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MISSOURI GOP LEGISLATOR URGED BY PHYSICIAN & PATIENT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS TO ABANDON PLAN TO THWART PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER ACCOUNTABILITY

Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions

Today the Alliance for Transparent and Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP) released a letter sent on behalf of its membership to Eric Burlison, a Missouri State Senator requesting he abandon a plan to allow the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry continue its abusive practices and jeopardize patients. Following up on information that Senator Burlison is planning to filibuster legislation including HB 834 and its companion bill SB 403 this week, concerns in the medical and patient advocacy community are growing – and many are voicing major concerns. “If successful, Senator Burlison’s filibuster will eliminate accountability on the PBM industry and place upward pressure on prescription drug pricing,” stated Dr. Robert Levin, ATAP President. “For far too long, PBMs generated significant profits while patients struggle to afford the cost of prescription drugs. It is time that elected officials and policymakers see what is really happening in our exam rooms and our patient’s wallets due to PBM interference.” ATAP has been an active advocate for patients in a variety of federal and state battles to amplify the voices of patients and physicians. The letter to Senator Burlison states, in part: “…the Trump administration proposed a rule through Health and Human Services (HHS), that would have eliminated the safe harbor that protects PBM rebates from the federal anti-kickback statute. This awesome proposal would have effectively eliminated the PBM rebate system… Regrettably, the new administration withdrew this essential patient protection. States can play a central role to ensure that patients are still protected from abusive PBM practices…” “A light is finally shining on the previously hidden profit motives of the PBM industry. Patients, physicians, and policymakers in Missouri have the power to effect meaningful change if Senator Burlison allows this legislation to be considered fairly,” Dr. Levin continued. “More transparency is desperately needed in the PBM industry, and this legislation provides it. It is truly a mystery why any elected official would prevent such accountability and stand in the way of fair drug prices and patient access to care.” The full letter to Senator Burlison is below and posted here. The Honorable Eric Burlison 201 W Capitol Ave., Rm. 221 Jefferson City, Missouri 65101 RE:MO HB 834 and SB 403 – Pharmacy Benefit Managers Reporting/Transparency Dear Senator Burlison: We are saddened and dismayed to learn of your recent stance regarding Missouri HB 834. We are painfully aware of a planned filibuster to MO HB 834 and its companion bill SB 403. As you may be aware, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are third-party entities that are hired by insurers and health plan sponsors to manage and administer prescription drug benefit plans. We are very concerned about the role PBMs play regarding the alarming price increases in the total cost and out of pocket costs of prescription drugs for patients, resulting in the loss of patient access to affordable and life-saving medications. HB 834 will help remedy many of these practices by: Ensuring oversight of PBMs by the Dir. of the MO Dept of Commerce and Insurance; Allowing for penalties for violations of this statute; Providing for reporting of rebates received by PBMs, including – where the rebates are being applied, and reporting of yearly aggregated rebate dollar amounts received; and Providing for freedom of choice for patients to choose their pharmacy As you may know, the Trump administration proposed a rule through Health and Human Services (HHS), that would have eliminated the safe harbor that protects PBM rebates from the federal anti-kickback statute. This awesome proposal would have effectively eliminated the PBM rebate system. Regrettably, the new administration withdrew this essential patient protection. States can play a central role to ensure that patients are still protected from abusive PBM practices. We ask that you help ensure that our patients and your constituents have affordable access to the medications which they so desperately need, by supporting MO HB 834 and its companion bill SB 403. Sincerely, The Alliance for Transparent and Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP) Member Organization ### ATAP continues to support efforts to force the PBM industry to disclose rebate data and encourage transparency and reporting requirements for all entities involved in the prescription drug supply chain – PBMs, insurers, and manufacturers. To schedule an interview with Dr. Levin or another ATAP spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene of kglobal at 202-329-8357. Please visit http://www.atapadvocates.com ATAP's mission is to address prescription drugs costs and patient access to affordable treatment by regulating PBM practices and reforming the drug industry through educational outreach and grassroots advocacy initiatives at both the state and federal level. Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website http://www.atapadvocates.com

May 12, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video On Demand Technology Provider Intelivideo and CIPIO Partner to Increase Customer Retention in the Hybrid B2C Subscription Economy

CIPIO.ai

CIPIO, a B2C Subscription Customer Success company, today announced the start of a strategic partnership with Intelivideo, a Video on Demand (VOD) and Livestreaming digital platform provider for gyms, health clubs, and fitness operators. The partnership empowers Intelivideo’s customers with unmatched visibility and actionable intelligence into subscriber behavior, helping them increase subscriber engagement while proactively preventing churn. The partnership will enable Intelivideo’s customers to acquire a competitive advantage in the rapidly transforming fitness market, fighting its way through the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic. In today’s fitness market, where 76% of all consumers have had to switch to at-home workouts to accommodate the constraints of social distancing, Intelivideo has helped brick-and-mortar gyms and health clubs rapidly transform themselves to serve the needs of customers, in the process solidifying its role as a frontrunner in the digital fitness space. “Our customers have a significant amount of data and customer signals. CIPIO's capability to package those signals up in Data Apps with hyper-personalized predictions and recommendations for the digital subscriber is a game-changer” said Adam Zietsiff, President and CEO of Intelivideo. “We are very excited to partner with CIPIO to help our customers grow exponentially by providing them with predictive recommendations to proactively prevent subscriber churn – thus closing out a critical loop when it comes to retaining subscriptions.” To move beyond the BI and AI status quo, health club operators need solutions that help them deliver real business value instead of getting them stalled by technology and implementation hurdles. CIPIO eliminates all the bottlenecks from Data to ROI, thus accelerating time to value for businesses. With over two million subscriber churn-specific algorithms and nearly code-free building blocks, CIPIO’s Data Apps use AI to unify all the siloed data lifecycle steps, operationalize automated workflows, and recommend insights directly into engagement systems. This empowers fitness stakeholders and non-technical users across levels to rapidly uncover trends and engagement patterns and make timely decisions to delight subscribers across all channels and devices consistently. “Following the pandemic, health and fitness are more important to consumers than ever before. We are obsessed with helping fitness operators with the critical task of serving the health and wellness crises that the COVID pandemic has created,” said Growson Edwards, CEO of CIPIO. “CIPIO’s Domain-Infused Data Apps Platform™ arms health club operators with unprecedented customer intelligence aimed at enhancing subscriber engagement and retention for continued growth.” CIPIO’s entry into the OTT market could not have happened at a better time when the segment is witnessing skyrocketing demand for media and entertainment, virtual fitness, elearning, and gaming. CIPIO’s Domain-Infused Data Apps helps OTT players manage subscription fatigue and offers incentivized retention recommendations to increase member loyalty and minimize churn. About Intelivideo: Established in 2013, Intelivideo is a Video On Demand (VOD) and digital technology platform for gyms and health clubs. Intelivideo is committed to developing strong partnerships with the fitness industry to help deliver premium on-demand and livestreaming experiences to clients' member bases. The platform's end-to-end solution helps clubs build a successful Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) business to complement brick-and-mortar facilities and services, helping them differentiate themselves from disruptive third-party digital fitness offerings in a hyper-local, hybrid fashion. About CIPIO: CIPIO is pioneering the Industry's first domain-infused Data Apps Platformâ¢ that humanizes and automates predictions and recommendations to increase Subscriber engagement, retention, and growth for B2C Subscription Companies. CIPIO's early adopters include Crunch Fitness, Industry's Gym, Xponential Fitness, Motor City Church, Pure Barre, Club Pilates, AKT, YogaSix, NCFit, Cyclebar, RowHouse, Stretch Lab, and Stride who have witnessed a significant return on investment in a short time. Contact Details CIPIO Chris Foudy +1 831-238-1905 chris@cipio.ai Company Website https://cipio.ai/

May 12, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

LevLane Announces Hiring of Chief Talent Officer, Adam Heagy

LevLane

LevLane announced today that it has hired Adam Heagy as its new Chief Talent Officer. Heagy is an experienced leader in HR and talent acquisition and development, and a veteran of the advertising talent world. Prior to joining LevLane, Heagy was President of Interactive Recruiting Consultants for nearly 10 years where he led all recruiting and talent efforts. “We’ve worked with Adam for years as our contract recruiter and he’s always been a true partner, providing reliable guidance and sending us fantastic talent,” said Josh Lev, SVP Brand Engagement at LevLane. “It was a natural fit to bring Adam into the LevLane family full-time to help us find the best talent for our future growth.” While at Interactive Recruiting Consultants, Heagy worked with a wide range of advertising and marketing agencies to source and recruit top talent. “LevLane has a phenomenal culture that is truly unique in the advertising world, said Heagy. “So, when the opportunity arose to join the team full-time, it was a no-brainer. I’m excited to be part of such a talented team and can’t wait to find that next generation of LevLane talent.” Heagy will be responsible for all talent acquisition and will head up the Human Resources Department, reporting to Chief Financial Officer, Nicole Landau. --- About LevLane LevLane is an award-winning, full-service, independent advertising agency in Philadelphia, PA that has been building brands people love for nearly 40 years. Contact Details LevLane Liz Weir +1 610-401-4825 lweir@levlane.com Company Website https://www.levlane.com

May 12, 2021 07:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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GROUNDWORK BIOAG RAISES $11 MILLION TO ADVANCE BIOAGRICULTURE GLOBALLY

Groundwork BioAg

Accelerating Production Capacity to Meet Demand for Regenerative Agriculture Products Serving One Million Acres (400 KHa) in 2021 Groundwork BioAg announced today it raised $11 million in venture capital financing led by Ibex Investors with the participation of ProDelta and Future Foodways. Previous investors, including MoreVC, Middleland Capital, Axess Ventures and BPD Agri, materially participated in the round. With this new funding, Groundwork BioAg will accelerate and expand production of its mycorrhizal platform to meet global demand for natural, sustainable solutions that increase agricultural productivity while preserving soil health. Groundwork BioAg, a global bioagriculture technology company, produces highly effective mycorrhizal inoculants. Mycorrhizae are a cornerstone of regenerative agriculture best practices. In addition to increasing yields, these natural products reduce dependency on phosphorus fertilizer and improve carbon sequestration in soil. Through distribution partnerships in strategic markets across five continents, the company is helping farmers improve the efficiency of major crop production, including corn, soybeans, grains, bio-energy crops, fruits and vegetables, and cannabis. “Over the past few years, we have focused on building production capacity to support millions of hectares and solidify our global presence in the main agricultural markets. With this investment and strong sales, we will be able to fulfill our mission to bring mycorrhiza – the queen of biologicals – to mainstream agriculture and help farmers succeed while protecting our planet,” said Dr. Yossi Kofman, Co-Founder and CEO of Groundwork BioAg. “We look forward to working with our investors, strategic partners and distributors to continue bringing meaningful value to farmers around the world.” While naturally occurring in the Earth’s soil, mycorrhizae and other beneficial microbes have been destroyed by modern farming practices, including tilling, pasteurization and over fertilization. Following years of research and product development, Groundwork BioAg is the first to crack the code on mass production of highly concentrated, cost-effective mycorrhizal inoculants that improve yield and soil health. The company’s flagship products include Rootella® for commodity, organic and specialty crops, and DYNOMYCO® for cannabis. Following record sales in both the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons, the company is rapidly scaling up production to meet demand expected in 2022 and beyond. Approximately one million acres (400 Kha) will benefit from the company’s unique products in 2021. Disruptive Technology VC Chooses Groundwork BioAg As First Investment in AgTech “We are pleased to add Groundwork BioAg to our portfolio – not only because of its strong in-field performance and continued growth trajectory, but also because its technology provides the most compelling solution to increase yield while protecting our environment,” said Gal Gitter, Managing Director of Ibex Investors focused on growth stage investments. “With its high efficacy and broad applicability, Groundwork BioAg can feasibly treat over one billion hectares, nearly all of the world’s farmland, with these beneficial fungi.” Headquartered in Denver, Colorado with offices in Tel Aviv and New York, Ibex Investors is a multi-strategy investment firm targeting outsized returns through differentiated global strategies. Ibex invests internationally in Israel, which has the highest concentration of start-up companies outside Silicon Valley. The funding demonstrates Groundwork BioAg’s strong growth position and enables efforts to expand its platform technology and accelerate production capacity to meet global demand for regenerative agriculture products. About Groundwork BioAg Groundwork BioAg, a global bioagriculture company, leverages the natural power of mycorrhizal fungi to improve the productivity, sustainability and profitability of commercial agriculture and expand regenerative agriculture practices. Groundwork BioAg is the first to use innovative techniques to solve challenges inherent in high-volume mycorrhizal inoculant production. We will not rest until every hectare of arable land is protected by mycorrhizae and every farmer benefits from higher crop yields while preserving our soils. For more information, visit http://www.groundworkbioag.com Contact Details AgTech PR for Groundwork BioAg Jennifer Goldston +1 816-260-0040 jennifer@agtechpr.com Company Website https://www.groundworkbioag.com

May 12, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

EDUCATORS CAN FOSTER TRUST IN SCIENCE THROUGH GLOBAL PLEDGE

International Day of Light Steering Committee

For more than a year, educators worldwide have been forced to transform the way they teach. However, advancements in science, specifically telecommunications, enabled the shift from a traditional classroom to remote learning environments. Today, scientific developments, including health advancements such as vaccines and testing, are allowing students to return to physical classrooms. The Trust Science pledge, a worldwide campaign to promote support for the scientific process and acknowledge the many benefits of science for society, offers a valuable teaching tool to help educators draw attention to the crucial role science plays in improving our quality of life. In celebration of this year’s International Day of Light on 16 May, the pledge is allowing people, particularly educators and students, around the world to affirm their support for science and the scientific process. Students can be leaders in understanding and defending science. Just as educators teach skills that build students’ scientific literacy to help them evaluate facts, they can offer ways for students to affirm confidence in the scientific process. “A dedicated effort to building—and in some cases, rebuilding—trust in science will prepare students to be the scientifically informed leaders we desperately need,” said Dr. Desiré Whitmore, Senior Physics Educator and Staff Physicist at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, CA. Additional resources for educators are available on the Trust Science website, including hands-on activity videos, lesson plans, posters to download, activities and lessons, links to online resources and the Laser Classroom. To date, the pledge has seen enthusiastic support worldwide with more than 2,500 signatures, including Nobel and Breakthrough Prize laureates, UNESCO L’Oréal For Women in Science prize winners, Presidents and CEOs of major scientific bodies, as well as scientists and students from more than 20 different countries. The Trust Science campaign is organized by the IEEE Photonics Society, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and The Optical Society (OSA), together with the International Day of Light Steering Committee. To sign the pledge and to learn more, please go to https://www.trust-science.org Contacts For questions about how you can engage with the campaign, please contact: info@trust-science.org For media inquiries, please contact: pr@trust-science.org Social media: please share using #TrustScience and #LightDay2021 Social media links: Facebook; Instagram; Twitter About the International Day of Light The International Day of Light (IDL) is a worldwide initiative that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications and energy. The International Day of Light is administered from the International Basic Science Programme (IBSP) of UNESCO by a Steering Committee that includes representatives from a broad range of international partners: the American Institute of Physics (AIP), the American Physical Society (APS), Bosca, the China International Optoelectronic Exhibition (CIOE), Chinese Optical Society (COS), the European Centres for Outreach in Photonics (ECOP), the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), the European Physical Society (EPS), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the IEEE Photonics Society (IPS), the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), lightsources.org - the international network of accelerator based light sources, Light: Science and Applications, The Optical Society (OSA), Tampere University, SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, SESAME, Signify, Tampere University, Thorlabs, Transitions, the Université de Franche-Comté and Velux. For information about the International Day of Light, please visit www.lightday.org Contacts for IDL: John Dudley and Joseph Niemela 2021 Steering Committee Chairs Email: contact@lightday.org Bethany Downer 2021 Communications Coordinator Email: contact@lightday.org Media Contact for Trust Science: pr@trust-science.org About IEEE Photonics Society The IEEE Photonics Society is the professional home for a global network of scientists, engineers and allied professionals who advance laser, optoelectronics, and photonics technology. As a technical society representing the IEEE, it is a vital part of the world’s largest technical professional organization of more than 400,000 members dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, educational activities, and humanitarian initiatives, the IEEE Photonics Society provides its members in more than 160 countries the opportunity to grow professionally and stay on the forefront of transformational breakthroughs in photonics. PhotonicsSociety.org About SPIE SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, was founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. Serving more than 255,000 constituents from 183 countries, the not-for-profit society advances emerging technologies through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, patent precedent, and career and professional growth. SPIE annually organizes and sponsors approximately 25 major technical forums, exhibitions, and education programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. In 2020, SPIE provided more than $5 million in support of education and outreach programs. www.spie.org About The Optical Society Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders in light science and technology. The society serves over 432,000 customers and 22,000 members from more than 100 countries who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the field. OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts through world-renowned publications. For more information, visit osa.org. Contact Details pr@trust-science.org +1 703-907-0010 pr@trust-science.org Company Website https://www.trust-science.org

May 11, 2021 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

LevLane Advertising Appoints Nicole Landau as Chief Financial Officer

LevLane

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LevLane Advertising, a full-service advertising agency and 37-year veteran of the Philadelphia marketing scene, announced today the addition of Nicole Landau as its new CFO. Landau will oversee all agency financial functions and will serve as a key member of the executive team. Landau is a seasoned business executive with over 20 years of experience in senior financial leadership roles. Before LevLane, Landau served as Chief Financial at Seven C’s Hospitality Solutions, where she oversaw all finance and accounting operations. She began her career at Arthur Andersen before joining Digitas Health as Senior Finance Manager, followed by a decade-long stint as VP of Finance at DiD Agency. “Nicole’s background in financial leadership and operations was a perfect fit for us,” said Josh Lev, SVP Brand Engagement at LevLane. “She is exactly who we need in this role to help us reach the next level.” The agency has expanded services in recent years and is ready to capitalize on that momentum – something Landau will be integral in. “I’m thrilled to be part of the LevLane family. They have already done the hard work of building a unique culture and a stellar reputation in the advertising world,” said Landau. “I'm excited to continue that mission and I'm confident that together we can create the right financial structure to drive consistent growth." About LevLane LevLane is an award-winning, full-service, independent advertising agency in Philadelphia, PA that has been building brands that people love for nearly 40 years. Contact Details LevLane Liz Weir, SVP of Content, Social Media and PR +1 610-401-4825 lweir@levlane.com Company Website https://www.levlane.com

May 11, 2021 07:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Kadimastem Announces Publication in Frontiers in Endocrinology of a Peer-Reviewed Article Demonstrating Advancement in the Company’s Technology to Treat Diabetes

Kadimastem

Kadimastem (TASE: KDST), a clinical stage biotechnology company announced today that the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Endocrinology has published an article in a focused issue on advances in stem cell technology to model and treat diabetes (click here to access the full article). The article describes the results of collaborative research conducted by Kadimastem’s R&D team in concert with scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science. The article details the important milestones achieved thus far in the pre-clinical development of Kadimastem’s diabetes product, IsletRx, and their translation to clinical application. IsletRx is composed of clinical grade pancreatic islet cells which produce and secrete insulin and glucagon in response to blood glucose levels. Using micro-encapsulation technology, integrated within IsletRx, the islet cells are protected from an attack response by the host immune system. The article details the advantages of Kadimastem’s novel selection and purification process technology currently utilized in the production of IsletRx. By employing Functional Cell-Capture Screening (FCCS) technology, the scientists identified unique signature cell-surface markers that enable them to select and enrich the IsletRx product with a population of highly effective cells. The selection process also eliminates cells that may not be necessary for function, and even may impair the efficacy and/or the safety of the transplanted cells. These results position IsletRx as a potential cure for many insulin dependent diabetes patients. Kadimastem has renewed its focus on the advances in its diabetes project and its strategic positioning among other leading cell therapy companies worldwide. The Company’s technology is singular in its ability to refine the composition of Islet cells differentiated from hPSC by negative selection to remove un-needed cells and positive selection for selecting highly functional insulin producing cells to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect. “The implications of this proprietary technology developed by our team and the WIS scientists, could be tremendously important in developing effective therapies for hundreds of millions of people living with diabetes,” said Asaf Shiloni, Chief Executive Officer of Kadimastem. “We are immensely proud of the work of our scientific team, led by Kadimastem Chief Scientist and Israel Prize winner Professor Michel Revel. His vision guides the research presented in this important article and the work provides a solid foundation to continue advancing Kadimastem’s mission to develop and provide a cell therapy cure for diabetes.” Dr. Kfir Molakandov, head of Kadimastem’s diabetes cell therapy program said, “The research results published in Frontiers in Endocrinology will enable an improved and safer cell therapy product development. We have managed to demonstrate that we have the capability to manufacture the islets in a good, reproducible way and our proof-of-concept studies show that treatment with IsletRx is capable of ameliorating glycaemia in diabetic animals for a prolonged period of time.” Social Media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Company Contacts: Asaf Shiloni CEO info@kadimastem.com Press Contact: Marjie Hadad General Manager Must Have Communications 917-790-1178 marjie@mhc-pr.com About Kadimastem: Kadimastem is a clinical stage cell therapy company, developing and manufacturing "off-the-shelf", allogeneic, proprietary cell products based on its technology platform for the expansion and differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) into functional cells. AstroRx®, the Company's lead product, is an astrocyte cell therapy in clinical development as a treatment for ALS. IsletRx is the Company's second product in development. IsletRx is comprised of functional pancreatic islet cells intended to treat patients with insulin dependent diabetes. IsletRx demonstrated safety and efficacy in a proof-of-concept preclinical study. Kadimastem was founded by Professor Michel Revel, CSO of the Company and Professor Emeritus of Molecular Genetics at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Professor Revel received the Israel Prize for the invention and development of Rebif®, a multiple sclerosis blockbuster drug sold worldwide. Kadimastem is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: KDST). Forward Looking Statement: This document may include forward-looking information as defined in the Securities Law, 5728 – 1968. Forward-looking information is uncertain and mostly is not under the Company's control and the realization or non-realization of forward-looking information will be affected, among other things, by the risk factors characterizing the Company's activity, as well as developments in the general environment and external factors affecting the Company's activity. The Company's results and achievements in the future may differ materially from any presented herein and the Company makes no undertaking to update or revise such projection or estimate and does not undertake to update this document. This document does not constitute a proposal to purchase the Company's securities or an invitation to receive such offers. Investment in securities in general and in the Company in particular bears risks. One should consider that past performance does not necessarily indicate performance in the future. Contact Details Asaf Shiloni +972 73-797-1613 a.shiloni@kadimastem.com Company Website https://www.kadimastem.com/

May 11, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Graphic novel tackles disinformation around COVID-19 Vaccine and critical 5G infrastructure

Stockwood Strategy

Sophisticated social media campaigns sponsored by bad state actors are responsible for creating and spreading disinformation around the critical Covid-19 Vaccine and emerging infrastructure such as 5G technology for communications. Erly Stage Studios has today published Bug Bytes, the digital graphic novel, which sheds a light on the disruptive forces at work. This book is the second installment of the graphic novels that are a part of the Resilience Series commissioned by the US Cyber Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA). Bug Bytes will inform and educate people on the dangers and risks associated with dis- and mis- information through fictional stories inspired by real-world events. In Bug Bytes, readers will meet the protagonist Ava Williams, a journalist and academic, patriot and member of Symous - a group fighting disinformation and foreign interference in elections as polling day approaches. Ava’s life gets tangled up in a web of lies as her father, a 5G technician gets hurt and she works to understand what a seemingly innocent poll online related to 5G technology has to do with the 5G Vaccine? Ava is surprised by the reaction of the anti-vaccination community at what is proven to be engineered data and has the unenviable task of making the case to the public at large for how they can be weary on data online with unproven provenance. Farid Haque, founder and CEO of Erly Stage Studios commented: “We’re delighted to have been commissioned by CISA to create a practical and engaging communication tool that highlights the existential threat of disinformation in the context of bad state actors. While the story is fictional many of the approaches shown are very much grounded in the reality of the technology we live with and are exposed to almost daily.” Bug Bytes provides a unique education for the reader about the world of social media and how digital resources can be hijacked to serve a more nefarious agenda. The ability for foreign bad state actors to weld this kind of influence on another nation is unprecedented as is their ability to twist and manipulate a narrative to use domestic groups to do their bidding. The work helps the reader understand the need to exercise care when it comes to consuming news and information via social media platforms and online sources of information. In the story, Ava Williams and a team of patriots are racing against the clock to shine a spotlight on the source of disinformation engineered to hurt critical communication infrastructure and damage the Vaccine roll-out efforts. Ava’s investigative journalism leads her through the metaverse to find allies and discovers through hard graft that foreign actors are tinkering with public data to maliciously mislead and influence perceptions of 5G as a communications technology and its fabricated link to vaccine effectiveness. “Bug Bytes is the culmination of the wealth of experience that Clint Watts brings in cyber warfare and disinformation and our studio’s creative direction and storytelling style. We spent months researching the real life incidents and then wrapped them into a fictional story” added Farid Haque. The graphic novel is being made available by CISA to the general public online as a free resource as the Covid19 vaccine roll out continues to have an impact across the United States and the world at large. The work is available for free for the public and media to read at the following URL: https://www.cisa.gov/cfi-resilience-series-graphic-novels. A first title in the series was released a few months earlier last year ahead of the US elections titled Real Fakes. Watch this space and log back into https://publishing.erlystagestudios.com/ to learn more. Contributing artists to Bug Bytes include: Jose Niño Galenzoga, Patricia Beja, Mona Shan and Joel Santiago. Lettering and layouts by Komal N. and Haroon M. Story by Clint Watts and Farid Haque, supported by the script writing team which includes Michael Gianfrancesco and Kabir Sabharwal. Edited by Tolly M. and Laila Khan. Special thanks to Randall Heather and Max Brooks. Erly Stage Studios is an indie publisher, headquartered out of London, United Kingdom, capturing iconic stories in serious graphic novels. We are an expert team of educators, storytellers, and artists working to create awareness about important topics using the graphic novel medium. The team loves shining a spotlight on stories that are yet to see the light of graphic novels. As an expert team of teachers, researchers and designers the team works with innovative organisations and policymakers around the world to deliver soft power through engaging and creative projects. Contact Details Erly Stage Studios Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://publishing.erlystagestudios.com/

May 06, 2021 05:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Shreesha Ramdas to join CIPIO’s Advisory Board to hyper accelerate growth

CIPIO.ai

CIPIO, a B2C Subscription Success company, today announced that Shreesha Ramdas has joined its board of advisors. Ramdas currently serves as SVP and GM for Medallia-owned Strikedeck – a powerful customer success automation solution. Prior to Medallia, Ramdas co-founded Leadformix, a marketing automation platform acquired by CallidusCloud in 2012. A seasoned entrepreneurial executive with a proven track record of launching and rapidly scaling automation solutions for customer success and marketing, Ramdas is constantly on the lookout for the “next big thing” in the customer engagement world – an attitude that led him to join CIPIO’s advisory board. Customer churn is a rampant reality in the B2C Subscription industry, given how easy it is for customers to downgrade, switch, or cancel service providers in a matter of just a few clicks. Industry study suggests that 96% of B2C Subscription businesses believe their customers churn for reasons that could have been prevented, managed, or fixed. Post Covid, Net Revenue Retention (NRR), and Customer Retention have become strategic priorities for B2C Subscription companies and will continue to become table stakes over time. According to Bain and Company, increasing customer retention rates by just 5% increases 25% profits for B2C Subscription companies. “In a world where the bar for customer engagement keeps going higher, I love how CIPIO is redefining customer retention - making it actionable, easy and impactful for B2C Subscription companies through its Data Apps,” said Ramdas. “The SaaS landscape continues to explode with solutions, yet there are literally very few solutions solving NRR and Customer Retention for the B2C Subscription companies. With its code-free Enterprise AI and Domain-Infused Data Apps Platform™, CIPIO offers the precise action to drive measurable results for B2C Subscription companies.” With the B2C Subscription Economy expected to be valued at a whopping $478 billion by 2025, it is surprising that the industry’s churn rate is two times that of the B2B SaaS Economy. CIPIO’s Domain-Infused Data Apps Platform™ aims to tip this balance back and level the playing field. “I’m ecstatic to have Shreesha onboard as we move full-speed into our next phase of growth and innovation. The hybrid economy is here, and you can no longer hope to just focus on acquisition as it costs five times as much to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one,” said Growson Edwards, Co-Founder, and CEO of CIPIO. “Our mission is to enable B2C Subscription companies to proactively prevent churn and achieve higher Net Retention Rate for consistent growth. Shreesha’s obsession and tremendous experience in launching customer success solutions and product experience will accelerate our product innovation yielding higher returns for our customers.” About CIPIO CIPIO is pioneering the Industry's first domain-infused Data Apps Platform™ that humanizes and automates predictions and recommendations to increase Subscriber engagement, retention, and growth for B2C Subscription Companies. CIPIO's early adopters include Crunch Fitness, Industry's Gym, Xponential Fitness, Motor City Church, Pure Barre, Club Pilates, AKT, YogaSix, NCFit, Cyclebar, RowHouse, Stretch Lab, and Stride who have witnessed a significant return on investment in a short time. Contact Details CIPIO Chris Foudy +1 831-238-1905 chris@cipio.ai Company Website https://cipio.ai/

May 04, 2021 02:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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