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ThreatModeler Announces Commitment to Global Cybersecurity Advocacy Efforts as a 2021 Cybersecurity Awareness Month Champion

National Cyber Security Alliance

Automated Threat Modeling Leader Becomes Joins Worldwide Initiative to Reinforce the Importance of Proper Cybersecurity Protection Measures for Individuals and Organizations in an Increasingly Connected World ThreatModeler today announced its commitment to Cybersecurity Awareness Month, held annually in October, by signing up as a 2021 Champion and joining a growing global effort to promote the awareness of online safety and privacy. The Cybersecurity Awareness Month Champions Program is a collaborative effort among businesses, government agencies, colleges and universities, associations, nonprofit organizations and individuals committed to the Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme of ‘Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.’ “At ThreatModeler, we empower organizations to securely develop their most crucial applications and infrastructure.” said Archie Agarwal, Founder and CEO of ThreatModeler. “In line with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, ThreatModeler is proud to continue our work in championing industry best practices and ensuring organizations have the knowledge and the tools to stay well ahead of major vulnerabilities moving forward.” More than ever before, technology plays a part in almost everything we do. Connected devices have been woven into society as an integral part of how people communicate and access services essential to their wellbeing. Despite these great advances in technology and the conveniences this provides, recent events have shown us how quickly our lives and businesses can be disrupted when cyber criminals and adversaries use technology to do harm. Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to shed light on these security vulnerabilities, while offering actionable guidance surrounding behaviors anyone can take to protect themselves and their organizations. Everyone has a responsibility to do their part in securing our interconnected world. This year, the Cybersecurity Awareness Month’s main weekly focus areas will revolve around: Understanding and implementing basic cyber hygiene, including the importance of strong passphrases, using multi-factor authentication, performing software updates and backing up data. Recognizing and reporting phishing attempts whether it’s through email, text messages, or chat boxes. Empowering individuals to not only practice safe online behavior, but consider joining the mission of securing our online world by considering a career in cybersecurity! Making cybersecurity a priority in business by making products and processes “secure by design” and considering cybersecurity when purchasing new internet-connected devices. If everyone does their part – implementing stronger security practices, raising community awareness, educating vulnerable audiences or training employees – our interconnected world will be safer and more resilient for everyone. Now in its 18th year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month continues to build momentum and impact with the ultimate goal of providing everyone with the information they need to stay safer and more secure online. ThreatModeler is proud to support this far-reaching online safety awareness and education initiative which is co-led by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. For more information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021 and how to participate in a wide variety of activities, visit staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/. You can also follow and use the official hashtag #BeCyberSmart on social media throughout the month. About ThreatModeler ThreatModeler is an automated platform that provides a sustainable, self-service threat modeling practice for applications and infrastructure that evolves as your infrastructure grows. ThreatModeler encourages collaboration through its simple process flow diagram-based functionality that’s easy to use in the creation of threat models that identify, prioritize and mitigate threats, while communicating them broadly. ThreatModeler integrates with JIRA, Jenkins, and Azure Boards and Pipelines, with bidirectional web services API also unifying stakeholders in collaboration. Teams are empowered to code fearlessly and deliver new products with security built in as early as the design phase, which is based on global security and compliance standards. About Cybersecurity Awareness Month Cybersecurity Awareness Month is designed to engage and educate public- and private-sector partners through events and initiatives with the goal of raising awareness about cybersecurity to increase the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident. Since the Presidential proclamation establishing Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2004, the initiative has been formally recognized by Congress, federal, state and local governments and leaders from industry and academia. This united effort is necessary to maintain a cyberspace that is safer and more resilient and remains a source of tremendous opportunity and growth for years to come. For more information, visit staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/ About National Cyber Security Alliance The National Cyber Security Alliance is a nonprofit alliance on a mission to create a more secure connected world. We enable powerful, public-private partnerships in our mission to educate and inspire individuals to protect themselves, their families and their organizations for the collective good. Our primary partners are the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and our Board of Directors, which includes representatives from ADP; AIG; Bank of America; Cofense; Discover; Eli Lilly and Company; ESET North America; Facebook; KnowBe4; La-Z-Boy; Lenovo; Marriott International; Mastercard; Microsoft; Mimecast; NortonLifeLock; Paubox; Proofpoint; Raytheon Intelligence & Space; Terranova Security; US Bank; VISA; Wells Fargo. The National Cyber Security Alliance’s core efforts include Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October); Data Privacy Day (Jan. 28); Identity Management Day; and CyberSecure My Business™. For more information on the National Cyber Security Alliance, please visit https://staysafeonline.org. Contact Details Mike Stolyar threatmodeler@luminapr.com Company Website https://www.threatmodeler.com

October 07, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Ev Dynamics' 12-Meter E-Bus Passes Homologation in Europe

Ev Dynamics (Holdings) Limited

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 7 October 2021 - Ev Dynamics (Holdings) Limited (the "Company", Stock Code: 476, together with its subsidiaries, collectively “Ev Dynamics” or the "Group"), a provider of new energy vehicles and integrated technology solutions, today announced that its 12-meter E-Bus model has passed the Whole Vehicle-Type-Approval System (WVTA) and Standardized On-Road Test Cycles (E-SORT) of the Economic Commission of Europe, laying the foundation for the Company’s entry into the European market at large. The Company’s 12-meter E-Bus is currently on its way to Munich, Germany, where it will be used as a test and display unit for European clients. Specifically designed with a distinctive and fresh aesthetic, this high-tech vehicle has a reliable grade climbing performance and has been designed and manufactured to meet European standards. The Company will work with its strategic partner, Quantron AG (“Quantron”), a German-based company engaged in inner-city e-mobility and regional freight and passenger transportation, to tap into the European market with the 12-meter E-Bus model. Miguel Valldecabres Polop, CEO of Ev Dynamics, said: “We are thrilled to have taken a big step forward in launching our e-buses in the European EV market. With the vehicle now having passed homologation, we are ready to leverage the business network and experience of Quantron and launch our products in Europe. We believe this high-performing and environmentally friendly bus will win a warm welcome from the European market and become a key solution to replace the diesel buses currently being used, thus showing great development potential.” Michael Perschke, International Advisor of Ev Dynamics and CEO of Quantron, said: “We are seeing a growing demand for EVs in Europe on the back of favorable policies and the market trend of electrification of public transport. In light of the strategic partnership, Quantron will focus on product development whilst Ev Dynamics will be in charge of production. We have also participated in several public transportation tenders. Our collaboration has made significant progress and will continue to deliver good operational efficiency and robust business growth.” Currently, the Company holds a total of 9,157 shares in Quantron, representing approximately 14.43% of the enlarged share capital of the German company. Quantron has started delivering electric vans to IKEA Austria. About Ev Dynamics (Holdings) Limited (Stock Code: 476) Ev Dynamics (Holdings) Limited is a pioneer and a prominent player in China’s new energy commercial vehicles market, as well as a whole-vehicle manufacturer of specialty passenger vehicles and new energy passenger vehicles. It is an integrated driving and logistics solutions provider with a solid technological foundation in diverse areas including new energy platform power systems and their key components. The Group has a production base in Chongqing and it has developed its sales network in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Asia Pacific and South America. Contact Details Phoebe Leung +852 2114 4172 phoebe.leung@sprg.com.hk

October 07, 2021 07:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Rotunda Capital Partners Named in Inc.’s List of Founder-Friendly Investors for Second Consecutive Year

Rotunda Capital Partners LLC

Rotunda Capital Partners (“Rotunda”), an operationally-focused private equity firm, was named in Inc. magazine’s third annual Founder-Friendly Investors list. Rotunda concentrates on working with distribution, industrial services and logistics companies. The 2021 list honors the private equity and venture capital firms with the best track record of success backing entrepreneurs. These firms are recognized as partners that entrepreneurs can trust and collaborate with while receiving the financial support they need to help accelerate growth. All have a successful track record of remaining actively involved in the businesses after their investment. To compile the list, Inc. went straight to the source: entrepreneurs who have sold to private equity. Founders filled out a questionnaire about their experiences partnering with private equity firms and shared data on how their portfolio companies have grown during these partnerships. “Supporting an entrepreneur’s vision and driving growth is more than just a financial investment. It’s about building a relationship and supporting the founders beyond that initial year. These private equity firms treat the founders like partners,” said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. media. Rotunda works closely with management teams and families to help grow and expand their businesses organically and through acquisitions, while preserving the company’s culture established by its founder. “We are proud to have been named to Inc.’s Founder-Friendly Investors list for a second consecutive year," said John Fruehwirth, managing partner of Rotunda. “We have always prioritized working with great people and are fortunate to have partnered with terrific founders, families, and management teams within our industries of focus.” Rotunda has made three platform investments and completed seven add-on acquisitions across its portfolio so far in 2021. Each business was founder or family-owned at the time of Rotunda’s investment. One notable partnership was formed in June, with American Equipment Holdings. At the time, Adam Zimmerman, CEO, commented: “This is an incredible opportunity for American Equipment. From our first meeting, it was clear that Rotunda shared similar views as to the foundation we have created and what our company could achieve. Through this partnership, our culture and high-touch customer experience that we are known for won’t change, but we gain the expertise and capital to grow in a market with significant opportunity.” About Rotunda Capital Partners Rotunda Capital Partners is a private equity firm that invests equity capital in established, lower middle market companies. Rotunda partners with management to build data-driven growth platforms within its targeted sectors, including value-added distribution, asset light logistics and industrial/business services. Founded in 2009, the firm has a long history of helping management teams achieve their goals for growth. The Rotunda team actively provides guidance and draws on deep industry and financial relationships to contribute to the successful execution of Rotunda’s companies’ strategic plans. The firm has offices in Bethesda, MD and Evanston, IL. For more information, visit www.rotundacapital.com. About Inc. The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. About Inc.'s List of Founder-Friendly Investors Inc. Magazine's Founder-Friendly Investors is a published list of U.S. founder-friendly private equity firms. Rotunda has paid a fee to be considered for this recognition. Private equity firms that have exited U.S.-based, founder-led, public or private, portfolio companies within the past five years were eligible to apply. This recognition is based on the analysis of and information gathered by Inc. Magazine using its own criteria and methodologies. As part of the vetting process, Inc. Magazine interviewed one or more portfolio company representatives about their experience partnering with Rotunda. For investments to qualify, portfolio company founders must have remained actively involved in their business for at least one year post-investment. The complete list of private equity firms considered for this award is not known to Rotunda. The award reflects information about a sample of portfolio companies and may not be representative of every portfolio company's experience with Rotunda. There is no guarantee that similar awards will be obtained by Rotunda in the future. Portfolio companies should make their own determinations about the prospects of partnering with Rotunda. Contact Details Rotunda Capital Partners Jill Lafferty +1 847-280-1295 jill@rotundacapital.com Company Website https://www.rotundacapital.com

October 05, 2021 07:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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UD Trucks kicks off global launch of new Euro 5 truck range

UD Trucks

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 30 September 2021 - UD Trucks today unveiled a new Euro 5 range for the well-established Quester (heavy-duty) and Croner (medium-duty) trucks. The upgrade also boasts enhanced features that will improve uptime, enhance efficiency, and optimize Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), all while lowering the vehicle’s environmental impact and retaining benefits from previous models. The new Euro 5 range will be introduced in fast-growing and emerging regions around the world that are moving to adopt more stringent international emission standards in a bid to cut pollution and improve air quality. In most markets, UD Trucks’ new Euro 5 range will be introduced ahead of these regulations to better prepare businesses for the switch to a cleaner fleet. This latest launch bolsters UD Trucks’ Better Life purpose – to be better for logistics, the planet, people, and business. Better Life drives the integration of sustainability across all of the company’s operations and processes to realize lower environmental impact, higher customer satisfaction, higher profitability, and a better place for people to work and live. Jacques Michel, UD Trucks International Sales, Senior Vice President, said “In today’s world, sustainability is more important than ever. COVID-19 is also placing more emphasis on a more sustainable approach to driving a post-pandemic recovery. Modern and efficient logistics is vital to keep the world moving in these fast-evolving times, and our latest launch will ensure greater resilience for businesses while ensuring environmental impacts are minimized.” Ensuring businesses stay competitive in a rapidly changing world with Euro 5 Air pollution is one of the largest health threats facing the world today[1]. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) global energy review 2021[2], global energy carbon emissions are projected to rebound in the post-COVID era to grow by 4.8%. This would represent the largest single increase in over a decade. Emissions from transportation alone are at risk of increasing global emission levels by over 1.5%. Moving towards cleaner fleets is imperative. Euro 5 reduces NOx emissions by about 43% compared to Euro 4 and significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the vehicle through cleaner emissions. As the first truck manufacturer to introduce Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology in 2004, UD Trucks’ new Euro 5 range features SCR technology to significantly boost environmental protection and fuel economy. With these benefits, SCR technology is proven to be more reliable when compared to other emission control technologies for reducing NOx emissions. Aside from featuring a Euro 5 system with SCR technology, the new range of Quester and Croner also features a new instrument cluster with real-time fuel coaching. This enhancement provides drivers with immediate and specific feedback on driving techniques that are more fuel efficient. New instrument cluster with real-time fuel coaching Quester has evolved with the times Quester, a heavy-duty truck that combines excellent fuel efficiency with durability, has evolved further to meet today’s transport and environmental challenges. The latest Euro 5 upgrade and new instrument cluster add to Quester’s other standout features: Smart: Connected and business-ready with innovative UD Telematics – a high-tech wireless communications system – allows transportation companies to maximize efficiency with real-time vehicle tracking and geofencing. Sustainable: Increased fuel efficiency with numerous features including ESCOT automated manual transmission. Combined with lighter tare weight and optimized driveline, fuel economy can improve by up to 10% compared to the previous Quester model. Safe: Quester with ESCOT takes away the drivers’ need to shift an average of 1,000-1,500 times a day by automatically selecting the right gear at any given time. This leads to less stress and improves safety by allowing the driver to focus more on the road. Croner, ahead of its time A reliable and versatile medium-duty truck, Croner has been designed to make every moment count. The latest Euro 5 upgrade and new instrument cluster add to Croner’s other tried-and-tested features: Wide and customizable model offering – Croner can be configured to suit specific applications and optimized for better productivity. Fuel efficiency – Aerodynamic cab design reduces the drag coefficient by 5% compared to previous models. Drivability – Allison automatic transmission and superior ergonomics provide more comfort for the driver, resulting in less fatigue and higher productivity. More space, comfort, convenience – Croner’s cabin has been designed to put driver comfort first. It also comes with numerous active and passive safety features to protect the driver, cargo, and surrounding traffic. Michel concludes, “For 86 years, we have grown UD Trucks to be a truck brand of choice for our customers. We are committed to continuing our endless pursuit of bettering lives in the spirit of our ‘Gemba’ philosophy, leveraging smart and sustainable logistics solutions to provide ultimate dependability for our customers, business partners, colleagues and society at large.” The new Euro 5 range of heavy-duty Quester and medium-duty Croner will be rolled out in key growth markets – across Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America – from October 2021 onwards. For more information on the new Euro 5 range, visit https://www.udtrucks.com and watch the digital reveal film at https://www.udtrucksdriveforbetter.com. Join the conversation on social media at https://www.facebook.com/UDTrucksJP and https://www.linkedin.com/company/ud-trucks-corporation. [1] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe: Air pollution and health https://unece.org/air-pollution-and-health [2] International Energy Agency (IEA) Global Energy Review 2021: https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2021/co2-emissions [3] Automotive Fleet: Asset & Driver Strategies to Reduce Fuel Spend https://www.automotive-fleet.com/10139856/asset-driver-strategies-to-reduce-fuel-spend About UD Trucks UD Trucks is a leading Japanese commercial vehicle solutions provider, active in more than 60 countries on all continents. Since its inception in 1935, the company has been an innovation leader with a clear vision to provide the trucks and services the world needs today. The company is committed to go the extra mile for smart logistics with the most dependable solutions for demanding customers. To best support across applications and geographies, UD Trucks offers a full range of heavy duty trucks – Quon and Quester, medium duty trucks – Condor and Croner, and light duty trucks – Kazet and Kuzer, as well as associated operational and financial services. For more information from the UD Trucks, please visit http://www.udtrucks.com/en-int/home #UDTrucks Contact Details Director, Brand and Marketing, UD Trucks International Sales Tricia Thet tricia.thet@udtrucks.com

September 30, 2021 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Bethesda Partners with In America Flags to Remember COVID-19 Victims

Minuteman Press International Inc

In America: Remember is a public art exhibition being held at the National Mall that displays 660,000 white flags to honor the people in America who have been lost due to COVID-19. Minuteman Press in Bethesda, Maryland, is a partner for the exhibition, providing printed message cards from people all over the country who are paying tribute to loved ones through the In America website. “We are glad to be able to do our part to help this art exhibition,” says Leslie Klein, owner, Minuteman Press, Bethesda. “Every day, we receive all of the messages that were submitted through the In America website and we print them 8 up on 11 x 17 sheets to create 4.25 x 5.5 cards. Every night, I drop off the finished cards to one of the volunteers, and then they are transcribed onto the flags by another group of volunteers.” Leslie adds, “This is a total team effort and we are proud to be partners in such an important and moving exhibition. Our hearts go out to those who have been lost and their families.” The In America: Remember exhibition was designed by artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg. The exhibition is open for public participation now through October 3 rd, 2021. Hours are Weekdays from 10 AM – Sunset and Weekends from 9 AM – Sunset. For more information, visit https://www.inamericaflags.org. Minuteman Press in Bethesda is located at 8210 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814. For more information, call 301-656-1188 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/md/bethesda Learn more about Minuteman Press products and services at https://minuteman.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

September 28, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Atlys Survey Finds New and Emerging Travel Patterns Amongst Americans Showing Increases in Travel Expenses; Non-Vaccinated Travelers on the Rise

Atlys

Eighteen months after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, countries have reopened borders to travelers. A recent survey conducted by Atlys found new and emerging travel trends, with travel becoming more expensive and uncertain than ever. The survey analyzed data from more than 3,500 travelers who used Atlys to travel abroad to understand these new travel patterns amongst Americans. Travel expenditure increased by a whopping $330 per trip due to COVID-19-related entry requirements, and so has the uncertainty, with 41% of travelers actively involved in travel communities related to their journeys. Additionally, 58% of American travelers were unvaccinated, with the most common destinations being Mexico (37%), Greece (19%), Dominican Republic (12%), Bahamas (11%), and Aruba (13%), and Costa Rica (8%). Major Survey Results Other significant results from the Atlys survey conducted over the summer include: 58% of Americans that traveled abroad this summer were not vaccinated. As countries reopened their borders, non-vaccinated travelers returned to the same travel patterns as before COVID-19. Old travelers are on the rise with a quarter being 50+. Amongst other demographic shifts, 47% of millennials refused to travel because of high costs, while 25% were scared to travel with unvaccinated children. Florida is the hub for unvaccinated travelers: 20% of unvaccinated American travelers live in Florida. The top 4 U.S. states by active COVID-19 cases also led the pack for most outbound travel amongst unvaccinated Americans. Florida accounted for most outbound unvaccinated tourists, followed by Texas, New York, and California. Traveling is inefficient: Each traveler spends more than 5 hours determining entry requirements and filling out paperwork. In addition, 23% of travelers saying they contacted either their airline, hotel,” or travel platform to understand the entry requirements with airlines call waiting times running into hours. The New Normal The current process is highly confusing for travelers. Mohak Nahta, CEO and founder of Atlys, said, “This survey highlights the inefficient processes set in place by governments. While it’s understandable that requirements exist to keep COVID-19 at bay, countries must streamline the process. As countries look to revamp tourism, they underestimate the impact of fast, efficient systems and clear, easy-to-understand processes have.” Countries have introduced a range of requirements to enter, making it more expensive to travel than ever. On average, the extra cost adds up to $330 per traveler and constitutes COVID-19 visas, travel insurance, and COVID-19 tests. In addition, 79% of travelers expressed frustration at the lack of disclosure by hotels & airlines on the added costs of traveling, only to discover them much later when the cancellation was not an option. A COVID-19 visa, also known as a health visa, is a new visa that travelers need to get. While they’re electronic, the approval is not instant. Authorities review each application; they can only be submitted a few days before the trip and are not free. “I wanted to travel to the United Kingdom, but I need to get a test within three days and then once I reach on the second and eighth days, and in between too? I am confused. I just decided not to go," said Sid, a 26-year-old Software Engineer based out of New York City. Many other travelers echo this sentiment, and the survey brings to light the importance of building systems to guide and educate travelers in the post-Covid world. About The Survey Atlys conducted the survey based on data from 3500 Atlys users between May 15, 2021, and September 5, 2021, for U.S. adults ages 18 and older. The Atlys app makes it fast & easy for travelers to get their visas. Contact Details Atlys Media Relations +1 650-550-1417 pr@atlys.com Company Website https://www.atlys.com/

September 28, 2021 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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D8.co to Launch 1-Hour Delivery for Delta-8 THC Products

D8 Holdings, Inc.

D8.co the market leader in hemp-derived Delta-8 THC —today announced it is launching 1-hour delivery for consumer orders throughout the United States. D8.co will deliver their award winning Delta-8 carts, Delta-8 disposables, and Delta-8 gummies to any customer within 1-hour in a 25-mile radius of any professional NFL team. Outside that radius customers will receive next day packages at the latest. “The largest problem we have is fulfillment and delivery,” said Chris Duffield, CEO of D8.co. “Anyone shipping consumer goods knows that all the carriers are a current nightmare. We have shipped thousands of packages priority and the majority show up two or three days late, with far too many getting lost or stolen. If a customer places an order after cutoff on Friday, they have to wait an additional three days. Customers want our products, and they want them immediately.” The first six states D8.co will integrate into their program are Texas, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, and North Carolina. The company will expand into the rest of the U.S immediately, with full integration expected to take approximately 45 days. “We have more than 50 major fulfillment centers locked in that are centrally managed from our cloud technology. Once an order is placed, our customers will receive an email and text where they can track our drivers all the way to delivery,” said Hugh McPherson, EVP of D8.co. D8.co expects to immediately double online sales with the new integration. “We are extremely excited to launch 1-hour delivery,” said Duffield. “We just became the largest cannabis company in the United States, which makes us a prime acquisition target. I’m very proud of our core team and all the hard work everyone has put in to make D8 the number one brand in the market.” About D8.co D8.co is based in Colorado and Miami with satellite offices in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The company is an assembly of the top hemp and cannabis minds in the country. With backgrounds in extraction, chemistry, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and legal, the D8 team came together organically around this elusive, but extremely powerful molecule to create a new category of products. More info at www.d8.co. Contact Details D8.co Chris Duffield +1 424-333-2112 chris@d8.co Company Website https://d8.co/

September 23, 2021 12:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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CORRECTING and REPLACING NEXT TRUCKING Appoints New Product and Technology Executives to Drive Platform Growth

Next Trucking

This release issued on September 22, 2021 is being replaced with the following corrected version due to multiple revisions. The updated release reads: NEXT TRUCKING Appoints New Product and Technology Executives to Drive Platform Growth Drayage Tech Leader Welcomes New CTO and CPO to Build Out the Next Generation of Technologies to Disrupt the Logistics Industry NEXT Trucking, a FreightTech pioneer that connects shippers and carriers through a digital marketplac e, today announced the addition of Vipul Shah as Chief Product Officer and Bo Tao as Chief Technology Officer. These strategic hires bring deep technical expertise in automation, machine learning and analytics to drive efficiency in the supply chain. Tao and Shah will drive improvements within the comprehensive NEXT Trucking platform, to enhance carrier and shipper experience across the spectrum of activities required to move a container, from delivery order processing and load matching to shipper billing and driver payout. “There is a lot of friction and lack of predictability in the supply chain today, diminishing earnings for drivers and wreaking havoc in shipper working capital,” said Lidia Yan, CEO, NEXT. “We believe strongly that technology has a key role to play in reducing this waste and creating economic opportunity. Vipul and Bo have the technical skills and expertise, including experience in scaling large platforms, to fuel NEXT’s growth.” A twenty year FinTech veteran, Shah previously led development of global payments platforms at PayPal and Google. “I've always been drawn to visionary efforts to create economic opportunity with technology,” said Shah. “NEXT's mission to empower drivers and shippers, and to reduce friction in freight, really resonated. A platform isn’t just great code, it's relationships and collaboration with key players in the ecosystem. I’m humbled to continue the great work of our founders Lidia and Elton, bringing together shippers, carriers, terminals, ports and other technology innovators on the NEXT platform.” Tao led engineering for Google’s image and food search and brings over twenty years of engineering, product development and management expertise to NEXT. “Matching shippers and carriers through a marketplace can greatly improve the efficiency of transportation, similar to what we have witnessed in consumer industries,” said Tao. “NEXT is a leading provider of such products and services with a proven market fit and a long runway ahead of it. I am extremely excited to join this market disruptor to improve the efficiency and economics of drayage, and to reduce the burden that drivers and shippers face today.” For more information, please visit www.nexttrucking.com. About NEXT Trucking NEXT Trucking, a FreightTech pioneer and drayage leader, offers premium shipping experiences to many of the world’s best-known companies. NEXT’s platform connects shippers with freight capacity across drayage, transload, and OTR. Headquartered in El Segundo, CA, NEXT is venture-backed by leaders such as Brookfield Ventures, GLP, Sequoia Capital and Mucker Capital. For more information, visit www.nexttrucking.com. About NEXT Trucking NEXT Trucking, a FreightTech pioneer and drayage leader, offers premium shipping experiences to many of the world’s best-known companies. NEXT’s platform connects shippers with freight capacity across drayage, transload, and OTR. Headquartered in El Segundo, CA, NEXT is venture-backed by leaders such as Brookfield Ventures, GLP, and Sequoia Capital. For more information, visit www.nexttrucking.com. Contact Details Sofia Spieler +1 347-870-9402 nexttrucking@trustrelations.agency Company Website https://www.nexttrucking.com/

September 22, 2021 04:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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MarketFinance in pole position as it raises £280m and is approved for Recovery Loan Scheme lending

Stockwood Strategy

Fintech business lender MarketFinance has today announced a £280m debt and equity fundraise and its accreditation under the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). This comes after MarketFinance became one of the first fintechs to be accredited under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), having lent £250m to companies across the UK. Launched by the British Business Bank in April 2021, the Recovery Loan Scheme supports access to finance for UK businesses as they recover and grow following the pandemic. Funding from the Scheme can be used for any legitimate business purpose including managing cashflow, investment in new equipment and preparing for future growth. It is designed to appeal to businesses that can afford to take out additional finance for these purposes. MarketFinance is ready to lend immediately with its debt and equity funding. The debt financing has been provided from a large global investment firm alongside Italy’s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. The equity investment was led by Black River Ventures (previous investments include Marqeta, Upgrade, Coursera and Digital Ocean) with participation from existing investor, Barclays Bank PLC. Alongside this, the launch of MarketFinance Flex Loans today will aim to help nearly one million SMEs in the UK solve their short-term funding gaps up to £100,000. Viola Credit has provided MarketFinance with £20m to launch the Flex Loans product. Similar to a credit card or overdraft, businesses will have a pre-agreed limit of up to £100,000 which they can withdraw at once or in smaller amounts. Flexible repayment options enable the businesses to spread their repayments over 3 - 12 months based on their working capital needs. It is a solution to support a variety of one-off and ongoing funding requirements such as purchasing inventory, clearing outstanding invoices, upfront supplier payments, investment into sales and marketing, or expanding the team. Anil Stocker, CEO at MarketFinance, commented: “This funding and our accreditation as a Recovery Loan Scheme lender is testament to the brilliant work everyone at MarketFinance has done to serve UK businesses during a difficult period. Adapting to the increased demand from businesses looking for finance online instead of through traditional avenues also drove our profitability this year, which has continued into H2 2021”. From today, businesses can immediately apply* for an RLS loan from MarketFinance between £50k and £250k repayable over 4, 5 or 6 years. Repayments in the first six months of the term will only consist of interest charges, an additional support measure as businesses gear themselves for a full reopening of the economy. Anil Stocker aded: “Businesses have been resilient and managed to hold their nerve during one of the most difficult periods in recent history. We were there to help with the CBILS and will do the same with the RLS by offering a simple application process, quick decisions and sending funds to businesses immediately. Our fundraise puts us in pole position to do this. We played a key role during CBILS, as one of the first fintech lenders, to help get funds to businesses quickly when they found their applications were delayed and or denied by others. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with businesses and help navigate them through to the full reopening of the economy and beyond”. As a native fintech, the MarketFinance platform is designed to receive, process and manage large volumes of businesses applying for finance using the platform. From simple online application forms, enhanced credit risk models to exceptional one-to-one customer support, MarketFinance will get RLS funds to businesses in need, quickly. “We aim to quickly lend to businesses around the UK. We anticipate demand for RLS to come from companies that will need capital to scale operations ahead of the full reopening of the economy. Manufacturers, wholesalers, public services businesses and a range of others will need the funds to ramp up supplies and build pipelines as business returns to normal” added Anil Stocker. Ends *Minimum eligibility criteria for RLS business loans through MarketFinance: Limited Company or Limited Liability Partnership Trading for more than 3 years, has a turnover of more than £200,000 Company sells goods and/or services to consumers and/or other businesses About MarketFinance MarketFinance is a business finance company with offices in London and Manchester. The online platform enables businesses to access a range of flexible finance solutions - quickly and easily. This smart technology is backed by help from real people so business owners can save time and focus on growing their business. Since 2011, MarketFinance has cumulatively advanced over £2.6 billion to companies across a range of sizes and sectors, providing working capital and finance for everything from paying staff and suppliers to launching new products or services and accelerating growth. MarketFinance is backed by Barclays Bank PLC, Mouro Capital, European venture capital fund Northzone (invested in Klarna, iZettle and Trustpilot), and private equity group MCI Capital (also invested in iZettle, Azimo and Gett). About the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) The Recovery Loan Scheme is managed by the British Business Bank on behalf of, and with the financial backing of, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. British Business Bank plc is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. It is not authorised or regulated by the PRA or the FCA. Contact Details MarketFinance Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://marketfinance.com/

September 21, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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