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5 Weird But Cool Investment Property Ideas

Benzinga

Investment properties have the potential to bring in substantial funds while also appealing to an owner’s level of financial risk tolerance. These properties are purchased to generate income and are typically not inhabited by the owner. When researching the various investment properties, consider how much time and attention you will be able to commit to their maintenance and oversight. Investment properties allow you to expand your streams of income and create passive income. Examine fun creative investment properties such as haunted houses or houseboats that have the potential to expand your financial freedom at your own pace. 5 Weird But Cool Investment Property Ideas Investment properties are much more than the commonly associated rental homes with white picket fences. For more conventional investment properties, consider working with a property management company to oversee the property in an organized manner. However, if you crave a more creative investment property, contemplate a stream of income that can be both engaging and profitable by investing in weird, but cool options such as haunted houses and art galleries. 1. Tiny Houses Tiny houses are typically more affordable to purchase than larger-sized houses which can make them an attractive option for people interested in buying their first investment property. The market for tiny homes has increased in demand over the years and provides an avenue of opportunity for a creative investor. For example, an interested investor has the ability to craft an entire neighborhood of tiny houses. If such a project sounds too ambitious, consider the convenience of adding a tiny house somewhere on your property and renting it out. A tiny house on your property has the potential to bring in a steady stream of cash flow while remaining convenient and accessible to you in terms of management. Before deciding to build, check the rules for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) within the neighborhood. Interested in owning a tiny house? Get started with an investment property loan. 2. Houseboats and Campers Houseboats and campers have the potential to provide large profit margins during peak rental seasons. Consider popular vacation locations that can help boost the value of your houseboat or camper. For example, houseboats and campers near prime vacation locations or trending tourist locations have the ability to charge over $300 a night. Investing in a rental houseboat or camper can bring in impressive cash flow during peak seasons such as the summer. Keep in mind that houseboats are unlike other investments and usually depreciate in value over time. In general, houseboats and campers have the potential to draw in substantial funds when placed in the right location, properly maintained, and competitively priced. Interested in owning a houseboat? Get started with an investment property loan. 3. Haunted Houses Haunted houses have the capability to bring in a substantial amount of cash during the fall. Think about a prime location to draw in more foot traffic and remain in close proximity to other attractions. It’s possible to have a haunted house more than pay for itself after one impressive haunting season. It’s recommended to maximize the profits earned during the spooky season by giving yourself the longest amount of time possible to attract customers. For example, some horror events and haunted houses open as early as the first week of September. Consider purchasing a house that has an urban legend behind it to add to the notoriety of the property when it comes time to enthrall and scare guests of your haunted house. One main perk of purchasing a house that’s considered haunted is that they are frequently lower in price than the rest of the market. Of course, there might be a few hair-raising surprises along the way at such steep price reductions. Interested in owning a haunted house? Get started with an investment property loan. 4. Bed and Breakfast Bed and Breakfasts remain a growing industry that focuses on serving people that are interested in short-term stays. The beauty of a Bed and Breakfast (B&B) stems from an owner’s ability to make money in a pleasant and comfortable setting by charging individuals that wish to stay the night within the house. B&Bs frequently provide a sense of intimacy and calm in a building that offers a sense of charm. This comparative advantage often allows B&Bs the ability to be easily recognizable and marketed as a unique experience. When researching potential B&Bs, think about specific sights or attractions close to the property, the unique features of the property, and the total number of guests that you are interested in housing at one time. Happy innkeeping! Interested in owning a bed and breakfast? Get started with an investment property loan. 5. Art Gallery If you have a passion for art, consider renting out a thoughtfully purchased and designed space to artists. The art galleries are intended to showcase artistic talent while also bringing in funds. Usually, art gallery owners obtain income by renting out a space to artists, taking a percentage of art sales, and hosting glamorous events such as galas and auctions. An art gallery in many ways is a partnership with an artist so be sure to foster a positive working relationship. One important note to recall when creating an art gallery is the importance of quality space. The gallery space should highlight and attract a specific niche of the massive art world. Keep in mind that galleries have the potential to lose money due to poor marketing or branding. Invest in promoting your brand and image to spread awareness within the local area and garner buzz before you open. Interested in owning an art gallery? Get started with an investment property loan. Increase Your Income with Investment Properties Investment properties have the opportunity to be as fun and creative as you are. One perk of certain investment properties is that they can earn you money while the value of your property steadily increases over time. When purchasing an investment property, contemplate the level of time and effort that you are willing and able to commit to the upkeep and management of the property. For example, haunted houses that mainly operate in the fall will likely have different time and attention requirements than that of a bed and breakfast. Overall, investment properties can provide an alternative source of income in unconventional fashions that have the ability to accommodate a wide range of budgets. Frequently Asked Questions When researching interesting investment properties, combine your creativity with your financial knowledge to select the ideal property. If you have questions about a specific property or deal, consider speaking with a real estate or financial professional. What’s the down payment for an investment property? The general down payment for an investment property tends to vary depending on factors such as a borrower’s credit score and the specific type of rental property. A lower credit score will likely indicate that an individual will need to pay a larger than average down payment. Investment properties already have higher interest rates when compared to other types of real estate so purchasing an investment property with a low credit score might require a substantial down payment at a much higher interest rate. The reason that investment properties usually have increased interest rates stems from the understanding that people are more likely to default on loans for their investment properties before defaulting on a loan associated with their main residence. In terms of minimum down payment, it’s common to put at least 15% down. Keep in mind that putting down larger amounts for the down payment helps lower interest rates and can promote better loan terms. If possible, contemplate placing a down payment of around 20% or more to help lower the interest rates. How many investment properties do you need in order to retire? The amount of investment properties that an individual needs to retire depends on the properties within the local market as well as a person’s expected monthly financial needs. Examine how much you will likely need to obtain on a monthly basis to live. When calculating the number of investment properties that you will need to retire, keep in mind that passive income gained from rental properties generally decreases with standard expenses such as maintenance. In general, the market has no set minimum number of investment properties that a person needs to retire. However, a person can roughly calculate the number of investment properties needed to retire based on cash-on-cash returns compared to expenses. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 18, 2022 02:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Unocoin Collaborates With CleverTap to Offer Its Users Omnichannel Customer Experiences

CleverTap

CleverTap, the modern, integrated retention cloud, today announced it has partnered with Unocoin, India’s first crypto exchange, to optimize, accelerate their user engagement, and provide a seamless omnichannel customer experience. Through this collaboration, and by integrating CleverTap’s solution into its app, Unocoin is now equipped to better understand user behavior and has the ability to create segments based on user activity, demographics, and other parameters. Unocoin will also be able to create hyper-personalized campaigns to engage with its audience across multiple channels at the right time with precise communication. “As a platform that helps individuals with investments into cryptocurrencies, we need to be cognizant of the exact needs of our users. Understanding a customer’s behavior on our app becomes vital as this helps us provide a tailored experience. Since awareness and understanding of cryptocurrencies at large is at a nascent stage, delivering precise communication becomes all the more important,” said Suhas SK, Senior Vice President - Marketing, Unocoin Technologies Private Limited. CleverTap enables Unocoin to keep track of app activity, in-app purchases, and returning users. Unocoin will also be able to personalize customer experience using real-time behavioral data with precise predictive recommendations, leading to engagement opportunities based on each user’s exact needs. “We are delighted to partner with Unocoin in their journey to make investing in cryptocurrency easy for all. With CleverTap Retention Cloud, Unocoin will be able to hyper-personalize the experience for every investor. Today, hyper-personalization is crucial at every point in a customer’s journey and is a key enabler to growth. We are confident that with our help, Unocoin will be able to grow and offer its customers exactly what they need,” said Vikrant Chowdhary, Chief Growth Officer, CleverTap. About CleverTap CleverTap is the modern, integrated retention cloud that empowers digital consumer brands to increase customer retention and lifetime value. CleverTap drives contextual individualization with the help of a unified and deep data layer, AI/ML-powered insights, and automation enabling brands to offer hyper-personalized and delightful experiences to their customers. 1,200+ customers in 60+ countries and 10,000+ apps, including Gojek, ShopX, Canon, Mercedes Benz, Electronic Arts, TED, Jio, Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, Papa John’s, and Tesco, trust CleverTap to achieve their retention and engagement goals, growing their long-term revenue. Backed by leading venture capital firms, including Sequoia, Tiger Global Management, and Accel, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in Mumbai, Singapore, Sofia, São Paulo, Bogota, Amsterdam, Jakarta, and Dubai. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Unocoin Started in 2013, Unocoin is a Bangalore-based technology startup and is India’s first entrant into the bitcoin industry. The company operates India’s largest (in Indian customer base) BTC-INR trading platform which enables Indians to buy, sell, store, use, and accept bitcoin. At its peak, Unocoin processed transactions worth more than INR 2B per month for its 1,300,000+ customers. The startup has been featured among the Top 20 companies in The Fintech20: India List, and have won prestigious titles like ‘The Golden SABRE award’ in financial communications for the project, ‘Bit-by-Bit: Building Bitcoin in India’ and ‘TECH30’ award from YourStory.For more information, visit https://www.unocoin.com/in Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap's belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could amount in the actual result being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release or any related damages. Contact Details Sony Shetty sony@clevertap.com Company Website https://clevertap.com/

July 14, 2022 04:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time

SPARK Microsystems Teams with UWB Alliance to Test UWB Coexistence

SPARK Microsystems

SPARK Microsystems, a Canadian fabless semiconductor company specializing in next-generation ultra-wideband (UWB), and UWB Alliance, an international non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and growth of the UWB industry, have initiated a joint effort to test the coexistence and aggregation capabilities of UWB technology in environments where other UWB or other wireless protocols and radio devices are in use. This first phase includes testing the interoperability and compatibility of a pair of UWB technologies operating in a single environment simultaneously with UWB transceivers from SPARK Microsystems and other industry players. “Generating empirical data through scientific testing is critical for understanding how UWB devices can coexist with other devices,” said Benjamin Rolfe, CTO, UWB Alliance. “The testing we are doing with SPARK Microsystems will enable the industry to progress forward on collaborative coexistence strategies that optimize spectrum sharing while minimizing interference. It will also provide standards-making bodies with factual documentation to aid in amending or modifying spectrum rules, allowing more UWB-enabled solutions to come to market.” Preliminary results of phase one with multiple UWB devices indicate generally good coexistence performance, with the tested devices showing no measurable performance impact from other interfering UWB devices. Testing of multiple devices in aggregation was also conducted. Phase two will expand the coexistence testing to include UWB with U-NII devices in 6 GHz (802.11ax). The full results will become available shortly after the conclusion of the testing. “SPARK Microsystems and UWB Alliance together recognize the importance of coexistence with other wireless devices for widespread market adoption of UWB technology across various markets such as consumer, healthcare, connected cars, smart home and smart factory,” said Frederic Nabki, Co-Founder and CTO, SPARK Microsystems. “We anticipate the results of the testing will educate and inform cross-industry stakeholders on how UWB uses the spectrum in aggregation while coexisting with other radio devices.” About SPARK Microsystems SPARK Microsystems is a fabless semiconductor company that is leading the way towards ultra-low power wireless communications for consumer and IoT-connected devices. With its patented technologies, SPARK Microsystems is bringing to market a high-performance wireless transceiver that allows for orders of magnitude improved power consumption, latency and more accurate ranging and positioning, while providing higher data rates than competing technologies. For more information, please visit www.sparkmicro.com. About UWB Alliance UWB Alliance is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Washington D.C. dedicated to the promotion and growth of the ultrawideband (UWB) industry. The UWB Alliance promotes large-scale deployments of UWB technology by fostering the advancement of the regulatory environment for UWB technologies, providing a center of excellence for UWB education and coexistence, and promoting industry cooperation in the development of specifications and standards for interoperability. For more information regarding the UWB Alliance, visit uwballiance.org. Contact Details Rainier Communications Jenna Beaucage +1 508-340-6851 jbeaucage@rainierco.com UWB Alliance Steve Raymond +1 206-406-0087 steve@uwballiance.org Company Website https://www.sparkmicro.com

July 12, 2022 11:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Spiceology and Chef Alvin Cailan are Officially Declaring it “Flavor SZN” with New Line Of Spice Blends

Spiceology

Spiceology, a chef-owned, chef-operated company and the fastest growing spice company in America, today announced a collaboration and new line of seasonings with Chef Alvin Cailan, host of The Burger Show, owner of Amboy Quality Meats and Delicious Burgers, author of Amboy: Recipes from The Filipino-American Dream, creator of Eggslut and now the force behind Umami Burger. The new collection, coined “Flavor SZN”, includes four ultra-versatile blends that bring Cailan’s sense for great comfort food to life. “Burgers are synonymous with Alvin, so working together on a burger-inspired line to level up the classics was a no brainer,” said Tony Reed, Senior Director of Innovation and Partnerships at Spiceology. “It was important for both of us to keep these blends simple with recognizable ingredients that work well with all of your favorite foods. With just a few shakes or teaspoons of these blends, your menu favorites can become inspired, at-home staples.” Flavor SZN is minimalistic and nostalgic, with blends that emulate and elevate the simple everyday menu items like burgers, fries and chicken. But despite being minimalist, the blends are complex and all-purpose, intended to level up whatever you shake them on. “A good burger starts with good flavor,” said Chef Alvin Cailan who has traveled the country tasting burgers at the most classic burger spots. “But good flavor is an art. It was critical for me to create blends with Spiceology that bring everyone that good flavor, easily. The blends elevate everyday comfort food, and so we mean it when we say it’s Flavor SZN.” Combining Cailan’s Filipino roots and upbringing in California, his idea of flavor falls somewhere in between the two and beyond: Burger SZN ($14.95) - Start any burger (or really anything) with this solid foundation of salt, pepper and garlic and Cailan’s personal level up touch of ground Mexican oregano. This super savory blend brings dishes to life, including burgers, cauliflower steak, potatoes, pasta, rice dishes and hearty vegetables. Fries SZN ($14.95) - This blend brings side-dishes to the center of the plate. With salt, pepper, garlic, cayenne and a touch of sugar at its core, this blend has sweet and savory scents and leveled up flavor from celery salt. Besides fries, this blend elevates shrimp, edamame, sweet potatoes and nuts. Chicken SZN ($14.95) - Inspired by the flavors of Filipino street chicken, this blend is pungent in the best way possible. The slightly nutty, sweet and peppery taste of this blend comes from Annatto seed, an ingredient often in Filipino cooking. Try it on chicken, noodle soups, bok choy, pork and in dressings. Everything SZN ($14.95) - Paying homage to Cailan’s Filipino roots, this seaweed and mushroom-based all-purpose blend hits all 5 core tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami). Try it on burgers, mushrooms, soups, noodles and fish. The blends are available in 9 oz. jars and as a 4-pack giftable or sample pack. For more information on the partnership and the blends, visit Spiceology.com/collaborations/alvin-cailan. ABOUT SPICEOLOGY Founded in 2013, Spiceology is the fastest-growing privately owned spice company in America, who set out on a mission from day one to eliminate dull flavor. The chef-owned and operated, one-stop spice shop offers innovative signature blends and over 300 fresh small-batch ground spices, herbs, chiles, salts, confections, fruit and vegetable powders, and modernist cooking ingredients. By bringing both staple and unique flavor to leading restaurants and directly to your home kitchen, Spiceology aims to change how its community adds flavor to their food, for good. The brand is sold direct to consumers and chefs across the U.S. and Canada, with customers as far-reaching as Australia and Dubai. For more information or to place an order, visit www.spiceology.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For recipe inspiration, visit here. ABOUT ALVIN CAILAN Chef Alvin Cailan's career spans a multitude of successes. He has risen to become arguably the most high-profile chefs in America's Filipino food movement. He began his career expanding his craft in the kitchens of Michelin starred chefs Matt Lightner and David Lefebre. Following, Cailan garnered national acclaim for the Eggslut food concept which has successfully expanded to national and international locations. In the beginning of 2020, Chef Cailan opened Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers, the in-demand Los Angeles burger shop that quickly amassed a loyal customer following and in 2021 he became the name and face of international burger chain Umami Burger. Throughout his career, Cailan has focused on quality and taste to ensure the best experience for his customers. His flare for making great comfort food led to his role as host of The Burger Show which airs on YouTube and Hulu reaching a dedicated audience of food and burger lovers around the world. Alvin can be found on Instagram and at alvincailan.com. Contact Details Spiceology Cassidy Levine +1 908-770-7880 cassidy@spiceology.com Company Website https://spiceology.com/

July 08, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Beverage Industry Seems To Be Readying A Lineup of Summer Drinks For A Younger And Pandemic-Weary Consumer Demographic

Splash Beverage Group

As millennials rapidly displace Generation Xers and baby boomers as the biggest spenders in the food and beverage industry, brands are looking for new ways to stay relevant by adapting to their different tastes and habits. Meanwhile, a prolonged pandemic has given rise to its own beverage trends as consumers seek leisure and experiences that they can recreate outside of the traditional bar or restaurant setting. This summer, consumers might be ready to spend more for bolder flavors, premium ingredients and containers that can go with them on adventures they take. Subtle Notes Out, Bold Flavors In? When seltzers began sweeping the market a few years ago, they were capitalizing on demand for gentle, nuanced flavor profiles — hints of citrus and aromas of melon you found in sparkling beverages like Lacroix Group (EPA: LACR) or hard seltzers like White Claw. Now, some brands are reportedly differentiating themselves in a crowded seltzer market by moving toward bigger, single-note flavors that are more distinctive but still familiar. In February, for example, PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) partnered with Boston Beer Company Inc. (NYSE: SAM) to begin slowly rolling out hard Mountain Dew, an alcoholic version of some of the brand’s most successful flavors, to capitalize on this shift toward bolder but still familiar flavors. The news of the hard mountain dew launch came just months after Boston Beer’s sales of its Truly Hard Seltzer, a subtler seltzer, tanked in 2021. Similarly, Splash Beverage Group (NYSEAMERICAN: SBEV) reported that its sales skyrocket 71% year over year last summer of its Pulpoloco Sangria, the company’s wine cocktail featuring fresh, fruity flavors and bold spices infused in authentic Spanish wines. The “bold yet refreshing” sangria is sold in eco-friendly and portable packaging, capitalizing on other beverage trends, which makes the company optimistic that this summer will see a similar boost to the brand’s sales. The new biodegradable cans are made from 8 layers of paper, making them sturdy yet environmentally conscientious. Quality and Simplicity In Ingredients As younger drinkers shift toward drinking less than older consumers, they’re also seemingly placing increased importance on the ritual and indulgence of the experience. That is, when they do drink, they want quality ingredients and beverages that are free of artificial additives. They want distinctive beverages they can savor. That may be leading to a rise in natural flavor additives and premium ingredients. SALT Tequila, for example, is made from 100% blue agave plants, cultivated for 7 to 10 years before harvesting. Each of the three flavored tequilas uses natural ingredients to infuse those notes of citrus, berry or chocolate. On-the-Go Packaging As temperatures climb, pandemic-weary Americans are clamoring to make up for lost time by getting outdoors and meeting friends for new adventures. A 2022 Trends Report released by Viator revealed that 48% of all bookings made on the site last year were outdoor experiences, a major increase compared to 2019. The largest growth was seen in water sports, which rose 311% over 2019 levels as well as sailing and boating, which rose 122%. Those trends reveal an interest in experiences that balance adventure with leisure — lounging on the deck of a sailboat as you hop from island to island or relaxing on the beach after an afternoon riding jet skis. That uptick in leisurely outdoor adventures is also reportedly driving demand for more portable packaging for premium beverages. Some consumers say they want a sense of luxury and quality but also the convenience of single-serving containers and lighter-weight alternatives to glass bottles. The 2021 launch of Copa di Vino, single-servings of premium Oregon wines, hopes to help answer that demand with a 100% recyclable plastic package that comes with a splash-proof lid. The packaging is meant to allow consumers to toss wine in their bags for a hike or beach day without worrying about corkscrews or packing extra glasses. Splash Beverage Group, an innovator in the beverage industry, owns a growing portfolio of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage brands including Copa di Vino wine by the glass, SALT flavored tequilas, Pulpoloco sangria, and TapouT performance hydration and recovery drink. Splash’s strategy is to rapidly develop early-stage brands already in its portfolio as well as acquire and then accelerate brands that have high visibility or are innovators in their categories. Led by a management team that has built and managed some of the top brands in the beverage industry and led sales from product launch into the billions, Splash is rapidly expanding its brand portfolio and global distribution. For more information visit: www.SplashBeverageGroup.com www.copadivino.com www.drinksalttequila.com www.pulpo-loco.com www.tapoutdrinks.com This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Splash Beverage Group +1 954-745-5815 Info@SplashBeverageGroup.com Company Website https://splashbeveragegroup.com/

July 07, 2022 09:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Tim Hortons Camp Day is back on July 13th and 100% of purchases from hot and iced coffee support sending youth from underserved communities to Tims Camps

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons is proud to announce that its 31 st annual Camp Day fundraising campaign returns on Wednesday, July 13, when 100 percent of purchases from all hot coffee and iced coffee sales in the U.S. and Canada will be donated to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps to support sending youth from underserved communities to Tims Camps. On July 13, Tim Hortons guests can support Tim Hortons Foundation Camps with their purchase of a hot or iced coffee at any Tim Hortons restaurant. 100 percent of purchases from every coffee sold on Camp Day will be donated to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. Additionally, from now through July 13 th, guests can purchase a Camp Day bracelet for $2 in one of four vibrant colors with proceeds* from sales supporting Tims Camps. Tim Hortons, its restaurant owners and guests have collectively raised over $160 million throughout the 30-year history of Camp Day for Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. Since 1974, Tims Camps have supported over 300,000 youth between the ages of 12 and 16 through its multi-year development programs at its seven camps. Campers from Tim Hortons communities across North America receive school and community-based programming at no cost to them or their families. This rigorous learning model is designed specifically to meet their unique needs and works to equip the campers with skills like leadership, resilience, and responsibility, empowering them to open doors to their future. “Many of the young people we support have never had the opportunity to experience camp or travel outside their city or town. Our multi-day, overnight camp experiences are uniquely powerful in building critical skills in youth, and strengthening social ties and community connections that can help youth better cope with challenging circumstances,” said Graham Oliver, a Tim Hortons restaurant owner and President of Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. “We challenge young people. We help them see their best self. And we work with them as they carve a path towards the future they want.” Camp Day has grown to become one of the most important and cherished days on the Tim Hortons calendar, with all restaurant owners, team members and corporate staff dedicated to making each year’s campaign more impactful than the last. “The profound impact Camp Day has had in raising over $160 million in its history and supporting over 300,000 youth is a testament to the dedication and generosity of Tims restaurant owners and team members and the incredible support from Tims guests year after year,” said Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons. To support Tims Camps and Camp Day this year, guests can: Place an order for a hot or iced coffee at a Tim Hortons restaurant, or through the Tim Hortons app for pickup or delivery on July 13. For an even larger impact, guests can consider upsizing their coffee on Camp Day. Order a Tim Hortons Take 12 to share with co-workers or friends and family. A Tim Hortons Take 12 includes 12 small coffees along with cups, dairy and sweeteners. In advance of Camp Day, Guests can also fill out a Take 12 pre-order form in restaurant, so their coworkers and/or family can join in supporting Camp Day. Purchase a Camp Day bracelet for $2 in one of four vibrant colors, while supplies last, with proceeds* going directly to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. Make a one-time or monthly donation online any time at www.timscamps.com. *From June 29th through July 13th, 100% of the profits ($1.67 per bracelet sold) from Camp Day bracelet sales, and 100% of “round up” or "rent-a-tent" donations go to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. On July 13th, 100% of the purchase price (excluding taxes) of hot/iced coffee will benefit Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. For more information go to TimsCamps.com. For more information visit www.timhortons.com or follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @TimHortonsUS and Facebook at www.facebook.com/timhortonsus. About Tim Hortons Tim Hortons® is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of guest tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, teas and our famous Iced Capp® beverages), fresh baked goods, hot breakfast sandwiches, breakfast snacking items, and other food products. Tim Hortons has more than 4,800 system wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States and around the world. More information about the company is available at www.timhortons.com. About Tim Hortons Foundation Camps Tim Hortons® Foundation Camps is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1974 to expand the horizon of what is possible for underserved young people. A leader in youth development programming, Tims Camps support youth from low-income homes between the ages of 12 to 16 – an important developmental time that helps shape who they will become as adults. Through a multi-year camp-based program, youth learn skills like leadership, resilience, and responsibility, which empower them to believe in their own potential and change their stories for the better. With seven camps in North America that run year-round summer, school and community programs, youth are supported to thrive when they return home, to excel in post-secondary education, to succeed at work and to contribute positively to their communities. More than 300,000 kids have attended a Foundation camp at no cost to them or their families. For more information about Tim Hortons® Foundation Camps, please visit www.timscamps.com Contact Details Alison Brod Marketing + Communications Adrianna Lauricella +1 212-230-1800 tims@abmc-us.com Company Website https://www.timhortons.com/

July 07, 2022 07:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hong Kong Baptist University Symphony Orchestra to hold Annual Gala Concert featuring AI virtual choir, AI virtual dancers, and an AI media artist

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 6 July 2022 - The Hong Kong Baptist University Symphony Orchestra (HKBU Symphony Orchestra) will present an innovative performance showcasing human creativity alongside artificial intelligence at its Annual Gala Concert, to be held on 14 July (Thursday) at 8:00pm in the Hong Kong City Hall. Poster for the HKBU Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Gala Online Concert Dubbed “ A Lovers’ Reunion ”, the Concert echoes the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s reunification with the motherland. As the first human-machine collaborative performance of its kind in the world, the Concert will give the audience a brand new symphonic experience driven by the integration of cutting-edge AI technologies. The AI technologies developed for this performance are provided by researchers from HKBU’s Augmented Creativity Lab led by Professor Guo Yike, Vice-President (Research and Development). Professor Guo is the project leader of a research project entitled “ Building Platform Technologies for Symbiotic Creativity in Hong Kong ” – a HK$52.8 million research fund awarded by the Theme-based Research Scheme (11th round) under the Research Grants Council (RGC) for a period of five years. The team comprises Professor Johnny M Poon, deputy project coordinator; Dr Liu Qifeng, Associate Professor of Practice, Dr Xue Wei, Assistant Professor, and Dr Chen Jie, Assistant Professor of the Department of Computer Science at HKBU. The HKBU Symphony Orchestra will share the stage with an AI virtual choir to perform a newly arranged choral-orchestral version of the song Pearl of the Orient. It will be the world’s first AI choir to perform a choral piece with Chinese lyrics. The AI choir was developed and “trained” by scientists and artists from the Augmented Creativity Lab at HKBU. The team has also trained an AI artist to create a cross-media visual narrative based on the lyrics and music to accompany the choral piece. The audience is invited to share the AI’s imagination of Hong Kong as the Pearl of the Orient. Another highlight of the Concert is a ballet performance featuring AI virtual dancers in Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, accompanied live by the HKBU Symphony Orchestra. The ideas for the choreography come from the natural world, which provides dance movements inspired by a newly discovered species of box jellyfish in Hong Kong. In collaboration with professional dancers from the Hong Kong Dance Company, the AI-generated dancers have been trained to perform the ballet with movement-data collected by HKBU scientists. The Concert will also spotlight the artistic prowess of our award-winning student musicians in the performances of Saint-Saëns’s Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28; Borne’s Fantaisie brillante sur ‘Carmen’; and Lauryn Kurniawan’s Rasa for string quartet and gamelan. Professor Guo Yike said: “HKBU is dedicated to building a world-class AI art-tech platform that will drive a new revolution that transforms the creative and cultural industries. It will enable Hong Kong to assume a leading position in art-tech on the global stage. The first human-machine collaborative performance of its kind in the world presented by HKBU at the Gala Concert is an important outcome of the ‘Building Platform Technologies for Symbiotic Creativity in Hong Kong’ research project. It is also a milestone of AI research revealing the unlimited potential of human-machine symbiotic creativity.” Professor Johnny M Poon, who is also the music director and conductor of the HKBU Symphony Orchestra and the Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, said: “In addition to celebrating HKBU’s young musicians, the innovative concert showcases how the University is using technology to push the envelope of human imagination in the arts and cultural sphere. “By leveraging our established strengths in both the arts and sciences, HKBU is taking a transdisciplinary approach that will advance the development of the arts, culture and creative media in Hong Kong. Our art-tech research also enables musicians and artists to go beyond the traditional forms and interact with the audience in brand new ways.” Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office Wong Suk-ling +852 3411 2119 hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk

July 06, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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July 05, 2022 09:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP RELEASES SECOND ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT INTO THE SPORTS BETTING TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM

Spotlight Sports Group

Spotlight Sports Group (SSG), a global technology, content and media company specialising in sports betting and fantasy sports has today released its second review of the sports betting industry ‘ BetTech Ecosystem 2022 ’. After a positive response to the first edition, the 2022 version has been expanded by more than 60% with the visual now containing seven new sub-segments and 127 new suppliers. The BetTech Ecosystem graphic visualises the core six operational segments of the sector: platform providers, trading, e-commerce, data, content and iGaming. The number of service providers in each segment is as follows; ● Content: 114 (New providers added to the BetTech Ecosystem +75% YOY) ● iGaming: 80 (+56% YOY) ● Platform Provider: 47 (+27% YOY) ● E-commerce: 49 (+32% YOY) ● Trading: 26 (+13% YOY) ● Data: 70 (+63% YOY) For 2022, the visual is supported by an industry report and new for this year is additional commentary from five industry leaders (Chris Grove - Eilers and Krejcik, Josh Brown - PwC Harry von Behr - Spotlight Sports Group, Nic Sulsky - PointsBet and Camilla Wright - RedKnot Communications). This year, the panel discuss the value of the BetTech Ecosystem and where the industry is moving over the coming years in an exclusive webinar on Spotlight Sports Group’s YouTube channel. The study was conducted internally by a team of Spotlight Sports Group researchers and with the support of independent industry experts. The research focuses on the regulated European and North American markets. Discussing the second edition of the ‘BetTech Ecosystem’, Spotlight Sports Group Head of B2B Marketing, Alan Davis said: “We had an incredible response to last year’s BetTech Ecosystem and we’re delighted to be back with the 2022 version. This year we’ve made it bigger and better by expanding the visual and adding industry commentary.’’ Davis continued: “What we’ve found from this year’s research is that M&A might have slowed slightly but there is no lack of innovation in the industry. The visual continues to expand and while this is not definitive, we feel this gives a snapshot of the industry-leading into the new football seasons on either side of the Atlantic.” To read and download the full BetTech Ecosystem report and visual click here. For more information on Spotlight Sports Group please visit: https://www.spotlightsportsgroup.com #### ABOUT SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP Spotlight Sports Group is a global media and technology company specialising in sports betting content and data. With more than 500 staff, the business operates multiple award-winning B2C brands, including Racing Post, MyRacing, and Free Super Tips in the UK. In the US, we operate Pickswise and fantasy Alarm. Our other businesses in the group are ICS-digital and ICS-translate. Our global B2B division provides sports betting and fantasy sports content, including in-play, through the EGR award-winning Superfeed product. We also have media partnerships with leading global publishers, including AS in Spain. Contact Details Red Knot Camilla Wright +44 7968 166031 camilla@redknotcomms.com Company Website https://www.spotlightsportsgroup.com/en_us/

June 30, 2022 11:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP RELEASES SECOND ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT INTO THE SPORTS BETTING TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM