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Tech cross-border M&A on record pace in First Half of 2021 according to data from Velocity Global and PitchBook

Velocity Global

Deal multiples return to 2019 levels Cross-border software deals skyrocket Cross-Border M&A Monitor: Tech Sector released today Cross-border tech merger and acquisition deals accelerated in the first half of 2021, on a record pace in transactional volume. That data from PitchBook was released today in the Cross-Border M&A Monitor: Tech Sector published by Velocity Global, the leading provider of global employment solutions. The late surge of activity in 2020 continued through the first half of this year with approximately 1,000 cross-border tech deals closed, for an aggregate of $139.9 billion. “The deal multiple increased in the first half of this year and returned to 2019 levels, which indicates investor confidence in global economic recovery,” said Rob Wellner, Velocity Global chief revenue officer. “Increased multiples drive an even greater need for pre-deal preparation and successful integration after close.” Software value already tops 2020 The value of cross-border M&A deals for Software companies in the first six months of 2021 already topped full-year values for 2020 at over $100 billion. “The pandemic accelerated digital transformations, funneling budgets to build or buy the necessary tools,” added Wellner. “The acquirers are tech and non-tech alike, with tech adding to their stack, and non-tech adding to their in-house capabilities.” Pandemic Operations Drive Cross-Border M&A Interest As evidenced by the increase in median deal size in cross-border tech M&A, dealmakers paid up with confidence. Cross-border acquisitions require businesses to navigate a distributed workforce, and the global pandemic prompted companies of all sizes to invest in the proper resources. “Integration will always have complexities like country-specific labor laws and regulations, but companies are more willing than ever to invest in cross-border diversification and leverage tools to manage a distributed workforce,” said Wellner. “Work from home is really no different than work from another country as it relates to workflow and employee engagement.” Download the Cross-Border M&A Monitor: Tech Sector here. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its global work platform simplifies the employer and employee experience through proprietary cloud-based workforce management technology, personalized expertise, and unmatched scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. The company offers additional services including Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across five continents. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details John Hall +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

August 24, 2021 07:02 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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CSG Systems International Approves Quarterly Dividend

CSG

CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS) today announced that its Board of Directors approved the Company’s quarterly cash dividend payment of $0.25 per share of common stock to be paid on Sept. 28, 2021 for shareholders of record as of the close of business on Sept. 15, 2021. About CSG For more than 35 years, CSG has simplified the complexity of business, delivering innovative customer engagement solutions that help companies acquire, monetize, engage, and retain customers. Operating across more than 120 countries worldwide, CSG manages billions of critical customer interactions annually, and its award-winning suite of software and services allow companies across dozens of industries to tackle their biggest business challenges and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace. CSG is the trusted provider for driving digital innovation for hundreds of leading global brands, including Airtel Africa, América Móvil, AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, DISH, Formula 1, Hutchison 3 Indonesia, Inmarsat, Mastercard, Maximus, Microsoft, Mobily, MTN, New Leaf Service Contracts, State of California DMV, TalkTalk and Telstra. To learn more, visit our website at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Copyright © 2021 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names which are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. Contact Details CSG John Rea +1 210-687-4409 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

August 24, 2021 06:30 AM Mountain Daylight Time

Blockchain Security Firm CYBAVO Raises $4 million in Pre-Series A Funding Round

CYBAVO Inc.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 23 August 2021 - Singapore-based blockchain security firm CYBAVO announces that it has raised $4 million USD in its Pre-Series A funding round. The round, completed in June, was co-led by global venture capital firm 500 Startups, Taiwan’s H&D Asset Management Company and New Economy Ventures. Other investors from Taiwan, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan also participated in the round. “The company intends to use the latest funding to fuel expansion in the East Asian, European, and North American markets,” says Paul Fan, CEO of CYBAVO. “The funds will also be used for continued investment in the research and development of cybersecurity and blockchain technology, and to further raise the level of customer and product satisfaction.” Digital asset custody and management is a USD $20 billion market, but not many companies offer end-to-end turn-key solutions for enterprises and institutional investors. CYBAVO offers these investors a solution to achieve frictionless adoption of crypto assets with a focus on digital asset security and regulatory compliance. This year, CYBAVO was accepted into 500 Startups’ flagship accelerator program. Through the program, it will have access to its global network of mentors, founders, and industry stakeholders. The company also opened its first European office in Luxembourg and completed Fit 4 Start, Luxembourg’s leading startup acceleration program. The program provided CYBAVO with tailored coaching, funding, access to key network connections, and advice on regulations and the market in Europe. In June, CYBAVO won first place in SelectUSA Investment Summit’s Cybersecurity pitching session, a program led by the U.S. Department of Commerce. These achievements further showcase the company's intent to deliver a successful international expansion. "The digital asset market has grown rapidly over the past couple of years, but the market lacks a secure institutional grade end-to-end solution. Thanks to the experience and vision of CYBAVO’s founding team, we think there’s great potential for the company to develop into a full-stack digital asset management platform," said Shawn Chu, Principal at 500 Startups. When asked about his insights on the future of digital assets, Managing Partner at New Economy Ventures Ethan Tsai said, “We are optimistic about the future growth and development of digital assets and blockchain technology and we are particularly interested in partnering with technology companies that can provide infrastructure for crypto assets. We believe CYBAVO can leverage its long-term technical and talent advantage in cybersecurity to address the huge market potential of "real assets to crypto assets".” “With an ever-increasing number of transactions taking place, cryptocurrency and digital assets are undoubtedly one of the fastest growing trends today. The protection of these assets is the basic building block of this industry, and one of the most important issues the industry must tackle is how to manage private keys in a secure and efficient way. I'm very glad that the team at CYBAVO can present an unrivaled solution for private key management. This solution not only provides security, but it’s also an end-to-end, intuitive and easy-to-use system that increases operational efficiency. We trust that CYBAVO's institutional wallet solution will make transactions in cryptocurrency as safe and convenient as transactions in traditional banking institutions we've come to trust. Here at H&D Asset Management we're happy to be a part of CYBAVO's growth, and proud to witness its journey to becoming a leading organization in the cryptocurrency industry,” said Chu Ping-Yu, Chairman of the Board at H&D Asset Management. CYBAVO is the leading provider for blockchain security solutions in Asia Pacific. Its extensive list of enterprise customers include cryptocurrency exchanges, fund management companies, cryptocurrency wallet providers, and fintech service providers. The company is insured by S&P AA-rated global reinsurance company, and holds certifications for ISO 27001 and NIST’s Cryptographic Module Validation Program. About CYBAVO CYBAVO was established in 2018 by a team of cybersecurity veterans with backgrounds in blockchain security, cryptography, computer security, malware analysis and web security. Its mission is to provide the most advanced digital asset custody by developing a custom security-hardened operating system, patented encryption technology, and a highly secure sandboxed environment to deliver its suite of solutions, including its flagship product, the CYBAVO VAULT. Contact Details Lucia C., Marketing Manager lucia@cybavo.com

August 23, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

"AI Day 2021" to bring together world’s top-notch AI experts and researchers

Vingroup

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach - 23 August 2021 - The online event AI Day 2021 – Empowering Innovations, organized by VinAI Research (the tech arm of Vingroup) will be held on August 27, 2021, aiming to unlock solutions to developing artificial intelligence in Vietnam. The event anticipates up to 2,000 participants, for the first time bringing together the world's top-tier experts in AI and leading researchers in Vietnam to share ideas and perspectives. The event will be held online for 2 days, August 27- 28, 2021. The goal of AI Day 2021 is to promote AI research, development and application; contribute to solving challenging problems in the socio-economy; and help Vietnamese businesses apply new technologies to optimize their competitive advantages. AI Day 2021 will feature 3 themes: “AI in Research and Development”, “AI for Innovations & Global AI Products” and “AI for Education”. In particular, the topic “AI for Innovations” will bring new perspectives on the application of AI in solving business challenges. Moreover, at AI Day 2021, autonomous vehicles will be introduced to the Vietnamese public for the first time in terms of technical aspects and approach, with in-depth analysis from AI experts. Key speakers at AI Day 2021 are the world’s most prestigious and influential AI researchers. One of them, Prof. Michael I. Jordan, the pathfinder of modern-day AI and Machine Learning (ML), will share his expert perspective on AI and speak at the first panel discussion on the morning of August 27. In 2016, he was named the “most influential computer scientist” worldwide by Science Magazine. Dr. Hung Bui (Director of VinAI Research) will join him in the discussion. The world-famous speakers line-up at AI Day 2021 also includes Dr. Oren Etzioni (CEO of Allen Institute for AI – the research institute founded by late Microsoft co-founder, billionaire Paul Allen), Professor Masashi Sugiyama (Director, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Japan's No. 1 Research Institute for AI), Dr. Marian Croak (Vice President of Engineering at Google), Royal Society Research Professor – Dr. Andrew Zisserman (Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford) and many other reputable experts. “Over the years, AI has become an effective tool that helps solve difficulties as well as create many opportunities for Vietnamese businesses. Despite possessing great potential, the development of AI within the country still faces many challenges. As a leader in AI research and application in Vietnam, we aim to bring Vietnamese AI research and products to the world. Through AI Day 2021, VinAI wants to build a sustainable bridge between the world AI community and Vietnam, at the same time, help research teams and businesses solve challenges as well as improve technical competency, gradually reaching out to the world,” Dr Hung Bui, Director of VinAI Research shared. This is the third time AI Day has been held in Vietnam, the event is expected to attract thousands of online participants. The innovations in the event program as well as the gathering of leading names in the industry have confirmed the constant growth of VinAI. Nearly 3 years from establishment, besides world-class research papers published at the top-tier AI conferences such as ICML, NeurIPS, CVPR, etc.,VinAI also laid the foundation for a future generation of AI professionals with the AI Residency program for outstanding university students. After 2 years, the first batches of residents in the AI Residency program have published 15 research papers at leading AI conferences. Nineteen full PhD scholarships at universities in the top 20 for Computer Science have been granted to residents, who are on their way to continue their AI research dream. VinAI is also the successful developer of advanced technologies such as the world's top 6 facial recognition technology, AI perception algorithm in smart cars, driver monitoring system, and AI technology for data management. These products altogether contribute to bringing VinFast upcoming smart cars to Vietnam and global markets. In the future, VinAI will continue to enhance the commercialization of AI products to serve all potential customers in Vietnam and global market, with the goal of creating products with great values and best experiences for users. “AI Day 2021: Empowering Innovations” will be live-streamed on VinAI Youtube channel for 2 days, August 27 and 28. Register to join the event here (https://forms.gle/LKzRY1H7L5sbZMEj9) to get a chance to receive prizes from the organizers. For further information, please go to: https://www.vinai.io/aiday2021/ #VinAIResearch Contact Details Vingroup v.nammh@vingroup.net Company Website https://www.vingroup.net/en

August 23, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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VinFast partners with Gotion High-Tech in LFP battery cell R&D

Vingroup

VinFast LLC and Gotion High-Tech Co., Ltd (China) - a reputable name in the global clean energy sector - signed an MoU, focusing on the procurement of Gotion LFP batteries and discussion of the possibility to establish a Giga Factory - the first-ever LFP battery cell production facility in Vietnam. HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach - 23 August 2021 - According to their agreement, VinFast and Gotion High-Tech will jointly carry out the R&D and production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. LFP battery is currently the most mainstream battery technology in the global new energy vehicle market, with unique advantages of high safety and long life. It is worth noting that LFP batteries can be produced without using expensive and rare materials such as cobalt and manganese that are harmful to workers and the environment. In addition, the price of LFP batteries is competitive, which reduces the production cost of electric vehicles, especially small and medium-sized vehicles. Gotion High-Tech is a leading manufacturer of LFP batteries for electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and other applications in China and across the world. The company has also had many years of experience in battery research & development and boasts thousands of patents and licensed technological applications. So far, Gotion High-Tech has founded 8 R&D centers in China, the US, Japan, Singapore, Germany and India. Chairman of Gotion High-Tech Mr. Zhen Li shared: "Gotion High-Tech will definitely use its cutting-edge technology and rich experience in battery manufacturing to fully support VinFast's electrification strategy. VinFast electric models equipped with Gotion batteries must also be popular among consumers. Let us work together to advance the development of the new energy industry and accelerate the realization of the goal of "carbon neutrality" between China and Vietnam and the world." For VinFast, exploring the local production of LFP batteries in Vietnam is part of the car maker's efforts to establish a clean energy ecosystem and localize parts supply. "The collaboration with such a prestigious battery manufacturer in the world as Gotion is among VinFast's essential action plans for developing its smart electric cars and complete supply chains. Our ultimate objective is to establish a clean energy ecosystem, contributing to cutting carbon emissions in Vietnam as well as in VinFast's global markets." – said Thai Thanh Hai, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup. To reinforce its electrification strategy, VinFast has been fostering collaborations with a number of prestigious partners around the world, including those from Israel, Taiwan, the US, etc., These ties are aimed at boosting R&D and application of the most advanced battery technologies, such as solid-state battery, extreme fast charging, new materials, new battery designs, etc. These technologies are expected to allow new batteries with high energy density, longer ranges for EVs, superior safety, longer lifespan, cost optimization and eco-friendliness. In addition, Vingroup has recently established VinES Energy Solutions JSC focusing on research and manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles. VinFast also has plans to build production facilities for battery and charging equipment in the US and Europe, as part of its global expansion strategy. By taking drastic actions, VinFast is gradually realizing the goal of becoming a leading global electric vehicle company and affirms its strong commitments to speeding up the trend of green transportation around the world. About Vingroup and VinFast As the largest private conglomerate in Vietnam and one of the largest in Asia, Vingroup is currently doing business in three core sectors namely technology, industry and services. In all sectors it has participated in, Vingroup is always a pioneer that leads market trends and creates world-class products and services of Vietnam. Find out more at: https://www.vingroup.net/en. VinFast - a member of Vingroup - is Vietnam's leading manufacturer of premium automobiles and the first Vietnamese automotive brand to launch in global markets. Established in 2017, VinFast's state-of-the-art, 90% automated manufacturing complex in northern Vietnam is one of the largest in Southeast Asia. Designed to be one of the world's leading smart electric mobility companies, VinFast currently produces several models of electric scooters and buses in Vietnam, and will launch three new electric SUVs - VF e34, VF e35 and VF e36 respectively of C, D and E classes - in Vietnam, North America and Europe in 2021 and 2022. About Gotion High-Tech Gotion is a technology-driven international company which focuses on power battery development and production. Gotion was founded in 2006 and went public in May 2015 as China's first power battery company to enter the capital market. Gotion specializes in batteries for new energy vehicles, energy storage application, power transmission and distribution equipment, and other new energy business, and now has 10 production bases in China. In addition, Gotion has built 8 R&D centers in Hefei / China, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Cleveland, Tsukuba / Japan, Singapore, Germany, and India. Gotion has more than 2,000 professional R&D engineers and scientists and has been granted 2,797 patents in different fields. #Vingroup #VinFast #Gotion Contact Details Vingroup v.nammh@vingroup.net

August 22, 2021 09:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Healthtech wearable glucose tracker Ultrahuman raises $17.5m in series B funding

Ultrahuman

Ultrahuman, the rapidly growing metabolic fitness platform, today announced it has raised $17.5 million, as it aims to help over a billion people in the world suffering from a metabolic health disorder. This brings the total funds raised so far to $25mn. Ultrahuman is committed to making metabolic fitness accessible to millions of people globally. The funds raised will be used for geographical expansion and to improve their biomarker technology. The series B funding came from Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI), which is backed by DisruptAD and managed by Falcon Edge, Steadview Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, Blume Ventures and Utsav Somani’s iSeed fund. Marquee founders and angel investors also participated including Tiger Global’s Scott Schleifer, Sandeep Singhal, Kunal Shah, Sujeet Kumar, Deepinder Goyal, Gunjan Patidar, Gaurav Munjal, Revant Bhate, Mohit Gupta, Vikram Dhingra and Roman Saini. The Ultrahuman Cyborg wearable helps people optimize their exercise and nutrition based on glucose biomarkers. The Ultrahuman wearable launched in June 2021 has already amassed thousands of users in the waitlist with users raving about their experience on Twitter after using the wearable. The metabolic health crisis is unarguably one of the largest healthcare crises that exists today. Over a billion people in the world suffer from a metabolic health disorder which contribute to almost 85% of all chronic diseases in the world. By helping people understand how food and exercise affects their metabolic health, people would be able to make informed choices about what they eat and their activity levels. The approach is a geography / diet agnostic way to help people eat and exercise better. A single biomarker like glucose can reveal so much about how a particular food item affects the user’s metabolic health by measuring the glucose response. This response is unique to an individual and it depends on various factors like their microbiome diversity, stress levels, time of the day, food ingredient quality etc. Ultrahuman was started by Mohit Kumar and Vatsal Singhal who were also co-founders at Runnr that later merged with Zomato. Mohit is an avid cyclist, biohacker and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast. Vatsal is a cross fit enthusiast and biohacker. Mohit was training at one of the largest MMA Camps in the world (Tiger Muay Thai). There he observed athletes train smartly via usage of data, recovery tools and protocols. He got together with Vatsal and they came up with a vision for Ultrahuman where they can make the journey of fitness for people more personalised and impactful. “Biomarkers will change how the fitness and the healthcare industry works. By being able to continuously monitor their biomarkers like glucose, users can not only avoid chronic diseases but make lifestyle changes that help them improve their fitness levels for longevity and performance, ” said Ultrahuman Founder and CEO Mohit Kumar. Navroz D. Udwadia, Co-Founder, Falcon Edge Capital, said, " We are excited to partner with Mohit and Vatsal, founders of Ultrahuman. We believe they can transform the way people view personal wellness globally. Their thoughtfulness around UI / design and consumer experience is inspiring. We are thrilled to back what could be a pioneering biomarker-driven global healthcare business. Their dual obsessiveness around product engineering and customer experience is already showing result in terms of product market fit and retention. ” Commenting on the investment, Ravi Mehta, Founder and MD Steadview Capital, said, “ We are excited to be a part of Ultrahuman’s journey as it takes what we believe to be a disruptive approach to personal wellness. Ultrahuman’s biosensor-enabled, data-first model, in our view, is the future of any personalized healthcare ecosystem, ” “We at Nexus are super excited about Ultrahuman’s biomarker based approach to build hyper- personalised diet and exercise journeys for users. We are seeing a very strong pull for Ultrahuman’s Cyborg platform globally and feel that it will be a foundational approach to personal wellness in the years to come, ” added Sameer Brij Verma, MD Nexus Venture Partners. “Mohit and team have taken their personal fitness journeys and translated them to a world class product and experience in just over a year. We expect Ultrahuman to help shape how health is proactively monitored across global audiences, “ said Karthik Reddy, Founder of Blume Ventures. About Ultrahuman Ultrahuman is headquartered in the US and India. It is the world's most advanced metabolic fitness platform. It helps people create long-term habits and changes via instant nudges and deep health insights instead of diets and strict exercise routines. For more information and updates on Ultrahuman, please visit ultrahuman.com Contact Details Ultrahuman Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com

August 19, 2021 08:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Cloud Conventions Introduces SafetyNet to Create a Virtual Backup Plan for Live Events

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions today introduced SafetyNet ™, a new program to provide a virtual event backup options for associations, tradeshows, event managers or trade groups that have a live event scheduled now or in the near future. SafetyNet provides a standby virtual event platform that can be activated if needed when attendance for a live event declines or if there is a requirement to pivot to an all-virtual program. A SafetyNet platform can be brought online in a matter of days without technical support or programming. Cloud Conventions is a sophisticated event management platform that redefines the attendee and exhibitor experience with a strong focus on delivering virtual and hybrid events, regardless of size or budget. “It seems like a repeat of 2020 as event managers, associations and other trade groups are struggling to decide if they should cancel their live event, shift to virtual or hybrid, or take other precautions to make attendees and exhibitors feel safe,” said Carolyn Bradfield, CEO of Cloud Conventions. “Any group hosting live events today needs a virtual backup plan that can be activated to ensure attendees and sponsors can participate in industry sessions, continuing education and still make connections that they would miss when they can’t attend in person.” SafetyNet maintains a low-cost Cloud Conventions virtual platform on standby behind a private login until required. It is hosted on a custom URL, is fully branded, customized and organized to host live or on-demand sessions, exhibitor and sponsor booths or provide a resource center for all event-related content. Attendees can be imported from a live event registration system and have their record transferred to SafetyNet including demographics and event access permissions. Sponsors are assigned a virtual booth template and configured to go live without technical assistance, in a matter of hours. “Now that live events have partially returned, many groups ask themselves if virtual events are worth it, so they only focus on their in-person event, often to their detriment,” added Bradfield. “A 2020 study of 1,000 respondents, ‘ Association Trends: From Disruption to Opportunity’ produced by Community Brands, details that having a virtual option for membership participation has changed from a nice-to-have to a must have. Some live events scheduled for the fall of 2021 are being abruptly cancelled due to on-going COVID risks. This is clearly an indicator that the pandemic is far from over. A SafetyNet option is the best insurance that the show will go on, no matter what.” SafetyNet is offered for a low, setup fee to create a fully branded and configured virtual environment. If the organizer chooses to go live with a hybrid or all-virtual event, the setup fee applies to the event package. Show managers can choose as much or as little assistance from Cloud Conventions to bring their event online quickly with all the features needed to educate and engage attendees. Having a virtual option guarantees a rewarding experience for attendees, better ROI for sponsors and ensures smoother event operation for organizers. Explore SafetyNet at: https://cloudconventions.com/page/139455/safetynet. About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions from Convey Services is Cloud Conventions is an enterprise virtual/hybrid event management platform that redefines the exhibitor and attendee experience to allow companies to provide easy access to in-depth product information, showcase their brands with graphics and videos, create calls to action and generate immediate sales leads. Used around the world for large managed events and smaller self-directed meetings, conferences and corporate kickoffs, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, continuing education, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Cloud Conventions supports multiple languages and currencies, internal, external and single-sign on registration, and supports all conferencing carriers and platforms. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Community™, SafetyNet™, Cloud Kickoffs™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 19, 2021 10:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Sharp, A New Sports Betting App Focused on Empowering Bettors Through Advanced Education, Officially Launches

Sharp

Sharp announced today that its sports betting app officially launched in both the App and Google Play stores. Sharp is a first-of-its-kind sports betting app, providing an all-in-one platform experience of multimedia content, tools and solutions developed specifically to educate and empower sports bettors to make smarter decisions and manage their actions. Sharp is the amalgamation of two industry giants, Win Daily and DFS Army. With more than 10-years experience combined, in understanding the needs, wants and pain points of sports bettors, the app unites Win Daily’s exceptional media content and DFS Army’s development of proprietary technology to create the ultimate sports betting educational experience. The Sharp app is currently free for download on Android and iOS. The anchor feature of the app is “Sharp Academy.” Sharp Academy is a multimedia masterclass that will teach all skill levels different aspects of sports betting. Led by sports betting expert John Alessia, Sharp Academy will produce daily content (podcasts, live streams and articles) providing tips, advice and strategies aimed at breaking down sports betting to its foundational elements. Sharp Academy will be free for the first 1,000 downloads of the Sharp app. “Even as sports betting explodes across America, there is a significant segment of the market that is still sitting on the sidelines because they aren’t educated on how to bet, what to look for or what success over time looks like,” said Sharp co-founder and CEO Kevin Epstein. “Apps leveraging innovative technology focused on user education and self-management are already second nature to consumers looking to strengthen their personal financials or health and fitness regimen - sports betting should be no different. With Sharp, we’ve created the ultimate platform of tools and content that we wish we had when we started sports betting.” Sports betting experts and company executives Alessia, Epstein and Jason Mezrahi will all produce content for the app. Additional noted sports betting experts contracted to create content for the platform will be announced at a later date. “In bringing together Win Daily and DFS Army, we bring decades of expertise that fuses the best sports betting content and experts with world-class proprietary technology that will continue to evolve and innovate as the industry grows and expands,” said Mezrahi, co-founder and COO of Sharp. “Users can expect rich daily content across the spectrum of sports and intuitive tools to help provide historical perspective on personal bets and real-time statistics to help make the best decisions for the bettor. There has been a dearth of sports betting educational products in the market and we’re excited for users to begin seeking value from the Sharp platform.” Additional app features include: Bet tracking technology Odds checking Team and player prop projections For more information please visit: https://sharp.app/ To download the app: App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sharp-app/id1557592668 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sharpapp ABOUT SHARP APP Founded in 2020, by sports betting and fantasy experts and executives from Win Daily and DFS Army, Sharp is a first-of-its-kind sports betting app. Sharp provides an all-in-one platform experience of multimedia content, tools and solutions developed specifically to educate and empower sports bettors to make smarter decisions and manage their actions. Follow Sharp on social media - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Contact Details HPL Digital Sport Michael Adorno +1 212-931-6143 madorno@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://sharp.app/

August 19, 2021 09:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

VTS NAMED TO THE 2021 FORBES CLOUD 100 FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

VTS

VTS, the commercial real estate industry’s (CRE) leading leasing, marketing, and asset management platform, today announced it has been named to the 2021 Forbes Cloud 100, the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world, published by Forbes in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures. VTS is changing the way that commercial real estate (CRE) does business — disrupting a $15 trillion industry by becoming the modern operating system for CRE— one of the world’s largest and least tech-enabled asset classes, offering solutions for office, retail and industrial owners and driving the industry-wide shift towards using real-time data to make portfolio decisions. “We’re honored to once again be named to the Forbes Cloud 100 at a time when technology has proved to be essential for commercial real estate to navigate the uncertainty the COVID-19 pandemic has presented,” said Nick Romito, CEO of VTS. “Now more than ever, tech has earned its place within CRE, and we’re proud that our products have provided the technology, support, and guidance they’ve needed to weather the storm. A special thank you to our team who have continued to innovate, develop, and deliver. This recognition is a true testament to their hard work and tenacity.” Following what was one of the most challenging years for the CRE industry in recent history, VTS continued to be a valuable resource for its customer base, which includes more than 45,000 commercial real estate professionals including respected industry leaders Blackstone, Brookfield Properties, LaSalle Investment Management, Hines, Boston Properties, Oxford Properties, JLL, and CBRE. In June 2020, VTS launched VTS Market & Marketplace, the CRE industry’s first integrated, online marketing platform that enables landlords and their agency teams to market and lease their available spaces remotely for the first time. In October 2020, VTS released VTS Data, the industry’s only pulse on what’s happening in the market today, capturing active tenant demand and projecting future supply fluctuations. In December 2020, VTS launched its free monthly VTS Office Demand Index (VODI), the earliest available indicator of forthcoming office leases and tenant sentiments, locally and nationally, representing up to 99-percent of new demand for office spaces within the core seven markets, including New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, and Seattle. In addition to the numerous, highly-anticipated product launches announced throughout the pandemic to help landlords weather the storm and navigate their portfolios, in March 2021, VTS entered into an agreement to acquire Rise Buildings, a property operations and tenant experience technology company used by top landlords including Blackstone, Hines, and CIM Group. In July 2021, VTS announced that the newly acquired product, now branded as VTS Rise, has become the most adopted tenant experience technology in proptech as VTS customers chose VTS Rise for their portfolios. As of July 1, 2021, over 300 million square feet in 161 cities and over 500 buildings worldwide are managed on VTS Rise. For the sixth straight year, the Cloud 100 reviews submissions from hundreds of cloud startups and private companies each year. The Cloud 100 evaluation process involved ranking companies across four factors: market leadership (35-percent), estimated valuation (30-percent), operating metrics (20-percent), and people & culture (15-percent). For market leadership, the Cloud 100 enlists the help of a judging panel of 34 public cloud company CEOs who assist in evaluating and ranking their private company peers. “The companies of the Cloud 100 list represent the best and brightest emerging companies in the cloud sector,” said Alex Konrad, senior editor at Forbes. “Every year, it gets more difficult to make this list — meaning even more elite company for those who do. Congratulations to each of the 2021 Cloud 100 honorees and to our 20 Rising Stars up-and-comers poised to join their ranks.” “The private cloud ecosystem continues to see historic rates of digital transformation,” said Byron Deeter, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. “Private cloud valuations are getting bigger as the market’s appetite for cloud continues to grow. These founders represent the absolute best in cloud computing today, and they appear likely to follow in the footsteps of our esteemed Cloud 100 alumni. Congratulations to these cloud leaders!” "How we work has undergone a paradigm shift and businesses of all shapes and sizes are reimagining the tools that are needed to ensure working from anywhere is a sustainable, long-lasting solution," said Alex Kayyal, Managing Partner, Salesforce Ventures. “The last 18 months have made digital transformation an urgent imperative and the cloud has never been more pivotal in powering our new digital economy. The companies on this list represent the leaders and businesses shaping the future of the cloud ecosystem and we are excited to partner with Bessemer Venture Partners and Forbes to honor these trailblazers of the industry.” The Forbes 2021 Cloud 100 and 20 Rising Stars lists are published online at www.forbes.com/cloud100. Highlights of the list appear in the September 2021 issue of Forbes magazine. The Cloud 100 and the 20 Rising Stars companies are publicly recognized at this year’s virtual Cloud 100 experience, hosted by Bessemer Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures, and Forbes on August 10th at thecloud100.com. A special thank you to virtual event sponsors Amazon Web Services (AWS), Bank of America, Cooley, FuelxMcKinsey, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Nasdaq, Qatalyst Partners, Silicon Valley Bank, and WisdomTree. About VTS VTS is commercial real estate’s leading leasing, marketing, asset management, and tenant experience platform where the industry comes to make deals happen and real-time data comes to life. The VTS Platform captures the largest first-party data source in the industry, which delivers real-time insights that fuel faster, more informed decision making and connections throughout the deal and asset lifecycle. VTS Data, the industry’s only forward-looking market dataset, and VTS Market and Marketplace, the industry’s first integrated online marketing solution, give landlords, brokers, and tenants unparalleled visibility into real-time market information and the direct connectivity to execute deals with greater speed and intelligence at every point in the planning, marketing, leasing, and asset management cycle. VTS Rise is the industry’s most comprehensive tenant experience solution, offering occupiers, building operators, and visitors an immersive, tech-enabled experience. More than 60% of Class A office space in the US and 12B square feet of office, retail, and industrial real estate globally is managed on the VTS platform. VTS’ user base includes over 45,000 CRE professionals including respected industry leaders like Blackstone, Brookfield Properties, LaSalle Investment Management, Hines, Boston Properties, Oxford Properties, JLL, and CBRE. To learn more about VTS, and to see our open roles, visit www.vts.com. Contact Details Elise Szwajkowski +1 212-402-3495 eszwajkowski@marinopr.com Company Website https://www.vts.com/

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