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BioHarvest Sciences adds key hires as company looks to ramp up CDMO Services Business Unit

BioHarvest Sciences Inc

BioHarvest Sciences CEO Ilan Sobel joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce two key appointments in the areas of business development and science to lead important initiatives within the company's newly launched CDMO Services Business Unit. Sobel introduced Matt Zrebiec as the Vice President of Business Development, tasked with driving the sourcing and closing of new deals for the CDMO Business Unit. Zrebiec brings with him 23 years of experience in the branded specialty, biotech, generics, and CDMO pharmaceutical sector, positioning him well to contribute to BioHarvest's growth and success in this area. In addition, Sobel announced the appointment of Professor Itay Mayrose as Senior Artificial Intelligence Scientist, who will lead development initiatives within the CDMO Business Unit. Professor Mayrose is a globally recognized expert in plant computational genomics, known for his multidisciplinary approach that combines computer science with biological research. He has been instrumental in pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in genome editing and evolutionary studies, leading to groundbreaking discoveries published in prestigious scientific journals such as Nature, Science, and others. These appointments signal BioHarvest's commitment to driving innovation and excellence within its CDMO Services Business Unit, leveraging the expertise of seasoned professionals like Zrebiec and Professor Mayrose to advance the company's strategic objectives and deliver value to its stakeholders. Contact Details Proactive North America Proactive North America +1 604-688-8158 NA-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

March 27, 2024 11:26 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nevis Brands releases financial numbers seeing a 44% increase in quarterly revenue

Nevis Brands

Nevis Brands CEO John Kueber joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce the company's financial results for fiscal year 2023 and the fourth quarter ending November 30, 2023. Nevis Brands reported revenues of $671,000 for the year, with Cost of Goods Sold amounting to $278,604. For the fourth quarter alone, Nevis generated revenues of $395,876, primarily derived from royalties received from Licensees in five states, while Cost of Goods Sold stood at $134,223. Kueber expressed satisfaction with the conclusion of the fiscal year, highlighting the significant expenses and charges incurred during the transition from Pascal Biosciences Inc., the company's previous business entity. Notably, Nevis Brands achieved growth in revenues and managed to reduce costs of goods sold in the fourth quarter, signalling positive momentum in its operations. Furthermore, Kueber emphasized the company's ongoing efforts to expand its revenue streams, particularly in states where Nevis is currently operating. He expressed excitement about the additional revenues expected from licensees that have been secured but have yet to contribute to revenues. Notably, revenues for the fourth quarter did not include contributions from Nevada and California, both of which are now revenue-generating states. Additionally, Michigan and Missouri are anticipated to contribute to revenues in 2024, further bolstering Nevis Brands' financial performance. Looking ahead, Nevis Brands sees significant growth opportunities for its major brand, not only through expansion into new markets but also through the introduction of new products. Kueber emphasized the potential for diversification beyond beverages into other edible products, underscoring the company's commitment to innovation and market expansion. In summary, Nevis Brands' financial results for fiscal year 2023 and the fourth quarter reflect steady progress and positive momentum in its operations. With a strategic focus on revenue growth and product diversification, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the cannabis market and deliver value to its shareholders. Contact Details Proactive North America Proactive North America +1 604-688-8158 NA-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

March 27, 2024 10:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ExpressGene Revolutionizes At-Home Genetic Testing, Competing Head-to-Head with Industry Giants

ExpressGene Lab

In an unprecedented move, ExpressGene Laboratory headquartered in Miami, Florida announces its entry into the competitive landscape of the American laboratory industry, standing tall among giants such as Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, and Clinical Pathology Laboratories. With its innovative approach to genetic testing, ExpressGene is not just joining the ranks but is set to redefine them by offering direct-to-consumer at-home testing services that break away from traditional models. ExpressGene's groundbreaking service model allows individuals to access comprehensive genetic testing from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for a doctor's prescription. This consumer-centric approach is designed to empower individuals with critical health insights without the barriers of conventional lab testing procedures. Breaking the Mold with At-Home Testing At the core of ExpressGene's offerings is the simple cheek swab test, an easy, non-invasive method that makes genetic testing accessible to everyone. This method paves the way for a wide array of tests, including but not limited to: Cancer Screening: Early detection and risk assessment for various cancers. Paternity Testing: Quick and confidential answers. Ancestry Discovery: A deep dive into genetic heritage and lineage. Health and Wellness: Insights into genetic predispositions affecting health. Pharmacogenomics: Understanding how genes affect a person’s response to drugs. Neurogenetic Disorders: Screening for genetic markers associated with neurological conditions. A New Era of Genetic Testing ExpressGene is not just offering tests; it's offering a new way of understanding oneself through genetics. "Our goal is to democratize genetic testing, making it as easy as ordering a book online. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to access crucial health information that can make a difference in their lives," -ExpressGene Team. With the launch of its direct-to-consumer platform, ExpressGene is challenging the status quo and inviting consumers to take control of their health in ways previously unimaginable. The company's commitment to privacy, accuracy, and affordability positions it as a formidable contender in the laboratory services industry. ExpressGene's launch into the direct-to-consumer genetic testing market is more than just an announcement; it's a call to action for individuals to take an active role in their health and well-being through accessible, innovative genetic testing solutions. For more information about ExpressGene and to explore our testing services, visit www.expressgene.me About ExpressGene ExpressGene is at the forefront of molecular diagnostics, offering a comprehensive suite of genetic testing services designed to provide insightful and actionable health information. Our state-of-the-art laboratory is equipped with advanced technology to ensure accuracy and reliability across all tests, including pharmacogenomics, cancer risk assessment, neurogenetic disorders, and prenatal screenings. At ExpressGene, we are committed to making genetic testing accessible and understandable, empowering individuals and healthcare providers to make informed decisions about health and treatment strategies. Our team of expert geneticists, pathologists, and laboratory technicians work diligently to uphold the highest standards of quality and confidentiality. With a patient-centric approach, we strive to deliver not just results, but also the support and resources needed to navigate genetic health. ExpressGene is proud to be an accredited facility by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), reflecting our dedication to excellence in laboratory services. For more information about our services or to request a testing kit, please visit our website or contact us directly. Our customer service team is available to answer any questions and assist with your genetic testing needs. At ExpressGene, your health is our priority, and we are dedicated to providing you with the highest level of service and care. For Press Inquires: AlphaBull PR (800) 530-0412 www.Pubcowire.com Contact Details Express Gene Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory Customer Service +1 786-250-3419 info@expressgene.us Company Website https://www.expressgene.me

March 27, 2024 09:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Ondine Biomedical achieves milestone with NHS trust's adoption of Steriwave

Ondine Biomedical Inc

Ondine Biomedical Inc Vice President of Sales & Marketing Matt Ross joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion after the company sealed its first commercial deal with an NHS trust, starting with the Pontefract and Pinderfields hospitals. This follows a successful 500-patient elective hip and knee surgical quality initiative at Pontefract, leading to its adoption across the two hospitals. The company aims to develop a business case with York health economics group and Mid Yorkshire for broader NHS adoption, based on the successful outcomes and health economics work. Ross also highlighted Ondine's commercial momentum, including the deployment of Steriwave in eight new healthcare facilities and a growing international presence, now spanning 22 facilities in Canada and expanding in the UK and Spain. The success is attributed partly to Steriwave's effectiveness in reducing the need for antibiotics, as demonstrated in a UK study, and its alignment with antimicrobial resistance efforts. Ondine plans to continue expanding in European markets, capitalize on its success in Canada, and explore potential in the United States through FDA phase three trials. Contact Details Proactive North America Proactive North America +1 604-688-8158 NA-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

March 27, 2024 09:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Timothy Applegate Elected as Board Chair Elect for National Contract Management Association

National Contract Management Association

The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), dedicated to advancing the contract management profession, proudly announces the appointment of Timothy Applegate as its Board Chair for Program Year 2026, that begins July 1, 2025. A retired Colonel in the United States Air Force, Mr. Applegate brings over 36 years of acquisition and contracting expertise to the role. Mr. Applegate is currently a distinguished member of the Senior Executive Service and Director of the Acquisition Management and Integration Center at Headquarters Air Combat Command (ACC), where he is responsible for overseeing a total acquisition portfolio exceeding $20 billion. A devoted member of NCMA since 1992, an NCMA Certified Professional Contract Manager™ (CPCM™) certificant, Board Member (2018- 2021 and 2023-2024), and Board Advisor (2021-2022), Mr. Applegate is a dedicated and long-standing champion of NCMA and the role it plays in the advancement of the contract management profession. "It is a privilege to serve alongside such esteemed colleagues and I look forward to working with the NCMA's dedicated members and partners,” said Mr. Applegate. Kraig Conrad, CEO of NCMA, added, "Tim's wealth of experience and expertise is truly invaluable to meet our strategic objectives. Over the past six years, he has been instrumental in fostering the growth and evolution of our association through his dedicated service. I am eager to collaborate with him to advance our Common Language Initiative and expand our partnerships to elevate the profession with international standards.” With Mr. Applegate assuming the role of Board Chair-Elect, NCMA is poised to further enhance its programs and standards, ensuring that practitioners receive unparalleled support and opportunities for professional development and certification. The entire NCMA community eagerly looks forward to the transformative leadership that Mr. Applegate will bring to the organization. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) – www.ncmahq.org – has grown as a professional society whose mission is to collaborate towards a globally recognized contract management profession that strengthens its nexus with related acquisition communities. Serving approximately 20,000 members in both the public and private sectors, NCMA propels the growth, advancement, and impact of practitioners through a steadfast commitment to serve through the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. Contact Details National Contract Management Assocation Holly DeHesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org

March 26, 2024 06:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Adin Avertising Technology Announces AI-Based Approach to Digital Media Planning - Adin.Ai

Spark Metro PR

In an era marked by challenges in transparency and efficiency, Adin.Ai disrupts the traditional media planning sector by emerging as a beacon of innovation, transforming the landscape of media planning through its AI-based advertising intelligence platform. With unparalleled precision and strategy, Adin.Ai revolutionizes planning processes across TV and digital platforms. The Visionary Team Behind Adin.Ai's Success At the helm of Adin.Ai's ground-breaking platform is an esteemed team of industry pioneers, led by the renowned entrepreneur Serhat Gurcu, a five-time honoree on the Fortune 40 Under 40 list. Partnering with Gurcu is Prof. Altan Cakır, a luminary in data science and artificial intelligence. Together with other esteemed founding partners, including visionary 2 CTOs, a PhD holder, a rising star female co-founder in media, and another female co-founder who is one of the Fast Company Female Founders for 3 years in a row, Adin.Ai stands poised at the forefront of the industry. Innovative Technology Drives Enhanced Transparency Adin.Ai's integration of AI and blockchain technology ensures an unprecedented level of transactional transparency. Through Adin.trust, each transaction is securely recorded, instilling advertisers with the confidence needed to invest in their media planning strategies. Industry Recognition and Collaborative Ventures Fast Company's recognition of Adin.Ai on both its Most Innovative Companies and Startup 100 lists underscores the company's impact. Additionally, AWS lauds Adin.Ai's proactive adoption of emerging cloud and AI technologies, particularly its utilization of generative AI, a testament to Adin.Ai's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. The collaboration between Adin.Ai and AWS engineers has resulted in a unique amalgamation of different AWS modules, harmoniously working together to enhance Adin.Ai's capabilities. With AWS's validation of its technology and an upcoming collaboration with KPMG, Adin.Ai is primed to further its influence on global media transparency. Stellar Financial Performance Foreshadows Success In its Proof of Concept (POC) year, Adin.Ai generated an impressive revenue of 300K USD, setting a robust foundation for its future endeavors. Subsequently, in its first official year, the company achieved an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of 2.4M USD, alongside a Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) of 200K USD. Notably, 70% of this revenue was generated in Turkey, a testament to Adin.Ai's resilience amid currency fluctuations. Additionally, the company reported 11 M USD Billings in its first year, indicating strong growth and market demand for its innovative solutions. Explosive Growth in Competitive Markets Adin.Ai's strategic focus on expansion across Europe and the UK has yielded exceptional results, with a staggering 700% growth compared to the previous year. This exponential growth underscores Adin.Ai's strong business model and the burgeoning demand for innovative AI solutions in media planning. Rapid Expansion and Global Ambitions With its remarkable revenue achievements and unprecedented growth rate, Adin.Ai is poised to emerge as the preeminent interface for advertisers worldwide. The company's sights are set on further expansion and solidifying its status as a USA-established company, with Istanbul serving as the operational hub for the Europe, UK, and EMEA region, and London as the headquarters for Europe. This strategic positioning, coupled with global acclaim, sets new benchmarks for excellence in the industry. Adin.Ai is strategically positioned to shape the future of advertising, where AI-based decisions redefine the landscape. Client Success Stories Adin.Ai's transformative impact is evident through the success stories of its clients. A FINTECH company from Spain achieved a remarkable 30% reduction in Cost Per Acquisition, while the largest private bank in Turkey witnessed a substantial 70% increase in Viewability. Additionally, a fashion company from the UK experienced a significant 64% boost in Return on Ad Spend (ROAS), and a gaming company from the Netherlands successfully mitigated display ad fraud by 52%. These results underscore Adin.Ai's commitment to driving tangible outcomes for its clients across diverse industries. Adin.Ai as the AI-Based Digital Advertising Platform for Enterprise Advertisers: Maximize Ad Return up to 5X; Minimize Effort up to 100X. With Adin.Ai, advertisers gain access to a cutting-edge platform that maximizes ad returns up to 5 times while minimizing effort up to 100 times. Our revolutionary AI-driven approach to digital media planning empowers advertisers to achieve unparalleled success in their campaigns. For further insights into Adin.Ai's journey and services, visit www.adin.ai Founders of the Company: Serhat Gürcü: LinkedIn Profile Prof. Altan Çakır: LinkedIn Profile Selin Ergin: LinkedIn Profile Halil Faruk Deniz: LinkedIn Profile Özgün Akın: LinkedIn Profile Seden Gürcü: LinkedIn Profile SOURCE: Adin.Ai Contact Details Adin.ai Seden Gurcu +90 533 476 96 49 Seden@adin.ai Company Website https://adin.ai/

March 26, 2024 11:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Tennr puts fax machines back in vogue for healthcare organizations using AI, as it secures $18m from a16z

Tennr

Fax machines are older than telephones and the internet. Despite being a legacy technology, the healthcare industry still sends 9 billion faxes a year because they are more reliable than telephone calls and emails. While most startups have been trying to digitize faxes out of existence, Tennr has raised $18M to bridge healthcare’s problems in an unconventional way: working with, not against, the fax machine. Tennr’s $18m series A funding round was led by a16z with participation from Foundation Capital and The New Normal Fund. Other investors (from the seed round) include YCombinator, Zaza Pachulia, Jennifer Kaehms, and other notable health and AI focused investors. With this funding round, Tennr has now raised over $25m. Tennr’s founders, Trey Holterman, Diego Baugh, and Tyler Johnson, met as freshmen at Stanford where they worked together studying machine learning. They saw early on how good contextual models were becoming at doing repetitive, manual tasks and how much power this had to ‘magic away’ busywork in traditional industries. After graduation, the team dedicated years to building powerful, robust systems for reading unstructured documents, automating data entry, and applying them specifically to healthcare. Today, practices nationwide are using Tennr to automate referral processing, payment posting, claims auditing, medical record management and more. Many thought faxes would face their end in 2009 when the HITECH Act put $27 billion towards encouraging healthcare to use EHRs, become “paperless,” and set up integrations. Fifteen years later, most providers and hospitals have implemented EHRs, but still default to e-faxing for sending or receiving patient records, audit requests, and referrals back to coordinate patient care. This manual work triggers an endless cascade of issues for practices: it’s time-consuming, takes longer for patients to receive critical care, is vulnerable to human error, leads to expensive claim denials, creates needless back-and-forth between practices delaying care, and increases employee burnout and turnover. While most products that streamline healthcare workflows attempt to sever the dependency on faxes, Tennr is taking a different approach. Instead of expecting practices to change, Tennr meets them where they are — working inside the solution they already know and trust. When a practice receives a digital fax through email or their EHR inbox, Tennr reads the documents and automates the work associated with processing them. This act of finding and moving information quicker and with more accuracy resolves most of the problems digital faxes cause. For example, when a patient is referred from a primary care provider to a specialty practice through a faxed referral, Tennr, in real time, extracts the key patient information and coordinates with the patient so they can be scheduled quickly and accurately; if a fax or referral is incomplete, Tennr automatically requests the missing information. As a result, patients get the care they need, allowing practices to maintain stronger referral relationships, provide continuity of care and improve patient outcomes. “When building Tennr and this healthcare integration, we looked at what’s actually needed and saw what was possible with technology. Our number one integration today is across fax providers, on-prem file storage systems and EHRs from the 90s. And this is the real life need of the industry. But beyond that, what people miss the most in all of this is that it’s not about just automating work or making teams faster. Lots of people can build tools that make admins marginally faster–that just doesn’t move the needle. Instead, our research team is building models based around this very complex information flow, being able to parse it for one practice at a time, and then do the work so well that you can turn it into very clear growth for a business. And yes, the e-fax ends up being in the middle of it all,” said Trey Holterman, CEO and co-founder of Tennr. Insurance denials are often the result of poor or unclear information which impacts the provider and patient. Tennr works on both sides of the insurance/provider relationship, automating the flow of information to commercial payors, as well as reading the information that’s returned. Ultimately, this helps service providers catch and correct wrong information before they submit to a commercial payor. Moreover, when Tennr identifies wrong information it’s able to request the correct information, in the correct format – minimizing insurance denials and helping practices get paid faster. And since Tennr is automating this work, there are no manual errors, less employee burnout, and crucially, returns time back to staff. The hard part is of course, actually reading the faxes, and integrating with archaic systems. Documents that can be many pages long with dozens of patients attached are unstructured, messy blobs of data that are nearly impossible for computers to work with. To make matters worse, actually getting data where it needs to go (onto an electronic health records system) requires maintaining integrations with archaic and fragmented systems. Rommy Foteh, the Chief Operations Officer at NMA, a national specialty practice serving tens of thousands of patients a month said: “it's been about effectively seeing more patients while being the kind of partner our customers need. When we’re able to respond to our partners as quickly as we do now using Tennr, and ensure we have everything we need to see a patient, those patients remember their great experience with NMA, encouraging our surgeons and hospitals to continue to refer to us.” Commercial health plans like Prominence Health have begun to excitedly embrace this new technology as well, seeing it as a driver for better experiences for providers which means a better experience for patients subscribed to Prominence Health. Dominic Henriquez, Chief Development Officer at Prominence Health said, “At Prominence Health, we lead the charge in innovating value-based care, constantly seeking disruptive technologies to enhance operational efficiency. The Tennr product seamlessly aligns with our mission to deliver higher value to our customers. By eliminating traditional administrative burdens like scanning medical records and data entry, Tennr enables us to prioritize elevating patient experiences, improving health outcomes, and enhancing care coordination.” Cleaning up the messy data coming in from faxes to automate patient intake and insurance communications is just the beginning of Tennr’s vision. If Tennr can read faxes, understand what information needs to be extracted from them, and where that information needs to go, it can chip away at many of the most costly problems within the US health system. For now, Tennr is using this investment to grow its team, scale its operations, and help organizations automate everything that starts with a fax. “Amidst the theoretically unbounded possibilities of AI, the Tennr team has impressed us with their unwavering focus on building applications solving specific, tangible problems for their customers, said Kristina Shen, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. About Tennr Based in New York, Tennr automates the messy, painful, manual work holding healthcare organizations back from seeing more patients, increasing revenue, and growing their business. These automations are configurable to the intricacies of each organization’s workflows – meaning they can perform exactly the way a human would, using a practice’s existing tools. As a result, organizations can automate any work that begins with a fax without migrating to a new tool or increasing their headcount. These organizations can also use the data Tennr structures to take advantage of trends that can grow their practice. Learn more at https://www.tennr.com/ About a16z Andreessen Horowitz (aka a16z) is a venture capital firm that backs bold entrepreneurs building the future through technology. We are stage agnostic. We invest in seed to venture to growth-stage technology companies, across AI, bio + healthcare, consumer, crypto, enterprise, fintech, games, and companies building toward American dynamism. a16z has $35B in assets under management across multiple funds. Contact Details Tennr Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.tennr.com/

March 26, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Classiq Advances the HPC Quantum Computing Stack by Integrating Classiq’s Engine with NVIDIA CUDA-Q

Classiq Technologies

Classiq, a leader in quantum computing software, today announced it is integrating Classiq’s software with the NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform, which was announced by NVIDIA at its GTC conference last week. This integration facilitates a streamlined process for researchers working with CUDA-Q to generate, analyze and execute quantum circuits. It supports a wide range of quantum applications, including simulations and machine learning​​. The Classiq true compilation technology enables quantum circuit synthesis that automates the implementation of quantum programs. This capability enables the development process for quantum software and ensures that the generated programs are finely tuned for execution on a broad range of quantum hardware, as well as NVIDIA GPUs. Previously, NVIDIA, Rolls Royce and Classiq demonstrated a breakthrough in quantum computational fluid dynamics (CFD) by designing and simulating the largest quantum program to date. Classiq also launched a Quantum Computing for Life Sciences & Healthcare Center in collaboration with NVIDIA. “Classiq’s technology lies at the heart of quantum computing and provides a powerful conduit between high-performance computing (HPC) users and quantum computing implementation,” said Nir Minerbi, CEO of Classiq. “We’re well-known for our popular quantum development platform, and this integration demonstrates Classiq’s focus on ensuring today’s CUDA-Q and HPC users benefit from seamless access to automatic production of optimized quantum and hybrid quantum-classical algorithms.” Classiq is leveraging its technology to bridge HPC and quantum computation. From simulation to deploying hybrid quantum-classical algorithms to enhanced data processing, this convergence is accelerating as the two advanced computation sectors grow closer. Classiq provides the ideal combination of libraries, functions and automation to support this hybrid HPC-quantum computation space. HPC and quantum computing are increasingly connected through the deployment of hybrid algorithms, co-location of hardware and an emerging talent pool of expert hybrid developers. Classiq makes quantum computing tools more accessible to the global research community, addressing the need to tackle complex problems across various domains such as healthcare, materials science, engineering and finance​​. Meet Classiq next at the International Supercomputing 2024 conference running May 12-16th in Hamburg, Germany. About Classiq Classiq Technologies, the leading quantum software company, provides an all-encompassing platform (IDE, compiler and OS) with a single point of entry into quantum computing, taking users from algorithm design to execution. The high-level descriptive quantum software development environment, tailored to all levels of developer proficiency, automates quantum programming. This ensures that a broad range of talents, including those with backgrounds in AI, ML and linear algebra, can harness quantum computing without requiring deep, specialized knowledge of quantum physics. Classiq democratizes access to quantum computing and equips its users to take full advantage of the quantum computing revolution, including access to a broad range of quantum hardware. Classiq’s core technology, algorithmic quantum circuit compilation, is engineered to power the quantum ecosystem of today and the future. Classiq works closely with quantum cloud providers and advanced computation hardware developers providing software for use with quantum computers, HPC and quantum simulators. Backed by powerful investors such as HPE, HSBC, Samsung, Intesa Sanpaolo and NTT, Classiq’s world-class team of scientists and engineers has distilled decades of quantum expertise into its groundbreaking software development platform. Follow Classiq on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter) or YouTube, join the Slack community, or try the Classiq platform. Contact Details Rainier Communications Michelle Allard McMahon +1 781-718-3248 classiqPR@rainierco.com Company Website http://www.classiq.io/

March 26, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NAVEX 2024 Global Incident Management Benchmark Study Reveals Significant Third-Party Reporting to Companies

NAVEX Global

NAVEX, the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software, has released its 2024 Whistleblowing & Incident Management Benchmark Report. The annual benchmark report offers valuable insights into workplace culture, analyzing trends from 1.86 million global reports spanning thousands of organizations that together employ more than 50 million employees. Amid a record number of tips to the SEC and a burgeoning DOJ whistleblowing program, NAVEX’s comprehensive analysis sheds a critical light on the state of workplace environments worldwide, guiding organizations toward program improvement. "NAVEX remains the gold standard in risk and compliance data analytics, continually innovating our benchmarks to enhance corporate compliance programs and offer business leaders insights into the trending risk areas for their organizations," says NAVEX Chief Risk and Compliance Officer Carrie Penman. "This year's report introduces crucial third-party reporting insights, highlighting an organization’s need to adopt internal and external reporting avenues to bolster integrity, foster accountability and equip the organization to tackle emerging challenges effectively.” This year’s analysis of the data revealed several key themes and notable findings, including: Report volume and case substantiation reach milestones. Internal reporting programs saw a record level of use as measured by NAVEX’s Reports per 100 Employees metric. In addition, the Substantiation Rate metric reached an all-time high, meaning more reports were received and more were found to be true. Report volume, and the substantiation rates of the reports received, are two of the most highly watched metrics in the annual NAVEX publication. To see both reach the highest levels ever is good news. For those with trusted and effective internal reporting programs, this added up to greater visibility into the trends of risk, ethics and culture playing out in their organizations’ operations – real-time intelligence to inform business decision-making. In 2023, organizations received a median 1.57 Reports per 100 Employees across their internal reporting systems, exceeding the previous record of 1.47 set in 2022. More organizations (23%) received five or more Reports per 100 Employees, making this population the largest in the NAVEX data set. And while year-over-year values fluctuated, every size of organization – from the smallest companies to enterprises with over 100,000 employees – has seen report volumes rise comparing 2021 and 2023. At 45%, the overall median share of substantiated or founded reports in 2023 reached an 11-year high. Third parties more likely to report business integrity and financial misconduct issues. In a first for this report, NAVEX analyzed its database by both employees and third-party reporters. Its analysis shows these two groups are distinct across several metrics, highlighting the insight organizations see by promoting their reporting programs internally and externally. Third parties as a group delivered a far greater median share of reports related to Business Integrity matters than employees in 2023 (50% versus 17%). Encompassing topics like conflicts of interest, vendor issues, fraud, global trade and human rights, this category of issues can manifest in various elements of a supply chain. Third-party reporters also showed twice the median share of Accounting, Auditing & Financial Reporting reports as employees in 2023 (10% versus 4.5%). Story emerging on accounting-related reporting – internally and externally. Accounting-related reports -- while lower in overall percentage of reports received internally by organizations at a median of 4.3.% in 2023 -- often receive an outsized share of attention due to potential for regulatory action and the well-publicized bounty program offered by the SEC and its Office of the Whistleblower. The SEC's program is witnessing unprecedented growth in tips and generously rewarding valuable information. Now, the U.S. Department of Justice is launching a similar initiative. Specifically, reports related to Accounting, Auditing, and Financial reporting: Showed the longest time between when an incident was observed and when it was reported to the organization By a large margin, were least likely to be reported anonymously Comprised an outsized share of cases for organizations that receive very few Reports per 100 Employees – meaning while these organizations received well below the benchmark number of reports, they had a much more significant percentage of accounting-related reports Experienced the longest time to investigate and close the case Had among the highest median Substantiation Rates, at 50% Were most likely to cause an employment separation event as a result of a substantiated case Accounted for twice as many of the reports submitted by third parties than those submitted by employees Small increase in report volume shows big payoff in healthy report mix. A diverse array of topics, inquiries, and allegations in internal reporting indicates a robust program. NAVEX’s findings reveal that even minor efforts to promote internal reporting significantly improve the mix of report types received. For instance, in organizations with the lowest report volume, only 8.7% of reports pertain to HR, Diversity, and Workplace Respect. However, in the next tier, this proportion jumps to 36.3%. This trend persists across different report volumes, emphasizing the importance of fostering a reporting culture. A varied mix of report types signifies trust in internal reporting to address a broad spectrum of issues. Even a slight increase from minimal reporting yields a more comprehensive and insightful flow of reports. "With NAVEX's integrated data platform, companies gain unparalleled risk signal data that empowers them to foster healthier workplace cultures, helping them achieve outcomes that matter most,” explains NAVEX Chief Product Officer A.G. Lambert. "Data isn't just numbers; it's the compass guiding organizations toward success and ensuring they stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of risk and compliance." Additional notable findings include: Workplace behaviors and discord were clearly visible in the data as more organizations return to office environments. As is always the case in these reports, workplace behaviors and other human resources related matters are by far the highest percentage of reports received by organizations. Workplace Civility matters continued to increase in prominence in 2023, representing a median of 18% of reports and the highest median reporting rate in 2023. This was followed by Discrimination, at a median 12%, Harassment, at a median 7.1%, then Retaliation at a median of 2.0%. The HR, Diversity and Workplace Respect category overall has seen a multi-year increase in its median share of all reports (from 50% in 2021 to 55% in 2023). These figures underscore the growing importance of fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment. Highlighting the seriousness with which organizations are taking reports received, more substantiated reports (18%) resulted in separation from employment in 2023, up significantly from 14% in 2022 and 12% in 2021. The share of reports resulting in no action – effectively the opposite end of the outcome spectrum – fell from 17% in 2022 to 14% in 2023. Nearly nine out of 10 reports of Imminent Threat to a Person, Animals or Property were substantiated in 2023 highlighting the importance that reporters possess the training, knowledge, tools and trust that promote rapid reporting of dangerous issues. This need is made even greater by a new California workplace violence prevention law expected to take effect this year that includes requirements for reporting, incident management and training around this issue. For more insights on the 2024 Whistleblowing & Incident Management Benchmark Report, join Jane Norberg, Arnold & Porter partner and former chief of the SEC Office of the Whistleblower, Keith Thomas, FedEx corporate integrity & compliance lead counsel, Carrie Penman, NAVEX chief risk & compliance officer, and Anders Olsen, NAVEX senior data scientist, for an informative webinar where they will discuss the results of this year’s analysis in detail. Watch the webinar here. NAVEX is trusted by thousands of customers worldwide to help them achieve the business outcomes that matter most. As the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software and services, we deliver solutions through the NAVEX One platform, the industry’s most comprehensive governance, risk and compliance (GRC) information system. For more information, visit NAVEX.com and our blog. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact Details Navex Global scott.levesque@navex.com Company Website https://navex.com

March 26, 2024 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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