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The App Store Tax: How the App Store Limits Consumer Freedom

YourUpdateTV

Have you ever wondered why you cannot manage your account on many popular apps or why subscription fees are greater while purchasing through an app than through a website? One reason: the app tax. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/5JXDgYSgtzM App store gatekeepers deny users the ability to choose how and which apps you download onto your mobile devices, claiming security concerns. “It’s time to bring an end to monopolistic practices that stand in the way of an open, fair, and competitive digital marketplace. Congress has the opportunity to rein in Big Tech through the bipartisan, bicameral Open App Markets Act. This proposal would hold gatekeeper platforms accountable, increase fair competition, and benefit consumers across the nation with greater choice and innovation.” said Rick VanMeter, Executive Director for the Coalition for App Fairness. The Open App Markets Act would fix the broken mobile app marketplace by requiring mobile gatekeepers to allow third-party app stores and third-party in-app payment systems. Additionally, the legislation prohibits anti-competitive practices, such as “self-preferencing,” by banning app stores from engaging in behaviors that put their products at an advantage over independent developers and competitors. A recent survey found that 68% of voters think Big Tech has too much power and 79% support efforts by Congress to pass the Open App Markets Act and open up the mobile app ecosystem to competition. In California, polling showed that 69% of likely California voters believe Big Tech has too much power and 75% support the Open App Markets Act. Developers note that a 15-30% fee by dominant platforms, like Apple or Google, represents an enormous portion of their revenue, in many cases an untenably large one. Developers and creators want Big Tech to open their app store platforms so that any company can build software on their own terms and release it to people freely. For more information, visit appfairness.org. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

July 28, 2022 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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MuskMelon NFT continues to offer healthy returns

MuskMelon

MuskMelon, the latest hit craze in the NFT & Gaming Universe, is all set to launch its new game in Android & iOS prior to the launching date due to community demand. Non-Fungible Tokens by MuskMelon are being bought out in collections and are setting a new high for collectors even in these low times. Run Melon Run the latest super-fun NFT play-to-earn racing game announced today that it's Android and iOS versions will be available to the players by the second quarter (Q2) of 2022. All Melon maniacs will get early access to this much-awaited game and can start racing against time and dodging obstacles starting this month. The demo was released privately to early investors that gave an overwhelming first impression of the game and unlimited earning potential. Players can own exclusive NFTs as the Game Avatars which shall have their own special in-game skills that in turn would make the player eligible for special and higher rewards. In traditional prize gaming, players could only win rewards that were unique to that game. There was no way to monetize those rewards as they held no value in the real world. Run Melon Run, changes that outlook by allowing players to win real rewards that can be traded off for other cryptocurrencies such as ETH, USDT, BNB, etc. The new play-to-earn game model enables players to spend their free time playing exciting games and gives them the opportunity to monetize their time as well. Additionally, these assets can be stored, transferred, and traded on various exchanges as well as the Muskmelon platform. Neal Mathews, Project Advisor of Run Melon Run, said, "Run Melon Run remains a favorite for many of our investors. The said game will host the Melon NFTs and merge the utility of the Melon Tokens, enabling users with dual benefits. The game will be available on iOS and Android stores post its launch." MuskMelon is an ecosystem that wants to enchant the global audience with NFTs and immersive gaming possibilities. The platform prides itself on being a community-driven initiative to re-ignite the spark that brought the Blockchain-Cryptocurrency industry to life. Melons have a maximum supply of 10 billion tokens and are launched on the BEP20 and ERC20 networks. The MuskMelon community wants to ensure maximum public participation with an almost fair sale. For more information, kindly visit the website https://muskmelon.org/ Media Contact Brand: MuskMelon Contact: Neal Mathews Email: hello@muskmelon.org | Website: https://muskmelon.org/ Contact Details Neal Mathews hello@muskmelon.org Company Website https://muskmelon.org/

July 28, 2022 02:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time

DealCart enables affordable ecommerce for 220m Pakistanis as it secures $4.5m funding round

DealCart

With record levels of inflation around the world and households looking for savings on purchases. Social commerce platform DealCart has launched to provide them with access to affordable products in a gamified and interactive manner. In doing so, the startup is today announcing a $4.5 million pre-seed funding. DealCart unlocks value by enabling communities to 'buy together and save together' with a focus on providing national visibility to locally manufactured brands. It’s one the largest investments in the MENAP region for early-stage startups and comes just three months into their operational set up. The round was led by Shorooq Partners with participation from Fatima Gobi Ventures, Vibe Capital, 500 Global, i2i Ventures, Julian Shapiro, Rally Cap Ventures, Alex Lazarow and several strategic angel investors. DealCart founders Haider Raza and Ammar Naveed are addressing the unmet needs of the ecommerce marketplace in Pakistan by bringing value to underserved customers. Despite the burgeoning growth of smartphone and internet penetration, e-commerce usage remains low among the middle and lower middle-income segments that constitute the majority of the country's 220 million people (and primarily serving higher income segments). As such, the current e-commerce landscape in the country is skewed towards large ticket electronics, fashion and the convenience value proposition provided by quick commerce. With DealCart, the idea is to unlock value for the majority of the country that values affordability above all else. By allowing users to buy in groups and sharing deals on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, DealCart will empower customers and give them the ability to place larger orders versus buying alone. This will unlock lower prices and provide an engaging new way to shop. Founders Ammar Naveed and Haider Raza understood the need for their product through their previous experience in the tech startup ecosystem in Pakistan where they scaled and focussed on profitability. Ammar was a senior director at ride hailing app Careem overseeing the operations across the Middle East & Pakistan while Haider launched and scaled mobility startup Swvl in Pakistan in addition to building a tourism startup previously as a co-founder. They have a shared passion for social commerce and a drive to make an impact in the region at scale. Haider Raza, co-founder of DealCart, commented: “Pakistan has recently seen a surge in social media users, a phenomenon that generally precedes these users transacting online for their daily needs. DealCart seeks to use this opportunity to introduce their group buying platform with the aim to enable more people to get access to their favorite brands at extremely affordable prices. With our target market spending upwards of 50% of their household income on groceries and essentials, DealCart provides the already inflation burdened Pakistani consumer much needed relief”. Ammar Naveed, co-founder of DealCart, commented “Our focus from day one has been the long-term commercial sustainability of the venture; we want to create a business which has solid foundations and is aligned with the new reality of the global financial markets. We plan to do this by having a super lean cost structure, while expanding and growing the business primarily through our technology”. Omer Zabit, Principal at Shorooq Partners commented: “We are humbled to be partnering with DealCart and to be taking part in the take-off of this incredible journey. The founders' customer-centric approach and strong commitment to growth, make us certain they are the right partner to back in Pakistan's first group buying app. Given our deep expertise in consumer tech, we have no doubt that this will be a unique success story and are very excited to see what the future holds for DealCart”. DealCart is going after a $60 billion total addressable market and wants to build an institution that the regional start-up ecosystem can be proud of. It will deploy the funding to invest in further developing its engineering and technology capabilities that will build an intuitive product. The clear priority is to inspire the best talent to join this journey. Fatima Gobi Venture’s General Partner Ali Mukhtar commented, “Given the broader macro environment and the rising cost of living seen across the world, there is greater demand for solutions like DealCart that are enabling access to affordable daily necessities. We have high conviction in the team and model as it fits perfectly within FGV’s investment strategy which is to fund high-growth tech companies that have the ability to generate scalable impact. We look forward to supporting Haider, Ammar and their team and we’re excited to be part of their journey.” About DealCart DealCart is reinventing e-commerce in Pakistan. They are on a mission to provide first-time internet users with access to affordable products in a gamified and interactive manner. They unlock value by enabling communities to 'buy together and save together' with a focus on providing national visibility to locally manufactured brands. For more information please visit https://dealcart.io or follow via LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube Contact Details DealCart Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://dealcart.io

July 28, 2022 11:12 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Shine On with Summer Savings from DoorDash

YourUpdateTV

Let’s face it. Summer can be expensive. While pool parties and family outings are the perfect chance for some carefree fun, there is nothing free about them! Recently, TV Host and Lifestyle Expert, Ereka Vetrini, teamed with DoorDash to discuss some simple tips to help you save this summer. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: Consumers in the U.S. are facing the highest prices in decades, navigating rising costs at the pump, the grocery store, and just about everywhere in between. It’s never been a better time to think about some ways you can save some money during the summer months. This summer, Ereka has been relying on DoorDash. DashPass members have access to tons of amazing deals from some of my favorite neighborhood spots. It’s an easy way to save some money on the simple things, as members save an average of $5 or more on every eligible order. It’s super easy to sign up and new members will receive 50% off their first order. To make things even easier, DoorDash has launched their ‘Summer of DashPass’ savings event, which is 5 full weeks of amazing deals and offers that can help you navigate the summer months and save some money while you do it. With more than 25,000 different offers, worth more than $40 million in savings, it has been a great resource to help us manage costs while enjoying the things we love. Here are some of their best offers this summer: Daytime Fun - Seize the Summer | July 21 - 27 · Get a free Baconator from Wendy’s with a minimum purchase of $20 · Buy one get one free Chipotle Burrito or Burrito Bowls with a minimum purchase of $20 · $5 off with the purchase of one Coca-Cola Zero with a minimum purchase of $20 Block Party - Your Pass to Neighborhood Savings | July 28 - August 3 · $10 off 1 order from DashMart with a minimum purchase of $20 · $5 off from Arby’s with a minimum purchase of $20 · 30% off alcohol orders with a minimum purchase of $12 (max $15 off) Beach Week - Sand, Sun, Savings | August 4 - 10 · Get a free quesadilla from Taco Bell, with a minimum purchase of $20 · Get a free pizza from Little Caesars with a minimum purchase of $20 · 40% off from Albertsons with a minimum purchase of $40 (max $25 off) Road Trip - Save More and Explore | August 11 - 17 · 20% off unlimited fresh grocery orders and convenience items from DashMart (max $10 off) · Get a free milkshake from Baskin Robbins with a minimum purchase of $20 · 25% off orders $30+ from CVS (max $10 off) Back to School - New Routines, New Deals | August 18 - 24 · 50% off from Office Depot & OfficeMax (max $20 off) · 30% off from Grocery Outlet with a minimum purchase of $40 (max $20 off) · $20 off all other grocery orders of $40+ To get started download the app or visit DoorDash.com. And during the Summer of DashPass, you can sign up for the annual plan for just $59 a year, instead of the usual $96 annual fee. Now is the time to start taking advantage of summer deals. See full terms and conditions for these offers here. About Ereka Vetrini Ereka Vetrini is a TV Host, Lifestyle Expert, Brand Spokesperson, Producer, Blogger and proud mom of two. Ereka is currently the host of Lifetime’s Access Health. Access Health brings you the latest cutting-edge developments and innovations in medicine, nutrition and fitness, so women everywhere can take charge of their health starting today! She is also a regular contributor to NBC’s 1st Look and NY Live. As an on-air correspondent for NBC she covers the hottest spots to dine, travel and shop! Ereka was previously the host of TLC Sunday Brunch where she brought you the very best brunch & cocktail recipes, styling tips and so much more! As a mother of two, Ereka enjoys spending every spare minute running after her 9 and 7 year-old. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

July 25, 2022 04:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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FREE BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRCUTS AT CITY GEAR CUTZ FOR KIDS EVENT IN ATLANTA

Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett | City Gear and Staple host Cutz for Kids Back to School event at City Gear in Atlanta on Sunday, July 31, 2022 from 12noon to 4pm. The Atlanta City Gear Cutz For Kids event is one of 19 being held across the country to get kids excited about the new school year and going back to campus in style. There will be free children’s haircuts from local barbers, music, refreshments and fun for the whole family. The public is welcome to stop by on Sunday, July 31, 2022 from 12 noon to 4pm to join the festivities and kids of all ages are welcome to get free haircuts on a first-come, first-serve basis. “Staple is partnering with us on this fun back to school event to pump up the kids and the community about the new school year,” said Ben Knighten, Senior VP Operations, Hibbett, Inc. “The concept was created about four years ago by one of our Associates and has been so well received, that now the event is duplicated across multiple Hibbett and City Gear markets.” City Gear Atlanta is located at: 2685 Metropolitan Parkway, Suite B, Atlanta, Georgia 30315 About Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1105 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 35 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact Details Wendy Yellin pr@hibbett.com Company Website https://www.Hibbett.com

July 25, 2022 10:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

FREE BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRCUTS AT CUTZ FOR KIDS EVENTS IN BILOXI & GULFPORT

Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett | City Gear and Reebok host Cutz for Kids Back to School events at Hibbett & City Gear stores in Biloxi and Gulfport. Both stores welcome the public to stop by on Saturday, July 30 from 11am to 4pm to join the festivities. Kids of all ages will be able to get free haircuts on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Biloxi Hibbett and the Gulfport City Gear Cutz For Kids events are two of 19 being held across the country to get kids excited about the new school year and going back to campus in style. There will be free children’s haircuts from local barbers, music, refreshments and fun for the whole family. “We love to show support for our local community and hosting these events with our generous partners at Reebok will start the new school year off right,” said Ben Knighten, Senior VP Operations, Hibbett, Inc. “Cutz For Kids has been well received since we launched it four years ago and now the event is duplicated across multiple Hibbett and City Gear markets.” Hibbett Biloxi, 2650 Beach Blvd., Suite 21, Biloxi, MS 39531 City Gear Gulfport, 173 Hardy Court Shopping Center, Gulfport, MS 39507 About Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1105 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 35 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact Details Wendy Yellin pr@hibbett.com Company Website https://www.Hibbett.com

July 25, 2022 10:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Minuteman Press Million-Dollar Circle Member Michael Levy Grows Sales for Levittown and Farmingdale Franchises

Minuteman Press International Inc

Michael Levy owns Minuteman Press in Levittown, NY located at 3000 Hempstead Turnpike. In June 2021, he also purchased the original Minuteman Press franchise in Farmingdale, NY located at 324 Main St. Already a member of the Minuteman Press International President’s Million-Dollar Circle, Michael has continued his strong sales growth in the first two quarters of 2022, including record monthly gross sales in March 2022. Key Drivers of Growth When asked about the key drivers of his growth in 2022, Michael shares, “Some would say luck, I would say persistence, perseverance and simply being known to be someone who gets things done. While there have been many challenges due to supply chain issues for the past year or so, I was able to use that to my advantage.” Michael further explains how he has been able to manage and overcome supply chain issues, saying, “For example, I had a customer contact me for a job I had never done before but I had done other jobs for this customer. It was a huge job, for 150,000 each of two envelopes. Someone else, who normally does this job for them, was not able to get the stock. So, the customer called me and told me what happened and asked if I can help.” He continues, “I spent two days researching and I was able to get both items for them and deliver them when they needed. One of the suppliers was through one of the field reps at Minuteman Press International, so it was great I could leverage that connection with my franchisor. I ended up producing $25,000 worth of envelopes I had never done before, and they just recently asked me to quote their next order of 200,000 of each one.” Michael sees the wide variety of products offered by his two Minuteman Press franchises as another competitive advantage. He says, “It’s examples like that envelope order plus the other items we offer that most other printers do not, such as in-house screen printing, embroidery, dye sublimation, and stamp production, that allows us to stay busy and grow. Another key is to have enough customers ordering products that when one is slow, others are not. This is a key ingredient, especially with my larger clients.” Promoting the Return of Live Events on Long Island As more live events, concerts, ball games, and trade shows return to Long Island, Minuteman Press is well-positioned to pitch in and help promote them. Michael shares, “It is very nice to be getting orders for tickets, programs, journals, and most importantly, items for trade shows and community events. Promotional items and apparel have really picked up over the past 6 months and that is because these events are happening again. That certainly gets me excited to be able to offer such a wide range of products that cater to all of my customers.” As for what advice he would give to other Long Island business owners right now, Michael shares, “Of course, every business is different, but one thing all businesses must do is to market themselves. Marketing is a very wide-ranging word and can be done in many different forms. Simply wearing a logo polo shirt is marketing. In addition, advertising, mailings, flyers, business cards, promotional items, apparel, and anything you can put your company logo on are all forms of marketing.” He adds, “That is exactly where I, as the owner of two Minuteman Press franchises, come in and help. We can put your logo on just about anything that allows you to market your business. I always tell my customers when they ask, ‘What type of marketing should my business do?’, to try a little bit of everything and see what works best for your specific business.” To find your local Minuteman Press on Long Island, visit their brand new consumer website, https://minuteman.com. For Minuteman Press franchise opportunities on Long Island, visit https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 25, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

William Tillman’s ToT Partners retained to advise first-to-market IP for dating apps

ToT Partners

ToT Partners, a holding company operated by Wall Street veteran William Tillman, today announced it has become the exclusive sell-side advisor to The Code as the company pursues a strategic business combination that would leverage its powerful technology at scale. The Code is a dating application that uses facial recognition, biometrics, and artificial intelligence to curate and suggest potential matches. The company owns intellectual property related to the use of anthropology, evolutionary biology, and neurophysiology to drive matchmaking. Charles Sankowich, a serial entrepreneur and former commodities trader, serves as founder and CEO, while Stacy Schnieder, an attorney, legal analyst, and former adtech COO, is co-founder. “The Code is first-to-market with patented technology that uses facial recognition and artificial intelligence to calculate and predict physical attraction. This powerful, innovative technology can, as either a product or a feature, further improve the user experience on the apps that millions of people use every day to spark new connections,” said Tillman. According to a forecast from Grand View Research, the size of the app-based dating market is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% from 2022 to 2030, with the fastest-growing market over that period of time expected to be the Asia-Pacific region. Grand View pointed to high rates of divorce and separation among people in their 20s and 30s, the effects of the ongoing Covid 19 recovery, and overall population growth as supporting evidence for its forecast. About ToT Partners ToT Partners was founded by William Nicholas Tillman in 2022. The name of the conglomerate embodies what the founder takes pride in: Being a polymath and illuminating ambiguity through business and philanthropy ventures. Contact Details William Tillman William.tillman@totpartners.com

July 20, 2022 05:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Taking the Guesswork Out of Back to School Shopping:

YourUpdateTV

Believe it or not, back to school season is just around the corner. According to a recent survey conducted by Shipt, the same-day delivery company, nearly 50% of teachers as well as over one-third of parents and caregivers (37%) plan to begin their back to school shopping this month (July). Recently, Chief Business Officer Rina Hurst participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss everything students, parents and teachers need to know before school is in session. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/PmN6Dm7gqiY Known for their personalized shopping experience, Shipt recently polled parents, caregivers, teachers and college students to uncover the top must-have school supplies for back to school shopping. Rooted in insights from the survey as well as proprietary data, Shipt created the Ultimate School Shopping Checklist, a shoppable list of school essentials to guide consumers what to buy, and how to save, this retail season. According to Shipt's Ultimate Shopping Guide, here are the top insights to know: · Write This One Down: While pens and pencils might seem like an obvious choice to be at the top of your list, more than half of parents say these are also the items that their kids run out of the quickest during the school year, so take advantage of back to school sales to stock up now. · No Back-to-Back Backpacks: More than 80% of parents plan to buy their kid a new backpack ahead of the school year – and what’s more, they happen to be a great way to incentivize your kids to get excited about back to school shopping because they can pick out a new backpack that fits their style so start by picking out a new backpack so shopping is fun for everyone! · Classroom SOS: For those looking to lend a helping hand, the top two items that teachers run out of the fastest in their classroom are pencils and dry erase markers. · Keepin’ It Cool: Whether you’re hosting, studying or late night-snacking, don’t forget to add a mini fridge to your dorm room must-haves this school year. Almost half of college students (44%) report that they plan to purchase a mini fridge this year. Along with a Shipt membership, this is a great way to ensure your college kids are eating healthy all semester long. To find out more information on Shipt and to download the Shipt app, visit www.shipt.com and follow Shipt on social on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For visuals and media assets, download our press kit here. About Rina Hurst Rina Hurst is the Chief Business Officer at Shipt, leading the company’s Business Development, Partner Success and Digital Site Experience teams. In this role, Rina helps spark connections by delivering an easy-to-shop digital site, launching new and innovative partnerships, and building creative strategies alongside retailers and CPGs to continually meet their unique needs for success. Rina received her MBA from Georgetown University and her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech. About Shipt Shipt brings the store to your door. Through a community of Shipt Shoppers and a convenient app, Shipt provides personal shopping and delivery and is available to 80% of households in more than 5,000 U.S. cities. Shipt Shoppers go above and beyond, communicating in real time about preferences and substitutions. A curated marketplace of retailers, Shipt offers access to a variety of stores and product categories including fresh foods, household essentials, wellness products, office and pet supplies. Shipt is an independently operated, wholly owned subsidiary of Target Corp. Founded and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Shipt also maintains an office in San Francisco. For more information, visit Shipt's Newsroom. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

July 19, 2022 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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