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ShopAgain’s Latest Release Provides Respite to E-commerce Advertisers in a Privacy-First World

ShopAgain

ShopAgain, a Shopify app by a North Carolina-based startup, has released an easy to use, single product that can help ecommerce sellers get the best insights on their online store visitors, create audiences seamlessly, personalize user experience and run email, SMS, and Direct mail campaigns in an automated way. Due to the latest AI technology from ShopAgain, Shopify stores are able to somewhat counter the challenges faced due to the recent advertising restrictions brought about by the ad tech giants in tandem with regulators across the globe. “ We are focused on building omnichannel marketing products for eCommerce companies to help them make the most of their existing user base. Our first product is for Shopify, and we will soon have products for other ecommerce platforms as well,” says Maruti Agarwal, Founder and CEO of ShopAgain. What makes apps like ShopAgain extremely vital in 2022 are the recent changes in digital advertising processes and scope. All these years, marketers with a fair media budget had it reasonably easy. The ad tech platforms did the heavy lifting of collecting and classifying online user data. Marketers could simply order the audience that they precisely needed. However, in recent years we have witnessed a whole lot of changes. In 2018, the EU passed the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), showing how it's done to the rest of the world. The CCPA (California Customer Privacy Act) was passed shortly after. As a result, the tech companies that control most of the world's advertising today had to actively take measures to protect user privacy. Be it Apple's iOS update that allows users to opt out of data sharing or Google's decision to remove third-party cookies from Chrome by 2023, all point in the same direction: A privacy-first future! " Marketers will have to think differently. The recent changes make it all the more important to focus on the data you own as a company. It can be either the zero-party data that customers willingly share with you, such as gender, and personal preferences, or first-party data that you can collect through their interactions with your brand. We have customers who have successfully grown revenue up to 24% using cross-selling and up-selling opportunities identified via ShopAgain without spending an extra penny on acquisition. It helps pull up the overall brand ROI substantially,” adds Agarwal, who comes with years of experience in handling AI and data science products and teams. Agarwal's views find support in recent publications by marketing tech majors such as HubSpot, whose advice is to focus more on retention than acquisition for better ROI. Products like ShopAgain are helping eCommerce store-owners make the most of the customer and user data to sharpen their marketing toolkit. Features like easy creation of audience segments, personalized communication via all available channels (direct mail, email marketing, SMS, pop-up forms, etc.), AI-enabled insights, and profound analytics are helping storeowners, upsell, cross-sell and also close on prospects. ShopAgain, has been funded by Softeq, a venture capital company based in Houston, Texas. As per, Joel Carter, CMO of Softeq & a veteran marketer, “ In the early days of database marketing, zero-party was one of the only options for marketers. After the rise of third-party lists, the paradigm shifted from static analog form to real-time digital which exposed numerous privacy issues. Now access is retreating. Building a relationship with customers in which they will freely volunteer valuable data is mission critical. We believe that ShopAgain will help ecommerce firms achieve just that! ” Along with Maruti Agarwal, ShopAgain is co-founded by Roshan Singh, who is the CTO of the company. Agarwal and Singh were colleagues at Meltwater, an industry-leading media monitoring and social analytics platform. Contact Details ShopAgain Maruti Agarwal +1 919-758-6084 maruti@shopagain.io Company Website https://www.shopagain.io/

July 28, 2022 07:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloudrise announces $10M in total funding

Cloudrise

Cloudrise, a tech-enabled services firm focused on securing data wherever it resides, is pleased to announce it has completed financing to raise the company’s total to-date funding to $10 million. Since launching the company in October of 2019, Cloudrise has worked with 100s of global customers, including numerous Fortune 500 enterprises, on their data protection and cloud security projects. During this time, Cloudrise has continued to exceed all stated financial targets and is investing significantly to expand service delivery and research and development teams, while raising the bar for data protection. To help further growth and innovation, Cloudrise secured additional funding in July from Three Kings Capital, with add-on capital from existing investors Stormbreaker Ventures and the Greater Colorado Venture Fund. With success comes the need to add more talent to Cloudrise’s Board of Directors, and Bill Ryckman, Managing Principal at Three Kings Capital, will join the Cloudrise board. "We are very pleased to be partnering with Cloudrise and its proven management team led by Rob Eggebrecht," Ryckman said. "Cloudrise is a well-known leader in the data protection market, with particular expertise in the cloud, and a reputation for delivering exceptional service. As more and more businesses embrace the cloud, Cloudrise has become an integral partner to a diverse set of clients across the country and around the world, helping to keep their data safe from cyber criminals. With its high-quality team and technology-enabled platform, Cloudrise is well-positioned to serve our collective mission on a much wider scale.” Cloudrise co-founder and CEO Rob Eggebrecht is excited about the future ahead for the company. “Our latest funding venture is a major milestone, allowing Cloudrise to fast-track industry-changing initiatives for how professional services are delivered in the cyber industry via our tech-enablement approach,” Eggebrecht said. “The current status quo for delivering professional services in the cyber industry is outdated, inefficient, and does not scale to the world of cloud computing in global enterprises today. While organizations are contending with the exponential growth of data and an excessive amount of cyber security application/platforms, traditional service providers are stuck in a mindset of a help-desk, ticket-driven world, attempting to throw more people at the problem.” Instead of throwing more time and resources at complex data security challenges, Cloudrise leverages a proprietary service delivery platform to increase efficiencies, enable better collaboration, and reduce time needed to deliver high-value outcomes. By bundling software and humans, Cloudrise delivers tech-enabled services that allow customers to realize an immediate impact for their business. Cloudrise continues to build on what has been a groundbreaking 2022, in which the company announced: The acquisition of CyberOrchard, an information security managed service organization located in the United Kingdom Jason Bird, CyberOrchard’s founder and CEO, as CTO at Cloudrise Cloudrise named as Netskope’s Global Services Partner of the Year Placement on the Managed Security 100 on CRN’s Managed Service Provider 500 list for 2022 ‘Best Solution in Data Security’ at Global InfoSec Awards by Cyber Defense Magazine Hiring Rob Zillioux as CFO The opening of a new global headquarters facility in Grand Junction, Colorado About Three Kings Capital Three Kings Capital is a mission-driven, family office-backed private equity platform that invests exclusively in cyber security companies. Its mission is to protect the world's assets, critical infrastructure, and personally identifiable information from cyber threats. Aided by an Advisory Board of government and private sector cyber security experts, Three Kings seeks to enable and partner with mission-driven companies at any stage of development. Its permanent, flexible capital base allows Three Kings to invest in any type of security within the capital structure. Three Kings is headquartered in New York City but seeks investment opportunities from around the country and certain other parts of the world. For more information, please visit www.ThreeKingsCapital.com. About Cloudrise Cloudrise is a technology-enabled services firm, specializing in delivering data security services customized to meet organizations’ business needs. Drawing from 20+ years of experience in the field, we have tailored our services to be laser-focused on securing organizations’ data wherever it resides. Cloudrise helps organizations elevate their data protection and privacy programs through assessments, technology enablement, and managed services. Cloudrise can be found at www.cloudrise.com or on LinkedIn. Contact Details Cloudrise Robert McLean +1 800-917-7619 sales@cloudrise.com Company Website https://cloudrise.com/

July 28, 2022 05:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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7 Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Financial Advisor

Benzinga

Choosing a financial advisor is a major life decision that can determine your financial trajectory for years to come. A 2020 Northwestern Mutual study found that 71% of U.S. adults admit their financial planning needs improvement. However, only 29% of Americans work with a financial advisor.1 The value of working with a financial advisor varies by person and advisors are legally prohibited from promising returns, but research suggests people who work with a financial advisor feel more at ease about their finances and could end up with about 15% more money to spend in retirement.2 Consider this example: A recent Vanguard study found that, on average, a hypothetical $500K investment would grow to over $3.4 million under the care of an advisor over 25 years, whereas the expected value from self-management would be $1.69 million, or 50% less. In other words, an advisor-managed portfolio would average 8% annualized growth over a 25-year period, compared to 5% from a self-managed portfolio.3 SmartAsset’s no-cost tool simplifies the time-consuming process of finding a financial advisor. A short questionnaire helps match you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors that serve your area, legally bound to work in your best interest. The whole process takes just a few minutes, and in many cases you can be connected instantly with an advisor for a free retirement consultation. Advisors are rigorously screened through our proprietary due diligence process. Being aware of these seven common blunders when choosing an advisor can help you find peace of mind, and potentially avoid years of stress. 1. Hiring an Advisor Who Is Not a Fiduciary By definition, a fiduciary is an individual who is ethically bound to act in another person’s best interest. Fiduciary financial advisors must avoid conflicts of interest and disclose any potential conflicts of interest to clients. All of the financial advisors on SmartAsset’s matching platform are registered fiduciaries. If your advisor is not a fiduciary and constantly pushes investment products on you, use this no-cost tool to find an advisor who has your best interest in mind. 2. Hiring the First Advisor You Meet While it’s tempting to hire the advisor closest to home or the first advisor in the yellow pages, this decision requires more time. Take the time to interview at least a few advisors before picking the best match for you. 3. Choosing an Advisor with the Wrong Specialty Some financial advisors specialize in retirement planning, while others are best for business owners or those with a high net worth. Some might be best for young professionals starting a family. Be sure to understand an advisor’s strengths and weaknesses – before signing the dotted line. 4. Picking an Advisor with an Incompatible Strategy Each advisor has a unique strategy. Some advisors may suggest aggressive investments, while others are more conservative. If you prefer to go all in on stocks, an advisor that prefers bonds and index funds is not a great match for your style. 5. Not Asking about Credentials To give investment advice, financial advisors are required to pass a test. Ask your advisor about their licenses, tests, and credentials. Financial advisors tests include the Series 7, and Series 66 or Series 65. Some advisors go a step further and become a Certified Financial Planner, or CFP. 6. Not Understanding How They are Paid Some advisors are “fee only” and charge you a flat rate no matter what. Others charge a percentage of your assets under management. Some advisors are paid commissions by mutual funds, a serious conflict of interest. If the advisor earns more by ignoring your best interests, do not hire them. 7. Not Hiring a Vetted Advisor Chances are, there are several highly qualified financial advisors in your town. However, it can seem daunting to choose one. Our no-cost tool makes it easy to find a qualified financial advisor. The entire matching process takes just a few minutes. Click here to get matched with up to three financial advisors who serve your area. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 27, 2022 02:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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DataWeave Releases 2022 Alcohol Report: Digital Alcohol Sales Show 3 Newly Emerging Trends

DataWeave

Price hikes seen as early as December 2021 for 27.5% of the 20,000+ alcohol SKUs tracked A switch to healthier, Ready-to-Drink beverages & premium agave-based spirits A retailer focus on hyperlocal growth strategies as measured by our Hyperlocality Index DataWeave, a global leader in eCommerce intelligence and AI analytics, today releases its 2022 Alcohol Report: Digital Visibility Is Reforming the Alcohol Industry. The report provides a data-rich view of online alcohol pricing, distribution, and demand trends across retailers and brands. DataWeave examines price changes and assortment composition by category and retailer in light of pandemic, supply chain, and market-driven economic changes. Analyzing over 20,000 alcohol SKUs, the report offers a Hyperlocality Index to showcase how successfully retailers have employed a hyperlocalized approach to the assortments they carry, along with growth trends in healthier ingredient categories like ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails and agave-based spirits. DataWeave’s 2022 Alcohol Report shows price changes by online alcohol category from December 2021 to May 2022, as well as price changes by retailer and state-by-state geography for the same period. It also indicates shifts in product availability. “Looking at these aspects of nationwide online alcohol prices state by state provides insight into why alcohol retailers are moving toward hyperlocal strategies. In addition to ongoing global supply chain constraints and inflation, distinct regions of the country show strong preferences for particular beverages. This has amounted to significant variations seen across the country in price changes and availability,” said Karthik Bettadapura, CEO of DataWeave. “Our state-by-state analysis revealed how online alcohol retailers focused on expanding their geographic reach across the country as delivery laws evolved.” The 2022 Alcohol Report reflects changing consumer preferences and an increasing interest in health consciousness across categories from December 2021 to May 2022, with ready-to-drink beverages increasing in availability across categories, for example. The premiumization of agave-based spirits such as Tequila and Mezcal resulted in a 30 percent year-over-year sales bump, the report notes, as it contrasts this category with growth in others; there is also a deep dive into Share of Search insights for top brands in the whiskey category. “With inflation looking to remain at about 9% and dynamic pricing changing the competitive landscape daily, online alcohol retailers will need to focus on improving their inventories by expanding local reach, decreasing their delivery time, optimizing pricing, and improving the customer experience,” said Krish Thyagarajan, President and COO of DataWeave. We see our 2022 Alcohol Report as a bellwether for online alcohol sales trends as inflation continues to dominate the consumer mindset.” Report Methodology To come to its findings, DataWeave analyzed 20,000 SKUs, tracking price variations and stock availability across 12 online alcohol retailers and 1,500 brands, dating from December 2021 to May 2022, noting price variations and stock availability by retailer, state-by-state, and by category. # # # DataWeave is a leading provider of advanced sales optimization solutions for e-commerce businesses, consumer brands and marketplaces. The AI-driven proprietary technology and language-agnostic platform aggregates consumable and actionable Competitive Intelligence across 500+ billion data points globally, in 25+ languages, with insights to drive performance for more than 400,000 brands across 1,500+ websites tracked across 20+ verticals and ensure online performance is always optimized. Learn more about the power of big data and global level analytics in understanding the rapidly changing retail industry at DataWeave.com. Contact Details Meir Kahtan Public Relations, LLC (MKPR) Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://dataweave.com

July 27, 2022 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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5 Ways to Get the Best Bang for Your Buck on Gas While Prices Remain High

Benzinga

Save your wallet from sky-high gas prices by researching money-saving tips and tricks. For many drivers, gas remains a necessity, so make the most out of each trip to the pump by using fuel rewards, strategic driving, paying in cash and remaining open to new money-saving options such as mobile applications. Strategic spending such as getting the most out of rewards programs and cash-back credit cards can lessen the financial strain created by high gas prices. Consider combining strategies with mindful driving habits to save money before you even open your wallet at the gas pump. Fuel prices are high, but your overall gas pump anxiety doesn't need to be. Consider using one or all of these helpful tips to try to bring down the final price that you will pay at the pump. Use Those Fuel Rewards Credit cards, gas brands and grocery stores offer discounts, rewards or cash-back offers tied to paying for gas. Credit cards can offer fuel-related rewards that decrease your final total at the pump while offering rewards. Stronger credit cards provide fuel rewards such as up to 5% in savings. Top credit cards for fuel rewards usually do not charge annual fees. Fuel rewards offered by traditional credit cards can extend beyond the pump by offering cash-back and bonus rewards. In contrast, credit cards intended to be used at specific gas stations will likely be easier to obtain than a traditional credit card. For example, the credit card application for specific gas brands will most likely have more relaxed requirements than those associated with typical credit cards. Gas brand-specific credit cards offer rewards designed to incentivize individuals to visit frequently and can quickly add up to large savings for frequent drivers. A potential drawback for people interested in obtaining a credit card associated with a certain gas station is that such cards often only work at affiliated locations. >> Click Here for the Best Gas Credit Cards of 2022 If you have lower credit, secured credit cards can allow you to obtain rewards on gas payments. Secured credit cards are credit cards that need a deposit to determine your credit line. For example, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card provides 3% back on select purchases such as gas and dining. A secured card is typically easier to obtain for individuals with a low credit score because it requires a minimum deposit that acts as a form of collateral for the bank. Drive Strategically Drive strategically to reduce the amount of gas that you use throughout the week. Before heading out on the road, consider combining errands that are close together or purchasing items from a one-stop shop to decrease the amount of time spent driving between places. In addition, consider exactly how you drive in terms of your level of forcefulness. Aggressive driving — hard acceleration and rough braking — tends to use fuel less efficiently and more quickly wear down your car. Simple maintenance tips can also improve fuel efficiency, so be aware of your tire pressure when out on the road. Deflated tires can lower fuel efficiency and decrease the longevity of your vehicle while also being unsafe. For example, low tire pressure increases the likelihood of your tires overheating, which can potentially blow a tire. Proper maintenance saves money while also increasing your safety on the road. Use Mobile Apps to Find Cheap Gas Take advantage of technology and use a mobile application to help save money on gas. Certain mobile applications like GasBuddy allow you to find specific gas stations in your area with lower prices that meet your specific needs. For example, the mobile app allows users to filter the results using specific interests such as the type of fuel or brand of gas. Mobile apps can prove beneficial when heading out on a road trip or deciding which gas pump will offer you the most bang for your buck. If you are interested in helpful discounts, consider the benefits of joining a rewards program or signing up for a mobile app that has a sign-up bonus. Pay Cash for the Savings Paying in cash often lowers the price per gallon that a person spends at the pump. Usually, gas stations display a sign that explains the difference in prices between paying using debit or credit as well as paying using cash. For example, many gas stations have lower prices for a person that intends to pay cash. The lower prices are offered as an incentive for individuals to purchase gas using cash so that the gas station can avoid paying the processing fees associated with credit cards. Although lowered prices provided on all fuel types when paying in cash are typically only a few cents, the discounts have the potential to accumulate over time for a person that continuously pays for gas using cash. Refuel at Night or in the Early Morning Fueling up your tank at night or in the early morning can help with fuel efficiency because fuel tends to expand with heat. When gas becomes heated, it tends to expand and the vapor increases. However, at many gas stations, gas is stored in underground tanks, so the temperature variation throughout the day mildly impacts the gas stored within the actual tanks. Filling up in the early morning or late at night can save you from the longer gas pump lines that tend to happen during more highly trafficked hours of the day. Avoiding peak fill-up times has the ability to save you time as well as gas that would likely be spent idling as you wait in line for the pump. Save Money at the Gas Pump Saving money at the gas pump can reduce the financial burden on your shoulders and better safeguard your wallet from overspending. Take advantage of the wide range of fuel rewards programs associated with specific gas companies, grocery stores and traditional credit cards. Such rewards programs can reduce your bill over time and allow you the freedom to spend your money elsewhere. Small actions have the ability to add up, so keep your car in good working order, have your tires properly inflated and drive in a mindful manner. Frequently Asked Questions When deciding how to put gas in your tank, contemplate the benefits of fueling up your tank all the way. Examine your specific car to understand if it requires a certain type of fuel while researching local gas stations with the lowest prices. Why should you fuel your tank all the way up? It’s recommended to completely fill your tank when you are at the pump. The initial fee might seem substantial given the current price of gas, but it’s still considered better in the long run. Fully fueling your tank can help you in a sudden emergency or unforeseen event by allowing you to travel farther without needing to waste time stopping for gas. Avoid overfilling your tank because that has the potential to harm your engine. Should you drive your car until the tank is almost empty? For multiple reasons, it’s not recommended to drive your car to the point that your tank is almost empty. One key reason is that the sediment that’s settled to the bottom of your gas tank could get pulled into the motor. In addition, having minimal gas in your tank could ruin your fuel pump if you end up running out of gas. Over time, running out of fuel will decrease the lifespan of certain car parts. If possible, try to keep your gas tank above 25% full to avoid having your motor suck in sediment and to also account for unplanned or extended drives. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 26, 2022 10:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Comcast RISE, National Initiative to Support Small Businesses, Awards Another 100 Twin Cities Businesses with $10,000 Grants

Comcast Twin Cities

Comcast today announced it will award an additional $1 million in total grants as well as technology and marketing resources to more than 100 Twin Cities small businesses owned by women and people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, among others. The recipients are among more than 9,500 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected through the Comcast RISE program, which provides marketing, technology, and capital support to small business owners. Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund initially launched in 2020 as a response to help small business owners of color who were hardest hit by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2021, Comcast announced a major expansion to eligibility, enabling all women-owned small businesses nationwide to apply. This expansion built on the program’s success and aims to help address the persistent inequities women continue to face in accessing the resources and funding that are critical to success. With today’s announcement, 100 selected businesses will each receive a $10,000 grant, bringing the total to $2 million in grants awarded to Twin Cities small businesses since the program’s inception. An additional 48 small businesses will receive marketing or technology support such as a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity services from Comcast Business. Twin Cities grant recipients include: Ambiance Spa and Salon, Burnsville Hijab Shack, Maple Grove Mad Clean, Champlin Primitiva LLC, Minneapolis ROMI LLC, St. Paul A full list of Comcast RISE recipients from the Twin Cities can be found here. “I am so thankful to be a recipient of the Comcast RISE Investment grant,” said Amy Wagner, owner of Mad Clean in Champlain. “The $10,000 will help me tremendously as I grow my business. It will help me hire employees as my business expands and to put a down payment on a more reliable work vehicle. At the moment, I am only able to take on so much work on my own. Being able to hire someone will allow me to take on more clients in the community and expand my business to more commercial clients.” “As we continue to rebuild from the effects of the pandemic, small businesses still need our support. They are the backbone of our local communities, and we must take every opportunity to help them not only survive, but to thrive,” said Kalyn Hove, Regional Senior Vice President, Comcast Twin Cities. “When we launched Comcast RISE in 2020, we knew a profound need existed in many of the communities we serve, and we have now seen firsthand how the resources from Comcast RISE are continuing to benefit small businesses two and a half years since the program’s inception.” To date, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $16 million in grants and $75 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services, impacting more than 9,500 entrepreneurs in 704 cities across 37 states. By the end of 2022, 13,000 businesses across the country are expected to benefit from the Comcast RISE initiative, either through the grant program or from the resources provided through Effectv, the advertising division of Comcast Cable, and Comcast Business. In addition to the financial and business support services provided, a key part of the program is ensuring the long-term sustainability of businesses. To help address this, Comcast invests in and partners with organizations such as Ureeka to provide ongoing mentorship and resources to help small businesses succeed over the long term. Comcast RISE stands for Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment and is part of Project UP, the company’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. Contact Details Jill Hornbacher +1 651-425-1695 Jill_Hornbacher@comcast.com Company Website https://twincities.comcast.com/

July 26, 2022 08:30 AM Central Daylight Time

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IMA Financial Group Issues First Insurance Certificate on the Blockchain

IMA Financial

IMA Financial Group, which earlier this year launched Web3Labs, is now the first insurance broker to issue a certificate of insurance (COI) on the blockchain. The COI, completed on behalf of client Engiven, was transacted as a non-fungible token (NFT) through Web3Labs, IMA’s research and development facility in Decentraland. Founded in 2018, Engiven is the first B2B cryptocurrency donation software servicing nonprofit organizations. James Lawrence, its co-founder and CEO, sees today as a meaningful step forward in the use of distributed ledger technology in insurance. “As a company on the forefront of blockchain technology, we have often blazed our own trail,” said Lawrence. “With IMA as a partner, we can double our impact and advance the adoption of blockchain technology in insurance and across many industries.” Certificates of insurance (COIs) are documents containing essential details of an insurance policy in an easily digestible, standardized format. Despite contractual requirements to maintain the documents, particularly in the construction and oil and gas industries, COIs are rarely updated or reviewed, leaving companies at risk. The delivery of certificates as NFTs solves these maintenance issues by providing an updated, accessible, verifiable record. “The issuance of certificates is a key tactical procedure for all brokers, with hundreds of millions issued nationwide each year,” said IMA Senior Vice President and Director of Innovation and Strategy Garrett Droege. “Despite the buzz around NFTs, the tools aren’t widely used in business. COIs are the perfect utility to illustrate their value, and blockchain leader Engiven is the perfect partner.” “Web3Labs allows us to research opportunities to support our clients and lead the industry in the adoption of Web 3.0 technologies,” added IMA Senior Vice President and Web3Labs Director Justin Jacobs. “The COI process is a logical starting point as we can create usability and value for our clients and their downstream and upstream partners.” About IMA Financial Group Based in North America, IMA Financial Group Inc. is an integrated financial services company focused on protecting the assets of its widely varied client base through insurance and wealth management solutions. Because IMA is employee-owned, its 1,800-plus associates are empowered to provide customized solutions for their clients’ unique needs. ​​ About Engiven Engiven is a leading cryptocurrency donation management platform providing an end to end giving solution benefiting nonprofits and their donors. Engiven’s nonprofit clients include some of the most respected charities and ministries in the United States including The Salvation Army, US Figure Skating, Compassion International, Texas A&M, and North Point Ministries. For more information about Engiven, visit https://www.engiven.com. About IMA Financial Group IMA Financial Group is a North American insurance brokerage firm with market-leading risk management, insurance, employee benefits and wealth management practices. Among the largest independent, employee-owned brokerage in the U.S., IMA employs more than 1,350 associates with highly specialized expertise in a broad reach of growing industries. The company’s mission is to protect assets and make a difference for its clients, associates and communities. Contact Details IMA Financial Group Ruth Rohs +1 303-615-7513 ruth.rohs@imacorp.com Center Reach Communications Alexandra Campbell +1 201-790-6038 alexandra@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://imacorp.com/

July 25, 2022 01:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Volatus Aerospace Corp. Announces Prospectus Offering and Provides Q2 2022 Revenue Guidance of $6.5M

Volatus Aerospace Corp.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWSWIRE OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV: VOL) (OTCQB: VLTTF) (“ Volatus ” or the “ Company ”) is pleased to announce that it has filed a preliminary short form prospectus (the “ Prospectus ”) in connection with a proposed marketed public offering (the “ Offering ”) of 11,111,200 units of the Company (the “ Units ”) at a price of $0.36 per Unit (the “ Offering Price ”) for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to $4,000,032, subject to an over-allotment option as described below. Additionally, the Company wishes to provide preliminary unaudited revenue results for the quarter ending June 30, 2022 (“ Q2 2022 ”). The Offering is being led by Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., as lead agent and sole bookrunner, and a syndicate of agents, including Integral Wealth Securities Limited collectively, the “ Agents ”) to sell, by way of a marketed short form prospectus offering on a commercially reasonable best efforts agency basis, 11,111,200 Units. Financing Details The Company has filed and obtained a receipt for the Prospectus in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario (together, the “ Offering Jurisdictions ”). Each Unit of will consist of one common share (a “ Common Share ”) and one common share purchase warrant (each, a “ Warrant ”). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.50 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering. The Agents will have an option (the " Over-Allotment Option ") to offer for sale up to an additional 15% of the Units sold pursuant to the Offering on the same terms as the Offering for market stabilization purposes and to cover over-allotments. The Over-Allotment Option is exercisable in whole or in part within 30 days of the date of closing of the Offering. The Over-Allotment Option may be in the form of Units only, Common Shares only, Warrants only, or any combination thereof. The Offering is being conducted on a commercially reasonable best efforts agency basis and is subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the entering into of an agency agreement with the Agents and the approval of the securities regulatory authorities and the TSX Venture Exchange (the “ TSXV ”). In addition, the Company is undertaking, concurrent with the Offering, a non-brokered private placement of up to 1,388,900 Units at the Offering Price for gross proceeds of up to $500,004 (the “ Concurrent Private Placement ”). The securities issuable under the Concurrent Private Placement will be subject to resale restrictions, including a Canadian four-month hold period. The closing of the Offering is not conditional upon the closing of the Concurrent Private Placement. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for inventory, factory operations, warehouse improvements, equipment for services and training, technology development, acquisitions, working capital and general corporate purposes, as more particularly set out in the Prospectus. The Agent shall receive compensation comprised of cash equal to 8% of the gross proceeds and compensation warrants of the Company to purchase such number of common shares as is equal to 8% of the Units sold in the Offering (subject to a reduction, in each case, to 3% for Units sold to purchasers on a President’s List up to $500,000) upon closing of the Offering. The Offering is expected to close on or about August 16, 2022, or such other date as the Company and the Agent may agree. The Prospectus containing important information relating to the Offering has been filed with the securities commissions or similar authorities in the Offering Jurisdictions and is available under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com. There will not be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy Units until a receipt for a final prospectus has been issued. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ U.S. Securities Act ”) or any applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. “United States” and “U.S. persons” shall have the meanings assigned to them in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act. Corporate Update on Q2 Revenue Guidance The Company wishes to provide guidance that it expects to report revenues of approximately $6.5M for Q2 2022, representing an increase of approximately 92% compared to the Company’s reported revenue of $3.4M for the three months ended June 30, 2021 (" Q2 2021 ") and an increase of approximately 36% compared to the Company’s revenue of $4.8M for the three months ended March 31, 2022 (“ Q1 2022 ”). The Company also expects to report annual revenues of approximately $38M for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, representing an increase of approximately 138% compared to the Company’s reported revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021. The expected revenue increase is based on management's assumptions of the Company’s organic growth with new customer additions, geographic expansion in the United Kingdom and USA, and higher services and training revenue. The expected total operating costs for 2022 are in line with management’s expectations of $11.70M. Factors contributing to the expected increase in revenue include revenue from the Company’s integrated solutions segment, product diversification providing higher margins, and revenue from services and training. The Company’s drone services and training segment has experienced seasonality in the first two quarters of the 2022 fiscal year, and the Company expects the third quarter to be stronger in these segments. There can be no assurance that the Company will achieve similar revenue or margins in any subsequent quarter or annual period. Actual revenue for Q2 2022 and fiscal year 2022 may be materially different than as indicated. See the section entitled “ Risk Factors ” in the Prospectus. About Volatus Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace Corp. is a leading provider of integrated drone solutions throughout Canada, the United States, Latin America and most recently in Europe. Operating a vast pilot network, Volatus serves commercial and defense markets with imaging and inspection, security and surveillance, equipment sales and support, training, and design, manufacturing, and R&D. Through its subsidiary Volatus Aviation, Volatus carries on the business of aircraft management, charter sales, and cargo services using piloted, remotely piloted, and autonomous aircraft. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Notes This news release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the business plans and expectations of the Company; and (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company; the completion of the Offering; meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV; and anticipated and unanticipated costs and other factors referenced in this news release and the Prospectus, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Prospectus under the section “Risk Factors”. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. This news release contains future-oriented financial information and financial outlook information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, “ FOFI ”) about the Company’s expected revenue and margins, all of which are subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations, and qualifications as set out in the above paragraphs and set forth in the Prospectus under the section entitled “Risk Factors”. The actual financial results of the Company may vary from the amounts set out therein and such variation may be material. The Company and its management believe that the FOFI has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management’s best estimates and judgments. However, because this information is subjective and subject to numerous risks, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such FOFI. FOFI contained in this news release were made as of the date hereof and were provided for the purpose of providing further information about the Company’s anticipated future business operations. Readers are cautioned that the FOFI contained in this news release should not be used for purposes other than for which it was originally disclosed herein or therein. FOFI has been prepared by the Company’s management. MS Partners LLP, the Company’s independent auditor, has not performed any audit, review or compilation procedures with respect to the prospective information and accordingly does not provide any form of assurance with respect thereto for the purpose of the Offering. Source: Volatus Aerospace Corp. TSXV: VOL Contact Details Volatus Aerospace Corp. Kate McKenna +1 604-396-9282 kate.mckenna@volatusaerospace.com Company Website https://volatusaerospace.com

July 25, 2022 12:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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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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