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California’s regional centers have launched a new website and YouTube channel for their animated video series, "Lanterman & Friends" with support by the Department of Developmental Services. The platform, available at lantermanandfriends.org and on the Lanterman & Friends YouTube channel, offer simple, clear explanations about the supports and services available to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The library includes hundreds of short videos translated into 20 different languages most commonly used in California, making it easier for all to learn how the regional center system works and how to access the supports they are entitled to.

The multiple Webby Anthem Award winning series is named after the Lanterman Act, a landmark law signed by Governor Ronald Reagan nearly 60 years ago. The law created a state program unlike any other in the nation, guaranteeing services and support to residents with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy, and related conditions.

“California continues to advance equity in developmental disability services by increasing the availability of consistent information for all residents of the State, whatever their preferred language”says Pete Cervinka, director of the Department of Developmental Services. “Having this updated series in a new, centralized location makes learning about our services and supports accessible to hundreds of thousands of people, and to the vital members of the workforce who support them.”

Diva Johnson, associate executive director of Tri-Counties Regional Center, who first conceived of the series, said that “Our goal was to create something families could use right away — short, helpful, and welcoming,” she added “We also wanted providers to have better tools to explain and deliver services. These videos do both.”

“Lanterman & Friends is exactly what I wish we had when my son began receiving services,” said Mark Wolfe, film producer and regional center parent who joined the project at the request of Johnson. “California offers so much that it can feel overwhelming. Contributing to these videos is a way I can give back to the system that has given so much to my family.”

Each video short covers everyday topics, including:

• “What Are The California Regional Centers?” (For people new to the system)
• Individual Program Plan (IPP) – Adult Services
• HCBS Final Rule (home and community-based services)

Future videos will cover topics such as:

• Emergency preparedness for earthquakes, fires, and evacuations
• Cyber safety, including how to avoid scams and fraud that often target people with disabilities
• Early start and how children under the age of three who qualify can be evaluated and offered services and support
• Employment and opportunities for people receiving services with the regional centers to find meaningful work.

Several members of the cast are first-time voice actors who are themselves part of the Regional Center system. Their performances bring authenticity to the series, while also showing how regional center employment programs can open doors to real, paid work. Through these roles, several artists are now fully employed and fairly compensated by the series production company, Public Pixels Media. The cast also includes RJ Mitte, best known for his role as Walt Jr. in Breaking Bad, who voices Lorenzo. Mitte is a global advocate for people with disabilities and, like both his on-screen characters Walt Jr. and Lorenzo, has cerebral palsy. In addition to his performance, Mitte also serves as an executive producer on the "Lanterman & Friends" series.

“Individuals and Families deserve clear, easy-to-understand information in their own language about what services are available,” said Amy Westling, executive director of the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA). “This project gives them a simple way to get answers.”

The most recently released series are made by and for California’s Mixtec community and help families learn about services in a way that fits their 3500-year-old culture. In November 2025, this Mixtec series was honored with a gold and silver Webby Anthem Award in the categories of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — Partnership or Collaboration and Public Service, respectively.

Irebid Gilbert, executive director of Herencia Indígena, said, “Working on the Mixteco series has been an incredible opportunity. It was a dream to bring to life a community that has rarely, if ever, seen itself represented in film or animation. What made it truly special was the authenticity — from the writing and cultural details to the collaboration among the artists. I’m deeply proud of the nearly two-year commitment from our writers, producers, actors, and executive team. Seeing our community’s reaction to the finished series is something I’ll never forget.”

By offering these videos in multiple languages, short formats, and clear everyday language, the regional centers hope to make information more accessible for families and providers alike. The goal is to reduce confusion, help people get services faster, and support the staff and partners who make the system work.

About Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA)

ARCA and its 21-member regional centers remain committed to equitably serving Californians with developmental disabilities and their families. ARCA works collaboratively with stakeholders, advocacy organizations, the Legislature, and the Administration to continue advocating for improvements to services for those served by regional centers and their families. To learn more, visit www.arcanet.org.

About Public Pixels Media

Public Pixels Media is a producer of animation and live-action explainer videos for federal, state, and local agencies, as well as NGOs and 501(c)(3) organizations. The company’s team includes numerous award-winning Hollywood-based artists who have contributed to tens of thousands of hours of entertainment worldwide. While rooted in Hollywood experience, Public Pixels Media does not operate with Hollywood budgets. Instead, it draws on its deep industry connections and production know-how to deliver high-quality content at prices that work for public agencies and nonprofits. For more information, visit publicpixelsmedia.com.

About California’s Regional Centers and The Lanterman Act

California’s regional center system was created by the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act of 1969, signed by Governor Ronald Reagan. The law guarantees that people with developmental disabilities have the right to services and supports to live as full members of their communities. The California Department of Developmental Services oversees the coordination and delivery of these services through a statewide network of 21 community-based nonprofit agencies, or regional centers. Each regional center provides help free of charge to eligible Californians, including early intervention, therapies, employment services, housing supports, and more. ARCA, the Association of Regional Center Agencies, promotes, supports, and advances regional centers in achieving the intent and mandate of the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act.

Media Contact

Heather Wennergren
Media, Tri-Counties Regional Center
hwennergren@tri-counties.org
+1 805-453-5543

Estonia is back in the top tier of "Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe 2025," confirming its rising influence on the region’s innovation map. At the awards gala in Prague on Nov. 20, Tallinn-based fintech Wallester was revealed as the highest-ranked Estonian company, placing 6th overall among the fastest-growing tech firms in Central Europe.

The Deloitte Fast 50 program spans nine countries — Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, Croatia, and Ukraine — and recognizes technology companies (public or private) with the strongest percentage revenue growth over a four-year period.

A Top 10 Return for Estonia

Wallester’s strong showing signals more than corporate success — it underlines Estonia’s comeback to the Fast 50 top 10, underscoring the country’s growing weight in Central Europe’s tech ecosystem.

According to the official Deloitte ranking, Wallester achieved a 2,070% revenue growth over the past four years — a performance that made it the top Estonian on the list and one of just three fintechs in the top 10. 

In 2019, Estonian company Cleveron also broke into the top 10, signaling the country’s early-scale-up potential. Wallester’s success now marks a return to that elite club, underscoring long-term momentum in the Estonian tech ecosystem.

About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe program has been running for more than 25 years. The ranking considers proprietary technology companies headquartered in the nine participating countries, based on audited revenue growth over four years. The top quartile of companies reflects a diverse mix of software, fintech, environmental tech, and more.

The 2025 top 10 includes:

1. Oddin.gg (Czech Republic) — 4,267% growth
2. PowereX (Slovakia) — 2,510%
3. Mizzox (Poland) — 2,504%
4. FaceUp Technology (Czech Republic) — 2,146%
5. Adam (Czech Republic) — 2,118%
6. Wallester (Estonia) — 2,070%
7. Patron GO (Czech Republic) — 1,978%
8. Foodsi (Poland) — 1,976%
9. Malcom Finance / 4Trans Factoring (Czech Republic) — 1,940%
10. AP-Tech (Poland) — 1,787%

Estonia’s Innovation Momentum

Estonia has long punched above its weight in European tech, and this recognition reinforces that narrative.

For one, the country has one of the highest startup densities per capita in Europe. Secondly, its digital-first national infrastructure — including e-Residency, paperless government, and zero corporate tax on reinvested profits — continues to fuel scalable tech businesses. Third, according to the State of European Tech 2024 report, Estonia’s tech workforce has increased almost tenfold over the past decade, bolstering its status as a significant innovation hub.

These dynamics create fertile ground for scale-ups like Wallester to thrive.

Wallester’s Growth Story

Wallester is an Estonian-licensed financial institution and an official Visa partner since 2018, specializing in digital financial infrastructure and modern card-issuing solutions for companies across the EEA and the U.K. Its offering has two core pillars: a White-Label embedded finance platform that enables businesses to launch branded payment cards and integrate financial services directly into their products, and Wallester Business, a corporate expense-management solution providing instant virtual and physical Visa cards with real-time tracking, budgeting tools, and seamless accounting integrations.

Key recent achievements:

• In 2025, Wallester was ranked 21st in Estonia’s TopTech list, with a valuation of €95 million.
• At the Europe FinTech Awards 2025, Wallester won "FinTech of the Year" and the Fintech Partner Award.
• According to the FT and Statista European growth ranking, Wallester secured 47th overall, 7th in fintech, and was No. 1 among Estonian companies.

“This is a huge achievement and a clear recognition of the work we all do every single day,” said Sergei Astafjev, CEO and co-founder of Wallester. “Five years ago, we were five people in one small room. Today, we are among the fastest-growing tech companies in the entire region.”

Looking Ahead

The rise of Wallester, alongside increasing representation of Baltic companies in the Fast 50, signals a broader shift — smaller European economies are no longer peripheral, they’re central to the region’s innovation map.

As embedded finance and digital infrastructure mature, Estonia is proving it can compete with Europe's biggest scale-up markets. “This achievement highlights the incredible growth of Baltic tech companies, making their mark across Central Europe. Your success continues to inspire the region’s thriving tech ecosystem,” highlighted Deloitte.

Two other Baltic companies appear in the main list: Latvia’s SIA Prime Prometics (#14) and Estonia’s Hacken (#37). In the "Companies to Watch" category, Lithuania’s UAB Pulsetto and Latvia’s GRAIP were also highlighted, while Biomatter Design (Lithuania) and Origin Robotics (Latvia) appear in this year’s "Impact Stars."

About Wallester

Wallester is an Estonian-licensed financial institution and has been an official Visa partner since 2018, specialising in innovative digital financial solutions and card issuance. Wallester empowers companies across the European Economic Area (EEA) and the U.K. to streamline payments, launch branded cards, and scale efficiently. With a diverse team of over 200 professionals located in Estonia, Latvia, France and the United Kingdom, Wallester is dedicated to developing high-quality, profitable products for its clients. Wallester was named Top Startup in Estonia at the 2024 Äripäev TOP100 Gala, placed 1st in Estonia and 7th in the fintech sector on the 2025 FT1000 Europe's Fastest-Growing Companies list. For more information, visit wallester.com.

Media Contact

Danielle Coimbra
PR Manager, Wallester
danielle.coimbra@wallester.com

AMRA is the world’s first integrative wellness resort — an unprecedented development model built around the scientifically supported principles of holistic wellness, fully serviced residential living, and hospitality, all unified into one purpose-built ecosystem. Set within a rare blue carbon lagoon in Umm Al Quwain, the resort’s wellness-focused architecture, biophilic design, curated wellness zones, and operational frameworks are intentionally crafted to enable wellness as a daily lifestyle rather than a temporary escape.

With uninterrupted sea views throughout, AMRA embodies the restorative neuroscience of Blue Mind, creating a living environment where clarity, calm, and connection naturally flourish. No other real estate or hospitality project globally integrates all of these elements into one cohesive destination, positioning AMRA as a new benchmark in wellness-led development.

To realise this vision, Citi Developers has partnered with leading global design studios such as 1508 London and Trush Design, along with an expanding roster of hospitality, F&B, experiential, and cultural partners — including Valor Hospitality, Blue Coral Concept, and Eden Art Gallery.

The three-tower resort will feature 820 fully serviced residences designed for mindful living, longevity, and holistic balance. Following the sell-out success of Citi Developers’ previous five residential towers, AMRA marks the company’s evolution from luxury living to integrated wellness hospitality.

“AMRA represents our evolution from building homes to building holistic lifestyles,” says Zoraiz Malik, chief executive officer, Citi Developers. “We are expanding into the resorts and hospitality sector and will develop AMRA Resorts as a standalone global brand.”

As the global faces of AMRA, actor couple Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson bring an authentic, wellness-forward perspective to the campaign. As a testament to their belief in the project’s vision, the couple have purchased a four-bedroom residence at AMRA.

Speaking about the resort’s philosophy, Amy Jackson says:

“There’s something incredibly grounding about AMRA. The vision behind it reflects a way of living that prioritises balance, nature, and genuine wellbeing — something we truly connect with.”

Ed Westwick adds:

“From the design ethos to the intentionality behind every detail, AMRA represents a lifestyle centred around calm, clarity, and connection. It’s a rare project with a meaningful purpose.”

Married since 2024, the couple embody the balanced, active, modern lifestyle that AMRA champions.

“We chose Ed and Amy because they represent balance, ambition, calm, privacy, individuality, and connection,” says Shahnawaz Chughtai, deputy CEO, Citi Developers. “Their values align naturally with AMRA’s philosophy of integrative wellness, capturing the essence of what this resort stands for.”

AMRA will feature an extensive suite of wellness-led experiences including yoga and Pilates pavilions, cryotherapy chambers, hydrotherapy pools, meditation decks, and rooftop beach clubs set within lush, landscaped gardens. Dining will be centred on nutrient-rich, organic, and sustainably sourced cuisine.

Designed with long-term value in mind, AMRA offers resort-grade operational frameworks and a 70/30 payment plan with three years post-handover, positioning it as one of the region’s most compelling investor opportunities.

The project is scheduled for completion in Q4 2028.

Discover more at amraresorts.com — the new global benchmark for integrative wellness.

About Citi Developers

Citi Developers continues its journey of visionary, wellness-led communities with ARYA, Allura, Agua, and Aveline — all launched and under construction prior to AMRA. Guided by the philosophy “Designing beyond walls — creating environments that nurture the human spirit,” Citi Developers aims to become the world’s most trusted Neo-Luxury real estate brand, setting new global benchmarks in wellness, design, and future-ready living. For more information, visit citideveloper.com.

Media Contact

Olivia Dufmats
global.relations@citideveloper.com

LinearGame, an AI-native game startup with operations in the U.S. and Singapore, today announced Yoroll.ai, a breakthrough interactive video platform that enables creators to build playable, branching cinematic games directly from text prompts, photos, and short clips. Built at the intersection of generative video and interactive storytelling, Yoroll.ai is set to debut alongside three flagship interactive titles within the next three months. LinearGame has raised a multi-million-dollar pre-seed round led by HT Opportunity Fund, with additional backing from angel investors across the gaming and AI sectors.

Positioned as a video-first creation platform, Yoroll.ai lets anyone transform scenes described in text and reference media into dynamic, playable story experiences — “closer to directing a film than programming a game,” the company says. LinearGame frames Yoroll.ai as "AI-era Roblox meets Netflix" — a universe where people can watch, play, and ultimately create their own interactive stories.

A core differentiator is accessibility. LinearGame aims to empower TikTok-native storytellers, indie filmmakers, writers, and everyday creators to become game designers without learning engines or complex tools. A creator simply inputs prompts, uploads photos, and defines branching choices; Yoroll.ai’s AI pipeline then generates video scenes, connects the narrative paths, and adds gameplay elements such as branching decisions, QTEs, and light action mechanics — all without code, 3D modeling, or game engine skills.

Alongside the platform, the company is unveiling LinearGame Studio, its first-party game division. The studio is developing a slate of interactive, film-like games built natively on Yoroll.ai. These titles will serve both as flagship IP and as reference projects demonstrating what large-scale, AI-generated, choice-driven games can look like.

“Traditional games rely on heavyweight engines and massive asset pipelines,” said LinearGame founder and CEO Heath Xiao. “We’re inverting that model. With generative video as the rendering layer and Yoroll.ai managing branching logic and gameplay under the hood, anyone can craft a playable, personalized story without touching a conventional engine.”

“Most people won’t open Unity or Unreal — but they already understand short-form video and storytelling,” Xiao continued. “Yoroll.ai bridges that gap. It takes prompts and reference media and uses generative models to render scenes as video instead of 3D. If you can create on TikTok, you can ship playable episodes.”

LinearGame’s team includes veterans of game development, AI products, and interactive film across North America, Asia, and Europe. The company is initially focusing on high-engagement narrative genres such as romance, supernatural thrillers, and mystery — categories that show strong traction in mobile interactive fiction and streaming.

The new funding will accelerate hiring across engineering and content, support the launch of Yoroll.ai’s closed beta, and fast-track the rollout of LinearGame Studio’s first wave of titles across PC, console, mobile, and web. LinearGame believes the shift toward AI-native interactive video is inevitable — and that by treating generative video as the engine, Yoroll.ai is positioned to redefine how cinematic games are created and who gets to create them.

Website: www.lineargame.ai
X (Twitter): twitter.com/yorollai
Yoroll.ai Waitlist: yoroll.ai

About LinearGame

LinearGame is an AI-native game company building interactive video experiences powered by generative technology. With teams across the U.S. and Singapore, the company focuses on lowering the barrier to game creation by turning text, images, and short clips into cinematic, playable stories. Through its platform Yoroll.ai and first-party LinearGame Studio, the company is pioneering a new category of AI-driven interactive entertainment. LinearGame is backed by leading investors across gaming and artificial intelligence. For more information, visit www.lineargame.ai.

Media Contact

Heath Xiao
heath@lineargame.ai

IKIGAI Corporation, a Japan-originated multi-sector enterprise, today announced the opening of its new headquarters at 87–97 Bach Dang, Tan Son Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, marking a major milestone in its expansion into Vietnam and underscoring its long-term commitment to responsible, sustainable, and globally minded growth.

The headquarters will serve as IKIGAI’s regional hub across six strategic pillars: investment banking, fintech and digital banking, technology and deep-tech development, real estate and hospitality, agriculture and trade, and Japan–Vietnam talent mobility. The expansion further strengthens economic and cultural ties between Japan and Vietnam while supporting Vietnam’s modernization and digital transformation efforts.

“Vietnam is one of Asia’s most dynamic and promising markets,” said Mr. Toshihiro Soda, CEO of IKIGAI Corporation. “With our new headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City, we reaffirm our commitment to long-term value creation, cross-border collaboration, and bringing Japanese quality with compliance discipline, innovation, and sustainability principles to Vietnam.”

IKIGAI embraces a leadership philosophy that views business as a force for positive global impact. The corporation is dedicated to growth that enhances societal well-being, environmental resilience, technological advancement, and cross-border harmony — reflecting its belief in building value that uplifts communities and contributes to a more sustainable, equitable, and compassionate world.

Grounded in the IKIGAI philosophy and guided by its cultural DNA, the corporation’s governance is anchored in eight core values: goodness, diligence, integrity, wisdom, resilience, compassion, gratitude, and harmony. 

These principles shape IKIGAI’s human-centered, ethical, and future-oriented development, and inspire the corporation’s mission to contribute meaningfully to a better world.

About IKIGAI Corporation

IKIGAI embraces a leadership philosophy that views business as a force for positive global impact. The corporation is dedicated to growth that enhances societal well-being, environmental resilience, technological advancement, and cross-border harmony — reflecting its belief in building value that uplifts communities and contributes to a more sustainable, equitable, and compassionate world.

Media Contact

Soda Toshihiro
info@ikigaicorporation.jp

Unlisted, a groundbreaking digital real estate community focused on the 98% of homes that aren’t for sale — yet, today announced that Kelly Kang of the RE-VESTA Group has joined the platform as the exclusive Local Expert for buyers and homeowners in ZIP code 98004. She joins Unlisted alongside her RE-VESTA colleagues Jenn Burke and Rachel Schindler, strengthening the group’s presence across the Eastside and the broader Seattle region.

Unlisted’s technology opens new possibilities across the real estate landscape. Buyers are able to discover homes that match their needs even those not listed on the MLS. Homeowners gain clarity about interest around their property and can connect with vetted agents who understand their local market. Real estate professionals gain a platform that elevates their expertise and encourages new conversations rooted in insight and opportunity. 

The platform uses publicly available data to create a digital property profile for every home in the country. These profiles can be filtered, searched, and curated to reveal homes that meet a buyer’s criteria, including properties not currently for sale. For homeowners, this provides a deeper understanding of local demand and expands their awareness of potential opportunities. 

Each real estate professional selected by Unlisted receives an agent profile connected to every home profile within their ZIP code. With only one agent chosen per ZIP, the program highlights trusted leaders with proven local expertise. As Unlisted’s network grows, the platform remains committed to fostering clarity, transparency, and meaningful connection among buyers, homeowners, and agents nationwide. 

With 14 years of experience in luxury real estate, Kelly Kang is a trusted advisor across two of the country’s most competitive markets: Silicon Valley and the Greater Seattle Area. She is known for her strategic approach, strong negotiation skills, and deep understanding of hyper-local trends. 

Before entering real estate, Kelly practiced as a construction litigation attorney, representing contractors across California. Her legal background sharpened her ability to navigate complex transactions, identify potential risks, and advocate fiercely on behalf of her clients — skills that continue to differentiate her in today’s competitive landscape. 

Kelly specializes in advising families, tech executives, and investors seeking thoughtfully prepared homes in highly desirable neighborhoods. Her concierge-level service includes strategic pricing, expert staging guidance, and global exposure through the Sotheby’s International Realty network. Whether she is marketing a Silicon Valley home to international buyers or helping a Bellevue family succeed in multiple offers, Kelly approaches every transaction with exceptional attention to detail and unwavering dedication.

Now based in Bellevue with her husband, two elementary-aged children, and rescue terrier, Kelly understands the role that community, lifestyle, and education play in the home search. She is an avid cyclist, design enthusiast, and outdoor adventurer who enjoys exploring local trails and coffee shops. 

“Bellevue is one of the most dynamic, high-demand markets in the region,” said Kang. “Partnering with Unlisted allows me to offer my clients a more expansive view of their options. It helps bring clarity to an often overwhelming process.” 

“We’re so happy to welcome Kelly Kang as the Local Expert for 98004,” said Katie Hill, founder and CEO of Unlisted. “Kelly’s legal background, strategic mindset, and deep expertise in both Seattle and Silicon Valley make her an extraordinary partner.” 

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

To learn more about Kelly Kang, visit her Unlisted Profile or RE-VESTA.

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

Sophia Jacomet
sophia@unlistedinc.com

StackBlitz announced today that Bolt.new, the AI-powered builder for websites, web apps, and mobile apps, is now available in AWS Marketplace, a digital catalog with thousands of software listings from independent software vendors that make it easy to find, test, buy, and deploy software that runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Bolt.new lets users build web and mobile apps by describing their project in plain language, making development accessible to everyone, regardless of past coding experience. Bolt supports both frontend and backend development in the browser, providing enterprise-grade backend infrastructure, including hosting, databases, integrations, and more.

Its unique multi-agent infrastructure orchestrates several specialized agents, each optimized for tasks such as coding, validation, and design. By integrating state-of-the-art models like Claude Code and OpenAI Codex directly into its workflow, Bolt.new gives users the flexibility to select and switch agents without leaving a visual development environment.

AWS customers will now have access to Bolt.new directly within AWS Marketplace. This enables AWS customers to streamline the purchase and management of Bolt.new within their AWS Marketplace account.

"We’re excited to bring Bolt.new to millions of builders and enterprises in AWS Marketplace because we’re solving one of the biggest bottlenecks in product development: the time product managers spend building consensus,” said Alexander Berger, chief operating officer at Bolt.new.

“Before Bolt.new, PMs spent weeks going back and forth with design, getting buy-in from leadership and customers, and coordinating across multiple teams just to validate a concept," Berger added. "Now they can build working prototypes themselves, put them in users’ hands immediately, and build stakeholder alignment around something real. That’s the difference between iterating in weeks versus months — and in fast-moving markets, that velocity is everything."

"Bolt.new has cut our design-to-development cycle in half by accelerating product discovery and validation, since we no longer need engineers to write code for prototypes," says Sai Kishore, head of product at Zoho. "We can now test 10 to 15 feature variations in the time it used to take us to finalize two. What makes Bolt.new so impactful is that it eliminates the ‘what ifs.’ Everyone on our team can see exactly what we're building from day one.”

Bolt.new is now generally available in AWS Marketplace.

About StackBlitz

StackBlitz is the company behind Bolt.new, an AI-powered platform that lets anyone build web and mobile apps through natural language prompts. Founded in 2017 by Eric Simons and Albert Pai, StackBlitz created WebContainers, a browser-based operating system that enables users to build, preview, and publish apps without complex setups or cloud services. Since launching Bolt.new in October 2024, the company has grown to over seven million users globally. StackBlitz has raised $135 million from investors including Emergence Capital, GV, Greylock Partners, Insight Partners, and Madrona Venture Group. For more information, visit bolt.new.

Media Contact

Six Eastern
hello@sixeastern.com

The Global Kratom Coalition coalition today applauded recent enforcement action by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that resulted in the seizure of approximately 73,000 units of concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) opioid products from three Missouri warehouses, including facilities operated by Shaman Botanicals, LLC.

Among the seized products, valued at roughly $1 million, were liquid shots and tablets that contained high levels of concentrated synthetic 7-OH as an added ingredient, according to the FDA. These items often masquerade as all-natural supplements or are erroneously labelled as “kratom” products on retail shelves, causing marketplace confusion and adverse health outcomes for consumers.

“In executing this seizure, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Justice have demonstrated their commitment to keeping lab-made opioid products out of our stores and off our streets,” said Mattew Lowe, executive director of the Global Kratom Coalition. “Such federal enforcement actions are critical to curbing the spread of concentrated synthetic 7-OH and preventing a new wave of America’s opioid epidemic.”

Crucially, concentrated synthetic 7-OH has not been approved by the FDA for medical use, and it cannot be lawfully added to dietary supplements or conventional foods. The FDA’s efforts to distinguish between natural kratom leaf and dangerous synthetic derivatives underscore the established safety profile of this centuries-old botanical, especially compared to lab-made opioid products like those distributed by Shaman Botanicals, LLC, operated by Kansas City kingpin Vince Sanders.

The FDA previously issued a warning letter in June to Sanders’ Shaman Botanicals for illegally marketing products containing concentrated synthetic 7-OH, and Missouri’s attorney general launched a probe in November into Shaman Botanicals and its affiliate, CBD American Shaman, following a deeply reported investigative series by the Kansas City Star. Days later, FDA officials conducted a raid of two Sanders-owned facilities.

The FDA’s latest seizure comes as individual states and localities continue to pursue similar enforcement actions. Earlier this month, Florida authorities and federal partners seized 92,000 pounds of concentrated synthetic 7-OH from a suspect allegedly distributing the substance and seeking to ship it out of state. The operation also recovered 12 rifles, 17 pistols, and five improvised explosive devices.

These operations have grown increasingly necessary in the absence of comprehensive, nationwide action by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Although the FDA in July recommended classifying concentrated synthetic 7-OH as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, the DEA has yet to adopt that recommendation. 

About Global Kratom Coalition

The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of natural kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting access to natural leaf kratom while advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations to protect consumers. For more information, visit globalkratomcoalition.org.

Media Contact

Media Contact
info@globalkratomcoalition.org

Major League Hacking (MLH), the world’s leading community of developers, has announced an initiative to expand access to blockchain education and hands-on learning for next-gen developers worldwide, with a focus on Solana, the fastest-growing blockchain ecosystem.

Through this initiative, the Solana ecosystem will debut at MLH hackathons, giving developers opportunities to explore blockchain technology and gain practical experience through hands-on workshops, challenges, and mentorship. The initiative will expand to include a Solana Micro-Grant Program, awarding up to 75 developer grants ranging from several hundred to a few thousand dollars each through December 2026 to support promising builders in continuing their work beyond hackathons.

“Our mission has always been to help developers learn by doing,” said Mike Swift, CEO and co-founder of MLH. “By focusing on Solana, we’re connecting developers directly to an active ecosystem where their projects and skills can evolve into real startups and careers.”

The collaboration aims to increase awareness and adoption of Solana among next-gen developers, attract new builders into the ecosystem, and create sustained engagement through continued funding and mentorship opportunities. Participants will also have access to Solana-related educational tracks through MLH’s Fellowship Program, where students can contribute directly to open-source projects in the ecosystem instead of a traditional internship.

“We believe the next wave of blockchain innovation will come from students and early-career developers,” said Jacob Creech, head of developer relations at Solana. “Communities like MLH allow the next generation of talent to find the tools, mentorship, and funding needed to experiment on Solana and bring new ideas to life.”

In addition to hackathon integrations, the initiative will include workshops, developer challenges, and content designed to help participants learn key concepts such as Solana program development, payments, and AI. While the initial rollout will focus on developers in North America, the efforts will include global opportunities such as “100 Days of Solana,” an open developer learning challenge.

The Solana Micro-Grant Program, expected to open for applications in early 2026, will provide funding to a diverse range of projects, including developer tools, public-good infrastructure, educational templates, and early-stage startups building on Solana. In addition to financial support, recipients will receive community mentorship and exposure within the Solana ecosystem.

About Major League Hacking (MLH)

Major League Hacking (MLH) is the global community powering the next generation of developers. With a network of more than one million developers worldwide, MLH helps technical talent gain real-world experience through global hackathons, online fellowship programs, and open-source projects. Each year, MLH supports thousands of hackathon events across nearly 100 countries and runs competitive developer fellowships that prepare participants for professional success. Through these programs, MLH gathers unique insights and skills data that help partners like Meta, GitHub, and Google identify, train, and hire top emerging technical talent. For more information, visit mlh.io.

Media Contact

Hannah Richman
hannah@althealabs.co

The Gabby Petito Foundation™ and Looped Solutions™ announce the “Million to One” fundraiser — a nationwide campaign calling one million people to donate one dollar each to help launch HERO QR™. With the formation of Committee for Victim Technology Reform (CVTR) and with the help of donations, HERO QR will critically serve as clandestine victim-referral and evidence-capture system designed to give first responders a safe, standardized way to discreetly connect victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking to qualified help and resources.

When Gabby’s story reached the world, it awakened a movement. It reminded her parents that every victim deserves safe help the moment they need it, no matter where they are or who may be watching. As they traveled the country sharing that message, they witnessed a heartbreaking truth: there are no consistent tools to protect survivors from digital surveillance, cloned devices, hidden tracking, or even to safely reach out for help. Meanwhile, abusers are adopting advanced technology faster than the systems meant to protect victims.

This national gap, paired with the alarming statistic of 20 people per minute in the U.S. experiencing physical intimate partner violence, led Gabby’s parents to establish the CVTR, which will seek partnerships with organizations and experts committed to creating the modern safety tools survivors desperately deserve. The program will transform first-contact response, it will ensure victims can safely seek help even under surveillance, and it will generate the resources needed to deploy HERO QR into communities across the country.

“The fact that abusers have more advanced tools than the people trying to escape them is unacceptable. We’re committed to changing that because survivors can’t wait, and neither can we,” said Joe Petito, Gabby’s father and vice president of the Gabby Petito Foundation.

Through initiatives like HERO QR, a discreet referral system currently being developed in partnership with Looped Solutions, CVTR aims to build a national safety ecosystem where survivors can seek help without fear and where every first responder has the tools they need to protect them.

In 2021, Gabby was stopped by police following a 911 call reporting an altercation. A further investigation revealed missed opportunities for intervention, igniting a national demand for better tools and stronger training, ensuring first contact is never again a missed chance for safety.

HERO QR will enter as the next step in carrying Gabby’s legacy forward and will equip police, EMS, fire, and healthcare professionals with a safe, invisible way to connect victims to trusted help instantly — even if their device is being monitored by an abuser. With a simple scan, victims will be guided through a secure, untraceable doorway to resources, support, and a connection to an advocate.

“We cannot allow technology to keep working against victims. HERO QR is our commitment to ensuring that first responders have the tools every survivor deserves access to,” said Nichole Schmidt, Gabby’s mother and president of the Gabby Petito Foundation.

Today the “Million to One” campaign launches to honor the power of collective action — transforming one silenced voice into a million voices for change. The campaign is optimistic in raising $1,000,000 which will fund the development of HERO QR, support training and onboarding for pilot first-responder agencies, build the infrastructure needed to deploy HERO QR into communities, and ensure no call for help goes unanswered.

“Our work with CVTR and HERO QR represent a critical step toward giving survivors the protection they deserve. Technology should never tip the scales in favor of abuse, and we’re committed to helping shift that balance,” said Kara Wasser, founder and CEO of Looped Solutions.

Donors can join the “Million to One’ movement at givebutter.com/gabbysmillion, where one dollar can easily become a million voices that can protect those, like Gabby, who cannot speak for themselves.

For safety professionals looking for more information and education on HERO QR, please visit www.loopedsolutions.com/heroqr.

For anyone experiencing domestic violence or knows of someone who needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, text “START” 88788 and/or chat live at thehotline.org. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers free, confidential support.

About Looped Solutions

Looped Solutions is a Western Pennsylvania technology company that builds secure, privacy-centered digital communication tools for healthcare, community agencies, and vulnerable populations. The company’s platforms create safe, seamless pathways for connection during critical moments — whether in medical settings, social services, or crisis response. By combining secure technology with human-centered design, Looped Solutions helps organizations improve communication, strengthen support networks, and reach the people who need them most. For more information, visit www.loopedsolutions.com. 

About The Gabby Petito Foundation

The Gabby Petito Foundation is committed to driving meaningful change in the fight against domestic violence and missing persons. Inspired by Gabby’s legacy, the Foundation’s mission is to take action on the front lines — partnering with organizations and equipping communities and first responders with the tools, training, and support needed to prevent and respond collectively to violence and to protect those at risk. Together, they aim to build a future where every voice is heard and every life is valued. For more information, visit gabbypetitofoundation.org. 

About the Committee for Victim Technology Reform (CVTR)

The Committee for Victim Technology Reform was created by the Gabby Petito Foundation to confront a growing national crisis: victims are being harmed with modern technology, yet the systems designed to protect them have not kept pace. CVTR brings together a multidisciplinary network of domestic violence experts, technologists, first responders, policy leaders, and survivor-advocates to develop the standards, tools, and protections needed in today’s digital landscape. For more information, visit victimtechreform.org.

Media Contact

Nichole Schmidt
President, Gabby Petito Foundation
nichole_schmidt@gabbypetitofoundation.org

Lisa DiMuccio-Zgela
Chief Marketing Officer, Looped Solutions
lzgela@loopedsolutions.com

Safebooks Inc., the pioneer in financial data governance, today announced its emergence from stealth and securing $15 million in seed funding led by 10D, Propel Ventures, and Mensch Capital with participation from Moneta Venture Capital, Magnolia Capital, Cerca Fund, Blue Moon, and other strategic investors.

With its emergence from stealth, Safebooks introduced a first-of-its-kind solution for the Office of the CFO: Agentic Revenue Integrity (ARI). ARI is the intelligent automation layer for quote-to-revenue finance operations that not only monitors revenue data but acts on it, delivering precision, speed, and real-time assurance. It works on top of your existing systems, processes, and infrastructure, so nothing needs to change or be replaced.

Traditional revenue, order, and deal desk management processes rely heavily on manual reviews, reconciliations, and data entry, underscoring the growing need for order management automation. Safebooks replaces those manual dependencies with continuous monitoring, reconciliation, and AI-powered automation. This drives faster deal reviews, eliminates manual inefficiencies, unifies structured and unstructured data into a single, trusted source of truth, and ensures enterprise-grade, audit-ready compliance at scale.

"Finance teams spend most of their time on data integrity, ensuring revenue data matches across systems. We built Safebooks to automate that work, using AI, as part of a deep data platform that understands how financial data, structured and unstructured, connects across the CFO's entire tech stack. It restores confidence in the data itself, without the manual effort," said Ahikam Kaufman, Safebooks co-founder and CEO. Ahikam previously co-founded Check, the payments company acquired by Intuit, and held senior leadership roles at Mercury, HP, and Intuit.

Safebooks builds a complete map of how financial data connects across systems, linking opportunities to invoices, contracts to billing records, and payments to revenue recognition. The platform reads documents in any format and validates they match what's in your CRM, ERP, and billing systems. AI monitors these connections continuously, catching discrepancies as they happen and can also auto-remediate them. The result is unified visibility across all revenue data without replacing existing systems or processes.

Since launch, Safebooks has monitored over $40 billion in financial transactions, and eliminated thousands of hours of manual reconciliation for enterprise SaaS companies. Using ARI to connect systems, documents, and data sources in real time, Safebooks continuously validates every transaction to ensure revenue data completeness and accuracy, giving finance leaders live visibility and confidence in their numbers. This transforms revenue assurance from a reactive exercise into a continuous, proactive control that accelerates deal cycles and improves cash flow predictability.

“AI is redefining how enterprises operate, and the Office of the CFO is the next domain to be transformed. Safebooks AI is building the foundational infrastructure for this shift, empowering large organizations to run on trusted, governed, and continuously accurate financial data. Every enterprise will need this layer to operate with confidence at scale, and Safebooks is years ahead in making that future real,” said Yahal Zilka, Managing Partner at 10D.

About Safebooks

Safebooks, founded in 2023 and headquartered in San Francisco, is pioneering Agentic Revenue Integrity, the agentic layer that autonomously runs quote-to-revenue operations with accuracy, intelligence, and real-time control. Built on a foundation of governed, trusted financial data and powered by its proprietary Financial Data Graph, Safebooks automates document and cross-system reconciliations, hundreds of data controls, and documentation, to ensure every transaction is complete, accurate, and compliant across structured and unstructured data. By eliminating manual reviews and continuously monitoring data across systems, Safebooks helps finance teams prevent revenue leakage, accelerate deal cycles, and operate with speed, efficiency, and confidence at scale. For more information, visit safebooks.ai.

Media Contact

Yuval Michaeli
VP of Marketing, Safebooks
yuval@safebooks.ai

Unlisted, a groundbreaking digital real estate community focused on the 98% of homes that aren’t for sale — yet, announced today that Jenn Burke of the RE-VESTA Group has joined the platform as the exclusive Local Expert for buyers and homeowners in ZIP code 98008. She joins Unlisted alongside her RE-VESTA team members Kelly Kang and Rachel Schindler, further strengthening the platform’s presence across the greater Seattle region.

Unlisted’s technology introduces new opportunities across the real estate landscape. Buyers gain new ways to discover homes that match their lifestyle beyond what’s listed on the MLS. Homeowners gain a clearer sense of interest in their property and the ability to connect with potential buyers. Real estate professionals gain tools that highlight their expertise, deepen their community presence, and unlock new paths to meaningful conversations.

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 lists of homes that meet a buyer’s criteria even if they aren’t currently for sale. For homeowners, these records offer insights into how their home fits into local demand, expanding the possibilities they may not have considered.

Each vetted real estate professional in Unlisted’s network receives an agent profile connected to every home profile within their ZIP code. Only one agent is selected per ZIP, emphasizing credibility, local insight, and trusted expertise. As the network grows, Unlisted remains committed to fostering connection, clarity, and opportunity for buyers, homeowners, and agents.

Jenn brings a practical, grounded approach to real estate shaped by her background in sales, marketing, and client communication. Her commitment to understanding each client’s goals, whether they’re first-time buyers, investors, or longtime homeowners, allows her to tailor strategies with clarity and confidence.

Originally from Northern California and later based in Reno, Jenn has called the greater Seattle area home for more than a decade. Her deep knowledge of neighborhoods from Bellevue to Mercer Island and surrounding communities equips clients with thoughtful, local guidance as they navigate today’s market. Her reputation as a trusted advisor stems not only from her expertise, but also from her genuine care and dedication to building long-lasting relationships.

Outside of real estate, Jenn is deeply connected to her community. She enjoys quality time with friends and family, leads her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, participates in local volunteer efforts, and inspires wellness as a certified Pilates instructor. Her involvement reflects her belief that strong communities are built through authentic connection — an ethos she brings into every client relationship.

“Bellevue and the surrounding Eastside communities offer an exceptional quality of life,” said Burke. “I’m excited to partner with Unlisted because it can create clarity, opportunity, and more pathways to informed decisions.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jenn Burke to our network of Local Experts,” said Katie Hill, founder and CEO of Unlisted. “Her dedication to her clients and her community truly embodies the kind of resources Unlisted strives to bring to our users in each market.”

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

To learn more about Jenn Burke, visit her Unlisted Profile or RE-VESTA.

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

Sophia Jacomet
sophia@unlistedinc.com

Adeptify, the leadership development brand of the boutique consultancy Center for Transformative Leadership, announces the launch of Leading Clearly, its new leadership program designed to help managers and emerging leaders strengthen their capabilities through structured practice applied directly to real workplace challenges. Created for small and medium-sized organizations seeking accessible, long-term leadership growth, the program begins pilot activity ahead of its staged rollout in 2026.

Adeptify has observed that many managers step into leadership abruptly, often promoted for strong individual performance or placed into new roles during periods of rapid growth. While some may take leadership courses, research has found that many later realize applying those ideas under real pressure is far more challenging. These observations about a persistent knowing-doing gap have informed Adeptify’s design approach, leading to a program intended to meet leaders where they are and support development through contextually informed engagement, reflection, and repeated practice.

“Becoming the kind of leader people can rely on starts with subtle shifts in how you relate to yourself and others. That means cultivating grounded humility, curiosity, and presence that gradually shape how teams move together,” says Dr. Jonathan Reams, co-founder and principal consultant of Adeptify. This commitment to gradual, sustainable change forms the foundation of the program’s structure and method.

To help leaders make these shifts, the platform combines guided micro-learning, structured reflection, cohort interaction, and optional coaching. These components work together through what Adeptify calls “learning loops,” cycles of input, making distinctions, experimentation, reflection, insight, and adjustment that encourage meaningful behavioral change over time. Leading Clearly helps participants build clarity and capability from the inside out by using a curriculum grounded in real interactions, such as conversations, decisions, conflicts, and moments of uncertainty.

The learning process moves through three interconnected phases for each module. The first focuses on situational awareness, a foundational ability for recognizing what is happening within oneself and in one’s environment. Participants learn to notice patterns in their reactions, understand how context influences behavior, and identify learning opportunities in routine work. This phase establishes the perceptual groundwork for clearer thinking, communicating, and connecting. 

The second phase deepens this work. For example, by introducing concepts, distinctions, and methods for examining cognitive biases, limiting assumptions, and emotional influences, cloudy judgment can be cleared up. Through simple frameworks and reflective prompts, participants learn to slow down automatic thinking, reframe situations, and make better judgments that support stronger decision-making.

Building on these insights, the third phase focuses on habituating new behaviors. Leaders iterate each learning loop process, refining their thinking, communicating, and connecting skills, resulting in strengthened inner clarity and confidence. This helps them navigate complex relationships and build trust across teams and stakeholder groups. This process of gradual repetition helps constructive responses become more natural, even in situations marked by uncertainty, pressure, or conflicting expectations.

Throughout the program, participants personalize program learning goals so they are tied to their actual leadership challenges. They practice new approaches in context, reflect on results, and refine their skills through peer dialogue and facilitator guidance. Micro-learning prompts encourage small, easily practiced steps, while additional support is available for deepening insight and practice.

Adeptify designed the Leading Clearly program to be adaptable for internal facilitation, allowing organizations to broaden access without relying exclusively on external delivery. This supports companies seeking long-term, scalable development options while ensuring that learning remains embedded in the rhythms of regular work. Early adopters include organizations interested in piloting this reflective, practice-based leadership development model and contributing feedback to inform continued refinement.

The program’s design is informed by the experience of Reams, an expert in adult development and leadership transformation. His academic work, including designing and facilitating university and client-based leadership programs, has shaped an approach that integrates research-grounded insights with field-tested practicality. Adeptify’s broader mission is to democratize leadership development, enabling organizations to create leaderful cultures. 

The core of the Leading Clearly experience spans 12 to 16 weeks, with an optional extension of up to six months for participants seeking deeper integration. Adeptify is also building on client experience and research to provide follow-up with advanced modules for personalized learning pathways built from integrating high-touch assessments with personalized learning loops.

Across all elements, Leading Clearly emphasizes accessible, research-informed development that aims to help leaders think and communicate more effectively and connect with greater awareness and relational intelligence. Adeptify invites organizations and learning professionals to inquire about partnering and contributing to shaping the program as it moves toward release. As well, Adeptify is partnering with the Creating Common Ground Institute to offer an open enrollment program for individual leaders beginning in early 2026. 

About Adeptify

Adeptify is a boutique leadership development company helping managers and emerging leaders grow through practical, research-based learning. Its flagship program, Leading Clearly, launching in 2026, blends micro-learning, reflection, and coaching to close the gap between knowing and doing, guiding leaders to build resilience and stronger team alignment. To learn more, visit www.adeptify.co.

Media Contact

Jonathan Reams
jr@adeptify.co

USLege, the AI-powered platform transforming how professionals track and engage with legislation, has officially completed its SOC 2 Type II audit. We are thrilled to announce that we received the highest level of compliance with a clean report and achieved TX-RAMP Level 2 certification, making it the only legislative intelligence platform in Texas to meet these gold-standard security benchmarks.

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls) is the industry standard for third-party audits of cloud-based software, developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Combined with Texas’s own TX-RAMP certification, required for technology vendors working with state agencies, these certifications validate USLege’s enterprise-grade approach to security, data integrity, and compliance.

“We are big data privacy nerds over here. We built USLege to be the fastest and most secure legislative platform on the market,” said Laura Carr, co-founder of USLege. “This certification affirms that security is not just a feature, it’s foundational. Our users from law firms to government agencies trust us with sensitive data, and we take that responsibility incredibly seriously.”

“SOC 2 compliance is about trust,” added Ben Brewer, USLege's co-founding CTO. “Our customers rely on us to be always-on, always-secure, and never compromise the confidentiality of their data. Maintaining compliance through our SOC 2 Type II audit confirms our commitment to building systems that deliver exactly that.”

“Security has always been our standard,” said Eric Davis, CEO of USLege. “We’re not reacting to pressure — we’re building for longevity in a zero-fail industry. And now, as the only legislative platform in Texas meeting both SOC2 and TX-RAMP Level 2 compliance standards, that trust is backed by independent validation.”

Why Certification Matters in Government Work

In government affairs, where reputations, regulations, and billions in policy decisions are on the line, trusting software that hasn’t been independently audited is a risk no serious team should take. If your platform isn’t SOC 2 compliant or TX-RAMP certified, it hasn’t proven it takes protecting your data seriously. For legal teams, public agencies, and government relations professionals working in high-stakes, high-compliance environments, anything less than verified security is a liability.

USLege is proud to be the only legislative intelligence platform in Texas to meet both SOC 2 and TX-RAMP standards, because in this industry, security isn’t optional. It’s mission-critical.

Learn more about USLege Data Security in our convenient Trust Center.

About USLege

USLege is an AI-powered legislative tracking platform transforming how government affairs professionals track, analyze, and act on policy at the local, state, and federal levels across the U.S. Built for the fragmented and fast-moving world of government relations, USLege unifies legislative CRM, live government video, and real-time bill tracking, powered by a customizable AI agent that delivers instant alerts, stakeholder-specific insights, and tailored content that matters. For more information, visit www.uslege.ai.

Media Contact

Jess McDonald
Head of Marketing, USLege
jess@uslege.ai

OPay is pleased to share that James (“Jim”) Perry has joined us as our Chief Financial Officer, effective December 1.

In this role, Jim will lead OPay’s financial strategy, capital planning, and investor relations as we continue to scale our fintech ecosystem across Africa and expand globally. He will work closely with our founder and Chairman, James Zhou, and our broader leadership team.

Jim brings nearly 30 years of industry experience, having worked across New York, London, Palo Alto, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He spent 28 years at Citigroup, including the past 15 years in Asia as Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific Technology Investment Banking, and completed a short stint as CFO of Zilingo.

Over his career, he helped companies raise approximately US$180 billion in equity and debt capital and advised on more than US$80 billion in M&A transactions. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business from The Pennsylvania State University.

“I’m excited to join OPay at such a pivotal stage of its growth,” said Jim. “OPay is building one of the most important fintech platforms in emerging markets, and I look forward to working with the team to help shape our next chapter.”  

We’re delighted to welcome Jim to OPay.

Stan Ventures is celebrating over 15 years of search excellence in the digital marketing realm. Founded in 2009, Stan Ventures has grown from a solo laptop side hustle into an Indo-American white-label SEO and link-building partner for small and medium agencies.

Led by Prady Kumaar, Stan Ventures is built on a model that merges U.S.-based client experience with India’s technical capabilities, allowing agencies to offer SEO fulfillment services under their own brands without expanding their internal teams. Over the years, Stan Ventures has defined its position as a practical solution for digital, creative, and social media agencies seeking reliable white-label, SEO, and link-building fulfillments.

The company was born out of Kumaar’s early passion for blogging. “I was just writing articles and getting published for small remuneration,” he recalls. “After some time, I understood I could make blogging into a full-time business.” Venturing deeper into the realm of writing and publishing, he began to recognize the true value of backlinks and their influence on organic rankings.

“Backlinks became the next big thing. I understood they could support brands that wanted their products or websites ranked for competitive keywords,” he says. Stan Ventures was born from this very insight, which began by supporting brands and agencies through a growing network of blogs and outreach relationships.

Based in Illinois and Bangalore, India, the company today offers a full suite of white-label AI-SEO solutions, brand mentions, and blogger outreach, with core services that include link building, business optimization, LLM optimization, high-quality backlinks for both standard search engines and LLM-driven environments, and AI-SEO support.

Kumaar emphasizes that a key differentiator of the company lies in the Indo-American structure. “The technical outreach and SEO fulfillment teams operate from India, while client services and account support are led from the U.S.,” he says. “This inclusivity has allowed us to maintain competitive pricing and transparency, without added overhead costs.”

According to him, Stan Ventures’ business model is built to support agencies of various sizes, particularly those generating between $10 million and $50 million in revenue, as well as smaller digital marketing teams and freelancers seeking scalable SEO fulfillment.

“Today, the SEO landscape is shifting toward generative engines and intent-based results. It’s not a number game anymore, but rather about intent,” Kumaar emphasizes. This belief informs Stan Ventures’ approach, where emerging AI-driven search behavior stands as one of its main areas of focus.

“Generative engines will pre-decide outcomes, so brands need strong content and backlinks from authority websites,” he says. This alignment, Kumaar explains, could signal to LLMs that a brand delivers meaningful value to its audience, strengthening its presence in AI-driven search experiences.

Stan Ventures is committed to individualized service, where each client relationship begins with understanding the reason behind their outreach, whether they prioritize pricing and speed efficiency or premium link quality. “There is no one-size-fits-all,” Kumaar says. “The only way to maintain relationships is through a tailored, hyper-personalized approach. Every client comes with their own goals, and we want to fulfill that with transparency and care.”

As Stan Ventures celebrates over 15 years, its goals for the future lie in expanding its Indo-American team presence and strengthening its position in the LLM-SEO and link-building market. Through it all, Kumaar’s vision is laser-focused on inimitability. “We want to become the number one Indo-American white-label LLM-SEO and link-building agency,” he says. And in that pursuit, Stan Ventures continues its mission to be at the forefront of SEO fulfillment, helping businesses scale confidently in a changing digital landscape.

About Stan Ventures

Prady Kumaar is an entrepreneur who journeyed from being a college student and passionate blogger to becoming the founder of multiple digital marketing agencies. Discovering his innate entrepreneurial spirit, he founded his primary venture, Stan Ventures, in 2010. Today, Stan Ventures offers white-label SEO and link-building services to help businesses accelerate their brands. For more information, visit www.stanventures.com.

Media Contact

Prady Kumaar
pkumaar@stanventures.com

Let’s face it, any devoted pet parent knows their camera roll is at least 50% furry faces. But what actually happens to all those great photos? Mixtiles has created a surprisingly fun answer.

Using advanced AI, a single pet photo can be turned into a series of imaginative bath-time scenes: your cat reclining with cucumber slices over their eyes or your dog wrapped in a towel turban enjoying a spa moment.

Anyone who has ever tried giving their pet a bath understands exactly why these images make people smile. They feel personal, they spark conversation, and they add instant character to a room. They also solve the ongoing question of what to hang in a bathroom with something both stylish and adorable.

Inspired by a popular TikTok trend, Mixtiles built a seamless experience that makes it simple for anyone to turn their pet’s photo into memorable bathroom art. The company continues to develop new AI-powered pet concepts on Mixtiles.com, offering fresh ways for people to turn everyday snapshots into design pieces filled with personality.

About Mixtiles

Mixtiles was founded in 2016 by Eytan Levit and David Katz, with a mission to remove friction from life’s simple pleasures through exceptional design. The company’s philosophy is to use cutting-edge technology like AI, AR, and IoT not for its own sake, but to make homes more joyful and effortless.

Products

• Mixtiles Photos — Mixtiles transforms digital photos into lightweight, peel and stick photo tiles that mount to walls (over 95 million tiles sold globally).
• Easyplant — Self-watering plants in ceramic pots that you fill once a month, and they can help your plants live up to six times as long.
• Oasis — Smart lighting that follows your circadian rhythm, wakes you gently, and winds you down naturally.

The Product: AI Pet Templates

AI Pet templates is Mixtiles' newest innovation, a playful, surprisingly human application of artificial intelligence. Upload a single photo of your dog or cat, and within minutes, receive a fully AI-generated gallery wall showing your pet enjoying a spa day. Each image is transformed into a Mixtiles frame ready to hang with a simple peel and stick.

The product launched with bath time templates and has since expanded to include kitchen, bedroom, and other room-specific scenarios. Pet parents can mix and match different scenes or create galleries featuring multiple pets.

Why AI Pet Templates Is Genius

Innovation with Purpose: While most AI focuses on efficiency, Mixtiles is about celebrating relationships. It asks a different question: how can AI deepen the bonds we already cherish? Your camera roll is probably already full of pet photos— now those moments can become personalized art that makes you smile every day.

Solves an Overlooked Problem: Bathrooms are notoriously hard to decorate. If the space feels too formal, it comes off as stiff and unwelcoming. But family photos can feel a little too intimate for guests. Pet spa portraits are the perfect solution — they’re whimsical, personal, funny, and they instantly start conversations.

Creates the Impossible: Try photographing your dog with cucumbers on their eyes — it’s not going to happen. AI makes it possible to create moments of pure delight that reality simply won’t cooperate with.

Instant Gallery Wall: You can go from upload to gallery wall in just minutes. A single photo can become a full gallery wall that tells a complete visual story. It’s the perfect intersection of convenience and creativity — low effort, high reward.

Beyond Bathrooms: Now includes kitchen, bedroom, and other room scenarios. Mix and match multiple pets and templates for endless creativity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does it work?

Upload one photo of your pet, and AI Pet generates 4 to 6 high-quality portraits in different styles and compositions  all based on your pet’s real features.

Why only one photo?

Our AI is trained to understand pets’ shapes, colors, and facial structures from a single image, so you get great results without needing multiple angles.

Do the images come out print-ready?

Yes. All generated images are produced in high resolution and optimized for printing on Mixtiles.

Can I order Mixtiles directly from the results?

Absolutely. After choosing your favorite portrait, you can order it printed as Mixtiles immediately.

What kinds of pets does it work with?

Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, reptiles — and pretty much any pet.

How long does it take?

Results are typically ready in under a minute.

Do I need a perfect photo?

No. Even simple or imperfect photos usually work well — the AI enhances clarity and detail.

Is it safe?

Yes. Your photo is used solely for generating your AI Pet results and handled according to Mixtiles’ privacy and security standards.

About Getfluence

Getfluence is a global marketplace dedicated to sponsored content campaigns. We connect brands and agencies with the most influential digital media, to increase your visibility and awareness. For more information, visit getfluence.com.

Media Contact

Stephane Baron
stephane.baron@getfluence.com

Businesses and consumers face rising expectations for speed, transparency and tailored digital experiences. To help them navigate this shift, StartupMafia has identified ten companies offering solutions that address real operational and behavioral challenges.

10101.art

10101.art opens the door to high-value cultural assets by making shared ownership of fine art accessible through a Web3-enabled ecosystem. It bridges traditional art-market stability with blockchain transparency, helping businesses diversify assets and engage new audiences through fractionalized art ownership.

The platform distinguishes itself with a full-stack approach that combines blockchain infrastructure, legal frameworks, and exclusive global art events. Its model turns fine art into a liquid, shareable, and dynamic asset class.

Galaxy4Games

Galaxy4Games develops gaming experiences for publishers, startups, and global brands, covering everything from casual mobile games to large-scale MMORPGs. Its modular development system and LiveOps capabilities allow clients to accelerate production and introduce new titles faster.

The company stands out for its engineering-driven framework that reduces costs and enables scalable deployment. Its reusable game application templates support consistent quality and adaptability in a rapidly evolving gaming market.

EssayPro

EssayPro, an essay writing service from the United States, provides a marketplace for custom academic writing, connecting students with vetted writers for essays, research papers, dissertations, and admission documents. It integrates plagiarism checks, AI detection, and milestone-based payments to ensure transparency and academic integrity.

The service stands out for its large pool of verified writers, 24/7 support, and free study tools, including citation generators and AI-powered helpers. With more than 1.5 million users, it offers fast turnaround times and a structured, user-driven workflow.

Romantic AI

Romantic AI provides an AI-powered platform for creating personalized digital companions, including virtual partners, anime characters, or emotional conversation partners. The app helps users design avatars with tailored aesthetics and personality traits for emotional engagement or supportive interaction.

What differentiates Romantic AI is its focus on realism and interactivity. Users can craft nuanced personalities and choose between various visual styles without relying on preset templates, enabling more authentic and intimate virtual companionship.

PDFGate

PDFGate delivers a PDF automation platform for businesses seeking to generate, convert, and manage documents through API-driven workflows. It supports tasks such as HTML-to-PDF conversion, form generation, watermarking, data extraction, and document security.

Its simplicity and developer-oriented design set it apart. PDFGate enables companies to add reliable document automation without operating dedicated infrastructure, making it a practical tool for creating invoices, contracts, reports, and other business documents at scale.

SMSFAST

SMSFAST offers temporary virtual phone numbers that help users receive SMS verification codes online from more than 190 countries. It enables secure account activation on websites and apps without revealing personal phone numbers.

The platform stands out by replicating the functionality of real SIM-based numbers while providing full digital accessibility. Its wide geographic coverage and instant SMS delivery make it useful for privacy-focused users and businesses managing multi-account operations.

BookingAuto

BookingAuto is a global car-rental comparison service that allows travelers to search and book vehicles from major providers across 186 countries. It offers transparent pricing, free cancellation, and continuous rate monitoring by in-house analysts.

Its competitive advantage comes from pairing worldwide coverage with strong customer support and detailed market oversight. By aggregating offers from major brands and regional providers, BookingAuto gives travelers reliable options at favorable prices.

Itinerary Expert

Itinerary Expert specializes in crafting personalized travel routes based on individual preferences. It handles full trip planning, including itineraries, hotel choices, car rentals, attractions, and family-friendly activities, delivered as a comprehensive PDF guide.

Its main distinction lies in hands-on support throughout the journey. Continuous WhatsApp communication ensures travelers receive real-time assistance, enabling a smoother and more enjoyable experience without the burden of planning.

Prix Carburant

Prix Carburant tracks and compares fuel prices across France and Europe, providing motorists and fleet managers with real-time insights into fuel costs and market trends. Its platform aggregates official station data, offering interactive maps, statistics, and analytics.

Its distinguishing feature is its broad thematic coverage and user-centered design. In addition to price comparisons, it provides trend charts, editorial analyses, and custom alerts, helping users make informed mobility decisions amid fluctuating energy markets.

Elips News

Elips News is a Turkish-language digital media outlet offering impartial reporting on national and global developments. It covers politics, current affairs, economics, technology, and culture, supported by an independent editorial team and a digital broadcast channel, Elips TV.

The platform stands out for its commitment to ethical journalism and high-quality reporting. Its combination of news coverage, interviews, and in-depth programs positions it as a trustworthy source for audiences seeking accurate information.

These companies reflect the direction businesses are taking in 2025: adopting automation, prioritizing user control, and seeking transparency across products and services. Their approaches illustrate how technology and consumer behavior continue to converge. Together, they outline a roadmap for the next stage of digital, operational, and market adaptation.

About StartupMafia

StartupMafia is a business media and research platform that tracks emerging companies, technologies, and market trends worldwide. It provides curated insights to help businesses and investors identify relevant solutions in a changing global economy. For more information, visit startupmafia.eu.

Media Contact

StartupMafia.eu Press Department
press@startupmafia.eu

iNGENū CRO, a global contract research organization, has set out the main operational factors it says enable sponsors to run clinical trials at lower cost while meeting international regulatory standards.

The company said the approach combines the use of cost-efficient global trial locations, access to government R&D incentive programs and the adoption of modern trial technologies intended to streamline monitoring and data collection.

Global Trial Locations

iNGENū CRO conducts trials in jurisdictions that adhere to ICH-GCP requirements, with data accepted by major regulators including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

These markets offer established ethics review processes, experienced investigators and lower overhead than traditional U.S. and European trial centres, the company said.

Government Incentives

Several of the regions in which the company operates provide R&D tax incentives or grant schemes that can offset clinical development costs. These programs reduce net expenditure for sponsors without adding regulatory complexity, by virtue of a Government bursary.

Decentralized Clinical Trial Design and Technology

The company also uses decentralized clinical trial (DCT) models to reduce reliance on physical sites, enabling remote data capture and patient engagement.

Risk-Based Monitoring (RBM) frameworks are applied to focus oversight on areas of higher operational risk, reducing the need for extensive on-site verification.

iNGENū CRO said its integrated digital platforms support protocol management, data capture and compliance oversight.

“Our objective is to provide an efficient clinical trial model that maintains scientific and regulatory standards while reducing unnecessary cost,” said Dr. Sud Agarwal, chief executive officer of iNGENū CRO. “By combining global site strategy, modern monitoring methods and government incentives, sponsors can run trials more efficiently.”

Media Contact

Amanda DeVito
press@ingenuCRO.com

Crypto exchange BitGW said it plans to launch a peer-to-peer payments app in 2026, enabling users to send and receive funds — in both cryptocurrencies and fiat currency. The rollout will begin in a small number of pilot countries before expanding to a second group of around 80 markets by the end of 2030, with global availability planned in subsequent phases as part of the company’s broader push beyond its core trading business.

The move signals BitGW’s push into the fast-growing digital payments market and puts it in potential competition with PayPal, Revolut and CashApp, which have been expanding their presence in crypto-enabled money transfers.

Context

The company already supports off-chain internal transfers in the BitGW app, allowing users to move funds instantly using a recipient’s UID. In addition, BitGW has integrated with a range of regulated third-party on-ramp and off-ramp providers — including Mercuryo and FinchPay — giving users the ability to convert between fiat and crypto assets within minutes.

The BitGW payment app will extend these capabilities, and users will have a dedicated account that supports both fiat money and more than a hundred cryptocurrencies, allowing instant transfers between users without blockchain fees or reliance on external banking infrastructure.

Key Quote

“We believe the future of global money movement lies in the combination of crypto rails and modern payment technology. At BitGW, users will be able to transfer value across borders in seconds, whether they choose to send stablecoins, local currencies or major cryptocurrencies. This is a natural extension of the infrastructure we have built for BitGW exchange users,” said Marcellino Payet, a spokesperson for BitGW.

About BitGW

At BitGW, users will be able to transfer value across borders in seconds, whether they choose to send stablecoins, local currencies or major cryptocurrencies. For more information, visit www.bitgw.com.

Media Contact

Marcellino Payet
support@bitgw.com