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Nappr, the innovative marketplace that revolutionizes the way that busy professionals rest and recharge, has achieved a significant milestone by securing its 1,000th hotel partner worldwide. This achievement, in the context of the growing on-demand service industry, marks a major step forward in Nappr’s mission to provide on-the-go individuals with convenient access to quality rest and amenities at nearby hotels in 24 countries across the globe.

Nappr's unique platform offers hotel day rates ranging from 4 to 10 hours at a diverse network of properties, which includes brands like Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton, and many boutique hotels as well. Their flexible booking system allows users to tailor their rest periods to fit their specific schedules and helps them meet the demands of their busy lifestyles. With Nappr, users can enjoy up to 50% off typical overnight rates while experiencing all the comforts and amenities of the property.

"We are thrilled that we have 1,000 hotels on our network! We started with 10 less than a year ago so this is a significant milestone for us, and underscores our commitment to providing unparalleled convenience and value to our users," said Jared Lerner, Nappr's founder and self-proclaimed "ZzZEO." "Our platform is also a big value-add for hotels as well since they can maximize their revenue potential and fill any unused capacity during the day."

Nappr's expanding network of hotels spans many large cities and airports, ensuring that users can easily find accommodations that suit their needs wherever they may be. Nappr offers a seamless solution for individuals seeking flexible and affordable lodging options.

For more information about Nappr and to explore their growing list of partner hotels, visit https://www.nappr.io.

About Nappr

Nappr is a leading marketplace that offers hourly day rates at nearby hotels, allowing busy professionals to rest, recharge, and meet the demands of their unique schedules. With a network of 1,000 global properties, Nappr provides users with convenient access to quality accommodations at up to 50% off the overnight rate, along with all the amenities they need. Nappr also empowers hotels to maximize their revenue potential by filling unused capacity through hourly bookings.

Visit us on social media: Instagram / TikTok /Twitter / LinkedIn

Media Contact

Jared Lerner

+1 ‪917-409-8674‬

jared@nappr.io

BridgeFT, a cloud-native, API-first wealth infrastructure software company that enables financial institutions, fintech innovators, and registered investment advisors (RIAs) to deliver better, data-driven outcomes for their clients, today announced that it has been selected as winner of the “Data Warehouse Solution Provider of the Year” award in the 5th annual Data Breakthrough Awards program conducted by Data Breakthrough, an independent market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global data technology market today.

BridgeFT’s WealthTech API is the industry’s first WealthTech-as-a-Service platform, offering an open API to AI and trade-ready multi-custodial data, advanced analytics, and application services. The WealthTech API eliminates the need for individual data feeds from a range of custodians and back-office providers, enabling wealth management firms and wealthtech application providers to create differentiated, next-generation wealth management applications.

“Large amounts of client and investment account data–whether from custodians, alternatives or held-away assets–is powering the wealth management industry, which is why we created the WealthTech API: to make it simpler for businesses to access these insights to further enable differentiation and accelerate growth,” said Joe Stensland, Chief Executive Officer of BridgeFT. “We are honored to receive this award from Data Breakthrough. As we continue to build out our services, this award serves as an important validation of our modern, API-first WealthTech-as-a-Service platform.”

The annual Data Breakthrough Awards is the premier awards program founded to recognize the data technology innovators, leaders and visionaries from around the world in a range of categories, including DataOps, Data Analytics, AI, Business Intelligence, Data Privacy, Data Storage and many more. The 5th annual Data Breakthrough Award program attracted thousands of nominations from across the globe.

“By offering access to complex and hard-to-get data through a modern technology infrastructure, BridgeFT allows superior data breadth and depth with value-add processing for high data quality. Providers rely on outdated legacy solutions for financial data aggregation. These processes are often riddled with inaccuracies and lengthy deployment without the relevant applications to deploy the financial data once received,” said Steve Johansson, Managing Director, Data Breakthrough. “Congratulations to BridgeFT; their WealthTech API and unique approach to data technology goes beyond data aggregation by integrating robust functionalities into its platform to make best use of the data.”

About BridgeFT

BridgeFT is a cloud-native, API-first wealth infrastructure software company that enables financial institutions, FinTech innovators, TAMPs, and registered investment advisors to deliver better, data-driven outcomes for their clients. Our WealthTech-as-a-Service platform, WealthTech API, makes wealth management technology better by accelerating, simplifying and reducing the cost of app development and maintenance, so our clients can focus on delivering next generation wealth management applications and unique digital experiences that amplify their differentiators. Leading financial services firms and technology companies trust BridgeFT to power their digital wealth management ecosystems and automate critical back-office operations--seamlessly aligning multi-custodial data aggregation, advanced analytics and reporting, and application services to deliver truly personalized client experiences. For more information, visit bridgeft.com.

About Data Breakthrough

Part of the Tech Breakthrough organization, a leading global provider of market intelligence and recognition platforms for technology innovation and leadership, the Data Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring innovation and market disruption in data technologies, services, companies and products. The global Data Breakthrough Awards program provides a forum for public recognition around the achievements of data companies and solutions in categories including data analytics, management, infrastructure and hardware, storage, Business Intelligence and more. For more information visit DataBreakthroughAwards.com.

Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Media Contact

media@bridgeft.com

Trust & Will, the leading digital estate planning and settlement platform in the U.S., introduces significant enhancements to its Trust & Will for Advisors platform, serving over 11,000 financial advisors nationwide.

With a focus on simplifying estate planning and probate, Trust & Will for Advisors offers comprehensive solutions encompassing wills, trusts, and probate services. The latest features include:

• Estate Reports: Visualizations of clients' estate plans, providing advisors with automated insights into assets, succession, and planning opportunities.
• Estate Summary: Client-centric summaries detailing key estate decisions, ensuring advisors maintain visibility and adaptability as clients' circumstances evolve.
• Personalized Client Insights: Tailored insights derived from clients' estate decisions, facilitating proactive engagement and fostering lasting advisor-client relationships.
• Legacy Contact: Client-assigned read-only access for designated individuals to assist during the settlement process.
• New Dashboard Design: Introducing a sleek, user-friendly interface tailored exclusively for financial advisors.
• Dedicated Support Team: A committed support team providing seamless onboarding for financial professionals utilizing the platform.

"We're excited to expand our product offerings tailored for financial advisors, enhancing their ability to serve clients effectively," says Andres Mazabel, Head of Advisors at Trust & Will. "By incorporating direct feedback from our advisor network, we've reimagined the advisor experience from start to finish. These new features empower advisors with enhanced visibility into their clients' holistic financial landscapes, fostering enduring and impactful relationships."

Financial professionals can register for a free webinar on April 17, 2024, to learn more about Trust & Will for Advisors.

In conjunction with these enhancements, Trust & Will conducted a study to explore generational preferences in financial advisory services amid the impending Great Wealth Transfer. Key findings from Trust & Will’s 2024 Annual Study: “Planning Through the Pressure: The Millennial Approach to Estate Planning” include:

• More than half of Millennials and Gen Z (57%) express interest in working with financial advisors for estate planning, suggesting a generational shift towards professional guidance.
• A striking 28% of respondents, predominantly from Gen Z (48%), express a preference for using the same financial advisor as their parents or family members.
• Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) included hiring a financial advisor as part of their 2024 or 2025 financial goals.

For the complete study results, please visit http://trustandwill.com/study.

Since its inception in 2017, Trust & Will has facilitated estate planning for nearly 700,000 families, safeguarding sensitive financial information through bank-level encryption and SOC 2 Type II compliance. With a network exceeding 11,000 financial advisors, Trust & Will remains the largest estate planning platform tailored specifically for financial professionals in the U.S.

Study Methodology

For general population data, Trust & Will worked with OnePoll to survey a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Americans aged 18 and older from March 12-13, 2024.

About Trust & Will

Trust & Will is simplifying estate planning and settlement with attorney-approved, legally valid documents and processes designed to adhere to individual state guidelines. Since 2017, we've helped hundreds of thousands of Trust & Will members leave their legacy with an affordable way to create an estate plan or settle the estate of a loved one. Our platform uses bank-level encryption that protects customer data and complies with the highest security standards, including SOC 2 and HIPAA. Trust & Will is the official estate planning benefit provider for AARP members, along with several leading financial institutions, who all believe in our mission of helping every family leave their legacy. To learn more, visit trustandwill.com.

Trust & Will is an online service providing legal forms and information. Trust & Will is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

Media Contact

Danielle Nuzzo

631-807-7772

danielle@trustandwill.com

A former Chicago Public School student has retained the Chicago law firm, Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, to represent her regarding her claims that Chicago Public Schools negligently hired, supervised, and retained a former Dean of Students who raped her, failing to protect the then 15-year-old student even after they learned of the abuse. The lawsuit alleges that the Little Village Lawndale High School maintained a pattern of practice of exploiting children entrusted to their care, identifying a cadre of teachers and administrators who have allegedly abused other students during the same time frame and covered it up.

The lawsuit alleges that the former Dean of Students at Chicago Public Schools’ Little Village Lawndale High School, Brian Crowder, groomed and repeatedly sexually abused the child, subjecting her to two pregnancies and abortions while a student. To circumvent Illinois law which requires familial consent for a minor to receive an abortion, the CPS Dean allegedly misinformed the clinic that he was the student’s stepfather, signing consent forms under a false name. The survivor alleges that she reported the abuse to a teacher—who is required by law to report sexual abuse committed by a CPS employee—but the teacher did nothing. Employees of the school allegedly commented on how much time the child spent in Dean Crowder’s office and made jokes about their romantic involvement with Dean Crowder while she endured years of sexual abuse.

Chicago Public Schools’ longstanding problem of perpetuating and concealing sexual abuse was first exposed by the Chicago Tribune’s “Betrayed” investigative series. The Tribune analyzed 523 Chicago Police Reports from 2008 through 2017 and found a staggering 72 school employees alleged to have sexually abused students, including teachers, counselors, coaches, security guards, and more. The series alleged that ineffective background checks exposed students to educators with identifiable criminal convictions, and that teachers and principals routinely failed to uphold their legal duty to alert child welfare investigators or police of known abuse. The Illinois Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) has taken over all investigative duties regarding child sexual abuse at Chicago Public Schools. Since then, the OIG has received an additional 2,188 reports of sexual misconduct from students against CPS employees. The OIG has substantiated policy violations in 363 of those cases.

The victim’s attorney, Martin Gould, Founding Partner of Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, released the following statement:

"The Chicago Public Schools have ignored a longstanding and egregious problem of sexual abuse of minors within its schools. No child should have to experience sexual abuse at the hands of the very adults entrusted with their personal development and safety. Our schools should be a place where students feel safe and where parents feel safe sending their children. Unfortunately, CPS has treated mandatory reporting as an optional guideline, providing a platform for abusers to access children and creating a safe  haven where their actions will be tolerated if not concealed. As a result of clear disregard for mandatory reporting requirements, children like our client were repeatedly subjected to incomprehensible trauma. We are here to ensure that survivors receive the justice they deserve, that their abusers are held accountable, and that appropriate policies are put in place and followed to ensure this does not happen again. We are inspired by the bravery of our client who chose to speak out about her experiences in the hope of ensuring that school administrators take seriously their duty to protect students from experiencing the sexual abuse she was forced to endure. We encourage anyone who may have information related to this matter to contact our law firm."

The victims are additionally represented by Mike Grieco, Founding Partner of SGGH Law, and Nicholas Wainwright, also a lawyer with expertise in sexual abuse at the firm. The attorneys will discuss survivor experiences and harms, legal theories, and a demand for justice during a press conference on Thursday, April 11 at 10:00 a.m. CT, at Thompson Hotels, 21 E Bellevue Pl., Chicago, IL 60611. Media are asked to arrive early to set up.

Press Conference Details:

Date: Thursday, April 11, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m. CT

Location: Thompson Hotels, 21 E Bellevue Pl., Chicago, IL 60611

Please note the student sexually abused in this case will be in attendance at the press conference tomorrow and available for interviews. IMPORTANT: We ask journalists to please conceal her identity.

If you are a former student, or the parent of a current student, who experienced sexual abuse at the Chicago Public Schools, or have any information, please contact Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC (justice@SGGHLaw.com; www.sgghlaw.com) to discuss your legal rights. For media inquiries, please contact lynn@lynnsmithtv.com.

About Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC

Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC is a prestigious, boutique, national personal injury firm dedicated to advocating for victims of abuse and catastrophic injuries in high-stakes litigation. SGGH’s lawyers have represented hundreds of survivors of rape, sexual assault, and childhood sexual abuse across the country in finding justice, financial compensation, and closure through the legal system. These cases include claims against institutions such as the Boy Scouts of America, the Boys & Girls Club, University of Michigan (Dr. Robert Anderson), Michigan State University (Dr. Larry Nasser), professional sports teams, Jeffrey Epstein, private and public schools, elite private boarding schools, orphanages, foster care programs, hospitals, mental health facilities, Fortune 500 companies, and numerous religious institutions. Recent successes include participating in global settlements valued at nearly $3 billion. For more information, visit https://www.sgghlaw.com.

Media Contact

Lynn Smith

+1 646-717-0354

lynn@lynnsmithtv.com

The Investments & Wealth Institute (“the Institute”), the leading membership organization and credentialing body for financial advisors and wealth management professionals, is pleased to announce updates to its renowned and accredited Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) certification program. On August 1, 2024, changes to the learning requirements for the CIMA certification, the curriculum taught by the Investments & Wealth Institute and their elite educational partners, and revisions to the exam itself will go into full effect.

Changes to the CIMA certification are reflected in the Defining Wealth Management report, published by the Investments & Wealth Institute, to summarize the knowledge and professional capabilities required of wealth management professionals, teams, and firms.

CIMA certification teaches and tests advisors on creating, managing, and evaluating model portfolios, target-date funds, ETFs, and index funds. They learn to manage risk and return — including when and how to incorporate alternative investments into client portfolios — and how to build proper investment policy statements. CIMA certified professionals understand how to apply behavioral finance to address cognitive biases in client decision-making, and how capital markets and global macroeconomic trends affect portfolio design. In summary, they are equipped to prudently assemble, evaluate, and/or manage portfolios that meet client objectives and outcomes as fiduciaries.

A CIMA certified professional is an investment or wealth management professional, with at least three years of experience, who can integrate a complex body of investment knowledge, ethically contributing to prudent investment decisions by providing objective advice and guidance to individual and institutional investors. Fewer than 3% of advisory professionals have earned and maintained the certification. However, more than 15% of teams or practices with $500M or more in AUM have at least one CIMA certified professional serving on the team. (Cerulli Associates, 2023)

“Since 1988, the CIMA certification has served the industry’s most respected wealth management practices,” said Sean Walters, CAE®, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute. “The changes our volunteers are making in 2024 reflect the latest advancements in the practice of competent and ethical investment advice. These updates have been derived, as always, from a painstaking examination of the knowledge and skills needed by today’s most advanced financial and investment consulting professionals to ensure the CIMA certification remains on the leading edge of technical portfolio construction and risk management.”

The 2023 job task analysis study was performed in coordination with HUMRRO — a non-profit test development organization. The CIMA job analysis applied a scientifically administered survey which required 300 investment practitioners to rate a series of knowledge and skill statements using a variety of metrics by importance, time spent performing a task, level of ability required for tasks, and relevance of certain knowledge required to perform the job.

The CIMA Certification Commission adjusted the exam blueprint according to the findings of the survey. Registered Education Providers then updated their curricula to reflect the updated blueprint. With the newly updated curriculum having launched on April 1, 2024, the whole process will culminate on August 1, 2024, with the debut of the new exam.

Certified Investment Management Analyst practitioners are required to exhibit knowledge of 89 topics, organized within 20 sections and five knowledge domains. Approximately 20% of the revised exam and learning requirements have been updated. Notable highlights of these updates include:

• Alternative investments and private markets are increasing (from 2% to 5% of the examination)
• Portfolio Construction is increasing (from 5% to 8% of the exam)
• Risk and risk measurement calculations are decreasing (from 12% to 6% of the exam)
• Performance Measurement and risk attribution are decreasing (from 8% to 5% of the exam)
• Client discovery and investment policy are decreasing (from 8% to 6%)

Perhaps the most significant new section of content will be on investment implementation approaches (5% of the new exam). Many wealth management firms have outsourced investment management expertise to TAMPs, model portfolios, and AI/digital-allocators. However, research on clients of advisors has consistently reported that investment management is the most important technical competency that they expect from their advisor. CIMA certified practitioners must now demonstrate knowledge competencies related to investment implementation approaches — from applications of asset allocation methodologies to resolving concentrated positions in the existing portfolio. Advisors must evaluate questions of accumulation and distribution based on the realities of client time horizons, assets and liabilities, and desired objectives. Candidates must properly differentiate between applicable investment management models and help clients make appropriate selections to meet their goals.

“From an ethical standpoint, advisory professionals who don’t fully understand the portfolios they recommend to clients, or who don’t know how to effectively and prudently create, manage and adjust portfolios catered to client objectives, are doing their clients a disservice,” said James LaFleur, CIMA®, CPWA®, RMA®, CAIA, MSIT, chair of the CIMA Certification Commission, a volunteer committee of subject matter experts who established the revised requirements.

CIMA certification candidates must have three years, at minimum, of verified professional experience in financial services or a related industry at the time of certification. Candidates must successfully pass two background checks — at time of application and at time of certification. The CIMA curriculum is taught through Registered Executive Education partners, including programs offered by two of the world’s most elite business schools, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the Yale School of Management. The CIMA certification examination will be administered as a four-hour, 120-question multiple choice examination at an established testing center or via an approved online proctored exam provider. The examination currently has a 48% first time pass rate (two-year average).

About the Investments & Wealth Institute

Founded in 1985, the Investments & Wealth Institute is the premier professional association, education provider, and standards body for financial advisors. Through its award-winning events, publications, courses, and acclaimed certifications — Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®), and Retirement Management Advisor® (RMA®) — the Institute delivers Ivy league-quality, highly practical education to more than 20,000 practitioners annually in over 40 countries. Members of the Institute include the industry's most successful investment consultants, advanced financial planners, and private wealth managers who embrace excellence and ethics in applying a broad set of knowledge and skills in their daily work with clients.

Media Contact

Allison Edmondson

+1 303-850-3207

aedmondson@i-w.org

Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group (A&M CRG) released its latest consumer report, Consumer Sentiment Survey Spring 2024, which examines the influence of inflation and resulting changes in consumer spending over the last year, as well as spending outlook for the upcoming six-month timeframe.

This is the sixth chapter of its bi-annual Consumer Sentiment Report, based on a survey of 1,800+ consumers matching the U.S. adult population according to gender, age, ethnicity, region and income. The report delves into shifting behaviors in response to personal finances and economic conditions. It includes insights into consumers' shopping priorities across categories, concerns about increasing prices, vacation plans, and other factors shaping purchase decisions for the upcoming spring season, among other relevant insights.

“Our semi-annual survey aims to analyze the influence of ongoing economic concerns on consumer spending patterns, channel preferences, and their overall confidence in financial stability over time. Retailers can utilize the data and insights from our report to develop financial plans, efficiently manage inventory, enhance marketing campaigns, and establish pricing strategies at a category level,” stated Chad Lusk, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group. “This survey cycle reveals a growing consumer pessimism as we head into the spring season, with intentions to exercise greater caution in spending especially in higher income households.”

The study found that:

• Consumer outlook for spring is weaker as consumers are anticipating spending less and having less money versus Fall ‘23
• Consumers are planning to reduce spending across the board but show the smallest decline in spending intentions for experiences compared to Fall ‘23, with a rising number of respondents planning vacations this year
• In higher income brackets, there's a notable trend towards prioritizing saving over spending. In the $200K+ income bracket, the percentage of respondents prioritizing saving surged by 12% compared to Fall '23. Across various spending categories, we consistently observed the most significant decreases in desire to spend in the higher income households
• Higher income households are turning to second-hand shopping to save money. The number of respondents earning $100K+ who shop second-hand to save costs increased by 10% this spring.

"Retailers must recognize the cautious consumer mindset and adjust strategic priorities accordingly to align with spending plans," Lusk advised. "Retailers, particularly ones servicing higher income consumers, should anticipate providing discounts and promotions across different categories as the season progresses, also while implementing flexible inventory strategies to minimize overall liabilities, given that those typically less affected by recession or inflation will be spending less.”

To download a pdf of Consumer Sentiment Survey Spring 2024, please visit: https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/insight/consumer-sentiment-survey-spring-24/

About Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (A&M CRG)

The Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (CRG) is a management consulting firm that tackles the most complex challenges and advances its clients, people, and communities towards their maximum potential. CRG combines the best of A&M’s broader firm's bias toward action and practicality with deep consumer and retail industry experience. CRG partners with businesses across a wide range of categories including Food & Beverage, Beauty & Personal Care, Grocery, Mass Merchandise, and Apparel & Footwear to drive significant performance improvement.

Media Contact

David Schneidman

dschneidman@alvarezandmarsal.com

Activate, the pioneering live-action gaming venue and viral sensation on TikTok, is excited to announce the grand opening of its first North Carolina location in Charlotte, opening on May 3, 2024. The unique and dynamic venue promises an opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in the nationwide gaming phenomenon. Activate Charlotte is located at 1848 Galleria Blvd Suite 9B, Charlotte, NC, 28270, USA.

With 20 locations in North America's hottest cities, such as Houston, Plano, Chicago, Atlanta, and New Jersey, Activate Charlotte joins the family, promising an electrifying mix of games that will put your agility and wit to the ultimate test.

"Charlotte's vibrant culture is the perfect match for our physically immersive gaming adventures," said Bryce Anderson, Partner at Activate. "We can't wait to energize the city with our unique blend of tech and play. It’s a destination where every visit is a new challenge, every game a fresh conquest."

Activate Charlotte’s new state-of-the-art gaming facility welcomes all ages and skill levels, encouraging players to explore and create their own unique gaming experience. Here’s what to expect:

• Guests can sign up in groups of two to five players
• Through progress tracking via Activate’s high-tech electronic RFID wristbands, players can rack up points, level up, and earn prizes along the way.
• Top gaming rooms include the TikTok viral sensation Mega Grid with 500+ multi-activated rainbow-colored tiles, blasting the beaming bullseye in a game called Strike, and feeling like a modern-day spy in the Laser room.
• Try Level 1, easy, or take it to Level 10, extreme.
• Play as a team in cooperative mode, or challenge your friends in competitive mode games.

"Activate is about igniting that team spirit and passion for fun," added Anderson. "We're here to create epic stories, memorable laughs, and to cheer as our guests shatter records. We believe in fun that fuels the soul and games that push you to your playful limits!"

Additional Activate locations are set to open in 2024 across the U.S. in markets such as Kansas City, Columbus, and Detroit, along with internationally in the UK and UAE. Today, Activate operates in over 20 locations across Canada and the U.S.

Plan Your Visit

• Book in advance to save time and ensure a game room is available. Each game lasts 1-3 minutes. The full gaming experience lasts 75 minutes.
• Complete the safety waiver required for you to play in advance.
• Wear activewear and flat, closed-toe shoes.
• Age requirements: Children 10 and under require a paid adult with them at all times in gaming rooms. Children ages 11 to 13 must have an adult present at the facility.
• Where: 1848 Galleria Blvd, Suite 9B, Charlotte, NC 28270
• When: Sun-Thu: 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Fri-Sat: 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

For a sneak peek into Activate’s action-packed gaming experience, and to keep tabs on the Activate Charlotte grand opening, visit https://playactivate.com/charlotte.

Join the Inner Circle to be the first to hear about new locations, behind-the-scenes information, deals, and more. As a thank you for signing up, Activate will extend 50% off your first booking, valid until June 3rd, 2024.

Please find imagery assets here.

To keep tabs on the grand opening, visit https://playactivate.com.

About Activate

Founded in 2019, Activate is a state-of-the-art gaming facility with locations across the United States and Canada. Each Activate location offers a variety of unique gaming rooms with over 700 levels for players to compete, earn stars, and track achievements online. Activate combines physical activity and gaming to create an immersive experience as part of a healthy lifestyle. To learn more about Activate, please visit https://playactivate.com. Follow Activate on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/activategames and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/activategames/.

Media Contact

Jalila Singerff

+1 613-614-6777

jalila@jiveprdigital.com

Keystone announced today that it has recently made a string of high-profile new additions to the firm’s roster of economists, data scientists, and technologists. The new hires’ arrival marks the latest chapter in Keystone’s expansion of its capabilities in state-of-the-art quantitative analyses made possible by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology in econometrics. 

For clients of the firm’s Global Economic and Technology Advisory (ETA) group, the application of AI/ML within the econometric toolkit typically applied to merger reviews enables advanced economic analyses with increased precision and reliability. These advanced AI/ML tools—once the sole provenance of Big Tech—have become increasingly critical to antitrust and competition analyses. 

Keystone’s economists and data scientists are led by Patrick Bajari, who joined Keystone from Amazon last year as Chief Economist and Managing Director for CoreAI. The new hires in the US and Europe bring deep expertise in applying econometrics to address business operations issues and antitrust and competition matters at major companies, including Amazon and Spotify. The hires include:

• Dr. Evgeni Drynkin, who joins as an Engagement Manager from Cornerstone Research. Dr. Drynkin received his PhD in Economics from Stanford University.
• Dr. Omar Farooque, who joins as a Principal Economist from Spotify, where he was a Senior Research Economist. He received his PhD in Economics from Northwestern University.
• Dr. Ashish Rajbhandari, who joins as a Principal Economist. Dr. Rajbhandari was previously a Senior Economist at Amazon and received his PhD in Economics from UC Irvine.
• Dr. Stefan Weiergraeber, who joins as a Senior Economist. Dr. Weiergraeber was previously a faculty member at Indiana University Bloomington, and received his PhD from University of Mannheim.
• Dr. Jingchen Wu, who joins as a Senior Principal Scientist from Flexport, where he was a Senior Manager in Applied Science. Dr. Wu received his PhD in Applied and Interdisciplinary Mathematics from the University of Michigan.
• Dr. Adler Xie, who joins as a Senior Principal. Dr. Xie was a Senior Data Science Manager at Twitter, and received her PhD in Economics from the University of Illinois-Champaign.

"I’m thrilled to welcome these talented and accomplished economists to our global team of world-class experts,” said Bajari. “They not only bring deep familiarity with the complex and evolving issues facing the tech industry, but also have bona fide experience applying econometrics to real-world problems and collaborating closely with technology teams to inform and improve AI and machine learning systems.” said Bajari.

The economists and data scientists partner closely with technologists led by Devesh Mishra to build out platform capabilities with data, and enable sophisticated Machine Learning demand estimation techniques, best high-end forecasting models, and the ability and familiarity to work with extremely large datasets. Mishra, the former Vice President, Global Supply Chain at Amazon, recently joined the firm as President and Chief Product and Technology Officer of CoreAI. New hires include:

• Ms. Iqra Imtiaz, Data Engineer, joins from Wavely Diagnostics where she was a software engineer. Imtiaz earned her Masters of Engineering in AI for Product Innovation from Duke University.
• Dr. Muntasir Rahmn, who joins as a Principal Engineer from Microsoft’s Business Copilot Applied AI group, where he was a principal Machine Learning engineer. Dr. Rahmn received his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Illionois at Urbana-Champaign.
• Mr. George Vorobiov, Senior Principal Engineer, who joins from Amazon where he was a Principal Engineer. Vorobiov received his MSc, Computer Science from Southern State University. 

The joint team of economists and technologists also partners with strategy consultants to ground analyses with a business perspective, and collaborate to contextualize and interpret outputs with an eye toward practical uses and outcomes. Keystone refers to the intersection of economics, technology and strategy as its “triad of skills,” a key point of difference from other advisory firms.

About Global Economic and Technology Advisory (ETA)

ETA provides economic analysis and expert testimony on a wide range of topics, such as mergers and acquisitions, antitrust litigation, intellectual property, privacy, and regulation. The practice has worked on some of the highest-profile antitrust assignments in the tech industry, such as Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision late last year and Epic Games’ litigation against Apple and Google in the US and Australian courts, in which Keystone’s advanced analytical capabilities were an essential tool in understanding the competitive dynamics.

About CoreAI

The CoreAI practice launched in 2023 to unify Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning capabilities in a focused service offering to build, operate and transfer customized AI/ML solutions tackling individual clients’ unique challenges. CoreAI capabilities can be applied both within business contexts and in support of compliance matters and disputes.  

About Keystone

Keystone Strategy, LLC (“Keystone”) is a leading innovative strategy, economic, and technology consulting firm dedicated to delivering transformative ideas and cutting-edge solutions to Fortune Global 500 companies, top law firms, and government agencies. Keystone combines experience in digital transformation, data platform design, analytics, AI and information risk to deliver bold strategies with far-reaching implications for business, consumers, and public policy. It also possesses unique expertise in competition, IP, litigation, and tax and transfer pricing matters. Keystone was founded by Mr. Greg Richards and Professor Marco Iansiti, Keystone’s Chairman of the Board and the David Sarnoff Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. Keystone now boasts a roster of hundreds of top academic experts in the digital economy and innovation sectors, supported by more than 150 professionals. The firm has offices in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, and London. Learn more about Keystone at www.keystone.ai.

Media Contact

Rob Chedid

Head of Marketing and Communications

rchedid@keystone.ai

The Investments & Wealth Institute (the Institute)—the premier professional association, education provider, and standards body for financial advisors—has announced its partnership with CEG Worldwide, an elite financial advisor coaching, research, and consulting firm, at the Institute’s flagship annual conference, Experience 2024, in Las Vegas.

CEG Insights—CEG Worldwide’s research arm dedicated to providing knowledge of the concerns and expectations of high-net-worth (HNW) families and the best practices of the industry’s top financial advisors—will collaborate with the Institute to create several types of research deliverables to enterprise, team, and individual stakeholders who serve or aspire to serve HNW clients.

“At the Investments & Wealth Institute, our mission is to deliver premier investment and wealth management education to help financial advisors better serve their clients,” said Sean R. Walters, CAE®, Chief Executive Officer for the Institute. “Our 2023 Institute member-needs survey indicated that nearly 70 percent of our members already find Investments & Wealth Research—a component of the Institute’s Investments & Wealth Monitor publication—to be a valuable member benefit. We expect this partnership with CEG Worldwide to further enhance our research offering as CEG has an unparalleled understanding of how elite advisors who operate in the HNW space can further elevate their practices to be successful and provide even more successful outcomes for clients.”

“Our collaboration with the Investments & Wealth Institute is a game-changer for financial advisors who serve high-net-worth clients,” said John Bowen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CEG Worldwide. “By combining the Institute's deep industry knowledge with CEG's expertise in understanding the needs and expectations of wealthy families, we will create powerful resources that enable advisors to elevate their practices and deliver unparalleled value.”

The research partnership in its first year includes:

Custom & Semi-Custom Research Reports for Corporate Clients—The Institute and CEG Insights will jointly develop and deliver co-branded, custom research to interested Institute enterprise (firm-level) clients who seek help in solving the needs that their advisor teams have to be able to improve and grow their businesses and better serve HNW clients. The topic of these research projects will be driven by the enterprise client and based on a negotiated fee agreed upon by the Institute, CEG Insights, and the enterprise client involved.

Wealth Management Mastery Series—CEG Insights already offers a subscription service to its stakeholders via the Wealth Management Mastery Series, a highly regarded research series that provides a wide range of knowledge and strategies for successfully serving HNW clients. The Institute will help promote a curated version of the Mastery Series to its enterprise clients who represent potential prospects for CEG in an effort to further expand awareness and adoption.

Investments & Wealth Research Series—Since 2008, the Investments & Wealth Monitor has provided IWI members with a quarterly research publication called Investments & Wealth Research. This informative series delivers practice-oriented topics designed to help members better serve their clients and distinguish their expertise in a global, and highly competitive marketplace. CEG Insights will work with IWI editorial staff to develop and deliver new research findings as part of this series.

The May/June Investments & Wealth Monitor will feature an article by CEG's Bowen on bridging the wealth management divide. The article will reveal substantial gaps between the services advisors report providing and what clients perceive they receive. At Experience, Bowen will present CEG Insights' latest findings, suggesting that now is an ideal time to work with affluent entrepreneurs: 20% of those surveyed, with an average of $15.6 million in assets, will likely change advisors within two years.

About Investments & Wealth Institute

Founded in 1985, the Investments & Wealth Institute is the premier professional association, education provider, and standards body for financial advisors. Through its award-winning events, publications, courses, and acclaimed certifications—Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®), and Retirement Management Advisor® (RMA®) certifications—the Institute delivers Ivy league-quality, highly-practical education to more than 30,000 practitioners annually in over 40 countries. Members of the Institute include the industry's most successful investment consultants, advanced financial planners, and private wealth managers who embrace excellence and ethics in applying a broad set of knowledge and skills in their daily work with clients. Learn more at www.investmentsandwealth.org.

About CEG Worldwide & CEG Insights

CEG Worldwide and CEG Insights are recognized providers of research, coaching, and consulting services for financial advisors and the wealth management industry. Specializing in serving high-net-worth clients, CEG Worldwide offers business development strategies, coaching, and training to help advisors grow their practices and build successful businesses. CEG Insights, the research arm of CEG Worldwide, researches the needs and expectations of wealthy families and the best practices of top advisors. Together, CEG Worldwide and CEG Insights support advisors in achieving success, delivering excellent client experiences, and navigating the evolving industry landscape. Learn more at www.cegworldwide.com and www.ceginsights.com.

Media Contact

Allison Edmondson

+1 303-850-3207

aedmondson@i-w.org

Businesses are facing mounting pressure to prioritize security risks and ensure compliance with leading security and privacy standards. Non-adherence can result in loss of business, hefty regulatory fines, and damage to reputation. However, despite the critical importance of these activities, they struggle to build a robust, responsive risk and compliance program due to the amount of manual work involved and the limited availability of resources.

Helping businesses to address these challenges, leading automated risk and compliance platform Sprinto is today announcing a $20 million funding round. Accel led the series B funding round with participation from existing investors Elevation Capital and Blume Ventures. Including this round, Sprinto has raised $31.8 million to date. Sprinto will use the fresh funds for R&D, with a sharp focus on intelligent automation and AI, and expanding into new markets.

To empower businesses in navigating risk and compliance with clarity and confidence, Sprinto has pioneered technology rooted in intelligent automation that eliminates barriers to establishing trust. The platform plugs into a company's processes to create intelligent workflows using AI. By doing so, Sprinto tears down silos and produces a connected view of assets, risks, controls, and compliance. This structured approach enhances security programs, fostering seamless operations and tangible results.

Founded in 2020 by Girish Redekar and Raghuveer Kancherla, Sprinto marks their second entrepreneurial endeavor. The company has amassed thousands of customers and extended its reach to more than 75 countries. The co-founders observed first-hand the challenges of dealing with compliance with their first venture Recruiterbox (acquired in 2018). They found it to be tedious, manual, confusing, and costly. Sprinto was born out of this frustration, designed and engineered to help other companies eliminate busywork through intelligent automation, liberating themselves from compliance drudgery and reclaiming time to do business.

Girish Redekar, co-founder and CEO of Sprinto, said: “Companies are increasingly dependent on third and fourth parties to provide mission-critical services – from payroll processing to managed web hosting. It’s inevitable that this will expose them to vulnerabilities. They are doing their best to follow best practices for cybersecurity, but less than a quarter of execs believe they are meeting the bar (Bain & Company). Compliance serves as a way of seeding good security behaviors that help maintain security while ensuring high operating standards, high service levels, and risks under control. I’ve seen how CEOs are now increasingly engaged in risk and compliance-related projects, transitioning from viewing it solely as a monitoring and reporting mechanism for regulators to recognizing its potential as a driver of growth. Trust is the currency of any business transaction. Removing barriers to establishing trust can hyper-accelerate the GDP growth of B2B commerce. We are committed to building the technology that enables this mission.”

Sprinto customer Alessio Panni, Partner and Head of Cloud & Platforms practice at Prometeia commented: "As a leading company in the field of consulting services and software solutions for the financial sector, we firmly believe security and compliance lie at the very heart of our SaaS Cloud offering for risk management and wealth management. Sprinto is our trusted security and compliance platform, enabling us from the early days to enhance protection for our client's assets and to accelerate the path towards secure growth and compliance goals.

The Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) market is undergoing unprecedented changes. Total spending reached $54.61 billion in 2023, and it’s expected to climb to $134.86 billion in 2030 (source: Grandview Research). With its automation-first, intelligent, and adaptive risk and compliance platform, Sprinto is primed to succeed. The founding team and core leadership bring together decades of collective SaaS experience, drawing from diverse backgrounds as former founders, investors, and senior management professionals at companies like IBM, McKinsey, LinkedIn, Tata Consultancy Services, and BrowserStack.

Shekhar Kirani, Partner at Accel, commented: “With the proliferation of data across digital platforms, the secular shift to the cloud, and the growing adoption of SaaS tools, information security is gaining central importance in the enterprise. Every company - whether tech-enabled or traditional, large or mid-sized - is increasingly required to comply with standard frameworks and protocols. Sprinto is doing an incredible job of helping companies focus on their core business by making compliance low-touch, automated, and efficient. With a deep understanding of the product and a sharp focus on execution, Sprinto has been on a rare growth trajectory. We are thrilled to partner with Girish, Raghuveer, and their team at Sprinto in their mission to ensure that compliance becomes a driver of growth for businesses,”

Ravi Adusumalli, Co-managing Partner, Elevation Capital added: "We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Sprinto as they continue to disrupt cloud security and compliance. Girish, Raghu, and the team have created a superior and comprehensive product, enabling hundreds of customers to achieve their compliance necessities. Sprinto's reviews and customer feedback are a testament to the product quality, which has enabled the company to grow over twenty times in a highly capital-efficient way since we led their Series A fundraising in 2021."

About Sprinto

Thousands of ambitious businesses trust Sprinto to streamline and automate their risk and compliance. Sprinto supports all major standard security frameworks, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS, as well as custom frameworks tailored to your needs. With flexible and intelligent features, including adaptive automation, Sprinto equips businesses with a comprehensive toolkit to navigate cyber risk and regulatory requirements seamlessly, ensuring that compliance and audits never hinder growth.

About Accel

Accel is a leading global venture capital firm that aims to be the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere, from inception through all phases of private company growth. Accel has been operating in India since 2008, and its investments include companies like BookMyShow, BrowserStack, Flipkart, Freshworks, Cure.fit, Musigma, Mensa Brands, Myntra, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zetwerk, and Zenoti, among many others. We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more information, visit www.accel.com

About Elevation Capital

Elevation Capital is a leading venture capital firm that provides seed and early-stage capital for emerging companies in India. Having invested in India since 2002, Elevation has deployed over $2 billion of capital in over 150 companies. The firm announced its eighth pool of capital of $670 million in April 2022. Co-led by Managing Partners Ravi Adusumalli and Mukul Arora, along with Partners Mridul Arora and Mayank Khanduja, the firm has invested across Consumer Internet, SaaS, Fintech, Consumer Brands, Edtech, Healthtech, Gaming, and Deeptech. Elevation Capital has offices in Bengaluru and Gurgaon. For more information, visit elevationcapital.com

About Blume Ventures

Blume is an early stage venture fund that backs startups with both funding as well as active mentoring. We typically invest in tech-led startups, led by founders who are obsessed with solving hard problems, uniquely Indian in nature, and impacting large markets. Our vision is to be the leading platform that sources, funds, nurtures, and creates value for India's brightest young startups—helping them blume. For more information, visit blume.vc

Spry Digital, a leading developer of high-quality websites, web apps, and brand identities, is proud to announce the appointment of Wayne Turley II to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer. Turley’s deep investment in Spry Digital’s future signifies his exemplary leadership and increased ownership stake in the company, reflecting his commitment and investment in Spry Digital's continued success. Turley will lead the company's day-to-day operations in his new role, overseeing all aspects of delivery, sales, finance, and back-office functions, while working closely with the other owners: CEO and founder Sheila Burkett, Beth Gunter, CRO, and a staff of employees who collectively own the company.

Turley’s tenure at Spry Digital spans over five years, during which he assumed the Director of Project Management role, accelerating project management practices and increasing efficiency. Over the years, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to excellence, leading to his initiative to expand the client delivery arm of the company. His strategic vision and dedication to employee growth and development have been instrumental in shaping Spry Digital's success.

Reflecting on his journey at Spry, Turley stated, "My focus is making sure that our employees have what they need to feel welcome within the company and have a growth plan. When the team is happy and members know they're contributing, the other elements of the company's growth take care of themselves."

In his new role, Turley is committed to furthering Spry Digital's mission of delivering innovative solutions while fostering a culture of inclusivity. He stated, “By championing inclusivity, we drive innovation and create a workplace where every individual feels valued, empowered, and inspired to contribute their best. A place where they can grow and build a successful career is critically important."

Turley's strategic leadership style and commitment to excellence have already yielded significant achievements for Spry Digital. Under his guidance, the company has experienced substantial growth, with 80% of its sales target met for 2024, positioning Spry Digital for continued success in the digital innovation landscape.

Outside of Spry Digital, Turley is actively involved in various philanthropic endeavors, including serving on the St. Louis Children's Hospital development board and co-founding the nonprofit organization Catherine Cares, which is dedicated to providing support to families with babies facing life-threatening diagnoses.

Speaking to his increased ownership, Turley expressed gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to assist in leading Spry Digital into its next growth phase. He stated, "I'm excited. I love being able to look at the progress that we've made and where we're going and seeing so many opportunities that will allow our team to achieve our goals."

Please join us in congratulating Wayne Turley II on his well-deserved appointment to President and COO of Spry Digital.

Learn more about Spry Digital at https://sprydigital.com.

About Spry Digital

Spry Digital, founded in 2010, is driven by a commitment to innovation and impact. From its inception, the company has sought to redefine the digital landscape by offering unique value to clients, fostering a supportive environment for employees to thrive, and cultivating a culture centered around community engagement. Spry Digital prioritizes embracing challenges, continuous learning, and fostering open communication, guided by its core values. The company emphasizes demonstrating initiative, perseverance, and nurturing teamwork to achieve the best outcomes. By embodying these principles, Spry Digital empowers its team to excel in delivering high-quality solutions for clients while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment where every individual's contributions are valued and celebrated.

Media Contact

Sheila Burkett

Sheila.Burkett@sprydigital.com

Builders Capital recently closed a transaction with InterVest Capital Partners, forming a strategic partnership that results in a commitment of up to $500 million in growth capital and InterVest acquiring a strategic minority interest in Builders.

“We are thrilled to partner with InterVest, one of the leading specialty finance investment platforms,” said Robert Trent, CEO of Builders Capital. “We plan to use the capital to aggressively expand our platform and continue to provide creative financing solutions to our homebuilding customers.”

“We have tremendous confidence in the Builders Capital team and their 15-year track record as the leading private construction lender to homebuilders,” said Michael Gontar, CEO of InterVest Capital Partners.

“Builders Capital is well positioned to capitalize on the supply and demand imbalance that exists throughout the U.S. for new construction single family homes,” said Robert Rothschild, SVP of InterVest Capital Partners. “We look forward to partnering with Builders to expand their platform and become the lender of choice to the homebuilding industry.”

“We have formed capital partnerships totaling almost $3 billion over the past twelve months to prepare for major growth,” said Arik Prawer, Builders Capital Co-President, and head of Capital Markets. “Our ability to secure access to significant capital with high quality partners like InterVest evidences the strength of our industry leading platform and the incredible market opportunity in both the near- and long-term.”

Guggenheim Securities, LLC acted as financial advisor and Perkins Coie acted as legal advisor to Builders Capital. Piper Sandler & Co. acted as financial advisor and O’Melveny & Myers acted as legal advisor to InterVest Capital Partners.

To learn more about Builders Capital and the construction loans they offer to builders and developers, visit builderscapital.com.

About Builders Capital

Builders Capital is the nation's largest private construction lender, offering innovative financing solutions to a wide spectrum of developers and homebuilders. Loan products include options for Acquisition, Development, Construction, and Bridge financing, in the form of single-asset loans, portfolio loans, and revolving credit facilities. In addition to financing opportunities, Builders Capital borrowers can leverage national accounts for material purchase discounts, and access cutting-edge technology for project management, accounting, and BIM technology tools. Builders Capital is headquartered in Puyallup, Washington, with an East Coast headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and regional sales offices across the country. The management team at Builders Capital brings over 100 years of expertise in residential construction lending, home building, real estate development, and loan servicing. Learn more at: builderscapital.com.

About InterVest Capital Partners

InterVest Capital Partners, formerly Wafra Capital Partners, is a leading global alternative investment firm specializing in asset-based lending, leasing, and other structured finance verticals. Since 1999, the InterVest management team has established numerous successful investment vehicles with aggregate committed capital exceeding $19 billion (USD).

Media Contact

Trisha Hudson

trisha.hudson@builderscapital.com

The ALIVE Podcast Network, the media-tech company that's amplifying Black voices and actively contributing to a more inclusive media landscape, announced  today, that its founder, Angel N. Livas is featured on Inc.’s 2024 Female Founders List. This prestigious list honors a bold group of 250 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better place.

"Being a part of Inc.’s 2024 Female Founders List is a tremendous honor," said Livas. "It validates the importance of our mission to stimulate the Black creative economy, while amplifying their voices."

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the world’s biggest problems. The list features women who have overcome challenges and lifted those around them, while leading impactful organizations across the country.

“The past year, for many, will go down as one of the hardest ever—between a funding freeze and ad-spending pull back. The female founders on this year’s list are a testament to what triumph over adversity looks like," said Diana Ransom, Inc. Executive Editor.

The ALIVE Podcast Network is currently raising its seed round after successfully raising a half a million dollar pre-seed. The two-year old, Techstars portfolio company, powered by JP Morgan, currently has thousands of users on their proprietary app (available in iOS and Android) and millions of listeners. Just last month the network added five new shows, bringing their line-up to just under four dozen podcasts. Listeners can find various genres, from the true crimes hit podcast "No Tears for Black Girls," to "Conversations in the Champagne Room with Charrisse Jackson-Jordan," from the hit BRAVO show Real Housewives of Potomac.

Livas being included on the Inc. Female Founders List is a testament to her vision  and the company' commitment to being a one-stop-shop for lovers of Black culture and a safe space for its creatives to authentically share their stories. 

For more information on the ALIVE Podcast Network please visit: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com.

About ALIVE Podcast Network

The ALIVE Podcast Network is the first Black-woman owned podcast network to build a proprietary mobile application to amplify black voices. With a focus on ensuring its creators maintain creative control and ownership, the ALIVE Podcast Network proudly resides at the intersection of community, culture, and compensation for its creatives. For more information, visit our website: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com and be a part of the community that's keeping the Black Creative economy ALIVE.

About Inc.

The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning, multi-platform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Mixpanel, the pioneer of event analytics, today announced that it has received the 2024 Google Cloud Industry Solution Partner of the Year Award for Industry Solution - Technology: Line of Business Applications. Mixpanel is being recognized for their achievements in the Google Cloud ecosystem, helping joint customers get answers from their product, marketing, and business data and make better decisions.

In the past year, Mixpanel has delivered significant co-innovation with Google Cloud, enhancing the integration between Mixpanel’s analytics capabilities and Google Cloud’s BigQuery. A notable advancement is the creation of Mixpanel's Warehouse Connector for BigQuery, which simplifies the integration with Google Cloud, allowing customers to quickly extract insights from their data.

Google Cloud’s BigQuery allows teams to centralize their data in a single, scalable repository, enabling data consistency and integrity for accurate analysis. Mixpanel makes this data analysis more accessible. The integration of these two solutions through Warehouse Connectors enables product and marketing teams to perform exploratory analysis without advanced technical skills, leading to faster and more informed decisions. 

This partnership has allowed joint customers to harness the full potential of their data, driving impactful decisions across product and marketing teams without the need for specialized technical skills or waiting on data teams.

"Google Cloud's Partner Awards celebrate the transformative impact and value that partners have delivered for customers," said Kevin Ichhpurani, Corporate Vice President, Global Ecosystem and Channels at Google Cloud. "We're proud to announce Mixpanel as a 2024 Google Cloud Partner Award winner and recognize their achievements enabling customer success from the past year."

"Mixpanel is building analytics for everyone, and partnering with Google Cloud has undoubtedly helped us bring our solution to more teams and companies so they can learn from their data," said Mixpanel CEO Amir Movafaghi. "Customers benefit from an open ecosystem that lets them use the best tool for their needs. That’s why we’re proud to be a part of a partner ecosystem that allows for industry-leading solutions like Mixpanel and BigQuery to work together seamlessly."

About Mixpanel

Mixpanel is event analytics for builders who need answers from their data at their fingertips. When everyone in the organization can see—and learn from—the impact of their work, they are poised to make better decisions. Companies like Netflix, Pinterest, sweetgreen, samsara, Uber, and Yelp use Mixpanel to understand their customers, measure progress, and endeavor to make better decisions.

Media Contact

Daniel Bean

PR@mixpanel.com

ALL3D, an AI-powered 3D virtualization platform, is featured in House Beautiful as the potential design “way of the future.” House Beautiful invited five interior designers, Serena Dugan, Heather Peterson, Kiyonda Powell, Nadia Watts, and Anita Yokota, to put ALL3D’s tech to the test in a 3D renderings showcase. Given the same bedroom, each designer was invited to reimagine the space and embrace 2024’s pattern-on-pattern trend. The results, writes House Beautiful Associate Editor Kelly Allen, "will make you wish you could jump right into the screen—sort of like a cartoon leaping into a painting."

The feature is a significant milestone for House Beautiful in demonstrating its ongoing commitment to reader and designer experience as well as cutting-edge design trends. "This technology is allowing House Beautiful to respond in real time to a trend we see happening and show our audience through a designer’s eye multiple ways it can come to life," says Carisha Swanson, Director of Special Projects for House Beautiful and HearstLab Scout. "The idea of taking the exact same space and seeing it translated five different ways is not just inspirational, it’s actionable. Our audience better understands what the trend is and the visual impact it can have in their own homes. Doing this in a physical space would not only take an incredible amount of time and resources, but would hinder our ability to quickly react to what we’re seeing in the broader design world."

"I was amazed with the speed and accuracy that we were able to create custom furnishings with this platform. There’s a real beauty to seeing these ideas come to life so quickly, while also being able to immediately make changes and pivot if you don’t like it. This gives designers the freedom to dream big in a way you normally can’t, given the constraints of a build in the real world," says Nicolas Neubeck, Creative Director, House Beautiful.

Amra Tareen, ALL3D’s founder and CEO, who previously led product and innovation at Decorist and Bed Bath and Beyond respectively, is revolutionizing the home design and goods space by shifting from physical to virtual-first design experiences. With ALL3D, products are virtually designed, created, customized, showcased, and sold all before a physical product could be manufactured and/or shipped.

"We are thrilled to partner with House Beautiful to show off the full potential of ALL3D’s SaaS platform as a virtual photo studio. Our range of output formats includes 3D images, 360s, AR, and videos that can be used across social media, website, and print—all at a fraction of the cost and time of doing it in the physical world," says Tareen about the extent and benefits of ALL3D’s capabilities.

"We continue to be impressed by Tareen, ALL3D, and the exciting design collaboration possibilities within the Hearst ecosystem and beyond. This is the perfect example," says Katie Bailey, HearstLab’s Senior Director. HearstLab, Hearst’s venture arm that invests exclusively in women-led tech companies, invested in ALL3D in 2022.

Looking ahead, ALL3D will continue to invest in research and development to maintain their technology’s edge and remain a design industry leader, including differentiated generative AI capabilities. They’re also excited to reach new audiences as not only a design tool but also a sustainable solution by shifting from physical to virtual-first.

For more information on ALL3D, please visit https://all3d.ai/ 

About ALL3D

ALL3D is a browser-based self-serve platform that uses artificial intelligence to enable the creation of hyperrealistic, low cost, and reusable product images, virtual spaces, and tours, helping businesses create better visualization and more beautiful brands. Founded by Amra Tareen, ALL3D is the only all-in-one solution for the virtualization of physical products and spaces. 

About House Beautiful

House Beautiful (www.housebeautiful.com) is the trusted authority on home design, with an audience of more than 25.3 million (Source: 2021 comScore Multi-Platform © MRI-Simmons (9-21/S21). Since 1896, House Beautiful has inspired readers to believe that a beautiful life begins at home. With alluring photography, candid conversations with top designers, and original decorating ideas, House Beautiful invites readers to dream and do. House Beautiful is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst, a leading global diversified media, information, and services company. Hearst Magazines’ portfolio of more than 25 powerful brands in the U.S. inspires and entertains audiences across all media platforms.

About HearstLab

HearstLab provides cash investments and services to early-stage, women-led start-ups innovating across fintech, data analytics, health, transportation, enterprise technology, and media. Its mission is to close the gap in VC funding for women by helping founders build sustainable and highly scalable businesses. With access to Hearst resources across more than 360 businesses, HearstLab’s breadth of services includes assistance with privacy and security, software development, legal services, financial analysis, and marketing and design support. To learn more about HearstLab, visit HearstLab.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Nico Gendron

nico.gendron@hearst.com

Copper Property CTL Pass Through Trust (“the Trust”) has filed a Form 8-K containing its monthly report for the period ended March 31, 2024 and Q4 2023 Master Lease JCP store performance disclosures. An aggregate total distribution of $23.60 million or $0.314653 per trust certificate will be paid on April 10, 2024, to certificateholders of record as of April 9, 2024.

Additional information, including the Trust’s Monthly and Quarterly Reports, as well as other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) can be accessed via the Trust’s website at www.ctltrust.net.

About Copper Property CTL Pass Through Trust

Copper Property CTL Pass Through Trust (the “Trust”) was established to acquire 160 retail properties and 6 warehouse distribution centers (the “Properties”) from J.C. Penney as part of its Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. The Trust’s operations consist solely of owning, leasing and selling the Properties. The Trust’s objective is to sell the Properties to third-party purchasers as promptly as practicable. The Trustee of the trust is GLAS Trust Company LLC. The Trust is externally managed by an affiliate of Hilco Real Estate LLC. The Trust is intended to be treated, for tax purposes, as a liquidating trust within the meaning of United States Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-4(d). For more information, please visit https://www.ctltrust.net/.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements”. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “our vision,” “plan,” “potential,” “preliminary,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” or “would” or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology and include, but are not limited to, the Trust’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events and stock price performance. The Trust has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Trust believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control. These factors, including those discussed in the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), may cause its actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, please refer to the Trust’s filings with the SEC that are available at www.sec.gov. The Trust cautions you that the list of important factors included in the Trust’s SEC filings may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release may not in fact occur. The Trust undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

Media Contact

Jessica Cummins

+1 847-313-4755

jcummins@hilcoglobal.com

Plant Drives & Systems, specializing in systems integration for variable-frequency drives and automated systems, is pleased to announce its acquisition by AES, Inc., an esteemed industrial equipment solutions provider.

Plant Drives & Systems, based in Chattanooga, TN, specializes in systems integration for variable-frequency drives and automated systems. Since 2010, the company has prioritized delivering high-quality service to its customers. The acquisition will help grow the current facility and expand their service geographically.

AES, Inc., established in 1992, is a renowned industrial equipment solutions provider based in Mount Airy, NC. With over 120+ employees, it is a powerhouse providing industrial electronic, hydraulic, and mechanical equipment repair services and new and used equipment sales. Its impeccable reputation is a testament to its commitment to quality, and it is thrilled to welcome Plant Drives & Systems into its fold.

“This is an exciting time for Plant Drives & Systems and AES. As one unified team, we will become an even stronger service provider within our industry.” —Nicholas Cooke, CEO, AES, Inc.

“To echo Mr. Cooke, joining these two companies will enable them to service their customers better and become an incredible force in their respective industries. This is what we strive for when representing our clients. Congratulations to all.” —Matthew Kekelis, Senior Director, Benchmark International

Americas: Sam Smoot at +1 (813) 898 2350 / Smoot@BenchmarkIntl.com

Europe: Michael Lawrie at +44 (0) 161 359 4400 / Lawrie@BenchmarkIntl.com

Africa: Anthony McCardle at +27 21 300 2055 / McCardle@BenchmarkIntl.com

About Benchmark International

Benchmark International is a global M&A firm that provides business owners with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. Benchmark International has handled over $11 billion in transaction value across various industries from offices across the world. With decades of M&A experience, Benchmark International’s transaction teams have assisted business owners with achieving their objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses. The firm has also been named the Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor and the Global M&A Network as well as the #1 Sell-side Exclusive Privately-held M&A Advisor in the World by Pitchbook and Refinitiv's Global League Tables.

Media Contact

Brittney Zoeller

+1 813-898-2350

zoeller@benchmarkintl.com

Flash, the leading digital ecosystem provider connecting drivers to parking and EV charging experiences, today announced Annette Clayton, chairwoman and former CEO of Schneider Electric, has joined the company’s board of directors. Ms. Clayton has decades of automotive, technology and energy industry experience and brings an extensive track record guiding corporate strategy and operations for growth companies and pioneering startups.

“We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Annette to our board of directors,” said Dan Sharplin, Flash’s CEO and Chairman. “She is an accomplished leader who has dedicated her career to companies that are transforming their respective industries, and her talents and expertise will be invaluable to our next chapter of growth, particularly when it comes to meeting the needs of modern drivers through the next wave of EV adoption.”

Ms. Clayton joins Flash’s board of directors after recently concluding her tenure as CEO of Schneider Electric North America. During that time, Ms. Clayton led business strategy for the region, representing 30,000 employees and sales of more than $11 billion in fiscal year 2022.

“Working with innovators like Flash that reimagine an industry is the work I love,” said Ms. Clayton regarding her appointment. “I have followed Flash’s evolution from its startup days and think the current moment is among its most exciting – Flash has done the heavy lifting and is poised to bring all the players together to set the new standard for a first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem.”

Ms. Clayton currently serves on the public boards of Duke Energy, NXP Semiconductors, Oshkosh Corporation and Nordson Corporation. Ms. Clayton’s prior board service includes National Electrical Manufacturers Association, National Association of Manufacturers and many of Schneider Electric’s Energy-as-a-Service joint ventures. She was also a member of Rewiring America’s CEO’s for Electrification coalition for business leaders.

Prior to Schneider Electric, she served in senior management roles for Dell, where she led the transformation of its global supply chain and fulfillment model, and General Motors Corporation, including president of Saturn Corporation, where she oversaw strategic direction, financial accountability, and profitability. Ms. Clayton holds a bachelor’s degree in general engineering from Wright State University, a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Dayton and has completed the London Business School executive development program.

About Flash

Flash is a pioneering technology company bringing seamless parking and EV charging experiences to drivers through a first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem. Flash’s platform connects reservable parking and charging in the apps drivers use every day with garage, surface lot, event, and valet parking locations — connected and controlled via a cloud-based operating system with unrivaled intelligence. Customer-obsessed brands partner with Flash to deliver digital, easy-to-use, reliable, and increasingly frictionless experiences to drivers eager to pay for a solution that eliminates wasted time, excess emissions, and stress from driving. The solution has arrived. Visit www.flashparking.com to learn more.

Media Contact

Ray Young

+1 512-694-6097

ray@razorsharppr.com

Callan Family Office, a registered investment advisor serving ultra-high-net-worth families, family offices, foundations and endowments across the United States, announced it has passed $5 billion in assets under management, just over two years operating as an independent RIA.

Callan Family Office, which was founded in February 2022, reported client assets of just over $5 billion in March, all from organic client and partner growth.

“We started Callan Family Office because we believed that ultra-high-net-worth families could benefit from a truly independent, entrepreneurial approach from partners who take full accountability for all aspects of family wealth,” said Jack Ginter, Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Callan Family Office. “We have been honored that families have turned to us for our institutional level of investment research and access, our planning services, and other family office support. Best of all, we are just getting started.”

While other firms have grown through acquisition or taken outside capital, Callan Family Office is owned by its 23 partners – all of whom have years of experience exclusively serving the unique needs of ultra-high-net-worth families. As of March 30, the firm maintained an average client size of $100 million.

Callan Family Office works closely with Callan LLC, which advises more than $3 trillion in assets. Through a licensing arrangement and partnership, Callan LLC – which has no ownership in Callan Family Office – gives clients access to institutional-quality research, education, and private-market deal flow that is rare among other RIAs.

Within the past 12 months, Callan Family Office has also expanded its service offerings. Last year, the firm launched its Endure program for family governance and education. Endure offers a dedicated and highly experienced team of consultants that provide advice on strategies and practices that facilitate alignment, communication, and decision-making within families and across generations. This includes advice on preparing for family business transitions, navigating family dynamics, philanthropy, preparing and educating next generations, and developing or enhancing family governance practices.

Earlier in 2024, Calllan Family Office expanded financial administration services to its clients and to other single-family offices. These enhanced services include bill pay, cash management, reconciliation, and customized reporting.

“Our team knows that every decision we make has to be in the best interests of the families and institutions that trust us with their multifaceted needs,” Ginter said. “We believe our growth validates our independent approach, and we look forward to the next chapter as we continue to build Callan Family Office.”

About Callan Family Office

Independently owned and operated, Callan Family Office was founded by experienced wealth professionals to provide investment management, thoughtful personalized advice, and holistic financial planning to ultra-high-net-worth families, foundations, and endowments. The firm's principals have spent their careers serving ultra-high-net-worth clients and institutions.

Callan Family Office has agreements with Callan LLC to use the Callan ® tradename in providing investment advisory services to the ultra-high-net-worth market segment and to access Callan's institutional quality research, education, and investment guidance experience. Callan Family Office and Callan LLC are independent, unaffiliated investment advisory firms separately registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Callan Family Office (CFO) is the exclusive trademark licensee of Callan LLC. Callan LLC provides products and services to CFO. Clients of CFO are not clients of Callan LLC, and the parties are not affiliated. CALLAN, CFO and the other Callan trademarks and service marks are registered and/or unregistered trademarks of Callan LLC and may not be used without its permission. INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES AND PRODUCTS PROVIDED TO CLIENTS OF CFO ARE PROVIDED SOLELY BY CFO AND NOT BY OR ON BEHALF OF CALLAN LLC. REPRESENTATIVES OF CFO ARE EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS OF CFO AND NOT EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS OF CALLAN LLC.

Media Contact

Callan Family Office

info@callanfo.com

Novidea, creator of the cloud-based, data-driven enterprise insurance management platform for brokers, agents, MGAs/MGUs, carriers, and wholesalers, has added Jeff Heine as chief revenue officer (CRO). Heine will be instrumental in driving global revenue and further aligning Novidea’s sales, marketing, and other revenue-focused functions to achieve the company’s business and growth objectives.

Heine brings 20 years of Property and Casualty (P&C) insurance industry expertise to the role. Most recently, he served as CRO at Betterview, a remote property intelligence platform that turns data into actionable insights for P&C insurance carriers (acquired by Nearmap). Before that, Heine was CRO at Groundspeed Analytics, an AI-powered ingestion and data solution for the commercial P&C industry (acquired by Insurance Quantified). Heine has other related experience including Guidewire Software and Adsensa (now Coupa Software).

"Jeff is an accomplished CRO in the Insurtech market with proven experience building high-performing global teams, establishing scalable processes, and leading growth initiatives. His talents will be invaluable as Novidea continues to scale up its global operations,” said Roi Agababa, CEO of Novidea. “Jeff joins our strong leadership team to help guide the company's journey and to continue to deliver industry-leading innovation, quality, and value to our customers worldwide.”

With the addition of Heine, Novidea further strengthens its global leadership team, adding to the recent strategic hires of Erez Nissim as chief technology officer (CTO), Eran Ben Ezer as chief financial officer (CFO), and Yaniv Cohen as chief customer officer (CCO). By assembling a team of exceptional talent, Novidea reinforces its position as a top innovator in the global insurance technology landscape.

“I’ve spent the last two decades helping insurance brokers and carriers better assess and price risk, manage core processes and systems, and create efficiencies. I came to Novidea because I wanted to help reduce the friction brokers and carriers still experience in the insurance placement process and contribute to an innovative fast-growing company,” Heine said. “I look forward to helping our customers grow their businesses and create a better insurance experience for policyholders. I am excited to join a company that has the right team and technology to make insurance more accessible to businesses and consumers through better use of data and insights."

About Novidea

Novidea is the leading Insurtech provider of a cloud-native, data-driven insurance management system. With its open API architecture, Novidea enables brokers, agents, MGAs, and carriers to modernize and manage the customer journey end-to-end and drive growth across the entire insurance distribution lifecycle. Novidea's streamlined and automated platform fully integrates front, middle, and back offices. The Novidea platform boosts operational efficiency while providing a seamless digital experience for team members and customers alike. Insurance businesses benefit from a 360-degree view of customers and policies and can access data and actionable insights anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Novidea supports more than 100 customers across 22 countries.

Media Contact

Michelle Barry

+1 603-809-2748

michelle.barry@chameleon.co