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ShowStoppers to introduce journalists to 20 startups from Japan at ShowStoppers press event during CES 2022

ShowStoppers

ShowStoppers ® will introduce 20 startup companies from Japan with new tech for work, home and play to tech and business journalists from around the world at ShowStoppers ® at CES, the press event scheduled for 5 Jan. 2022 during the CES tradeshow in Las Vegas. To register as a journalist to attend ShowStoppers TV events, contact Steve Leon, sl@showstoppers.com. The startups will launch and demonstrate a range of new products and services, including an exoskeleton for factory workers; continuous blood glucose testing for diabetics, without needles; sensors that connect to a smartphone for playing traditional Japanese wooden games; augmented-reality glasses; financial tech that creates mobility jobs for the unbanked; robots that bring joy to life; a hand dryer that reduces the risk of infection – and more. The startups are organized and selected by ShowStoppers partner JETRO, https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/, the Japan External Trade Organization, a Japanese government organization that assists startups in expanding to global markets. “We are proud to present unique technologies from Japan, all of which have the potential to create new and better ways for humans to bridge the physical and digital worlds,” said Ken Yoshida, executive director at JETRO San Francisco. The ShowStoppers press event organizes product launches, sneak previews and hands-on demonstrations of new tech for work, home and play for journalists, industry and financial analysts, venture capitalists and business executives -- from AI to 5G to cloud, VR to digital health; to better, safer, healthier tools for working from home or going back to the office; to future mobility and autonomy, robotics or smart cities; to apps and hardware that drive mobile and desktop innovation; to wearables, IoT, appliances, entertainment, and more. About ShowStoppers Now in its 26th year, ShowStoppers, https://www.showstoppers.com/, is the global leader in producing press and business events spanning the U.S., Europe and Asia. Each event organizes product launches, sneak previews and demonstrations for selected journalists, bloggers, industry and financial analysts, venture capitalists and business executives. Industry leaders, innovators and startups exhibit to generate news coverage and product reviews, make new connections, promote brand and open new markets. ShowStoppers produces official press events at CE Week, IFA and NAB; partners with CTA, IFA, GSMA and CEATEC; and produces events during CES, IFA, MWC, NAB, CE Week, CEATEC and other tradeshows. ShowStoppers streams online, broadcasting live events, month after month. To learn more about how you and your company can meet the press at ShowStoppers press events in person and online at ShowStoppers TV, contact Lauren Merel, lauren@showstoppers.com, +1 908-692-6068, or Dave Leon, dave@showstoppers.com, +1 845-821-6123. Contact Details Steve Leon +1 310-936-8530 sl@showstoppers.com Company Website https://showstoppers.com

December 27, 2021 09:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

Holiday Gifting & Preparation

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/JR9Mz8XHr4g The countdown is on as holiday shoppers continue to spend in record numbers. According to the latest stats, online sales have reached close to 110-billion dollars since November 1 st. That’s a lot of searching, finding, and buying. Beauty & Lifestyle Expert, Anna De Souza has come up with a few of her favorite finds for the favorite people in your life. FITNESS: The National Retail Federation finds the average consumer will spend close to $1,000 on gifts and other purchases. De Souza says there’s no need to stress. As a mom of twin toddlers, she’s done all the heavy lifting, stating, “It’s hard to get a workout in other than muscling them up three flights of stairs.” The Lifestyle expert has found one gift that she deems “smart and compact.” The Tempo Move helps give the experience and results of working with a personal trainer by offering real-time feedback, weight recommendations, and a training plan, and this full gym takes up only a tiny footprint as a sleek cabinet. De Souza continues, “As you work out, Tempo Move tracks your reps, form, weight – even the speed of your reps – and the artificial intelligence customizes a workout smarter than any human ever could.” Tempo Move comes with 50 pounds of smart weights and connects through your phone and TV for a fully immersive workout experience that favors effort over time. For more information, visit https://www.tempo.fit/shop/move. Facebook: @GetTempo Instagram: @tempo Twitter: @TrainWithTempo COOKING: Reports show that a few retailers have gotten a lift from cooking trends. De Souza points out that so much time is spent with family and friends in the kitchen. She asks, “Why not make some new memories while making some delicious meals?” The Lifestyle expert recommends picking up an air fryer, because now consumers are finally able to cook two dishes that can be synchronized to serve at the exact same time. The CRUXGG TriZone 9 Quart Air Fryer was voted Best Air Fryer of 2021 by Esquire. It’s engineered with patent-pending technology that features one extra-large cooking area that can be divided into two – so chicken fingers for the kids and salmon for you, or an entrée and a side – served hot and crispy together so you don’t need to microwave the straggler dish! CRUXGG just launched 8 products exclusively at Target which will be 30% off through the holidays. De Souza also highlights the brand’s Rotating Ceramic Nonstick Waffle Maker, that makes 5 one-inch Belgian waffles in under 10 minutes. She says it’s perfect for holiday mornings. “CRUXGG is also a purchase you can feel good about,” De souza adds, because 5% of proceeds go to a collective of nonprofits working to end food insecurity. For more information, go to https://www.target.com/p/cruxgg-6-in-1-9qt-air-fryer-with-trizone-technology/-/A-85017063?preselect=82541621#lnk=sametab. Social Media Channels: @crux.kitchen @ghettogastro Hashtags: #createwithcrux #targetstyle BEAUTY: As a beauty expert, De Souza has a few ideas for consumers that want to look and feel their best this holiday season and into the new year. She starts off with a holiday gift set from OLEHENRIKSEN. “You’ve probably heard of banana powder as a celebrity makeup artist secret to brighten that dark undereye area,” De Souza says, “The Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum with 15% Vitamin C is clinically proven to give you brighter, bouncier skin in 7 days without makeup. With other brands, shoppers usually get 3% vitamin C in topicals if you’re lucky. You’re also getting C-Rush Brightening Gel Crème, which gives you a full 24-hours of moisture and a color-correcting Banana Bright Eye Crème.” As a beauty expert, De Souza has been covering beauty for many years. She says if there is one product to horde, it’s Vitamin C. For more information, go to https://www.olehenriksen.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olehenriksen/ Instagram: @olehenriksen Another gift idea De Souza recommends became this year’s viral foundation launch and sold out multiple times when TikTokers showed off the texture and coverage after just one swipe on the cheek. De Souza says, “The KVD Beauty’s Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm is unlike any texture I’ve felt before, it glides on like a buttery balm, but it’s surprising when you see it apply as full coverage with a velvety finish that doesn’t crease!” It’s formulated with hydrating apple extract and available in 40 inclusive shades. Holiday shoppers can use code ANNA20 at KVDVeganBeauty.com for 20% off or pick it up at Ulta or Sephora. For more information, visit http://kvdveganbeauty.com/. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KVDBeauty/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kvdbeauty/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kvdbeauty? About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 21, 2021 02:02 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video

The Customer Experience Market in 2022 Will Continue to Be Heavily Influenced by Labor Issues, Supply Chain Disruptions, and Health and Safety Concerns, According to Dash Research

Dash Network

As 2021 draws to a close, it is clear that the events and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to significantly impact the customer experience (CX) market, according to a new webinar and companion white paper produced by Dash Research. While some of the most drastic aspects of CX changes due to the pandemic were temporary measures, other practices demonstrated significant value to both the customer and provider and are likely to stay. “The most impactful trends that emerged in 2021 were both interrelated and interdependent, reflecting the interconnected worlds of digital engagement, physical fulfillment, and health and safety issues,” says principal analyst Keith Kirkpatrick. “While many of these trends began during 2020, they were often accelerated by various economic and public health conditions that arose in 2021, including labor shortages, supply chain issues, and an increased focus on digital/real-world customer journeys.” These market factors have led to an increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, with business-to-consumer (B2C) organizations in particular deploying AI-enabled chatbots and tools to handle routine tasks, freeing up workers to address more complex issues. Automated marketing and messaging took center stage as businesses leveraged technology to maximize sales, marketing, and services efficiency, and the use of technology extended to CX functions, such as customer contact centers. Similarly, business-to-business (B2B) organizations increased use of collaboration platforms and video-conferencing tools to ensure seamless business continuity, conducting sales, marketing, and other business engagements via online channels, in lieu of in-person meetings. And as the most severe impacts of the pandemic lessened in certain parts of the world, some companies initiated the use of hybrid workplaces, which saw the return of some workers to their places of business on a part-time basis, while allowing others to continue to work remotely. Dash Research’s analysis further indicates that, with the continued shift to omnichannel communications and customer-centricity, customers are seeking fully integrated CX platforms. As a result, vendors are shoring up their product portfolio through two primary methods: (1) mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, where new functionality or features are added through the acquisition of another company that already has these capabilities; and (2) via the funding market, which provides them with the capital required to build out new functionality. Dash Research’s webinar and white paper showcase fundraising and M&A activity by Kore.ai, Netomi, Terminus, Qualtrics, Zendesk, and Concentrix. Looking ahead to 2022, as some industries strive for a return to normal (e.g., travel & hospitality, retail, and healthcare), Dash Research expects to see greater investment in CX platforms and programs to support customers throughout the entire journey. Personalization will continue to be used as a differentiator, not only for B2C business, but also for B2B companies that are trying to deliver a right-sized offering for each customer. Greater visibility into supply chains may be a differentiator for some companies, particularly if bottlenecks remain. Further, improvements to CX through mobile, social, and other non-traditional channels will be front and center, as omnichannel approaches mature. Large customer relationship management (CRM) and customer data platform (CDP) vendors will continue to add new features and functions that make it easier for companies of all types to add AI and automation across all functional areas. And despite the push to incorporate technology, businesses will focus on balancing human agents and automation to build a better rapport with customers. Dash Research’s webinar, “The State of the CX Market in 2021”, along with its companion white paper of the same title, focus on the CX trends that emerged in 2021, the impact those trends had on CX implementation, and the processes and strategies that are expected to continue well into 2022. The webinar and white paper also focus on the M&A and fundraising activity that occurred in 2021, as well as providing an assessment of relative customer demand and maturity of 10 CX techniques. The white paper is available as a free download on Dash Research’s website and the webinar replay is also available. Dash Research, the market intelligence arm of Dash Network, provides in-depth research and insights on the worldwide CX market including a comprehensive assessment of technology solutions, business issues, market drivers, and end-user dynamics across industry sectors. Dash Research’s global market coverage combines qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to provide a complete view of emerging business opportunities surrounding contact center technologies, customer data & analytics, customer data platforms, customer insights & feedback, customer relationship management, personalization & optimization, and employee experience. For more information, visit www.dashresearch.com or call +1.720.603.1700. Contact Details Dash Network Clint Wheelock +1 720-603-1700 press@dashnetwork.com Company Website http://www.dashnetwork.com

December 21, 2021 11:37 AM Eastern Standard Time

New tech brings universe, vision correction – and a hot lunch – into focus at ShowStoppers press event during CES 2022

ShowStoppers

New tech brings into focus for journalists the mysteries of the universe, electronic lenses that transform the world of vision correction, and delivers a 21 st century hot lunch – microwave or oven not required -- at ShowStoppers® at CES, the press event scheduled for 5 Jan. 2022 during the CES tradeshow in Las Vegas. For press registration, please contact Steve Leon, sl@showstoppers.com, +1 310-936-8530. Unistellar, https://www.unistellaroptics.com, the company that is revolutionizing civilian access to deep space, will unveil its most advanced telescope, which has been honored with a CES 2022 Innovation Award and features pioneering eyepiece technology in partnership with the iconic optics brand Nikon. Deep Optics, https://www.deepoptics.com, unveils its 32ºN Sunglasses, https://32northglasses.com/, for the first time. Powered with patented dynamic Liquid Crystal lenses with no moving parts, switch from sunglasses to reading glasses in a single swipe. These glasses can dynamically change their focus, just like the human eye. Users can add their own reading prescription through the glasses app, making the glasses 100% personalized. The lunchbox gets a 21 st Century update. Who needs a microwave or oven? For travel and adventure, Steambox, https://www.myheatbox.com, is rechargeable, app-connected, and uses steam to heat food anywhere, anytime. The ShowStoppers press event organizes product launches, sneak previews and hands-on demonstrations of new tech for work, home and play for journalists, industry and financial analysts, venture capitalists and business executives -- from AI to 5G to cloud, VR to digital health; to better, safer, healthier tools for working from home or going back to the office; to future mobility and autonomy, robotics or smart cities; to apps and hardware that drive mobile and desktop innovation; to wearables, IoT, appliances, entertainment, and more. About ShowStoppers Now in its 26th year, ShowStoppers, https://www.showstoppers.com/, is the global leader in producing press and business events spanning the U.S., Europe and Asia. Each event organizes product launches, sneak previews and demonstrations for selected journalists, bloggers, industry and financial analysts, venture capitalists and business executives. Industry leaders, innovators and startups exhibit to generate news coverage and product reviews, make new connections, promote brand and open new markets. ShowStoppers produces official press events at CE Week, IFA and NAB; partners with CTA, IFA, GSMA and CEATEC; and produces events during CES, IFA, MWC, NAB, CE Week, CEATEC and other tradeshows. ShowStoppers streams online, broadcasting live events, month after month. To learn more about how you and your company can meet the press at ShowStoppers press events in person and online at ShowStoppers TV, contact Lauren Merel, lauren@showstoppers.com, +1 908-692-6068, or Dave Leon, dave@showstoppers.com, +1 845-821-6123. Contact Details Steve Leon +1 310-936-8530 sl@showstoppers.com Company Website https://showstoppers.com

December 21, 2021 09:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

Mike Bako Presents His Holiday Gift Guide: GIFT IDEAS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/ZxlS9kIS6CE For more information, visit DailyNational.com Every holiday season, we hear it again and again…The holiday season and the rush make it impossible to shop for everyone. Your spouse doesn’t know what they want, your kids have everything already, and yet, they keep dropping hints and making their wish list. With the holidays quickly approaching, many people are scrambling to track down the perfect gift for everyone in their lives. This year, there’s help. Digital Journalist and Trend Expert, Mike Bako, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a nationwide media tour to discuss great holiday gifting options for this year. Sending money for gathering and gifts: It’s the season of gatherings and gifts! With PayPal and Venmo, you can manage any group expense with digital payments – be it brunches with friends or that group gift for Grandma & Grandpa. PayPal also lets you personalize a free digital greeting and attach a gift of money so recipients can spend however they’d like. And New PayPal customers can earn $5 just by downloading the app, signing up and adding a payment method. Ways to Start a New Family Tradition: What better way to build traditions than through family. Ancestry helps families learn more about themselves by connecting them to family history so they can build more meaningful connections to each other and their heritage. AncestryDNA is a best-selling kit that makes it possible for people to find their unique story - from ethnic origins in precise geographic regions to the most connections to living relatives. With billions of historical records, like census, immigration, birth, marriage and military records, Ancestry helps people make meaningful discoveries about the places and people who came before them, and how they got to where they are today. Creating Your Holiday Wish List: Beyblade Burst Surge Speedstorm Motor Strike Battle Set has everything needed for battle including the first ever motorized Beystadium, 2 right/left spin launchers, and 2 spinning tops! Check this out, it features a spinning Motor Vortex disc in the center of the Beystadium and you can compete in head-to-head battling games with Beyblade Burst spinning tops, launchers, and Beystadium toys. For boys and girls ages 8 and up. Shop For Last-Minute Gifts: Target makes it easy and affordable for guests to shop for essentials and gifts up until the last minute, even when there is no longer time to ship. Target is truly a one stop shop for holiday needs, offering the most sought-after national brands such as Ulta Beauty gift sets and a curated assortment of only-at-Target products like the Target edition of Monopoly, limited-time-only LEGO® Collection x Target and popular heyday™ AirPods cases. And, knowing how important it is to get a great deal – especially in the final days of holiday prep – Target is adding new last-minute deals on thousands of gifts across its entire assortment from toys and electronics to apparel, home and beauty from Dec. 19-25. No matter how guests choose to shop, Target makes it easy to get last-minute gifts just in time for the holiday. With Target’s Drive Up service, guests can place orders online, let the store know they’ve arrived via the Target App and have a team member bring it out to their car. All without ever needing to unbuckle their seatbelt. With Order Pickup, guests can collect their online orders inside the store quickly and contactless with the scan of a barcode. Visit your local Target store, Target.com or the Target App to find and collect great holiday gifts in time for everyone on your shopping list. Last Minute Stocking Stuffers Gopuff is the leader in immediate delivery of everyday essentials. Gopuff delivers your everyday essentials in minutes, from cleaning and home products to baby and pet items, even local brands, food and drinks, including alcohol in many markets. Great for last minute gifts or stocking stuffers, Gopuff offers Gift Cards. Available for anywhere from $5 to $200, Gopuff Gift Cards can be used for any item on Gopuff, whether a high-end bottle of wine, coffee beans from a favorite local coffee shop or even a card game. The gift cards are delivered electronically, so there’s no waiting for shipping and since Gopuff features thousands of local brands on its platform, they’re a great way to shop local. About Mike Bako: Mike Bako is the Trends Editor for DailyNational.com. Mike is also the father to two beautiful boys, Evan and Henry. Reuters, FOX News, Fox Business, WPIX in New York, and ESPN Radio all frequently rely on Mike’s insights on new trends, current events, sports, and culture. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 20, 2021 11:07 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video

QX Global Group appoints Rina Mancini as Managing Director, QX Franchise Limited

QX Global Group

QX Global Group, a global leader in knowledge process outsourcing services with a significant and growing presence in North America, today announced the appointment of Ms. Rina Mancini as Managing Director of QX Franchise Limited, a subsidiary that owns the Master Franchise rights for TaxAssist Accountants in Canada. Rina will be instrumental in propelling QX’s inorganic growth strategies, which include expanding the geographic reach as well as extending the organization's accounting footprint and experience into new verticals. With a proven track record of over 25 years, Rina has experience within the Financial Services, Franchising, and Information Solutions industries. She has accomplished knowledge in the leadership of Operations teams, creation of New Functional Units and Departments, Consumer Credit Risk Management, Accounts Receivable Management, Call Centre Management, and Customer Service. Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Frank Robinson, Group CEO, QX Global Group, said, “Geographic expansion is a cornerstone of our growth strategy, with North America as the top priority. Rina's appointment will accelerate our inorganic growth plans as well as help extend our accounting industry experience into new verticals.” Rina will be working closely with Niraj Mehta, SVP-Operations, Johnny Rogers, VP-Franchise Development, Frank Robinson, CEO QX Global Group, and the wider TaxAssist Accountants team within QX and the TaxAssist Accountants UK head office, to recruit, train and support new franchisees across Canada. Speaking on her appointment, Ms. Rina Mancini, MD, QX Franchise Limited, said, “I am thrilled and excited to be able to continue the growth story of the award-winning TaxAssist franchise into the Canadian market. Besides providing much-need tax, accounting, and advisory services to the small business market, I believe TaxAssist Accountants will also offer significant benefits and opportunities both, to entrepreneurially oriented individuals wanting to start their own businesses, as well as to the clients they will ultimately serve.” QX has carved out a formidable niche in providing exceptional services in Finance and Accounting, Recruitment Consulting, and Accounting Services. Organizations across fifteen industries vouch for QX’s services in key business areas such as accounts outsourcing, F&A outsourcing, back-office recruitment services, IT & business transformation advisory. The QX family of more than 2,000 professionals based out of the four delivery centres in India continues to unlock business value by improving process efficiencies and automation. About QX Global Group QX Global Group is a leading provider of business process management services. With over 17 years of accounting and recruitment process outsourcing experience, we help our clients unlock business value by improving process efficiencies and automation in the accounting and recruitment function to enable business transformation. We are based out of the UK with offices in the USA, Canada, Australia and India. Contact Details QX Global Group Vishal Kurani +1 646-693-9693 vishal.kurani@qxglobalgroup.com Company Website https://qxglobalgroup.com/

December 20, 2021 08:55 AM Eastern Standard Time

Shop the Hottest Jewelry Trends for The Holidays

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/6_rpbsyq4eY Jewelry will be at the top of many holiday shopping lists as the gift that gives year-round. If you are thinking about giving the gift of jewelry you might be wondering, where do you start, what are the hottest trends, what is the gift that she is sure to love and how do I stay in the know and get the best value and style? On December 14 th, Anna De Souza – Beauty & Lifestyle Expert Journalist, conducted a nationwide media tour discussing holiday jewelry trends that will turn heads as well as offer product demonstrations. Unlike many other retailers struggling with inventory challenges, this season's most desired jewelry styles are in stock and ready to gift at Kay, Zales, Jared and Banter by Piercing Pagoda. You can get your gold and diamond gifts fast by shopping in store, with buy online and pick up at your local store or getting Same Day Delivery service to your home in select areas! You can also connect live with their Jewelry Experts in person or virtually and they'll help you find the perfect gift, but I hope I can help with that today, too! Top trends that Anna discussed included: The best gift to give HIM this holiday: Men’s jewelry is really hot right now, everything from statement watches like a Tag Heuer watch from Jared, to gold chains and diamond link bracelets from KAY and diamond studs from Banter by Piercing Pagoda that sit a little higher on the ear, really a thoughtful piece that makes a major statement. Diamond necklaces and earrings always make great gifts Look for beautiful necklaces you can stack shorter and longer. You always need some classic bling and a sapphire choker from Zales and sparkling diamond tennis necklace from Jared definitely do this nicely! Hoops are a HOT trend too! Yellow gold hoops are versatile and amust have, always a great place to start gifting with these styles from KAY. And for a romantic gift she’s sure to love, newest take on the hoop with a Vera Wang multi-hoop style from Zales. Shopping for diamonds for either anniversary or commitment jewelry: For a twist on a classic anniversary band, this Monique Lhuillier Bliss ring at KAY with round and pear-shaped diamonds. And keeping with the layering trend of the year, stacking multiple delicate and bold rings of different colors of metal really creates a gorgeous statement, and of course, you can also elevate your engagement ring with Jared’s lab-created diamonds, it’s a modern approach to classic jewelry! The Forever Connected necklace is also a must have with two touching center diamonds symbolizing those forever connected by love and is a gorgeous gift for her from KAY! For more information, go online or visit your local jewelry store by Kay, Zales, Jared and Banter by Piercing Pagoda. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 16, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video

Centerboard Announces New Model for Supply Chain Management with Industry-First API Offering

Centerboard

Centerboard, the neutral, shipper-centric transportation management provider, announced today the availability of Centerboard Microservices, API solutions enabling seamless technology integration for shippers and technology providers. Presenting a ground-breaking approach to supply chain access, the cloud-based, a-la-carte offerings give users a fully customizable experience. Reflecting its mission to give shippers complete control over their supply chain, Centerboard’s API offering allows software providers to embed supply chain access into their clients’ existing systems, regardless of the transportation management system (TMS) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform. “We’ve spent years working closely with shippers and leading technology providers – not only listening to their needs but building an IT roadmap that directly addresses those needs. The biggest pain point we’ve seen is the lack of neutrality and flexibility regarding technology solutions,” said Lindsey Shellman, Chief Commercial Officer at Centerboard. “The APIs through Centerboard Microservices is a solution that no one else in the industry is offering. We are thrilled to address the complexity of supply chain and let users access shipping functionality from within their existing applications. For the first time, users will have affordable access to technology that provides true visibility and control of their supply chain operations, while eliminating the need to juggle multiple tech stacks.” BluePallet, the first end-to-end commerce platform for the chemical industry, is currently leveraging Centerboard Microservices to increase efficiencies for their users. “Our partnership with Centerboard strengthens the TMS functionality within the existing framework of our marketplace, helping our users spend less time managing multiple supply chain services outside of our platform,” said Pat Salomé, Chief Product Officer at BluePallet. “We are looking forward to our continued partnership with Centerboard to support our network of manufacturers and distributors.” Since rebranding in September, Centerboard has experienced substantial growth with an expanded roster of customers in chemical distribution, and food and beverage industries, including Dien, a leader in North American specialty chemical and ingredient distribution; JSI Store Fixtures, a branded display supplier to major supermarkets, convenience and specialty store chains; and S.L. Fusco, Inc. a Los Angeles based industrial supply distributor. Centerboard has also launched a range of new features, including advanced shipment notifications and enhanced carrier tracking messages. In addition to platform developments, Centerboard continues to invest in its team growth and plans to open a new state-of-the-art office facility this month. To learn more about Centerboard and schedule a demo please visit www.centerboard.com. About Centerboard Centerboard is a neutral, shipper-centric transportation and supply chain management provider supplying shippers with access to a wide range of affordable features needed to take control of operations. Centerboard unlocks business opportunities for shippers, carriers, and supply chain stakeholders, through leveraging real-time data. Contact Details Kite Hill PR for Centerboard Kite Hill PR centerboard@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.centerboard.com/

December 16, 2021 09:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

Instant Grocery Startup VOLY raises one of the largest seed rounds in Australia at $18m

VOLY

Australia's first instant online grocery supermarket, VOLY, has raised AU$18M in one of the nation’s largest ever seed rounds led by Sequoia Capital India, with increased backing from Global Founders Capital (GFC) and Australian-based Artesian Capital. This funding round will enable VOLY to continue to scale, expand the team, rapidly increase operations across key urban centres and start the national rollout. Following its launch in July 2021, VOLY has been preparing to take on the rapid food delivery market by delivering groceries to customers at incredible speed. It aims to make ordering groceries as easy and engaging as browsing Instagram and get them to you faster than you could do a trip to the supermarket yourself. Employing its own riders, delivery centre and store staff, VOLY does away with the need for customers to spend time in physical retail environments by giving people the power to order and receive their groceries in minutes. With a delivery promise of 15 minutes or less; VOLY is set to disrupt the +$122bn local grocery industry. Mark Heath, Co-CEO and Co-founder of VOLY, said: “VOLY is here to completely change the way people shop for groceries by giving Australians back their most precious resource, time. Our model, from a fully employed delivery and dispatch team to the way we use electric bikes to deliver, is designed around the way people live. We firmly believe that our customers have a better experience when our riders and other staff are part of the company, working with us.” VOLY retails most key household products available at any major supermarket - from fresh produce to baby formula and cleaning products - everything you could possibly need, available online seven days a week from 8am-10pm. The winning recipe is instant and free delivery, together with the best quality fresh produce; all sold at retail prices. “We’re doing away with the need to do a weekly grocery shop by providing convenience alongside reliability in a market that offers some of the slowest delivery times in the world. By owning our own supply chain, VOLY delivers at blazing fast speed without compromising on price, quality or availability. We source directly from suppliers, store in our own micro-fulfilment centres and deliver using fully employed and mostly full-time staff. VOLY is the supermarket of the future that is built around our customers, not the other way around,” said Thibault Henry, Co-CEO and Co-Founder. The seed funding announcement sets a new record for a food delivery company in Australia with support from Sequoia Capital India, a renowned venture capital firm. The interest in VOLY follows a new wave of investment in Aussie startups seen as world-class tech companies with potential to scale globally. "Australia's grocery market, which sees $90B in annual spends, is a large and profitable space that continues to be dominated by offline retail. The Sequoia Capital India team was impressed by the strong consumer love for VOLY, their compelling value proposition, and an impressive team of repeat founders that has blitzscaled businesses in Australia before. With on-demand models traditionally scaling very successfully in the country, the decision to lead their seed round and help them scale their business across Australia was an easy one to make," said Abheek Anand, Managing Director, Sequoia India. VOLY was co-founded by Mark Heath and Thibault Henry, who are also co-CEOs of the company and have experience working with on-demand technology brands across the food supply and logistics industries. Mark Heath helped launch Uber in Australia after a career at Goldman Sachs and Thibault Henry built, scaled and sold Balto which was a B2B last-mile business with clients such as HelloFresh, Marley Spoon and YouFoodz. VOLY’s management team includes Chief Technology Officer, Anthony Rey, Head of Procurement Lyana Labrode and Head of Marketing, Josh Peacock. VOLY has been an early hit with customers flocking to the app, spiking a rise of new users and incredibly strong week-on-week growth in sales. While currently available in Sydney across 42 suburbs - VOLY has plans to rapidly expand its offering from January 2022 to reach millions more Australians around the country in the coming months and year ahead. The VOLY application is available on both iOS and Android and at https://www.getvoly.com/ Ends Additional media images can be found here. About VOLY VOLY is an online supermarket and delivery service committed to disrupting the Australian grocery market by offering instant grocery delivery to millions of Australians through its mobile app. Setting new standards in the delivery industry, VOLY employs its own people and riders across micro fulfillment centres around Australia, offering household items to its customers in less than 15 minutes of placing an order. The move to employ riders full-time together with a strategy of vertical integration sets VOLY apart from the ‘gig economy’ and enables it to offer speed and quality without compromising on price. For more visit: https://www.getvoly.com/ About Sequoia Capital India Sequoia helps daring founders build legendary companies, from idea to IPO and beyond. Sequoia India operates in Southeast Asia and India where we actively partner with founders from a wide range of companies, across categories, including BYJUs, Carousell, Druva, Gojek, OYO Rooms, Tokopedia, Truecaller, Zilingo, Zomato and more. We spur founders to push the boundaries of what’s possible. In partnering with Sequoia, startups benefit from over 49 years of tribal knowledge and lessons learned working with companies like Airbnb, Alibaba, Apple, Dropbox, Google, LinkedIn and Stripe early on. From the beginning, universities, endowments and other non-profits have been the backbone of our investor base, which means founders’ accomplishments make a meaningful difference. For more information on Sequoia’s work in India and SE Asia, visit sequoiacap.com/india Contact Details VOLY Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.getvoly.com/

December 16, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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