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In 2025, premium EV brand, smart, expanded its global presence – entering new international markets, refining its product lineup, and strengthening its worldwide operations. The brand is stepping into its “Year of Opening New Frontiers” in 2026 with new market launches, enhanced smartcare customer services, and two strategic new models.

Key Points

• smart now operates in 39 markets worldwide, having launched cars in 10 new markets in 2025.
• All smart models have earned Red Dot Design Awards and 5-Star Euro NCAP Safety Ratings.
• smart’s product family will grow from three to five models with arrivals of #2 and #6 EHD in 2026.

"In the complex and highly competitive automotive landscape, sustainable growth is built on strong foundations and a clear strategy," said Mr. Tong Xiangbei, global CEO of smart. "In 2025, we leveraged our agile operations and distinct brand and products to establish our presence in important new markets. This year, we accelerate on all fronts: combining bold new products with operational and technological excellence to expand our customer base and power our next phase of growth."

Global Operations: Pairing Scale with Premium Services

smart forged ahead with its global strategy in 2025, launching cars in 10 new international markets. The brand now operates in 39 countries and regions across five continents, with its models enthusiastically embraced by customers worldwide. The brand’s combination of mindful technology and contemporary premium design has resonated deeply, an appeal validated by awards in new markets. The smart #5 was recently named Car of the Year 2026 in Norway (awarded by Norwegian media outlets Dagbladet, DinSide, and Elbil24), while the smart #3 BRABUS won 2025 Performance Electric SUV of the Year in Singapore (awarded by car platform sgCarMart) and a place among Australia’s Hot 25 Cars of the Year (awarded by media outlet The Australian).

Over the past year, smart expanded its global retail network by 25% to 688 outlets worldwide — a growth story marked by a 130% surge to 72 outlets across new markets in Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Latin America, alongside a 43% increase to 294 outlets in China. This scaling is underpinned by a commitment to pairing growth with substance, embodied in the brand’s smartcare customer services. Anchored in the “at ease with smart” principle, smartcare ensures a consistent, premium customer experience worldwide and has been boosted by technology such as AI tools, which enhanced customer inquiry response times by 40% in 2025.

Backed by shareholders Mercedes-Benz and Geely and bolstered by financing milestones achieved ahead of schedule, smart will accelerate its global ambitions in 2026. The brand will soon enter its 40th market and continue opening new frontiers throughout the year with further market launches and enhanced smartcare services for customers.

Product Roadmap: From Award-Winners to New Frontiers

In 2025, smart’s products earned recognition from customers and global institutions alike. smart is the only automotive brand whose entire model lineup has won a Red Dot Design Award. This universal design acclaim is matched by comprehensive safety, with every model achieving a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, reflecting the successful fusion of Mercedes-Benz’s design vision and the innovation of smart’s global R&D team.

Across the portfolio, smart continued to sharpen its edge through BRABUS performance editions and exclusive models such as the smart #3 Keith Haring Edition and the smart #1 Crema Edition. With the launch of the #5 EHD in China, smart introduced its sophisticated plug-in hybrid technology to meet diverse customer needs.

smart’s 2026 product roadmap marks a new chapter of strategic ambition. The arrival of the #2 and #6 will open new frontiers for the brand, as it broadens its portfolio and steps into new product segments.

The highly anticipated smart #2 will have its global premiere in Europe in late 2026. The all-new city two-seater will be built on smart’s self-developed ECA architecture, marking a major leap in the brand’s engineering capabilities. The brand will also launch its first premium fastback sedan, the smart #6 EHD, by the middle of the year. Exclusively for the China market, it offers executive-level spaciousness and sleek Mercedes-Benz design with extended electric range and top-tier intelligence.

Brand and Culture: More Than Mobility

Guided by its “open your mind” philosophy, smart continues to grow as a contemporary premium brand rooted in creativity and collaboration. The brand amplified its global presence in 2025 through its “power of firsts” initiatives and diverse partnerships — including with Disney, Trek, Peet’s Coffee, St. Pauli Football Club, and the Keith Haring Foundation. By uniting with pioneers across lifestyle, sports, and art, smart positions itself at the intersection of premium mobility, technology, and culture, acting as a global catalyst for meaningful connection.

"smart is built on openness — of ideas, cultures, and collaboration," said Ms. Mandy Zhang, global CMO of smart. "As we move into the ‘Year of Opening New Frontiers,’ we will continue co-creating with partners, customers and fans worldwide, shaping a mobility culture that is expressive, inclusive, and distinctly smart.”

With robust global foundations, internationally recognized products, and growing in-house engineering prowess, smart enters 2026 with clear momentum. The “Year of Opening New Frontiers” embodies this decisive shift — from market expansion to product offensive. It is a commitment to wider reach, deeper customer relationships, and a sustained contribution to shaping the future of premium electric mobility.

About smart

Since the birth of the brand in the 1990s, smart has always maintained the vision of exploring the best solutions for future urban mobility. In late 2019, Mercedes-Benz AG and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group officially established smart global joint venture. From 2019 to 2024, after the comprehensive renewal of its brand, products, and business model, smart successfully achieved the strategic objectives set for its initial five-year phase. Adhering steadfastly to the "China-Europe, Dual Home" global development strategy, smart has transformed into a leading premium electric automotive brand. It now boasts an expanding product matrix and a global footprint spanning around 40 countries and regions. In 2025, smart aims to boost its global business operations. For more information, visit media.smart.com.

Media Contact

Jack Bailey
jack.bailey@smart.com

Geely Auto Group attended the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 for the third consecutive year, reinforcing its commitment to leading the next era of intelligent mobility. As CES continues to evolve into an AI-driven cross-industry innovation platform, Geely took center stage to unveil two major breakthroughs that will redefine the technical foundation of next-generation smart vehicles: Full-Domain AI 2.0, Geely’s upgraded vehicle intelligence architecture, and G-ASD (Geely Afari Smart Driving), Geely’s newly launched intelligent driving system designed to accelerate the transition to high-level autonomous driving.

Key Points:

• Geely returned to CES 2026 for the third time, unveiling Full-Domain AI 2.0 and G-ASD to redefine next-gen smart vehicle tech.
• Geely advanced from "Full-Domain AI 1.0" to 2.0, while officially launching the G-ASD intelligent driving system to accelerate the transition to high-level autonomous driving.

Full-Domain AI 2.0 marks a significant evolution from Geely’s previous Full-Domain AI 1.0, shifting from fragmented, module-based intelligence toward a unified vehicle-wide AI architecture. Geely has achieved deep integration of vehicle-level computing power, data, and models to establish a powerful central intelligent engine, effectively empowering all vehicle functions with a “super AI brain” capable of unified scheduling and efficient collaboration across domains. This approach enables intelligent systems across the cockpit, chassis, safety, and driving domains to achieve mutual access and real-time interaction.

G-ASD marks a major step forward toward high-level autonomous driving. Developed as Geely’s next-generation intelligent driving system, G-ASD combines advanced AI, large-scale real-world driving data, and high-performance sensing and computing hardware to enhance safety and driving confidence in complex traffic scenarios.

Jerry Gan, CEO of Geely Auto Group: “AI is reshaping the automotive industry in many ways, from powertrains and components to a systematic reconstruction of mobility ecosystems and lifestyles. Geely is committed to creating safe, sustainable, and intelligent mobility for the world.”

Li Chuanhai, CTO of Geely Auto Group: “By 2030, cars will evolve into ‘Super Intelligence’ with emotional awareness, proactive service, and continuous evolution. G-ASD and Full-Domain AI 2.0 are not distant concepts — they are tangible innovations that integrate with cockpits and chassis to deliver highly humanlike, super intelligent, and extremely user-friendly experiences.”

About Geely Auto Group

Geely Auto Group is a leading automobile manufacturer based in Hangzhou, China and was founded in 1997 as a subsidiary unit of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH). The Group manages several leading brands, including Geely Auto, Lynk & Co, and Zeekr. Geely Auto Group is also the global strategic partner of Malaysian national automaker PROTON. For more information, visit global.geely.com.

Media Contact

Janet Chen
media@geely.com

Professor Svetlana Mojsov was announced this year's King Faisal Prize in Medicine laureate for her groundbreaking discoveries that are reshaping how we treat obesity, and Professor Carlos Kenig was announced this year's King Faisal Prize in Science laureate in the field of mathematics for revolutionizing our understanding of nonlinear partial differential equations. Other laureates' names were announced to win King Faisal Prize in 2026 for enriching humanity with invaluable achievements and discoveries, and for excelling in the fields of Arabic language and literature, Islamic studies, and service to Islam.

Professor Mojsov, the Lulu Chow Wang and Robin Chemers Neustein Research Associate Professor at the Rockefeller University in New York, pioneered research on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that has fundamentally transformed how we treat obesity and diabetes. She discovered and characterized the biologically active form of GLP-1; a natural intestinal hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite, and identified its receptors in the human pancreas, heart, and brain. Through cutting-edge peptide biochemistry and physiological studies, Professor Mojsov demonstrated that GLP-1 powerfully stimulates insulin secretion while reducing hunger and managing glucose levels.

Her groundbreaking work enabled the development of an entirely new class of medications that mimic this natural hormone, sparking a paradigm shift in obesity treatment. Today, these therapies provide life-changing benefits for hundreds of millions of people worldwide living with obesity and its complications — a global health crisis affecting 890 million adults and 160 million children and adolescents in 2022 alone according to World Health Organization.

Professor Mojsov is listed as co-inventor on patents for the use of GLP-1 that were licensed to the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which led to the development of breakthrough medications. The medications based on Professor Mojsov's foundational work have transformed patient care worldwide. Her work has led to the development of a class of medications marketed under trade names including Victoza, Ozempic, and Rybelsus for diabetes treatment and weight loss. These drugs work by copying what the natural hormone does in the body: they help release insulin when blood sugar is high, slow down digestion, and reduce appetite by affecting the brain's hunger centers. The first drug to reach market, Victoza, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2010 and was based directly on the GLP-1 sequence that Professor Mojsov discovered. Professor Mojsov's contributions demonstrate how basic scientific research can lead to life-changing therapies that address one of the world's most pressing health challenges.

Her groundbreaking contributions have earned numerous prestigious honors, including the Lasker Award, Tang Prize, Breakthrough Prize, VinFuture Prize, and Princess of Asturias Prize, among others. Time magazine also named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2024.

This year's King Faisal Prize in Science “Mathematics” honors Professor Carlos Kenig for his groundbreaking contributions to mathematical analysis. His work has transformed our understanding of nonlinear partial differential equations — the mathematical equations describing how things change and move in the physical world — and provided researchers with a now-ubiquitous set of techniques. His insights have opened new research frontiers with applications spanning fluid mechanics, optical fibers, and medical imaging.

Professor Carlos Kenig, Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, is recognized for applying harmonic analysis techniques across different areas of partial differential equations. His work on free boundary problems — determining unknown boundaries such as where ice meets melting water or how fluids flow through soil — has been particularly influential.

Professor Kenig has spent three decades figuring out how complex waves behave over long periods of time, especially in tricky situations where they could either spread out peacefully or build up dangerously. This matters for understanding everything from ocean waves to light pulses in fiber optics to how energy moves through different materials. His work helps explain phenomena in quantum mechanics, optics, and ocean waves. By combining different mathematical techniques, he has solved longstanding problems that had puzzled mathematicians for decades. His research examines how solutions to these equations evolve over time, when they remain stable, and when they might break down or form singularities.

Another important area of Professor Kenig's work involves understanding how mathematical solutions behave near edges or boundaries. He has also contributed to unique continuation properties, which explore how much information about a solution you need in order to determine the entire solution. These mathematical insights have practical applications in medical imaging and other inverse problems where you try to determine internal structures from external measurements.

Professor Kenig's distinguished career includes the Salem Prize (1984), the Bôcher Prize of the American Mathematical Society (2008), the Solomon Lefschetz Medal from the Mathematical Council of the Americas (2021), and the ICMAM Latin America Prize (2024). He was an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 1984 and 2002, a plenary speaker in 2010, and delivered the American Mathematical Society's colloquium lectures in 2017.

In addition to Medicine and Science, King Faisal Prize recognized this year the achievements of outstanding thinkers and scholars in the field of Arabic Language and Literature, Islamic Studies, and exemplary leaders who played a pivotal role in serving Islam, Muslims, and humanity at large.

Professor Pierre Larcher, Emeritus Professor of Arabic Linguistics at Aix-Marseille University and Emeritus Researcher at the Institute for Studies and Research on the Arab and Muslim Worlds, won this year's King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language & Literature on “Arabic Literature in French”. His novel presentation of Arabic literature to French readers has earned widespread acclaim from critics and specialists, while his rigorous scholarly approach to classical Arabic literature has made it accessible and appropriate for French culture. His critical translation project of al-Mu'allaqat and rigorous study of pre-Islamic poetry demonstrate exceptional scholarly depth.

For this year’s Islamic Studies Prize on “Islamic Trade Routes,” Professor Abdelhamid Hussein Mahmoud Hammouda, Professor of Islamic History and Civilization at the Fayoum University, and Professor Dr. Mohamed Waheeb Hussein, Professor of Archaeology and History of Art at the Hashemite University, were announced as co-laureates.

Professor Abdelhamid Hussein Mahmoud Hammouda’s comprehensive work encompasses trade routes across the Islamic world — the Mashreq, Iraq and Persia, Arabian Peninsula, Greater Syria, Egypt, Sahara, Maghreb, and al-Andalus. This expansive scope delivers coherent understanding of Islamic trade trajectories across history, serving as an authoritative reference for both specialized research and broader scholarship.

Professor Dr. Mohamed Waheeb Hussein's groundbreaking work uses archaeological surveys, GPS documentation, and analytical mapping to systematically correlate Qur'anic texts with geographical data. His research offers definitive scholarly interpretation of the Route of al-Īlāf, significantly advancing documentation of early Arabian Peninsula trade routes.

As for the Service to Islam Prize, Sheikh Abdullatif Al Fozan and Professor Dr. Mohammad Abou Moussa were announced as co-laureates for this year.

King Faisal Prize laureates' names for 2026 were announced today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by HRH Prince Turki Alfaisal and the Prize's Secretary General Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail. Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its five different categories has awarded laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with $200,000; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a certificate inscribed with the laureate's name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

BitGW, a global cryptocurrency exchange, announced plans to allocate funding toward animal welfare and charity initiatives in the coming period, underscoring the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and community engagement.

The initiative reflects BitGW’s intention to support organizations and groups dedicated to animal protection, welfare, and related charitable causes. By directing resources toward these efforts, BitGW aims to contribute positively beyond its core business operations and participate in broader social good.

“As a global digital asset platform, we recognize that long-term development goes hand in hand with social responsibility," said Selena, head of marketing at BitGW. "Supporting animal welfare initiatives is one way for us to give back and demonstrate our commitment to responsible and sustainable corporate practices.”

Selena added that this planned investment forms part of BitGW’s broader approach to responsible business conduct, highlighting values such as accountability, ethical awareness, and long-term social impact. She noted that companies operating in emerging technology and financial sectors have a role to play in supporting meaningful causes within the global community.

Selena also stated that animal welfare organizations, non-profit groups, and related initiatives seeking support are welcome to reach out to BitGW to discuss potential collaboration or assistance opportunities during this phase of the program.

Further details regarding the scope and implementation of the initiative are expected to be shared as plans progress.

Media Contact

BitGW Support
support@bitgw.com

Unlisted, a groundbreaking digital real estate community focused on the 98% of homes that aren’t for sale — yet, announced today that Felicia Delope and Val Burmester of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty have joined the platform as Local Experts for buyers and homeowners across ZIP codes 98033, 98077, 98034, 98075, and 98027 in the Seattle and the Greater Eastside region.

Unlisted’s technology introduces new opportunities across the real estate landscape. Buyers gain new ways to explore homes that align with their lifestyle beyond what appears on the MLS. Homeowners gain clearer insight into interest surrounding their property and the ability to understand demand on their own terms. Real estate professionals gain tools that elevate their local expertise, strengthen community presence, and create more meaningful connections. 

The platform uses publicly available data to create a digital property profile for every home in the country. These profiles can be searched and organized into curated collections that reflect a buyer’s preferences, even when homes are not actively on the market. For homeowners, these records offer a new way to see how their home fits into local trends and potential opportunities.

Each real estate professional in Unlisted’s network is carefully selected and connected to every home within their designated ZIP codes. Only one agent represents each ZIP, reinforcing local knowledge, credibility, and trust. As Unlisted continues to grow, the company remains focused on clarity, connection, and creating value across the real estate ecosystem.

Felicia and Val bring together two distinct Western backgrounds and decades of combined experience to form a partnership rooted in care, intuition, and a deep understanding of what home truly represents. Felicia, raised in Sonoma County, began her career in education before moving into new home development and real estate. Her approach is known for calm guidance, thoughtful listening, and an appreciation for spaces designed to be lived in and loved.

Val, born and raised in Wyoming, brings nearly two decades of top-tier real estate experience in the Seattle area, consistently ranking among the top 1% of agents. With a background spanning journalism, sports media, and entrepreneurship, she is widely respected for her hospitality-driven approach and strong understanding of home design, lifestyle, and long-term value.

Together, Felicia and Val combine heart, experience, and a genuine love of people. Their work is centered on helping clients feel supported, confident, and excited as they move into their next chapter.

“Unlisted aligns perfectly with how we think about real estate. It creates space for curiosity, conversation, and possibility without pressure,” said Delope and Burmester.

“Felicia and Val bring an incredible balance of experience, warmth, and market insight to the communities they serve,” said Katie Hill, founder and CEO of Unlisted. “Their approach reflects exactly what Unlisted stands for, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to the network.” 

To learn more about Unlisted, visit UnlistedHomes.com. For Unlisted for Agents, visit UnlistedHomes.com/Agents.

To learn more about Felicia Delope and Val Burmester, visit their Unlisted Profile or their website.

About Unlisted

Unlisted unlocks the potential in homes that aren’t for sale — yet. The company empowers home buyers to join the Waitlist for homes they love that aren’t for sale — in other words, unlisted. At the same time, homeowners collect a Waitlist of interested buyers for whenever the time comes to sell, giving everyone a head start. Unlisted also allows homeowners to control how their home is presented online; they can create a stunning up-to-date property profile that shows off the home’s best features and attracts more interest. With more time and more connection, Unlisted is a more human way to explore real estate that drives better outcomes for all. Selected for TechCrunch’s 2025 Startup Battlefield 200 as one of the top tech startups globally, and backed by HearstLab, Hearst Newspapers, VC414, StageNext Fund, and prominent angel investors, Unlisted gives buyers a competitive edge in today’s challenging housing market. For more information, visit UnlistedHomes.com.

Media Contact

Maura Racz
maura@unlistedinc.com

RocketshipPR, a mission-driven public relations and strategic communications firm, today released its Year in Review, reflecting on a year defined by impact, growth, and meaningful storytelling — while setting its sights on an ambitious and energized start to 2026.

Founded with a clear commitment to purpose-driven communications, RocketshipPR spent the past year working alongside nonprofit organizations, Jewish communal institutions, and visionary entrepreneurs — helping them amplify their voices, preserve history, and tell the stories that matter most in a rapidly changing world.

“This year reaffirmed why I chose to open a mission-driven PR firm in the first place,” saidWarren H. Cohn, CEO and founder of RocketshipPR. “I’m incredibly proud that we made the intentional decision to focus on nonprofits and entrepreneurs who are truly changing the world — and now we’re doing it, every single day. I’m proud of our growing team, their creativity, their values, and the way they show up for our clients. This is exactly the work I always hoped we’d be doing.”

Preserving Memory, Amplifying the Present

A cornerstone of RocketshipPR’s work this year was partnering with Yad Vashem USA Foundation to help tell the stories of Holocaust victims — stories that occurred less than a century ago, yet are increasingly at risk of being forgotten.

“In a time when historical truth is being distorted and erased, helping elevate the voices and stories of Holocaust victims is not just meaningful — it’s essential,” Cohn said. “These are real lives, real families, and real horrors, and we take that responsibility seriously.”

RocketshipPR also worked closely with NCSY and Jewish Student Union (JSU) to tell a very different — but equally critical — story: the vibrancy, courage, and resilience of today’s Jewish youth.

Through national and regional media efforts, RocketshipPR helped highlight the energy of Jewish teens across the country, their leadership, creativity, and their willingness to stand up to antisemitism with confidence and pride — both on campus and in their communities.

A major highlight of the year was the creation of a new partnership between TessaVeksler and NCSY Southern Region, supporting the launch of the FACTS Campaign — an initiative empowering students with facts, tools, and confidence to confront antisemitism and misinformation head-on.

“We get to tell the stories of young people who refuse to be intimidated by hate,” Cohn added. “Their strength, clarity, and pride are inspiring, and it’s an honor to help amplify their voices.”

Momentum Into 2026

RocketshipPR enters 2026 with strong momentum and a full slate of high-impact initiatives already underway.

In the month ahead:

• NCSY and JSUwill host a major Atlantic Seaboard concert in Baltimore, one of the region’s largest Jewish youth gatherings of the year—bringing teens together for unity, joy, and strength at a critical moment.
• Dani Dayan, World Chairman of Yad Vashem, will join Yad Vashem USA Foundation at several events in Florida, engaging donors and community leaders around Holocaust remembrance and moral responsibility.
• Through the American Middle East Press Association (AMEPA), RocketshipPR will host a briefing featuring Beni Sabti of the Institute for National Security Studies, offering journalists and stakeholders timely insights into Iran and regional security developments.
• Exciting Hinenu Book Launch, By David Shlachter, who will be returning to the US to go on tour and share his experience interviewing over 100 people in his pursuit of showcasing Israel’s diversity and culture. 
• Proud sponsor of the Binyamin Airley Invitational Basketball Tournament, in honor of fallen soldier, Binyamin Airley. The funds raised go to help others in his memory and the tournament The Invitational proudly supports Beit Binyamin, a center in Safed, Israel, established in Binyamin’s memory. Beit Binyamin offers therapeutic retreats, volunteer opportunities, and spiritual-healing programs for IDF soldiers, bereaved families, and others impacted by war.
• “We’re incredibly proud of the work we’re doing every day,” Cohn said. “And we’re just getting started. We look forward to growth in every way in 2026 — our team, our reach, our impact, and the stories we help bring into the world.”

About RocketshipPR

RocketshipPR is a mission-driven public relations and strategic communications firm working with nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and organizations committed to meaningful impact. With a focus on media relations, thought leadership, and strategic storytelling, RocketshipPR helps clients amplify their voices, preserve truth, and shape conversations that matter. For more information, visit rocketshippr.com.

Media Contact

Warren Cohn
Founder and CEO, RocketshipPR
warren@rocketshippr.com

In a landmark move positioning California as the convening hub for human-centered AI collaboration, the University of California Systemwide Procurement, Human+Tech Week (HTW), and NativelyAI today announced a strategic partnership creating a year-round Global Human+AI Exchange Platform connecting California with cities and regions worldwide.

The partnership drives economic development, workforce mobility, technology transfer, and trade expansion between California and international partners — enabling UC research, California suppliers and student talent to scale globally while allowing participating cities to access world-class innovation, co-development capacity, and commercialization pathways.

This historic collaboration applies UC’s innovation capabilities and massive contribution to California’s gross state product (GSP) as a catalyst for shared growth, accelerating economic activity and innovation capacity both across the state and throughout global partner regions.

A Year-Round Engine for Statewide and Global Impact

The partnership integrates UC’s systemwide mission with global innovation networks to drive applied solutions across:

• Human Flourishing & Vision: Advancing human-centered AI solutions that strengthen health, workforce readiness, public services, and societal resilience across communities worldwide.
• Local & Global Economic Development: Expanding market access for California small, local suppliers while creating collaboration pathways for partner cities.
• Workforce & Talent Development: Providing experiential, cross-border career pathways for UC students while enabling international talent participation in California innovation projects.
• Technology & Innovation: Deploying distributed AI research and engineering teams to build solutions that benefit California industries and international public and enterprise sectors alike.
• Global Connectivity & Trade: Positioning California cities as core nodes in a worldwide innovation trade network, facilitating capital flows, joint ventures, and cross-border growth aligned with GO-Biz (California’s Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development) objectives.

Activation, Operation & Momentum

The collaboration defines statewide priority challenges across workforce, health, infrastructure, and procurement modernization. NativelyAI will then mobilize its global network of over 240,000 developers to execute solution sprints. This delivers procurement-ready technologies for California deployments and partner markets worldwide.

Human+Tech Week serves as the flagship annual convening — uniting city leaders, sovereign investors, corporate buyers, and researchers to launch pilots, structure partnerships, and drive cross-border commercialization. UC students participate in solution development to ensure direct workforce readiness tied to real global deployment.

Quotes

Paul Williams, Chief Procurement Officer, UCOP: “By integrating UC talent with international collaboration, we are expanding export markets for California businesses while supporting economic modernization for our partner communities worldwide.”

Nichol Bradford, Founder and CEO, Human+Tech Week: “Human+Tech Week is the catalyst for cities of all sizes to collaborate on applied AI solutions that improve health, economic opportunity, and societal well-being.”

Joseph Spence, Chairman, NativelyAI: “We convert shared priorities across California and cities globally into deployable technology, creating continuous two-way flows of talent, innovation, capital, and trade.”

About Human+Tech Week

Human+Tech Week is the global platform convening leaders across technology, government, and industry to advance human-centered innovation in health, work, and society through a flagship annual event, year-round applied collaboration, and key partner initiatives. For more information, visit www.humantechweek.com.

About University of California Systemwide Procurement (SWP)

SWP coordinates systemwide alignment across the University of California's campuses and research centers, advancing the university's core institutional priorities in economic development and global engagement. To learn more, visit procurement.ucop.edu.

About NativelyAI

NativelyAI operates a continuous Global Solution Exchange Infrastructure leveraging a network of over 240,000 developers across more than 130 countries. The platform matches challenges defined by California institutions and partner cities worldwide with global talent teams to build, test, pilot, procure, and scale technology solutions across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. For more information, visit nativelyai.com.

Media Contact

Nerizza Tajanlangit
pr@humantechweek.com

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ: FFAI) (“Faraday Future”, “FF” or the “Company”), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, today announced several new business initiatives and updates as it outlined its 2026 New Year Outlook at its first-ever Stockholders’ Day in Las Vegas, coinciding with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The updates included sharing comprehensive milestone targets for the FX Super One, along with the Company’s five-year business execution strategy, that plans for between 400,000 and 500,000 cumulative units, mainly driven by the FX Super One, a planned future FX 4 model, and other planned models. The Company also announced an EAI (Embodied AI) robotics strategy under its upgraded Global EAI Industry Bridge. This dual-track growth model could provide a new growth curve for FF.

The Company’s updates were announced by numerous members of the FF and FX leadership teams including YT Jia, founder and global co-CEO of FF, Matthias Aydt, global co-CEO of FF, Jerry Wang, global president of FF, Koti Meka, CFO of FF, and Xiao (Max) Ma, global CEO of the FX brand.

“First and foremost, I want to thank all of our stockholders both in attendance and who joined the livestream online for taking the time to hear these comprehensive updates on the Company’s future from myself and other members of our leadership team,” said Mr. Aydt. “We’ve said it before, but I want to say it again today; this event and all of our forward-facing communications to our stockholders reflects Faraday Future’s commitment to transparency, stockholder engagement, and long-term value creation as the Company accelerates toward its mission of revolutionizing the intelligent electric vehicle space.”

Replay of the event is available at: www.ff.com/us/2026-CES/

FX Super One Roadmap for 2026

The production stages for the FX Super One will be laid out as follows: The first phase of delivery is expected to occur in Q2 of this year. It will primarily focus on deliveries to FX Par partners with a cap of 50 units. The second phase of delivery is expected to occur in Q3 of this year, delivering to industry leaders and B2B partners with a cap of 200 units. The third phase of delivery is expected to occur in Q4 of this year or Q1 of next year. This stage will initiate full-scale deliveries, marking the transition to FX’s broad market rollout in the U.S.

From 2027 onwards, sales targets of Super One are anticipated to include both BEV and HEREV (hybrid extended range EV) models, driving its volume to about 4,900 units in 2027, 18,000 units in 2028, 38,000 units in 2029, and 55,000 units in 2030.

Regulatory and compliance certifications for Super One are progressing smoothly and on schedule. Key component certifications have almost been completed, laying out a solid foundation for full vehicle certification. The Company will complete vehicle-level EPA, CARB, and FMVSS-related homologation as planned by the third quarter of this year.

To support the delivery milestones, FX will complete the build-out of the after-sales and charging services in Q2, including the underlying systems and operational framework. FF recently signed an agreement with Tesla that enables future FX vehicles to have direct access to Tesla's Supercharger network.

Major Forecast for Product Deliveries – Five Year Business Plan

FF’s cumulative five-year production and sales target is 400,000 to 500,000 vehicles, primarily driven by FX Super One, a planned FX 4 model, and other planned models. Key target markets include the United States and the Middle East, where FX Super One deliveries have already begun. Other high-value markets and additional models under the FX brand are also currently under consideration.

Based on its baseline business plan, the Company is targeting to produce and sell approximately 250 units in 2026, scaling to approximately 5,000 units in 2027, and a ramp up more than approximately 22,000 units in 2028, approximately 130,000 units in 2029, and approximately 250,000 units in 2030 aligned with its model introductions and production volumes.

The Company aims to achieve positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization within three years, with an estimated target gross margin rate of 20%.

The Company believes it can achieve these goals underpinned by strong market demand. In addition, FF has made substantial progress across operational and regulatory milestones. This also includes advanced engagement and readiness with key suppliers; meaningful completion of initial homologation activities; and significant assembly readiness progress at its Hanford manufacturing facility, engineering validation, initial crash testing, battery safety certification, software compliance, and other regulatory requirements. These activities have been executed via a combination of in-house capabilities and independent third-party validation.

Over the next 12 months, a primary focus will be disciplined execution and timely delivery of vehicles to the Company’s customers, while maintaining flexibility. FF believes this approach positions itself to mitigate risk and advance steadily toward the objectives outlined in its five-year business outlook.

The Company believes that the successful validation of FF’s business model through scaled production volumes will enable further improvements in operational efficiency, potential access to diversified funding sources, and the development of additional strategic partnerships to support long-term growth.

Embodied AI Robotics

Today, FF also announced the unveiling of a new product category under its upgraded Global EAI Industry Bridge Strategy—Embodied AI Robotics. This expansion could further solidify the foundation of FF’s EAI ecosystem and raise its long-term growth ceiling, creating greater value for its stockholders and retail investors.

AI is entering large-scale deployment and commercialization, while Crypto and Web3 could be poised for a year of breakout growth. EAI is emerging as a strategic direction with the most profound industrial impact and long-term value in this cycle. FF firmly believes that the upcoming FF Global EAI Industry Bridge Strategy will deliver unique and differentiated value to FF and the entire industry.

With this move, FF looks to take the lead in opening a new AI frontier—starting in the United States. The goal is clear: to become a leading U.S. robotics company and one of the first U.S. companies to deliver humanoid robot products to the market. This dual-track growth model, driven by both EAI vehicles and EAI robotics, could define a new growth curve for Faraday Future. 

On Feb. 4 in Las Vegas, FF will hold the FF AI Robotics U.S. Final Launch at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show. FF plans to unveil its first embodied AI robotics products, open public product experiences, and begin sales at the same time.

During the NADA Show, FF will also host the first FX Partner (FX Par) Summit. This will give partners the opportunity not only to join the FX vehicle sales and co-creation network, but also to become early FX Par partners of FF AI Robotics. FF welcomes dealers from the automotive and technology industries to register for the event, and join the Company’s FF Par network, as it works together to open the grand future for EAI EV and AI Robotics.

“The year 2026 is the Year of the Horse, and I hope that it will also be the year for FF to gallop full speed ahead and ride to victory,” said YT Jia. “We will work extremely diligently and fight tooth and nail for the successful production, delivery, and ramp-up of FX Super One as we mark a new era of EAI vehicles and EAI robotics.”

About Faraday Future

Faraday Future is a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company. Founded in 2014, the Company’s mission is to disrupt the automotive industry by creating a user-centric, technology-first, and smart driving experience. Faraday Future’s flagship model, the FF 91, exemplifies its vision for luxury, innovation, and performance. The FX strategy aims to introduce mass production models equipped with state-of-the-art luxury technology similar to the FF 91, targeting a broader market with middle-to-low price range offerings. FF is committed to redefining mobility through AI innovation. Join us in shaping the future of intelligent transportation. For more information, please visit www.ff.com.

Media Contact

John Schilling
john.schilling@ff.com

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ: FFAI) (“Faraday Future”, “FF” or the “Company”), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, today announced several new business initiatives and updates as it outlined its 2026 New Year Outlook at its first-ever Stockholders’ Day in Las Vegas, coinciding with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The updates included sharing comprehensive milestone targets for the FX Super One, along with the Company’s five-year business execution strategy, that plans for between 400,000 and 500,000 cumulative units, mainly driven by the FX Super One, a planned future FX 4 model, and other planned models. The Company also announced an EAI (Embodied AI) robotics strategy under its upgraded Global EAI Industry Bridge. This dual-track growth model could provide a new growth curve for FF.

The Company’s updates were announced by numerous members of the FF and FX leadership teams including YT Jia, founder and global co-CEO of FF, Matthias Aydt, global co-CEO of FF, Jerry Wang, global president of FF, Koti Meka, CFO of FF, and Xiao (Max) Ma, global CEO of the FX brand.

“First and foremost, I want to thank all of our stockholders both in attendance and who joined the livestream online for taking the time to hear these comprehensive updates on the Company’s future from myself and other members of our leadership team,” said Mr. Aydt. “We’ve said it before, but I want to say it again today; this event and all of our forward-facing communications to our stockholders reflects Faraday Future’s commitment to transparency, stockholder engagement, and long-term value creation as the Company accelerates toward its mission of revolutionizing the intelligent electric vehicle space.”

Replay of the event is available at: www.ff.com/us/2026-CES/

FX Super One Roadmap for 2026

The production stages for the FX Super One will be laid out as follows: The first phase of delivery is expected to occur in Q2 of this year. It will primarily focus on deliveries to FX Par partners with a cap of 50 units. The second phase of delivery is expected to occur in Q3 of this year, delivering to industry leaders and B2B partners with a cap of 200 units. The third phase of delivery is expected to occur in Q4 of this year or Q1 of next year. This stage will initiate full-scale deliveries, marking the transition to FX’s broad market rollout in the U.S.

From 2027 onwards, sales targets of Super One are anticipated to include both BEV and HEREV (hybrid extended range EV) models, driving its volume to about 4,900 units in 2027, 18,000 units in 2028, 38,000 units in 2029, and 55,000 units in 2030.

Regulatory and compliance certifications for Super One are progressing smoothly and on schedule. Key component certifications have almost been completed, laying out a solid foundation for full vehicle certification. The Company will complete vehicle-level EPA, CARB, and FMVSS-related homologation as planned by the third quarter of this year.

To support the delivery milestones, FX will complete the build-out of the after-sales and charging services in Q2, including the underlying systems and operational framework. FF recently signed an agreement with Tesla that enables future FX vehicles to have direct access to Tesla's Supercharger network.

Major Forecast for Product Deliveries – Five Year Business Plan

FF’s cumulative five-year production and sales target is 400,000 to 500,000 vehicles, primarily driven by FX Super One, a planned FX 4 model, and other planned models. Key target markets include the United States and the Middle East, where FX Super One deliveries have already begun. Other high-value markets and additional models under the FX brand are also currently under consideration.

Based on its baseline business plan, the Company is targeting to produce and sell approximately 250 units in 2026, scaling to approximately 5,000 units in 2027, and a ramp up more than approximately 22,000 units in 2028, approximately 130,000 units in 2029, and approximately 250,000 units in 2030 aligned with its model introductions and production volumes.

The Company aims to achieve positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization within three years, with an estimated target gross margin rate of 20%.

The Company believes it can achieve these goals underpinned by strong market demand. In addition, FF has made substantial progress across operational and regulatory milestones. This also includes advanced engagement and readiness with key suppliers; meaningful completion of initial homologation activities; and significant assembly readiness progress at its Hanford manufacturing facility, engineering validation, initial crash testing, battery safety certification, software compliance, and other regulatory requirements. These activities have been executed via a combination of in-house capabilities and independent third-party validation.

Over the next 12 months, a primary focus will be disciplined execution and timely delivery of vehicles to the Company’s customers, while maintaining flexibility. FF believes this approach positions itself to mitigate risk and advance steadily toward the objectives outlined in its five-year business outlook.

The Company believes that the successful validation of FF’s business model through scaled production volumes will enable further improvements in operational efficiency, potential access to diversified funding sources, and the development of additional strategic partnerships to support long-term growth.

Embodied AI Robotics

Today, FF also announced the unveiling of a new product category under its upgraded Global EAI Industry Bridge Strategy—Embodied AI Robotics. This expansion could further solidify the foundation of FF’s EAI ecosystem and raise its long-term growth ceiling, creating greater value for its stockholders and retail investors.

AI is entering large-scale deployment and commercialization, while Crypto and Web3 could be poised for a year of breakout growth. EAI is emerging as a strategic direction with the most profound industrial impact and long-term value in this cycle. FF firmly believes that the upcoming FF Global EAI Industry Bridge Strategy will deliver unique and differentiated value to FF and the entire industry.

With this move, FF looks to take the lead in opening a new AI frontier—starting in the United States. The goal is clear: to become a leading U.S. robotics company and one of the first U.S. companies to deliver humanoid robot products to the market. This dual-track growth model, driven by both EAI vehicles and EAI robotics, could define a new growth curve for Faraday Future. 

On Feb. 4 in Las Vegas, FF will hold the FF AI Robotics U.S. Final Launch at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show. FF plans to unveil its first embodied AI robotics products, open public product experiences, and begin sales at the same time.

During the NADA Show, FF will also host the first FX Partner (FX Par) Summit. This will give partners the opportunity not only to join the FX vehicle sales and co-creation network, but also to become early FX Par partners of FF AI Robotics. FF welcomes dealers from the automotive and technology industries to register for the event, and join the Company’s FF Par network, as it works together to open the grand future for EAI EV and AI Robotics.

“The year 2026 is the Year of the Horse, and I hope that it will also be the year for FF to gallop full speed ahead and ride to victory,” said YT Jia. “We will work extremely diligently and fight tooth and nail for the successful production, delivery, and ramp-up of FX Super One as we mark a new era of EAI vehicles and EAI robotics.”

About Faraday Future

Faraday Future is a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company. Founded in 2014, the Company’s mission is to disrupt the automotive industry by creating a user-centric, technology-first, and smart driving experience. Faraday Future’s flagship model, the FF 91, exemplifies its vision for luxury, innovation, and performance. The FX strategy aims to introduce mass production models equipped with state-of-the-art luxury technology similar to the FF 91, targeting a broader market with middle-to-low price range offerings. FF is committed to redefining mobility through AI innovation. Join us in shaping the future of intelligent transportation. For more information, please visit www.ff.com.

Media Contact

John Schilling
john.schilling@ff.com

As generative AI models achieve wider adoption and  popularity across industries, Pronto Translations, a multilingual communication services provider with 25 years of experience, has released new guidance outlining where AI systems — including the latest versions of ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepL, and ERNIE — continue to fall short of replacing expert human translators.

Over the past two years, Pronto Translations has integrated AI tools into its workflows for preliminary drafts, terminology support, and efficiency gains. However, based on analysis of thousands of real-world client projects across legal, marketing, technical, and corporate communications, the firm has found that AI-generated translations still require rigorous human oversight. Despite continued advances in generative AI in 2025, including new releases from OpenAI, Google, and other developers, Pronto’s analysis shows that professional human translators remain indispensable for accuracy, nuance, and contextual judgment in high-stakes communication.

According to Pronto Translations’ latest report, “Why AI Alone Still Fails in High-Stakes Translation: 21 Critical Risks Every Organization Should Understand in 2025,” the following issues remain the most significant barriers to full automation:

Top 10 Limitations of AI Translation Tools in 2025

1. Incorrect Technical Context Recognition

AI systems continue to misinterpret highly specialized terminology, especially in engineering, medical, legal, and scientific documentation. These inaccuracies can alter the technical meaning of content, leading to operational, safety, or compliance risks.

2. Residual Hallucinations and Fabricated Information

Although hallucinations have decreased in newer models, AI still invents terms, descriptions, or definitions when source material is unfamiliar. Pronto’s internal audits show they still fabricate information when terminology is rare, proprietary, regional, or industry-specific.

In 2025 tests, AI:

• added non-existent product features
• invented corporate departments
• generated technical definitions that did not appear anywhere in the original documents

This is especially dangerous in compliance-heavy sectors like pharmaceuticals, energy, and finance.

3. Inconsistent Treatment of Names, Titles, and Proprietary Terms

AI frequently mishandles proper names, brand terminology, and executive titles, either incorrectly transliterating them or replacing them with inaccurate equivalents. Such errors can damage brand identity and professional reputation.

4. Limited Ability to Identify Errors in Source Texts

Human translators routinely detect factual mistakes, typographical errors, and inconsistencies in the original documents. AI, however, generally reproduces errors without flagging them, undermining the reliability of the final translation.

5. Unreliable Handling of Tone, Register, and Formality

Languages with strict formality structures — such as Japanese, Korean, French, and German — require careful judgment. AI often applies tone inconsistently or selects a register that is culturally inappropriate, risking miscommunication in diplomatic, corporate, or legal contexts.

6. Difficulty Preserving Nuance and Cultural Subtext

Idioms, metaphors, cultural expressions, and subtle emotional cues remain challenging for AI. Literal interpretations frequently distort meaning, leading to translations that lack cultural fidelity or shift the intended message.

7. Gaps in Long-Form Document Fidelity

In legal contracts, regulatory submissions, and multi-section reports, AI can omit or compress information, misalign structured elements, or lose continuity across lengthy documents. This compromises completeness and accuracy.

8. Inconsistent Terminology Across Complex Documents

AI often fails to maintain uniform terminology within and across documents, a requirement that is essential in legal, technical, and compliance-driven fields. Human linguists ensure consistency through reference materials, glossaries, and cross-document review.

9. Overuse of Generic Phrasing and Stylistic Flattening

AI relies on statistical averages, resulting in overly generic or repetitive phrasing. This is particularly problematic in marketing, branding, and executive communication, where voice, originality, and precision are essential.

10. Challenges in Interpreting Ambiguous or Industry-Specific Language

Words with multiple meanings — especially in finance, law, technology, and science — require contextual evaluation that AI cannot reliably perform. Human translators assess intent through research, expertise, and clarification, ensuring the correct interpretation.

Pronto Translations Emphasizes a Hybrid Approach

“AI has become a powerful tool in our workflow, but it cannot replace professional linguists,” said Joshua B. Cohen, head of client services at Pronto Translations. “Organizations that rely solely on AI expose themselves to accuracy, cultural nuance, and reputational risks. The most effective model in 2025 is a hybrid one — AI for speed and humans for precision.”

The company’s 2025 assessment concludes that while AI is valuable for initial drafts and terminology support, expert translators remain essential for final review, quality assurance, and culturally informed decision-making.

About Pronto Translations

In business for 25 years, Pronto Translations is a tightly run international organization, with offices in New York, Nîmes (France), Nanjing (China), Seoul, and Osaka, providing high-quality interpretation, translation and localization services.

Pronto’s team includes more than 1,000 translators covering 122 languages, each selected for their specific industry expertise. The translators, many of whom hold degrees from leading universities or certifications from professional associations, work through a secure portal to ensure quality and confidentiality. The operation’s 24/7 availability allows for quick turnaround on urgent projects, even during weekends and holidays.

With more than two decades of experience in transforming corporate messaging into the world’s most spoken and lesser spoken languages, Pronto Translations is the go-to service and solution for the marketing and public relations needs of any firm wishing to communicate with the world’s audiences in their own languages.

To learn more, visit prontotranslations.com.

Media Contact

Joshua B. Cohen
clientservices@prontotranslations.com
+1 646-984-4073

Across sectors, organisations continue to refine crisis manuals designed to guide responses to cyberattacks, outages, reputational incidents, or regulatory problems. Yet when disruption strikes, these documents often fall short. A 2023 PwC survey found that although most organisations maintain crisis plans, fewer than half believe their teams can handle a real, unfolding event. The distinction between “having a plan” and “being prepared” is widening.

A crisis can be defined as any unexpected event with adverse consequences. The breadth of this definition reveals the core problem: crises are not confined to neat categories. They can originate from internal systems, external forces, or personal and family matters affecting senior leaders. They can unfold rapidly, overlap with other challenges, and escalate in unpredictable ways. Written plans are static. Crises are not.

Steve Keogh, head of corporate training at Periculum Security Group and a former Scotland Yard detective, has seen the disparity firsthand. “The biggest misconception is that a plan guarantees a response,” he said. “Crises depend on how people think and act when the situation is unclear, pressured, and emotionally charged.”

The Hidden Risks Organisations Don’t Anticipate

Many organisations assume that a plan addressing a specific scenario — such as a cyber incident — will be sufficient. But crises frequently arrive in combinations that no manual fully anticipates.

One U.K.-based firm discovered this when a data breach struck during a holiday period. The plan required a particular executive to authorise key steps, but he was dealing with an unexpected family emergency. Without clear guidance on how to deviate from the plan, junior staff waited for instructions. The delay extended the breach and worsened the reputational fallout.

Another organisation faced a different challenge: a senior executive’s personal dispute unexpectedly became public. While the company had a detailed communications plan for corporate issues, it had no system for a crisis rooted in an individual’s private life. The absence of a general decision-making method led to hesitation, inconsistent messaging, and uncertainty across departments.

These examples reflect findings from the Institute for Crisis Management, which reports that nearly 70% of crises in 2024 originated from issues not accounted for in corporate documentation. In many cases, the problem was not the absence of planning, but the absence of people capable of applying judgement when conditions diverged from the written scenario.

“Real crises don’t respect the lines we draw around them,” Keogh said. “They overlap, they evolve, and they often start in places organisations never thought to look.”

Why Organisations Need a General Crisis System

Traditional table-top exercises tend to reinforce a belief that documented plans are sufficient. These simulations rarely replicate the emotional stress, time pressure, and contradictory information that define actual crises. A 2022 Deloitte analysis found that more than half of companies that performed regular exercises still experienced decision-making failures during real disruptions.

This is why Periculum Security Group emphasises the need for a general crisis system rather than scenario-based planning alone. Their Now, Where, How® (NWH®) framework draws on decades of criminal investigation work, corporate crisis cases, and risk management experience. It teaches leaders and teams how to think when conditions are ambiguous, fast-moving, or overwhelming.

Unlike scenario plans, NWH is designed for any crisis. It guides individuals to assess what is known, identify the most critical immediate decisions, and determine what must happen next, even when details are missing or the event does not match any documented category.

Keogh’s policing background shapes this philosophy. “In major crime work, you don’t get perfect information,” he said. “You get fragments. The question is whether people can make structured decisions when the pressure is affecting their thinking.”

This framework reflects the reality of modern crises: the specific threat may change, but the cognitive demands remain consistent. Whether facing a cyber intrusion, a supply chain failure, or a personal crisis affecting key staff, leaders must navigate uncertainty.

Preparing the People Who Carry the Plan

The lesson emerging across public and private sectors is that documentation cannot substitute for capability. Plans help, but they cannot compensate for indecision, emotional overload, or fractured communication. Organisations that train teams to function under stress tend to stabilise faster and limit secondary damage.

As crises become more complex and interconnected, the question shifts from Do we have a plan? to Do we have people who can respond when the plan no longer fits the situation?

That shift is where frameworks like NWH aim to operate, not as a replacement for corporate plans, but as a system that allows leaders and teams to think, act, and adapt when reality moves beyond what was written.

Media Contact

Steve Keogh
info@periculumsecuritygroup.com

Ty J. Young Wealth Management, a leading financial services firm, has announced that Michael Young has joined the firm as Vice President of Business Development. Previously serving as a top-ranked sales executive for a Fortune 500 company, Young will lead the firm’s business development as well as acquisitions. 

“It’s an honor and proud moment to have Michael joining our firm,” said CEO Ty Young. “His global sales leadership experience will play an integral role in our continued expansion.”

Ty J. Young Wealth Management continues to expand rapidly nationwide with the acquisition of more than 40 companies in the past six years.

About Ty J. Young Wealth Management

Ty J. Young Wealth Management, established in 1998, is a leading independent wealth management firm committed to providing comprehensive financial solutions. With over $1 billion in assets under management and serving more than 7,000 clients across the nation, the firm is renowned for its expertise in investment management, retirement planning, and insurance. Ty Young and the firm's strategists are frequently sought after for their insights, appearing in prominent media outlets such as CNBC, Forbes, and Fox Business. Discover how Ty J. Young Wealth Management can help you achieve your financial goals at www.tyjyoung.com.

Media Contact

Richard Lorenzen
rlorenzen@fifthavenuebrands.com

Ukrainian bridal and eveningwear brand OKSANA MUKHA continues to expand internationally, entering new markets including Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Finland, and significantly strengthening its presence in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Austria, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and a challenging climate for the global fashion industry.

In the 2025-2026 season, the company presented its new bridal collection ÉCLAT at leading professional shows Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, Chicago National Bridal Market, and Si Sposaitalia Collezioni in Milan, regarded as key gateways for luxury bridal brands seeking global distribution.

According to the company, the ÉCLAT collection features around 70 wedding gown designs, now available through more than 450 partner boutiques in over 70 countries worldwide, across Europe, North America, and Asia. The brand notes increasing demand for Ukrainian couture craftsmanship across both established and newly entered regions.

“International exhibitions remain essential for sustaining export sales and developing long-term partnerships” said founder Oksana Mukha.

Operating Under Wartime Conditions

Based in Lviv, international brand OKSANA MUKHA has worked in couture, custom-made, and ready-to-wear bridal fashion for over three decades. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the brand faced supply chain disruptions, logistics challenges, and uncertainty — issues common among Ukrainian manufacturers.

Despite this, the company maintained production in Ukraine and continued serving international markets with a strategic focus on export growth and participation in global industry events.

Market Context and Outlook

The global bridal market is gradually recovering after the pandemic, yet rising production costs and geopolitical instability encourage brands to diversify sales channels and strengthen cross-border cooperation. Designers from Central and Eastern Europe are increasingly present at global fashion forums, gaining visibility within the luxury bridal segment.

OKSANA MUKHA stated it will continue investing in international partnerships, global exhibitions, and new collections for export markets, reinforcing its long-term expansion strategy.

About OKSANA MUKHA

OKSANA MUKHA operates in the couture bridal and eveningwear segment and has more than three decades of experience in the fashion industry. The brand works with an international retail network of 457 boutiques in over 70 countries and presents its collections at major bridal fashion events in Europe and the United States. For more information, visit oksana-mukha.com.

Media Contact

PR Team
pr@oksana-mukha.com
+380 63 146 0058

Unlisted, a groundbreaking digital real estate community focused on the 98% of homes that aren’t for sale — yet, today announced that Pearl Glorioso, sales associate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, has joined the platform as the exclusive Local Expert for buyers and homeowners in ZIP code 60154 and the surrounding western suburbs. 

Unlisted’s technology is designed to open up possibilities for everyone in the real estate ecosystem: buyers, homeowners, and agents alike. Buyers gain new ways to discover homes they love beyond what’s listed on the MLS. Homeowners gain tools to better understand interest in their property and connect with potential buyers. Real estate professionals gain a platform that elevates their expertise and brings more possibilities into view for their clients. 

Unlisted uses publicly available data to create a digital property profile for every home in the country. Users can quickly search and organize these homes into curated lists that meet a buyer’s criteria. Even when a home isn’t for sale, buyers can join a Waitlist for the properties they love, creating new touchpoints for connection and giving homeowners insights and options they may not have considered. 

Each vetted real estate professional partnering with Unlisted receives an agent profile linked to every home in their ZIP code. Only one agent is selected per ZIP, highlighting their credibility and deep understanding of the local market. As Unlisted continues to expand nationwide, the mission remains the same: to provide buyers, homeowners, and agents with a platform built on connection, expertise, and meaningful insights. 

Glorioso’s story is rooted in the western suburbs, where she was born, raised, and shaped by the values of hard work, service, and community. She began serving customers at the age of 11 in her family’s restaurant, later earning a marketing degree from Elmhurst College and building a successful career in retail as a buyer and a department store manager. These years instilled in her the skills that now define her real estate practice: attentive listening, thoughtful negotiation, and an ability to excel in fast-moving markets. 

For the past 15 years, Pearl has brought that same dedication and care to real estate, guiding buyers, sellers, and families through every step of the process with integrity, professionalism, and a genuine passion for helping others. Her mission is simple and unwavering: to meet every client’s needs with expertise, speed, and efficiency while ensuring the experience is just as rewarding as the outcome.

“My passion has always been serving people, and Unlisted lets me expand the way I support homeowners and buyers in my ZIP code,” said Glorioso. “I’m excited to be a resource and to bring innovative tools and clarity to the community I’ve loved my whole life.” 

“Pearl has a genuine connection to the western suburbs, and it shows in the way she serves her clients,” said Katie Hill, founder and CEO of Unlisted. “Her dedication to this community and the care she brings to every relationship perfectly reflects the heart of what we’re building.” 

To learn more about Unlisted, visit UnlistedHomes.com. For Unlisted for Agents, visit UnlistedHomes.com/Agents. 

To learn more about Pearl Glorioso, visit her Unlisted Profile or Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago.

About Unlisted

Unlisted unlocks the potential in homes that aren’t for sale — yet. The company empowers home buyers to join the Waitlist for homes they love that aren’t for sale — in other words, unlisted. At the same time, homeowners collect a Waitlist of interested buyers for whenever the time comes to sell, giving everyone a head start. Unlisted also allows homeowners to control how their home is presented online; they can create a stunning up-to-date property profile that shows off the home’s best features and attracts more interest. With more time and more connection, Unlisted is a more human way to explore real estate that drives better outcomes for all. Selected for TechCrunch’s 2025 Startup Battlefield 200 as one of the top tech startups globally, and backed by HearstLab, Hearst Newspapers, VC414, StageNext Fund, and prominent angel investors, Unlisted gives buyers a competitive edge in today’s challenging housing market. For more information, visit UnlistedHomes.com.

Media Contact

Maura Racz
maura@unlistedinc.com

CES 2026 once again highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in consumer technology. With exhibitors from more than 150 countries and regions and over 4,500 companies in attendance, the event made one thing increasingly clear: as AI continues to move beyond software, its next chapter is taking physical form. Embodied intelligence — AI systems designed to operate in real-world environments — is no longer confined to research labs.

Against a backdrop of robots largely designed for industrial or experimental use, Vbot’s debut at CES stood out for a different reason. The company presented a vision not of machines performing isolated tasks, but of robots designed to coexist with people, operating autonomously within homes, yards, and shared family spaces.

Vbot is a consumer-focused embodied AI company dedicated to building robots for everyday living environments. Its flagship product, the global edition of Vbot SuperDog, is designed as a physical-world agent capable of navigating complex spaces without remote control. With autonomous following, intelligent load carrying, and dynamic video tracking, the robot demonstrated how embodied AI can function continuously within real household settings rather than controlled demonstrations.

At CES, Vbot SuperDog showcased full-terrain mobility alongside an ability to interpret complex physical environments in real time. This combination resonated particularly with audiences from North America and Europe, where detached homes and outdoor private spaces are common. Equipped with high-grade sensors and long-legged mobility, the robot moved fluidly between indoor and outdoor environments, including navigating uneven terrain and performing yard patrol tasks.

Beyond mobility, Vbot SuperDog is designed to interact naturally with people. Featuring 14 degrees of freedom — including articulated head movement — the robot can visually track individuals in real time and respond through lifelike motion and subtle anticipatory gestures. During live demonstrations, it interacted with children through English-language communication and expressive body language, creating interactions that felt responsive rather than scripted.

In outdoor and travel scenarios, the robot demonstrated a more utilitarian role. With a payload capacity of up to 12 kilograms and towing capability of up to 100 kilograms, Vbot SuperDog supported activities such as family outings and camping. One technology creator at the event noted that the robot’s ability to transport heavy beach gear and luggage across challenging terrain addressed a common, practical pain point for families — something consumer robots have historically struggled to do.

The attention surrounding Vbot SuperDog at CES reflects a broader shift in how consumers and industry observers evaluate embodied AI. Rather than prioritizing technical spectacle, interest is increasingly centered on whether robots can adapt across environments, cultures, and household needs, and whether they can meaningfully reduce friction in everyday life. In this context, Vbot’s reception suggests growing demand for embodied intelligence that prioritizes usability over novelty.

According to the company, the global edition of Vbot SuperDog is scheduled to launch soon. Availability is expected in Q2 2026, with the first batch debuting in markets including North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Compared with earlier generations of commercial robots that often carried price tags in the tens of thousands of dollars, this positioning signals a step toward broader household accessibility.

As embodied AI continues its transition from experimental technology to consumer product, Vbot’s approach offers a glimpse into what that future may look like: robots designed not as showcases of engineering, but as functional participants in everyday life.

About Vbot

Vbot is a consumer technology company specializing in household robots. We are dedicated to developing innovative products that seamlessly integrate into everyday life and enhance user experiences. For more information, visit www.vita.cn.

Global prime broker EXANTE has released its latest research report, "From the Abraham Accords to AI to FTAs: How to Trade the New Middle East," unveiling a view of how the GCC is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s most strategically important investment regions. The report was launched during an exclusive investor briefing held with CME Group at the prestigious Capital Club in Dubai.

The report argues that 2025 marks a structural inflection point for the Gulf, driven by the convergence of AI acceleration, shifting trade alliances, energy-transition investment, and an increasingly multi-aligned geopolitical strategy.

"The Middle East is no longer merely reacting to global change — it is driving it," said Dr. Renée Friedman, global head of research at EXANTE. "AI infrastructure, new free-trade agreements, and the economic dividends of the Abraham Accords are not isolated trends — together they are rewriting the region’s investment landscape. Those who map these linkages early will have a clear advantage."

Key Findings From the Report

1. AI is becoming the region’s next economic engine. Massive capital flows into data centres, cloud capacity and next-generation digital infrastructure are positioning the UAE and Saudi Arabia as global AI power hubs, leap-frogging legacy systems found elsewhere.
2. FTAs are reshaping the region’s global footprint. The UAE’s more than 25 CEPAs — and the GCC’s widening trade network — are embedding the region deeper into global value chains, boosting resilience and unlocking new markets for non-oil sectors.
3. The Abraham Accords are delivering sustained economic dividends. Bilateral trade between Israel and the UAE continues to grow, underpinned by tech collaboration, investment flows and shared innovation priorities — creating a durable new economic corridor.
4. The energy transition is redefining long-term growth. With oil’s share of GDP slowly declining, Gulf states are investing heavily in renewable energy, green hydrogen, carbon-capture technology and critical minerals — securing relevance in the global decarbonisation cycle.
5. GCC macro fundamentals remain exceptionally strong. Despite monetary-policy divergence, global debt stress and tariff volatility, the region continues to post low inflation, healthy current-account balances and relatively robust sovereign wealth buffers.
6. New geopolitical alignments are giving the region more strategic autonomy. Multi-aligned diplomacy — balancing the U.S., China, BRICS, and emerging Asian partners — is enabling Gulf states to secure trade deals, capital flows and technology partnerships on their own terms.

The report concludes that the Middle East now represents one of the most compelling investment frontiers of the decade, offering opportunities across digital infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, healthcare, financial services and advanced manufacturing — but emphasizes the need for timely and sophisticated analysis to navigate fast-moving risks.

The full report, "From the Abraham Accords to AI to FTAs: How to Trade the New Middle East," is now available here.

About EXANTE

EXANTE is a leading global prime broker offering access to 50-plus markets, eight asset classes and more than one million instruments from a single multi-currency account. Its proprietary platform combines advanced trading tools, analytics, and a resilient infrastructure to support institutions, professional investors, high-net worth clients and partners worldwide. For more information, visit exante.eu

Disclaimer

The information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and should not be regarded as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any investments or related services that may be referenced here. Investing involves a high level of risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Media Contact

Julia Chapman
jch@exante.eu

Nulo, the premium pet food brand dedicated to fueling healthier, happier lives for pets and the people who love them, today unveiled the release of a new 30-second television spot titled “Journey to Glory,” part of the second iteration of its award-winning* “Fuel Incredible” campaign. 

Developed in partnership with Nulo’s in-house creative team and directed by Kelly Lipscomb of Widespread Creative, the spot highlights a roster of Team USA athletes — Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Alex Ferreira, Brenna Huckaby, Maddie Mastro, Kristen Santos-Griswold and Jordan Stolz — preparing for competition in Milan-Cortina, accompanied by their beloved pets. The creative will begin airing nationally on NBC on January 7, with additional placements across NBC and Peacock appearing throughout this year’s Winter Games. 

“Fuel Incredible has always been about celebrating the emotional bond between athletes and their pets, highlighting the unconditional support and companionship pets provide through every challenge and triumph,” said Michael Landa, Nulo founder and CEO. “With ‘Journey to Glory,’ we’re proud to extend that story into this next chapter of inspiration, showing how athletes prepare to compete on the world stage with the help of invaluable mental and emotional support they receive from their four-legged family members.”

Building on the campaign’s successful launch tied to the 2024 Paris Games, “Fuel Incredible” continues Nulo’s mission to showcase the meaningful role pets play in the lives of elite athletes. The heartfelt new spot reinforces how pet companionship supports performance, resilience and wellbeing beyond the arenas of training and competition.

The new creative captures moments of daily life and preparation with U.S. athlete ambassadors and their pets, emphasizing the connection between physical performance and emotional support. The “Fuel Incredible” campaign spans broadcast, digital and social channels to reach sports fans and pet parents alike.

For more on Nulo athletes and their pets, visit nulo.com/be-inspired or follow their journeys to Milan-Cortina on Instagram.

* Winning award submissions from Nulo’s Fuel Incredible campaign include: 2025 Digiday Streaming & Video Award Best Ad “Every Dream They Hold”; 2025 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards, Marketing Campaign category; Muse Creative Awards Platinum Winner — Video-Sports, Video-Pets & Advertising-Advertising Campaign; 2024 MarCom Awards Platinum Winner in Strategic Communications, Advertising/Marketing & Video/Audio categories.

About Nulo

Nulo is on a mission to fuel the inner athlete in every pet. With a wide range of ultra-premium food formats available in more than 6,500 pet specialty retailers nationwide, Nulo ensures pets enjoy the best in digestive and immune health, skin and coat care, mobility, and weight management. Recognized as one of Forbes Magazine's "Most Innovative Brands at Retail," Nulo's offerings are rich in animal-based proteins and low in carbs, crafted to keep pets thriving alongside their human companions. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Austin, TX, Nulo continues to inspire pet parents and athletes alike. For more information, visit www.nulo.com.

Media Contact

Taylor Strategy
nulo@taylorstrategy.com

Boston Brand Research & Media (BBRM), one of the most reputed and highly regarded branding and market research firms in the United States, today announced that nominations for the Global Brand Frontier Awards 2026 will open this quarter, building on the extraordinary momentum of the 2025 program. Throughout 2025, BBRM recognized over 400 distinguished organizations across 23 industry categories spanning more than 60 countries on six continents, marking the most comprehensive recognition program in the awards' eight-year history.

Recognition through the Global Brand Frontier Awards provides third-party validation that strengthens stakeholder confidence across customers, partners, investors, and employees. In today's business environment where trust increasingly influences procurement decisions and strategic partnerships, the Global Brand Frontier Awards serves as a credibility signal that reinforces market positioning and enhances confidence in corporate governance and delivery capability. For winners, this recognition represents a strategic asset that supports brand authority and competitive differentiation in their respective markets.

Rigorous Research-Driven Methodology Sets Global Standard

The Global Brand Frontier Awards distinguish themselves through a uniquely rigorous, research-based evaluation process that ensures only the most deserving organizations receive recognition. Unlike traditional awards programs, Boston Brand Research & Media's approach begins with proprietary research identifying high-performing organizations through comprehensive data analysis, followed by invitation-only nominations.

"Our methodology represents the gold standard in business recognition," said award panelists Dr. Gupta, Dr, Moon and Shiv (President and CEO of Boston Brand Research & Media). "We don't simply accept applications. Our research team conducts extensive market analysis using quantitative methods including regression analysis, Data Envelopment Analysis, and statistical modeling, combined with qualitative assessment of market positioning, innovation trajectories, and ESG credentials."

2025 Program Recognized Global Excellence Across Industries and Continents

Throughout 2025, the Global Brand Frontier Awards celebrated exceptional innovation and transformative leadership across multiple sectors worldwide. The aviation sector demonstrated remarkable service excellence, with Emirates recognized for Best Luxury In-Flight Experience and Global Network across the MENA region, and Qatar Airways earning recognition as the Best Airline for Premium Services and Customer Satisfaction in the Middle East. 

The banking and fintech category showcased remarkable digital transformation leadership across multiple continents. In Asia, DBS Bank was honored as the Most Admired Banking Brand, demonstrating exceptional brand equity and customer trust through consistent innovation and service excellence. Alinma Bank was recognized as Saudi Arabia's Most Innovative Islamic Bank for pioneering digital banking solutions while maintaining Shariah compliance. STC Bank, also from Saudi Arabia, earned recognition as the Fastest Growing Bank, demonstrating exceptional market penetration and customer acquisition strategies. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) received dual honors for Excellence in Islamic Banking Sustainability and Best Ramadan PR & Marketing Campaign, setting new standards for values-driven financial services and culturally resonant brand communications. Vietnam International Bank (VIB), where Deputy CEO Ms. Tuong Nguyen leads innovation initiatives, was honored for delivering The Most Innovative & Personalized Lending Solution, revolutionizing access to credit through advanced data analytics and customer-centric product design, while Access Bank Tanzania Limited earned recognition for Best Bank for Acquisition Integration Excellence & Market Expansion, demonstrating strategic M&A execution and operational excellence across East African markets.

European banking excellence was represented across multiple categories, with UBS Group recognized as the Best Wealth Management Firm and HSBC earning recognition as the Most Sustainable Bank in Europe. In the Middle East, First Abu Dhabi Bank was recognized as the Most Trusted Financial Institution. CIMB Bank Philippines earned recognition as the Leading Provider of Mobile Banking Solutions.

North American financial services leadership was demonstrated across multiple dimensions of excellence. JPMorgan Chase was recognized as the Most Customer-Centric Bank, showcasing comprehensive financial solutions and exceptional service delivery that prioritizes customer needs and satisfaction. Bank of America earned recognition for Most Inclusive Financial Services, demonstrating commitment to expanding access to banking services across diverse communities and underserved populations. Goldman Sachs (Marcus) was honored for offering the Most Efficient Digital Banking Platform, combining sophisticated technology with user-friendly interfaces to deliver seamless digital banking experiences. Commonwealth Bank from Oceania was recognized as the Most Resilient Banking Group, demonstrating strong risk management, operational stability, and adaptive capacity in navigating complex market conditions.

The consulting sector demonstrated thought leadership and strategic impact across global markets. KPMG Advisory earned recognition for Excellence in Financial Advisory across Asia, showcasing sophisticated capabilities in transaction services, financial restructuring, and advisory solutions. In the Middle East, EY-Parthenon was honored as the Top Public Sector Consulting Firm, demonstrating exceptional expertise in government transformation, policy advisory, and public sector modernization.

The insurance sector demonstrated significant advancement in digital transformation and customer-centric solutions throughout 2025. Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance PCL from Thailand won Best Marketing Campaign of the Year, setting new benchmarks for engaging customer communications and brand storytelling in the competitive Asian insurance market. Gulf Insurance Group (GIG), guided by Group Executive Manager Khaled M. Al Sanousi who oversees corporate communications and investor relations, received recognition for Pioneering Leadership in Comprehensive Insurance Solutions across the MENA region, showcasing exceptional product innovation and market coverage. Tawuniya Insurance from Saudi Arabia was honored for Digital Insurance Innovation Leadership, demonstrating how traditional insurers can successfully transform through technology adoption and digital-first customer experiences. iCare HMO from the Philippines, under the leadership of President and CEO Geronimo V. Francisco, earned the Brand Transformation of the Year award, demonstrating exceptional repositioning and service innovation in the healthcare insurance space while expanding access to quality healthcare coverage.

In investment management, Golden Pine Asset Management distinguished itself as the Fastest-Growing Value-Driven Asset Management firm in the Asia Pacific region, combining disciplined investment philosophy with exceptional client service and transparent communication. AXA IM Select, led by Global Head France Germani, captured three prestigious global awards including Best Multi-Asset Manager, Best Multi-Manager Investment Solutions, and Excellence in Innovation in AI-Powered Client Engagement, establishing the firm as a leader in technological integration, investment performance, and sophisticated portfolio construction. The energy and utilities sector showcased transformative innovation, with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) earning recognition as the Most Innovative Sustainable Utility Provider in the Middle East, setting global standards for clean energy integration, smart grid technology, and sustainable urban infrastructure. Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn. Bhd. received dual recognition for Excellence in Renewable Energy Initiatives and Excellence in 3D Printing Technology Implementation, demonstrating how legacy energy companies can lead technological transformation and sustainable operations. 

Environmental services leadership was exemplified by Veolia from the United States, where Bob Cappadona serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Solutions and Services business, honored for Excellence in PFAS Remediation & Hazardous Waste Leadership, addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time through innovative treatment technologies and responsible waste management practices. In the rapidly evolving fintech sector, WeFund Lending Corp. (Juanhand) from the Philippines, under the direction of President and Chief Executive Officer Francisco Roberto "Coco" D.C. Mauricio, received the award for Outstanding Fintech Platform, revolutionizing access to credit for underserved populations through mobile-first lending solutions and sophisticated risk assessment models.

Microfinance innovation was demonstrated by ACEP-BURKINA SA from Burkina Faso, led by CEO Ousseni Kirakoya, which received dual recognition for Excellence in Microfinance Innovation and Excellence in Financial Inclusion, demonstrating the transformative power of accessible financial services in emerging markets and the critical role of microfinance in economic development. Etihad Cargo, where Chief Cargo Officer Stanislas Brun oversees global operations, captured two prestigious awards including Best Global Network Expansion & Strategic Partnerships (MEA) and Best Digital Transformation & Smart Logistics Innovation (Middle East), positioning the carrier at the forefront of intelligent supply chain solutions and global trade facilitation.

Technology innovation was showcased across multiple winners, with MBANK from Kyrgyzstan recognized as an Innovative Leader in Digital and Sustainable Banking, demonstrating how technology enables financial inclusion in emerging markets. ABR Co., Ltd. from South Korea earned the Green Battery Innovation Leader award, advancing sustainable energy storage solutions critical for global decarbonization efforts and the electric vehicle revolution. Samaa Technologies Co. showcased cutting-edge technological solutions addressing contemporary business challenges through innovative software development and digital transformation services. The Egyptian Credit Bureau (iscore), under the leadership of CEO and Managing Director Mohamed Korayem, was recognized as the Pioneer of AI-Driven Credit Transformation in North Africa, leveraging artificial intelligence and data analytics to enhance credit transparency and expand financial access across the region.

The 2025 awards demonstrated truly global recognition, with the Middle East and North Africa contributing over 80 winners from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Morocco, and Ethiopia. The Asia Pacific region showcased more than 120 winners spanning China, India, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, and South Korea. North America celebrated over 100 winners from the United States and Canada, Europe recognized 60 winners from United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Netherlands, Latin America contributed 25 winners from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, and Chile, and Africa demonstrated rising excellence with 35 winners from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and Tanzania.

2025 Winners Report Measurable Business Impact from Recognition

Throughout 2025, Global Brand Frontier Awards recipients experienced significant measurable benefits from their recognition. Winner organizations reported an average 34% increase in media visibility within six months, with press coverage generating an estimated $2.3 million in earned media value. Winners leveraged their recognition in procurement processes, with 67% reporting that the award influenced at least one major contract negotiation or partnership discussion during the year.

Winners reported a 41% increase in investor inquiries and partnership proposals following their award announcements, with financial services sector winners noting enhanced confidence during regulatory presentations and compliance reviews. In competitive markets across Asia Pacific and MENA regions, award recipients used their recognition as a differentiator in tender processes, with banking and consulting sector winners attributing successful bid outcomes to their Global Brand Frontier Awards credentials. Human capital benefits were equally significant, with 58% of winners reporting improved talent attraction metrics and enhanced employer brand positioning.

The awards' extensive distribution network delivered substantial reach, with 2025 winner press releases generating over 180 million impressions across AP News, Reuters, Yahoo Finance, and other major business media platforms. Brand Frontier Magazine's coverage generated sustained visibility throughout the year, with quarterly features reaching 50,000+ readers and contributing to brand awareness among C-suite decision-makers and institutional investors. For emerging market winners, the international validation provided by Boston Brand Research & Media proved especially valuable, with organizations from Burkina Faso, Kyrgyzstan, Tanzania, and other developing economies reporting enhanced credibility when expanding into new geographic markets.

Global Brand Frontier Awards 2026: Driving the Future of Business Excellence

As the 2025 program concludes with remarkable success, Boston Brand Research & Media is preparing to launch the Global Brand Frontier Awards 2026 cycle, with nominations opening this quarter.

"The momentum we've built over eight years has positioned the Global Brand Frontier Awards as the definitive benchmark for business excellence," said Shiv. "As we conclude the outstanding 2025 program and look toward 2026, we're seeing unprecedented interest from organizations across emerging and established markets alike. The quality of leadership, innovation, and transformative impact we're observing globally is extraordinary, and we're excited to begin identifying the next generation of award recipients who are reshaping their industries."

The 2026 program will maintain Boston Brand Research & Media's uncompromising commitment to research-driven evaluation while expanding recognition across additional categories and geographic markets. Organizations demonstrating exceptional performance in brand development, digital transformation, sustainability leadership, customer excellence, and market innovation will receive invitations based on proprietary research conducted by Boston Brand Research & Media's expert team throughout the year. The organizations honored in 2026 will be those driving the conversations that matter most, artificial intelligence integration, climate resilience, financial inclusion, healthcare innovation, and technological transformation, the critical frontiers where business leadership is being redefined.

How Organizations Can Participate in 2026

Organizations interested in the 2026 Global Brand Frontier Awards program can visit www.bostonbrandmedia.com/about-global-brand-frontier-awards or contact the Boston Brand Research & Media team directly. Companies demonstrating strong performance metrics, innovative initiatives, and clear market differentiation are encouraged to ensure visibility to BBRM's research team throughout the year.

The complete list of 2025 Awards winners is available at www.bostonbrandmedia.com/award-winners/award-winners-of-2025.

About Boston Brand Research & Media

Boston Brand Research & Media is a leading global consulting and media firm specializing in brand intelligence, strategic recognition, and corporate storytelling across industries including finance, technology, healthcare, and energy. Through its data-driven research, editorial platforms, and high-impact global award programs, the firm highlights organizations demonstrating excellence in leadership, customer experience, innovation, and sustainability. Recognized worldwide as one of the most reputed evaluators of corporate excellence, Boston Brand Research & Media empowers brands to gain global visibility and credibility through its flagship Global Brand Frontier Awards program. To learn more, visit www.bostonbrandmedia.com.

Media Contact

Boston Brand Research & Media
Awards Team
awards@bostonbrandmedia.com
+1 617-935-8890

Healthcare systems that pair artificial intelligence with skilled construction teams can unlock shorter schedules, earlier delivery of beds and services, and accelerated revenue to sustain operations to fuel future growth, according to the latest Healthcare Insights report from DPR Construction, one of the nation's top technical builders.

"Technology alone can't build tomorrow's hospitals. It takes skilled design and construction partners who know how to harness it," said Carl Fleming, a healthcare strategist at DPR. "As AI reshapes how hospitals are planned, designed and built, the workforce must evolve alongside it — not to compete with machines, but to collaborate with them. Today, and for the foreseeable future, AI amplifies good decisions; it doesn't make them."

The report notes several ways that teams effectively leveraging AI are delivering value in new ways in healthcare construction:

• More efficient scheduling: AI can transform scheduling from a tedious task into a proactive strategy. AI platforms can simulate dozens of build sequences in hours—not weeks—spotting bottlenecks, sequencing around active patient areas, and adapting in real-time. This also enables better coordination with facilities staff and smarter disruption planning.
• Unlocking more BIM benefits: Visual analytics platforms can compare site conditions to Building Information Models nearly in real-time. These types of systems can identify anomalies as they happen, not weeks later, for things like MEP runs before ceiling closure. As a result, field teams have more time to act, avoiding costly rework and weeks of potential cascading delays.
• Accelerated validation: MEP teams can use intelligent scanning tools to validate rough-in work in a matter of hours, instead of days. This helps minimize rework and maximize efficiency. Additionally, it frees skilled labor for installations, accelerating inspections, and keeping critical milestones on track – all without sacrificing precision.

"AI offers foresight. Experience turns it into action," Fleming said. "In healthcare, the real value of innovation has never been about the tools themselves. It's about what those tools make possible: safer care environments, more resilient operations, and facilities that perform as intelligently as they were designed and built."

Explore DPR's full Healthcare Insights series here, including the Constructing With Care Podcast. 

About DPR Construction

DPR Construction is a forward-thinking, self-performing general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and commercial markets. DPR's portfolio of work ranges from large-scale new construction to small tenant improvements and special projects. Founded in 1990, DPR is a great story of entrepreneurial success as a private, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with offices around the world. Strategically focused on delivering more predictable outcomes through applications of virtual design & construction, prefabrication, its team of self-perform craft, and leveraging data to learn and improve from DPR consistently ranks among the top building contractors and employs approximately 11,000 professionals across its family of companies. For more information, visit www.dpr.com.

Media Contact

Jay Weisberger
pr@dpr.com

Centinel Spine®, the leading global medical device company focused exclusively on treating cervical and lumbar spinal disease with the most complete and clinically-proven total disc replacement (TDR) technology platform in the world (prodisc®), today announced the commemoration of 35 years of prodisc clinical excellence, marking the origin of modern-day total disc replacement and the evolution of the world's most studied and trusted TDR system. In the last five years, Centinel Spine has ushered in a prosperous new era of technology innovation, expanding and advancing the prodisc platform to meet the needs of today's surgeons and patients.

Since the first implantation in 1990, prodisc technology has undergone rigorous refinement, next generation engineering, expanded indications, extensive clinical trials, and multiple U.S. FDA approvals. The design and clinical durability of prodisc have been supported by more than 540 published peer-reviewed papers, with long-term evidence demonstrating sustained function and less than 1% revision rates. [1] Following Centinel Spine's acquisition of the prodisc technology in 2018, the Company has accelerated its product development and regulatory efforts, culminating in a comprehensive cervical and lumbar platform that continues to advance motion preservation today.

"Innovation often starts with an obsession to solve a problem. In the case of prodisc, the challenge was finding a way to maintain natural spinal motion when treating degenerative disc disease," noted orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Thierry Marnay, inventor of the prodisc. "For 35 years the technology has shown that preserving motion can be a reliable and lasting solution for the right patients. With more than 300,000 implantations performed, the continued success of prodisc reflects decades of clinical learning, surgeon collaboration, and disciplined engineering. This history not only validates the original principles of motion preservation and of prodisc, but also guides the next generation of advancements that will carry the technology forward for many years to come."

Building on more than three decades of prodisc clinical leadership, Centinel Spine has accelerated the evolution of the platform through its dedicated focus on total disc replacement. Since 2020, Centinel Spine's TDR achievements include:

• FDA approval of 2-level indications for the prodisc L lumbar TDR device.
• U.S. introduction of Anatomic Endplate™ options for the prodisc L system.
• Launch of the prodisc C Vivo and prodisc C SK Match-the-Disc™ cervical TDR system, providing two anatomically-distinct implant options for cervical TDR.
• Limited U.S. commercial release of the prodisc C Nova cervical TDR device, marking four unique FDA-approved prodisc devices available for cervical TDR.
• Launch of new prodisc L lumbar TDR instruments designed to streamline system ease-of-use and optimize surgical technique reproducibility.
• FDA approval of 2-level use for prodisc C Vivo and prodisc C SK cervical devices, becoming the first and only cervical TDR solution with multiple devices approved for both one-and two-level use.

Centinel Spine has also enhanced its medical education, patient access support, provider digital support assets, and ambassador & education programs to further support surgeons and patients. Together, these advancements reaffirm the Company's position as the driving force in total disc replacement as the field enters an era of accelerating adoption. This continued focus and innovation has been accompanied by strong U.S. and international growth, further expanding the global footprint of the prodisc platform.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Blumenthal, of the Center for Disc Replacement at the Texas Back Institute in Plano, Texas, performed the first total disc replacement in the U.S. over 25 years ago. As one of the pioneers in total disc replacement, Dr. Blumenthal became the first surgeon in the U.S. to dedicate his practice exclusively to TDR and has performed over 5,000 cervical and lumbar TDR procedures since 2000.

According to Dr. Blumenthal, "Total disc replacement has been a transformative advancement and the central focus of my career for more than 25 years. I had the privilege of performing the first total disc replacement procedure in the United States and contributing to many of the studies that established the clinical foundation for disc arthroplasty. The evidence continues to affirm that this technology has far broader applicability than is currently realized. I look forward to the next quarter-century, as innovations in disc replacement evolve and utilization expands to better meet the needs of patients."

Summarizing, Centinel Spine CEO Steve Murray said, "As we enter the next era of total disc replacement, our focus remains unchanged: deliver evidence-driven innovation that meaningfully advances patient care. Over the last five years, the company has significantly strengthened and expanded the prodisc platform, modernizing the technology, broadening its clinical capability, and enhancing the tools and systems that support surgeons and patients worldwide. And this is only the beginning." He concluded, "Our innovation roadmap is robust, and our commitment to shaping the future of total disc replacement has never been stronger."

1. Based upon U.S. complaint handling units for prodisc since launch in 2006.

About Centinel Spine

Centinel Spine®, LLC is the leading global medical device company exclusively focused on addressing cervical and lumbar spinal disease with prodisc®, the most complete total disc replacement (TDR) technology platform in the world. The Company's prodisc technology is the most studied and clinically-proven TDR system across the globe, validated by over 540 published papers and more than 300,000 implantations. Centinel Spine's prodisc is the only TDR technology with multiple motion-preserving anatomic solutions, allowing the surgeon to Match-the-Disc™ to each patient's anatomy for both cervical and lumbar total disc replacement. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.centinelspine.com.

Media Contact

Varun Gandhi
Chief Financial Officer
v.gandhi@centinelspine.com
+1 484-887-8871