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100 Small Businesses Owned by Women and People of Color in Oakland Will Have the Opportunity to Receive $10,000 from Comcast RISE

Comcast California

Comcast today announced it will award an additional $1 million in grants to 100 small businesses owned by women and people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, among others, bringing the total to $2 million in Oakland to date. The application window will run from October 3 -16, 2022. Oakland was one of five cities, including Chicago, Miami, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., that was selected to award $10,000 grants to 100 local businesses. The Comcast RISE Investment Fund has awarded $21 million nationwide to date. Through RISE, Comcast has also announced it will support 13,000 small businesses, owned by people of color and women, with monetary grants; a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv; or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business by the end of 2022. “My business was deeply impacted by the pandemic. However, the technology makeover and the $10,000 grant from the Comcast RISE have helped me not only to keep my business afloat but to thrive,” said Tamika Miller, Owner of Cuticles Nails Spa in Oakland and two-time RISE recipient. “When we launched Comcast RISE, we knew a profound need existed in many of the communities we serve,” said John Gauder, Regional Senior Vice President of Comcast California. “We have now seen firsthand how the program’s marketing and technology resources benefit small business owners who continue to work hard and rise above 2020’s impact. Today, with Oakland receiving additional funding as a Comcast RISE Investment Fund grant city, we are excited to see how this infusion of funding will continue to propel businesses to thrive. We know the impacts will be fruitful and far reaching, especially with this year’s program expansion for women-owned businesses.” In addition, Comcast RISE invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. The program has partnered with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide grant recipients with business coaching to help build skills in company foundation, growing customers and financial stability. All Comcast RISE recipients will also have a specialized online networking community within Ureeka with access to educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts such as U.S. Black Chambers, National Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker’s Legacy and Operation Hope. “Ureeka is proud to partner with Comcast RISE to grow small businesses nationwide with coaching and digital services,” said, Melissa Bradley, Co-Founder, Ureeka. “We know there are stark disparities in access to capital and resources for entrepreneurs of color and women entrepreneurs. The additional coaching and digital resources that these businesses receive, in addition to potential monetary funding, will help these businesses gain valuable skills and opportunities that will help them move from survive to thrive.” Comcast RISE was formed in late 2020 to give small businesses owned by people of color, from bakeries and barber shops to childcare centers and cleaning services, the grants needed to not just survive, but thrive. The more than 9,500 recipients are from 704 cities across 37 states. In November 2021, Comcast RISE announced a major expansion to all women-owned businesses nationwide. Comcast RISE Marketing and Technology Services In addition to the Investment Fund, Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” provides the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women nationwide to apply for grants for one or more of the following support focus areas with the opportunity to receive one. Marketing Services Grant: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including: Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period. Creative Production: Turnkey 30-second TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and a 90-day linear TV media campaign. Consult: Digital audits by Ureeka in the form of Website Repair Reports and SEO Keyword reports to target website mechanics and effective organic marketing Technology Makeover Grants: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.) Monetary Grants: In round one, which was announced in April of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color in five cities: Philadelphia/Chester, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Detroit. In round two, which was announced in September of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $6 million in grants to 600 small businesses in six cities: Miami, Houston, Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C. In round three, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided an additional $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color and women in five cities: Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Twin Cities. As noted above, in round four, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses in Chicago, Miami, Oakland, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Over 500 California small, diverse-owned businesses have received grants, marketing, and technology services from the Comcast RISE program, 160 of which are based in Oakland. Last year, Comcast unveiled the RISE Business Directory for laptops and mobile phones, highlighting California small, women and diverse-owned businesses that have received grants, marketing and technology services from the Comcast RISE program. Comcast’s RISE business directory is a user-friendly digital map that collates and presents key information about local businesses throughout Northern and Central California who have benefited from the Comcast RISE program. This interactive directory makes it easy to support California’s small businesses owned by people of color that have been hardest hit during the pandemic. All eligible applicants will receive a monthly Comcast RISE newsletter with educational content, and all small business owners can visit the Comcast RISE destination on the X1 platform featuring aggregated small business news, tips, insights, and more. Just say “Comcast RISE” into the X1 voice remote. Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, visit www.business.comcast.com or call 866- 429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Adriana Arvizo +1 925-200-1919 Adriana_Arvizo@comcast.com

September 14, 2022 09:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time

News Release

The Metaverse Race

UpWallstreet

By 2024 alone, the market size for the Metaverse is expected to reach $800 billion. Tech giants are investing heavily in creating their digital worlds, with their versions of virtual realities seeming to be quite different from one another. Although this new kind of reality is likely still a long way away, it’s clear that the internet of the future will be far more immersive than that of the past. Some giants like Alphabet. Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) -owned Google and Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) are being quiet despite signs that they have been working on creating their own virtual reality world for decades. But then again, the iPhone maker’s strategy was always to keep its products low profile until they reached the final development stage, so many surprises could easily be on the horizon. Google Google’s first try at creating a more immersive experience backfired back in 2014 with its smart glasses. Its next attempt will be the AR headsets, internally codenamed “Project Iris”, and they are expected to be released in 2024. But more importantly, it seems the hard work done on Maps will finally pay off as they create the perfect base for building the Metaverse. According to Google Maps Experiences vice-president Miriam Daniel, an “immersive view” will use AI with Street View images to create a detailed digital model of the world. According to Verge, Google invested $39.8 million in a private equity fund designated for metaverse projects. Meta Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: META) is aiming to create an entirely new version of the world where we practically live digitally. Its prototype, Horizon Worlds, is an online virtual reality with an integrated game creation system so gamers can create their world. The platform will also be introduced to companies and working professionals who can access it via its hardware platform Oculus that Meta acquired for $2 billion in 2014. The main issue that the company is dragging since before its name change is the lack of protection from harmful content, along with clumsy aesthetics, frequently ill-designed controls, as well as centralization issues. Like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Google, Meta is risking going down the same path in attempting to build an entirely new experience without the pedigree to back it up. In February, the company revealed Horizon Worlds and Horizon Venues gathered a monthly userbase of 300,000 people and resulted in the creation of 10,000 different worlds. Although these figures show rapid growth, it is behind its competitors, such as Roblox (NYSE: RBLX). Zuckerberg revealed that Meta is expanding its NFT test on Instagram with Facebook following shortly. Microsoft’s future just got a major edit. Unlike Meta, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) already has a legacy in modern gaming to rely on, as this thriving community is considered to be the entry point to the metaverse. With Xbox and recent strategic acquisitions, Microsoft both created and supported some of the world’s most iconic games, but with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ: ATVI), it literally has everything it needs to create entertaining immersive experiences that will certainly shape our future. Platform-wise, Microsoft is developing Microsoft Mesh with its main focus being on creating a Metaverse version of the work environment. Therefore, Microsoft’s Metaverse will be simply an extension of its strong portfolio of applications that this new world can be built on. Fortnight is much more than an online virtual game Epic already made an epic win against Apple, challenging its tight control of the App Store that limited theways game developers can make money from their creations. In other words, despite its size, Epic reserved a place at the Big Tech table. Partially owned by Tencent Holdings Limited and Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY), Epic Games has gone all in to bring the Fortnite Metaverse into reality. Battle Royale game has characters from all possible universes with collaborations ranging from singers and actors to video games and superheroes. Samsung is also working on making Fortnite’s metaverse the best there is. After launching virtual worlds in Decentraland, ZEPETO, and Roblox earlier this year, Samsung announced the release of its Fortnite Metaverse island called “Smart City”, aimed at celebrating the launch of its latest phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4. The importance of staying vigilant The virtual world also comes with heightened threats of misinformation, identity theft, harassment, and bullying pose much greater risks virtual world. As Disney’s ex-CEO Bob Iger noted back in 2019, Hitler would have loved social media because, at its worst, virtual words allow evil to stay hidden and poison confused minds and troubled souls. Although no one can argue the immense potential of progress offered by virtual realities, the same can be said for the limitless possibilities of inflicting harm. Therefore, companies involved in creating the metaverse need to make sure they learn from the mistakes of the past to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself in the virtual future. © 2022 Upwallstreet.com. This article provides information only Upwallstreet does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Contact Details UpWallstreet G. Stephen +1 204-400-5935 g.stephen@upwallstreet.com

September 14, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The Rocky Mountain Vibes Partner With Comcast Business to Bring Baseball lnto the 21st Century

Comcast Colorado

Comcast Business today announced that it is providing the Rocky Mountain Vibes with a suite of networking solutions and corresponding managed services, including a 1gig Ethernet Dedicated Internet (EDI) connection that provides coverage for the team’s entire stadium, a managed router solution, as well as X1 for Hospitality, which provides visiting fans with first-class video viewing experiences within the stadium’s suites and Banquet Hall. For four years, the Rocky Mountain Vibes have been a source of entertainment and excitement for Colorado Springs baseball lovers. The Vibes organization strives to provide family entertainment with quality customer service – and network reliability has increasingly become a key component to maintaining quality service. In the past, it wasn’t a necessary investment to regularly upgrade technology at smaller sports stadiums. This has shifted industry-wide, as the fan experience and backend operations – like Point-of-Sale (POS) systems and press box operations – are incorporating more technology components that depend on strong, reliable network backbones to power them. As a result, sports teams like the Vibes are increasingly investing in stronger networks, better programs and upgraded systems to use technology to its fullest potential in arenas. When it came time for the Vibes to make upgrades, they chose a partner that would reliably fulfill their technology needs and provide network management support. “We are very pleased with our services and experience with Comcast Business,” said Aaron Griffith, assistant general manager for the Rocky Mountain Vibes. “The entire Comcast Business team has been phenomenal in answering any of our questions, managing our requests, and working to install and improve our technology here at the ballpark. They have also done a great job at explaining what they’re doing and how they’re doing it, which makes us feel empowered in our day-to-day operations.” The new solutions have helped bring peace of mind to the staff at the stadium and made it easier to keep up with customer demand on game days. The organization’s managed router provides firewall services for the network, and lets the Comcast Business team keep a close eye on any threats to the connection. The stadium’s POS systems are powered by Comcast Business’ network and are key for collecting and processing payments. The network’s increased bandwidth has helped with game production and Jumbotron operation from the stadium’s press box. Additionally, the hospitality television connection has brought a whole new level of upscale viewing services to the Vibes’ high-level clients. “As the great American pastime transitions into a new era defined by technology, it will be essential for our favorite local teams to adapt and expand their horizons in order to continue to deliver the quality gameday experiences that their fans have all come to expect,” said Robert Thompson, vice president of Comcast Business in the Mountain West. “With a bevy of flexible networking and support solutions, paired with dedicated customer service teams, Comcast Business is the ideal technology partner for sports teams of any kind, during the technology upgrade process.” About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. Contact Details Chloe Huard chloe.huard@finnpartners.com Company Website https://business.comcast.com/

September 14, 2022 09:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

Enhanced diDNA Video Solution Focuses on Quality with New Demand and Industry-Best Monetization Structure for Publishers

diDNA

diDNA, a leading ad tech provider for the publisher ecosystem, has released an improved version of its video monetization solution, combining its deep industry expertise, high-quality demand, and technical expertise to create a platform that allows publishers and ad tech partners to scale their video monetization programs. The new solution uses a custom rules engine designed to quickly drive incremental revenue increases, and automation that allows publishers to quickly implement, test, and iterate on the functions needed to improve performance. This update shows diDNA’s commitment to providing publishers with best-in-class tools for increased speed to revenue through faster ad load times, better user experience, higher fill rates, improved viewability, and higher RPMs. diDNA’s video solution derives much of its value from its commitment to quality. Developed over many years by diDNA’s in-house ad operations professionals, publishers can instantly connect to 70+ tier-1 ad exchanges, allowing more advertisers to compete for a publisher’s inventory in a fair, transparent, and competitive marketplace. As a top Google MCM Program Partner, diDNA must adhere to strict guidelines around ad quality, transparency, and account structure. “At diDNA, we recognize that programmatic has become multi-faceted and video is a huge driver of revenue for publishers,” said Deke Hooper, CEO and co-founder of diDNA. “We’ve designed this solution with publishers in mind so that they can hit the ground running quickly with video by leveraging what we already know about what works, which configurations generate high RPMs, and what types of demand we should serve and fill to generate revenue.” This new video solution fully unleashes the scale of its marketplace through daily analysis of over three billion daily ad requests that leverage machine-learning based pricing models that work to drive up prices and provide publishers with actionable insights into their data. Using diDNA’s custom VAST tag setup, publishers are able to access multiple demand sources in the video player of their choice. Publishers that use Prebid - the leading open source ad server for websites - can use diDNA’s Video Prebid Adapter to access diDNA’s demand. diDNA continues to provide the unique opportunity for publishers to customize ad placements and size while cutting down on time, resources and extra personnel. Publishers now have the ability to customize across ad formats, from native to display, further unlocking the monetization capabilities of publishers’ ad inventories. Through diDNA’s publisher-first adtech system, publishers are able to apply advanced business logic and rules around their ad inventory and programmatic ad deployment to maximize their earnings while creating custom user experiences. diDNA’s dedicated team of ad operations professionals, automated tools and vetted add-on features combine to enrich the user experience and maximize ad revenue for publishers. The product suite includes a full on-page ad management system, a video demand product, CTV and in-app monetization, display, and more. For more information on diDNA’s product suite please visit: https://didna.io. About diDNA diDNA, a leading ad tech provider for the publisher ecosystem, operates at the crossroads between proprietary machine learning software and an experienced team of ad operations professionals that provide publishers the automated tools and analytics needed to thrive in ad auctions across the open internet by uncovering and optimizing monetization opportunities in real-time. diDNA applies its technology to maximize ad revenue for over 50,000 websites, mobile applications, and CTV channels through a holistic approach that includes its core ad tech, access to 70+ demand partners, and a dedicated tech team committed to developing tools that drive industry-leading results. diDNA is committed to innovation and a culture of no competition, which fosters strong industry relationships and opportunities within the publisher advertising ecosystem. To further this mission, diDNA is a proud member of industry groups such as Prebid.org and IAB Tech Lab. diDNA is a remote-first company with a home base in Orlando, FL. For more information, visit www.didna.io, follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to the diDNA Dialogues YouTube channel for great insights from industry leaders. Contact Details Liana Zamora +1 551-225-4942 didna@kitehillpr.com

September 14, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Karma Launches New Brand Identity, Introduces the Future of Online Shopping

Karma

Karma, the app that helps shoppers get what they want at the lowest price, unveiled its new corporate brand today. The new brand and visual identity highlight Karma’s mission to change the way people shop, putting them in control of what they want. The company also announced it had reached a savings milestone, helping its four million plus users save more than $300 million. Karma’s app and browser extension use AI to alert shoppers to price and stock changes while also applying coupons automatically to their carts. The new branding is rooted in Karma’s relentless focus on an effortless online shopping experience, from inspiration to purchase. “Karma is on a mission to help online shoppers shop smarter and without the FOMO baggage,” said Jonathan Friedman, co-founder and CEO of Karma. “If you want it, we’re on it - no judgment, no agenda. We do the heavy lifting using the best technology to empower shoppers in unbelievable ways. We have some of the largest retailers in the world as partners, helping consumers make the stuff they want theirs. As we enter the holiday season, our new brand and features will help Karma reach more shoppers, giving them choices over how and when they buy, and confidence they’re doing things the smart way.” Research shows that Gen Z shoppers tend to be more price-conscious and prefer to shop from brands they can identify with. Karma addresses these preferences and highlights its ability to deliver value, personal choice, and authentic brands through advanced technology with the new identity. The Karma rebrand includes a new logo designed to be lifestyle chic with fine clean lines to represent the company’s techie side. Karma will be promoting the rebrand with a multi-channel, multi-market advertising and influencer campaign. The campaign will run across digital, social media, influencer marketing, and affiliate marketing channels. “Our new branding highlights our passion for creative and storytelling and having a unique personality in a very noisy consumer environment. Karma’s purpose is to make online shopping way better - if you want something, we will make it yours. We will even tell you to wait and NOT shop now,” said Mor Pesso Eblagon, Chief Marketing Officer at Karma. “Karma’s new look and feel is all part of a strategy - we are 100% focused on turning the shoppers of the world to professionally savvy online shoppers.” Karma has more than 100,000 retail partners on its platform, including some of the world’s leading brands, which receive massive boosts in site traffic from Karma’s users to their eCommerce platforms. Freidman added, “We have more exciting plans in the works, including unique new features to further improve the online shopping experience.” About Karma Karma is an easy-to-use AI shopping tool that powers an automated smart shopping experience on users' laptops or smartphones to save them time and money. Following a simple free download, users start their online shopping journey. Karma lets you save items from any brand to one wishlist and get real-time back/out of stock and price drops alerts. It also automatically integrates and applies valid discount offers, coupons, and cash-back rebates from its 100K+ retail partners. For more information and to download Karma, visit www.karmanow.com. Contact Details LoBello Communications Sivan Ron Sivan@LoBelloCommunications.com Company Website https://www.karmanow.com/

September 14, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CoverSelf secures $4.8M to reinvent healthcare claims and payment accuracy as it expands in the US

CoverSelf

The exponential growth of costs in healthcare remains a hotly debated and ever-evolving problem around the world. Over $4.1 trillion is spent on healthcare every year in the US alone, with administrative spending accounting for approximately one-quarter of the total amount. CoverSelf, a cloud platform for healthcare claims and payment integrity, is today announcing a $4.8m seed funding round to help reduce claims inaccuracies and reduce admin waste. The funding round was led by BEENEXT and 3one4 Capital. One of the long-standing critical challenges that the US healthcare claims and payment integrity has faced is the lack of an open system that allows untethered collaboration between and among payers, vendors, and providers, without data and workflow silos and “black box” constraints. The CoverSelf platform empowers all stakeholders in the healthcare payment integrity and revenue cycle ecosystems with faster, easier, and more accurate processes, as well as faster innovation and releases. This plugs revenue leakages and eventually reduces healthcare costs by a substantial margin. “The current claims integrity systems are very complex, and the deployed technologies are antiquated. Significant software innovation is needed to address the broken system that is currently creating out-of-control healthcare costs and waste. The cobbled-together software solutions result in scattered data and the inability to make real-time business decisions. Administrative complexity costs billions annually, an open and collaborative platform can significantly reduce the repetitive administrative costs.” commented Rajasekhar Maddireddy, Founder of CoverSelf. Founded in 2021, CoverSelf is a one-of-a-kind democratized, open and transparent healthcare platform, built by a team of highly experienced healthcare technology and payment integrity visionaries. CoverSelf has created a collaborative and comprehensive SaaS platform for all stakeholders, purpose-built for healthcare claims and payment integrity, providing a solid foundation for innovation while removing administrative waste and duplication of efforts. The company’s mission is to enable healthcare claims to be paid accurately, quickly, and conclusively. The platform enables a generational architectural shift that adapts to the dynamic nature of healthcare and empowers users without technical and external dependencies as the industry evolves. “We have spent over two decades working hands-on in the claims accuracy and payment integrity sector and we believe that when everyone has the data, payment and reimbursement guidelines, and updated data sets they need to process clean claims on the first pass. However the payment models are becoming more complicated and the pace of change is increasing, creating additional challenges for stakeholders, who in turn are finding it more difficult than ever to understand the increasing complexity. Our efforts are driven towards leveraging our extensive experience to reduce complexity and administrative costs by building a unified healthcare dedicated platform” said Raghavendra Pawar, Founder of CoverSelf. CoverSelf will use this funding round building out their platform and scaling the company operations as well as growing the sales, product and technology teams. "Administrative spends are a major driver of overall healthcare costs. CoverSelf’s payment integrity solution is designed to be easy to implement and maintain, both under-appreciated features given the dynamic nature of healthcare. Raj and Raghav have leveraged years of experience to provide fresh perspective to the problem, and we are excited to be a part of their mission to simplify healthcare claims processing," said Sonal Saldanha, VP, Investments 3one4 Capital. Dirk Van Quaquebeke, Managing Partner at BEENEXT, added: “We are very excited to partner with team CoverSelf targeting the U$4.1 trillion US healthcare industry. Estimated cost of waste in the US healthcare system is approximately 25% of total health care spending. Claims and payments integrity, i.e., incorrect billing or fraud, alone accounts for over US$100bn of the problem. Now, anyone ever having worked in the US healthcare system, understands its massive complexity. We believe team CoverSelf has assembled a uniquely qualified team to abstract this away and improve healthcare outcomes at reduced prices for patients in the US.” About BEENEXT BEENEXT is a Venture Capital fund managed by serial entrepreneurs that focuses on assisting founders with their operational experience, network, trust, unique perspectives, and capital. The team invests in early-stage tech start-ups that are focused on building the new digital platforms driven by the data network. BEENEXT is a platform of founders, by the founders and for the founders across the globe, primarily in South East Asia, India and Japan. Since its establishment in 2015, the team has invested in over 200 companies globally. For more information, please visit www.beenext.com About 3one4 Capital 3one4 Capital is an early-stage venture capital fund based in Bengaluru, India. The firm works in select market categories and in the intersection of adjacencies that are large, growing, and ready for unique products and services. The themes pursued are SaaS and Enterprise Automation, Direct-to-Consumer products and services, Digital Media, FinTech, and Deep Technology, with a focus on areas such as machine-driven actionable intelligence services for the enterprise, ambient intelligence technologies, edtech, logistics and distribution, consumer products and services, and health. 3one4’s investments are biased towards companies exploiting technology to create, grow, or dominate large markets in India. The fund also invests a portion of its capital in US-focused companies that have feedforward effects into the themes being pursued in India. Through a deep involvement strategy, the fund works with founding teams and subject-matter experts to prioritize and strategize for product-market fit, and then optimize for defensibility and growth in revenue and impact. With a focus on margins and on delivering uncompromised end-user experiences, the fund aims to reduce risk, detect new growth opportunities, and return rewarding outcomes to all the stakeholders involved. With its third early-stage fund and its fifth fund overall, the firm now manages a combined corpus of INR 2,300 Cr (USD 300 Mn) and a portfolio of over 70+ investments across the early stage. Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.coverself.com/

September 14, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Contactless payments are taking off - why Identity-Bound Biometrics are Essential for Authentication

BIO-key International, Inc.

When Amazon Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) launched Amazon One — its contactless payment system — it put payments in the palm of your hand. But Amazon is not the only company offering advanced payment and identity verification technology. Passwords As A Thing Of The Past? People are on the lookout for more convenient ways to pay — it’s a win when you don’t have to carry multiple cards or remember passwords. Amazon One and other virtual payment systems make that kind of convenience a reality. At the same time, concerns around data privacy increase as customers face the possibility of sharing personal data. Biometric authentication, such as palm scanning, gains popularity every day and is considered a more secure and superior method that should be part of any holistic multi-factor authentication (MFA) strategy. Biometrics-based technology uses physical attributes such as fingerprint, palm, retina or face scanning to authenticate the user. Unlike traditional MFA strategies of log-in credentials or one-time passwords (OTP) sent via SMS, biometrics are less vulnerable to hacking, social engineering, account takeovers, and damaging cyberattacks. Credit card companies Mastercard Inc. (NYSE: MA) and Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) have gotten on board with this trend and enabled contactless payments and biometrics-based authentication for their transactions. Other digital wallet apps like PayPal Holdings Inc. ’s (NASDAQ: PYPL) Venmo and Zelle have become players in contactless transactions as well. Reports show that almost 74% of consumers have a positive attitude toward biometrics for access control, and the market for contactless biometric technology is projected to reach $18.6 billion by 2026 according to KBV Research. Secure, Easy-To-Use Access Control Companies like BIO-key International Inc. (NASDAQ: BKYI) — with expertise in identity and access management (IAM) and Identity-Bound Biometric (IBB) solutions — could play a big role in providing secure, easy-to-use authentication options for organizations while eliminating the high costs associated with traditional methods. BIO-key boasts a one-of-a-kind MFA mobile app — MobileAuth™ — that integrates the power of IBB across multiple authentication modalities, allowing customers to build a more complete MFA strategy. The app can safeguard critical data by authenticating the person with IBB using PalmPositive™ which uses a palm scan, or FacePositive(™) which uses facial recognition. The app also supports traditional MFA methods including Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iOS or Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android device-based biometrics and push tokens. It provides flexibility for employees, customers, and suppliers to choose from multiple, easy-to-use options to authenticate while offering the superior security and convenience that is offered by IBB methods. The company says that a key use case for MobileAuth TM is customer identity and access management (CIAM), scaling access to millions of customer identities with no additional hardware required. “With cybercrime on a steady rise, it’s more important than ever to have a strong, easy-to-use, and affordable multi-factor authentication strategy in place," said Michael DePasquale, BIO-key’s chairman, and CEO. “We’re at a critical point in the evolution of authentication where stronger solutions must include a factor that’s based on ‘who you are.’ We’re extremely proud to address this need by empowering our customers to take full advantage of traditional authentication methods as well as Identity-Bound Biometrics from the convenience of any mobile device using MobileAuth.” To learn more about BIO-key MobileAuth, Identity-Bound Biometrics, and PortalGuard, visit the BIO-key website. BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication and cybersecurity with biometric-centric, multi-factor identity and access management (IAM) software managing millions of users. Its cloud-based PortalGuard IAM solution provides cost-effective, easy to deploy, convenient and secure access to devices, information, applications, and high-value transactions. BIO-key's patented software and hardware solutions, with industry-leading Identity-Bound Biometric (IBB) capabilities, enable large-scale Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) solutions, as well as customized on premises solutions. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Catalyst IR- William Jones, David Collins +1 212-924-9800 BKYI@catalyst-ir.com Company Website https://www.bio-key.com/

September 14, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

"SHIP" is the First-Ever "NFT Art Film" that Combines NFT Art and Entertainment

Art Tokyo Global Pte Ltd

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 14 September 2022 - Art Tokyo Global ("ATG"), a Singapore company, announced the completion of SHIP – the world's first immersive NFT art film. Making use of user interactivity techniques, the film sets a new milestone for the movie industry, enabling viewers to interact with the film in cinemas or from the comfort of their own homes. Featuring 221 NFT artworks across 14 scenes, SHIP showcases the work of over 80 emerging and established Asian artists. Among these is a unique collection of 5 art pieces -Shizuku Shizuku by renowned Japanese artist and architect, Mr. Kengo KUMA, who was listed on Time magazine's list of the World's 100 Most Influential People in 2021. The film seamlessly blends the genres of art, graphics, performance, music and technology into a coherent experience. Viewers will be treated to a multi-sensory display of cutting-edge NFT art, spectacular sound-tracking, moving stories of humanity, and will even have the opportunity to purchase the artworks that feature in the film right from their seats. Catered to both connoisseurs and new fans alike, SHIP presents an exciting new cultural experience and opportunity within the entertainment sector. The film features novel cinematographic techniques, such as advanced volumetric photography to construct virtual spaces from images taken by 2D cameras. During the film production, the director used 150 to 400 cameras to film each scene to deliver the immersive experience as a vehicle for rich visual storytelling. SHIP's narrative builds on the speculative geological theory of Amasia – a coming together and merging of the continents into a single entity in the distant future, emphasizing the importance of seeking connection with others and meaningful cross-cultural dialogue in our increasingly fractured present. According to Mr. Naohiko KISHI, Chairman and Executive Producer of ATG， "In this film, the viewers become a crew member of a ship that transcends time and space. Set across Greece, Egypt, China and Japan, SHIP navigates the viewers through a history of beauty and conflict that humanity has repeatedly caused; where cultures flourished on each of the five continents separated from a single landmass 250 million years ago, conflicts followed." The global premiere of SHIP has been scheduled for late November 2022 in Singapore, and a worldwide public release is scheduled for early 2023 in cinemas and across streaming platforms. Contact Details Art Tokyo Global Pte Ltd Johnson LAU johnson.lau@arttokyoglobal.com

September 13, 2022 10:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

The North American Preliminary Round of OPPOHack 2022 Will Begin and Empower Global Talents with the Synergy Between Industry, Academia and Research

OPPO

SHENZHEN, CHINA - Media OutReach - 14 September 2022 - ColorOS officially announced that two offline preliminary rounds of the OPPOHack 2022 will be held in North America at Yale University on September 17-18 (EDT) and at the OPPO US Research Center on September 24-25 (PDT), while the online preliminary rounds will be launched simultaneously. The top three of each preliminary round will be granted a "Fast Pass." Ranking the scores of all the participants in both preliminary rounds, a total of 10 finalists (individuals or teams) will compete for the $40,000 grand prize in the final round. The event aims to build a platform for global makers to exchange and collaborate on innovative technologies, and bring technologies out of the laboratory to transform people's lives. The preliminary rounds of OPPOHack 2022 will kick off both online and offline at the same time The OPPOHack 2022, which was inaugurated on May 23, has attracted enthusiastic applicants from more than 50 countries and regions. Themed "Ubiquitous Services: Intelligence Linking the World," it offers two topics: "Unhindered Cross-device Connection" and "User-centric Intelligent Services." The participants are encouraged to brainstorm on the best solutions in visual enhancement, efficient algorithms, integrated perception, etc. in scenarios such as smart entertainment, smart learning, smart mobility and smart production. After registering online and competing online or offline, 10 finalists will chase for the prize. Furthermore, three Tech Garage activities have been rolled out online to inspire global developers and discuss the future of ubiquitous services, themed "Redefine the Future of Ubiquitous UI/US," "Influence of AI on HCI in the Near Future" and "Challenges and Opportunities of Multi-device Connection in Ubiquitous Service," respectively. The Tech Garages drew wide attention from dozens of companies or organizations. More than 100 technophiles across the globe signed up and communicated with speakers in the Q&A session. Now, the preliminary rounds will be staged on September 17. A stellar panel of mentors and judges, including Lin Zhong (Professor of Computer Science at Yale University), Rex Ying (Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Yale University), Zhen Xiu (Head of Software Engineering Technology Strategy at OPPO North America), Yiwei Zhao (Principal Engineer at OPPO North America), Jinyuan Zhou (Head of North America at Frees Fund) and Lingxiao Xu (Head of Equity Derivatives at UBS Investment Bank Division), will coach the participants throughout the event and support them to reach the next level. Keep growing the ubiquitous service capability and bringing technologies out of the laboratory with the industry-academia-research model In addition to the OPPOHack 2022, OPPO has cooperated extensively with universities and research institutes in recent years to empower global talents, facilitate the commercialization of many research projects, provided better products and services for users, and played a key role in advancing technology. The Pantanal system unfolded on ODC 2022, for instance, is the brainchild of this open cooperation model. In the era of IoT, ColorOS will further team up with universities and research institutes on scientific innovation, talent training and external exchange, explore cutting-edge technologies with scholars, promote the application of research achievements, and bring better products and intelligent experiences to users. 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 Media Contact press@oppo.com

September 13, 2022 09:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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