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HEYTEA, China's leading new-style tea brand, proudly announces a groundbreaking partnership with the internationally acclaimed artist Yayoi Kusama. This partnership marks the first time a Chinese new-style tea brand has joined forces with a globally renowned contemporary artist, creating a unique fusion of tea culture and modern art.

Under the theme "Adding a Touch of BOBO to the World," the China Project of Love & Life merges Yayoi Kusama's iconic polka dot art with HEYTEA's signature BOBO elements—the cheerful, round bubbles that have become synonymous with the brand's innovative tea beverages. This fusion celebrates joy, vitality, and the infinite possibilities of artistic expression.

As part of this monumental partnership, HEYTEA is sponsoring Yayoi Kusama's iconic artwork "Life of the Pumpkin Recites, All About the Biggest Love for the People": The China Project of Love & Life. This exhibition features Kusama's largest pumpkin sculpture to date—a 10-meter-tall installation adorned with her signature polka dots. Embodying themes of love, unity, and peace, the sculpture will be unveiled at Shanghai's North Bund from November 12 to November 17, 2024.

A Fusion of BOBO and Polka Dots: The Heart of the Project

The partnership finds its roots in the shared affinity for "polka dots" between HEYTEA and Yayoi Kusama. Known as the "Queen of Polka Dots," Kusama has long used dots to symbolize infinity and interconnectedness in her art. Similarly, HEYTEA's BOBO—pearls in their bubble tea—represent joy and healing energy, making each sip a delightful experience. This commonality serves as a bridge, uniting the realms of contemporary art and new-style tea culture.

Limited-Edition Products and Merchandise

In celebration of this partnership, HEYTEA is launching seven BOBO tea series products, including the much-anticipated return of Supreme Brown Sugar Bobo Milk (Original), Soybean Pudding Bobo Milk, Mango Grapefriut Boom, Duo Matcha Buffalo Milk and etc. Each beverage will feature exclusive, limited-edition packaging inspired by Kusama's art, including limited-edition drink cups adorned with collaborative designs that blend Kusama's polka dots with HEYTEA's aesthetic, artfully designed paper bags and cup sleeves featuring whimsical illustrations. Additionally, HEYTEA stores worldwide will offer a range of specially crafted merchandise. These include exclusive keychains and mugs that encapsulate the artistic spirit of the partnership. These items will be available as exclusive gifts during the project, enhancing the emotional connection between HEYTEA and its customers.

"Life of the Pumpkin Recites": A Monumental Exhibition

The centerpiece of the collaboration is the sponsorship of Yayoi Kusama's China Project of Love & Life, featuring her largest pumpkin sculpture ever created. The 10-meter-tall installation, making its Asian debut, is a powerful metaphor for unity and collective harmony. Originally unveiled in Paris, the sculpture embodies Kusama's lifelong themes and offers a poignant message of love and life. Bringing this work to China not only fosters dialogue between contemporary art and global audiences but also amplifies Kusama's enduring message. At a time when the world yearns for unity and understanding, this exhibition serves as a reminder of the power of art to bridge cultures.

A Creative Short Film: "Adding a Touch of BOBO to the World"

To further enrich the collaboration, HEYTEA is releasing a creative short film titled "Adding a Touch of BOBO to the World." The film shares a series of delightful and unexpected stories that showcase how BOBO elements bring joy to everyday life. With warmth and humor, it conveys the brand's core message: even in uncertain times, we can find happiness through smiles and love.

Founded in 2012 in a small alley along the river in Jiangmen, Guangdong, HEYTEA introduced the world's first cheese-topped brewed tea, sparking a new era of tea culture in China. Over the years, HEYTEA has become synonymous with innovation in the tea industry, continually blending traditional elements with modern twists to create unique and exciting products.

In 2018, HEYTEA revolutionized the market by launching the BOBO Tea series. The introduction of playful packaging and a vibrant brand identity infused youthfulness and vitality into the ancient tradition of tea. The round, cheerful BOBO bubbles quickly captured the hearts of young urbanites, becoming a comforting companion in their daily lives. These BOBO drinks, including the Mango Grapefriut Boom, Soybean Pudding Bobo Milk and Mango Grapefruit Boom, have formed what HEYTEA affectionately calls the "BOBO Universe," embodying joy and healing energy in each sip.

Strengthening Brand Influence and Global Reach

This  project not only represents a significant milestone for HEYTEA but also amplifies the brand's global awareness. By partnering with a world-renowned artist like Yayoi Kusama, HEYTEA continues to elevate its presence on the international stage. The brand has a history of successful collaborations with international luxury brands and renowned artists, including FENDI, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Adidas, Nike and more. These partnerships have positioned HEYTEA as a trendsetter in the new-style tea industry, continually pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities.

"Through joint initiatives including offline art exhibitions, product packaging, and art peripheral design, HEYTEA has established a bridge for the public to engage with contemporary art using new-style tea as a medium," said a spokesperson for HEYTEA. "It also provides a new paradigm for new-style tea brands in exploring the combination of business and art."

Looking Ahead

HEYTEA remains committed to bringing joy to consumers by continually innovating and exploring new frontiers. The brand aims to connect new-style tea drinks to more life scenes, relying on strong product development and design prowess to interpret crossover collaborations at a high level. As the partnership with Yayoi Kusama unfolds, HEYTEA invites everyone to partake in this unique blend of art and tea culture. Whether through enjoying the limited-edition BOBO teas or experiencing the monumental pumpkin sculpture, consumers worldwide are encouraged to "Add a Touch of BOBO to the World."

About Yayoi Kusama: The Queen of Polka Dots

Born in Matsumoto, Japan, Yayoi Kusama is one of the most influential artists of our time. Her work spans painting, sculpture, performance art, and installations, all characterized by themes of repetition, pattern, and accumulation. Kusama's iconic use of polka dots symbolizes infinity and the interconnectedness of all things.

Growing up in a family that cultivated plant seeds, Kusama developed a deep connection to pumpkins, a motif that has recurred in her art since the late 1940s. She views each polka dot as a representation of individuals in society—unique yet interconnected—emphasizing the importance of unity and collective harmony. In the context of "Life of the Pumpkin Recites, All About the Biggest Love for the People," these ideas take on even greater significance. The installation not only reflects Kusama’s personal connection to the pumpkin but also serves as a powerful metaphor for unity and peace.

In today's era of unity and understanding, Kusama extends her message of love and peace to a global audience through this collaboration. "I hope that through the China Project presented together with HEYTEA, the audience can feel that the power of art can cross cultural barriers and convey hope and love," Kusama expressed. This sentiment resonates deeply with HEYTEA's mission to bring joy and inspiration to people's lives through tea.

About HEYTEA

HEYTEA is the originator of new-style tea industry founded in 2012. With over 4,300 stores worldwide, HEYTEA is dedicated to innovating traditional tea culture by infusing it with modern elements and creativity. Armed with the principal of using only real ingredients and no artificial flavors or colorants, HEYTEA created the first Cheese Tea by blending cheese foam with fresh tea. The brand also offers a diverse range of products, from cheese-topped teas to fruit-infused beverages, catering to a global audience seeking quality and novelty. 

For more information about HEYTEA, please visit: www.heytea.com, follow us on Instagram @heytea.official, or email pr@heytea.com.

Spice Palette, nominated "Best Indian Food" in the Best of Charleston 2024, announces its new Thali Lunch special. Thali in Hindi means “small plate.” This traditional Indian meal features a variety of dishes served together on a single platter, offering a balanced and flavorful dining experience, showcasing the diverse tastes of India.

Available Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., the Thali Lunch menu includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Each platter presents small bowls, or katoris, filled with popular dishes, allowing guests to sample multiple flavors in one meal.

The introduction of the Thali Lunch special by Spice Palette is important as it allows customers to sample the restaurant's most popular dishes in a convenient and visually appealing way. By offering a variety of small portions on a single platter, customers can experience the rich flavors of Indian cuisine in one sitting.

Spice Palette, known for serving authentic Indian cuisine and being recognized for its excellence in the Charleston food scene, continues to innovate and provide unique dining experiences for its customers. The introduction of the Thali Lunch special further showcases the restaurant's commitment to offering traditional Indian flavors in a modern and accessible way.

"Our Thali Lunch offers a true taste of India in one sitting," says Sujith Varghese, owner of Spice Palette. "We’re excited to bring this unique experience to Charleston."

Spice Palette remains dedicated to bringing the vibrant flavors of India to Charleston, with a continued focus on delivering authentic and memorable dining experiences.

For more information on Spice Palette and the Thali Lunch special, follow @spicepalette on social media and visit www.spicepaletteindiancuisine.com.

About Spice Palette

Located in the heart of Mount Pleasant in South Carolina, Spice Palette is an authentic Indian restaurant dedicated to bringing the vibrant flavors of India to the Lowcountry. Our menu offers dishes prepared with authentic spices and ingredients from across India's varied culinary landscapes, and we specialize in the deep flavors found in South Indian cuisine. Our full-service bar features Indian liquors, spices and fresh ingredients, with a selection of imported Indian beer and wine. Experience the bold spices of South India and flavors from across the subcontinent at Spice Palette. For more information visit www.spicepaletteindiancuisine.com.

Reliable Parts has launched a new brand logo that includes an updated wordmark and a distinctive brand mark designed to effectively communicate the company's offerings to customers. Along with the logo, a new slogan has been introduced to highlight Reliable Parts' history. The logo redesign reflects a thoughtful approach to what makes Reliable Parts a trusted distributor for existing customers while aiming to attract new ones. The updated logo will be rolled out across all public and internal company touchpoints starting November 5, 2024.

About Reliable Parts

Since 1933, Reliable Parts has been serving North America with factory authorized replacement appliance and consumer electronic parts and accessories, evolving into one of the largest appliance parts and electronics parts distributors on the continent. There are three Canadian distribution centers in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver and our head office in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The U.S. market is served by distribution centers in Sacramento, Mesquite, and Indianapolis and our U.S. headquarters in Dallas, Texas. All branches are located in major cities across North America. Visit Reliable Parts online at www.reliableparts.ca.

With an evening of live music overlooking Manhattan’s glittering skyline, United Children’s Music Project (UCMP) will hold its annual fundraiser, A Night on the Hudson, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 7 p.m. at Weehawken’s Chart House, located at 1700 Harbor Boulevard.

This cocktail reception will bring together community leaders, local businesses, and supporters to celebrate and raise funds for UCMP, which for 12 years has provided high-quality, low-cost, after-school music education for underserved children and youth in Hudson County.

Along with performances by UCMP’s talented student musicians and acclaimed Venezuelan opera star Maria Brea, attendees will enjoy a chance to connect with key community members, and to hear inspiring stories of how UCMP transforms the lives of local kids. 

Special Guest Speakers and Honorees

This year’s event will honor the Turrell Fund, UCMP’s sponsor and cornerstone partner, for its dedication to improving the lives of children. The keynote speaker will be Weston Sprott, Director of the Juilliard School's Music Advancement Program (MAP), who will share his insights into the transformative power of music education led by community-based organizations like UCMP.

"The Turrell Fund is grateful to be the United Children's Music Project's 2024 honoree,” said Evan Delgado, President of Programs for the Turrell Fund. “Turrell focuses on supporting the youngest and their families in New Jersey and Vermont. Expanding access to high-quality arts and education opportunities is a critical priority for the fund.”

Why It Matters

For over 12 years, UCMP has been providing children ages 3–18 with access to orchestral and choral music education, free instruments, and performance opportunities. Our after-school programs serve many children from families with limited resources, offering them a safe, creative space to build discipline, collaboration, and leadership skills. UCMP’s programs have been shown to improve academic performance, increase high school graduation rates, and open pathways to higher education and career opportunities.

“A Night on the Hudson is not just an event—it’s a celebration of the power of music to change lives,” said Melina Garcia, UCMP’s founder and Executive Director. “We’re incredibly grateful to our community for their ongoing support, which allows us to continue transforming our students so they can fulfill their potential.”

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: The Chart House (1700 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken, NJ)
• Dress: Business
• Tickets: www.ucmusicproject.org

About The Turrell Fund

For over 80 years, the Turrell Fund has supported local and systems-wide work in early childhood and the arts.  The Fund’s mission is to increase access and eliminate barriers to quality educational and developmental services for the youngest and their families. Visit turrellfund.org to learn more.

About The Juilliard School

Founded in 1905, The Juilliard School is a world leader in performing arts education. The school’s mission is to provide the highest caliber of artistic education for gifted musicians, dancers, and actors from around the world so that they may achieve their fullest potential as artists, leaders, and global citizens. For more information, visit www.juilliard.edu.

About Maria Brea

Born and raised in Venezuela, soprano Maria Brea is quickly making a name for herself across North America, with performances at Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, Palais Garnier, David Koch Theater, and David Geffen Hall. The Juilliard grad’s dazzling range and intoxicatingly lush tones have been called “vocally thrilling” (ConcertNet). This season, you can catch Maria making her debut at San Jose Opera singing First Lady in Die Zauberflöte and as Ana Maria in Hector Armienta’s El Zorro with Arizona Opera. She will also debut in La Traviata as Violetta in a NYC concert version this fall.

About United Children’s Music Project (UCMP)

Founded in 2012, UCMP provides affordable, high-quality orchestral and choral music education to children and youth throughout Hudson County. By offering free instruments, intensive instruction, and regular performance opportunities, UCMP equips local kids with the tools to succeed academically, socially, and artistically. United Children’s Music Project has been recognized for its accomplishments by PBS, NPR, and Symphony Magazine, and has received the Russell Berrie Foundation’s Making a Difference Award. For more information about A Night on the Hudson, sponsorship opportunities, or UCMP, please visit www.ucmusicproject.org.

Forte Speech & Language Therapy, a team of speech therapists in Los Angeles, is pleased to announce the release of a comprehensive new guide designed to support individuals with Down syndrome and their families in the LA area.

The guide aims to connect families with vital services, programs, and community resources that enhance the lives of those with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in 700 births. It presents unique challenges and opportunities for individuals and their families. In Los Angeles, a diverse city rich in resources, navigating the landscape of support can be overwhelming. Forte Speech & Language Therapy recognizes this challenge and is committed to making essential information accessible to all families in need.

The guide provides a curated list of resources, including educational programs, speech and language therapy options, recreational activities, advocacy groups, and health services. 

"We believe that every individual with Down syndrome deserves access to the support they need to thrive," said a spokesperson from the clinic. "Our guide aims to empower families by providing them with the knowledge and connections they need to navigate the available resources in Los Angeles effectively."

The guide is broken into two different sections.

The first section addresses the support needs of families of children with Down syndrome. This includes healthcare guidelines, research, and access to support groups.

"Most parents wouldn’t have had any experience with Down syndrome before their child was born," said a spokesperson from the clinic. "So it’s important for parents to have a space where they can get their questions about Down syndrome answered, without fear of judgment."

From there, the guide covers various support and services available for kids with Down syndrome in Greater Los Angeles, including information on several different groups run by the DSALA (Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles) and Forte Speech & Language's own online speech therapy services for children.

The guide is available for free on Forte Speech & Language Therapy's website, where families can easily access additional information about the clinic's services.

Forte Speech & Language Therapy offers speech-language pathology services for children with Down syndrome, as well as adult speech therapy. Those interested are encouraged to visit the clinic's website at https://www.fortespeech.com.

About Forte Speech & Language Therapy

Forte Speech & Language Therapy provides comprehensive speech therapy services for children and adults. The center addresses various speech and language challenges with a team of highly skilled therapists, offering personalized therapy to enhance communication abilities. Forte excels in creating and implementing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and provides robust advocacy support to ensure clients receive necessary services in educational settings. By fostering a holistic and supportive environment, Forte Speech & Language Therapy is dedicated to delivering exceptional outcomes and improving the quality of life for its clients. To learn more, visit https://www.fortespeech.com.

SugarMD, a trusted provider of innovative glucose management solutions, is thrilled to announce the anticipated return of its highly demanded Advanced Glucose Support product. Previously a bestseller, Advanced Glucose Support was temporarily discontinued following an FDA recall in November 2023, prompting a complete overhaul in formulation. With a renewed commitment to quality, efficacy, and rigorous safety standards, SugarMD is set to reintroduce this essential product to help support healthy glucose levels, with the optimized formula now set to launch in January.

In response to the FDA recall, Dr. Ergin’s SugarMD Advanced Glucose Support has implemented stringent measures to prevent any future contamination issues. The company is dedicated to conducting thorough testing to ensure the purity and safety of their products. By engaging in rigorous clinical trials, the supplement has been evaluated by real users who have provided positive feedback based on their personal experiences. These proactive steps underscore SugarMD’s dedication to delivering a trustworthy and effective product for managing glucose levels.

SugarMD’s Advanced Glucose Support is designed to provide consumers with natural and effective support for maintaining balanced glucose levels. With a blend of carefully selected ingredients, the new formulation empowers individuals looking to enhance their overall wellness through scientifically backed, high-quality supplements.

To celebrate the return of Advanced Glucose Support, SugarMD has launched a resource page where customers can sign up to receive notifications and early access to product details as they become available. To visit the resource page, click the following link: Advanced Glucose Support – SugarMD.

For more information on SugarMD and to stay updated on the latest in glucose management and health support solutions, visit sugarmds.com.

About SugarMD

SugarMD is a leader in innovative supplements and wellness products, focused on providing safe, effective solutions for those looking to support their health naturally. Driven by a commitment to quality and transparency, SugarMD is dedicated to developing products that make a positive impact on the lives of its customers. To learn more, visit sugarmds.com.

Repeat founders Nikhil Sethi and Garrett Ullom have raised $2.6 million for Workgrounds, a startup solving hotel room block management for group bookings. Workgrounds already has clientele from fast-growing companies, including SeatGeek, RevenueCat, and Yieldmo, as demand for the product soars. Investors in this pre-seed funding round include Oceans Ventures, Hannah Grey, Volo Ventures, and deftly.vc.

Sethi and Ullom previously founded ad-tech company Adaptly in 2010 while college students at Northwestern University. Adaptly, a platform that helps marketers buy targeted ads across online platforms such as Amazon, Google, and Facebook, scaled to over 200 employees and was ultimately acquired by Accenture in 2018. This time, the duo are tackling another B2B startup idea in the corporate space with similarities: a huge market dominated by a few large platform players and archaic processes that can be automated on the user-side to simplify the experience of a vast customer base.

“We were shocked to discover how manual the entire end-to-end process was for sourcing, negotiating, and managing hotel room blocks for corporate groups—a process that is repeated millions of times a year,” said Nikhil Sethi, co-founder of Workgrounds. “We wanted to apply AI and other automation to 100x the experience for companies to easily manage hundreds of room blocks in parallel and all through software, a simple user interface, and without the need for hotels to change anything in their well-established processes.”

Workgrounds is building an end-to-end stack to automate the many manual processes that enable corporate group travel. The first version of the Workgrounds platform allows organizations to input their team’s locations or connect via their HRIS systems and in one-click, automatically request proposals using AI from all hotel suppliers in a target market to get the best proposals possible. Given the economies of scale organizations can see by booking as a group, there are upwards of 31% savings being left on the table by not allowing machines and automation to do the hard work. Workgrounds allows teams to cast a wide net and automatically parse those proposals to give planners immediate high-quality results without having to run a manual, time-consuming process. In addition, the AI agents handle change orders and negotiation to truly deliver the best possible experience.

“We re-imagined the user experience from the perspective of travel planners, the finance teams and their guests. We created a modern, simple experience, packed with functionality to really enable organizations to manage room blocks for hundreds of teams representing thousands of travelers with ease,” added Sethi.

“Working with Workgrounds has been a huge time and money saver for SeatGeek. Our ability to secure room blocks for our teams and partners has gone from a multi-week process to just a matter of days, making the platform a no-brainer for our teams. We can now spend more time focused on creating memorable experiences for our meetings and events and less time managing the core logistics of bringing our teams together,” said Gerard Visser, Director of Workplace Services, SeatGeek.

Workgrounds is benefiting from the secular trend towards a more distributed workforce and flexible work, accelerating adoption and travel spend. While running Adaptly, the team observed the large shift to new ways of flexible working. Further accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, this global shift created major operational and cost-related implications for corporate travel and opened an opportunity for AI-enabled software to solve these challenges by providing greater degrees of control and through automation.

“We built Workgrounds to be the solution we would have wanted at Adaptly and then at Accenture,” said Garrett Ullom, co-founder of Workgrounds. “We wanted something that brought all the pieces together in a seamless way. Starting with room blocks, we see a big opportunity to help solve corporate travel scaling issues for teams.”

About Workgrounds

Workgrounds is an end-to-end platform that automates the process to source, book, and manage hotel room blocks at scale for enterprises. Our AI agents eliminate the manual processes of corporate group travel and enable organizations to easily manage hundreds of room blocks in parallel, saving them both time and money. To learn more, visit www.workgrounds.com.

Today, the Kava Coalition, renewed their call to lawmakers to make kava legal in the United Kingdom (U.K.) following a recent high-profile photo op of King Charles III sipping kava in a Samoan ceremony. 

On October 24, King Charles and Queen Camilla were officially welcomed to Samoa in the home village of the head of state, Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II. King Charles was handed a kava drink known locally as ‘ava’ and, honoring the Samoan custom, poured some on the ground and then took a sip. 

Dr. Simon Gellar, PhD., is a leading researcher on the consumption and economy of kava and serves as the Kava Coalition's subject matter expert. He commended the ceremony and noted that E.U. and U.K. rules governing kava’s sale and consumption reflected misunderstandings about kava.  

The Samoan episode further demonstrates the benefits of trade in Kava between countries, particularly emerging South Pacific economies. Countries such as Samoa can experience positive social mobility via the demand for Kava from Western countries. Prolonged prohibition only hurts these emerging economies, which are particularly vulnerable to economic losses in a global economy.  

“Kava culture in the U.K. and E.U. lacks historical context and has unfairly faced bias due to unfamiliarity and flawed beliefs,” said Dr. Gellar. “If the U.K. were serious about giving consumers a choice, they would acknowledge this bias and consider access to kava as a beverage alternative.” 

In 2003, products containing kava were banned in the U.K. because of concerns about toxic effects on the liver. More recent analyses of these studies have questioned the findings and raised skepticism.   

Dr. Gellar’s research, a soon-to-be-published paper titled "Elixir of the South Pacific or Harmful Muddy Water: Examining the Consumption of Kava from a Cross-Cultural Perspective and the Lived Experience of Macro-Level Social Processes,” documents kava’s long history and debunks health claims raised against it. The study is slated to be published and disseminated through peer-reviewed channels later this year.

“Millions of people around the world enjoy kava daily with little or no adverse reactions,” said Dr. Gellar. “Evidence supporting prohibition of kava anywhere around the world is suspect at best, or flat out erroneous at worst. It is time for the U.K. to take the lead and revisit then reinstate kava once and for all.” 

According to news reports, Queen Elizabeth also participated in a similar kava sipping ceremony in 1977.

“If U.K. citizens at the highest levels of society and diplomacy can consume kava without restriction, then it seems natural the same privilege should extend to U.K. and E.U. residents,” said Dr. Gellar. “Very few people have the luxury of traveling around the world to access a plant-based substance that could be easily available locally in a regulated marketplace.”     

About the Kava Coalition

Kava Coalition (KC) is a global alliance of kava consumers, experts, and industry leaders committed to advancing kava education, advocacy, and choice. Through educational initiatives and community engagement, KC promotes awareness and appreciation for kava’s traditional practices and cultural significance. Simultaneously, KC advocates for modern regulation that reflects current scientific knowledge, ensuring consumer safety and product integrity.

Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX), a national nonprofit dedicated to creating generations of confident girls, is proud to announce the 2024 cohort of the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship has been awarded to 10 women of color from nine states.

Named in honor and memory of Dr. Patricia F.R. Cunningham II, a champion for girls, equity, access and social change, this prestigious fellowship increases access to ROX’s robust, evidence-based Program for Girls and provides leadership opportunities for diverse female educators and school mental health professionals. The fellowship is underwritten by the Bath and Body Works Foundation, with additional funding from the PNC Foundation.

ROX welcomed the 10 new fellows to Columbus last week for their three-day ROX facilitator licensure training: Naquita Page-Dawson (SC), Angela Barber-Joiner (OH), Rosie Guerra (TX), Brittnay Powe-Inge (AL), Kourtnay Abernathy (GA), Michele Jordan (MO), Carolyn Thorpe (MD), Cecilia Hebard (GA), Tanisha Dumas (NC), and Khush Driver (CA).

The fellows will now deliver the 20-week school-based ROX Program for Girls at their schools, while continuing their fellowship experience through 2026. Leah Borden, Senior Advisor to the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship shared, “When girls in ROX have a Dr. Patty Fellow as their facilitator, they experience the impact of a ‘real life’ role model who looks like them—one who continually shows up for them, believes in them and invests in them. This profoundly increases their connection to school and their sense of belonging in their educational environment.”

“At ROX we use data to inform our programming, our decisions and our investments. Data shows that diverse women are underrecognized in educational leadership and that girls want and need advocates, role models and mentors that look like them. The Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship program is working to address the disparities and increase the opportunities. Our goal is to continue to grow the fellowship as we partner with additional sponsors and supporters,” said Dr. Lisa Hinkelman, founder and CEO of ROX. 

Dr. Patty Diversity Fellows are women of color with a license in social work, counseling, education or school psychology. They have a passion for empowering girls and are committed to creating a safer, stronger and more equitable world for girls. Fellows are trained to lead a 20-week evidence-based curriculum that teaches girls the skills needed to navigate the tough challenges they face, including: confidence, body image, social media, relationships, pressure and leadership. Their fellowship includes all costs associated with two years of having ROX programming in their schools, including facilitator training, monthly professional and leadership development, fees paid for participating girls and related travel expenses.

“Each year, we select a cohort of 10 women based on a competitive application process. They are passionate about changing the lives of girls in their schools,” says Dr. Sibyl West, Senior Advisor to the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship. “They are motivated to engage in this work, are charismatic leaders in their communities, and they form a unique bond with one another that is unlike any other experience found in their professional spaces.”

About Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX)

Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) is the national nonprofit authority on girls. Since 2011, ROX research, programs, and resources have helped ensure that girls are in control of their own relationships, experiences, decisions, and futures. Operating in nearly 600 schools across 40 states, we conduct large-scale national research, deliver evidence-based programs in schools nationwide, and equip adults to better support and empower girls in grades 5–12. For more information about ROX programming, visit www.rulingourexperiences.org.

The Real Feel, the first real-time human sentiment platform, has released insights from its initial weeks of pre-election sentiment tracking, revealing the public’s steady state of mind as the nation approaches Election Day.

The Real Feel’s sentiment technology captures how Americans feel each week through public polling, AI, and data analysis (Figure 1). The goal is to provide businesses and government agencies with actionable insights into the public’s emotional landscape so they can make better-informed decisions. By anonymously capturing Americans’ moods, the company is bringing transparency and depth to how we understand collective sentiment, especially around pivotal moments like the 2024 election.

Overall

With a unique lens on how people are feeling, the data shows consistent mood levels week over week despite the political and social tensions of the season. This information offers a rare glimpse into the emotional landscape of Americans as they anticipate a high-stakes election outcome.

Over the past month, The Real Feel’s sentiment scores, rated on a scale from 1 to 10, have remained stable, hovering around a 7, indicating an unshaken mood across the population. Weekly ratings illustrate this constancy (Figure 2).

Gender, Age Group, and Political Affiliation Trends

• Across demographics, sentiment patterns reveal that men consistently report a more positive mood than women. Men’s mood ranged from 7.1 to 7.6, while women’s mood ranged from 6.6 to 6.9 (Figure 3).
  
  
• Specifically White males had the highest moods between 7.1 to 7.9, and tend to describe a sense of optimism and well-being, with many expressing they feel well-rested, though some still report work-related fatigue. In contrast, women’s lower moods are often attributed to feeling overwhelmed with balancing multiple responsibilities, from managing work and family to navigating relationship challenges, which adds to their overall sense of stress (Figure 4).
  
  
• People aged 18–29 have consistently rated their moods the lowest, between 5.9 to 6.8, compared to other generations. Many in the age group are grappling with heightened anxiety about the future and struggling to balance life’s demands. This trend likely reflects new societal pressures unique to their generation, such as the influence of social media, inflation, and shifting attitudes toward traditional work environments (Figure 5).
  
  
• On the political spectrum, mood ratings remained fairly balanced among Democrats and Republicans, with all groups ranging from 6.3 to 7.5, slightly higher among Republicans last week compared to Democrats. Scores by political affiliation reveal a mood consistency that persists despite rising tensions (Figure 6).
  
  

While mood ratings are fairly aligned across party lines, people across the board report mixed feelings, from hopeful optimism to anxiety about the country’s direction. The anticipation of the election has, in some cases, exacerbated these feelings, with a few respondents sharing sentiments like, “extremely worried about the outcome of the upcoming elections” (Mood: 4, Anxious, Female, 60+, White / Caucasian, Democrat).

General Sentiments: Overworked, Lonely, and Financially Strained

The Real Feel has also identified initial themes echoing across multiple demographics:

• Overworked and fatigued: Many respondents report feeling overwhelmed by their work responsibilities. Globally, countries like Korea, Spain, and France are testing shorter work weeks or implementing laws to support a better work-life balance, suggesting the U.S. could consider similar changes.
  • “because of work i’m just super tired and stressed out about things going on within work and at home it’s so frustrating yeah!” (Mood, 7, Ok, Female, 18–29, HHI $0–9,999, White / Caucasian).
  • “been up since 3am work 5 days a week 10 hours. so ya” (Mood: 8, Tired, Male, 45–60, Democrat).
    
    
• Loneliness: The absence of close-knit communities has led many to feel isolated. This is a common theme, with respondents noting financial hardships and demanding work schedules as obstacles to social engagement.
  • “been alone all day so i'm kind of bored” (Mood: 8, Bored, Female, 45–60, White / Caucasian, both Democrat and Republican).
  • “People say they care about me but actually don’t” (Mood: 2, Sad, Female, 18–29, Democrat).
    
    
• Financial hardship: Inflation, layoffs, and economic challenges are heavily felt, especially by younger Americans. Millennials and Gen Z cite income as a primary concern, impacting both their mood and their ability to find time for self-care or relaxation.
  • “There's so many home repair and medical bills and I have multiple jobs to stay afloat” (Mood: 4, Anxious, Female, 45–60, Republican).
  • “i'm in pain physically, and i'm behind in so many things that it's affecting my financial life too.” (Mood: 3, Anxious, Female, 60+, $75,000–99,999, Political Party Other).

Despite these challenges, many respondents have found solace in spending time with family, self-care routines, and faith practices, which have been instrumental in providing moments of peace and joy.

Looking Ahead: Post-Election Sentiment Analysis and Beyond

As Election Day approaches, The Real Feel will track public’s sentiment in detail, preparing for a post-election analysis to compare how Americans’ moods evolve in response to the election’s outcome. This data will allow us to capture any shifts in sentiment and help leaders understand what the election results mean for Americans.

The Real Feel will also continue capturing weekly sentiment in the U.S., building deeper insights into how Americans are feeling. By consistently tracking these shifts, they’re able to uncover trends that offer specific value to businesses and organizations such as federal government & political organizations, financial institutions, marketing intelligence platforms and agencies, AI tech companies, and more. This ongoing analysis provides a clearer understanding of human emotions and motivations, empowering stakeholders to make decisions that better resonate with the public.

To learn more, visit The Real Feel at https://www.therealfeel.ai.

About The Real Feel

Founded in 2024, The Real Feel is the first real-time human sentiment and insights platform for people and businesses. By capturing and analyzing sentiment data in real time using polling and AI, we enable individuals to track their feelings and provide businesses with detailed, anonymous insights to inform better decisions. Our diverse customer base includes data and marketing intelligence companies, financial institutions, tech firms, brands, agencies, government institutions, and media organizations. For more information, visit https://www.therealfeel.ai.

Nevada Gaming Holding, a U.S.-based investment manager specializing in tactical pre-IPO opportunities in entertainment and gaming, today announced the successful acquisition of Spacesiks, owner of Cosmolot—Ukraine's first and largest online gambling company since the legalization of gambling in 2020.

This acquisition marks a significant expansion of Nevada Gaming Holding's international portfolio and underscores its commitment to bolstering Ukraine's economy during a pivotal time. Negotiations began in February at the 2024 Munich Security Conference and have now reached completion.

"Since the invasion began, I've provided targeted support to Ukraine, but I wanted a more systematic approach," said Arnulf Damerau, President and CEO, Nevada Gaming Holding. "A year ago, I invested our family office funds into Spacesiks to explore the market and expand my stake, reinvesting dividends into other Ukrainian IT companies alongside philanthropic efforts."

Securing the first online gambling license in February 2021, Cosmolot has been instrumental in Ukraine's gambling industry. It operates solely through its Ukrainian website cosmolot.ua. Despite exponential growth from 2022 to 2023—placing it among Ukraine's top ten taxpayers, with contributions exceeding UAH 3.5 billion or $85 million (USD) in 2023—the company faced challenges in 2024.

"In 2024, Spacesiks encountered obstacles in Ukraine, but we saw opportunity," Damerau continued. "With support from global auditing and law firms, we resolved all outstanding issues. During the Munich Security Conference, we decided to fully acquire Spacesiks and scale its market-leading technology platform globally. Finalized last week, this investment is a major milestone for foreign direct investment in Ukraine."

"Following the acquisition and securing of guarantees for the safety of foreign investments, I will promote investment opportunities in Ukraine and expand Cosmolot into major markets in the U.S., Europe, and beyond," added Damerau. "With Nevada Gaming Holding's financial backing, we're obtaining licenses in the EU and the U.S., including Germany, Bulgaria, the UK, France, Greece, and several U.S. states such as Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia."

Nevada Gaming Holding plans to leverage Cosmolot's strong market position as one of the most advanced, vertically-integrated technology platforms for gaming, eSports, and gambling. The goal is to solidify leadership in the Ukrainian and European gambling sectors and boost contributions to Ukraine's state budget.

By streamlining internal processes and enhancing collaboration with key stakeholders, Nevada Gaming Holding aims to build a more resilient and compliant business framework. This aligns with the company's long-term strategy of portfolio expansion and responsible business development, ensuring Cosmolot's sustained growth while aiding Ukraine's economic recovery.

Cosmolot Eyes U.S. IPO in 2026 with Projected Market Cap Exceeding $1 Billion 

The global online gambling market is booming, projected to hit $95 billion in revenue in 2024 and grow to $131.9 billion by 2027. The U.S. is the largest land-based and online gambling market globally, with $25 billion in online gambling revenue in 2024 and a total gambling market capitalization of $300 billion. This move aligns with the company's strategic growth plans.

About Nevada Gaming Holding

Nevada Gaming Holding is a U.S.-based investment manager specializing in tactical pre-IPO opportunities in entertainment and gaming. The company focuses on acquiring gambling businesses facing challenges, aiming to restructure operations, restore financial stability, and enhance profitability. Targeting enterprises with significant recovery potential, Nevada Gaming Holding navigates issues such as regulatory hurdles and government lobbying complexities following liquidity events. For more information, visit https://www.globalgamingholding.com.

About Cosmolot (Spacesiks)

Cosmolot (Spacesiks) became the first Ukrainian gambling company to receive a license to organize and conduct online gambling activities in February 2021. Its primary focus is the online entertainment platform cosmolot.ua, emphasizing safe gambling practices and offering small-stakes games. Collaborating with approximately 50 gaming providers, Cosmolot offers a diverse range of entertainment options. The company prioritizes social projects and responsible gambling, having initiated the launch of Braveinventors (braveinventors.com), the largest defense technology accelerator in Ukraine, now run by Brave Foundation and funded by Arnulf Damerau. 

Committed to responsible corporate citizenship, Cosmolot applies international compliance and anti-money laundering standards to its platform. Advised by the leading four global auditing firms, Spacesiks undergoes continuous auditing to ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory standards, aiming to set industry benchmarks. Cosmolot is also advised by leading global law firms. To learn more, visit https://cosmolot.ua.

About Arnulf Damerau

Arnulf Damerau is a globally-active entrepreneur and philanthropist who started his first company at age 16, later transforming it into the New York-based family office EuroAtlantic Group. His most notable investment was a multimillion-dollar pre-IPO investment in Crowdstrike, the world's leading cybersecurity firm. Together with Luxembourg-based family office LVS Hotels & Resorts SA, focusing on hospitality investments, he decided to invest in Nevada Gaming Holding. Arnulf Damerau donated significant funds that were used by Braveinventors for 50+ Punisher drones to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the Russian-Ukrainian war. Arnulf Damerau is advised by Dentons.

Foodrella has announced the launch of a new line of sauces specifically crafted for Korean-style chicken, marking a significant milestone in the company's expansion into the North American market. With K-food gaining popularity globally, particularly in the U.S. and Canada, Foodrella's new products allow consumers to easily recreate the iconic flavors of Korean fried chicken at home.

At the forefront of this launch is Foodrella’s sweet and spicy fried chicken sauce, designed to complement crispy fried chicken while authentically replicating the signature Korean flavors. This versatile sauce can be used not only for chicken but also for a variety of dishes, including barbecues, stir-fries, and even unconventional pairings like pasta, tacos, and sandwiches. By introducing this product line, Foodrella continues to drive the international rise of K-chicken while making it more accessible to consumers across the globe.

Foodrella’s crispy batter mix also helps in preparing perfect Korean-style chicken. It creates crispy, golden-brown chicken without being greasy, and with the pre-seasoned batter mix, you can easily enjoy various styles of Korean chicken such as fried chicken, gangjeong chicken, green onion fried chicken, and spicy chicken.

Founded in 1987, Hanmi F3 Co., Ltd., the manufacturer of Foodrella, produces a wide range of products including sauces, seasonings, food coatings, beverage bases, bakery & dessert mixes, and pickles, catering to the needs of the restaurant and cafe franchise industries. Hanmi F3 prioritizes quality and safety, continuously improving and innovating to expand its presence in the global market.

Using only premium ingredients, Hanmi F3 offers unique culinary experiences with efficient processes that add value to its customers' businesses. The company is committed to providing customized solutions that meet diverse customer needs and consistently strives to maintain top-tier quality through ongoing product innovation.

A representative from Foodrella stated, "We will continue to focus on developing products that cater to the diverse tastes of the global market, aiming to position our product like chicken mix and sauces not merely as ingredients but as key items that enable consumers worldwide to easily experience the appeal of Korean cuisine."

The representative added, "We plan to strengthen our localization strategies by reflecting each region's culinary cultures and preferences and will continue to introduce our new products that can be applied to a variety of dishes."

About Foodrella

A trusted partner in Korea since 1987, Hanmi F3 Co., Ltd., the manufacturer of Foodrella, specializes in the production of sauces, seasonings, food coatings, beverage bases, bakery & dessert mixes, and pickles for the food service industry. Serving individual cafes and restaurants to international chains, Hanmi F3 is dedicated to quality and safety, earning recognition as a leading domestic food manufacturer, with growing attention in international markets. For more information, visit https://foodrella.com or related links below:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/foodrella

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodrella.official/

Kakao: https://pf.kakao.com/_thqNC

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodrella

BBG Ventures (BBGV) announced today the close of its Fund II at $60 million. This fund brings BBGV’s total assets under management to $130 million. The fund also attracted an impressive array of new partners to the fund, with notable names like Fairview, Pivotal Ventures, California Endowment, and Mizuho. Returning lead institutional partners included State of Michigan Retirement Services, Illumen Capital, and the George Kaiser Family Foundation, signaling their strong belief in the fund’s trajectory.

BBGV’s Fund II strategy was shaped by proprietary research with Centiment conducted over the last year with more than 2,000 Americans across race, gender, age, and income, to better understand how and whether identity shapes priorities. The findings, published today in a report titled, "Investing in the Polycultural Future of America," give voice to profound demographic and economic shifts that are reshaping the nation. The emergence of the majority-minority, a rapidly-aging population, and widening wealth gaps are creating a mosaic of unique segments where identities are complex, dynamic and evolving. Despite these differences, the research uncovered surprisingly common concerns across nearly every age group, race and gender. The pressing needs it identified within health and wellbeing, financial security, employment, education, and underserved consumers will guide BBG Venture’s future investments. 

“At BBGV, we’ve always believed that identifying underserved segments, and seeking out the founders who understand them best, will drive the strongest outcomes,” said Nisha Dua, BBGV co-founder and managing partner. “The survey findings show so many shared priorities, but also a need for nuanced solutions that founders with a deep understanding of this new America are best equipped to deliver.”

Moving forward, BBGV will invest in founding teams that include either diverse founding members or female founders solving the problems of today's polycultural America.

“We think founders who bring a combination of lived and learned experience to company building have a competitive advantage,” said Susan Lyne, BBGV co-founder and managing partner. “Investing in women will always be a core element of that thesis, but our research has moved us to broaden our investment mandate to include all underrepresented founders.”

In addition to expanding the mandate, BBG Ventures is also launching its first operator network. As a firm, BBGV has always offered more than just capital, and the Operator Network takes that support even further. Portfolio founders will be paired, based on need, with multi-industry leaders spanning product, engineering, growth, operations, supply chain & logistics, GTM, consumer social, marketing and finance. The list of leaders include operators from Snap, Reddit, Slack, One Medical, Dropbox, Harry’s, Spotify, Google, Otter AI, Glossier, and many more. 

Additional investors who affirmed their confidence in the fund’s new vision include returning partners Bank of America, Global Endowment Management, Gingerbread Capital, Nordstrom and Verizon, along with new partner I-Bank of California.

Before BBGV’s most recent fund in 2021, Lyne and Dua led two funds inside AOL, investing in companies such as triple-unicorn Spring Health, HopSkipDrive, Zola and KiwiCo. This is BBGV’s second fund as an independent firm. Notable investments from the firm’s first institutional fund, BBG Ventures Fund I, include Canela TV, Starface, Topline Pro and Supercircle.  

About BBG Ventures

BBG Ventures (BBGV) is a seed and pre-seed venture fund backing high growth companies with founders who are uniquely qualified to move the world forward. Co-founded in 2014 by managing partners Susan Lyne (ABC Entertainment, Martha Stewart, Gilt, AOL, GoPro and Blade) and Nisha Dua (Bain, AOL, BUILT BY GIRLS), the firm has since become one of the most active investors in female and diverse founders in the United States. BBGV portfolio companies meet the mandate of serving “Polycultural America,” a term coined by BBGV to represent the pressing needs of today’s diverse society. These founders are bringing new thinking to sectors where change is overdue, such as healthcare, future of work, fintech, climate and underserved consumers, solving problems for millions of Americans via B2B and B2C business models. BBGV has raised $130 million in capital to date and portfolio companies include leaders such as double unicorn Spring Health, KiwiCo, HopSkipDrive, Zola, Canela Media, Starface, Topline Pro, and Supercircle. As of today, 96% of the companies in BBGV’s portfolio have at least one female co-founder and 84% have at least one co-founder of color. For more information visit www.bbgventures.com, follow on bbgventures and connect on BBG Ventures. 

Elizabeth Sheils and Nora Sheils, co-founders of Rock Paper Coin, have built a game-changing solution tailored to event professionals and creative business owners. In an industry often bogged down by complicated, one-size-fits-all tools, co-founders Elizabeth and Nora understand the specific needs of event professionals with a combined 30 years of experience in the event industry. Unlike larger CRM providers who prioritize feature-heavy interfaces, Rock Paper Coin prioritizes ease of use, addressing the pain points of an underserved audience by focusing on what really matters: simple, efficient tools that just get the job done.

“What makes Rock Paper Coin unique is our commitment to our clients. We don’t just know what they want; we know what they need,” says Elizabeth. “Traditional CRMs often miss the mark for event professionals, leaving them frustrated with systems that don’t fit their workflow. With Rock Paper Coin, we’re solving the real problems—streamlining contracts, invoices, and payments with tools that are intuitive and quick to use.”

The secret to their success lies in their deep industry knowledge and their passion for creating software that aligns with real-world challenges. Rock Paper Coin was designed by operators who not only understand the day-to-day struggles of the events business but also understand where the industry is headed.

“We saw where our competitors were going and knew it wasn’t going to work for the professionals we know and respect,” adds Nora. “Rock Paper Coin isn’t about unnecessary bells and whistles; it’s about providing solutions that empower our users to work more efficiently, close deals faster, and improve their bottom line.”

With 70% of Rock Paper Coin’s signups now driven by referrals, co-founders Elizabeth and Nora are demonstrating clear product-market fit. Their dedication to listening to clients and refining their product has paid off, as they continue to shape a solution that resonates deeply with event professionals. Guided by a commitment to simplicity, these industry veterans have transformed their vision into a highly effective tool tailored to meet the unique needs of the market. September marked their best month on record, reinforcing that they’re onto something truly exceptional.

About Rock Paper Coin

Based in Portland, Rock Paper Coin is the leading client management platform for event professionals and creative business owners, offering an intuitive suite of tools for managing contracts, invoices, and payments. Designed to bridge the gap between event vendors and clients, Rock Paper Coin simplifies the booking and planning process, empowering professionals to work smarter and grow their businesses with ease. For more information, visit https://rockpapercoin.com.

Haiper, the AI platform for visual content creation, this week launched its new Haiper 2.0 model, to help users generate hyper-realistic videos and images faster than ever before, setting a new industry standard for quality.

Haiper 2.0 utilises a proprietary combination of transformer-based models and diffusion techniques, significantly enhancing the quality, realism, and creation speed of generated content. Haiper recently surpassed the 4.5 million user milestone in its first seven months out of stealth. Alongside this updated model, Haiper is also launching Video Templates—blueprint formats for creative, trending videos or product marketing ads. The categories of Templates continue to grow, as Haiper's community contributes new designs.

The new Haiper 2.0 model will produce higher quality outputs, 4K resolution soon, and faster generation times. The new model will also increase temporal coherence with smoother and more lifelike movements. As Haiper scales, the company’s perceptual diffusion transformer (DiT) video models and advanced neural architectures will provide unparalleled performance in resolution, dynamism, and speed.

Dr Yishu Miao, co-founder and CEO of Haiper, commented: “Haiper 2.0 is a groundbreaking upgrade to our widely used and celebrated video generation model. Users will be able to generate ultra-realistic videos faster than ever before. At Haiper, we incorporate creators’ feedback to actively improve aspects that matter most to them: generation speed, realism, and temporal consistency. Launching Templates alongside Haiper 2.0 will make it easier for creators—whether hobbyists, enthusiasts or enterprise customers—to explore new use cases.”

Launched: Video Templates

Haiper 2.0 launches alongside Templates, a series of well-designed workflows to help users animate and transform images into videos. Templates include a range of business use cases, such as logo and product animations; and fun, viral videos: users can morph still images of people and backgrounds into shareable videos, such as characters kissing or hugging, face swapping, or viral TikTok dances. Users simply upload images to a template, and Haiper generates a high-quality video, saving time on typing specific prompts. Videos can then be adapted with further prompts, to ensure generations precisely fit the user’s vision.

Haiper History

Haiper was founded in late 2021 by Dr. Yishu Miao (CEO) and Dr. Ziyu Wang (CTO), both with PhDs in machine learning from Oxford University and former researchers at Google’s DeepMind. The company’s co-founders have experience working alongside AI pioneers, including Geoffrey Hinton, Nando de Freitas, and Phil Blunsom.

Since Haiper’s launch and $13.8M seed round earlier in 2024, the platform has launched additional capabilities, including HD upscaler, text-to-image generation, and keyframe conditioning for ultra-precise videos. Haiper is also leveraging NVIDIA technologies as they explore video generation up to 30 seconds.

About Haiper

Haiper is a video-generative AI platform building a powerful foundation model for visual content. Scaling to become Europe’s powerhouse for visual generative AI, the company has raised $19.2M to date. Founded in late 2021 by Dr. Yishu Miao (CEO) and Dr. Ziyu Wang (CTO), Haiper has expanded its team to 30 people, from eight different countries. The company is headquartered in London and also has an office in Toronto. To learn more, visit https://haiper.ai.

This month, Hollywood Vacation Rentals celebrated a memorable company event to honor its growth and expansion, marking the addition of seven luxury villas to its management portfolio. The event gathered team members, partners, and local leaders to celebrate this milestone and showcase the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering outstanding guest experiences. With these new properties, Hollywood Vacation Rentals continues to elevate its offerings, solidifying its place as a leader in the South Florida vacation rental market.

Hollywood Vacation Rentals is a premier ​vacation rental company in Florida, offering over 40 luxurious villas in the vibrant South Florida landscape. Catering to families, groups, and discerning travelers, the company specializes in properties that provide comfort and a unique sense of privacy. Many of these villas feature private pools, offering guests an exclusive space to unwind and enjoy the sun.

Unmatched Reputation: Top-Rated Rentals with Glowing Reviews

Hollywood Vacation Rentals commitment to excellence is reflected in thousands of glowing reviews on platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy. The company has earned Superhost status, a recognition for hosts who consistently deliver exceptional service and maintain impeccably clean accommodations. Guests regularly praise the professionalism and attention to detail, making ​Hollywood Vacation Rentals a top choice for visitors to South Florida.

Flexible and Diverse Rental Options

Hollywood Vacation Rentals understands the varied needs of travelers, offering long-term, short-term, and ​monthly house rentals, including beachfront properties. This flexibility ensures there is an option that suits every guest, whether you're planning a weekend escape or an extended stay. Each rental is thoughtfully equipped with modern amenities, creating a welcoming, home-like atmosphere for any length of stay. For seasonal visitors, the Snowbird program provides convenient accommodations tailored to longer stays.

Exclusive Deals and Luxurious Amenities

Hollywood Vacation Rentals offers exclusive deals, including last-minute offers and special discounts. Booking a ​rental with a private heated pool near Miami adds an extra touch of luxury. Guests can book directly on our website at ​hollywoodvacationrental.com and avoid platform booking fees, ensuring a more personalized experience and better rates that cater to individual needs.

Experience the Best of South Florida

Hollywood Vacation Rentals prioritizes guest satisfaction, offering luxurious accommodations and private amenities. Their dedication to ​top-tier service and memorable experiences has made them a trusted name in South Florida. For your next getaway, choose Hollywood Vacation Rentals and immerse yourself in the beauty and vibrancy of Florida’s premier coastal destination.

About Hollywood Vacation Rentals

Hollywood Vacation Rentals is South Florida's premier vacation home rental agency. Our carefully selected collection of properties is designed to promote a sense of peace and harmony, allowing our guests to relax, reconnect with friends and family, and above all have fun. Plan your dream South Florida vacation today at ​hollywoodvacationrental.com.

HomeBoost, a home energy platform, today announced its launch out of stealth and the nationwide availability of its inaugural product: BoostBox. A DIY home energy assessment kit, BoostBox empowers homeowners to understand how they can increase their home’s energy efficiency to save on their utility bills and live more comfortably. 

Nine of 10 homes in the US today are under-insulated, with significant air leaks, inefficient appliances, and clogged furnace filters amplifying the discomfort many homeowners experience on a daily basis. Coupled with extreme heat and historic inflation, the average home energy bill in the US during Summer 2024 was the highest in ten years and nearly 8% higher than 2023. Some households now spend nearly 20% of their income on heating and cooling their home as a result. Third parties can recommend energy improvements, but are expensive, in short supply, and often leave homeowners unsure about next steps. HomeBoost makes it fast and easy for homeowners to determine how to make their homes more efficient and make a positive long term impact on their budgets for a fraction of the cost. 

"Consumer studies show there is a massive appetite among homeowners to make changes that improve the livability of their homes while cutting down on energy bills. The problem is they don’t know where to start," said Selina Tobaccowala, CEO and co-founder of HomeBoost. "HomeBoost enables homeowners to drive the process with confidence while providing unbiased, trusted advice along the way.”

BoostBox is the first DIY home energy assessment kit that amplifies ease-of-use for homeowners with the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision-driven analysis:

• Comparable results, cheaper price tag: Available for $99, BoostBox is approximately 80% cheaper than a home auditor and provides nearly the exact same set of findings.
• Compact, easy-to-use hardware: BoostBox includes a thermal camera that plugs into an iPhone along with a blacklight. The thermal camera helps HomeBoost determine where insulation can be improved, window drafts mitigated, and more, while the blacklight shows which incandescent light bulbs can be replaced with longer lasting LEDs.  
• Step-by-step guidance: The HomeBoost mobile app—available for free download on the Apple App Store—walks homeowners through the entire assessment process. They can choose to focus on specific problem areas in 30 minutes or less or conduct a comprehensive scan of their entire home. 
• Personalized, actionable insights: HomeBoost’s AI and computer vision engine quickly turns the inputs homeowners share into a detailed report, complete with recommendations on product upgrades, maintenance they can complete themselves, and larger projects that require contractors.
• Optimized for cost savings: Every recommendation outlines the upfront cost, the savings homeowners can expect to gain, and the amount of time to recoup their investment. This is boosted by input on how to maximize local and federal rebates.

Today, HomeBoost’s technology constantly learns from what homeowners share during their assessment and external inputs like utility rates and weather, which speeds the time it takes to provide the knowledge they need to take action. The data HomeBoost is training its model with today will, in the future, become the building block of a robust marketplace where utilities, contractors, and financing partners work together to help homeowners on their path to energy efficiency.

HomeBoost also announced it has secured $4 million in seed funding from True Ventures, Gigascale Capital, and Incite.org. With consumer energy costs continuing to soar across the country, the investment will be used to fuel customer growth, accelerate technological development, and expand the team.

"HomeBoost and its experienced team of serial-entrepreneurs and technologists are combining the power of software-enabled hardware, personalized commerce, and marketplace to help homeowners reduce energy costs and their carbon footprints at large," said Jon Callaghan, co-founder of True Ventures. "This intersection of technology and mission-focused intent excites us, as does the passion of this team. Deciding to invest was a ‘know-it-when-you-see-it moment’ for us."

"The EPA estimates well-insulated and sealed homes can reduce heating and cooling costs by 15%," said Mike Schroepfer, Partner at Gigascale Capital. "By making home energy efficiency data more accessible, HomeBoost helps people find savings, cut their emissions now, and also prepares them for larger electrification projects down the road, like installing heat pumps or solar panels."

To learn more about HomeBoost and to purchase a BoostBox today, visit www.homeboost.com.

About HomeBoost

HomeBoost is a home energy platform founded by longtime consumer product entrepreneurs to provide trusted partnership at every stage of the homeownership journey. Its initial product—BoostBox—gives homeowners the tools and personalized insights they need to improve their home energy efficiency, save money on utility bills, and live more comfortably. Backed by prominent venture capital firms including True Ventures, Gigascale Capital, and Incite.org, HomeBoost was founded in 2023 and is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.homeboost.com.

Advention, an independent global strategy advisory group, announces the release of its latest white paper, titled "Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Navigating the Landscape." This timely report examines critical gaps in global pandemic preparedness and response (PPR) frameworks and presents actionable strategies to strengthen resilience, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

As the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted stark disparities in healthcare systems worldwide, Advention's comprehensive analysis underscores the urgent need for greater collaboration across public and private sectors. This white paper offers a strategic roadmap for stakeholders to address the vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic, providing a detailed six-step framework designed to enhance both national and global health security.

The white paper explores the pivotal role of the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in shaping effective PPR strategies. It outlines approaches to stakeholder engagement, policy advocacy, capacity building, innovative financing, and continuous strategy adaptation.

“Pandemic preparedness is not just a health issue; it is a matter of global stability and economic resilience.” said Mugheer Dirwish, UK Managing Director at Advention. “With this white paper, we aim to provide actionable insights and strategic guidance to ensure that the global health community, particularly in LMICs, is better equipped to respond to future pandemics.”

Advention's white paper is a must-read for pharmaceutical companies, NGOs, national health authorities, and other stakeholders committed to bolstering global pandemic resilience. It draws on lessons from COVID-19 and focuses on market-shaping activities, collaboration, and innovation to create more sustainable healthcare systems.

The white paper, "Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Navigating the Landscape" is available for download on Advention's website: https://www.adventionbp.com/insights.

About Advention

Advention is an independent strategy advisory group with offices in Dubai, London, New York, Shanghai and Paris. It offers corporate and business unit strategy, growth strategy and performance improvement services to various sectors, and was recognized by Forbes as a top global consulting firm. To learn more, visit https://www.adventionbp.com.

At the International Conference "Nuclear Opportunities for the Country's Development: Wartime and Post-War Reconstruction," held in Kyiv on October 15, 2024, over 200 participants confirmed the critical role of nuclear energy in ensuring Ukraine's economic resilience. Petro Kotin, acting CEO of Energoatom, underscored how essential nuclear power is for the nation’s energy stability.

“Nuclear energy is Ukraine’s only dependable source of electricity and heat amidst Russian aggression. The expansion of nuclear facilities and the construction of new reactors are not just priorities; they are crucial for the country’s future,” Kotin stated.

Kotin highlighted that Ukraine’s nuclear sector ranks second in Europe, trailing only France’s EDF in installed capacity. Timofiy Milovanov, a member of Energoatom's Supervisory Board, emphasized nuclear energy’s pivotal role in maintaining Ukraine’s energy security during the war. He lauded Energoatom's swift shift away from Russian dependency for nuclear fuel and equipment and for successfully preparing all nine reactors under Ukrainian control for the winter.

“Fifteen years ago, Ukraine’s nuclear sector was heavily reliant on Russia. Today, Energoatom has dramatically changed that,” said Milovanov. “Despite the ongoing war, our nuclear operator completed an unprecedented maintenance effort, preparing all reactors for the winter ahead.”

In a video message, Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed confidence in Ukraine's nuclear energy renaissance. He affirmed continued international support for expanding nuclear capacity, particularly at the Khmelnitsky NPP.

“Ukraine will once again have one of the largest nuclear programs in Europe. Protecting this vital source of energy, now and in the post-war period, is crucial,” Grossi stressed.

Tim Gitzel, CEO of Cameco, emphasized the growing partnership with Energoatom. "We are proud to fully support Ukraine’s energy independence. Our partnership includes 100% fuel supply for Energoatom, along with technical support for uranium production," Gitzel explained. He added that Cameco stands ready to assist in building new reactors in Ukraine.

Riaz Awan, Vice President of Holtec International, praised Energoatom’s resilience: “No other nuclear operator in the world has dealt with the challenges Energoatom has faced. Despite missile and drone attacks, they continue to operate reactors and deliver power.” Awan reaffirmed Holtec's commitment to its SMR 300 modular reactor projects with Energoatom, even amidst wartime.

Although nine reactors across three Ukrainian plants are operational, the Zaporizhzhia NPP, Europe’s largest, remains offline. Since being seized by Russian forces in March 2022, it has been used as a military base, violating essential nuclear safety protocols.

About Energoatom

Energoatom, officially known as the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine, is the state-owned operator of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. Established to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient generation of nuclear power, Energoatom is a key player in Ukraine’s energy sector, providing nearly half of the country's electricity needs. With 15 reactors across four nuclear power plants, Energoatom ranks as Europe’s second-largest nuclear power generator by installed capacity.

Since the start of the conflict, Energoatom has not only maintained operations under challenging conditions but also expedited efforts to achieve full independence from Russian nuclear fuel and materials. In partnership with international companies like Westinghouse and Holtec International, Energoatom is advancing Ukraine's nuclear energy infrastructure to ensure long-term energy security, economic resilience, and alignment with international safety and environmental standards.

For more information, visit https://energoatom.com.ua.

CryptoProcessing by CoinsPaid, one of the leading crypto payment providers globally, recently shared its performance results for the third quarter of 2024. The company achieved a remarkable €2.23 trillion in total turnover from crypto and fiat transactions, reflecting almost a 27% increase compared to Q3 2023.

During Q3 2024, CryptoProcessing handled nearly 2.52 million transactions, serving a wide range of sectors, including e-commerce, travel, real estate, luxury goods, education, and more.

Commenting on these results, Hanna Drabysheuskaya, CFO of CryptoProcessing by CoinsPaid, said:

"Crypto payments are a powerful and dynamic financial force that more and more businesses are choosing today. We serve clients across various sectors—from e-commerce and travel to real estate, rental services, online booking, luxury goods, education, and beyond—providing them with the ability to connect with crypto users. This service is essential, as 617 million people already hold and use cryptocurrencies. We foresee crypto continuing to spread rapidly due to its numerous business advantages, such as lower transaction fees, faster and more affordable cross-border payments, and access to a growing global audience."

About CryptoProcessing by CoinsPaid

CryptoProcessing by CoinsPaid is a trusted provider of crypto payment solutions for businesses. With over a decade of cryptocurrency expertise, CryptoProcessing serves hundreds of merchants worldwide, offering seamless integration and support for a wide range of cryptocurrencies. To learn more, visit https://en.cryptoprocessing.com.