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Renovators and OPPO, the Always-on Innovators

OPPO

When people mention “innovation”, they often think of “technology”. While technology is the most dynamic element in innovation, art is also at the forefront of creation. Artists express themselves and reflect on the current trends in their own innovative way. SHENZHEN, CHINA - Media OutReach - 7 November 2022 - To support young artists, OPPO has organized the Renovators Emerging Artists Project for four consecutive years, encouraging and supporting original and experimental art and design creations under the theme of “Art & Tech”. A Summer Night, by Shi Ziyuan In this year’s OPPO Renovators Emerging Artists Project, young artist Shi Ziyuan’s installation A Summer Night won the top prize in the Future Renovators category. A Summer Night is a mechanical device that creates and presents various types of sound, creating an imaginary world in listeners’ mind. Drawing on scenes from a well-known Chinese classical prose, Kouji (Oral Stunts), Shi Ziyuan connects a variety of sounds in her artwork, creating virtual scenes and events, such as “insects chirping on a summer night, people sleeping soundly, houses on fire, people fleeing”. At the same time, a page-turning device is placed to the side to give visitors visual hints and help the viewer think of the link between the visual and auditory contrasts. The idea of “breaking down stereotypes and encouraging people to explore more possibilities in what surrounds them” is what Shi Ziyuan wants to convey through A Summer Night. It is also her thoughts of “innovation”—only by thinking out of the box or even acting against experience can we see more possibilities and innovations. A Summer Night, by Shi Ziyuan How can we make breakthroughs and strive for innovation? As a leading global technology brand, OPPO has some unique insights. Does an electronic screen have to be fixed in size? New materials and technologies can help you break the shackles of imagination. After years of research, OPPO launched innovative products like the OPPO X 2021 rollable phone which unfolds like a scroll, and the OPPO Find N, a folding phone with a unique size and stunning appearance. Do XR glasses have to be a replica of normal glasses? With feather-light and sleek design that is truly a sight to behold, OPPO Air Glass proves that smart device can be both functional and beautiful. Does a phone’s rear design only allow for straight lines? Curves are more elegant and natural. Since the Find X3 series, OPPO has used volcano-shaped designs to create a more organic look. As product of the smartphone series that highlights personality and trendiness, OPPO Reno8 Pro 5G features a Streamlined Unibody Design, which is the first time in this series. Using a special high-temperature, high-pressure hot forging process, coupled with nanometer-scale polishing steps, OPPO creates a smooth 75-degree micro-arc transition around the camera on the integrated streamlined glass back cover. The seamless design makes the phone comfortable to hold while also fitting OPPO’s innovative and elegant design aesthetic. Back cover of OPPO Reno8 Pro 5G Technology evolves over time, pushing design and art forward while also constantly renewing itself. The emergence of the “metaverse” has given Luo Langyi, whose major is the digital media art, a sense of freshness that he has never felt before—not only in terms of the novelty of the form but also in the fact that virtual worlds have opened up more possibilities for breaking the shackles of reality. The individual initiative and creativity empowered by technological innovation dissolve the feeling of powerlessness in the face of changes. Under current technological trends, we can either be swept along or embrace innovation. “If we were no longer restricted by physical space, both creation and life would become more attractive.” Luo Langyi believes that the “crisis” of spatial blockage inspired her to create the OPPO—AR Urban Community, which won the Renovators Creativity Award in the 2022 Renovators Emerging Artists Project. Her artwork was a world modeled on real cities, where users can choose the city they actually live in or the city they dream of living in, while those who enter the same city will become residents of one community. There are four avatar roles to choose from in this AR City Community, including the “protector” who runs the infrastructure of the community, the “builder” who carries out city construction and community governance, the “researcher” who questions the known world, and “explorers” who are constantly chasing the unknown and the future. Through this AR artwork, she hopes to allow OPPO users worldwide to break away from the trivialities of everyday life, reimagine themselves in this urban community, explore independently, and create freely. OPPO—AR Urban Community, by Luo Langyi Similarly, to meet young generation’s need of exploration and self-expression, OPPO Reno8 series is equipped with cutting-edge technology to provide better user experience in terms of design and functionality. Designed to be a Portrait Expert in every aspect, Reno8 Pro 5G is equipped with OPPO’s first self-developed, dedicated imaging NPU, MariSilicon X. With the support of MariSilicon X’s powerful image processing capabilities, Reno8 Pro 5G delivers a series of innovative camera features, including 4K video shooting to help users shoot ultra-clear portraits in very challenging scenarios. In addition to optimized functionality, OPPO Reno8 series also places greater emphasis on design innovation and personality. OPPO Reno8 Pro 5G draws inspiration from porcelain glaze techniques to add a further touch of elegance to the back cover. The Glazed Green features a soothing gorgeous green tone to add a natural, organic feel that is visually relaxing. The Shimmer Gold color of OPPO Reno8 5G inherits the unique OPPO Glow process to create a refreshing feeling of rich textures and vivid color variations while also protecting the phone from fingerprints and other unwanted marks. At the same time, it has a gold base color with a gradient to create a sparkly color. It’s impressive with a stellar personality. Shimmer Gold color of OPPO Reno8 5G From its inception, the Renovators Emerging Artists Project has been closely linked to OPPO Reno series. Whether it is a product or an art contest, they carry the genes of the younger generation, aiming to empower young people to better create, express themselves, and enjoy technology and life. As technology and art complement each other, young artists and OPPO Reno series share the same passion for innovation. Together with young creators, OPPO looks forward to bringing the beauty of technology and art to more people around the world. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find X and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world. Contact Details OPPO OPPO International PR Team press@oppo.com

November 07, 2022 05:17 AM Eastern Standard Time

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WonderFi Becomes First TSX-Listed Company To Receive Approval to Offer Crypto Staking

MarketJar

WonderFi Technologies Inc ( TSX:WNDR ) ( OTCQB:WONDF ) is a technology company focused on creating better access to digital assets through centralized and decentralized platforms. The company provides unified access to digital assets, including crypto, DeFi, gaming, and NFTs. Under its brands, Bitbuy, Coinberry and UniiFi, WonderFi provides access to the best that the crypto ecosystem has to offer. WonderFi Announces Upcoming Launch of Bitbuy Staking WonderFi Technologies just announced that, through its subsidiary Bitbuy, it is now the first TSX-listed digital currency trading platform to receive approval from Canadian securities regulators to offer staking to Canadian investors. Recent metrics show that due to the ongoing cryptocurrency and stock market downturn, investors are now holding onto their crypto at an increasing rate. Until recently, Canadians primary option for access to cryptocurrency staking was through unregistered platforms. Bitbuy Staking, which is expected to launch November 28, will allow users to leverage their crypto balances to earn crypto rewards through on-chain staking. Crypto assets associated with proof-of-stake blockchains like Solana (SOL) and Ethereum (ETH) may be bonded to the protocol to help validate transactions and secure the network, in exchange for receiving additional crypto assets as a reward. “Until recently, Canadian investors only had the option to stake on unregistered platforms, ” said WonderFi President and Interim CEO, Dean Skurka. “As a result, this placed undue risk on Canadian investors, and provided limited oversight in the event that things went wrong. By working with our regulators, and utilizing our external custodian, BitGo, and our institutional staking provider, Figment, we are focused on reducing counterparty risk for our clients. We are excited to offer Canadians the option to stake their crypto in a regulated and transparent environment.” At launch, WonderFi estimates that Bitbuy users will have the ability to stake Solana (SOL) for an annualized reward rate of 5-7%. The company expects Ethereum (ETH) staking and other proof-of-stake supported assets to be added in the near term. Bitbuy plans to pay earned rewards weekly, calculated from the protocol reward rate which is variable and different for each network. Incoming CEO Dean Skurka to Lead Organizational Change WonderFi Technologies also recently announced that it is turning its focus on four regulated business segments meant to help it optimize the revenue potential of its more than 600,000 Canadian clients thanks to rising user demand, the lifting of gaming restrictions, and current market trends. The four areas include traditional equities, digital assets, staking plus yield products, and regulated products like gaming and sports betting. Dean Skurka, the incoming CEO of WonderFi, will lead the organizational change. Skurka, who previously held the position of President at Bitbuy, played a crucial role in helping the company grow its registered customer base from around 2,600 in 2018 to more than 400,000 last year. He also helped Bitbuy grow yearly revenue from $1 million to more than $32 million over that period. As a result, he made Bitbuy the first authorized cryptocurrency platform in Canada through the CSA and OSC's exemptive relief scheme and facilitated around $4 billion in trading volume in 2021. Skurka outlines WonderFi' s diverse commercial objectives under his new position: “Revenue growth and profitability are WonderFi’s top priority and by including the trading of equities, staking and yield products, access to sports betting and gaming, and other regulated offerings, we will dramatically bolster our average revenue per user, while simultaneously developing a comprehensive ecosystem for users like ours to generate wealth in the most modern of ways.” Diversification Of Investments Critical In Wealth Creation Explaining the diversification, WonderF ’s strategic investor Kevin O’Leary said: "The key to wealth generation is diversification. There is a direct correlation between those who buy and sell crypto, and stocks, and seek out other wealth-generating products. It makes perfect sense to deliver that to WonderFi’s 600,000 customers within one fully regulated, Canadian-operated ecosystem.” Ben Samaroo shall continue to serve on WonderFi's board of directors to maintain sustainability for the company's relationships with its major shareholders, authorities, and the financial markets. As CEO and co-founder of WonderFi, Samaroo led the historic acquisition of Coinberry for $38 million, the purchase of Bitbuy for $206 million, raising approximately $100 million, and turned the company into the only licensed cryptocurrency firm to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. “I fully endorse Dean Skurka as the next CEO of WonderFi. We are doubling down on offering a wide array of regulated products to our users and Dean, as a proven operational leader, is best suited to lead these efforts,” said Samaroo. “I look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship as he steps into the CEO role.” Dean Skurka and Ben Samaroo have engaged in new consensual lockup agreements barring any transfer or sale of their stock to show all shareholders their dedication to the future success of WonderFi. WonderFi is a top tech company with the goal of unifying and improving digital asset access through decentralized and centralized platforms. The company's board of directors and management team has a proven experience in crypto and finance. For more information on WonderFi Technologies Inc (TSX:WNDR) (OTCQB:WONDF), please visit this link. Disclaimer 1) The author of the Article, or members of the author's immediate household or family, do not own any securities of the companies set forth in this Article. The author determined which companies would be included in this article based on research and understanding of the sector. 2) The Article was issued on behalf of and sponsored by, WonderFi Technologies Inc. Market Jar Media Inc. has or expects to receive from WonderFi Technologies Inc.'s Digital Marketing Agency of Record (Native Ads Inc.) seventy six thousand Canadian dollars for 17 days (12 business days). 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not Market Jar Media Inc., its directors or officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Market Jar Media Inc. for this Article. Market Jar Media Inc. was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this Article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Market Jar Media Inc. relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Market Jar Media Inc. has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) The Article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of the information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Market Jar Media Inc's terms of use and full legal disclaimer as set forth here. This Article is not a solicitation for investment. Market Jar Media Inc. does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on PressReach.com should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on PressReach.com. 5) Market Jar Media Inc. and its respective directors, officers and employees hold no shares for any company mentioned in the Article. 6) This document contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), which reflect management’s expectations regarding WonderFi Technologies Inc’s future growth, future business plans and opportunities, expected activities, and other statements about future events, results or performance. Wherever possible, words such as “predicts”, “projects”, “targets”, “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “anticipate” or “does not anticipate”, “believe”, “intend” and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology have been used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: (a) revenue generating potential with respect to WonderFi Technologies Inc’s industry; (b) market opportunity; (c) WonderFi Technologies Inc.’s business plans and strategies; (d) services that WonderFi Technologies Inc. intends to offer; (e) WonderFi Technologies Inc’s milestone projections and targets; (f) WonderFi Technologies Inc’s expectations regarding receipt of approval for regulatory applications; (g) WonderFi Technologies Inc’s intentions to expand into other jurisdictions including the timeline expectations relating to those expansion plans; and (h) WonderFi Technologies Inc’s expectations with regarding its ability to deliver shareholder value. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this document including, without limitation, assumptions about: (a) the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute WonderFi Technologies Inc’s business plan; (b) that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; (c) WonderFi Technologies Inc’s ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; (d) WonderFi Technologies Inc’s ability to enter into contractual arrangements with additional Pharmacies; (e) the accuracy of budgeted costs and expenditures; (f) WonderFi Technologies Inc’s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; (g) political and regulatory stability; (h) the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third-party approvals, licenses and permits on favorable terms; (i) changes in applicable legislation; (j) stability in financial and capital markets; and (k) expectations regarding the level of disruption to as a result of CV-19. Such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of WonderFi Technologies Inc. to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: (a) WonderFi Technologies Inc’s operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; (b) public health crises such as CV-19 may adversely impact WonderFi Technologies Inc’s business; (c) the volatility of global capital markets; (d) political instability and changes to the regulations governing WonderFi Technologies Inc’s business operations (e) WonderFi Technologies Inc. may be unable to implement its growth strategy; and (f) increased competition. Except as required by law, WonderFi Technologies Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither does WonderFi Technologies Inc. nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this document. Neither WonderFi Technologies Inc. nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this document by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this document. 7) Any graphs, tables or other information demonstrating the historical performance or current or historical attributes of WonderFi Technologies Inc. or any other entity contained in this document are intended only to illustrate historical performance or current or historical attributes of WonderFi Technologies Inc. or such entities and are not necessarily indicative of future performance of WonderFi Technologies Inc. or such entities. Contact Details PressReach James Young +1 800-340-9767 campaigns@pressreach.com Company Website https://pressreach.com

November 04, 2022 06:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Could This Regulatory Data Company Attract More Interest As The Midterm Elections Approach?

Benzinga

What is the role of information in changing the world? For companies like FiscalNote Holdings Inc. (NYSE: NOTE), this consideration is the cornerstone of its business. As an agency specialized in collecting data on the regulatory processes in the U.S. and abroad, FiscalNote’s existence is a testament to the power of quality information. FiscalNote belongs to a growing library of companies specializing in the timely acquisition and creative distillation of information. These companies have molded information to offer a variety of services ranging from automating finances such as Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK) to consumer behavioral analysis like Splunk Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLK). For FiscalNote, regulatory data is the foundation of the work. Policies can have a radical impact on how businesses operate. Take the Roe versus Wade case, which in 1973 created a whole new industry for abortion-seeking individuals. FiscalNote is dedicated to collecting valuable regulatory information and detailing how it would affect its customers’ businesses and operations. As the U.S. midterm elections creep closer, FiscalNote’s work may be more valuable than ever. Fortunately, the company has reportedly prepared for this moment. In an episode on SPACInsider, FiscalNote CEO Tim Hwang outlines the company’s recent acquisitions, its cash-rich position and the favorability of market valuations as driving forces in the company’s quest for market share. Leveraging Market Conditions The past two years have seen shifts in the requirement for large-scale data. Brewing market uncertainty and the COVID-19 pandemic provide some of the strongest catalysts for this growing demand for data. As discussed in the podcast episode, Hwang believes the pandemic increased the number of touchpoints governments at every level have on business operations. Additionally, poor market conditions and whipsawing currency valuations are posing significant risks for businesses worldwide. FiscalNote provides services that help businesses tackle and understand their issues through data. The company says it has undergone significant growth to improve its service, including prioritizing key conditions in getting the right SPAC deal for it, and that it is already taking advantage of being a publicly-listed company. Specifically, Hwang highlighted the following developments: The acquisition of DT-Global Business Consulting, an Austria-based market intelligence company, that expands FiscalNote's existing Geopolitical & Market Intelligence solutions business, shortly after its initial public offering (IPO). The expansion into alternative data — financial information covering the economic activity that isn’t covered by equities and traditional markets. Labor, wage and credit card expenditure data are some examples. The acquisition of Aicel, a South Korea-based alternative data solutions and software company that enhances FiscalNote’s Data-as-a-Service offerings on a global scale. Commenting on the business’s merger and acquisition (M&A) strategy, Hwang said, “We are expanding the scope of our products and services to be able to drive continued organic growth well into the future.” Hwang sees the M&A process as simple product development — finding companies that would enrich FiscalNote’s data collection and analysis and acquiring them is a clear-cut way to improve the business’s database and reach. Hwang says that current market conditions, which have sent business valuations well below book and cash values, represent an incredible opportunity for FiscalNote, one that the company is taking advantage of via its acquisitions. Armed with $90 million in cash and a flexible credit facility driven by the company’s annual recurring revenue, Hwang believes the company has both the right management team and the right financials to take FiscalNote to the next level. As midterm elections creep around the corner, the importance of regulatory data and information may reach new heights. Hear more about how FiscalNote is tackling the situation here. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 04, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Venture Capital and Private Equity Continue to Have a Taste for HR and HCM Tech Opportunities

Benzinga

The Surprise: While recession risks have led VCs to press pause on many pandemic favorites, the Human Capital Management (HCM) niche has proven to be the exception. It is a crowded space - over 400 HCM companies set up shop at the 2022 HR Technology Conference in Las Vegas. There's a reason for all the competition. The need for a scientific approach to managing a company's workforce gained steam during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading HR Tech to receive a record amount of VC attention in 2021. Despite all the hype over the past two years, this trend shows signs of staying power. The global HR Tech space is projected to expand at a CAGR of 9.1% through 2029 to $46.85B, which dwarfs the current size of $25.53B. Let’s provide some perspective on Human Capital Management’s dramatic rise in relevancy. HR Tech companies received a 250% increase in VC funding in Q4 2021 compared to Q4 2020. In that final quarter of 2021, VCs poured $11.2B into 212 unique HR Tech startups, which equates to an average deal size of $58.3M. In H1 2022, HR Tech was the beneficiary of $14.2B in funding across 387 deals, which equates to an average deal size of $41M. While the 2022 numbers thus far aren't nearly as eye-popping, context is everything. Recession fears in the U.S. and around the world kicked in during Q4 2021. Officials admitted inflation wasn't transitory. The public accepted the inevitability of higher borrowing costs. The stock market, being a forward-looking indicator, peaked in October of 2021. It's no surprise then that funding slowed from its peak. In fact, as of September 2022, overall VC investment has hit a two-year low. But not all industries feel the effects equally - flows into HR tech are holding up much better than the overall market. The Problem: Stubborn inflation and a fractured employer/employee relationship has put many small to midsize businesses at a crossroads. An American Express survey revealed that while the average small to midsize business enjoyed an 87% increase in revenue from July 2021 to July 2022, that same average also saw profits decrease by 4%. That’s the equivalent of running faster while falling even more behind. It’s easy to settle for top-line growth during a bull market, but downturns are when metrics like profitability and free cash flow become king. While expenses creep up, the expectations gap between employers and employees is also growing wider. As the gap expands, employee productivity, morale, & retention fall. The disconnect between both parties has become so widespread that it led to the coining of the term ‘quiet quitting’, which is an employee consciously doing just enough not to get fired. So while simply cutting costs through a reduced headcount would put a dent in the first problem, it would only exacerbate the second. A more comprehensive approach is needed to ensure a workforce is both happy and efficient. The Solution: Asure allows a small to midsize business to adopt a scientific attitude towards the management of its workforce. Asure Software’s (NASDAQ: ASUR) platform helps small and midsize businesses attract, manage, & retain the right people by automating the boring essentials - payroll, HR, & taxes. By removing administrative tasks from the equation, you free up the team’s day to do what they were hired to do. This streamlined approach saves employers money by reducing unnecessary headcount, and it ensures team members have the time to work on the business rather than just in the business. Let’s share a few examples of how the software is relevant in this climate. The tax laws in this country are more complex than ever. Under the CARES act, the Employee Retention Credit provision incentivized small and midsize businesses to keep employees on the payroll. For every employee spared, the business could receive a tax refund of up to $26,000. While the savings are significant, owners that looked to leverage this provision manually wasted hours navigating the application process. Do I fill out Form 941-X or Form 5884-A? How do I know if my business even qualifies? Am I compliant? Asure's clients didn't have to ask these questions because the company’s in-house experts and streamlining technology help to make the entire filing process smooth and without any time burden or confusion for the business owner. Asure recently integrated Equifax’s (NYSE: EFX) The Work Number technology with its platform to allow for instant verification of employment & income. Before this partnership, employees would have to fill out a verification request ahead of big applications like a mortgage or a car loan. Employers would then manually respond to each one. This Equifax integration eliminates all that back & forth at no extra cost to Asure’s clients. It's easy to miss the latest integrations or to only use a fraction of a software's capabilities. While Asure emphasizes efficiency for its clients, it's a company that believes in a personal touch. Upon subscribing, each client is assigned a dedicated team of Asure specialists in the local area. The implementation and maximization of the platform become significantly easier when help isn't outsourced to a call center. Asure offers its B2B cloud-based software via a subscription model. The company has a laundry list of individual solutions - Performance Tracking, Electronic Onboarding, Workers’ Compensation, you name it. But for small and midsize businesses that want to move beyond the a la carte approach, Asure offers comprehensive payroll & HR plans that bundle a host of services together. Asure has been around since 1985. Over those decades, Asure has earned the trust of 80,000 clients - 95% of which are SMBs. So despite being a company with vast resources, Asure markets itself to the business with say 100 employees. And as that business grows its market share, the software can scale and grow right along with it to serve 1000+ employees without expensive upgrades. As it is publicly traded, Asure is not a target for VC funding. However, VC and PE firms have certainly been active in acquiring HR tech and HCM companies during the recent market downturn. Thoma Bravo is one private equity software firm that has been on an acquisition spree recently. In October 2022 alone, the PE firm acquired ForgeRock (NYSE: FORG), Ping Identity, UserTesting (NYSE: USER) and completed a strategic investment into SMA Technologies. In addition, the strong activity in the industry by institutional investors highlights the underscoring demand is represents an overall “bullish” signal for the industry. Retail investors who believe in the secular shift to Human Capital Management would be wise to do further due diligence into the ticker symbol ASUR. Disclaimer: Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement. All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. Spotlight Growth and its employees are not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker Dealer or a member of any association for other research providers in any jurisdiction whatsoever and we are not qualified to give financial advice. The information contained herein is based on external sources that Spotlight Growth believes to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Spotlight Growth may create reports and content that has been compensated by a company or third-parties, or for purposes of self-marketing. Spotlight Growth was compensated five thousand dollars cash for the creation and dissemination of this content by the company. This material does not represent a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Certain statements contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. The above communication, the attachments and external Internet links provided are intended for informational purposes only and are not to be interpreted by the recipient as a solicitation to participate in securities offerings. Investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors and may not be permissible in certain jurisdictions. Spotlight Growth and its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may have bought or sold or may buy or sell shares in the companies discussed herein, which may be acquired prior, during or after the publication of these marketing materials. Spotlight Growth, its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may sell the stock of said companies at any time and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. For more information on our disclosures, please visit: https://spotlightgrowth.com/disclosures/ The article “ Venture Capital and Private Equity Continue to Have a Taste for HR and HCM Tech Opportunities ” first appeared on Spotlight Growth. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 03, 2022 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

SparkPlug Secures $8M in Series A Funding to Help Frontline Workers Earn Like Owners

SparkPlug

SparkPlug, the leading incentive management and wage supplementation platform for frontline workers, today announced an $8 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Lightbank, with participation from Industry Ventures, as well as existing investors TenOneTen Ventures and Jason Calacanis, bringing the company’s total investment raised to $11.5 million. The new capital will be used to fuel SparkPlug’s aggressive growth plans which include key executive hires and investments into data, development, and behavioral science expertise to continue expanding its category-defining platform. “We’re excited and energized to be closing this round in the most tumultuous fundraising and macroeconomic environment in recent memory,” said Andrew Duffy, CEO and Co-Founder of SparkPlug. “It's evidence of the critical inflection point brands find themselves in post-pandemic – to survive and thrive they need to re-invest in the resurgence of the physical retail channel. We’re en route to becoming as ubiquitous and essential for influencing brick-and-mortar customer acquisition as Google Ads is for influencing digital customer acquisition.” Since its inception in 2020, SparkPlug has been on a mission to disrupt the hourly labor market by empowering frontline workers with the ability to earn a portion of the revenue they generate when making trusted, personalized recommendations to customers. As brick-and-mortar retail and in-person dining have bounced back from the pandemic, SparkPlug has scaled rapidly to meet increasing demand for its services, with a 2,310% growth in revenue since closing its initial seed round in February 2021. “Coming out of the pandemic we’ve seen direct-to-consumer brands hit a major roadblock in expansion, and many leaders are coming to terms with the fact that a physical retail presence is necessary for the long-term health of a brand,” said Jake Levin, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of SparkPlug. “With SparkPlug, these brands are able to harness the power of people to recreate the same curated, personalized customer experience in-store that made them stand out from legacy brands in the first place.” Working with more than 1,000 US retailers and over 200 brand partners, SparkPlug helps businesses harness the power of frontline employees and influence buying decisions at the point of sale. Using SparkPlug’s platform, retail and restaurant management teams, as well as brands themselves, can create a profit-sharing incentive program or sales contest that integrates directly into an organization’s POS system. From there, employees can enroll into the program via text message and automatically begin earning on every qualifying sale they make. “To be successful in today’s complex retail landscape, retailers and brands need to have not only a strong omnichannel selling strategy, but also powerful tools that help train, motivate, and retain the people that are essential to the functions of these organizations,” said Matt Sacks, Co-Managing Partner at Lightbank. “The SparkPlug team has created a rare win-win situation for operators and employees: a proven, scalable method for driving revenue at the local level, while fairly rewarding the employees that drive that growth.” SparkPlug continues to see exponential growth across all the board since its February 2021 seed round as brands and retailers continue to re-invest in physical sales environments. The company has grown its customer base of brands by 930% and retailers by 1,040% in the same time period. During the same time period, SparkPlug has seen a 1,930% increase in monthly supplemental wages distributed to frontline employees, helping properly reward, incentivize, and retain top-performing teams for their influential role in driving brand and retailer revenue. “The retail landscape continues to evolve rapidly but one thing that has become evident in recent years is the importance of having a powerful physical retail presence from the perspective of customer acquisition and product discoverability,” said Minnie Ingersoll, Partner at TenOneTen Ventures. “SparkPlug has given digitally native brands an economically feasible tool for expansion that doesn’t sacrifice fair compensation for the workers that make that growth possible. We’re proud to be partnering with SparkPlug once again to help solve some of retail’s most pressing issues.” Earlier this year SparkPlug announced an integration with Square, making it the first sales incentive tool for frontline workers in the Square App Marketplace. Visit www.sparkplug.app to learn more and https://squareup.com/us/en/app-marketplace/app/sparkplug for a 30 day free trial of the SparkPlug platform. About SparkPlug SparkPlug is the leading incentive management and wage supplementation platform for brick-and-mortar retailers, restaurants, and consumer goods companies. SparkPlug’s first-of-its-kind platform gives frontline workers the ability to earn like owners by rewarding them with cash for every sale they make. SparkPlug’s fully customizable incentive software also empowers brands and retailers to drive sales by mobilizing in-store employees to serve as influencers, while delivering real-time campaign data to track and manage efficacy. Launched in March 2020, SparkPlug has delivered more than $2M in supplemental income to frontline hourly employees, sponsored by the consumer brands whose products those in-store workers put directly into consumers' hands. Visit www.sparkplug.app to learn more. Contact Details N6A for SparkPlug Kevin Pryor +1 203-518-2348 sparkplug@n6a.com Company Website https://sparkplug.app/

November 03, 2022 08:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time

MySize Acquires Naiz Fit To Consolidate Apparel Sizing Solutions And Position Company As A Potential Leader Helping Serve $1 Trillion Global Fashion Industry

MySize, Inc.

The nearly $1 trillion global fashion industry is no stranger to innovation. Thanks to technological advancements in the e-commerce fashion industry, apparel, footwear and accessories sales ballooned in 2021, hitting $180.5 billion in the U.S. alone. The sector is expected to grow by 13% this year, with consumers set to spend $204.9 billion on fashion items online. But while the industry looks promising, there are some disadvantages to shopping online — such as receiving an ill-fitting garment — that could affect the consumer experience and, ultimately, the sector’s growth. With returns being a commonly potentially huge blow to retailers’ bottom lines, MySize Inc. (NASDAQ: MYSZ) has developed solutions that could benefit both sides of the shopping experience. Measurement Solutions Founded in 2014, the company is an omnichannel e-commerce platform and provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven measurement solutions to drive revenue growth and reduce costs for its business clients. MySize ’s MySizeID is based on sophisticated algorithms and cutting-edge technology with broad applications for apparel sales in e-commerce and hybrid settings. The company recently launched FirstLook Smart Mirror, a mirrorlike touch display that provides in-store customers an enhanced shopping experience and contactless checkout. MySize says Orgad, its online retail platform, has expertise in e-commerce, supply chain and technology, operating as a third-party seller on Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) and other sites. To expand its portfolio and offerings, MySize announced on Oct. 12 that it acquired Spain-based Naiz Fit, a software as a service (SaaS) technology solutions provider that solves size and fit issues for fashion e-commerce companies. Naiz Fit’s SaaS Technology Naiz Fit’s SaaS technology acts as a digital tailor. It gathers more than 20 body measurements without asking customers to measure themselves by using its proprietary AI and computer vision capabilities to transform simple images into body measurements. For customers who do not want to use photos, Naiz Fit implements statistical modeling algorithms to determine the size and fit based on height, weight, age, gender and fit preference. MySize reports that Naiz Fit’s latest product — Smart Catalogue — will be launched following the acquisition. Smart Catalogue is designed to help retail products and design teams make the most informed decisions for their collections based on real-time customer data. With over 40 clients in Spain, Italy, Germany and France, Naiz Fit brings MySize a substantial customer base, including Desigual, Moschino, El Ganso, Philosophy, Alberta Ferretti, Silbon and Boglioli Milano. Financials Naiz Fit’s revenue and financial results will be fully integrated into MySize’s consolidated results for the fourth quarter of 2022, according to the company. As a result of the acquisition, Naiz Fit’s customers “will reap the benefits of a broader portfolio of products and solutions delivered by an unparalleled combined team of industry leaders with a deep understanding of the fashion e-commerce retail landscape,” the company said. Naiz Fit expects an estimated $400,000 in 2022 revenue, with substantial increases anticipated for 2023. MySize also anticipates its combined Naiz Fit and MySizeID sizing solution revenue to contribute an additional $1 million in revenues in 2023. “Combining the MySizeID and Naiz Fit sizing solutions, we expect to gain significant economies in sales and marketing and to deliver unparalleled sizing technology to fashion retailers,” MySize Founder and CEO Ronen Luzon said. “We believe the acquisition will be highly accretive in the near and long term as well as being a strategic play. By leading the consolidation of sizing solutions, MySize is positioning to build greater and broader offerings and become the leading technology provider in the industry.” The acquisition of Naiz Fit could position MySize as a leading company in measurement solution technologies for retail, helping the company boost revenue and grow its customer base. MySize, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYSZ) (TASE: MYSZ.TA) is an omnichannel e-commerce platform and provider of AI-driven measurement solutions to drive revenue growth and reduce costs for its business clients. Orgad, its online retailer platform, has expertise in e-commerce, supply chain, and technology operating as a third-party seller on Amazon.com and other sites. MySize recently launched FirstLook Smart Mirror, a mirror-like touch display that provides in-store customers an enhanced shopping experience and contactless checkout. FirstLook Smart Mirror extends MySize's reach into physical stores and is expected to contribute to revenues through unit sales and recurring service fees.MySize has developed a unique measurement technology based on sophisticated algorithms and cutting-edge technology with broad applications, including the apparel, e-commerce, DIY, shipping, and parcel delivery industries. This proprietary measurement technology is driven by several algorithms that are able to calculate and record measurements in a variety of novel ways. To learn more about MySize, please visit our website: www.mysizeid.com. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Or Kles, CFO ir@mysizeid.com Company Website https://mysizeid.com

November 03, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Trust & Will Receives SOC 2 Type II Compliance Attestation Report

Trust & Will

Trust & Will, the leading digital estate planning platform in the U.S, is proud to announce that it has received a clean SOC 2 Type II attestation report. The attestation report affirms that Trust & Will’s information security practices, policies, procedures, and operations meet the rigorous SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria for security. SOC 2 Type II ensures the highest customer data and security standards. This independent assessment of internal security controls validates its dedication and adherence to the highest security, confidentiality, and availability standards. Developed by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), SOC 2 requires an extensive auditing procedure that ensures a company is handling customer data securely and in a manner that protects the organization as well as the privacy of its customers. SOC 2 is designed specifically for service providers storing customer data in the cloud. “Achieving SOC 2, Type II compliance is an important milestone for Trust & Will, as we enter into a new era of digital vulnerability and security flaws,” said Eric Urhausen, Head of Engineering at Trust & Will. “We strive to set the standard in our industry, with rigorous monitoring and security standards that better support and secure our customers' sensitive information about their most important life decisions.” Trust & Will uses Drata’s automated platform to continuously monitor its internal security controls against the highest possible standards. With Drata, Trust & Will has real-time visibility across the organization to ensure systems' end-to-end security and compliance posture. “In today’s environment, showcasing a strong compliance posture is integral to earning and maintaining trust with customers, prospects, and partners alike,” said Adam Markowitz, Co-Founder and CEO of Drata. “Automating the path to SOC 2 Type II compliance with Drata enables Trust & Will to continuously monitor their controls and ensure that they remain in compliance at all times.” In addition, Trust & Will’s processes and policies support HIPAA compliance to further protect and secure the information of current and future members. Trust & Will’s SOC 2 Type II report and corresponding accreditation serve as evidence to present prospective members that their data is managed according to the strictest security and compliance guidelines. ABOUT TRUST & WILL Trust & Will is simplifying estate planning and settlement with attorney-approved, legally valid documents and processes designed to adhere to individual state guidelines. Since 2017, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of Trust & Will members leave their legacy with an affordable way to create an estate plan or settle the estate of a loved one. Our platform uses bank-level encryption that protects customer data and complies with the highest security standards, including SOC 2 and HIPAA. Trust & Will is the official estate planning benefit provider for AARP members, along with several leading financial institutions, who all believe in our mission of helping every family leave their legacy. Trust & Will is an online service providing legal forms and information. We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. Contact Details Trust & Will Danielle Nuzzo +1 631-807-7772 danielle@trustandwill.com Company Website https://trustandwill.com

November 03, 2022 07:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Network of Giving Expands Leadership Team with Addition of Chief Business Officer

Network of Giving

Chief Executive Officer, Rob Bennett, announces a new addition to the leadership team of the Network of Giving with Thomas O’Grady as Chief Business Officer. Tom is a results-driven professional with a career distinguished by consistent performance within both small and large organizations operating in diverse industries, markets, and business cultures. Tom has over fourteen years of experience in financial services with expertise in strategic business planning, product strategy, financial analysis, and project management. His experience includes executive roles with Cognizant Digital Works, Frog Design, and Infosys. As Chief Business Officer, Tom is guiding the company’s corporate development and partnerships, providing leadership, and executing strategies that enable the Network of Giving to fulfill its mission and grow stakeholder value. In this position, Tom will complement the strength and experience of the full Network of Giving leadership team and help grow the Network of Giving across the United States and internationally with community organizations and their financial services supporters. “Tom has been a long term champion of the Network of Giving and has always believed in its mission to create digital commerce with purpose,” stated Rob Bennett, CEO, SMB4.0, the organization that powers the Network of Giving Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. “The Network of Giving levels the playing field for local merchants to profitably grow their businesses with a measured result on marketing spend while gaining valuable customer insights and supporting local community and charitable organizations, at no cost to the customer. The Network of Giving Software-as-a-Service platform is a new form of digital marketing enabled by community organizations and the financial services industry to help communities prosper through an unprecedented merchant-funded micro-donation ecosystem.” About the Network of Giving The proprietary Network of Giving platform transforms communities and businesses by establishing an elevated standard of excellence in corporate and community social responsibility. The Network of Giving powers digital commerce with purpose by linking banking, fundraising, and marketing to inspire community contributions by businesses and consumers – at no cost to the consumer. The Network of Giving is committed to providing financial and social empowerment to drive positive change in communities and the world. The Network of Giving Software-as-a-Service platform is delivered by SMB4.0 and enables digital marketing opportunities for local businesses utilizing rich tokenized data to drive business decisions with a measured result on marketing spend. This enables and empowers business owners to gain key analytics and real-time actionable insights from the data. To learn more about the Network of Giving and supporting community organizations, including Special Olympics and United Way, visit networkofgiving.com. Contact Details David Saalfrank david.s@smb40.com Company Website http://www.networkofgiving.com

November 03, 2022 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Akto acts to prevent data leaks and secures $4.5M seed round as it builds the world’s first plug-n-play API security platform

Akto

Over 30 million mobile and web app developers around the world use thousands of APIs everyday. These APIs carry sensitive data of users which if leaked can cause irreparable damage to companies. Securing these APIs during the development cycle becomes paramount, especially with the movement towards a more agile and continuous release cycle. To solve this problem, Akto is building a plug and play API security platform and is today announcing a $4.5M seed funding round led by Accel India with participation from angel investors Akshay Kothari (co-founder and COO of Notion), Renaud Deraison ( co-founder Tenable) and Milin Desai (CEO of Sentry) among others. Akto is the world's first plug-n-play API security platform which helps security teams and developers secure their APIs in the development pipeline. Akto deploys in less than a minute to create an inventory of APIs, detects PII data leaks, misconfigurations and continuously tests these APIs for business logic flaws like broken authentication and authorization in CI/CD pipeline. Akto is the most lightweight API security platform, requiring zero manual configuration to get started within a minute. It mirrors traffic from customer’s cloud - AWS and GCP and provides instant visibility to security teams which otherwise would have taken months of back and forth with developers. Akto currently discovers more than 100,000 APIs for its customers around the world. Ankita Gupta and Ankush Jain co-founded Akto in January 2022 with a mission to develop the fastest API security platform. After having worked together for 2 years, they left their jobs last year and talked to 200+ security engineers across the globe before writing a single line of code. Akto is currently securing thousands of APIs of some of the largest fintech and SaaS companies across the globe. Akto has identified more than 100 leaks with credit card information and found over 1,000 broken auth issues through its robust testing module. Ankita Gupta, co-founder, at Akto commented: “We learned that the biggest challenge facing teams seeking API security solutions is that it takes months to try them. We have set out to create a solution that is not only fast to act but super easy to deploy. The plug and play element means that our customers can get an instant inventory of APIs within 2 minutes.” API attack traffic has grown 700% in the last year. According to Gartner, by 2022 API abuses will be the most frequent attack vector resulting in data breaches. Last month, Optus - one of the biggest telcos in Australia had a massive data breach because of an unauthenticated API left exposed. If Optus was using Akto, they would have received an alert on this vulnerability and could have prevented this breach. Ankush Jain, co-founder at Akto added: “I've worked for ten years developing big data applications handling billions of data points at Morgan Stanley and CleverTap. Current solutions give high false positives and to solve this problem I strongly believe that API security testing must be context-aware and should discover deep business logic vulnerabilities. To derive context, we apply AI/ML to analyze all of application traffic. We have built an engine that can process Google-scale traffic (10B requests/day) with 0 performance impact in real-time.” In addition to Akto’s API security platform, Akto has developed a free chrome extension called AKTO MINI to generate a quick inventory of APIs and detect PII data leaks without having to deploy anything. AKTO MINI has already generated interest from security engineers and developers who have generated their API inventory instantly for free. We have just launched the chrome extension - AKTO MINI and are extending it as a full fledged open source project. The new investment will allow Akto to integrate with all CI/CD tools enabling developers to run checks before deploying APIs, provide comprehensive coverage of business logic tests and improve the platform by building stronger AI/ML capabilities. Our vision is to enable the 30 million developers and security engineers to secure their APIs in less than 60 seconds. Prayank Swaroop, Partner, Accel India commented: “Today APIs are pervasive - they are the glue that enables any software to provide rich functionality. However, till recently not much thought was given to securing APIs. Securing APIs requires identifying complex patterns of API misuse - moreover this has to be done in the DevSecOps pipeline following a Shift-Left approach, without taking a lot of time from engineering teams. In the current market, all the solutions overwhelm security teams by throwing a lot of false positives. Akto’s approach and tech addresses all of these problems and provides a reliable, scalable, easy to install & accurate API security solution. We are very excited to be a part of their journey.”. About Akto Akto is the world’s first plug-n-play API security platform that enables security teams and developers to proactively secure APIs in CI/CD pipelines and prevent sensitive data leaks. Akto. Akto deploys in less than a minute to create an inventory of APIs, detects PII data leaks, misconfigurations and continuously tests these APIs for business logic flaws. Learn more about Akto here: https://www.akto.io/ About Accel Accel is a global venture capital firm that aims to be the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere, from inception through all phases of private company growth. Accel has been operating in India since 2008, and its investments include companies like BookMyShow, BrowserStack, Flipkart, Freshworks, FalconX, Infra.Market, Chargebee, Clevertap, Cure Fit, Musigma, Moneyview, Mensa Brands, Myntra, Moglix, Ninjacart, Swiggy, Stanza Living, Urban Company, Zetwerk, and Zenoti, among many others. Atoms is a program by Accel India to support pre-seed startups with easy access to non-dilutive capital, mentorship from founders and operators, and a community to help them grow. We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more, visit www.accel.com or https://twitter.com/Accel_India Contact Details Akto Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.akto.io/

November 03, 2022 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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