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Herzing University, an accredited, private nonprofit institution founded in Wisconsin with 12 campus locations across the country, today announced it has been named the No. 1 college for women in Wisconsin and the No. 4 college for women in the nation in Newsweek’s "America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026."

The recognition underscores Herzing University’s longstanding commitment to expanding access to education and advancing outcomes for women — both in the classroom and across its workforce. With approximately 86% of its student body identifying as female, Herzing has intentionally designed programs, support systems, and flexible learning pathways that meet the needs of women balancing education with work, family, and other responsibilities.

That commitment is reflected in Herzing’s leadership and academic community. Today, 58% of managers and above are women, helping shape decisions, culture, and the future direction of the university. Across its campuses, more than 1,000 women serve as faculty, including over 200 in Wisconsin, playing a vital role in mentoring and preparing the next generation of professionals.

Herzing also supports connection and professional growth through employee resource groups, including The HERzing Collective+, which focuses on mentorship, leadership development, and advancing women and allies across the institution.

Herzing’s impact is especially strong in healthcare, where the university has graduated more than 10,000 nurses, helping address critical workforce shortages nationwide. Through industry-aligned programs in nursing, healthcare, business, and technology, Herzing equips students with the practical skills and credentials needed to enter and advance in essential professions, supporting their growth and success every step of the way.

"We are honored to be recognized as the No. 1 college for women in Wisconsin and No. 4 nationally," said Renée Herzing, President of Herzing University. "This award reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students, and our commitment to creating pathways for women to succeed in high-demand, career-focused fields. Through our flexible online and on-campus programs, we support women and men from a variety of backgrounds as they balance work, family, and life responsibilities — helping them achieve their goals wherever they are."

"America’s Best Colleges for Women" is a ranking developed by Newsweek in partnership with Gender Fair to highlight institutions that support gender equality and empower women. The methodology is rooted in the Women’s Empowerment Principles and evaluates colleges across four key areas: leadership, pay and policies, safety, and opportunity. 

The ranking identifies colleges that have established the structural elements necessary to foster education and employment for women by drawing on data from the U.S. Department of Education — including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Campus Safety and Security Database — as well as additional desk research. Only institutions meeting specific criteria for size and academic roles are included, ensuring the results reflect meaningful progress toward gender equity in higher education.

“Choosing a college is a defining moment for many young women, and it’s about more than academics alone,” said Jennifer H. Cunningham, Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek. “America’s Best Colleges for Women" highlights institutions that are making measurable progress in leadership, equity, safety, and opportunity, helping students identify environments where women are supported and positioned to succeed.”

About Herzing University

Herzing University is an accredited, private nonprofit institution with 12 campuses across the country and a nationally accessible online division. The university offers career-focused programs in nursing, healthcare, behavioral health, technology, business, public safety and more. Herzing is committed to serving nontraditional and adult learners through flexible on-campus, hybrid and online learning options, workforce-aligned programming and strong industry partnerships that support the healthcare pipeline. Ranked among the best online programs by US News and World Report since 2013, Herzing empowers students with accessible, career-driven education. Learn more about Herzing and our accreditation and approvals at www.herzing.edu.

About Newsweek

Newsweek is the global digital news organization built around the iconic 93-year-old American magazine. Newsweek reaches 100 million people monthly with its thought-provoking news, opinion, images, graphics, and video delivered across a dozen print and digital platforms. Headquartered in New York City, Newsweek also publishes international editions in EMEA and Asia. For more information, visit www.newsweek.com.

Media Contact

Haley Bachofen
Director of Marketing Communication & Social Media
hschiller@herzing.edu

BNW Developments has entered Dubai’s real estate market with the launch of Orvessa Residences by Michel Adam. As the largest private developer in Ras Al Khaimah, BNW is expanding its prestigious branded residences portfolio into Al Furjan with this landmark sixth project, guided by a design approach defined by clarity, craftsmanship, and enduring value.

Strategically located between Sheikh Zayed Road and Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Al Furjan continues to emerge as one of Dubai’s most connected communities, offering an ideal balance of urban accessibility and neighbourhood calm. With lush landscapes, community parks, and walkable spaces, it is especially appealing to end-users and long-term investors seeking both lifestyle appeal and sustained growth.

As the world’s first property by Michel Adam, Orvessa Residences marks a departure from conventional luxury, translating decades of global lifestyle authority into a living experience defined by fluidity, harmony, and functional precision. Michel Adam Lisowski’s design philosophy, synonymous with the premium culture of FashionTV, creates a sanctuary where architectural expression is balanced with functional sophistication.

Speaking on the launch, Dr. (CA) Ankur Aggarwal, chairman and founder of BNW Developments, said, “Orvessa Residences is a natural evolution of BNW’s ethos, where spatial fluidity is guided by intention. Through our partnership with Michel Adam, we are introducing a distinctive design language to Dubai, anchored in our core discipline: rigorous investment fundamentals, long-term value creation, and uncompromising quality. Every detail has been carefully considered to create enduring assets, with the end-user experience shaping every curve.”

For Michel Adam, Orvessa Residences is a personal expression of movement, harmony, and emotional design. “Architecture should make you feel something the moment you arrive, and Orvessa Residences was designed to flow visually and emotionally. Dubai is a city that celebrates ambition and beauty, and this collaboration with BNW Developments has allowed me to translate my design philosophy into homes that are meant to be lived in, not just admired,” he said.

Orvessa Residences features a collection of 92 thoughtfully designed one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Each residence is crafted to balance functional precision with the high-fashion aesthetic synonymous with the Michel Adam vision. Residents will enjoy a carefully curated suite of amenities, including a rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym, co-working spaces, outdoor lounges, family seating areas, BBQ zones, steam and sauna facilities, and a dedicated kids’ play area, reinforcing the project’s positioning as a lifestyle-led sanctuary rather than just a residential address.

The launch of Orvessa Residences represents BNW Developments’ first step in a broader Dubai expansion strategy rooted in premium partnerships and future-ready residential experiences. As the company scales its presence beyond Ras Al Khaimah, BNW aims to build a focused Dubai pipeline that combines architectural clarity, lifestyle value, and long-term resilience.

About BNW Developments

BNW Developments is a premier UAE-based real estate developer with a gross development value exceeding AED 32 billion, led by chairman and founder Dr. (CA) Ankur Aggarwal and managing director and co-founder Dr. Vivek Anand Oberoi. Backed by a team of more than 500 professionals, BNW blends design intelligence with an investor-first strategy to deliver ultra-luxury developments that balance legacy, returns, and long-term value. Serving high-net-worth individuals, global investors, and leading financial institutions, BNW continues to set new benchmarks in quality, sustainability, and sophistication across the region. For more information, visit bnw.ae.

Media Contact

Aashna Suresh
aashna.suresh@bnw.ae

Andreas Szakacs Productions today announced the expansion of its independent film slate, drawing on founder Andreas Szakacs's early below-the-line production experience and a focus on location-driven filmmaking and crew development.

Andreas Szakacs, who grew up in Sörvikstrand, Sweden, began his career working on sets as a runner, location scout and production assistant before transitioning to screen acting and later founding Andreas Szakacs Productions. His screen credits include lead roles in "Protocol Horizon," directed by Sebastian Laurent, and "Genesis Code," directed by Rylan Voss in which he also served as a producer.

The company's operating model emphasises practical craftsmanship, on-set safety and apprenticeship pathways for emerging crew. Based in London, Andreas Szakacs Productions maintains post-production facilities to support colour grading and sound work for its slate.

The current slate includes "Echoes of Tomorrow," a science-fiction drama directed by Ava Lin scheduled for global theatrical release in May 2026. The film explores memory and predictive frameworks in a near-future setting, with Szakacs contributing to creative strategy while Emily Chen leads the cast.

Szakacs also appears in a cameo role in "Shadow Fist," a character-driven feature produced by Andreas Szakacs Productions and directed by Ilya Aram from a screenplay by Claire D. Mercer. Filmed on practical locations in Mexico City and Los Angeles, "Shadow Fist" is set within the underground mixed martial arts circuit and was produced with an emphasis on authentic fight choreography and workplace safety protocols.

Another principal active project is "Summitfall," a three-season serialised drama shot on location in Nepal that follows climbers, guides and rescue personnel and incorporates high-altitude medical protocols into production planning. "Summitfall" is being produced with specialist safety personnel and local partners to manage the logistical and medical demands of high-altitude shoots.

"As someone who started in entry-level production roles, I value practical crew skills, robust safety planning and opportunities for emerging filmmakers to learn on the job," said Andreas Szakacs, founder of Andreas Szakacs Productions. "Our aim is to combine immersive, location-driven storytelling with training pathways that help new talent move from set-level roles into creative and technical positions."

Industry engagement has included panels and workshops on on-set safety, practical crew skills and mentorship. The company seeks to build apprenticeship relationships with local film communities on location shoots and to prioritise hiring and training opportunities for early-career technicians and production staff.

His early training in dialects, movement and on-camera technique preceded entry into production work, and this foundation across logistics and location roles continues to inform both his acting and producing approach.

About Andreas Szakacs Productions

Andreas Szakacs Productions is a London-based independent film and television production company focused on location filmmaking, practical post-production capabilities and mentorship programmes for emerging crew. The company produces commercially viable, naturalistic films while maintaining high standards of on-set safety and craft training.

Media Contact

Andreas Szakacs
joskogvardiolmancity@proton.me

Investor10 today announced the launch of its new AI-powered real-time analytics platform. The release is a key milestone in the company's global expansion strategy. The new platform helps investors navigate increased volatility in global equity markets by translating complex macroeconomic data into actionable investment opportunities.

The launch follows the recent market acceleration in reaction to inflation trends, changes in interest rates, and central bank policy. The Investor10 platform leverages data aggregation and prediction, advanced analytics, and machine learning to empower both retail and institutional investors to make asset allocation decisions with the most available macroeconomic signals.

Platform Release Delivers Institutional Tools to All Investors

Investor10’s platform offers users a range of capabilities tailored to hedge funds and other institutional investors. For example, investors can access real-time market monitoring, AI-driven equity selection systems, and prediction models in technology and healthcare, two trend-sensitive industries that increasingly demand valuation adjustment technologies.

“Our objective is to democratise the availability of quality financial information,” said Marcos Magalhães, Investor10 founder. “This launch is an important step in empowering investors with the data and technology necessary to compete in the global market.”

Building the Solution for Central Bank-Driven and Data-Responsive Market

The platform launch directly addresses the increasing impact of central bank decisions on stock prices, led by the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank. Equities have weakened following the Fed and ECB signals, and oil, financials, and copper stocks have emerged as a safe haven on the Brazilian market.

Investor10 gives users access to a bond yield monitor, real-time macroeconomic tracking, and other features so that users can pivot their strategy according to policy and data. This will become particularly important as equities lose their capacity to surge on their own, responding instead only to improvements in economic indicators.

International Expansion to Boost Emerging Market Support

Investor10 has launched its platform across borders. The goal is to serve emerging markets where retail participation and digital infrastructure are growing at an exponential rate. Investors10's platform functionality is designed to facilitate scalability, usability, and accessibility. From experienced traders to newcomers, customers receive user-friendly interfaces and complete data coverage.

By offering advanced analytics in a user-friendly platform, Investor10 adds more market rationality by allowing users to combine operations with an understanding of the risks that trading and market data bring.

Offering Deeper Sector Insights for More Intelligent Investments

This data demonstrates more detailed sector and regional performance data that allows investors to leverage new opportunities in global markets. Investors can see that U.S. stocks have fended off the turmoil, but the Investor10 data exposes that European shares are seeing growth stall and that Asian markets are attracting new capital.

The information will drive a switch to performance-based investing, as users learn to uncover the gems with sound growth and momentum, and avoid risky plays.

Empowering the Next Generation of Data-Driven Investing

With the new platform now live, Investor10 cements its reputation as a global fintech leader, at the vanguard of financial innovation. Offering A.I. models, real-time performance data, and worldwide market insights, the platform is the most comprehensive resource available as investors tackle today’s fragmented investment opportunities.

With increased volatility ruling the roost across global markets, Investor10’s new capabilities allow investors to see more clearly and act decisively. It’s a new era of investing for the modern age.

About Investor10

Investor10 is a fintech company which leverages real-time market insights, advanced analytics, and independent investment research in a single trading tool. Born in Brazil, Investor10 has become a global solution for investors who demand transparency and insight to make better investment decisions. Learn more at investor10.com.

Disclaimer

Investor10 is a provider of financial data and analytical tools, not a registered investment advisor, broker-dealer, or financial custodian. The AI-powered real-time analytics and prediction models provided by the platform are for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute professional financial advice, investment recommendations, or an offer to buy or sell any securities.

Investing in global equity markets involves significant risk, including the potential loss of principal. Artificial Intelligence and machine learning models are based on historical data and probabilistic algorithms; past performance is not indicative of future results. Investor10 does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of its data or the success of any investment strategy derived from its tools.

Users should conduct their own independent research and consult with a certified financial professional before making any asset allocation or trading decisions. Investor10 shall not be held liable for any financial losses or damages resulting from the use of its platform or the information contained within this press release.

Media Contact

Tárin Reis
support@investor10.com

Laura Geller Beauty is once again celebrating National Mature Women’s Day tomorrow, April 9th, with the return of its signature age-based sale, a first-of-its-kind promotion designed to celebrate the beauty of aging. Created by the brand to spotlight and uplift women 40+, the annual initiative invites customers to save their age as a percentage off their purchase, transforming a number that society often encourages women to hide into something worth celebrating.

Founded on the belief that aging should be embraced, not erased, Laura Geller Beauty established National Mature Women’s Day in 2022 to recognize the confidence, influence, and purchasing power of women over 40 — a demographic historically overlooked across the beauty industry. While many brands center their messaging around youth, Laura Geller Beauty has built its identity around authentic representation and practical beauty solutions for mature skin, exclusively featuring women 40+ across campaigns, product imagery, and marketing.

“At Laura Geller Beauty, we’ve always believed that women become more powerful, more confident, and more beautiful with age,” said Laura Geller, founder of the brand. “National Mature Women’s Day is our way of celebrating that truth. The age-based sale flips the script on aging — encouraging women to proudly own their age and be rewarded financially for it. It’s a reminder that beauty doesn’t diminish with time; it evolves.”

In celebration of the occasion, the brand is also introducing Long & Lifted Tubing Mascara, a new launch designed with the needs of mature lashes in mind. As lashes age, they often become thinner, straighter, and more delicate. The tubing formula delivers instant length, definition, and lift while remaining lightweight and flexible for comfortable all-day wear. It creates clean separation without heaviness or flaking and removes easily with warm water, helping protect fragile lashes and the delicate eye area.

A Sale Designed to Celebrate Age

At the heart of the initiative is the brand’s age-based sale, where shoppers receive a discount equal to their age. A 45-year-old receives 45% off, a 60-year-old receives 60% off, and so on. The promotion has become one of the brand’s most anticipated annual moments, resonating deeply with its loyal community of mature consumers who appreciate seeing their life stage celebrated rather than minimized.

This year, the brand is also evolving how it engages with that community by integrating a robust SMS strategy into the campaign. Through the promotion, customers must opt in via SMS to unlock their personalized discount while joining the brand’s growing mobile community.

The initiative reflects a broader shift toward building direct relationships with mature consumers while capturing valuable first-party data. By integrating age capture within SMS enrollment, the brand is gaining deeper insights into its audience, enabling more tailored product education, content and offers in the future while allowing the brand to connect with their community more directly and personally than via email.

A Social Campaign That Celebrates the Women Who Lift Us

Complementing the sale is a social campaign designed to spotlight the emotional connections that define mature beauty.

Leading up to National Mature Women’s Day, creators were asked to participate in a two-part storytelling moment across social platforms. In this first phase, creators “stepped up to the mic” to honor a woman who lifts them up — whether a mother, mentor, teacher, or friend — passing the microphone forward to celebrate the women who inspire them.

Tomorrow, the campaign’s message comes full circle as creators reveal and apply the brand’s new Long & Lifted Tubing Mascara, pairing the women who lift them internally with the mascara designed to lift lashes.

Together, the sale and social campaign reinforce Laura Geller Beauty’s long-standing commitment to ensuring women 40+ remain visible, valued, and represented in beauty culture.

About Laura Geller Beauty

New York-based makeup artist Laura Geller launched her namesake brand in 1997 with a mission of demystifying the daily makeup routine and creating transformational products that bring joy back to beauty. The brand is a pioneer in artisan-crafted baked makeup, delivering exceptional coverage and finishes for all skin types. As the brand's foolproof, easy-to-use makeup is well-known for its remarkable ability to flatter and enhance mature skin, Laura Geller Beauty has exclusively featured women over 40 since 2021. Laura Geller Beauty products are available on QVC, LauraGeller.com, Amazon, Ulta.com, Sephora.com, Macy’s.com and other select retailers. For more information, visit www.laurageller.com.

Media Contact

Georgia Power
Alison Brod Marketing & Communications
laurageller@abmc-us.com

The Law Offices of Zulu Ali & Associates, LLP, the largest Black-owned law firm in California's Inland Empire, announced today the continued expansion of its Jury Reform Initiative, a structured advocacy program addressing racial disparities in jury selection practices across California courts.

The initiative comes as national attention to jury composition has intensified. According to the Equal Justice Initiative, Black Americans are significantly underrepresented on juries across the United States, a pattern that research links directly to conviction rates, sentencing outcomes, and public trust in the legal system. The Law Offices of Zulu Ali & Associates launched the Jury Reform Initiative to address this problem through litigation strategy, public advocacy, and direct engagement with courts and policymakers.

"Jury selection is where justice is won or lost before a single witness takes the stand," said attorney Zulu Ali, founder and principal of the firm. "When juries do not reflect the communities they serve, verdicts lack legitimacy. We are committed to challenging that through every legal avenue available."

The initiative focuses on three primary areas: challenging the discriminatory use of peremptory strikes in criminal trials, advocating for expanded sourcing of the jury pool beyond voter registration lists, and engaging state bar associations and judicial councils on structural reform. Attorney Ali, who is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and multiple federal circuit courts, brings both trial-level and appellate experience to these efforts.

Racial disparities in jury selection have been documented extensively, with studies showing that prosecutors in some jurisdictions strike Black jurors at significantly higher rates than white jurors, as highlighted by the Equal Justice Initiative's research on unreliable verdicts. The U.S. Supreme Court's 1986 decision in Batson v. Kentucky prohibited race-based peremptory challenges, yet research confirms the practice persists through pretextual justifications that courts rarely scrutinize with sufficient rigor.

The Law Offices of Zulu Ali & Associates has raised challenges to jury composition in criminal cases across Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, and San Diego counties. The firm's criminal defense practice serves clients facing felony and misdemeanor charges throughout Southern California, and jury selection strategy forms a central component of trial preparation in those cases.

Attorney Ali's background as a former U.S. Marine and sworn police officer with multiple Tennessee law enforcement agencies gives him direct insight into how institutional practices within the justice system affect case outcomes. That experience informs the firm's approach to jury reform, which treats discriminatory jury selection not as an isolated procedural issue but as a structural problem requiring consistent and documented legal challenge.

In 2015, Ali also directed the American Committee for United Nations Oversight, through which he lobbied the United Nations for federal police reform. That engagement with international oversight bodies reflects his broader commitment to legal accountability beyond individual cases.

"Reforming jury selection requires more than objecting in individual trials," Ali said. "It requires building a record, challenging courts to enforce existing law, and pushing legislatures to close the loopholes that allow discrimination to continue under legal cover."

The firm also serves as a resource for other defense attorneys seeking guidance on jury challenge strategy. Through its community outreach programs, including the Linda Reese Harvey Stop and Frisk Youth Leadership Academy, the Law Offices of Zulu Ali & Associates educates community members about their rights as potential jurors, including the right to serve without facing discriminatory exclusion.

The American Institute of Trial Lawyers named Attorney Ali its Criminal Defense Litigator of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, an honor extended to fewer than 0.03% of practicing attorneys nationally. The firm was also named Best Law Firm by the same organization in 2024. USA Today included Ali among its Top Five Lawyers to Watch in 2025.

"A fair jury is not a courtesy extended to defendants," Ali said. "It is a constitutional requirement. We will keep litigating that principle until courts treat it as one."

Attorneys, community organizations, and individuals seeking information about jury rights or the firm's criminal defense practice may contact the Law Offices of Zulu Ali & Associates directly.

About Law Offices of Zulu Ali & Associates, LLP

The Law Offices of Zulu Ali & Associates, LLP is the largest Black-owned law firm in California’s Inland Empire, providing specialized counsel in criminal defense, immigration, and civil rights. Founded in 2007 by attorney Zulu Ali — a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former law enforcement officer — the firm is defined by its commitment to high-stakes advocacy and international human rights.

Attorney Ali is a distinguished practitioner with admissions to the United States Supreme Court, the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, and the African Court of Justice and Human Rights. His record of advocacy spans multiple U.S. Federal Circuit Courts and has earned recognition from the American Institute of Trial Lawyers and the United Nations-supported MIPAD initiative. The firm maintains a rigorous practice standard, focusing on deportation defense and complex litigation across Southern California.

Detailed practice areas and attorney credentials are available at zulualilaw.com.

Media Contact

Zulu Ali
zulualilaw@gmail.com

Andreozzi + Foote has filed a civil lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County (Case No. 2026-SU_0353) on behalf of two minor girls, alleging that they were sexually abused while receiving therapy services through Gettysburg Montessori Charter School.

The lawsuit names Gettysburg Montessori Charter School, Mitchell Counseling, LLC, and therapist David Mitchell as defendants. According to the complaint, the school hired Mitchell and his counseling practice in 2021 to provide individual counseling, group counseling, and consultation services to students. The lawsuit alleges that he used this role to sexually abuse two six-year-old students during therapy sessions.

According to the complaint, in 2024, Mitchell provided one-on-one and group art therapy to one of the victims at the school. During these closed-door sessions, Mitchell would sexually abuse the victim. As a result of this, the victim's parents removed her from the school.

The lawsuit alleges that in 2024 and 2025, Mitchell provided art therapy services to another child. Her mother discovered his services through an advertisement on the school’s website and enrolled her in the program. During these sessions, he allegedly sexually abused the child.

The complaint alleges that in January 2025, the child’s mother received notice from Gettysburg Montessori stating that Mitchell would begin working with an assistant and that art therapy sessions would be videotaped moving forward. She later learned that three different girls had accused Mitchell of sexual abuse at his home office in 2024.

According to the lawsuit, the school was aware of these accusations but did not immediately remove Mitchell from his role at the school. The complaint further alleges that the child’s mother continued to receive emails from Mitchell until the end of January 2025, indicating that he was still employed by and operating within the school well after the allegations had surfaced. As a result of this abuse, the child was removed from the school.

Mitchell later pled guilty to three counts of indecent assault of a juvenile and one count of institutional sexual contact. On March 9, 2026, Mitchell was sentenced to 22 to 56 months of confinement at SCI Camp Hill and nine years of parole. Additionally, he was classified as a sexually violent predator and ordered to lifetime registration.

Civil Lawsuit Alleges Institutional Liability

The lawsuit asserts claims for negligence, gross negligence, carelessness, and recklessness against Gettysburg Montessori Charter School and Mitchell Counseling, LLC.

According to the complaint, both the school and Mitchell Counseling, LLC, had a duty to protect students from sexual abuse but failed to do so.

The lawsuit alleges failures in how the defendants screened, trained, and supervised individuals working with minors, including ignoring warning signs and failing to take adequate steps to prevent abuse. The lawsuit also alleges that the defendants failed to report Mitchell to the appropriate authorities and violated Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law by not promptly reporting suspected sexual abuse of children. These failures, the complaint asserts, directly led to the abuse of the victims.

The lawsuit also asserts claims against David Mitchell for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleging that he intentionally engaged in harmful sexual contact and acted with reckless disregard for the children’s safety. The complaint states that his actions caused severe physical pain, emotional distress, and other damages. According to the complaint, Mitchell knew the likelihood that his actions would cause severe emotional distress to the victims.

According to the lawsuit, Mitchell’s conduct was extreme, outrageous, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.

“These allegations raise serious concerns about who is permitted to work closely with children,” Nathaniel Foote, Partner at Andreozzi + Foote, said. “When institutions ignore warning signs, they put children directly in harm’s way. Basic safeguards exist for a reason, and when they are disregarded, the consequences can be life-altering.”

Attorneys encourage anyone who may have experienced similar harm involving Gettysburg Montessori Charter School, Mitchell Counseling, LLC, or David Mitchell to come forward. Information shared by survivors can play a critical role in identifying patterns, preventing further harm, and holding institutions accountable. Individuals may contact the firm at info@vca.law.

About Andreozzi + Foote

Andreozzi + Foote is one of the nation’s leading sexual abuse law firms with a history of representing survivors in cases against large and powerful organizations including Penn State University, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Catholic Church. The trauma-informed Pennsylvania-based sexual abuse lawyers at Andreozzi + Foote are committed to obtaining life-changing results for victims and their families. Managing Partner Ben Andreozzi hosts "Justice Interrupted," a podcast that gives survivors of child abuse and their advocates a national platform. For more information, visit www.victimscivilattorneys.com.

Media Contact

Maria Smith
Andreozzi + Foote
marias@vca.law
+1 717-807-5808

Shu Fei Zeng, founder and chief executive of KH Marque, has been awarded a 2026 Global Recognition Award for her measurable and consequential role in restructuring Southeast Asia's used cooking oil (UCO) sector into a transparent, commercially scalable, and globally significant supply chain for sustainable aviation fuel feedstock. The award recognizes outstanding achievement across the Revenue Growth, Startup of the Year, Leadership, and Research categories, where her record places her among the most accomplished founders in the sustainable energy sector today. Her recognition reflects the scale of what KH Marque has built since 2021, and the rigor with which it was built.

Zeng brought to KH Marque more than two decades of senior leadership at Vitol and Glencore, two of the world's largest commodity trading firms, giving her a precise understanding of where large-scale supply chains are most exposed to structural failure. Within three years of founding KH Marque, she had positioned the company as Southeast Asia's largest UCO collector, operating across 11 countries and supplying traceable, low-carbon feedstock to global aviation and energy majors. That progression from founding to regional dominance in under four years is the foundation on which this recognition rests.

From Trading Floors to Green Feedstock

When Zeng identified that the renewable aviation fuel (SAF) sector faced its most critical constraint, not in demand but in the integrity and traceability of its feedstock supply, she made a deliberate decision to move from trading commodities to building the infrastructure that would correct it. Her founding of KH Marque was not a departure from her professional expertise but a direct extension of it, channeling two decades of multinational operational experience into a company purpose-built to solve a structural gap that larger incumbents had overlooked. That precision of intent shaped every subsequent decision the company made.

KH Marque built collection networks across Southeast Asia, formalized commercial relationships with thousands of small food businesses, and educated vendors who had previously discarded UCO, unaware of its commercial or environmental value. The S&P Global Energy Awards panel took note, naming Zeng Chief Trailblazer of the Year at its 2025 ceremony and citing her discipline in scaling a sustainability-driven business under complex regulatory conditions across multiple jurisdictions.

"The challenge was never convincing large buyers that traceable feedstock mattered; it was building the ground-level infrastructure that made traceability possible at the volumes they required," Zeng has said of the work. That ground-level infrastructure now functions as one of the most consequential feedstock networks in the SAF supply chain.

Innovation Rooted in Research and Operational Rigor

Zeng's leadership extends beyond supply chain operations into applied research and the development of purpose-built technology. Her team created the UCO Tracker, a proprietary software platform that provides real-time traceability and carbon-intensity reporting for every batch of feedstock moving through KH Marque's network. The platform was built in direct response to the regulatory demands of the European SAF mandate and the requirements of global aviation buyers working toward Net Zero commitments, functioning not as a supplementary product feature but as the operational foundation of KH Marque's competitive position. The TITAN Business Awards recognized this contribution with platinum-level honors, naming Zeng both Innovator of the Year and Sustainability Leader of the Year.

Global Recognition Awards evaluates nominees through a rigorous process in which a panel of independent industry experts screens all applications against criteria including innovation, leadership, service, and social responsibility. Shortlisted candidates are then assessed using the Rasch model. This psychometric measurement framework converts evaluator scores into a linear scale, enabling precise and fair comparison between candidates across different disciplines. Zeng achieved the highest possible rating of 5 across all evaluated dimensions, including vision and strategy, ethical decision-making, originality of research methodology, international collaboration, and real-world impact, each representing world-class standing. Buyers of KH Marque's UCO achieve greenhouse gas savings of 88-93% compared to fossil-derived alternatives. This figure earned KH Marque a finalist position for SME of the Year at the Reuters Global Sustainability Awards.

Final Words

"Shu Fei Zeng exemplifies exactly what this award stands for: a leader who identified a systemic gap, built a world-class solution, and delivered measurable impact at a global scale, making her an unambiguous choice for this recognition," said Alex Sterling, spokesperson for Global Recognition Awards.

Few founders in the energy sector have achieved revenue growth, structural discipline, and social accountability simultaneously at the scale Zeng has reached across 11 countries in under four years. Her profile has appeared across international platforms, including Business Insider and Yahoo Finance, where her ability to guide teams through consistent expansion while maintaining operational standards has established her as a trusted partner for global energy majors. Her work at KH Marque makes clear that sustainability and commercial scale are not opposing forces but, under the right leadership, mutually reinforcing.

About Global Recognition Awards

The Global Recognition Awards is an international organization that recognizes exceptional companies and individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective industries. For more information, visit globalrecognitionawards.org.

Media Contact

Alex Sterling
alex@globalrecognitionawards.org

Assembled, the all-in-one platform trusted by the world's most discerning customer support teams, today announced it has been elevated to Five9 Select ISV Partner status, the highest tier in Five9’s Independent Software Vendor program, and that Five9 is now an authorized reseller of Assembled’s workforce management platform. This expanded relationship brings Assembled’s agentic workforce management platform more deeply into the Five9 Intelligent CX Platform, helping organizations plan and manage the full workforce behind every customer interaction, including human agents, AI agents, and outsourced teams.

“As the contact center shifts to a multi-agent world, workforce management becomes a strategic capability,” said Ryan Wang, co-founder and CEO of Assembled. “Organizations need to plan across human and AI capacity in real time. With Five9, we’re helping enterprises turn that complexity into a competitive advantage.”

Through the expanded partnership, Five9 customers benefit from Assembled’s workforce management platform, built for a blended workforce of human and AI agents. With unified go-to-market efforts, closer customer success and support alignment, and continued product integration investments, shared customers can expect a more seamless and connected experience across both platforms. Organizations can plan and adjust capacity in real time using data across both systems, automate complex workflows like scheduling with AI, and manage the workforce behind every customer interaction with greater precision.

“Every conversation I’m having with customers comes back to the same thing,” said George Wilson, VP of Strategic Alliances at Five9. “They want the power of AI without recreating the point-solution sprawl they just spent years cleaning up. That’s why we’re investing in partners like Assembled, who bring agentic workforce management into the Five9 Intelligent CX Platform, so our customers can orchestrate people, AI, and workflows.”

Joint customers such as DailyPay are already seeing meaningful improvements in workforce efficiency and performance. With Five9 powering their contact center and Assembled managing workforce operations, DailyPay has transformed how they plan and staff their support team. Since implementing Assembled, DailyPay has reduced time spent on scheduling by 65%, improved SLA performance by 7%, and unlocked over $1 million in annual productivity gains, saving 9,600 agent hours per month.

MTM, which coordinates non-emergency medical transportation and manages a contact center operation spanning more than 2,000 agents and 100-plus skill queues, is also seeing results as a joint Five9 and Assembled customer.

"Previous workforce tools have struggled with our level of complexity," said Doug Kappauff, Senior Director of Workforce Management at MTM. "With over 100 skills and 2,000 agents, performance issues and slowness were constant. Assembled has reduced our schedule generation time by 50%, and our team can now focus on analytics instead of administration.”

Learn more about Assembled and Five9’s partnership on the Assembled blog.

About Assembled

Assembled is the modern, unified platform for managing in-house teams, BPOs, and AI agents. The company's comprehensive solution includes AI agents for chat, voice, email, and SMS; an AI copilot to assist human agents; and workforce management tools to forecast, schedule, and monitor blended workforces. Founded in 2018 by machine learning engineers from Stripe, Assembled serves hundreds of leading companies, including Stripe, Robinhood, Canva, and Intercom. The company has raised $71 million from NEA, Emergence Capital, and top angels, with more than 130 employees across San Francisco, New York, London, and remote locations. Learn more at www.assembled.com.

Media Contact

Katy Goldstein
katy@katygoldsteincomms.com

Cocoon, a Vietnamese vegan beauty brand, has launched in France and across Europe, marking a significant milestone for Vietnamese cosmetics. The move follows a March 2026 partnership with European distributor Orien Trade and coincides with the opening of Cocoon’s first Paris pop-up, running through April 21, 2026.

From Vietnam to Europe's Beauty Capital

With an annual cosmetics market valued at 13–14 billion USD according to Statista, France leads Europe in beauty consumption and holds the number one position globally for cosmetics exports, generating tens of billions of dollars annually.

“For Cocoon, this presence in France goes far beyond market expansion. It represents a defining milestone for a vegan beauty brand researched and manufactured in Vietnam to enter one of the world’s most important beauty capitals,” said Pham Minh Dung, Director of Business and Marketing at Cocoon Vietnam.

Cocoon's entry into France required over two years of preparation to meet European Union regulatory standards, including GMP certification, CPNP registration, IFRA compliance, and INCI ingredient disclosure.

The European market entry is facilitated through Cocoon's partnership with Orien Trade, a reputable distributor of Asian cosmetics in Europe. Through this collaboration, Cocoon products will gradually establish presence across France's major cities, marking a new chapter for Vietnamese beauty brands in the European market.

Pop-Up Store Brings Vietnamese "Sidewalk Café" Culture to Paris

To mark its European market entry, Cocoon opened its first pop-up store in Paris on April 2, 2026. Located at Glowstation, 101 Porte Berger, Westfield Forum, Paris 75001, the experiential retail space will welcome visitors through April 21, 2026.

Within this space, Cocoon recreates the concept of a “sidewalk café” (cà phê bệt) — a familiar and distinctive cultural element in Vietnamese urban life. "This is our first pop-up store in Europe. This space not only introduces the story of gentle, effective beauty from Vietnam's distinctive agricultural products, but also carries the spirit of an authentic Vietnam, helping international friends better understand Vietnamese culture and people," Dung emphasized.

Visitors can engage with Cocoon's brand story, experience photo opportunities within the Vietnamese-inspired setting, and participate in interactive games with special gifts. This activation serves as Cocoon's first direct consumer touchpoint in the European market, providing valuable feedback to shape the brand's future expansion strategy.

Building a Global Vegan Beauty Brand from Local Roots

The brand's European expansion reflects its commitment to sharing Vietnam's natural heritage and sustainable beauty philosophy with international audiences.

“We believe Cocoon will soon be present along the luxury streets of Paris, France; Milan, Italy; and many other European cities, adding a remarkable new chapter to the story of Vietnamese brands conquering international markets,” said Nguyen Ngoc Tram, Operations Director at Orien Trade.

Prior to its European expansion, Cocoon had established its presence in 15 Asian markets, including Japan. With the addition of 27 European Union member countries plus the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Norway, Cocoon now operates in 45 countries and territories globally.

About Cocoon Vietnam

Cocoon is a 100% vegan beauty brand from Vietnam, committed to using no animal-derived ingredients and not conducting animal testing. The brand develops a wide range of beauty and personal care products, distinguished by its use of locally sourced Vietnamese agricultural ingredients such as pomelo, winter melon, Dak Lak coffee, Hau Giang lotus, and Hung Yen turmeric. In the domestic market, Cocoon is recognized as one of Vietnam’s leading beauty brands, consistently ranking among top-selling brands across trusted distribution channels, including cosmetic retail chains, pharmacies, and supermarkets. The brand currently has an extensive nationwide presence, with more than 5,000 points of sale. Beyond the local market, Cocoon has steadily expanded internationally and is now present in multiple countries and territories. Notably, Japan — one of the most demanding beauty markets in Asia — stands out as a key market, reflecting the brand’s product quality and competitiveness. In March 2026, Cocoon officially entered into a partnership with Orien Trade to launch in France and across European Union markets. This milestone opens up new opportunities for Vietnamese vegan cosmetics to gain deeper access to one of the world’s leading beauty hubs. For more information, please visit cocoonvietnam.com.

About Orien Trade

Orien Trade is an international cosmetics distribution company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Europe. The company currently operates offices in 10 European countries and distributes products to more than 30 markets worldwide. It focuses on bringing Asian beauty brands into European retail systems, while also participating in major industry events such as Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna to connect brands with international distribution networks. For more information, please visit orientrade.com.

Media Contact

Tobias Nguyen
tobias@cavas.com.vn

Black Hole Golf, the portable smart-target system for golf, and Lucra, the leading social competition platform, today announced a partnership to introduce real-money and reward-based competition into the KOSMOS experience at launch this fall.

Black Hole Golf transforms any open space — a backyard, a park, an open field — into a connected, competitive golf environment. Players hit real golf balls at real targets, capture real shot data, and build a permanent performance record through the Universal Game Scoring System (UGSS).

Black Hole Golf is entering the market at a moment when the definition of where and how golf gets played is expanding rapidly. Off-course golfers now outnumber green grass players, and portable, technology-driven formats are attracting players who never connected with the traditional game. Black Hole Golf sits at the center of that shift and with Lucra embedded at launch, it brings a built-in competitive economy that most platforms spend years trying to retrofit.

By integrating Lucra, KOSMOS launches with a fully integrated competitive economy. Players enter cash matchups, join tournaments with prize pools, and compete in free-to-play formats to earn rewards. A centralized gaming wallet lets winners roll earnings directly into future play and merchandise, keeping players inside the platform. Lucra manages all payments, compliance, fraud prevention, and settlement automatically, allowing Black Hole Golf to focus entirely on gameplay, data, and player experience.

"Black Hole Golf was built to make every session matter — real shots, real data, real improvement. Lucra extends that for players who want to raise the stakes further, adding real-money matchups and rewards to a platform that was built around performance. We wanted that layer to feel native from day one, not bolted on later — and beyond the player experience, it unlocks revenue streams that simply didn't exist before. That's the universe we're building together," said Brad Thompson, founder and CEO of Black Hole Golf.

"Most golf technology is still anchored to a specific place, a simulator, a range, a course. Black Hole Golf turns the playbook on its head. When the game can happen anywhere, competition has to travel with it. The moment you add real stakes, leaderboards, and rewards to a session in someone's backyard or a local park, you've created something genuinely new. We're proud to power that from day one," said Dylan Robbins, founder and CEO of Lucra.

The partnership launches in Fall 2026 across the full Black Hole Golf platform. As KOSMOS expands its player community and hardware footprint, Lucra's competition infrastructure scales with it across every backyard, park, and open space where the game takes root.

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, Chess Kings, 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 Black Hole Golf

Black Hole Golf was founded on the belief that golf should be easier to start, more fun to play, and fit naturally into real life. Combining real golf shots with portable smart targets, adaptive gameplay, and immersive visuals, Black Hole Golf transforms backyards, fields, parks, and open spaces into connected play environments that evolve as you play. From fast-paced arcade challenges to focused improvement modes, every experience is built to match a player's energy, skill level, and setting, welcoming golfers, non-golfers, families, and competitive players alike. Founded in 2024 and based in Castle Pines, Colorado, Black Hole Golf holds dual patent-pending filings and is taking Beta orders starting May 2026. For more information, visit www.blackholegolf.com.

Media Contact

Brad Thompson
Founder & CEO, Black Hole Golf
brad.thompson@blackholegolf.com

Lindsay Linhart
Brand Strategist, Lucra
lindsay@lucrasports.com

PadSplit, the country’s largest co-living marketplace, today announced it has closed a debt financing facility with ORIX Corporation USA’s (“ORIX USA”) Growth Capital business. The new capital supports PadSplit’s social impact mission to create more affordable housing, including investments in technology and data infrastructure, and scaling its platform to serve more residents and property owners nationwide. To date, PadSplit has housed more than 75,000 people across 32,000-plus rooms in 40 U.S. markets, all without federal subsidies. The median income of PadSplit residents is $32,500.

“This financing allows us to stay laser-focused on our mission of helping to solve the affordable housing crisis one room at a time,” said Atticus LeBlanc, founder and CEO of PadSplit. “We’re seeing growing interest from cities, policymakers, and institutional partners in coliving as a scalable solution, and we’re excited to expand access to housing while continuing to innovate for both our members and property owners. We’re proud to partner with ORIX USA to accelerate that impact.”

The need for scalable housing solutions has never been more urgent. Recent data from the The State of the Nation's Housing 2025 report by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) reveals approximately 50% of renters today spend more than 30% of their income on rent, double the historical average of 25%. Even more concerning, about 25% of renters now spend more than half of their income on housing. At the same time, homeownership has become increasingly out of reach, with the median home price rising from approximately three times median household income historically to about five times today.

“PadSplit is addressing one of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. with a differentiated and scalable model,” said Blake Zhang, Managing Director at ORIX USA’s Growth Capital business. “The company has demonstrated strong execution and operational discipline while delivering meaningful social impact. We’re excited to partner with Atticus and the PadSplit team as they advance their mission and enter their next phase of growth.”

Unlike other coliving models, PadSplit is designed to reduce the financial barriers to access housing. All PadSplits include private rooms and shared common areas, without hefty upfront fees like first and last month’s rent or a security deposit. PadSplit also offers flexibility with no long-term lease, no minimum credit score requirement, and one all-inclusive weekly pricing that covers utilities. To simplify budgeting even further, residents can customize their rent due date to align with their payroll date. 83% of PadSplit residents are employed. Residents range from hourly workers and travel nurses to seniors seeking companionship.

To learn more about PadSplit, visit www.padsplit.com.

About PadSplit

PadSplit is the country's largest coliving marketplace. As a public benefit corporation, PadSplit is intentional about doing well and doing good, focusing on increasing housing supply and reducing barriers to access so the workers who serve our communities also have the opportunity to live in them. Our award-winning model allows individuals to find a flexible rental option that includes furniture and utilities, all without a minimum credit score. PadSplit's platform enables personalized rent payments, making budgeting easier and helping residents improve their financial health. A fully remote company, PadSplit offers more than 32,000 shared housing rooms nationwide. Apply to become a resident or a property owner at www.padsplit.com.

About ORIX Corporation USA 

Established in the U.S. in 1981, ORIX USA has grown organically and through acquisition into the investment and asset management firm we are today. With a specialization in private credit, real estate, and private equity solutions for middle-market focused borrowers and investors, we combine our robust balance sheet with funds from third-party investors, providing a strong alignment of interest. ORIX USA and its subsidiaries — ORIX Advisers, ORIX Capital Partners, Signal Peak Capital Management, Boston Financial, Lument, Hilco Global, and NXT Capital — have approximately 2,100 employees and have $96.9 billion in assets*, which includes $44 billion in assets and commitments, in addition to $52.9 billion in servicing and administering assets, as of December 2025. Our parent company, ORIX Corporation, is a publicly owned international financial services company with operations in 30 countries and regions worldwide. ORIX Corporation is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (8591) and New York Stock Exchange (IX). For more information, visit www.orix.com.

* As of December 31, 2025. Includes $52.9 billion in servicing and administering assets, in addition to $44 billion in funded assets and unfunded commitments across proprietary capital, third party capital and strategic partners investing in ORIX USA’s private credit, real estate and private equity businesses. Unfunded commitments are based on a contractual commitment or an expected commitment for an established program based on ORIX USA Group’s understanding.

Media Contact

Hela Sheth
hela@katalystcomms.com

Nutromics today announced the appointment of Thomas (Tom) M. Prescott as chair of its board, bringing deep U.S. medtech commercialization experience as the company enters a pivotal new phase. The appointment comes as Nutromics prepares to open its Series B round and advances toward its planned U.S. commercial launch in 2027. The news follows major recent milestones, including strong clinical performance in recent ICU studies and a February 2026 publication in Nature Biotechnology.

Prescott is one of the most experienced operators in medtech, with a track record of building and scaling businesses across U.S. and global healthcare systems in the medtech industry. He served as president and chief executive officer of Align Technology from 2002 to 2015, during which market capitalization increased from $240 million to $4.4 billion. Prior to Align, he was president and chief executive officer of Cardiac Pathways until its acquisition by Boston Scientific, and earlier held senior leadership roles at Nellcor Puritan Bennett, along with related roles at GE Medical Systems and Siemens.

Nutromics has developed a wearable platform designed to continuously monitor clinically important drugs and biomarkers in real time, giving clinicians a more timely and complete picture than is possible with today’s intermittent testing methods. Its first product is aimed at improving dosing for the antibiotic vancomycin in hospitals, including reducing toxic side effects. The second product targets sepsis detection and management, where continuous monitoring could deliver significant clinical benefits not achievable with today’s technology.

Together, these initial applications point to a much broader platform opportunity. Continuous glucose monitoring showed how powerful real-time data can be when it replaces delayed, intermittent snapshots. Nutromics is now taking that model beyond glucose and leading the emerging field of continuous molecular monitoring.

Commenting on his decision to join Nutromics, Prescott said: “What drew me to Nutromics is the team. The platform they have created can help close critical gaps in patient monitoring across virtually all sites of care. Those gaps can drive significant costs and less than optimal patient outcomes, which explains the sharp focus on that market. Due to the flexibility of the technology, an equally large, longer-term opportunity is the emerging wellness-driven consumer market for high performance wearables. Until now, the technology has not existed to continuously monitor a range of high value biomarkers. Opportunities to help a team define a new category, enable better patient outcomes at lower costs to the healthcare system, while building scale are rare. I am honored to join this team.”

Peter Vranes, CEO and co-founder of Nutromics, said: “Tom is joining Nutromics at exactly the right time. We have built the platform, materially de-risked the technology, and now have strong confidence in the readiness of our first product as we move toward commercialization. What makes Nutromics especially exciting is that the first product is just the beginning. Tom’s experience helping build important new product categories at companies such as Align and Nellcor is highly relevant as we move toward U.S. commercial launch.”

Nutromics is currently working with leading U.S. hospitals, health systems, and academic medical centers on clinical studies as it advances toward formal partnerships, launch readiness, and early commercial adoption.

Nutromics’ investors include Dexcom, a global leader in continuous glucose monitoring technology. Prescott succeeds Dr. Chris Roberts AO as chair. Dr. Roberts will remain on the board as a non-executive director to support continuity through the company’s next phase.

About Nutromics

Nutromics is an Australian-founded advanced monitoring company that has built a wearable, DNA-based platform for continuous molecular monitoring. Its electrochemical aptamer-based sensors, integrated with minimally invasive microneedles, are designed to sense multiple proteins, drugs, metabolites, and hormones in real time. Nutromics is advancing toward regulatory clearance and commercial launch of its first product, with operations in Australia and the United States. The company’s vision is a world with zero preventable deaths due to a lack of continuous molecular monitoring. For more information, visit www.nutromics.com.

Media Contact

Royina Bakshi Lock
Nutromics
roy.bakshi@nutromics.com

Today, Budweiser is celebrating 40 years as the Official Beer Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™ with the launch of the largest limited-edition collectible pack ever — the Budweiser® FIFA World Cup™ Anniversary Pack — bringing to life 11 bold design tributes to every tournament since 1986, and the centerpiece of a new nostalgia driven global platform.

Throughout history, Budweiser has played an important role in some of football’s most unforgettable celebrations, from last-minute goals to trophy lifts seen around the world. These moments of "Budstalgia" [Budweiser + nostalgia] are the inspiration for the brand’s newest platform, brought to life through a new collectible design, a global film titled "The Big Drop," distinctive out-of-home creative, and an era-inspired digital hub.

"For 40 years, Budweiser has been part of the moments that bring fans together — on the pitch, in the stands, and everywhere the game is watched," said Richard Oppy, Global President, Premium Company at AB InBev. "With this global platform, we are celebrating that shared history in a way that feels as relevant today as it did in 1986 — connecting generations of fans through the passion, energy, and rituals that make the FIFA World Cup so special, while building excitement for what’s still to come."

Budweiser Unveils Limited-Edition Collectible Pack

To kick off the football celebration, Budweiser is launching its most ambitious collectible pack to date: the Budweiser® FIFA World Cup™ Anniversary Pack — a curated set of 11 aluminum bottles and cans honoring the past 10 World Cups and the upcoming 2026 tournament. Starting with Mexico 1986 and ending with FIFA World Cup™ 2026, each design draws from the visual identity and cultural elements of past tournaments, unlocking some of the game’s most memorable moments for fans around the world.

More than a collector's item, each bottle features a QR code that unlocks exclusive digital content tied to its era — connecting fans to their favorite teams of the past along with immersive experiences, and thousands of prizes that vary by location. Designed in partnership with branding agency, JKR, the limited-edition pack will roll out in key markets including Brazil, China, and select European countries beginning this month.

"The Big Drop" Brings 40 Years of Big Football Memories to Life

To amplify the occasion, Budweiser is debuting a new global hero film, "The Big Drop," set to the emblematic anthem "You’ll Never Walk Alone." The film, developed in partnership with creative agency, Africa, follows larger-than-life Budweiser bottles as they journey across landscapes and continents — passing through mountains, deserts, and grasslands — before arriving at the stadiums that have hosted the FIFA World Cup™ over the past four decades.

Reimagined as oversized ice buckets, these legendary venues become the stage for the next chapter of celebration — bringing the limited-edition Budweiser bottles to life in a new way through stunning visual effects. The film will roll out globally across digital and social channels.

"Proudly on the Pitch" Celebrates Budweiser's Football Legacy

Since 1986, Budweiser and its pitch-side billboards have been the backdrop for some of the most notable FIFA World Cup™ moments. Now, the brand is bringing that legacy to the forefront with "Proudly on the Pitch," a global out-of-home campaign built from iconic archival FIFA imagery.

The series features numerous images from past tournaments, seamlessly stitching Budweiser’s unmistakable red logo evolution while highlighting the brand’s role as a consistent presence in football culture. Rolling out across multiple continents, the campaign invites fans to rediscover the moments that defined generations of the game.

Fans 21+ can visit Budstalgia.com to explore the Budweiser® FIFA World Cup™ Anniversary Pack and relive four decades of football through exclusive content and experiences.

About AB InBev

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the Mexico (MEXBOL: ANB) and South Africa (JSE: ANH) stock exchanges and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD). As a company, we dream big to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life’s moments, move our industry forward and make a meaningful impact in the world. We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest ingredients. Beer is the drink for moderation, and for over a century, AB InBev has championed responsible drinking. We are committed to providing our consumers with balanced choices to enjoy on any occasion. We also invest in marketing that aims to reinforce positive behaviors, and we work with communities, customers, and partners to promote responsible consumption through evidence-based initiatives.

Our diverse portfolio of well over 400 beer brands includes global brands Budweiser®, Corona®, Stella Artois® and Michelob Ultra®; multi-country brands Beck’s®, Hoegaarden® and Leffe®; and local champions such as Aguila®, Antarctica®, Bud Light®, Brahma®, Cass®, Castle®, Castle Lite®, Cristal®, Harbin®, Jupiler®, Modelo Especial®, Quilmes®, Victoria®, Sedrin®, and Skol®. Our brewing heritage dates back more than 600 years, spanning continents and generations. From our European roots at the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium. To the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery in St. Louis, US. To the creation of the Castle Brewery in South Africa during the Johannesburg gold rush. To Bohemia, the first brewery in Brazil. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, we leverage the collective strengths of approximately 137 000 colleagues based in more than 40 countries worldwide. For 2025, AB InBev’s reported revenue was $59.3 billion (excluding JVs and associates).

About Budweiser

Budweiser, an American-style lager, was introduced in 1876 when company founder Adolphus Busch set out to create the United States’ first truly national beer brand — brewed to be universally embraced and transcend regional tastes. Each batch of Budweiser stays true to the same family recipe used by five generations of Busch family brewmasters. Budweiser is a medium-bodied, flavorful, crisp and pure beer with blended layers of premium American and European hop aromas, brewed for the perfect balance of flavor and refreshment. Budweiser is made using time-honored methods including “kraeusening” for natural carbonation and Beechwood aging, which results in unparalleled balance and character.

About FIFA

FIFA exists to govern football and to develop the game around the world. Since 2016, the organisation has been fast evolving into a body that can more effectively serve the game for the benefit of the entire world. As a not-for-profit organisation, FIFA — which organises the FIFA World Cup™, FIFA Women’s World Cup™, and FIFA Club World Cup™, among many other international competitions — reinvests its revenues into a wide range of football development programmes, providing funds, infrastructure and know-how to its member associations. FIFA’s Strategic Objectives for the Global Game: 2023-2027 can be explored here. This year, FIFA will organise the biggest standalone sporting event ever — the FIFA World Cup 2026™. 48 teams will play 104 matches across 16 stadiums in three host countries throughout the game-changing tournament, with over 6 million fans in attendance.

Media Contact

Amelia Woodhouse
awoodhouse@webershandwick.com

Midea, a global leader in smart home appliances and HVAC technology, has officially surpassed the 10-million-unit milestone in global cumulative sales for its R290 air conditioners. This landmark achievement underscores an accelerating market shift toward natural refrigerants and solidifies Midea’s position as the world’s No. 1 R290 air conditioner brand for the third consecutive year, as verified by Euromonitor International.

Accelerating the Transition to Natural Refrigerant

This milestone marks a definitive tipping point for the HVAC industry, signaling that natural refrigerants have transitioned from a niche alternative to the new global standard. As Europe enforces increasingly stringent F-gas regulations, Midea’s market performance validates R290 as the primary successor to high-GWP refrigerants. This widespread adoption underscores a growing confidence among both installers and consumers in Midea’s safe, scalable, and field-proven technology. To date, this transition has resulted in a significant environmental contribution, with an estimated 5.2 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions successfully avoided.

Engineering Innovation and Global Standards

The path to widespread R290 adoption required overcoming significant technical and safety hurdles. For more than 15 years, Midea has spearheaded R&D initiatives dedicated to leakage prevention and flammability mitigation, ensuring that natural refrigerant technology meets the rigorous efficiency demands of the modern market. The company’s proprietary safety systems are engineered to provide a rare combination of high-tier energy efficiency and long-term operational stability.

As a committed participant in the United Nations Global Compact, Midea continues to align its operations with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and lead the development of international safety standards. These efforts have earned the company prestigious accolades, including the German Blue Angel certification — a distinction reserved for products that demonstrate the highest levels of environmental performance and safety.

The Malta Blueprint: A Model for Regional Deployment

Recognizing that technical excellence must be matched by localized expertise, Midea launched a strategic initiative in Malta to accelerate R290 adoption across Europe. In partnership with KENKAR, Midea established an "education-first" framework to bridge the knowledge gap and address specific concerns within the HVAC installer community.

Through comprehensive, hands-on training programs, Midea empowered local technicians to become expert advocates for natural refrigerants. The results of the pilot program underscore the technology’s viability: 240 units were successfully installed within a single year with zero safety incidents. This success now serves as a scalable blueprint for the rapid, safe deployment of R290 technology across the European continent.

Defining the Future of the HVAC Sector

As the European HVAC industry navigates a complex landscape of decarbonization mandates and evolving regulatory frameworks, Midea’s 10-million-unit milestone provides a definitive signal: the era of natural refrigerants has arrived.

Midea’s expanding R290 portfolio — spanning residential air conditioning, heat pumps, and commercial applications — demonstrates that the technology is mature, scalable, and ready for mass-market integration. By driving this shift, Midea is establishing R290 as the de facto natural refrigerant solution, paving the way for a more sustainable and healthier planet.

About Midea

Midea Group is a leading global technology company specializing in smart home appliances, HVAC systems, and industrial automation. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in China, Midea operates in more than 200 countries and regions. The company is committed to innovation and sustainability, developing energy-efficient solutions that improve everyday life. Midea remains the world’s No. 1 R290 air conditioner brand for the third consecutive year (verified by Euromonitor). For more information, www.midea.com/global.

Disclaimer

The data is calculated by Midea based on the sales volume of each R290 product sold during the period from January 2018 to December 2025 and the carbon avoided reduction of refrigerant per unit. (Carbon reduction of refrigerant per unit = GWP of refrigerant before R290 replacement x the refrigerant charge of product before replacement — GWP of R290 refrigerant x the charge of R290.)

Euromonitor International (Shanghai) Ltd. measured in terms of sales volume of R290 air conditioners, including OEM brands. (2022–2024 data, based on research completed in August 2025. R290 air conditioners refer to air conditioner using propane refrigerants, including residential and commercial air conditioner.)

Media Contact

Jochen Schäfer
jochen.schaefer@midea.de

Inference Beauty today announced the launch of its cross-brand AI personalization engine for beauty retailers, a platform designed to address longstanding technology gaps in beauty retail through advanced data-driven recommendations. The solution is currently active across retailer and brand partnerships in the European Union, United States, Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. The announcement follows the company’s selection into the Beauty Tech Atelier L’Oréal Accelerator, along with recognition as a winner of the ForwardBeauty Challenge by Douglas and a finalist at the Beauty E-Commerce Award Germany.

The Inference Beauty platform operates between a retailer's product catalogue and its digital customer experience, enriching product discovery with AI-powered diagnostics and structured ingredient data. Retailers integrating the platform gain access to AI Skin Analysis, Hair Analysis, Foundation Shade Matching, Fragrance Finder, and an Ingredient Explainer, all powered by a proprietary database of more than 150,000 beauty products and 60,000 standardized cosmetic ingredients categorized by source, function, effect, and utility. The platform's cross-brand architecture enables product recommendations that span an entire retail assortment rather than a single brand catalogue, addressing how modern shoppers actually behave across beauty categories.

The platform's full solution suite includes AI Skin Analysis for Skincare Personalization, AI Hair Analysis for Haircare Recommendations, AI Fragrance Finder with Olfactory Matching, AI Foundation Shade Matching Across Brands, an Ingredient Intelligence and Transparency Engine, Beauty Product Data Enrichment and Catalog Structuring, and a PDP Personalization and Recommendation Engine.

"We were built to solve a structural problem in beauty retail," said Estella Benz, Founder and CEO of Inference Beauty. "Recommendation tools that operate only within a single brand miss the reality of how consumers shop. Our engine connects every brand in a retailer's assortment and matches shoppers to the most relevant products based on their actual skin, hair, fragrance, and ingredient needs. That is cross-brand personalization at scale."

Retailers integrating the Inference Beauty platform are reporting strong commercial returns. Client data shows a 30% increase in conversion rate, a 30% uplift in average basket value, and 12% of platform users opting into sign-up flows, generating first-party data assets that further strengthen personalization performance over time.

Consumer demand for personalized beauty experiences is accelerating alongside the broader shift to digital commerce. According to McKinsey’s & Company’s annual "The State of Fashion: Beauty" report, beauty ecommerce is projected to account for over 30% of global beauty sales by 2030, as shoppers increasingly expect digital journeys that replicate the expert guidance available in physical retail environments. Simultaneously, research from Cosmetics Business shows that 72% of consumers now expect detailed ingredient explanations when making beauty purchases online, while new regulatory frameworks in Europe and Canada are placing formal ingredient disclosure requirements on retailers across all digital channels.

The company operates across more than 100 active retailer and brand integrations globally. Retailers and beauty ecommerce platforms seeking to integrate advanced personalization and ingredient transparency can engage directly with Inference Beauty to explore implementation options suited to their existing digital infrastructure.

"Industry recognition has been gratifying, but the clearest validation is commercial adoption across five global markets," said Benz. "Retailers are choosing our platform because it delivers measurable improvements in conversion, basket size, and consumer engagement. That is the outcome that defines whether a technology truly serves the market."

About Inference Beauty

Formerly known as Skin Match Technology, the company rebranded to Inference Beauty in 2025. Inference Beauty is a B2B beauty technology company providing a unified AI personalization engine for beauty retailers, brands, and ecommerce platforms. The platform integrates AI diagnostics, fragrance intelligence, foundation shade matching, and ingredient transparency tools into a single infrastructure layer, powered by a database of over 140,000 beauty products and 60,000 standardized ingredients. An alumnus of the Beauty Tech Atelier L'Oréal Accelerator, winner of the ForwardBeauty Challenge by Douglas, and finalist of the Beauty E-Commerce Award Germany. To learn more about the cross-brand AI personalization engine and its deployment capabilities, visit inferencebeauty.com.

Media Contact

Estella Benz
estella@inferencebeauty.com

iibGroup has officially opened a Representative Office in Addis Ababa, marking a significant milestone in the Group’s long-term regional strategy in East Africa. The new office will enable iibGroup to deepen its engagement with Ethiopia’s financial ecosystem, support cross-border investment, and position the Group to play a constructive role as the country advances reforms aimed at modernizing and opening its financial landscape. While there are 15 representative offices in Ethiopia, iib is the first to obtain this significant license post-reform, which underscores our commitment to the Ethiopian market.

Ethiopia’s Financial Liberalization Creates New Opportunities

As regulatory reforms continue to unfold, the market is expected to unlock new opportunities in foreign investment, trade facilitation, and financial services innovation. Building on its regional platform through iib East Africa in Djibouti, iib’s presence in Addis Ababa positions the Group among the first international financial institutions establishing a footprint in Ethiopia. Through its regional expertise and transactional banking capabilities, the bank aims to support Ethiopia’s expanding trade and investment landscape while building long-term partnerships with local institutions and businesses. iibGroup is well positioned to leverage its experience and networks across the Horn of Africa to support Ethiopia’s financial sector transformation.

“Ethiopia represents one of the most exciting frontier opportunities in global finance today,” said Sohail Sultan, Chairman of iibGroup. “As we deepen our understanding of the local market and build trusted partnerships with Ethiopian businesses and institutions, we will continue to explore opportunities to expand our presence in line with Ethiopia’s evolving regulatory framework. Our office in Addis Ababa reflects our long-term commitment to Ethiopia and to the broader East African region.”

Strengthening the Ethiopia–Djibouti Trade Corridor

With a presence in both Djibouti and Ethiopia, iib East Africa will provide commercial and transactional banking services with a focused mandate on the Ethiopia–Djibouti trade corridor, one of the region’s most strategically important trade routes through which most of Ethiopia’s import and export trade flows.

Operating within the regulatory framework governing banking offices, iib East Africa in Ethiopia will focus on developing relationships with local financial institutions, engaging with key stakeholders, and conducting market research to identify emerging opportunities in Ethiopia’s evolving financial sector. The office will also serve as a liaison through which Ethiopian businesses and potential partners can access iibGroup’s international banking capabilities and connect with the bank’s broader regional network.

“We aim to serve as a bridge between Ethiopian businesses and international markets,” said Mrs. Aynalem Ababu, Chief Representative Officer in Addis Ababa. “At the same time, we look forward to supporting international investment into Ethiopia’s major infrastructure initiatives, including the Bishoftu airport project and its planned aerotropolis development.”

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 East Africa (Djibouti)

iib East Africa is a licensed banking institution based in Djibouti, serving corporate and institutional clients across the Ethiopia–Djibouti corridor. The bank is committed to advancing financial inclusion, innovation, and private sector development in the region. For more information, visit www.iibanks.com/eastafrica.

Media Contact

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

Rafi Law Group founder Brandon B. Rafi today announced the launch of Rafi Law Services, a newly formed Management Services Organization (MSO), alongside a strategic $125 million investment from a strategic equity investor that values Rafi Law Services at approximately $450 million. The move positions Rafi Law Group for national expansion while preserving attorney independence and ethical governance, as the firm takes a visible leadership role in the evolving legal services landscape. It will also support expansion into new markets, investment in technology and infrastructure, and potential partnerships with aligned personal injury firms nationwide.

Rafi Law Services will house the firm’s non-legal operations, including technology, marketing, and administration. Rafi Law Group will remain the legal practice, with all attorneys retaining full authority over client representation, including legal strategy and advising clients regarding litigation and settlement.

“This structure allows us to modernize how we operate without changing who we are,” said Brandon B. Rafi. “Our mission remains the same: deliver outstanding results for clients. What’s changing is our ability to scale that mission responsibly. This isn’t disruption for disruption’s sake. It’s modernization with clear guardrails that keep clients and ethics first.”

The MSO model has been widely used across professional services such as healthcare and accounting and is increasingly being adopted in the legal industry as firms seek capital to support growth and an improved client experience while ensuring attorney independence. Legal industry leaders note that rising operational complexity, technology costs, and client expectations are accelerating interest in the model, particularly among personal injury firms.

The strategic equity investor in Rafi Law Services, a leading investment manager with expertise in the legal services sector, is now a minority partner in Rafi Law Services, with Brandon B. Rafi maintaining majority ownership and control. Rafi will continue to solely own and control Rafi Law Group.

“Capital can support efficient delivery of legal services while ensuring independence of legal decision making,” said Andy Halaby, Chief Legal Officer of Rafi Law Services. “This structure ensures that lawyers retain sole authority over client representation, while giving us the operational strength to expand access to justice.”

Legal industry analysts note that personal injury firms are at the forefront of a broader shift toward consolidation in the legal sector, as firms seek scale, efficiency, and resilience in an evolving marketplace. Brandon B. Rafi believes transparency and governance are essential as the industry evolves and intends to play a visible leadership role in shaping best practices for ethical growth.

“As the legal industry evolves, firms have a choice about how they grow,” Rafi added. “It’s about building a sustainable structure that puts clients first, supports lawyers, and is prepared for the future of the legal profession.”

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., a leading specialist investment bank to the financial services and legal sectors, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) advised Brandon B. Rafi of Rafi Law Group as it identified and negotiated with its investment partner.

About Rafi Law Group

Rafi Law Group, Arizona’s premier personal injury law firm, is committed to providing unmatched legal representation and personalized attention to clients. The firm strives to secure justice and fair compensation for those who have suffered injuries due to the negligence of others. Rafi Law Group is founded on the idea that when people need legal help after being hurt in an accident, finding reliable, compassionate, and knowledgeable legal counsel should be stress-free, no matter the time of day or the case’s complexity. For more information, visit www.rafilawgroup.com or call 623-388-4333.

About Rafi Law Services

Rafi Law Services is a Management Services Organization (MSO) providing operational, administrative, and business support to Rafi Law Group and affiliated firms, enabling scale while preserving attorney independence.

Media Contact

Jennifer Schwegman
jschwegman@hmapr.com
+1 651-247-6640

Cashfloat, a UK-based lender that is part of leading fintech firm Western Circle Group and a specialist in short-term loans since 2014, announced it has launched an initiative to improve financial education and literacy by providing free, accessible guides and resources, and by signposting across its direct lending brands, so loan applicants and individuals with credit concerns can find reliable, accurate information with ease.

The company, which develops proprietary fintech systems to make UK-based lending faster, safer, and fairer, has long advocated for awareness. It aims to address widespread misunderstandings about lending terms, options, and products that can be detrimental to financial health.

Reasons Behind Western Circle Group’s Efforts to Combat Low Levels of Financial Literacy

Research conducted by the Financial Capability Survey attempted to quantify the reality of financial literacy levels among the UK adult population and found that over 20 million, or 39%, are not confident that they have the skills and knowledge to manage their money properly.

This study also identified that 11.5 million adults have under £100 in savings, putting them at risk of financial instability, and of the nine million who are in serious debt, only a third access help to restore their finances and repay their debts.

"Financial literacy isn’t about having a formal qualification in finances or accountancy, but having the understanding every person needs to make informed decisions, whether choosing a savings account, applying for a loan, or recognising when a website might potentially be a scam," said Ofer Valencio Akerman of Western Circle Group.

"Things that some people might consider simple, such as verifying the credentials of a lender to ensure they are properly regulated or knowing how an interest rate translates to the total repayable, are incredibly complex to others, and can put those in financial hardship in an even more difficult position," Akerman continued.

"Our role as a fintech specialist is to develop innovative technologies that make the world of short-term loan lending more accessible, breaking down barriers to safe, responsible borrowing for people who might otherwise have felt that properly regulated loan products weren’t available to them. Improving know-how and literacy go hand in hand with that."

Examples of Free Financial Literacy Resources From Western Circle Group

Western Circle has several brands, each with a specific remit, whether focusing on fair borrowing options for people who have a low credit score or lack a credit score altogether, and niche brands concentrating on providing safe lending to particular demographics.

Each offers varied resources and guidance for borrowers, all of which is available regardless of whether a visitor decides to apply for a product with a Western Circle brand or is simply looking for information. They include:

• A comprehensive library of Education Guides via Cashfloat, covering topics such as what open banking loans mean, how to use borrowing responsibly following a job loss or redundancy, and advice about managing family finances and creating budgets.
• Free affordability calculators and eligibility checkers, ensuring borrowers don’t submit applications where there is little likelihood of acceptance, and can verify whether they can comfortably afford pay-day loan repayments in advance.

The group’s brands also provide simplified, step-by-step information through "How It Works" pages, ensuring anyone considering a loan has all the details they need before applying and before incurring any credit searches.

The Importance of Lender Proactivity in Driving Improvements in Financial Literacy

Western Circle is a well-established innovator, and its focus on educating and informing its customers is part of a brand-wide commitment to parity and to changing the convention that those in most need of responsible borrowing are at greatest risk of resorting to high-cost unregulated lending.

Akerman added, "We believe it's fundamental that anyone who speaks with our customer service teams receives the right information and the right support, without being left to make guesses or assumptions about serious financial decisions that can have a big impact on their families and financial well-being."

The hope is that other lenders and fintech firms will follow suit, ensuring that every prospective applicant who interacts with a direct lender or financial services provider is signposted to advisory information, particularly for those ineligible for borrowing or in a debt crisis, who may require dedicated support during financial difficulty to improve their financial situation.

About Cashfloat

Founded in 2014, Cashfloat is a U.K.-based direct lender providing online loans to individuals across a range of credit scores. Cashfloat focuses on accessible digital lending and transparent financial services for borrowers seeking short-term credit solutions. The company operates as a trading style of Western Circle Ltd, which is fully authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

About Western Circle Group

Western Circle Group is a UK-based, FCA-authorised consumer credit provider specialising in fast, responsible, online lending. Western Circle Ltd (company number: 07581337) is fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 714479) and with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO: Z3305234).

Disclaimer

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Western Circle Group and Cashfloat encourage all consumers to provide accurate information during applications and to borrow responsibly. While the financial literacy tools mentioned are free to access, they are intended as educational resources and not as a substitute for professional debt counseling or independent financial advice.

Media Contact

Ofer Valencio Akerman
Cashfloat
info@cashfloat.co.uk

Arrafund, a San Francisco-based startup, today announced the launch of its social commerce platform designed to help users earn commission-based income through purchases made within their trusted personal networks.

The company says its platform introduces a new model for monetizing social trust by enabling users to share products with close friends and autonomously earn commissions when purchases are made through their network. They developed the platform in response to growing demand for alternative income streams and more self-directed earning opportunities in an increasingly uncertain labor market.

Co-founder and CEO Joe Champness said, “The platform allows your closest friends to instantly shop their every purchase through you. By effortlessly earning commissions from your several friend’s daily purchases — the closest people in your life become your multiple streams of income.”

Arrafund enters the market at a time when concerns around automation, workforce disruption, and income security are becoming more prominent across industries. The company believes its platform can support consumers seeking greater flexibility, autonomy, and resilience in how they earn.

For Champness, the mission behind Arrafund is also shaped by personal experience. Earlier in his career, while playing professional football in Turkey’s top division, circumstances outside his control forced him away from the field and affected his earning ability. Champness says he emerged from that period with a renewed sense of purpose, prevailing through that uncertainty with a stronger belief that individuals need more control over how they generate income.

“Our mission ensures humanity as a whole will never lose their leverage of self. In the modern day and into the future our platform will best serve society’s increasing need for self-sufficiency. With as little as only two or more friends on the platform shopping loyally through you, meaningful income is inevitable,” says Champness.

Arrafund says its broader vision is to provide people with a practical way to participate in commerce through the strength of their existing relationships. As part of that vision, the company is developing infrastructure for fintech and AI integrations to support the platform’s continued growth. By combining digital shopping behavior with peer-to-peer trust, Arrafund aims to build a model centered on accessibility, self-sufficiency, and long-term economic participation.

About Arrafund

Arrafund is a San Francisco-based startup focused on building social commerce technology that helps users earn through trusted personal networks. The company’s platform is designed to enable commission-based earning opportunities by connecting everyday shopping activity with relationship-driven product sharing.

Media Contact

Arrafund Support Team
partners@arrafund.com