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Mention Me, a leading customer advocacy and referral marketing platform, has announced the successful close of a $25 million Series B funding round, led by Octopus Ventures, with participation from existing investor Eight Roads Ventures. The new funding will support the company’s international expansion, continued product development, and growing demand for advocacy-led marketing solutions.

Founded in London, Mention Me helps brands turn their existing customers into a powerful acquisition channel by enabling and scaling referral programmes. Its platform allows businesses to identify, engage, and reward advocates—driving customer growth through trusted, word-of-mouth recommendations.

At the centre of this evolution is Mention Me’s microinfluencer platform, an AI-driven solution designed to help brands unlock the power of genuine advocacy at scale. By enabling companies to identify, engage, and grow relationships with real customers and creators, Mention Me is redefining how modern marketing works.

The latest investment marks a significant milestone for the company as it looks to strengthen its presence in key markets, particularly the United States, while continuing to expand its product capabilities.

Andy Cockburn, CEO and co-founder of Mention Me, said the raise comes at a pivotal moment for the marketing industry. “With third-party data disappearing, paid social delivering diminishing returns, and consumers increasingly overwhelmed by advertising, brands are being forced to rethink how they grow. Advocacy puts trust back at the centre of marketing, and this funding allows us to double down on that opportunity,” he said.

Mention Me plans to use the capital to accelerate hiring across product, engineering, and commercial teams, as well as invest in its technology platform. A key focus will be enhancing its data and AI capabilities, enabling brands to better identify high-value advocates and optimise referral performance at scale.

The company has already built a strong client base, working with well-known brands including Puma, Pret A Manger, ASOS, and Bloom & Wild. Across these partnerships, Mention Me has helped generate billions in revenue through referral and advocacy programmes, demonstrating the effectiveness of customer-led growth strategies.

Uthish Ranjan, Principal at Octopus Ventures, who will join Mention Me’s board as part of the investment, said the firm sees significant long-term potential in the space. “Mention Me is pioneering a new category within marketing technology by making customer advocacy a core growth channel. The team has demonstrated impressive traction, and we believe they are well-positioned to scale globally as the market continues to evolve,” he said.

Existing investor Eight Roads Ventures also reaffirmed its support for the company, having previously led Mention Me’s $7 million Series A round. The continued backing highlights confidence in the company’s trajectory and its ability to execute on its vision.

The funding comes as brands increasingly look for alternatives to traditional digital advertising, which has become more expensive and less predictable in recent years. Referral marketing, powered by trusted recommendations, is emerging as a more sustainable and cost-effective channel for customer acquisition.

By combining referral marketing with broader advocacy strategies, Mention Me enables brands to build deeper relationships with their customers while driving measurable business outcomes. Its platform provides end-to-end functionality, from advocate identification and campaign management to performance tracking and optimisation.

With fresh capital and growing market demand, Mention Me is now positioned to expand its global footprint and further establish itself as a leader in advocacy-led marketing.

Media Contact

Mention Me
press@mention-me.com

Rememore’s Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vahit Mutlu has announced clinical findings regarding the use of additional surgical techniques in sleeve gastrectomy, revealing that such interventions may not always reduce complication rates. The announcement is based on both previously published research and real-world clinical outcomes collected over the past three years.

Obesity is a major health problem that is rapidly increasing worldwide today. One of the most effective methods used to achieve permanent weight loss in individuals with advanced obesity is sleeve gastrectomy.

Based on the clinical observations and research of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mutlu, additional techniques in sleeve gastrectomy may not always provide the expected benefits and, in some cases, may not reduce complication rates.

Study Findings: Omentopexy Does Not Significantly Reduce Complications

The announcement builds on a study conducted in late 2020, in which the surgical outcomes of 567 obesity patients were analyzed. The study conducted on weight loss surgery investigated the effects of adding an additional surgical technique known as omentopexy to standard sleeve gastrectomy.

In this technique, after the stomach size is reduced, the fatty tissue surrounding the stomach (omentum) is fixed to the stomach in an attempt to stabilize the gastric tube and reduce complications.

According to the results of the study:

• The complication rate did not significantly decrease in surgeries where omentopexy was added.
• In fact, a higher risk of twisting (torsion) of the stomach tube was observed in some patients.

As highlighted in the published paper, fixing the gastric tube to the greater omentum did not significantly decrease postoperative complications.

These findings suggest that not every additional technique in sleeve gastrectomy necessarily provides clinical benefit.

Clinical Outcomes Following Protocol Change

Following the publication of these findings, Rememore refined its surgical approach by limiting the routine use of additional techniques and focusing on precision-based standard sleeve gastrectomy.

Over the past three years, this updated approach has been applied to almost 700 patients.

Clinical outcomes show:

• Zero major complications
• Only one reported bleeding case
• Near elimination of minor complications in recent cases
• Overall complication rates were significantly minimized

These results are supported by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mutlu’s broader surgical experience of over 2,000 bariatric procedures.

Growing Scientific Contribution

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mutlu’s work has gained increasing international recognition. Between 2023 and 2026, more than 10 bariatric surgery-related publications associated with his name have appeared across academic and clinical research platforms, including contributions referenced in the United Kingdom and the United States.

This expanding body of research strengthens the clinical evidence behind the approach adopted at Rememore.

Why Complications Occur in Sleeve Gastrectomy

Although sleeve gastrectomy is generally considered a safe procedure, complications may occur in rare cases. These can include leakage from the staple line, bleeding, or narrowing of the stomach.

Common contributing factors include:

• Technical challenges during surgery
• High pressure within the gastric tube
• Individual healing differences
• Comorbidities such as diabetes or hypertension

Surgeons continue to explore techniques to minimize these risks.

Conclusion

Sleeve gastrectomy continues to be an effective and safe treatment for obesity in appropriate patients. However, scientific research on surgical techniques is ongoing, and the safest methods continue to be explored.

Media Contact

Oğuzhan Bahçeci
oguzhan.bahceci@memorial.com.tr

Estrella & Tupete, Abogados, a Dominican corporate law firm, today announced its strategic advisory focus on supporting international developers entering the Caribbean energy market, emphasizing the critical role of local legal frameworks in ensuring project bankability and reducing investment risk.

As capital flows into the region’s energy sector continue to grow, the firm highlights a recurring challenge faced by foreign investors: the tendency to treat local legal and regulatory systems as secondary to financial structuring. According to Estrella & Tupete, this approach often leads to project delays, disputes and, in some cases, failed investments.

“Developers frequently rely on project finance models and power purchase agreements imported from more mature markets, assuming these can offset local regulatory complexity,” said Guillermo Estrella Ramia, Managing Partner at Estrella & Tupete, Abogados. “In reality, the legal framework in Caribbean jurisdictions is a defining variable that directly impacts project viability.”

The firm notes that concession frameworks across the Caribbean are a critical starting point for energy investments. These government-granted rights, which govern electricity generation and transmission, include provisions related to duration, tariff structures, dispute resolution and compensation mechanisms. Properly structured concessions are essential for securing financing and ensuring long-term project stability.

In markets such as the Dominican Republic, recent renewable energy tenders demonstrate the importance of regulatory predictability. While not necessarily flexible, clearly defined frameworks enable investors to better assess and model risk.

Estrella & Tupete, Abogados, also underscores the importance of structuring bankable power purchase agreements (PPAs), particularly in jurisdictions where state-owned utilities serve as primary offtakers. Limited creditworthiness of such entities often requires additional risk mitigation mechanisms, including multilateral guarantees, escrow arrangements and sovereign support instruments.

The firm emphasizes that successful project execution depends on early engagement with local legal counsel. Jurisdiction-specific expertise is essential for navigating administrative processes, ensuring enforceability of contractual provisions and aligning financing structures with domestic regulations.

“Legal risk is often underestimated in early-stage project development,” Estrella Ramia added. “However, in the Caribbean, it plays a central role in determining whether a project can reach financial close.”

With increasing investor interest in renewable energy across Latin America and the Caribbean, international data, including reports from the International Energy Agency, highlight ongoing financing and structural challenges in the region. Estrella & Tupete, Abogados continues to advise domestic and international clients on corporate law, project finance and energy sector transactions, supporting the development of legally robust and financeable projects.

About Estrella & Tupete, Abogados

Estrella & Tupete is a Dominican Republic-based corporate law firm advising clients on corporate, financial and energy sector matters. The firm provides legal services to domestic and international investors across the Caribbean, with a focus on project finance and regulatory compliance. For more information, visit www.estrellatupete.com

Media Contact

RD Noticias Team
info@rdnoticias.com.do

The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust marks 40 years of progress in its effort to preserve and restore land along the San Joaquin River, highlighting decades of community-driven conservation as the project approaches a defining phase. According to Sharon Weaver, Executive Director of San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, the milestone reflects both the scale of what has been achieved and the importance of continued engagement as key decisions shape the parkway’s future.

For decades, the San Joaquin River Parkway has been shaped by a steady effort to protect land, restore habitat, and create a continuous public greenway along one of California’s waterways. According to Weaver, long-term progress is now encountering a new and immediate point of attention in the form of a proposed mining expansion within the same corridor.

The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust operates as a nonprofit land trust focused on acquiring and managing land along a stretch of the river, working alongside public agencies to create a connected parkway that supports recreation, conservation, and community access. From Weaver’s perspective, the parkway reflects a broader commitment to improving quality of life in a region that has historically had limited access to large-scale public green space. “This has always been about creating a place where people can connect with the river in a way that supports both the environment and the community,” she says.

The current proposal involves expanding mining operations in areas that overlap with the parkway’s footprint. Weaver emphasizes that the conversation is not about opposing all mining activity. She notes that sand and gravel extraction has long been part of the region’s economic landscape and continues to serve important functions. Instead, she points to the specific changes proposed in this case, particularly the introduction of blasting and drilling methods in close proximity to public spaces and planned parkway segments.

From her perspective, this shift introduces a different set of considerations. She explains that blasting and drilling can alter the experience of being in a natural setting, particularly in areas intended for recreation and public access. “The parkway is designed to offer a place where people can spend time outdoors, and the type of activity happening nearby influences how that space is experienced,” she says.

Weaver also outlines how the proposal intersects with broader environmental considerations. She notes that the river corridor supports a range of wildlife and ongoing restoration efforts, and that maintaining stability within that ecosystem is an important part of long-term conservation work. From her point of view, changes in land use at this scale require careful consideration of how they interact with the river’s natural systems and the progress that has already been made.

The proposal also raises questions about connectivity within the parkway itself. According to Weaver, the vision for the parkway depends on creating a continuous network of trails and public access points along the river.  

“When you introduce a major change within that corridor, it affects how those pieces come together, because the parkway is designed as a connected system, not isolated segments,” she says. “Any disruption in that continuity can reshape how people experience and access the river over time.”

Research highlights that while green space does contribute to housing value, its impact is highly location-dependent and varies significantly based on local conditions, reinforcing the importance of preserving context-specific environments like river corridors.

In addition to environmental and planning considerations, Weaver points to how operational activity associated with the expansion could shape the surrounding area. She explains that increased movement of materials, changes in land use, and the presence of industrial processes can influence how nearby communities experience the river corridor over time. From her perspective, these factors are part of a broader conversation about how shared spaces are used and developed.

At the same time, awareness of the proposal remains limited. Weaver notes that despite outreach efforts, many residents are still unfamiliar with the details of what is being considered. She observes that when people do learn about it, their reactions often reflect a desire to better understand how it could influence the future of the parkway. “Once people hear about it, they want to know what it means for the river and for the spaces they value,” she says.

The timeline for decision-making is still evolving, with hearings expected in the coming months. Weaver suggests that this period represents an opportunity for community members to engage with the process and become informed about how decisions are being made. From her perspective, participation plays a role in helping ensure that long-term priorities are clearly represented.

“This is a moment where the future of the river corridor is being considered,” she explains. “It’s important for people to understand what is happening and to be part of that conversation in a thoughtful way.”

For a project that has taken decades to build, the introduction of a new variable brings renewed focus to the importance of long-term alignment. Weaver frames the situation as part of a broader reflection on how communities shape shared environments over time. She suggests that the parkway represents a collective investment in creating a space that balances access, conservation, and future growth. 

As discussions continue, the outcome will influence not only the timeline of the parkway’s completion but also how the river corridor is experienced in the years ahead. Weaver emphasizes that decisions made at this stage carry long-term significance, reinforcing the importance of awareness, engagement, and careful consideration as the process moves forward.

About San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust

The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the San Joaquin River Parkway in California’s Central Valley. Through conservation, education, and community partnerships, the Trust protects natural habitats and expands public access to the river. Learn more at riverparkway.org.

About Sharon Weaver

Sharon Weaver is the Executive Director of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, a nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to preserving and restoring land along the San Joaquin River. She leads initiatives focused on expanding public access, protecting natural habitats, and advancing long-term stewardship of the river corridor. With experience in environmental planning and community engagement, Weaver works to align conservation efforts with public health, regional development, and sustainable land use priorities.

Media Contact

Sharon Weaver
sweaver@riverparkway.org

Urban Egg, the Colorado-born casual dining concept known for its chef-driven brunch and its commitment to genuine hospitality, today announces the launch of Urban EGGsperience, a new digital guest platform built with Thanx, the loyalty and guest engagement platform for restaurants. The program launches April 16th across all Urban Egg locations, designed to extend the warmth and personalization of the Urban Egg dining room into every guest interaction that follows.

Unlike traditional loyalty programs built around transactions, Urban EGGsperience is purpose-built around the guest relationship, drawing on feedback from operators, including general managers, servers, baristas, and back-of-house team members. With 90% of Urban Egg's sales happening in-restaurant, the brand needed a platform that could meet guests where they already are and deepen the in-person connection servers create every day.

“This isn’t a traditional loyalty program,” said Cassie Pinckney, VP of Marketing at Urban Egg. “Urban EGGsperience is a natural extension of our hospitality. Our operators played a key role in bringing it to life by testing the experience, voting on the name, and helping define what resonates most with our guests. With Thanx, we’re able to deliver that same level of personalization to our guests beyond our four walls.” 

Most loyalty programs start when a guest pulls out their phone. Urban EGGsperience begins the moment a guest walks through the door and is designed to make every interaction after feel like a continuation of the same relationship while giving them a personalized reason to come back.

"Loyalty is a business outcome, not a program," said Zach Goldstein, CEO of Thanx. "You don't get loyal guests by launching a loyalty program. You get them by repeatedly doing things that make guests feel valued, known, and connected to a brand while designing every touchpoint in the guest relationship to reinforce that feeling. Urban Egg already does this in their dining rooms every day, but Urban EGGsperience is how they now do it at scale."

The new Urban EGGsperience rewards guests with “Yolks,” a playful currency redeemable in a choose-your-own Marketplace. Options range from complimentary drinks and entrees to skipping the waitlist, exclusive merch, and even a "Yolk’s Elite Brunch," a special in-restaurant experience reserved for the brand’s top five annual earners and five of their friends or family. Members also enjoy a free entree during their birthday week, with every reward designed to feel genuinely worthwhile.

The program is built to turn first visits into lasting habits. New members earn Bonus Yolks for coming back within 30 days, and again for a third visit, encouraging guests to make Urban Egg part of their regular routine. Guests can sign up by scanning a QR code on menus and tables for instant access with no app required, though one is available for those who prefer it.

“When we started Urban Egg, our goal was simple: to create a better breakfast experience through exceptional food and genuine hospitality. That purpose continues to guide everything we do today,” said Randy Price, founder of Urban Egg. “We’re excited to introduce Urban EGGsperience, our new digital experience designed to extend that same level of care beyond the restaurant. It’s simple to use, thoughtfully designed, and filled with meaningful perks and one-of-a-kind experiences we know our guests will love. We couldn’t be more excited to bring this next chapter to our guests.”

Urban Egg's partnership with Thanx followed a rigorous evaluation of the competitive landscape, informed in part by Pinckney and Urban Egg CFO Zach Bell's prior experience launching a Thanx-powered program at a previous restaurant brand.

"Launching a loyalty program at a full-service, dine-in restaurant is a fundamentally different challenge than fast casual," said Pinckney. "At my previous brand, over 50% of orders were digital. At Urban Egg, 90% of our guests are sitting down in our dining room. Thanx gave us the flexibility to build a program around our reality, not just what works for someone else's model."

Among the capabilities that set the platform apart are a powerful, flexible loyalty program with intuitive self-service controls; deep app customization to reflect Urban Egg's visual identity and brand voice; and a proven track record of acting on operator feedback. 

"Thanx has grown significantly since we first worked together," Pinckney noted. "The level of enhancement to the platform, from in-dining-room activation tools to AI-powered segmentation, has been remarkable. It's a platform that grows with you."

“From the agency perspective, bringing this program to life with our client-partners and the Thanx team has been another fantastic collaboration,” added Dan Bejmuk, Dreambox CEO and co-founder. 

Kyle Barry, Senior Client Engagement Owner leading the account at Dreambox adds, “The Thanx platform combined with the Urban Egg team’s proven vision is a remarkable addition to the brand’s toolset that pairs beautifully with our team’s creative capabilities.” 

Prior to Urban EGGsperience, Urban Egg had limited visibility into guest behavior. Urban EGGsperience consolidates multiple channels into a unified guest profile, enabling Urban Egg to identify its most valuable guests, personalize outreach, and measure what actually drives a second visit. Research consistently shows that the third purchaser is 10 to 12 times more valuable than the first. Every decision in Urban EGGsperience is designed to get guests there.

About Thanx

Thanx, Inc. is the loyalty and guest engagement platform for restaurants. Thanx helps brands grow customer lifetime value by turning retention into a strategic, measurable growth driver. Thanx captures 5-10x more transactions than legacy solutions and uses that data to power personalized marketing, real-time lifecycle automation, and seamless digital experiences. 90% of Thanx customers grow first-party digital sales in year one, with most seeing 50% or more growth. Headquartered in San Francisco, Thanx was founded in 2011. For more information, visit www.thanx.com.

About Urban Egg

Urban Egg is an award-winning elevated daytime restaurant where locally sourced ingredients meet bold culinary creativity. Known for its vibrant spaces and scratch-made menu, Urban Egg transforms breakfast, brunch, and lunch into memorable experiences rooted in genuine hospitality and community connection. With locations across multiple states and growing, Urban Egg continues to redefine the daytime dining experience. For more information, visit urbanegg.com.

About Dreambox

Dreambox is the digitally-inspired advertising agency that has grown over 150 different multi-unit restaurant concepts through the past 25 years. Having supported brands from Yum!, Panda, Darden, Landry’s and Delaware North as well as growth concepts such as Urban Egg, Velvet Taco, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria and JINYA Ramen Bar; Dreambox is based in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.wearedreambox.com.

Media Contact

Madeleine Nasch
Proof PR
madeleine@proof-pr.com

This June, global storytelling nonprofit The Moth extends its acclaimed “American Dreams” Mainstage tour to four additional cities — Washington, D.C., Denver, St. Paul, and Houston — in a special programming series. The tour features a curated collection of stories that explore the complexities, triumphs, and surprises of the American experience. Pairing beloved listener favorites with brand-new, never-before-aired stories, the offshoot offers a rare opportunity to experience The Moth live, returning to some cities for the first time in years and debuting in others. Tickets for all four cities are on sale as of Thursday, April 16.

Each show in the series will feature the same powerhouse lineup: 

• Jon Goode (host) — Emmy-nominated writer and author of “Black Curio,” whose work has appeared on CNN, HBO, VH1, and MTV
• George Sumner (storyteller) — retired Salt Lake City firefighter, and suburban fire chief
• Alistair Bane (storyteller) — citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, writer, and visual artist
• Jackie Andrews (storyteller) — former Army officer, and glass artist from Columbus, Ohio
• John Paul Brammer (storyteller) — author and illustrator from Oklahoma, acclaimed for his book “¡Hola Papi!”
• Renita Walls (storyteller) — spoken-word artist, and nurse practitioner from Atlanta, Georgia

Tour Dates and Venues

Doors open for all at 6:30 p.m. / Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

• June 10 – National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, Washington, D.C.
• June 12 – The Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place, Denver, Colo.
• June 25 – Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul, Minn.
• June 27 – Cullen Performance Hall, 4300 University Drive, Houston, Texas

"We’re excited to extend our 'American Dreams' tour to more communities at this pivotal moment, as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary," said Christina Norman, Chief Creative Officer of The Moth. "For two and a half centuries, the idea of the American Dream has inspired people with the belief that where you begin does not determine where you end up. These stories — some fan favorites, some being heard for the first time — reflect the many ways people define and reinvent that dream. There’s nothing like experiencing them together in a room."

About The Moth

The Moth is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting humanity through the power of personal storytelling. Since launching in 1997,  The Moth has presented more than 65,000 true stories — told live and without notes — to standing-room-only audiences around the world. Today, The Moth produces more than 600 live events annually and maintains an ongoing presence in 29 cities worldwide. Its work spans live storytelling, workshops and education, and media and publishing, including the internationally touring Mainstage series, open-mic StorySLAMs, and global storytelling initiatives. Each year, The Moth leads thousands of new storytellers through workshops for students, educators, adults, advocates, and professionals. Its Peabody Award-winning "The Moth Radio Hour," presented by PRX, airs weekly on more than 540 public radio stations, while "The Moth Podcast" is downloaded tens of millions of times annually. The Moth has published five books, including several New York Times bestsellers, such as "My Life in Stories: A Guided Journal from The Moth" (Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, $22.99). For more information, visit www.themoth.org and follow on Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, and Facebook.

Media Contact

Meryl Cooper
meryl@thecooperationinc.com

New Teeth Chicago Dental Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry Center, led by Dr. Irfan Atcha, has recently announced market expansions in Florida and California through strategic partnerships with local providers, while also targeting investments in commercial real estate. The initiative reflects a coordinated effort to broaden clinical reach while building long-term business assets.

The company strategy centers on partnering with established dentists in key markets by supporting both new clinic development and the acquisition of existing practices. This approach enables measured scaling while maintaining alignment with long-term operational standards. “My focus on growth stems from my belief in building businesses that create impact and legacies,” Dr. Atcha said.

Strengthening Existing Operations

At the same time, New Teeth Chicago is strengthening its existing locations through continued investment in advanced technology, team development and operational infrastructure. These enhancements are designed to increase capacity and improve patient outcomes, particularly as demand for complex dental procedures rises.

In parallel, the company is expanding its presence in commercial real estate through investments in neighborhood retail centers and mixed-use developments. Recent activity includes the acquisition of a multi-tenant retail property intended to house both health care and community-oriented businesses. This reinforces a strategy focused on long-term value creation and local accessibility.

Established Reputation in Complex Dental Care

New Teeth Chicago has built its reputation over three decades by treating patients with complex dental conditions, including severe tooth loss, trauma-related damage and oral health complications. The practice is known for its comprehensive, same-day dental implant procedures performed in a single facility. This provides a fully integrated patient experience from consultation through restoration.

Patient trust remains central to the organization's approach. In addition to clinical expertise, the model emphasizes clear communication and personalized care. As a result, both the functional and emotional aspects of treatment are addressed.

The company's direction also reflects a long-term commitment to sustained development. Dr. Atcha, who brings more than 30 years of experience in dental medicine, continues to pursue advanced training while nurturing a culture of continuous improvement across his team. "Expansion happens internally with the same store growth, and we have expanded more technology, more resources and team members to internally scale and grow,” he says.

Patient-Centered Care Approach

As New Teeth Chicago evaluates additional opportunities, it remains focused on disciplined, partnership-driven expansion. Efforts in Florida and California will continue selectively, with real estate investments advancing alongside clinical operations. “We grow to better serve our patients, and as our business expands, we recognize the need to venture into new markets,” Dr. Atcha said.

Dr. Atcha noted that the company’s long-term vision is centered on delivering value rather than competing on price. “For us, impact means serving the people who rely on us, helping them reconnect with their health and well-being, and restoring what they have lost,” he said.

About New Teeth Chicago Dental Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry Center

New Teeth Chicago Dental Implants is a Chicago-based dental implant center specializing in full-mouth restoration and advanced implant solutions, including All-on-4 procedures. Led by Dr. Irfan Atcha, the practice uses modern technology and a patient-focused approach to deliver long-lasting, natural-looking results for patients with missing or failing teeth. For more information, visit newsmile.newteethchicagodentalimplants.com.

About Irfan Atcha

Irfan Atcha, DDS, is the founder and CEO of New Teeth Chicago Dental Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry Center. With more than three decades of experience in dental medicine, he specializes in advanced implant procedures and has built a reputation for comprehensive patient-centered care.

About Marquis Who's Who

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

Media Contact

Marquis Who’s Who
info@marquiswhoswho.com

As China and the European Union enter the second half-century of formal diplomatic relations, a comprehensive new study reveals a resilient foundation of mutual trust and high expectations for future technological and economic integration.

The survey, conducted by the Global Times Institute (GTI) in collaboration with Global Consulting Beijing Company Limited, gathered more than 16,300 valid responses across 20 EU member states and Mainland China between October 16 and November 4, 2025.

Methodological Transparency and Reach

To ensure a robust and inclusive dataset, the study was administered in 21 languages, including German, French, Spanish, and Chinese. The 20-country EU sample included major economies such as Germany, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, and Denmark, providing a statistically significant cross-section of European public sentiment.

Key Findings: Strategic Partnership and Perception

The data indicates that the "Cooperation Partner" framework remains the dominant lens through which both regions view the bilateral relationship:

• EU Sentiment: 43% of EU respondents categorize the relationship as "Cooperation Partner," while 30% view it as a mix of "Partner and Competitor."
• China Sentiment: 63% of Chinese respondents identified the relationship as a "Cooperation Partner and Competitor," reflecting a nuanced understanding of global market dynamics.

Overall, 78% of Chinese respondents and 73% of EU respondents expressed a desire to maintain or strengthen current ties, signaling a clear mandate for diplomatic stability.

Trust Preference in Global Governance

In critical YMYL (Your Money Your Life) domains, the survey highlights a distinct Chinese preference for EU-led standards over those of the United States. In five key areas — including AI Ethical Development, Scientific Standard-Setting, and Climate Response — trust in the EU outperformed the U.S. by margins ranging from 19 to 41 percentage points.

Respondents from both regions identified "External Geopolitical Pressure" as the primary obstacle to optimal cooperation, with75% of Chinese and 57% of EU participants advocating for a multipolar approach to global governance to mitigate external volatilities.

Economic and Industrial Priorities (2026–2030)

Confidence in trade remains a cornerstone of the relationship, with 70% of Chinese and 60% of EU citizensexpressing optimism regarding future trade prospects. The survey identified several high-priority sectors for joint development:

• The Digital Economy: Ranked as a top priority for mutual investment by both demographics.
• Green Energy and Infrastructure: Strongly emphasized by EU respondents as essential areas for Chinese partnership.
• Biotechnology and Tourism: Noted by Chinese respondents as key areas for expanded European engagement.

"This data demonstrates that despite a complex global landscape, the fundamental desire for connectivity and shared progress remains the prevailing sentiment among the public in both China and the EU," stated the Global Times Institute.

Media Contact

Shao Qunyu
Global Consulting Beijing Company Limited
shaoqunyu@globaltimes.com.cn
+86 186 1246 1366

On April 14, the two-day 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit, themed “Digital and Intelligent Empowerment for Innovative Development — Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace,” came to a successful conclusion.

This year marks the second consecutive time that Hong Kong has hosted the international conference. Approximately 1,000 participants attended, including ministerial-level officials from government departments, senior representatives of international organizations, diplomatic envoys to China, leaders from prominent internet enterprises, as well as experts and scholars from more than 50 countries and regions.

John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stated that the successful hosting of the summit fully demonstrates Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework. The HKSAR Government is accelerating the development of innovation and technology, with artificial intelligence as a key pillar. Hong Kong ranks among the world’s leading economies in AI readiness and is committed to harnessing the power of AI in a responsible and inclusive manner.

Zhuang Rongwen, Chairman of the World Internet Conference and Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, noted that the summit aims to align with the accelerating trends of digitalization, networking, and intelligent transformation. It seeks to build consensus and pool strengths across sectors, leveraging new achievements and cooperation outcomes in the digital and intelligent fields to make greater contributions toward a brighter digital future for the Asia-Pacific region.

On the afternoon of April 13, the main forum of the 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit, along with the Distinguished Contributors Ceremony, was held in Hong Kong.

Wang Jingtao, Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, and Francis Gurry, Vice Chairman of the World Internet Conference and former Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization, attended and delivered keynote speeches. Ren Xianliang, Secretary-General of the World Internet Conference, was also present.

Wang Jingtao pointed out that the global wave of intelligent transformation is surging, with breakthroughs in artificial intelligence emerging collectively. He emphasized the need to build consensus and deepen cooperation to address the critical question of how digital technologies can better benefit humanity. He proposed four key measures:

• Uphold openness and cooperation to expand the digital economy
• Promote inclusiveness and shared benefits to bridge digital and intelligence divides
• Strengthen coordinated governance to build a fair and equitable cyberspace order
• Reinforce security foundations to safeguard cyberspace safety

Francis Gurry stated that digital and intelligent empowerment means enabling individuals, enterprises, institutions, and diverse cultural and economic actors to adapt to the digital and AI environment, seize social and economic opportunities, and share in development dividends. He emphasized that all stakeholders bear important responsibilities in this process. The Distinguished Contributors Ceremony was established to honor individuals and enterprises that have driven the development of digital and intelligent technologies, recognizing both their technological excellence and their deep concern for the societal impact of technological transformation.

Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, and Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, also attended and delivered speeches. Other distinguished participants included Wu Jianping, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Zhongguancun Laboratory; Nii Quaynor, Chairman of Ghana Dot Com and recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Contribution Award; and Kilnam Chon, Honorary Professor at KAIST and also a 2024 award recipient. Wu Dong, Chief Engineer of the Cyberspace Administration of China, also attended the event.

The event invited individuals, enterprises, and prominent figures who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the global internet. Through keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and personal narratives, participants shared their practices and insights on building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. The program featured four thematic sections: “Tribute to the Connectors of the World,” “Tribute to Technological Innovators,” “Tribute to Digital Pioneers — Hong Kong Dialogue,” and “Tribute to Technology for Good.” Participants also explored future directions and opportunities for artificial intelligence.

During the event, the launch of the 2026 World Internet Conference Leading Science and Technology Awards and the global call for case studies on jointly building a community with a shared future in cyberspace were announced. The launch ceremony for the 2026 Distinguished Contribution Awards was also held.

On April 14, six sub-forums on different themes were held in Hong Kong. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including intelligent agent innovation and applications, digital finance, AI safety governance, smart livelihoods, digital health, and the digitalization and dissemination of classical texts.

On the same day, ten think tanks participating in the World Internet Conference Think Tank Cooperation Program released a series of research outcomes at the Smart Livelihoods and Digital Finance Forum of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Summit.

The 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit was organized by the World Internet Conference, hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and co-organized by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government.

Lemon.io’s new report, “The Four Essential AI Engineering Roles for 2026,” reveals how the once-unified “AI engineer” title has fragmented into four distinct, high-impact specializations. Drawing on data from over 1,500 vetted developers from more than 40 countries and a year of screening insights, the report helps companies understand which roles they actually need — and how to identify genuine AI expertise in an increasingly crowded talent market.

Over the past year, AI-related mentions in client hire requests at Lemon.io — a curated marketplace for senior developers — have more than twice. The surge isn’t limited to demand: the number of candidates identifying themselves as “AI engineers” in their CVs has grown at a comparable rate.

This creates a practical problem for any startup or SMB trying to hire: how do you tell apart a developer who uses AI tools from one who genuinely engineers with them?

“In 2026, the 'AI engineer' label has fragmented into a specialized spectrum where most businesses demand AI-augmented workflows as a baseline requirement. We’re seeing a clear shift away from generalist requests toward high-impact roles such as AI agent architect and AI automation architect.

Besides, at Lemon.io, our data confirms that while traditional ML demand remains steady, the real competitive edge now lies in AI integration across every development layer. The market is no longer asking for AI specialists — it is demanding a new standard of AI-native engineering,” noted Anastasiia Andriienko, Talent Matching Lead at Lemon.io.

The goal of the report is to give leads seeking tech talent a clear, tool- and skill-focused picture of what engineering with AI looks like in 2026, role by role.

Four AI Engineer Roles — Four Skill Sets. What the AI Job Market Looks Like in 2026

Client demand for AI competencies currently clusters around four distinct roles. Understanding which one you need can save significant budget and hiring time.

AI API Integrator

These developers, who typically charge $90–$180 per hour, build product features using existing AI models — connecting LLM APIs, designing RAG pipelines, and embedding AI capabilities into live products. They don't train models; they use them to automate product flows and unlock growth.

AI-Assisted Engineer 

These are traditional full-stack developers who typically charge $40–$130 per hour and have meaningfully incorporated AI coding tools into their workflow — achieving 3–5x speed improvements on standard development tasks. The role is about leveraging, not specialization.

Machine Learning Engineer

These professionals, who typically charge $120–$250+ per hour, build and train ML models, design neural network architectures, and optimize model accuracy — the job initially associated with custom AI development. Machine learning engineers typically hold a formal background in Computer Science, Mathematics, or Statistics and have work experience in Data Science and Deep Learning Algorithms. They are most in-demand at deep-tech startups.

AI Optimizer / LLMOps 

These specialists, who typically charge $110–$200 per hour, ensure deployed AI systems are neither too slow for users nor too expensive to run. They focus on inference optimization, cost management, and production observability.

The screening process at Lemon.io reveals that hiring for AI is no longer about finding a single profile, but rather identifying one of four distinct mindsets. While an ML engineer focuses on models and mathematical frameworks, an API Integrator prioritizes product functionality. Meanwhile, AI-Assisted Developers center their work on speed, and LLMOps specialists focus on production cost and system reliability.

To align these industry trends with practical hiring, Lemon.io maps these skill sets to standardized specializations that developers recognize. While the “four roles” describe the market’s functional needs, the platform is expanding its vetting to include high-demand titles like AI agent architects and AI automation architects, alongside a new vertical for data annotators to support custom model fine-tuning

“While we categorize talent under recognized titles like AI and ML Engineers to match developer naming conventions, we are actively expanding our specializations to include AI agent and automation architects,” stated Andriienko. “By also integrating data annotators into our talent pool, we ensure that whether a client needs a high-level architect or the foundational data support for a custom model, we have the specific expertise ready to deploy.”

The AI Engineer Markers: Which Tools Are Showing Up on Profiles

One of the clearest signals of genuine AI fluency is which specific tools a developer mentions — and whether those mentions hold up under questioning. Below is what we tracked across more than 1,500 candidate profiles, comparing Q1 2025 to Q1 2026:

The Rise of AI APIs

The modern developer’s toolkit is shifting toward pre-built intelligence, making the AI Integrator a pivotal role in 2026. Lemon.io’s data shows a massive surge in API adoption, led by Vertex AI with 238% growth and a steady 51% increase in OpenAI API mentions. The emergence of newcomers like the Claude and Gemini APIs this year highlights a diversifying market where plugging in ready-made models is the new standard.

Growth in CV Mentions of AI Tools Among Developers:

• Vertex AI (Google AI API): 238% growth
• OpenAI API: 51% growth
• OpenAI: 37% growth
• Mistral LLM: 17% growth
• Claude API: Appeared in 2026
• Gemini API: Appeared in 2026

The New Coding Standard — AI IDEs

Coding is no longer a manual craft but a collaborative process between humans and AI, defining the era of the AI-assisted engineer. 

The explosion of specialized tools is undeniable, with Cursor seeing a staggering 643% growth and Claude Code following at 483%. Even established players like GitHub Copilot continue to dominate with a 153% increase in developer adoption. All these tools have transitioned from “nice-to-have” assistants to mandatory environments for high-velocity delivery.

Growth in CV Mentions of AI IDEs and Coding Assistants:

• Cursor: 643% growth in CV mentions
• Claude Code: 483% growth
• GitHub Copilot / MS Copilot: 153% growth

Mastering AI Orchestration and Observability

As AI moves from experimental labs to production, the focus has shifted to AI Optimizers who can manage complex workflows. This is best illustrated by the astronomical 8650% growth of LangGraph, signaling a massive move toward agentic orchestration, alongside a 508% rise in LangChain mentions.

Traditional monitoring giants like Sentry (50% growth) are also pivoting to capture this AI workload observability trend. In short, the industry’s priority has moved from simply “running” an LLM to “governing” its behavior at scale.

Growth in CV Mentions of AI Management, Observability, and Orchestration Tools:

• LangGraph: 8650% growth in CV mentions
• LangChain: 508% growth
• Sentry: 50% growth
• Datadog (AI workload monitoring): 16% growth
• Cohere: appeared in 2026

The Resilient Core of ML Frameworks

While generative AI captures the headlines, the underlying infrastructure managed by ML Engineers remains the bedrock of the industry. 

Proven frameworks like MLflow have seen a 280% surge in importance, while Hugging Face (121% growth) remains the go-to repository for model deployment. Even foundational giants like AWS SageMaker and GCP Vertex AI maintain strong momentum with 94% growth, proving that robust MLOps are still essential for scaling. 

The takeaway is clear: the AI revolution is being built on a matured and rapidly expanding technical pipeline.

Growth in CV Mentions of ML Engineer Tools and Frameworks:

• MLflow: 280% growth in CV mentions
• Hugging Face: 121% growth
• Scikit-learn: 97% growth
• AWS SageMaker / GCP Vertex AI: 94% growth
• Python: 24% growth
• TensorFlow: 13% growth
• Kubeflow: appeared in 2026

Important note: A growing mention count is not the same as demonstrated competency. Listing Anthropic API on a resume is not equivalent to having architected a production RAG pipeline with it. This distinction is what our vetting process is designed to surface.

AI Engineer Vetting Criteria

When we look at candidates who list AI specializations versus those who can demonstrate them in a live technical session, a meaningful gap emerges. In particular, passing Lemon.io's AI-focused technical interview requires demonstrating:

• Practical experience with at least one production AI integration
• Ability to reason about tool selection (why LangGraph over a simpler chain, for instance)
• Understanding of cost and latency tradeoffs in LLM deployment
• For senior roles, the ability to articulate what particular AI implementation changed at the product or business level

These criteria are the baseline for experts who have shipped AI features in a real product. Critically, Lemon.io moved away from take-home assignments toward live collaborative sessions.

“Live tasks expose candidates who rely on AI output without a genuine understanding: we change task parameters mid-session and observe how candidates adapt. For remote engineering roles, this kind of real-time reasoning matters more than polished homework,” explained Inna Chernova, Talent Acquisition Recruiting Lead at Lemon.io.

Furthermore, clients are increasingly looking for more than just technical proficiency. They seek individuals capable of taking ownership of technical decisions, conducting autonomous innovation research, understanding the competitive landscape, and making their work more effective with top-notch AI tools. 

Thus, AI (or any other tool) fluency is not enough. Modern startups need product visionaries with niche experience rather than just executors. “Pure coding or architectural knowledge is no longer the primary competitive advantage. The decisive factor is product thinking — understanding how every feature impacts the business as a whole,” pointed out Aleksandr Volodarsky, CEO and founder at Lemon.io.

Additional insights on AI’s impact on hiring are outlined in a recent hiring guide for founders by Lemon.io.

The challenge our vetting data show is that the volume of candidates claiming this experience has grown much faster than the volume demonstrating it, which is precisely why structured vetting, rather than resume review, is the only reliable filter.

Practical Guidance for Hiring Teams in 2026

AI engineering hiring requests have grown dramatically, but the tools on a resume have grown faster than the skills behind them. For teams navigating this gap, a few principles make the difference between a costly mismatch and a high-impact hire:

• Define the role before writing the spec: The four roles above have meaningfully different requirements, real-world tasks, and rate bands. Conflating them inflates expectations and costs

• Ask for live demonstrations, not polished portfolios: A candidate's ability to adapt to a changing problem in real time reveals more than any take-home project

• Treat tool mentions as a starting point, not a credential: Use the identifier tables above to ask better follow-up questions: When did you use it? What were you trying to solve? What would you do differently now?

• Expect business context from senior candidates

The most effective AI engineers in 2026 can explain what their work changed — not just how they built it.

“At Lemon.io, we surface pre-vetted candidates matching these criteria within 24 hours. Our structured intake process — combining precise role identification with multi-layer technical screening and soft skill check — means clients spend less time filtering and move one to onboarding a new hire who fits their environment,” underlined Andriienko.

For a deeper breakdown of AI engineering role-specific requirements, visit Lemon.io's blog on AI engineer role requirements.

About Lemon.io

Lemon.io is a curated talent marketplace that connects startups and midsized companies with the top 1.2% of pre-vetted, senior software engineers across 100+ tech stacks. The platform manages the entire pipeline — from vetting to contracts and payments — and delivers qualified developer matches within 24 hours. For more information, visit lemon.io.

Media Contact

Denys Velykozhon
Head of Organic Growth, Lemon.io
d.velykozhon@lemon.io

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Intercontinental Investment Bank, S.A. (iib West Africa) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Washington, D.C. The agreement establishes the framework for a term loan facility of up to €50,000,000, intended to finance the underwriting and subscription of a sovereign-guaranteed green bond to be issued by Empresa de Distribuição de Eletricidade de Cabo Verde (EDEC), marking a significant milestone in sustainable infrastructure financing on the African continent.

The signing ceremony will be attended by high-level government representatives from Cabo Verde, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, H.E. Olavo Avelino Garcia Correia, reflecting the commitment of both institutions, as well as the Government of Cabo Verde, to advancing sustainable development and green energy solutions in the country and across Africa.

Strategic MoU: Laying the Foundations for a Long-Term Partnership

The MoU for the finance facility, between iib West Africa and AFC, establishes the foundation for a strategic partnership, focusing on the closer cooperation of both institutions to build a strategic partnership in jointly supporting and financing key infrastructure initiatives in Africa.

This MoU is designed to enable the structuring and eventual issuance of a sustainable bond for EDEC, the Cabo Verde Electricity and Water Company, with the overarching aim of supporting the country’s energy transition and advancing its pathway toward a greener, more resilient economy.

Supporting EDEC and Cabo Verde’s Energy Future

The proceeds of the Bond will be used to deliver tangible impact across Cabo Verde’s energy sector. Key objectives include:

• Improving generation and strengthening EDEC’s operational capacity in energy production and distribution;
• Implementing targeted measures to reduce losses in the electricity distribution network;
• Increasing access to electricity in the country and increasing overall energy efficiency across the archipelago.

Together, AFC and iib West Africa aim to foster innovative and sustainable financing solutions that are aligned with the strategic needs of Cabo Verde’s energy sector, contributing to its long-term modernisation and development.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sohail Sultan, Chairman, iibGroup, said, “This signing represents a defining moment not only for our institutions, but for the people of Cabo Verde and the broader African continent. At iib, we believe that the future of sustainable development lies in forging partnerships that combine multilateral expertise with on-the-ground commitment. The Sovereign-Guaranteed EDEC Green Bond aims to channel international capital directly into the energy infrastructure that communities depend on. We are proud to stand alongside AFC in this endeavour, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration through this MoU.”

"The signing of this MoU represents the first step toward a partnership that aims to bridge Africa’s infrastructure gap through innovative climate finance. By establishing a framework to consider Cabo Verde’s upcoming sovereign-guaranteed green bond, we hope to facilitate the liquidity necessary to modernize the national power grid and support the transition to renewable energy. We look forward to working closely with the Government of Cabo Verde and iib West Africa to finalize this transaction,” said Banji Fehintola, Executive Board Member, Head Financial Services, AFC.

About iibGroup Holdings W.L.L. (Bahrain)

iibGroup is a diversified international investment and banking group with operations across East Africa, the Middle East, West Africa, and the Caribbean. The Group provides banking, investment, and advisory solutions while also deploying capital into high-impact sectors such as trade, digital infrastructure, and financial inclusion. Through its regional platforms, iibGroup supports SMEs, empowers women- and youth-led enterprises, and channels capital to industries that strengthen regional integration and sustainable growth across emerging markets. For more information, visit www.iibanks.com.

About iib West Africa (Cabo Verde)

iib West Africa is a licensed banking institution based in Cabo Verde, serving corporate and institutional clients across the African continent. The bank is committed to advancing financial inclusion, innovation, and private sector development in the region. For more information, visit www.iibanks.com/westafrica

About Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)

AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of energy, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested over $19 billion (USD) in 36 African countries since its inception. www.africafc.org

Media Contact

Farah Sayeed
farah.sayeed@iibanks.com
+973 1711 6633

As highlighted in a recent report by the Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC), titled “Unlocking private capital for deep tech in Saudi Arabia,” deep tech is estimated to account for around 40% of global venture capital investments, reflecting a rapid shift toward science-driven innovation and its growing role in reshaping economic sectors and enhancing long-term competitiveness. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of global trends and outlines opportunities to further develop the Kingdom’s deep-tech ecosystem in line with Vision 2030 objectives.

Nora Alsarhan, Deputy CEO and Chief Investment Officer at SVC, said: “Deep tech represents a fundamental shift in global investment opportunities. It is no longer limited to technological innovation and has become a key driver of long-term economic growth, given its ability to transform scientific research into impactful products and companies. This transformation creates significant opportunities for economies that can effectively integrate research, funding, and commercialization within a unified ecosystem.”

She added: “At SVC, we focus on stimulating private capital investment in this sector and building strategic partnerships that enable science-based startups. We are committed to strengthening the integration of capital, research, talent, and infrastructure, supporting the development of globally competitive Saudi companies and reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a regional and global hub for innovation and investment.”

The report shows that deep tech has emerged as one of the most strategic global investment themes, driven by its role in translating advanced scientific research into real-world applications across key sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced materials, quantum computing, and biotechnology — enhancing productivity, driving innovation, and creating high-value economic opportunities.

It further highlights that Saudi Arabia is entering this space at an accelerated pace, supported by a growing research base, leading universities and research institutions, as well as national programs and initiatives that have strengthened innovation infrastructure and fostered collaboration among academia, investors, and the private sector.

According to the report, venture capital plays a critical role in enabling deep tech by providing long-term funding and the expertise required for complex, high-risk projects with extended development cycles. This underscores the importance of flexible financing models based on “patient capital” that can support companies through to commercial maturity.

The report also indicates that Saudi Arabia’s deep-tech ecosystem is growing steadily, with science-based startups emerging across multiple sectors, particularly in advanced computing, industrial automation, and intelligent systems. These companies are primarily concentrated in key knowledge hubs such as Riyadh, Thuwal (home to KAUST), and Dhahran, reflecting a gradual transition from research output to viable economic and investment activity.

In addition, the report outlines global best practices for developing deep-tech ecosystems, including the adoption of innovation-friendly policies, the activation of public funding mechanisms, the establishment of specialized investment funds, the strengthening of links between universities and investors, and the development of national talent programs.

The report concludes that sustaining deep tech growth in Saudi Arabia will require aligning incentives, improving market access, and enhancing collaboration among stakeholders within an integrated ecosystem — thereby accelerating the conversion of innovation into sustainable economic value and strengthening the Kingdom’s competitiveness.

The release of this report aligns with SVC’s role as a key enabler of Saudi Arabia’s private capital ecosystem, supporting investment in strategic sectors, fostering innovation, diversifying the economy, and positioning the Kingdom as a leading destination for private capital and high-quality investment opportunities regionally and globally.

About Saudi Venture Capital Company

SVC is an investment company established in 2018 and is a subsidiary of the SME Bank, part of the National Development Fund (NDF). SVC aims to stimulate and sustain financing for startups and SMEs from pre-seed to pre-IPO by investing $3 billion through fund investments and direct investments in startups and SMEs. For more information, visit svc.com.sa.

Samuel Stewart Blake has announced the launch of the AI company OmniRogue. OmniRogue is a white-label AI platform that enables entrepreneurs and enterprises to launch their own AI companies under their own brands without the need to build complex AI strategies from scratch.

OmniRogue, created in October 2025, allows entrepreneurs to leverage AI in their businesses and learn to use it through AI university course offerings. A full-suite AI solution, it is designed specifically for entrepreneurs and small-business owners.

Building OmniRogue From Decades of Experience

With more than 20 years of professional experience in sales, Blake was recently inspired to apply these skills to an emerging field in AI. He saw that entrepreneurs wanted to leverage AI tools to grow their businesses but lacked the background needed to take full advantage of them.

Having worked extensively with AI professionals, Blake established AI Pro University in 2024 as a solution. Most recently, he launched OmniRogue as a platform to expand opportunities for everyone by breaking down barriers to using AI and accessing AI agents.

“My aim is to make an impact by helping people use AI,” Blake stated. “We’re making AI more user-friendly. These tools are incredibly useful; the problem is, most people will start using them and [realize] there are so many options. So, we’re simplifying the choices, making them easier to use and enabling people to benefit.”

A Portal for Understanding AI Technology

Blake has built AI Pro University into a full-fledged AI education organization and is now growing OmniRogue into a resource for business owners of all sizes. His clientele consists largely of aspiring entrepreneurs and freelancers — individuals eager to engage with AI technology but lacking the technical expertise to use it effectively. Believing that education is essential, he actively positions AI Pro University and OmniRogue as portals for understanding AI.

Through his platforms, Blake is directly responsible for educating students on how to use leading AI models effectively. This involves supplying pre-built bots and prompts, determining which emerging models are useful and generally researching the field. Additionally, he works with students to generate content, collaborating with his creative, media and education teams to improve their work.

“The point of AI is to simplify our lives, and so we want to remove the human component,” Blake explained. “I want to help people have more time to enjoy themselves; I aim to be a catalyst for positive change and AI adoption, making AI accessible to nontechnical people.”

Reasons for Success

Blake considers his successes to be a direct result of his persistence. He is dedicated to putting the customer first, always trying to improve and working to make a difference. Anyone could face the same obstacle in their life, he argues, but success is determined by how one responds to those trials.

On top of his launch of OmniRogue, Blake has been honored by Marquis Who’s Who as a Top Professional, acknowledging his contributions to AI. This recognition accompanies Blake’s achievements in the AI industry. As companies come to rely on AI tools, his leadership provides uniquely impactful guidance within a user-friendly experience.

In the coming years, Blake aspires to turn AI Pro University and OmniRogue into billion-dollar companies. In doing so, he hopes they will be better equipped to help others leverage AI more effectively. He also intends to make superintelligence accessible to the general public as soon as the technology is capable of unlocking its full potential.

About OmniRogue

Founded in 2025 by Samuel Blake, OmniRogue is an AI agent platform built to make artificial intelligence accessible to everyone, with a focus on entrepreneurs and small business owners. Driven by a mission to democratize AI, OmniRogue is developing a vast library of pre-built AI agents that transform complex capabilities into ready-to-use tools — empowering individuals and businesses to automate workflows, scale operations, and unlock new opportunities.

About Samuel Blake

Samuel Blake is the chief executive officer of AI Pro University, where he helps creators harness AI to its full potential. He is also the founder of OmniRogue, a platform designed to bring practical, real-world AI tools to those who want the benefits of the technology without needing deep expertise. His work has been featured on Apple News.

About About Marquis Who's Who

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

Media Contact

Marquis Who's Who
info@marquiswhoswho.com

Czech tech company BattSwap, a certified manufacturer of electric vehicles with swappable batteries, announced that it has closed 2025 with revenue growing four times year-on-year. The company has also brought on a strategic partner from the European automotive sector, giving it the capital and industrial backing it needs to scale fast across international markets.

"This investment is, above all, an accelerant toward our core goal — becoming the technology standard for urban logistics on a global scale," said Radek Janků, co-founder and CEO of BattSwap. "It confirms that our rapid battery-swap system has a real impact on the economics of electric mobility, and it allows us to scale both manufacturing and deployment in new markets."

The Technology Changing the Math on EVs

BattSwap has tackled two problems that have long held back large-scale electrification of commercial fleets: charging time and grid capacity. Instead of sitting idle at a charger for hours, a robotics-powered swapping station — roughly the size of a shipping container — can replace a depleted battery with a fully charged one in under three minutes.

The energy profile is equally striking. BattSwap's stations draw just one-tenth of the power required by standard fast chargers. In normal operation, a single station can handle more than 100 swaps per day, serving up to 30 electric vehicles. For fleet operators, that means electrifying an entire depot without upgrading the local substation or laying new infrastructure. "We're removing the barriers that have kept logistics tied to fossil fuels," Janků said.

BattSwap's vehicles are its own design, the product of more than a decade of development and testing. The compact vans carry a 25 kWh battery pack, deliver a range of roughly 120 km per run regardless of outside temperature, and feature a fully modular cargo area tailored to urban delivery — from groceries to pharmaceutical shipments.

2025 by the Numbers

Last year put the technology's operational maturity beyond doubt:

• 65,000+ battery swaps completed
• ~2,000,000 km driven in commercial service
• Zero hours of downtime due to charging
• 99.95% system reliability
• Profitable operations, without subsidies
• Lower running costs than diesel

"Our results prove that electric mobility can be not just green, but genuinely economical," Janků said.

About BattSwap

Founded in 2015 by Radek Janků and Tomáš Veselý, BattSwap has developed a complete electric mobility ecosystem for urban logistics: proprietary electric vehicles, automated swapping stations, and fleet management software. For more information, visit www.battswap.com.

Media Contact

Support Team
info@battswap.com

PatSnap, a market leader in IP, R&D, and life sciences AI-native intelligence, and AEVO, a leading innovation and strategy intelligence provider serving enterprise teams across Latin America, today announced a strategic partnership to embed PatSnap’s Find Solutions AI agent directly into the AEVO Innovate platform.

Latin America is one of the fastest-growing innovation markets in the world. Startup investment alone surged 30% year-over-year to $1.1 billion in 2024, and the regional AI market is projected to reach over $47 billion by 2031, fueling enterprise demand for intelligent, structured innovation tools. With the region accelerating at pace, PatSnap is making its first integration partnership in Latin America, embedding its AI-native R&D capabilities directly into AEVO Innovate, the region’s leading innovation management platform.

Find Solutions is an AI agent purpose-built for R&D, designed to move teams from “ideation” to “execution” faster. Drawing on billions of data points across global patents and scientific publications, it operates against prior art and under real-world constraints defined by the user. From there, it extracts viable technical approaches, surfaces alternatives, and maps key technical trade-offs.

The integration closes the gap between innovation pipeline management and R&D decision-making, reflecting a broader shift in enterprise software toward embedded AI agents that deliver specialist intelligence inside existing workflows. Teams can now move directly from submitting an idea within AEVO Innovate to receiving a structured, evidence-based execution plan, without switching platforms or engaging specialist resources.

"Sophisticated R&D intelligence has historically been the preserve of large, well-resourced teams with access to specialist tools and expertise. Our goal is to change that; to democratize access to the kind of structured, evidence-based analysis that turns ideas into executable plans. Embedding Find Solutions within AEVO Innovate is a meaningful step in that direction, putting that capability in the hands of every innovation team across Latin America, directly within the platform they already use," said Ray Chohan, co-founder of PatSnap.

“This partnership with PatSnap represents a technological leap for our clients. By integrating AI agents specialized in intellectual property directly into the AEVO workflow, we are removing the barriers between ideation and technical feasibility. Now, companies don’t just manage ideas — they validate them instantly against the world’s largest patent database, accelerating time-to-market and ensuring that innovation is born with global competitiveness,” said Alex Ribeiro, CEO of AEVO.

About PatSnap

Founded in Singapore in 2007, PatSnap is a global leading AI-native innovation intelligence company. Leveraging domain-specific AI agents and robust analytics tools, PatSnap empowers IP and R&D teams to unlock insights, accelerate discoveries, and protect breakthroughs. Trusted by more than 18,000 enterprises, law firms and research institutions in over 50 countries including one-third of the world’s largest R&D spenders, PatSnap transforms how organizations innovate and make critical decisions. Learn more at www.patsnap.com.

About AEVO

AEVO is the largest Innovation and Strategy Management platform in Latin America. Focused on scaling innovation culture and strategic execution, AEVO helps hundreds of large corporations transform ideas into measurable results by connecting employees and ecosystems. For more information, visit aevoinnovate.com.

Media Contact

Kate White
media@patsnap.com

CuraeSoft, a software studio focused on building practical solutions for professional services organizations, announces the full U.S. launch of coAmplifi Pro on May 15, 2026. The consulting operations platform is designed to bring together planning, execution, and financial visibility within a unified environment for consultants and small service teams. This release marks the availability of the complete product suite, supporting professionals who manage multiple client engagements and seek clearer alignment between day-to-day delivery and financial outcomes.

“Consulting work involves a constant stream of decisions, each tied to time, effort, and outcomes that aren’t always immediately visible,” says Mark Parinas, CEO of CuraeSoft. “coAmplifi Pro is built on the idea that clarity grows when work is understood as a connected process rather than a set of isolated tasks. Every engagement becomes part of a broader workflow where planning, execution, and review inform each other and support more deliberate ways of working.”

coAmplifi Pro introduces a unified structure for consulting operations, bringing project organization, time tracking, and financial awareness into a single workspace. Designed for consulting environments, the platform organizes client work through a hierarchy that begins with engagements and extends through deliverables, jobs, and individual tasks. This structure supports a clear view of ongoing work, helping consultants manage complexity with greater ease and continuity.

Financial visibility remains a core element of the platform. coAmplifi Pro captures time as it is recorded across client work, linking both billable and non‑billable activity to engagements and financial outputs. As hours are logged, the system organizes data into usable insights that support billing preparation and project awareness. Pre‑bill summaries provide structured overviews of recorded work, helping ensure that invoicing reflects actual delivery in a clear and organized format. “We believe that this connection between daily activity and financial outcomes can help consultants understand how time investment relates to project performance,” Parinas states.

Daily work within coAmplifi Pro is organized through three connected modes: Plan, Work, and Reflect. In the planning stage, consultants define engagements, set deliverables, and allocate workload based on available capacity. Scheduling tools support preparation for the week, helping ensure that priorities remain visible across all active projects. 

During execution, the work environment brings together task management, time tracking, and real‑time progress updates within a single interface. This workspace supports focus by presenting responsibilities alongside current time allocation and project context. Reflection completes the cycle by presenting insights into time usage, project progression, and engagement performance, enabling a clearer understanding of how work develops over time.

Small to medium-sized consulting firms represent a key audience for coAmplifi Pro. “Consulting teams often juggle client work, administrative needs, and planning within tight structures. coAmplifi Pro gives them a single place to see project details, time records, and financial information together. It helps them stay organized while still giving them room to shape their workflows in the way that fits their business,” Parinas explains. 

Beyond core project and financial functions, coAmplifi Pro includes tools for deliverable management, resource visibility, and analytical review. Deliverables are assigned with defined ownership, timelines, and progress markers, supporting consistent tracking across client engagements. Analytical capabilities highlight patterns in time allocation, utilization trends, and project performance, offering a long‑view perspective on how work develops across clients and engagements. These insights support more informed planning for future projects and resource distribution.

CuraeSoft is also evaluating opportunities for broader geographic availability as adoption grows. Considerations include alignment with regional operational requirements, infrastructure readiness, and demand from consulting markets in different regions. Interest from international partners and service providers continues to inform ongoing planning, with expansion assessed in relation to market readiness and operational scalability.

As coAmplifi Pro becomes available across the U.S., its introduction reflects a continued focus on helping consulting professionals connect daily execution with financial understanding. Through a unified environment that brings together planning, delivery, and analysis, the platform supports a clearer view of client work and its outcomes, giving consultants a structured way to engage with both operational detail and broader business performance over time.

About CuraeSoft

Founded in 2015 and led by CEO Mark Parinas, CuraeSoft is an innovation hub devoted to creating impactful, long-lasting solutions to real-world problems. For over eight years, our mission has centered on delivering industry-disrupting, cutting-edge solutions, drawn from our team’s vast experience in various software platforms.

Media Contact

Eric Laiblin
eric.laiblin@curaesoft.com

Geely Auto, leveraging its global leadership in automotive AI, has officially launched its i-HEV Intelligent Hybrid technology. The new system completely redefines hybrid capabilities, delivering exceptional intelligence, world-class fuel efficiency, EV-like refinement, and enhanced safety and reliability. The technology enters mass production immediately upon launch and will be first equipped on the new iteration of several top-selling models this year, including the Preface (Xingrui), Monjaro (Xingyue L), Starray (Boyue L), and the Fifth Generation Emgrand (Dihao).

Key highlights:

• Geely i-HEV integrates AI, i-CMA architecture, and AI Cloud Power to propel hybrid intelligence and performance.
• i-HEV achieves 2.22 L/100 km fuel consumption and thermal efficiency of 48.41%, setting new world and industry records.
• The hybrid technology solidifies Geely Auto’s diversified energy strategy and green mobility vision.
• The new i-HEV hybrid technology was designed to address unmet industry needs, such as stagnant fuel efficiency, compromised performance in the name of economy, and lagging smart features. Geely Auto turns these historical gaps into strengths by integrating a full-domain AI technology system, an advanced dedicated hybrid powertrain, and future-oriented new energy technology.

At the core of the new i-HEV technology are Full-domain AI 2.0 and the i-CMA architecture — a hybrid-optimized evolution of the highly successful CMA platform. This architecture unifies intelligent driving, cockpit, and chassis into a single centralized brain.

Furthermore, the i-HEV debuts "AI Cloud Power," an innovation that enables real-time, self-optimizing petrol-electric energy management. By utilizing AI to sense real-time exterior data such as temperature, humidity, and altitude, the system intelligently determines the optimal petrol-electric strategy, improving overall energy efficiency by more than 10%. This creates a true AI-led hybrid system that is distinctly superior to conventional engine-motor combinations. Additionally, the i-HEV's engine achieves an industry-record thermal efficiency of 48.41%.

By strategically decoupling the engine and the electric motor, the i-HEV transitions away from an “engine-centric” model to a motor-led layout. This allows the system to deliver an authentic electric-drive experience without the need to plug in, combining effortless acceleration with a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride.

Key performance metrics include:

• The electric motor’s power is up to 230 kW
• Runs on electricity nearly 80% of the time
• The top speed in EV mode reaches 66 km/h
• Accelerates from 0 to 30 km/h in 1.84 seconds

Safety and reliability meet the highest global standards, backed by Geely Auto’s world-class global safety center and industry-leading safety capabilities. The i-CMA architecture ensures inherent oil-electric separation safety from the ground up. Additionally, the Geely Battery Safety System provides 24/7 on-vehicle and cloud protection. The system features a liquid-cooled battery with an industry-highest IP68 dust and water resistance rating, along with the ability to precisely predict over 50 fault types in real-time. Combined with rigorous validation unique to Geely Auto’s testing facilities, the i-HEV establishes itself as one of the safest hybrid technologies in the world.

“Energy diversification is a strategic foresight for Geely Auto. A company’s true strategic focus is ensuring every path leads to the future, which tests the technological depth and powerful energy resilience of our entire system. The new i-HEV perfectly embodies this resilience, serving as a powerful testament to how artificial intelligence can elevate hybrid efficiency and performance to new industry standards,” said Jerry Gan, CEO of Geely Auto Group.

The result has been validated through rigorous verification by Guinness World Records™ and tested and certified by CATARC.

About Geely Auto Group

Geely Auto Group is a leading global automotive company headquartered in Hangzhou, China. Part of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Geely Auto Group develops and manufactures passenger vehicles under the Geely, Lynk & Co, and Zeekr brands. Geely Auto achieved cumulative sales of 3,024,567 units in 2025, exceeding the full-year sales target with a year-on-year growth of 39%. New energy vehicle (NEV) sales reached 1,687,767 units, a year-on-year increase of 90%. With a strong focus on technology innovation, electrification, and sustainable mobility, Geely Auto Group operates world-class R&D centers and manufacturing facilities across China, Europe, and key international markets. The Group is committed to delivering safe, high-quality, and intelligent vehicles enabled by advanced technologies such as hybrid powertrains, full-electric architectures, smart connectivity, and autonomous driving systems. As a global company, Geely Auto Group continues to expand its international presence through strategic partnerships, localized operations, and industry-leading platforms. Geely strives to create mobility solutions that are greener, smarter, and more accessible, driving forward the future of sustainable transportation.

Smartling, the leading AI translation platform, today published results from IBM's use of its platform to localize marketing content across more than 170 countries. By deploying Smartling's Translation Management System and AI Human Translation alongside IBM watsonx, IBM's marketing team cut average localization time in half and improved translation quality by 40%, enabling the company to publish localized content in days rather than weeks.

IBM's marketing, communications, and citizenship organization manages a constant flow of product launches, platform updates, and campaign content that must reach global audiences quickly and accurately. As content volumes grew, the team's manual translation workflows, including file submissions spread across multiple systems, constant status checks, and limited translator context, became a bottleneck that couldn't keep pace with the business.

IBM needed localization to work inside its existing technology stack, specifically its Adobe Experience Manager and Adobe Workfront environments. Smartling's native integrations with both platforms made the transition straightforward.

With Smartling in place, localization tasks in Workfront are created and tracked automatically, source files and reference materials move without manual intervention, and completed translations return directly to structured folders in Adobe Experience Manager, ready for publishing. The manual handoffs that once slowed the process are gone.

By pairing Smartling's AI Human Translation and centralized glossaries with watsonx as a key part of the AI foundation, IBM built a continuous feedback loop in which terminology, style guidance, and linguistic data improve over time. As new products and naming conventions emerge — a constant reality at a company IBM's size — updates flow across systems, keeping translations consistent across markets.

Today, IBM supports millions of translated words per month through Smartling, achieving 99.5% automation across web, marketing assets, and e-learning content, with MQM (Multidimensional Quality Metrics) scores consistently in the high 90s.

"IBM operates in more than 170 countries, and their content never stops moving," said Bryan Murphy, CEO of Smartling. "What they've built with our platform shows what's possible when localization is treated as part of the marketing engine rather than a separate process. The speed and quality results speak for themselves."

Results at a glance:

• Reduced average time to market by over 50% (from approximately 20 days to under 10)
• Improved translation quality by approximately 40%
• MQM scores consistently in the high 90s
• 99.5% automation achieved by eliminating manual file handling via Adobe Experience Manager and Workfront integrations
• Scaled to millions of translated words per month across web, marketing, and e-learning content

About Smartling

Smartling’s LanguageAI™ platform is revolutionizing digital content translation and localization. Recognized as the top translation management system by CSA Research and G2 users, Smartling uses AI and machine learning to eliminate manual tasks, integrate with existing techstacks, and deliver translation quality at scale — all at a fraction of the cost and turnaround time of traditional translation. For more information, visit www.smartling.com.

Media Contact

Sarah Lehman
Smartling
sarah@sixeastern.com

Lucra, the leading social competition platform, today announced a partnership with Great Linqx, the golf entertainment and mixed-use development company building destination sports experiences in underserved American markets. Through Lucra's white-label mobile SDK, Great Linqx will power real-money and free-to-play tournaments, peer-to-peer challenges, and rewards-based competitions directly within a dedicated Great Linqx mobile app, launching alongside the company's first location in 2027.

Great Linqx is developing a category that goes beyond traditional golf entertainment. Each complex pairs immersive sports and entertainment venues with mixed-use real estate development, creating living, dining, and community infrastructure around the athletic experience. With multi-sport simulators spanning over 10 sports and more than 30 gaming activities, full-service restaurants and bars, and stadium-style watch party environments, Great Linqx is designed to become the social and recreational center of gravity for every market it enters.

Great Linqx is targeting metros between 150,000 and 700,000 people, markets with strong population growth, university anchors, and consistent event-driven traffic, but where destination sports entertainment has never had a serious presence. The first location will be home to one of the most passionate sports cultures in the country and a market with virtually no competition in this category, and is the first proving ground. A 15-location, five-year national rollout follows from there.

By embedding Lucra natively into the Great Linqx mobile app, guests can enter cash-enabled tournaments and skill-based challenges directly from their phones, track standings on live leaderboards mid-session, and convert winnings to credits for bay time, food and beverage, simulator play, and more. The result is a closed-loop loyalty system designed to deepen community engagement, drive repeat visits, and increase spend per session across every revenue stream in the venue.

"Great Linqx is building something we have not seen before in this space," said Dylan Robbins, CEO of Lucra. "This is not just a golf venue. It is a community destination with sports entertainment at its core, and it is going into markets that have been waiting for exactly this kind of experience. When you layer real-money competition and a loyalty engine on top of that from day one, every visit becomes more meaningful. Guests are not just hitting balls or playing simulators. They are competing for something, and that changes everything about how they engage with the venue and with each other."

"Most operators think about technology after they have figured out everything else. We made the decision to build competition and loyalty into Great Linqx before we broke ground on our first location, because we believe it is fundamental to what makes this concept work," said Mike Kuntz, CEO of Great Linqx. "People come for the experience, but they come back because something is at stake. Lucra gives us the infrastructure to deliver that from day one, at every location we open."

The integration will launch alongside Great Linqx's first location in 2027. As the company expands across mid-size markets nationwide, Lucra's competition infrastructure will scale with it, giving every new location a built-in engagement and loyalty engine from opening day. For Lucra, the partnership represents something it has been building toward across golf, fitness, and location-based entertainment: a world where competitive play is not a feature venues add on, but the foundation they build on.

About Lucra

Lucra is a plug-and-play SDK that integrates into apps or websites, enabling peer-to-peer competitions with real-money or rewards. It handles compliance, payments, fraud prevention, and settlement out of the box, so partners can instantly offer gamified experiences without building or managing complex infrastructure themselves. Top entertainment, hospitality, and consumer brands, including Five Iron Golf, Puttshack, Backyard Sports, ChessKings, TouchTunes, and more, use Lucra's white-label technology to power tournaments and challenges, build loyalty, and drive new revenue. Learn more at www.lucrasports.com.

About Great Linqx

Great Linqx develops destination golf entertainment complexes in underserved mid-size U.S. markets, pairing the growth of sports-focused real estate with immersive community experiences. Each Great Linqx location features the latest in driving range golf tech, multi-sport simulators, full-service restaurants and bars, and stadium-style watch party environments — all under one roof. With a team boasting over 140 years of combined experience, $2 billion-plus in completed real estate projects, and leadership with deep roots in the golf and entertainment industry, Great Linqx is targeting a 15-location national rollout over five years. For more information, visit www.greatlinqx.com.

Disclaimer

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation. Participation in real-money competitions is subject to applicable laws and eligibility requirements, which vary by jurisdiction. Forward-looking statements, including plans and projections, are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ.

Media Contact

Lindsay Linhart
Brand Strategist, Lucra
lindsay@lucrasports.com

A new tuition-free online public charter school, Trailhead Virtual Academy, is launching to serve students across Idaho, with enrollment now open for the 2026-2027 school year.

Serving students in kindergarten through 8th grade, Trailhead Virtual Academy is designed to provide a strong academic foundation while introducing students to real-world learning and early career awareness. While launching this coming school year as a K-8 school, Trailhead Virtual Academy will open to Grades 9-10 in 2027 and to Grades 11-12 in 2028.

With a focus on building both academic skills and confidence, the school combines structured online instruction with hands-on, relevant learning experiences that connect to Idaho communities and industries.

“We created Trailhead Virtual Academy to give Idaho families a different kind of option, one that combines strong academics with learning that feels meaningful from an early age,” said Sonja Howerton, School Board President and founder of Trailhead Virtual Academy. “When students can see how what they’re learning connects to the real world, they’re more engaged, more confident, and better prepared for what comes next.”

“There is growing demand across Idaho for flexible learning options that still maintain high expectations,” Howerton added. “Trailhead was designed to meet that need by giving families access to a structured, supportive online environment that helps students build both academic skills and real-world readiness from the very beginning.”

A New Approach to Early Learning

Trailhead Virtual Academy is designed to support students during critical early learning years while helping them begin to understand how their education connects to future opportunities.

Students benefit from:

• A strong start for future success: Trailhead serves K-8 students with a focus on building academic skills, confidence, and readiness for what comes next. 
• Early career awareness built into learning: Students begin exploring careers through hands-on activities and real-world connections starting in elementary school. 
• Real-world learning that feels relevant: Lessons connect to Idaho industries and communities so students see how school applies to real life. 
• Skills that go beyond academics: Students develop communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and responsibility every day. 
• A flexible, supportive online environment: Students learn from certified teachers in a structured virtual setting designed to help them stay engaged and grow. 

Enrollment Information

Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is now open. Families interested in applying can visit www.trailheadvirtual.com/admissions or contact 208-806-4993.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Students must reside in the state of Idaho 
• Kindergarten students must be five years old on or before September 1 

Frequently Asked Questions About Online School

How does online school differ from attending a traditional school building?

Online schools follow the same academic standards, curriculum, and graduation requirements as traditional public schools. The key difference is that instruction and coursework are delivered online, allowing students greater flexibility in when and where they learn.

Why do some families choose online learning?

Many families are drawn to online education because of its flexibility, individualized learning experience, supportive setting, and added sense of safety. It can be especially beneficial for students who thrive at a different pace or need a schedule that better aligns with their daily lives.

How can parents support their child’s success in online school?

Parents play an important role by helping establish routines, celebrating effort and achievements, staying involved through the learning platform, and maintaining communication with teachers when needed.

What helps students stay engaged in an online learning environment

Engagement is often supported through consistent schedules, clear expectations, regular check-ins, and positive encouragement. When students feel supported and can see their progress, their motivation tends to grow.

What do students need in order to participate in online school?

Most families will need a dependable internet connection, a computer, and a quiet space for learning. In some cases, schools may offer laptops to eligible families, so it’s a good idea to check with the school directly.

Will my child have opportunities to interact with other students?

Yes. Online schools promote social interaction through live virtual classes, collaborative group work, student clubs, and other activities that foster connection and social growth.

Is it possible for students to transition to another school later on?

Because online schools align with state academic standards, students typically stay on track academically. If a family’s situation changes, school staff can help guide and support a smooth transition.

About ACCEL Schools

ACCEL Schools is an educational service provider to more than 100 public charter schools serving K-12 students across the United States. The organization directly manages or supports brick-and-mortar, online, and hybrid schools tailored to the needs of the communities they serve. ACCEL Schools supports a range of innovative educational models, including college prep, career and technical, classical, dropout prevention, and other specialized academic pathways. For more information, visit accelschools.com.

About Trailhead Virtual Academy

Trailhead Virtual Academy is a tuition-free online public charter school serving students in kindergarten through 8th grade in Idaho. The school combines strong academics with hands-on learning and early career exploration to help students build real-world skills, confidence, and readiness for the future. Through certified teachers, flexible learning, and community partnerships, Trailhead prepares students for success in high school and beyond. For more information, visit www.trailheadvirtual.com   

Media Contact

Warren Cohn
warren@rocketshippr.com