s award-winning experiences with nothing more than a headset – the game-changing HTC VIVE Focus 3. The new platform uses an exclusive remote rendering stack and the latest 6E wireless technology to seamlessly stream 5K VR to up to 8 players simultaneously, delivering up to 16x performance over traditional all-in-one headsets. With no backpack computers, sensors, or other distractions, Zero Latency’s world-first platform offers players the deepest, most effortless immersive experience available today. “With this new partnership, we’re taking a giant leap in the virtual entertainment space,” said Tim Ruse, chief executive officer at Zero Latency. “The evolution to remote rendering and 6E streaming not only improves performance, but removes the need for backpack PCs, cables, and other player distractions–it’s the most streamlined, natural experience yet for both our customers and our operators. Zero Latency has always invested heavily in innovation, and we’re excited to once again push the industry forward in partnership with HTC.” Zero Latency’s new platform is the best way yet to discover Zero Latency’s award-winning library of experiences, including Ubisoft’s AAA exclusive, Far Cry VR; cooperative zombie survival adventure, Undead Arena; mind-bending space mission, Singularity; and the all-action competitive world of Sol Raiders VR eSports. Players can take advantage of Zero Latency’s custom-designed VR gun controller to get in the thick of the action; the company is also investigating the use of hand-tracking in future titles. “Our customers often tell us Zero Latency is the best VR experience they’ve ever had,” said Scott Vandonkelaar, chief technology officer at Zero Latency. “Delivering experiences as deep and interactive as ours has never been possible with an all-in-one headset, so we built our own solution. Remote rendering and 6E wireless streaming means we can deliver our experiences at previously impossible performance levels, with less technology and fewer player distractions than ever. We’re blown away by the results and can’t wait for customers to experience it for themselves.” The new generation of Zero Latency is made possible in part through an exciting partnership with VR technology veterans HTC. “Partnering with Zero Latency to expand customer access to truly immersive virtual entertainment is a massive win for the industry,” said Thomas Dexmier, HTC Vive ANZ - Country Manager. “Bringing the VIVE Focus 3 headset to a company with the size and scale of Zero Latency reduces complicated hardware needs and ensures an interruption-free experience for players worldwide.” The VIVE Focus 3 headset brings a new set of unique capabilities to players, including: An innovative design: The VIVE Focus 3 is the most ergonomic and comfortable VR headset yet with an innovative counterweight design with equivalent front-back balance, perfect for intense, extended gameplay sessions. The new headset suits a wide range of both face shapes and vision types – including those with glasses High-resolution video: The headset features industry-leading 5K resolution (a combined resolution of 4896 x 2448 pixels), a wide 120-degree field of view, and a smooth 90-hertz refresh rate, delivering crisp and natural visuals Immersive sound: Featuring dual microphones with noise cancellation, the headset delivers 3D spatial sound and sound leakage reduction for unparalleled immersion Map sharing and LBE mode: Heavily customized for the location-based entertainment (LBE) industry, the VIVE Focus 3 headset allows users to create boundaries based on the available space and operate accurate co-location tracking to deliver a realistic, free-roaming experience Designed for high-traffic venues: Made with durable materials, the VIVE Focus 3 delivers long-lasting VR performance with its swappable battery, dramatically reducing the operational complexity in the venues. The headset is easy to clean with its magnetic cushions. And in an effort to optimize the customer turnaround, HTC’s patented quick-release button allows users to easily put on the headset to start playing without delays. For more information about Zero Latency, go to https://zerolatencyvr.com/. ### ABOUT ZERO LATENCY: Zero Latency is a global leader in immersive entertainment, working at the cutting edge of VR and location-based experiences. With 57 venues across 26 countries, Zero Latency is the largest free-roam VR network in the world. Since opening the world’s first free-roam VR venue in 2015, Zero Latency has thrilled more than 2 million players worldwide. Over the past year alone the company has seen a 124% jump in games played within the U.S. and 288% growth globally. Zero Latency is continuously innovating to raise the bar for customers, owners, and operators. Other first include: Partnering with Microsoft in 2019 to develop “inside out” tracking technology Launching Sol Raiders in 2019, the world’s first free-roam eSports game Releasing the AAA exclusive Far Cry VR experience alongside Ubisoft in 2021 SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Instagram and TikTok: @zerolatencyvr LinkedIn: Zero Latency VR Contact Details Jive PR + Digital Ashley Areeda +1 734-891-4013 aareeda@jiveprdigital.com Company Website https://zerolatencyvr.com/

May 19, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Play Globally Inc. Welcomes Stephen Crystal to its Advisory Board and Partners with SCCG Management

Play Globally

Play Globally, Inc., a worldwide provider of free-to-play gaming innovations, today proudly announced the appointment of Stephen Crystal to its advisory board as well as a new partnership with Crystal’s firm, SCCG Management. This partnership brings additional expertise in sports betting, iGaming, sports team marketing, affiliate marketing, intellectual property protection, product commercialization, esports, capital formation, M&A, joint ventures, casino management and legal affairs in the casino and iGaming industry. Crystal will join veteran Advisory Board members Susan Hensel and Victor Pronk, providing over 75 years of collective experience across the sports betting and iGaming space. These globally recognized leaders provide high-value strategic prowess to Play Globally’s seasoned executive team as the company prepares to launch its LuckyFans prototype. LuckyFans drives live and recorded in-play sports data into a poker engine to determine the outcome of a fast-paced poker game. LuckyFans is free-to-play and leverages advanced machine learning and GPS technology for contextual fan engagement, sweepstakes, and prizes. SCCG was founded by Stephen Crystal who has served as President/CEO of multiple casino holding and public gaming companies. SCCG brings a vast international network of strategic client partners including top sportsbooks and racebooks, sports and racing leagues, fantasy sports and rewards entities, communications and marketing platforms, authentication technology and casino entities. Crystal has worked as an investor and advisor on financial and M&A projects totaling over $4B and served as the President, owner and operator of four major Las Vegas casinos. In addition to Crystal, the SCCG team also includes David Hanlon who served as a C-level executive at gaming giants Caesars World, Inc., Harrah’s, the Rio, and IGT in addition to serving as an Advisor to the Wharton Entrepreneurial Program. Pierre Cadena also plays a key role on the SCCG team, having helped to position Playtika, Otter Media and Crunchyroll for acquisition, each totaling over $1B. During his tenure at Caesars Interactive Entertainment as the VP of Strategy and Corporate Development, Pierre helped build Playtika, one of the world’s largest social mobile games. “The addition of Stephen to the Play Globally Advisory Board and the addition of his SCCG team to Play Globally’s team provides our company with a wealth of expertise in our space,” says Play Globally’s President/CEO Stephen Dunham. “We’re excited to partner with such well-respected industry leaders and to join their global network of strategic partners.” “Play Globally’s ingenuity and strategic role in the sports betting space presents a unique opportunity for leagues, teams, fans, and aligned entities worldwide,” says Stephen Crystal. “The combination of Play Globally’s existing intellectual property, their executive and advisory team, new upcoming technologies, and strategic positioning in the industry, particularly when combined with SCCG’s extensive network and capabilities, makes this opportunity particularly exciting.” About Play Globally, Inc. Play Globally, Inc. is a developer of innovative free-to-play games that utilize live, real-time in-play sports and racing data to determine the results of a live poker game. The company’s LuckyFans product line is scheduled for release in 2022 for a variety of professional sports and racing contests, providing users the opportunity to win real money sweepstakes prizes. LuckyFans is legal in all 50 states and most jurisdictions around the world. About SCCG Management SCCG Management is a consultancy that specializes in sports betting, iGaming, sports marketing, affiliate marketing, technology, intellectual property protection, product commercialization, esports, capital formation, M&A, joint ventures, casino management, and governmental and legal affairs for the casino and iGaming industry. Contact Details Alex shapiro +1 732-770-9395 ashapiro@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://www.playglobally.com/

May 19, 2022 09:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Retention Cloud Leader CleverTap Acquires Leanplum

CleverTap

CleverTap, the world’s No.1 retention cloud, today announced it has signed definitive agreements to fully acquire San Francisco based Leanplum, a leading multi-channel customer engagement platform, for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition will make CleverTap a truly global company with development centers and customer-facing and success teams across North America, Europe, Latin America, India, South East Asia and the Middle East. Combining the product stack of the two organizations, this acquisition will enhance CleverTap’s capabilities and take its total customer base to over 1200 customers in more than 100 countries around the world. The deal is expected to close in Q2 of 2022. Together CleverTap and Leanplum will work with digital brands to help increase their users’ engagement, retention and lifetime value by making every user experience hyper-personalized, relevant and contextual at scale in real time. As more businesses become digital-first, brands need to serve their users with delightful moments where they are, when they want and on their preferred channel. CleverTap and Leanplum will now bring real-time hyper-personalization, A/B testing and increased scalability to its omnichannel engagement, analytics and segmentation product lines. As a result, growth and marketing teams globally will now be able to utilize the only end-to-end user engagement and retention cloud platform, enabling them to break down user communication silos and increase the overall lifetime value of each user. “We are seeing a seismic shift in the marketing technology landscape,” says Sunil Thomas, CleverTap Co-founder and Executive Chairman. “Users today demand to be treated as individuals, and this has forced brands to change how they engage with them. CleverTap and Leanplum have both purposely built for a mobile-centric omnichannel world.” The acquisition, he says, combines platforms and teams to deliver the best behavior analytics, segmentation, and engagement tools that will enable digital brands to build valuable, long-term relationships with their users. “Our combined strength will be a game-changing force for user engagement, retention and monetization, creating tremendous value for our customers. I am very excited to welcome Leanplum to the CleverTap family.” “When we started Leanplum, our vision was to meet customers' real-time needs at the cutting edge of technology,” says Momchil Kyurkchiev, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Leanplum. “We have succeeded in that, but as the market has matured, to fully meet the increasing demands put on brands today, we needed to bring in the best analytics, segmentation, and engagement tools, to help our customers build valuable, long-term relationships with their customers. This is why joining forces with CleverTap makes the most sense, and I am excited about the combined capabilities we will now bring to Leanplum customers worldwide.” “I am looking forward to the journey with Leanplum. This coming together with Leanplum marks a monumental moment across the marketing technology landscape,” says Sidharth Malik, CleverTap Chief Executive Officer. “This bridges the gap created by multiple martech tools and customer data platforms and will meet the growing needs of user-obsessed digital brands in a much more efficient way. Our ‘better together’ vision is about integrating our cumulative strengths around people, process and technology to cement our position as the global leader in the user engagement and retention space. Joining forces allows us to bring advanced product and technology capabilities as brands strive to do live segmentation, anticipate user intentions and actions, automate and deploy real-time campaigns for the highest possible conversions, all from one single dashboard.” About CleverTap CleverTap is the modern, integrated retention cloud that empowers digital consumer brands to increase customer retention and lifetime value. For brands that understand and value user retention, CleverTap drives context and individualization with the help of a unified and deep data layer, AI/ML powered insights and automation. Customers around the world representing over 10,000 apps, including Vodafone Idea, SonyLIV, Daimler, Gojek, Carousell, and Premier League, trust CleverTap to achieve their retention and engagement goals, growing their long term revenue. Backed by leading venture capital firms including Sequoia India, Tiger Global Management, and Accel, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in Mumbai, Singapore, and Dubai. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. 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/

May 19, 2022 08:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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