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As part of its mission to raise standards and ensure the long-term success of the kava industry, the Kava Coalition released its inaugural quarterly market survey report, "Q1 2025 Quarterly Report on Commercially Available Kava Products," this week. This initiative marks an important step toward self-regulation and reflects the industry’s commitment to transparency, consumer confidence, and product quality.

This is the first report of 2025, with additional assessments planned throughout the year. By continuing these market evaluations, the Kava Coalition aims to support a strong, responsible, and sustainable kava industry—one that protects consumers, producers, and vendors alike from the potential consequences of poor-quality products entering the market.

A total of 41 commercial kava products from 17 different brands were analyzed by Cambium Analytica, an independent laboratory accredited to international standards. Each product was tested for key active kavalactones as well as important safety parameters, including heavy metals, microbial content, moisture, pesticide residues, and mycotoxins. All products tested showed the chemical profile of authentic noble kava, known for its desirable effects and the presence of kavain and dihydrokavain.

“The Kava Coalition and the kava industry at large are working together to build a marketplace that consumers can trust,” said Douglas La Rose, executive director of the Kava Coalition. “This report represents a milestone in our effort to create a culture of quality, accountability, and shared responsibility across the value chain—from farm to shell.”

The Kava Coalition will continue to lead efforts that promote best practices across the supply chain and align with international standards such as the Harmonized Multinational Kava Standard. Ongoing testing, education, and collaboration will be central to protecting the integrity of kava and supporting the communities who depend on it.

The Kava Coalition remains firmly committed to advancing product quality and consumer protection. It continues to support compliance with the Harmonized Multinational Kava Standard and promotes best practices throughout the kava supply chain. Kava Coalition’s harmonized standards are based on international guidelines related to other botanicals and can be viewed in this standards document.

To review the "Q1 2025 Quarterly Report on Commercially Available Kava Products," read the full report.

About Kava Coalition

Kava Coalition is an alliance of kava consumers, experts, and industry leaders committed to advancing kava education, advocacy, and choice. The Kava Coalition aims to empower informed decisions about kava, promoting responsible consumption while understanding the importance of preserving kava’s history and cultural heritage. For more information, visit kavacoalition.org.

Media Contact

Patrick George
info@kavacoalition.org
+1 916-202-1982

Sibeiho is proud to announce that its signature condiment, AF Chili Chunka Sambal, has been named a winner in the 15 Years of Good Food Awards, a special anniversary edition celebrating standout crafters who have shaped the landscape of America’s good food movement.

AF Chili Chunka Sambal is a bold, tangy, and spicy sambal inspired by a cherished Singaporean family recipe. Created by Sibeiho and named after “Auntie Feathers,” who made a similar chili sauce to serve with her Hainanese chicken rice and kueh pie tee, this tart and fiery sambal is perfect for pairing with BBQ, fried foods, or any dish that craves an extra kick. Handcrafted in small batches in Portland, Oregon, it’s made with locally grown peppers and all-natural ingredients—free from MSG, artificial colors, and preservatives. It reflects Sibeiho's deep commitment to authentic flavor, responsible sourcing, and rich cultural storytelling.

“It’s an incredible honor to have our sambal recognized as part of the Good Food Awards' 15-year legacy,” said Holly Ong, co-founder and chief maker at Sibeiho. “This award celebrates the immigrant flavors of multicultural Singapore that we’ve lovingly crafted here in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to share a taste of our heritage with food lovers across the United States.”

This year’s awards marked the first-ever Community Choice edition of the Good Food Awards, with more than 8,000 votes cast by the public. Sibeiho joins just 55 winners across 18 categories selected for their excellence in taste, ethical sourcing, and community impact. Winners were announced at the Good Food Mercantile in New York City.

“For 15 years, the Good Food Foundation has supported crafters who are making a positive impact on our country’s food system,” said Nora Weiser, executive director of the Good Food Foundation. “It’s exciting to see how their passion, commitment, and delicious products continue to fuel the good food movement.”

Since 2011, the Good Food Awards has honored makers who embody craftsmanship, flavor, and sustainability. Products are judged through blind tastings and must meet rigorous sourcing and transparency standards. This anniversary edition not only celebrates current excellence but also the long-lasting contributions these winners have made to America’s culinary culture.

View the full list of 2025 winners: goodfoodfdn.org/awards/winners/2025/

The entry period for the 2026 Good Food Awards opens July 7, 2025. Learn more: goodfoodfdn.org/awards/

About Sibeiho

Based in Portland, Sibeiho is an award-winning Singaporean food startup co-founded by Holly Ong and Pat Lau. The Sibeiho brand brings the tastes, sights and textures of Singapore — with Chinese, Malay, Indian and Nonya culinary influences — through three signature ready-to-enjoy sambal chili sauces: Boomz Sambal, OMG! Sambal® and AF Chili Chunka Sambal. Made in small batches using all-natural, locally sourced ingredients, the sambals provide a versatile way to add bold umami flavor to everyday meals, either as a condiment or as an ingredient in various recipes.

Sibeiho sambals are available at the Portland Farmers Market, on the company’s website, and in select specialty stores including New Seasons, Market of Choice and Whole Foods Market.

For more information, visit sibeiho.com.

About Good Food Foundation

Good Food Foundation (GFF) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that champions the broad and diverse community of food crafters, grocers, chefs, food writers, activists, and passionate food-lovers. Since 2011, initiatives like its Good Food Awards and Good Food Mercantiles have been celebrating food that is both delicious and responsibly produced. GFF promotes the values of craftsmanship, sustainability, and social responsibility, connecting and elevating those committed to creating a better food system for all.

To learn more, visit goodfoodfdn.org.

Media Contact

Holly Ong
hello@sibeiho.com

In a strategic move to improve patient outcomes in breast cancer, Affidea, a leading pan-European provider of community-based polyclinics, specialist services and advanced diagnostics, is proud to announce that it has selected b-rayZ, a leader in AI-powered breast imaging solutions, as its preferred AI partner for breast imaging.

Breast cancer diagnostics often face fragmentation, with critical information scattered across different modalities and specialists. This can slow down decision-making and delay life-saving treatments. b-rayZ’s AI-powered platform is designed to eliminate these gaps, ensuring a seamless diagnostic pathway that enhances both clinical precision and therapeutic options for women. By choosing b-rayZ as its AI partner, Affidea is taking a decisive step towards making precision medicine a reality, one diagnosis at a time.

The b-rayZ solution is already in use in Affidea Switzerland, at Affidea’s Centre of Excellence in Breast Cancer, Brust Zentrum Zurich, as well as at Affidea Givision, Site Hôpital Daler. The technology has also been successfully implemented across other markets such as Affidea Lithuania and Affidea Spain, with further expansions planned in other Affidea countries offering breast imaging services. These early installations reflect the growing momentum and confidence in b-rayZ’s ability to standardise and elevate diagnostic quality across diverse clinical environments. By implementing this innovative AI solution, Affidea is reinforcing its commitment to early detection and improved outcomes in breast cancer across Europe.

Affidea has also joined b-rayZ as a strategic investor in their Series A extension equity funding round. This investment marks a significant milestone in b-rayZ’s journey and validates their vision and growth strategy. The partnership strengthens b-rayZ’s position in the industry and opens up valuable collaboration opportunities to accelerate product development, expand into new markets, and enhance customer offerings.

Cristina Rossi, CEO and founder of b-rayZ, stated:

“At b-rayZ, we are deeply committed to preserving women’s health. Every woman’s journey through breast cancer diagnosis is unique, and our AI solutions are designed to provide the highest level of diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, tailored to each one’s needs. Being selected by Affidea as their preferred AI partner is a testament to our shared vision of transforming breast cancer diagnostics. Affidea’s investment in our Series A extension further validates this alignment and fuels our ambition to scale. Through this strategic partnership, we are combining our technological expertise with Affidea’s extensive clinical network to ensure that women across Europe receive faster, more precise, and more personalised breast imaging solutions.”

Dr. Charles Niehaus, deputy CEO of Affidea, highlighted the broader strategic impact of the partnership:

“This collaboration with b-rayZ represents more than just the adoption of AI. It is a strategic alliance aimed at redefining breast cancer diagnostics. Together, we plan to deepen our collaboration to  further develop the AI solutions, to empower radiologists, optimise clinical workflows, and improve patient care. This partnership — both strategic and financial — positions us in the right direction to accelerate innovation across our network. By integrating AI across our network, we are ensuring that women across Europe receive the most accurate and timely diagnoses possible, tailored to them, reinforcing our mission to set new standards in patient care.”

Dr. Alessandro Roncacci, SVP and chief medical officer at Affidea, added:

“Breast imaging is a highly specialised field that requires precision, experience, and the ability to interpret complex data. AI-powered solutions, like those developed by b-rayZ, are revolutionising breast cancer diagnostics by augmenting radiologists' expertise and ensuring greater consistency in detection. Through this partnership, we are integrating AI to enhance our sub-specialty breast imaging, improving diagnostic accuracy, and optimising personalised screening pathways. This marks a significant step forward in delivering earlier diagnoses, reducing variability in interpretations, and ultimately ensuring the best possible clinical outcomes for women across Europe.”

For media inquiries, please contact:

Oana Dumitroiu
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communication, Affidea Group
oana.dumitroiu@affidea.com

Kevin Olbrich
Marketing Manager, b-rayZ
kevin.olbrich@b-rayz.ch

About Affidea Group

Affidea is a leading pan-European provider of specialist healthcare services, including cancer care, community-based polyclinics and advanced diagnostic imaging. Founded in 1991, the company operates over 410 centres across 15 countries, with more than 14 million patient visits every year. Due to its track record for patient safety, the company has become the most awarded diagnostic imaging provider in Europe by the European Society of Radiology (ESR), as over 90% of its centres are recognised on the Eurosafe Wall of Stars by the ESR. Affidea is majority-owned by Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL), a leading investment holding company, focused on long-term value-creation with a stable and supportive family shareholder base. For more information, visit www.affidea.com.

About b-rayZ

The b-rayZ AI solution is part of an ever-growing multi-modality platform fully dedicated to breast cancer diagnostics. b-rayZ supports women throughout their diagnostic journey with a tailored ecosystem of solutions driven by clinical needs. With cutting-edge AI technology and years of clinical experience in breast imaging, b-rayZ offers a comprehensive yet easy-to-use solution that provides a comprehensive set of industry-leading AI modules. All of these modules are designed to meet the needs of medical professionals and support the daily work of both medical radiology assistants, radiologists and hospital managers. To learn more, visit b-rayz.com.

Media Contact

Oana Dumitroiu
oana.dumitroiu@affidea.com

Sandeep Choudhary, President of the India Chapter of environmental nonprofit Save Earth Mission, will present his analysis of the Air India Flight AI171 crash during the organization’s Global Vision Unveiling event on July 3, 2025, at GIFT City in Ahmedabad.

Sandeep Choudhary stated that he was able to draw conclusions about the AI171 incident within minutes of reviewing relevant information. He plans to share his perspective publicly at the upcoming event.

 “I have connected the dots and decoded what happened to Flight AI171,” said Sandeep Choudhary. “The findings raise important questions, and I will present them in full on July 3.”

The statement has drawn attention online through the hashtag #SandeepDecodedAI171, with users expressing interest in the planned disclosure.

Sandeep Choudhary is known for his work in large-scale environmental restoration campaigns. Save Earth Mission, the organization he leads in India, recently completed a mass tree plantation initiative that involved planting over 500,000 trees in one hour. The initiative used geotagging and tracking tools developed by the organization.

The Global Vision Unveiling will feature updates on Save Earth Mission’s progress toward its 2040 reforestation goal and presentations related to its carbon reduction strategy. Choudhary’s upcoming statement regarding Flight AI171 will be presented as part of the event’s broader agenda.

The event will be broadcast live via some of the leading news networks & It is expected to be observed by journalists, environmental researchers, aviation analysts, and members of the public.

Event Information

Event Name: Save Earth Mission – Global Vision Unveiling
Date: July 3, 2025
Location: GIFT City, Ahmedabad, India
Livestream: YouTube.com/SaveEarthMission
Hashtags: #SandeepDecodedAI171 #SaveEarthMission #AirIndia #OneTreeOneWorld #EkPedGlobalMission #EarthUnited

About Save Earth Mission

Save Earth Mission is a nonprofit organization focused on global reforestation, environmental awareness, and carbon offset technologies. The group aims to plant 30 billion trees by 2040 and supports climate action through education, digital innovation, and mass mobilization campaigns. For more information, visit saveearthmission.org.

Media Contact

Dan Smith
yourprwire@gmail.com

More than a dozen Austin-area families say a Texas limestone quarry has blanketed their neighborhood in harmful dust, nonstop noise, and house-shaking vibrations. Their lawsuit, filed in June 2023, goes before a Williamson County jury on August 4, 2025 (CAUSE NO. 23-0911-C368).

“These families haven’t had a full day of peace in years. The quarries operate from dawn to dusk, nearly seven days a week. Windows have cracked, homes are covered in dust, and the constant noise has made it impossible for residents to enjoy their property,” attorney Drew Bivona of Bivona Law Firm said.

Key Allegations

• Operators JB Stone and Espinoza Stone allegedly violated Texas mining regulations, ignored 25-foot vegetation buffer requirements, and failed to implement best management practices.
• Plaintiffs report quarry dust complaints, continuous vibrations, and severe quarry property damage.
• Some families live just 126 feet from the quarry’s edge, where heavy equipment has reportedly operated overnight and during holidays.
• The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) have cited the quarry companies multiple times for regulatory violations.

Plaintiffs are seeking more than $1 million in damages.

“This is about protecting people who played by the rules, from corporations who refuse to do the same. We’re taking this to trial because they’ve ignored every effort to resolve this outside of it,” Bivona said.

The trial will begin in Williamson County District Court on August 4, 2025.

Common Questions About Texas Quarry Violations

Q: Is limestone quarry dust dangerous?

A: Yes, limestone quarry dust can be harmful. Many quarry dust complaints lead to environmental nuisance lawsuits when operators fail to follow TCEQ quarry regulations.

Q: Can a quarry cause vibration damage to my home?

A: Yes. Vibrations from blasting and equipment at a Texas limestone quarry can crack walls, damage foundations, and break windows. This type of quarry property damage is often used as evidence in residential quarry lawsuits across Texas.

Q: Can a quarry near my home lower my property value?

A: Yes. Quarry operations can reduce home value. Constant quarry noise pollution, dust buildup, and truck traffic may deter buyers. Many homeowners include lost value in quarry lawsuits in Texas when operators violate mining regulations.

Q: What should I do if a Texas limestone quarry is damaging my home, causing excessive noise or affecting my quality of life?

A: Begin by documenting everything. Take photos or video of quarry dust buildup, cracked foundations, or visible property damage. Keep a daily log of vibrations, noise levels, and any health symptoms. Then, speak with an attorney who handles environmental nuisance lawsuits and understands property rights near Texas quarries.

Q: Is it legal for a Texas limestone quarry to operate near a residential neighborhood?

A: Yes, but only if the operator follows all Texas mining regulations. When a quarry near a residential neighborhood ignores buffer zones, runs heavy equipment during unreasonable hours, or allows hazardous dust and vibration to escape, those actions can amount to TCEQ quarry violations and other legal breaches.

Q: Can I sue a Texas quarry for damaging my property or making my home unlivable?

A: Yes. If a quarry is causing quarry dust complaints, constant noise, or vibration damage to your home foundation, you may have grounds for a residential quarry lawsuit or environmental nuisance lawsuit. These cases often involve documented quarry violations in Texas.

Q: What kind of evidence do I need to take legal action against a Texas limestone quarry?

A: To support a Texas quarry lawsuit, collect photos of quarry dust complaints, visible quarry property damage, and audio or video recordings of quarry noise pollution. Expert inspections, daily logs, and complaints filed with TCEQ or MSHA all help strengthen your case.

Q: How common are violations by Texas quarry operators?

A: While some operators follow regulations, many Texas limestone quarry companies have a history of TCEQ quarry violations. Common problems include missing vegetation buffers, illegal hours of operation, and repeated safety violations—often cited in residential quarry lawsuits and environmental nuisance lawsuits across Texas.

About Bivona Law

Bivona Law Firm is a litigation-focused firm that advocates for individuals and communities harmed by corporate negligence and institutional misconduct, bringing justice to a broad range of civil matters. With a successful record of advocacy and compassionate counsel, Bivona Law stands at the forefront of holding powerful entities accountable. For more information, visit www.bivonalaw.com.

Disclaimer

In some jurisdictions, this press release may be considered attorney advertising.

Media Contact

Amanda Orr
amanda@orrstrategygroup.com

Content Formula, a leading Microsoft 365 consultancy and digital workplace specialist, today announces the availability of Xoralia, its advanced policy and document management solution, in Microsoft AppSource, the online cloud marketplace providing tailored line-of-business solutions. Organisations can now leverage Xoralia to streamline policy management, automate compliance, and improve document control directly within their Microsoft 365 and SharePoint environments.

Addressing modern policy management challenges

Many organisations face significant challenges when managing policies and procedures within Microsoft SharePoint. Common issues include over-reliance on folders, lack of automation in policy lifecycles, inadequate version control, and inconsistent processes across departments. Xoralia was developed to address these pain points, offering a robust, user-friendly solution that transforms how policies are created, approved, distributed, and tracked.

Comprehensive features for compliance-driven sectors

Xoralia is purpose-built for organisations in highly regulated industries such as financial services, healthcare, and the charity sector, where compliance and risk management are paramount. Key features include:

• Automated policy lifecycle: Xoralia automates every stage of policy management, from drafting and approval to distribution and attestation, reducing manual effort and minimising risk.
• Centralised control: Policies are managed in a single, secure environment, ensuring version control, audit trails, and easy access for all staff.
• Configurable workflows: Advanced workflows support complex approval processes, recurring reviews, and targeted notifications, all tailored to organisational needs.
• Attestation and reporting: Built-in dashboards provide real-time visibility into staff acknowledgements and compliance status, simplifying audits and regulatory reporting.
• Seamless SharePoint integration: Xoralia enhances existing Microsoft 365 infrastructure, enabling organisations to maximise their investment in SharePoint without the need for separate systems.

Empowering IT and compliance leaders

Xoralia is designed to meet the needs of both IT departments and compliance teams. IT leaders benefit from rapid deployment, secure integration, and reduced administrative overhead, while compliance managers gain powerful tools for tracking, reporting, and ensuring that policies reach the right people at the right time.

Supporting organisational growth and change

With flexible licensing and scalable features, Xoralia is suitable for organisations of all sizes, from small charities to mid-sized financial institutions. The platform supports operational change, helps teams prepare for audits, and provides a future-proof solution as organisations grow or undergo digital transformation.

Commitment to ease of use and cost-effectiveness

Recognising the importance of user experience, Xoralia offers an intuitive interface that requires minimal training for staff. Its cost-effective pricing model makes enterprise-grade compliance accessible to organisations with limited budgets, particularly in the non-profit and charity sectors.

“Xoralia is built for organisations that need to manage risk, demonstrate compliance, and empower their teams, all within the trusted Microsoft 365 ecosystem,” said Dan Hawtrey, founder and CEO of Content Formula. “Our solution delivers automation, transparency, and ease of use, enabling customers to meet regulatory demands and drive operational excellence.”

“Microsoft AppSource welcomes Xoralia, which joins a cloud marketplace landscape offering flexibility and economic value while transacting tens of billions of pounds a year in revenues,” said Jason Graefe, corporate vice president, WW ISV and Digital Natives team at Microsoft. “Thanks to AppSource and line-of-business solutions from trusted partners like Content Formula, customers can do more with less by increasing efficiency, buying confidently, and spending smarter.”

About Content Formula

Content Formula is a leading Microsoft 365 consultancy specialising in digital workplace and compliance solutions. Since 2005, Content Formula has helped organisations transform policy management, intranets, and business processes with innovative technology and deep Microsoft expertise. For more information, visit contentformula.com.

About Xoralia

Developed by Content Formula, Xoralia is an advanced policy and document management solution that draws on years of experience in developing systems that help clients manage communications, critical information and key processes. Our mission is to become the leading management system for controlled documents and mission-critical content. For more information, visit xoralia.com.

Media Contact

Dan Hawtrey
hello@contentformula.com
+44 02 045 3434

iFLYTEK has announced the launch of the AINOTE Air 2, a new AI-powered tablet aimed at enhancing productivity for professionals. Targeting users involved in multilingual meetings, detailed research, and critical documentation, the device combines advanced artificial intelligence capabilities with high-quality hardware to support improved digital productivity.

At only 230 grams and 5 mm thin, the Air 2 offers professionals unparalleled portability without sacrificing power. Featuring an 8.2-inch E Ink display with a crisp resolution of 1440×1920 pixels (293 PPI), it ensures a comfortable reading and writing experience ideal for sustained use, reducing eye strain significantly compared to conventional screens.

The Wacom stylus, boasting 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, transforms note-taking and sketching into a natural, lag-free experience, eliminating the digital disruptions commonly experienced by professionals and academics.

With real-time transcription across 15 languages and translation in 10 languages, users can confidently navigate multilingual interactions, capturing clear, precise transcripts effortlessly. Its advanced quad-microphone setup and noise suppression allow professionals to be fully engaged in meetings without worrying about language barriers or missed details.

Users will particularly appreciate the Air 2's AI Meeting Summary feature, which transforms extensive recordings into concise, actionable summaries at a single touch. This dramatically simplifies tasks for legal, educational, and consulting professionals who regularly process large amounts of information.

Additionally, the synchronization between handwritten notes and audio recordings ensures users never miss critical details. Each pen stroke is timestamped, allowing easy and accurate review of important discussions—an indispensable tool for fast-paced environments like courtrooms and academic lectures.

The intuitive gesture recognition of the Air 2 significantly streamlines task management. Users simply mark words or phrases to instantly convert notes into organized tasks, eliminating the hassle of switching between different apps and enhancing productivity seamlessly.

The AINOTE Air 2 keeps its AI-driven toolkit refined and effective, featuring ChatGPT-enhanced functionalities including AI Meeting Summary, AI Search, and AI-assisted chat. Additional practical features include handwriting-to-text conversion in 83 languages, a built-in 5MP document scanning camera, and audiobook support, all delivered seamlessly through 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0.

“AINOTE Air 2 encapsulates decades of iFLYTEK’s pioneering AI and natural language processing expertise, setting a new benchmark in professional productivity tools,” said an iFLYTEK spokesperson. “Our mission is to empower professionals with clarity and efficiency in their daily workflows.”

Available now for just $479 on iFLYTEK’s official store and $499 via Amazon, the AINOTE Air 2 is your gateway to enhanced productivity and clear, efficient communication. Don’t miss out—upgrade your workflow today and experience firsthand the transformative impact of smart technology.

For more information about the AINOTE Air 2, visit iFLYTEK’s official website.

About iFLYTEK

Founded in 1999, iFLYTEK Co., Ltd. is a publicly listed company in the Asia-Pacific region focused on intelligent speech and technology. In 2008, the company went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 002230. For more information, visit www.iflytek.com.

Media Contact

Frank Fan
sdfan@iflytek.com

Nassau Street Partners has launched a new capital distribution program designed to bring curated strategic capital into mid-market deals from sourcing through close in under 120 days — signaling a major departure from the VC-first model that has long defined private markets.

The initiative, which integrates sector-specific investor mapping, faster prep cycles, and precision outreach, brings raise packages in front of several thousand investors in the space of only weeks.

This release comes as a growing number of companies raising $1 million to $50 million are abandoning the traditional venture pipeline and turning to strategic capital — family offices, operator-backed funds, and sector-aligned platforms — for speed, flexibility, and deeper alignment.

For years, venture capital defined the private market narrative: big checks, fast growth, and term sheets delivered over coffee. But in the post-ZIRP world, mid-market companies raising $1 million to $50 million are finding a different type of investor leading their rounds: strategic capital.

Family offices, small strategics, and non-institutional capital providers are quietly displacing traditional VCs in many mid-sized raises. The reason is not just market cyclicality. It’s structural.

Strategics Aren’t New — But Their Role Has Changed

Strategic capital traditionally referred to large corporate balance sheets chasing acquisitions. Today, that definition has evolved. The new “strategics” are smaller operating businesses, family-backed platforms, and high-net-worth groups with sector focus and hands-on operating DNA.

“These investors used to wait until a company had scale or synergies,” said Juan Moreno, managing partner at Nassau Street Partners. “Now, they’re showing up earlier, not because they want control, but because they want alignment.”

The alignment matters. Strategics bring more than capital. They bring channels, contracts, integration opportunities, and long-term positioning that pure financial players often can't. For companies seeking steadier, longer-term growth relative to traditional VCs, that's a better fit.

The Mid-Market Isn’t Built for Venture Logic

Companies raising $1 million to $50 million are too large for angels and too small or non-consensus for institutional growth funds. Many don’t fit the VC mold: they may be capital-intensive, slower-growing, or not reliant on winner-take-all dynamics. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t strong businesses.

“These are real companies with customers, revenue, and product-market fit,” said Saul Friend, director at Nassau Street Partners. “But when they approach traditional VCs, the answer is often, ‘Interesting, but not for us.’”

Venture capital is structurally designed to seek out hyper-growth, category-defining bets that return 100x. Mid-market operators seeking $8 million to expand distribution or acquire a competitor often don’t check that box.

That’s where strategic capital steps in.

Faster Closes, Higher Certainty, Longer Horizon

Strategic investors don't rely on Monday morning partner meetings. They move faster, underwrite from conviction, and are more flexible on structure. In recent transactions, Nassau Street Partners has seen term sheets land in under 30 days from first contact, with far less volatility than traditional VC processes.

More importantly, strategic capital tends to be patient. Unlike venture funds that need to return capital on a fixed timeline, family offices and platform strategics often hold assets indefinitely or recycle capital internally.

A Distribution Shift Driving the Trend

Another major factor: access. Traditional venture firms are increasingly filtered, concentrated, and reactive. A mid-market raise reaching 15–20 partners via intros isn’t enough. Distribution matters.

Nassau’s model reflects this shift. The firm distributes high-quality materials to thousands of pre-mapped investors, family offices, strategics, and non-institutional allocators, across the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Asia. It focuses less on “warm intros” and more on targeted velocity.

“The best capital doesn’t just show up. You have to reach it, and you have to speak its language,” said Juan Moreno.

That means tighter positioning, less pitch theater, and faster decision loops. Founders who engage early and frame their business with strategic ROI in mind consistently get more traction than those waiting for traditional VCs to circle back.

Case in Point

Recent transactions illustrate this trend clearly:

• A $25 million raise for a deep-tech venture fund was closed primarily with family offices, not institutional LPs.
• A $12 million round for a first-time medtech fund was placed via VCs and strategic operators with domain knowledge, despite having no legacy track record.
• A $5 million equity raise for a Middle Eastern EV charging network attracted strategic infrastructure capital, not clean-tech VCs.

None of these would have fit neatly into a traditional VC pipeline. All found stronger alignment through distributed strategic capital.

The Strategic Capital Advantage

Strategics bring more than money. They bring context. They understand operating constraints, capital intensity, regulatory risk, and long-term margins. They aren’t chasing unicorns — they’re building real businesses.

And in a market where capital is still abundant but increasingly fragmented, founders need more than a good pitch. They need a distribution strategy that reaches the right investors, not just the loudest ones.

Nassau Street Partners is built around that belief.

About Nassau Street Partners

Nassau Street Partners is a modern capital advisory firm that helps companies and sponsors raise $1 million to $50 million from global family offices, strategic investors, and high-net-worth individuals. Based on Wall Street and operating internationally, Nassau delivers institutional-grade execution at startup speed, combining targeted outreach with capital markets expertise to drive outcomes that traditional firms can't. For more information, visit www.nassaustreetpartners.com.

Disclaimer

The information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to influence any investment decision or be a recommendation for any investment, service, product, or other advice of any kind, and shall not constitute or imply an offer of any kind. Securities offered through Britehorn Securities, a registered broker-dealer (member FINRA / SIPC) www.britehornsecurities.com 1401 Lawrence St, Suite 1600, Denver, CO 80202, USA. Britehorn Securities and Nassau Street Partners are not affiliated entities. View Britehorn on BrokerCheck.

Nassau Street Partners provides corporate and transaction advisory services exclusively to companies and institutional clients. It does not provide personalized investment advice to retail investors and is not registered as an investment adviser or broker-dealer.  Services may not be available in all jurisdictions and are subject to applicable laws and regulatory approvals.  Neither the SEC nor any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority has recommended or approved any investment or the accuracy or completeness of any of the information or materials provided herein or through any references/links herein. There can be no assurance that any valuations provided by issuers are accurate or in agreement with market or industry valuations. We do not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy of such information.

Media Contact

Juan Moreno
legal@nassaustreetpartners.com

T-RIZE, a prominent creator of blockchain-powered AI infrastructure, has officially joined the Flower Pilot Program, a three-month project to scale federated learning in real-world settings.

The startup will offer a production-grade blueprint that allows institutions to train transformer models on sensitive rental data while maintaining privacy, auditability, and regulatory compliance.

The initiative, which is supported by Flower's globally known federated AI ecosystem, allows T-RIZE to demonstrate the possibilities of its Rizemind framework, an open-source toolkit that incorporates blockchain verification and economic coordination into distributed AI processes.

A Real-World Approach to Secure and Decentralized AI

T-RIZE's plan will concentrate on tabular data applications like as KYC, underwriting, and due diligence—all areas where data sensitivity and accuracy are critical. The solution combines Flower's federated training infrastructure with Rizemind's on-chain accountability, utilizing blockchain to record training outcomes and assure verifiability among participants.

"This blueprint isn't just theoretical—it's built for operational teams," said Madani Boukalba, CEO of T-RIZE Group. "We're bridging AI and blockchain not for hype, but to solve real enterprise problems, starting with due diligence workflows where privacy and proof matter equally."

The blueprint includes model code on GitHub, Docker images for deployment, schema validation tools, and step-by-step setup and monitoring instructions. It uses encryption, role-based access, and network limitations to meet high security standards.

Token Utility Provides Transparent Training

A crucial innovation is the blueprint's usage of the $RIZE token, T-RIZE's native digital asset. The coin acts as a unit of account for compute utilization, compensates contributors for model training, and stores results on the Rizenet blockchain. This adds economic coordination to AI activities while also providing transparent performance tracking.

According to the business, this strategy lowers the cost of inter-institutional collaboration, eliminates the need for centralized audits, and opens up new income prospects for data providers and validators.

The blueprint's release is carefully timed: as global organizations face AI compliance demands, federated learning solutions that combine privacy and accountability are becoming not just desirable—but also necessary.

A Strategic Collaboration with Broad-Reaching Impact

The Flower ecosystem, which is already being trusted by Mozilla, Owkin, Banking Circle, and MIT, serves as an excellent basis for this collaborative effort. T-RIZE's contribution adds a Web3-native layer of verifiability to federated learning, enabling traceable outcomes and trustless coordination.

Beyond the pilot, T-RIZE intends to expand Rizemind with zero-knowledge machine learning (zkML), multi-party computing (MPC), and dynamic noise injection—techniques designed to improve privacy while meeting future legal needs.

"AI regulation is coming fast, and enterprises need infrastructure that's not just compliant—but provable," Madani said. 

Availability and Participation

The blueprint will be provided at the end of the three-month Flower Pilot Program, with early access accessible to universities using rental datasets or compliance-heavy tabular data. Interested parties are encouraged to contact T-RIZE directly or stay updated via Flower's official channels.

About T-RIZE

T-RIZE is a Montreal-based AI and blockchain company focused on privacy-preserving computation and tokenized machine learning. Backed by research at École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS), T-RIZE enables enterprises to unlock the value of sensitive data through decentralized, verifiable AI systems. For more information, visit rizenet.io.

About Flower

Flower, the top open-source federated AI platform, allows safe, decentralized model training and assessment. Flower offers collaborative AI without sacrificing data protection or governance, trusted by researchers and organizations worldwide. To learn more, visit flower.ai.

Media Contact

T-RIZE Communications
press@t-rize.io

ugee, a leading digital hardware developer and trailblazer in creative technologies, is now stepping into the audio world with the debut of FreSound Inspiration Open Earbuds. Staying true to its mission of escorting creative expression, ugee keeps close connections with artists to explore more possibilities. This move marks another new chapter for ugee, empowering creatives by merging inspiration with technology to deliver the exclusive experience tailored for creative community.

Comfy Without Pressure Over Time

For those creatives, wearing audio devices for an extended time is pretty common. From this, ugee stay uncompromising to pursue the comfort. Crafted from skin-friendly liquid silicone, the earbuds naturally fit ears, cradling them without feeling like they’re in the way. Weighing a mere 8.7 grams, it ensures that even during long listening sessions, one will barely notice them but the gentlest embrace. Whether immersed in creative tasks, engaged in a rigorous workout, or just moving around the city, these earbuds deliver lasting comfort and lingering aesthetic that reflects ugee’s artistic touch.

Safe With Sound Around Ears

FreSound stands out from the crowded market with its open-ear design. Unlike in-ear and over-ear devices, this feature lets outside sounds mix naturally with your favorite tunes, keeping you connected with your surroundings without sacrificing audio immersion. Especially for those who lead an dynamic, on-the-go lifestyle, the open-ear concept ensures that while every beat inspires you, safety remains paramount.

Expertly Tuned for Pure Audio and Art

True to ugee’s storied legacy of precision and creativity, the FreSound Inspiration Open Earbuds offer an exclusive HiFi experience expertly tuned by a dedicated team of audio specialists. Through the integration of a bespoke frequency response curve and advanced sound balance technology, these earbuds capture every nuance of your picked tracks — from the softest piano keys to the bold moments in a pop song, ensuring that the music not only fills your ears but also resonates with your very soul. Empowered by the 12 mm biological diaphragm driver unit, FreSound breathes life into soundscapes, creating more dynamic and lifelike sound.

FreSound Inspiration Open Earbuds are far more than just another audio gadget — they are a bold leap forward for ugee. By marrying the unmatched comfort with latest open-ear design and custom-built HiFi sound, these earbuds deliver an experience that is as reassuring as it is inspiring. With FreSound, ugee warmly welcome every creative spirit to join in on a new era where arts meet sounds, coming together to spark boundless inspiration.

About ugee

Founded in 1998, ugee is one of China’s leading digital hardware and software developers, operating under the Hanvon Ugee Group. As a national high-tech enterprise with independent R&D and manufacturing capabilities, ugee has pioneered advanced digital input technologies—spanning drawing tablets, pen displays, styluses, e‑notebooks, and related accessories—with a presence in over 30 countries and regions.

With a user-centered focus and a spirit of continual innovation, ugee’s product lineup supports digital drawing, e‑signing, note‑taking, AI‑enabled education, and more. Guided by the tagline “Fun Finds U in ugee,” the company aims to make digital creativity intuitive and accessible, helping users unlock new possibilities in life and work.

For more information, visit www.ugee.com.

Media Contact

Sanys Cheng
marketing@fresound.com

SKYX Platforms Corp. (NASDAQ:SKYX) (“SKYX” or the “Company”), a highly disruptive smart home platform technology company with more than 97 issued and pending patents globally, today provided a comprehensive corporate update ahead of several key milestones. The Company also operates a growing portfolio of over 60 lighting and home décor e-commerce sites, reinforcing its mission to make homes and buildings smart, safe, and advanced as the new standard.

SKYX announced that it will officially be added to the Russell 2000 Index following the market close on June 27, 2025. This inclusion represents a significant milestone and reinforces the Company’s visibility among institutional investors and the broader financial community.

In parallel, SKYX revealed its central role in enabling a transformative $3 billion mixed-use Smart Urban City project in Miami’s Little River District. As part of this initiative, SKYX will deploy over 500,000 units of its advanced plug & play smart home technologies, including its AI-powered smart ecosystem, across the entire 63-acre development. The project will include more than 5,700 condos and apartments, a significant allocation for workforce and affordable housing, over 350,000 square feet of retail space, 1.5 million square feet of green walkways, parks, bike paths, shuttle lanes, and a $35 million Tri-Rail station. World-renowned architectural firm Arquitectonica is leading the project’s design, while development is spearheaded by SG Holdings—a joint venture between the Swerdlow Group, SJM Partners, and Alben Duffie, each with a legacy of major urban developments.

Financially, SKYX continues to gain strong backing from U.S. and international manufacturers in support of its large-scale product deployments. This support underscores investor confidence in the scalability and market demand for SKYX’s smart home innovations. As of March 31, 2025, SKYX reported $35 million in cash, sufficient to execute its near-term strategic goals and achieve cash-flow positivity in 2025. In the first quarter of 2025, the Company generated record revenues of $20.1 million, up from $18.9 million in the same period the previous year, while also reducing general and administrative expenses by 17%, from $7.9 million to $6.6 million. SKYX also improved its gross margins and gross profit sequentially.

Anticipating strong seasonal demand, SKYX is preparing for a Q3 launch of its disruptive All-In-One Smart Turbo Heater & Ceiling Fan, with manufacturing already underway through long-term partners. The Company will launch two models of the patented product, targeting the multi-billion-dollar ceiling fan and space heater market. SKYX expects its products to be in 30,000 U.S. and Canadian homes by the end of the second quarter of 2025, with tens of thousands more to follow in the second half of the year.

To further support its growth, SKYX secured $15 million in preferred stock investments at $2 per share from strategic investors led by The Shaner Group, a major global Marriott Hotels chain owner. The round also saw significant participation from company insiders, including President Steve Schmidt and co-CEOs Lenny Sokolow and John Campi, signaling strong internal confidence in the Company’s vision and trajectory.

In a major manufacturing development, SKYX announced a strategic U.S. partnership with Profab Electronics, a premier electronic contract manufacturer based in Pompano Beach, Florida. This collaboration complements the Company’s manufacturing operations across Vietnam, Taiwan, China, and Cambodia, strengthening SKYX’s commitment to building a resilient and efficient supply chain.

SKYX continues to pursue national safety standardization of its ceiling outlet and receptacle technology. Its Safety Code Standardization Team, led by Mark Earley (former head of the National Electrical Code) and Eric Jacobson (former president and CEO of the American Lighting Association), is now backed by a prominent new leader from a key government safety organization. SKYX has already secured ANSI/NEMA approval and has been voted into 10 segments of the NEC Code Book. The Company expects that its technology, once the full range of product variations is complete, will be recommended by insurance companies due to its potential to reduce fires, ladder falls, and electrocutions.

SKYX continues to build recurring revenue streams through a “Razor & Blades” business model. The Company’s ceiling electrical outlet (Razor) serves as the foundation for a range of plug & play smart products (Blades), including lighting, fans, recessed lights, emergency fixtures, chandeliers, and more. The Company’s technology enables high-rise buildings and hotels to complete installations in days rather than months, providing an efficient and scalable solution for large-scale construction projects.

With an addressable market of approximately $500 billion in the U.S. and over 4.2 billion ceiling applications, SKYX is expanding both in the retail and professional segments. The Company generates revenue through product sales, licensing, royalties, subscriptions, monitoring, and global country rights. In addition to leveraging its 60+ e-commerce platforms, SKYX collaborates with major retailers including Home Depot and Wayfair to distribute its full suite of advanced and smart plug & play products.

Strategic partnerships also continue to accelerate SKYX’s market reach. These include collaborations with leading lighting manufacturers such as Kichler, Quoizel, EGLO, and Ruee, as well as integration into premium homes built by Cavco Homes, a top U.S. prefabricated home builder. SKYX’s technology will be installed across three luxury Forte Developments in Florida, totaling over 12,000 products across more than 400 units. Additionally, a 1,000-unit mixed-use project by Jeremiah Baron Companies will incorporate SKYX’s technologies, with initial deliveries to 140 units and more throughout the construction cycle.

To support distribution, SKYX has entered a strategic agreement with JIT Electrical Supply, a leading builder supplier that has served over 100,000 U.S. homes. JIT will distribute SKYX’s lighting and smart products beginning in early 2025.

In a key leadership move, SKYX welcomed Huey Long, former Amazon e-commerce director and executive at Walmart and Ashley Furniture, as the new head of its e-commerce division. Long will work closely with SKYX’s existing team to expand market penetration across its digital platforms and leading North American e-commerce channels.

About SKYX Platforms Corp.

As electricity is a standard in every home and building, our mission is to make homes and buildings become safe-advanced and smart as the new standard. SKYX has a series of highly disruptive advanced-safe-smart platform technologies, with over 97 U.S. and global patents and patent pending applications. Additionally, the Company owns over 60 lighting and home decor websites for both retail and commercial segments. Our technologies place an emphasis on high quality and ease of use, while significantly enhancing both safety and lifestyle in homes and buildings. We believe that our products are a necessity in every room in both homes and other buildings in the U.S. and globally. For more information, please visit our website at www.skyplug.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are not based on historical facts, but are forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “evaluate,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target” “view,” “will,” or “would,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements reflect the Company’s reasonable judgment with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which have outcomes difficult to predict and may be outside our control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include statements relating to the Company’s ability to successfully launch, commercialize, develop additional features and achieve market acceptance of its products and technologies and integrate its products and technologies with third-party platforms or technologies; the Company’s efforts and ability to drive the adoption of its products and technologies as a standard feature, including their use in homes, hotels, offices and cruise ships; the Company’s ability to capture market share; the Company’s estimates of its potential addressable market and demand for its products and technologies; the Company’s ability to raise additional capital to support its operations as needed, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; the Company’s ability to execute on any sales and licensing or other strategic opportunities; the possibility that any of the Company’s products will become National Electrical Code (NEC)-code or otherwise code mandatory in any jurisdiction, or that any of the Company’s current or future products or technologies will be adopted by any state, country, or municipality, within any specific timeframe or at all; risks arising from mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other collaborations; the Company’s ability to attract and retain key executives and qualified personnel; guidance provided by management, which may differ from the Company’s actual operating results; the potential impact of unstable market and economic conditions on the Company’s business, financial condition, and stock price; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. There can be no assurance as to any of the foregoing matters.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws.

Media Contact

Jeff Ramson
jramson@pcgadvisory.com

CoinsPaid, a licensed Estonian cryptocurrency payment platform, is expanding its services into the real estate sector, offering developers and agencies a secure, fast, and cost-effective way to accept cryptocurrency payments. As the future of real estate transactions increasingly involves cryptocurrency, CoinsPaid is at the forefront of this transition, enabling real estate businesses to meet the growing demand for alternative payment methods.

"The future of buying houses with crypto is here. The demand from investors to make payments with cryptocurrency is growing, and our goal is to make every transaction secure for both buyers and sellers. With this, we aim to set a new standard for transparent and efficient property transactions," says Max Krupyshev, CEO of CoinsPaid.

By providing an easy-to-use solution for processing crypto payments, CoinsPaid enables developers and real estate professionals to accept cryptocurrencies with instant conversion into fiat currencies. This ensures that both buyers and sellers experience an efficient, transparent, and secure transaction process from start to finish.

Key Features of CoinsPaid’s Real Estate Payment Solution

• Regulatory compliance: CoinsPaid adheres to strict AML and KYC regulations, ensuring that all crypto transactions are conducted securely and in compliance with global financial standards.
• Global reach for cross-border transactions: CoinsPaid supports over 20 cryptocurrencies and 40+ fiat currencies, enabling real estate professionals to seamlessly complete international transactions, expanding their market reach and facilitating global real estate deals in all the jurisdictions where cryptocurrency can be used as means of payment if agreed by sellers and buyers.
• Efficient transactions for buyers and sellers: CoinsPaid simplifies the payment process by offering for property owners and developers a Crypto Business Wallet. Buyers can pay with cryptocurrency, while sellers receive immediate fiat conversion, eliminating the complexities of traditional digital payments.
• Mitigating market volatility risks: CoinsPaid’s fast crypto-to-fiat conversion ensures sellers gain access to liquidity without exposure to crypto market fluctuations, providing a stable and secure transaction process.
• Transaction reporting: Transaction reporting provides comprehensive insights into every payment processed through the platform, ensuring transparency and accuracy for all real estate transactions. It delivers detailed data, including transaction IDs, timestamps, amounts (in both crypto and fiat), sender and receiver details, and transaction statuses. This feature enables real estate businesses to monitor payment activity in real-time.
• Transparent and competitive fee structure: CoinsPaid offers transparent pricing, ensuring that property owners and agencies can plan and manage their budgets. The fee of around 1% is competitive within the crypto payment space.
• Designed for every real estate business: No matter if you’re selling properties, managing transactions, or developing real estate projects — our crypto payment gateway can accommodate all your real estate payment needs.
• Supporting large deals: CoinsPaid’s infrastructure is designed to handle high-value transactions, making it ideal for large-scale property deals.
• A fully integrated support ecosystem: With over a decade of industry presence, CoinsPaid has built a robust support ecosystem for any business, regardless of their prior experience with cryptocurrency, meaning no need to be crypto experts to begin accepting crypto payments. The support system includes dedicated account managers, who translate business goals into scalable business strategies, and technical experts that support daily transaction oversight, issue resolution, and system improvements.

About CoinsPaid

CoinsPaid is an international crypto payments company, serving businesses across high-growth industries, including but not limited to real estate, consultancy, corporate services, e-commerce, and education. With a strong focus on security, compliance, and innovation, CoinsPaid is shaping the future of digital payments while promoting responsible crypto adoption. For more information, visit coinspaid.com.

To see our disclaimer statement, visit coinspaid.com/disclaimer-statement.

Media Contact

Support Team
info@coinspaid.com

Roland Berger in partnership with the Manufacturers Alliance Foundation released a report, "Navigating Uncertainty: The geopolitical impact on manufacturing trends in 2025,” finding that at a time marked by geopolitical tensions and trade and economic uncertainty, manufacturers are reassessing their strategies to navigate an increasingly volatile climate.

The study, the second in an in-depth research series looking at the evolving forces shaping the manufacturing sector, is based on a survey of more than 150 US-based manufacturing executives, as well as in-depth interviews with nearly two dozen CEOs, in sectors including machinery, computers and electronics, chemicals, food, plastics and rubber.

Stephen Gold, president of Manufacturers Alliance Foundation and president and CEO of Manufacturers Alliance shared, “Our latest research shows a sector grappling with complex challenges—ranging from policy uncertainty to talent shortages—but also uncovering opportunities to gain competitive advantage through technology, regionalization and agility.”

The research reveals a shift in mindset from long-term investment to risk management as companies adapt to heightened global instability.

Key Research Highlights

• Shift Toward Localization: Manufacturers are rethinking globalization. The current climate favors “capex-light” strategies, repurposing existing sites or forming regional partnerships, to localize operations efficiently.
• Changing Production Geography: Companies are increasingly turning to lower-risk markets like the UK and Japan over traditional low-cost hubs such as China and Mexico, favoring stability over cost savings.
• Talent as a Critical Pressure Point: 88% of executives expect workforce challenges to worsen due to geopolitical risk. In response, manufacturers are doubling down on workforce development, upskilling, and automation to build resilience.
• Accelerated Digitalization: Leaders in the industry are twice as likely to turn to digital tools as a strategic buffer against uncertainty, signaling a decisive move toward Industry 4.0.
• Rise of Customization: 72% of manufacturers are prioritizing product development to better match local demand, further supporting regionalization trends.
• Sustainability Takes a Limited Hit: While many foresee a pullback in sustainability investments due to geopolitical distractions, companies with sustainability embedded in their core offerings remain on their goals.

“Manufacturers are entering a new strategic era, one where geopolitical risk isn’t just influencing decisions, it’s rewriting the playbook,” says Michelle Drew Rodriguez, partner at Roland Berger. “Now more than ever, resilience, adaptability and regional relevance are the rising indicators of global manufacturing competitiveness.”

About Roland Berger

Roland Berger is one of the world's leading strategy consultancies with a wide-ranging service portfolio for all relevant industries and business functions. Founded in 1967, Roland Berger is headquartered in Munich. Renowned for its expertise in transformation, innovation across all sectors and performance improvement, the consultancy has set itself the goal of embedding sustainability in all its projects. Roland Berger's revenues stood at more than 1 billion euros in 2023. For more information, visit www.rolandberger.com.

About Manufacturers Alliance Foundation

Manufacturers Alliance Foundation is the 501(c)(3) partner of Manufacturers Alliance. The Alliance Foundation provides educational opportunities for the manufacturing community and its stakeholders through insights, events, and tools for today’s most critical business decisions. The Alliance Foundation focuses on talent, technology, digital transformation, and competitiveness. Learn more about the Alliance Foundation at www.manufacturersalliance.org/foundation.

About Manufacturers Alliance

Manufacturers Alliance powers leaders. We bring together an unparalleled network of manufacturing executives to advance their careers, grow their companies, and support the whole community. We accomplish our mission through peer communities, education, and business insights on the topics that matter most to the sector. In our 91st year, we continue to drive the manufacturing community to be smarter, faster, and better. Learn more at www.manufacturersalliance.org.

Media Contact

Stefan Lysak
marketing_americas@rolandberger.com

eMerge Americas, a strategic convener, catalyst, and global tech conference + expo uniting global enterprises, startups, investors, and government leaders to accelerate innovation, announced today the acquisition of Miami AI Hub, a leading community and initiative focused on advancing artificial intelligence in South Florida. As part of the acquisition, Burhan Sebin, founder of Miami AI Hub, has been appointed as eMerge Americas' first-ever Chief AI Officer — a groundbreaking executive role that reflects the organization's long-term commitment to AI innovation.

This strategic move reflects eMerge Americas' unwavering commitment to positioning Miami and the South Florida region as an epicenter for artificial intelligence innovation and development. The appointment of a Chief AI Officer marks a bold step forward in shaping AI policy, partnerships, and programming across eMerge's global initiatives.

"We are thrilled to welcome Burhan Sebin to the eMerge Americas team," said Melissa Medina, CEO of eMerge Americas. "Burhan has played a key role in fostering a strong AI community here in South Florida of over 4,000 people. His vision aligns perfectly with our mission to elevate Miami as a global destination for deep tech and emerging technologies."

In a very short time frame, Miami AI Hub became a central force in uniting AI startups, researchers, technologists, and business leaders. Under Sebin's leadership, the Hub launched impactful community initiatives, educational programs, and collaborative projects that advanced ethical and accessible AI development in the region.

"Joining eMerge Americas is an incredible opportunity to scale our efforts and put South Florida on the map as a leader in the global AI ecosystem," said Burhan Sebin. "Together, we'll build bridges across sectors and borders to drive responsible AI innovation from Miami."

This milestone comes as excitement builds around the launch of the inaugural Miami AI School; a new eMerge Americas flagship program that will fast-track founders, operators, and creatives into becoming AI-native leaders. The immersive program features three high-impact phases, each culminating in real demos, strong portfolio pieces, and applied case studies — designed to help participants not only understand AI but actively shape its future across industries.

In addition to the Miami AI School and new initiatives rolling out this year, eMerge Americas will significantly expand its AI programming at its flagship global tech conference in April 2026. Highlights include:

• A larger eMerge AI Pavilion, showcasing cutting-edge startups, research, and applications
• Interactive demo zones where attendees can experience applied AI in real time
• A curated track of world-class AI content, panels, and workshops led by leading researchers, entrepreneurs, and technologists

The acquisition, executive appointment, as well as the launch of new AI initiatives underscore the rapid growth and momentum of the South Florida tech and innovation ecosystem and further solidify eMerge Americas' role at the forefront of the region's transformation. These expansions will assist in making AI a central pillar of the conference experience, drawing innovators and thought leaders from across the globe to Miami and South Florida. 

AI is one of the many areas eMerge Americas is bolstering and expanding in 2026. The company will also be rolling out strategic programming, investments and partnerships in national security, finance and healthcare in the coming weeks.

About Miami AI Hub

Miami AI Hub fosters innovation and collaboration in artificial intelligence within the city’s vibrant tech ecosystem. Its mission is to make Miami a global AI powerhouse and to build bridges across the AI ecosystems of the United States, Italy, Spain, and Latin America.

Miami AI Hub has convened over 4,000+ participants, supported more than 50 AI startup showcases, and hosted speakers from major companies including NVIDIA, Apple, Google, AWS, and others. As an innovation catalyst, the Hub champions AI solutions that improve lives and transform industries. As a community platform, it brings together enthusiasts and experts to grow a shared knowledge base. And as a startup launchpad, it supports early-stage ventures with mentorship, funding access, and growth resources.

For more information, visit www.miamiaihub.com.

About eMerge Americas

eMerge Americas is a strategic convener and catalyst for innovation, bringing together global enterprises, startups, investors, and government leaders to accelerate advancements in AI, Finance, Health, and National Security. Through year-round programming and its annual global tech conference + expo in Miami, eMerge Americas connects capital, talent, and ideas to drive impactful progress, strengthen industries, and bring transformative and emerging technologies to market. Since 2014 the global tech conference + expo has attracted 20,000+ attendees annually from over 50 countries and catalyzed billions in venture investment. For more information, visit www.emergeamericas.com.

Media Contact

Burhan Sebin
meet@miamiaihub.com

DitchIt, a company that specializes in disrupting the online marketplace industry, today announced that in a stunning move, they have purchased and demolished the original 560-pound Twitter bird sign that once adorned their San Francisco headquarters.

The stunt, captured on camera in the Nevada desert with a 15-person crew, four Tesla Cybertrucks, and a Hollywood explosives expert, symbolized a farewell to outdated tech giants and introduced DitchIt's mission: building a local marketplace prioritizing people over profits.

Ditchit's spokesman, James Deluca, drew parallels between Elon Musk's Twitter rebranding and Ditchit's goals, stating, "Today's platforms prioritize businesses, but Ditchit is different — free, ad-free, and community-focused."

The 12-foot Twitter logo, affectionately known as "Larry," was bought at auction for $34,000 and transformed into a disruption symbol. The explosive demolition video, now live on YouTube, showcases a cinematic moment generating buzz. Fragments of the sign will be auctioned on the DitchIt app, with proceeds supporting the Center for American Entrepreneurship.

About DitchIt

DitchIt is a community-first local marketplace built for everyday buyers and sellers. Unlike traditional platforms, DitchIt is ad-free, fee-free, and designed to keep transactions simple and fair. Founded in 2024, the DitchIt app is available for iOS and Android. For more information, visit ditchit.com.

Media Contact

James Deluca
james.deluca@ditchit.com

China International Import Expo (CIIE) remains a vital platform for openness and cooperation amid growing global uncertainty and anti-globalization sentiment. A UN-hosted event in Geneva on June 25, themed “Working Together to Implement the UN 2030 Agenda—How China International Import Expo Helps,” showcased its role in fostering inclusive growth.

At the event, representatives from dōTERRA, and Warmpaca shared how the CIIE has opened doors for them in the Chinese market. Since 2018, dōTERRA has partnered with Guizhou through the CIIE, using innovation to boost the value of traditional Chinese plants and raise local farmers’ incomes. Warmpaca made its breakthrough at the inaugural CIIE. By partnering with over 1,000 families to produce handmade alpaca wool goods, it has successfully expanded into both the Chinese and global markets—creating jobs and empowering local communities along the way.

As the expo approaches, preparations have entered a new and dynamic phase. On May 22, a dedicated matchmaking event was held in Chongqing, bringing together nearly 40 exhibitors and over 110 local buyers. The event laid a solid foundation for deeper cooperation in the lead-up to the CIIE. To date, an exhibition area of over 280,000 square meters has been booked for this year’s CIIE. This year, the exhibition layout has been further optimized to spotlight innovation, advanced technologies, and cutting-edge services.

Building on this momentum, the upcoming China-Central Asia Summit will boost exchanges and cooperation. As regular participants in the CIIE, Central Asian countries have continued to strengthen ties with China through this key platform. For instance, at the seventh CIIE, Kazakh businesses took part in an unprecedented scale, presenting a broader range of high-quality products to the Chinese market.

The upcoming eighth CIIE is set to attract a broader spectrum of exhibitors, professional buyers and visitors across sectors. Meanwhile, the HQF will serve as a key venue for dialogue on open economies and inclusive globalization. For more information, visit CIIE official website: https://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/

About China International Import Expo (CIIE)

Media Contact

Cui Yan
cuiyan@sinoexpo.cc

Lawrina, a trusted legal resource, announces an expanded mission and a new name: Loio. From a legal tech company, it transforms into a full-featured platform offering smart document drafting tools for everyone, from lawyers and business owners to individuals who seek reliable legal solutions. Loio is a powerful workspace where users can create, edit, complete, and sign documents without the need for additional software.

“It is a major step forward for our platform,” says Yehor Melnykov, CEO and co-founder of Loio. “Our mission is to change people’s perception of document workflow as something complicated and exhausting. With Loio tools, the whole process of document creation is intuitive and takes only a few minutes.”

The updated Loio gives users access to a range of tools that enable them to work with documents of any complexity, anytime, and from any device.

A growing collection of legal templates for any need — from personal to business — allows users to obtain professionally drafted contracts and forms without hiring a legal expert. Each of the available forms is created and reviewed by experienced lawyers, which grants more confidence and saves time. Lawyers spend 40-60% of their time drafting and reviewing contracts, whereas for a person without a legal background, creating even one document can take several days. Loio templates reduce this time considerably. 

For quick template completion, Loio offers a unique interview feature that guides users through the document by asking them simple questions. Based on the answers, the system automatically prepares a finished contract for further reviewing, signing, or downloading.

With a newly launched PDF tool, users can either edit forms from Loio’s 2,500+ pre-made templates or their own files. Adding and removing clauses, comments, initials, lists, and signatures takes a few clicks, and the insertion function allows one to complete documents with images and charts directly within the browser. 

Once the document is completed, users can instantly sign it online with a secure electronic signature system that follows U.S. laws, including the ESIGN Act, UETA, and ESRA. 

Loio also has an extensive library of legal guides that cover plenty of topics — from starting a business to what to include in a rental agreement. Written in plain language and regularly updated, these texts support users as they work through complex legal matters.

Loio puts the right document drafting tools and information directly into the hands of those who need them, making the whole workflow easier, more comprehensible, and more secure.

About Loio

Loio is an all-in platform with a full set of tools for document creation, editing, and signing. It offers a collection of legal templates, a PDF editor, an e-sign, and comprehensive informational resources for people dealing with legal issues. The simplicity of use, accuracy, and data safety allow Loio to set a new standard for effective document workflow. For more information about the services, visit loio.com.

Media Contact

Media Relations
support@loio.com

Flowable, recognized globally as a leading provider of enterprise automation software, has once again been named as a representative vendor in the latest Gartner® Market Guide for Business Process Automation Tools. This recognition highlights Flowable’s comprehensive capabilities in helping large organizations streamline operations by utilizing AI, structured workflows, and decision automation grounded in open standards.

As enterprise environments become increasingly dynamic, automation platforms must support varied use cases across departments and systems. Modern business process automation (BPA) solutions now integrate intelligent agents, rule engines, and human-led decisions to improve speed, consistency, and adaptability. A key takeaway from this report is that it recommends evaluating platforms that integrate these inputs into a single system governed for visibility and accountability.

Flowable meets this guidance by offering an open framework that supports regulatory needs while enabling fast, process-driven outcomes.

Flowable’s Role in Intelligent Automation

Flowable’s inclusion in the Market Guide acknowledges its unified platform’s ability to coordinate AI models, people, and business logic through a low-code, open-standards framework.

This approach directly supports enterprise teams managing high-stakes processes like claims handling, customer onboarding, and risk management.

The platform allows users to manage both predictable tasks and unstructured work in the same environment. Insurance claims, loan origination, and service escalations, for instance, can all be addressed without jumping between tools or sacrificing oversight.

Championing Agentic AI for Adaptive Business Processes

Flowable is a front-runner in “agentic” automation, a method of embedding AI agents, systems, and people into a single operational layer. Businesses today require platforms that connect diverse endpoints—AI models, RPA bots, and human input—into coordinated, auditable flows.

Flowable’s approach is grounded in dynamic case management, allowing organizations to manage both routine operations and irregular scenarios in the same interface, driving operational clarity and flexibility.

Focused Governance and Built-in Transparency

Flowable integrates oversight directly into process design. Its system includes model tracking, rule enforcement, version control, and auditing features that are vital for industries like banking and healthcare.

Every decision can be traced and evaluated, allowing organizations to meet stringent internal standards and regulatory demands without slowing down operations. This is in direct response to industry demand for transparent, governed automation, where oversight cannot be compromised.

Integration Without Vendor Lock-in

By supporting global automation standards of BPMN, CMMN, and DMN, Flowable aligns with open enterprise connectivity and avoids proprietary constraints. Its architecture is designed to connect with existing infrastructure, allowing organizations to expand automation without overhauling what already works. This approach ensures that companies can scale automation projects while maintaining flexibility in technology decisions.

Delivering Business Value to Key Decision Makers

Choosing the right enterprise automation platform impacts every area of an organization. Flowable reflects practical benefits for operations, transformation, risk, and finance leaders across large enterprises, including:

• Operational Efficiency: Flowable automates entire departmental processes, reducing manual hand-offs and errors. Operations leaders gain a unified view of workflows, improve productivity, and enable teams to focus on high-value work while the platform manages routine and exception-driven tasks.
• Agility and Continuous Improvement: Transformation directors and CXOs benefit from the platform’s flexibility. New AI tools or policy changes can be incorporated quickly, allowing rapid response to evolving business needs without extensive retraining or redevelopment.
• Governance and Compliance: Every automated decision is fully traceable, auditable, and governed, meeting the rising need for “new forms of management and governance” recently identified by Forrester. Audit trails, policy enforcement, and approval checkpoints are embedded into workflows to meet internal and regulatory standards.
• Customer Experience and Financial ROI: Coordinated automation helps deliver better outcomes at lower operating costs. Tasks like customer onboarding, account updates, and claims can be resolved faster through consistent, AI-personalized processes that operate 24/7 across omnichannel touchpoints.

Flowable empowers enterprises to move faster, operate smarter, and maintain governance at scale. Its enterprise automation platform focuses its design for transparency, adaptability, and real-world value.

For further details and insights, access the full report reprint page on Flowable’s website.

Gartner Disclaimer

Gartner, Market Guide for Business Process Automation Tools, 20 May 2025, Tushar Srivastava, et. Al.

Gartner is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Flowable

Flowable is a global provider of enterprise automation software, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Since 2010, we have helped organizations coordinate business automation, people, and processes through a unified platform built on open standards. Flowable serves leading enterprises across sectors where adaptability and accountability are essential. For more information, visit flowable.com.

Media Contact

Violet Diamanti-Race 
violet.diamanti@flowable.com
+41 31 329 09 00

On Friday, June 20, Arc70 Capital closed Arc70 2025-1, a private-label securitization of $175.3 million of 4% affordable housing bonds issued through the National Finance Authority (“2025-1 Securitization”). The 2025-1 Securitization financed a pool of bonds associated with 13 affordable housing properties in 10 states including, California, Texas, and New York. All of the properties operate under the federal low-income housing tax credit program and seven properties have project-based Section 8 rental subsidies. In total, these properties provide over 1,500 units affordable to households at 60% of area median income or below at an average rent that is 34% less than typical market rents. The 2025-1 Securitization consists of three tranches: Class A-1 certificates rated AA- (S&P), Class A-2 certificates rated BBB+ (S&P), and first-loss Class B certificates retained by Arc70.

“We are excited to continue to partner with sophisticated municipal investors with our most recent securitization,” said Denny Hou, co-founder of Arc70. “The closing of this transaction will drive a meaningful return of capital to our limited partners and support the development of affordable housing.”

“This transaction further solidifies Arc70’s presence as a consistent, highly-regarded issuer in the private-label, affordable housing securitization market,” said Matt Engler, Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets. “Thank you to our underwriting syndicate led by Wells Fargo, our counsel Kutak Rock, underwriter’s counsel Orrick, and Wilmington Bank as trustee.”

About Arc70 Capital

Arc70 Capital specializes in structured credit investments that finance the preservation and development of affordable housing while delivering attractive absolute and risk-adjusted returns to investors. Arc70 has financed over 44,000 units and currently manages more than $4.8 billion in affordable housing-related investments across the United States. For more information, visit arc70.com.

Media Contact

Steffan Dye
ir@arc70.com

There has been undeniable progress in public discourse surrounding mental health awareness. Yet, the conversation still feels clinical, sanitized, or overly performative. Believing that destigmatizing mental health doesn't translate to talking more but talking better, Alicia Racine Fink launched Xanyland, a Los Angeles-based mental health podcast. "Xanyland: Comedians on the Couch" creates a space for genuine therapeutic exploration.

Xanyland unpacks the surreal, typically contradictory landscape of modern mental health through candid, hilarious, and sometimes emotional conversations with comedians. It combines humor and reflection to dismantle stigma, question prevailing mental health narratives, and invite audiences to reflect, laugh, and feel seen.

The podcast's name is a double entendre. On the surface, it's playful, suggesting a whimsical, slightly chaotic world à la Candyland. Digging deeper, it presents a critique about how mainstream mental health discourse has become increasingly dominated by diagnoses and symptom management. “Land,” in particular, signals the broader mental health ecosystem, which Fink has observed to be controlled more by metrics and mass marketing than by human nuance. Xanyland’s mission is to help people view mental health as a shared human experience—messy, hilarious, and worth exploring with curiosity and care, instead of a product or performance.

The podcast is known for unfiltered conversations with comedians about mental health, identity, trauma, and healing. Here, humor becomes a tool to voice the “shadow” aspects of the self that typically go unspoken. The conversations are structured to feel accessible and human, allowing listeners to reclaim the depth of psychoanalysis and frame it through the lived experiences of those willing to speak the unspeakable, often with a punchline.

The voice behind Xanyland makes it more compelling. Fink has a dual background that enables her to hold space for emotional nuance and creative expression. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting and a master’s in counseling, she has always been drawn to storytelling that lies at the intersection of therapy and the arts.

The beginnings of Xanyland stem from Fink's experience in stand-up comedy. After moving to Los Angeles and before starting her private practice as a therapist, she sought an outlet for expression and found it in a local stand-up comedy class. “Comedy helped me reconnect with my voice,” she says. “I also appreciated comedians more as the cultural truth-tellers that they are.”

It wasn’t just their wit and timing that stood out to Fink—it was their vulnerability. “The comedians I met are people unafraid to vocalize the contradictions we all carry—the love and resentment we feel for our families, the absurdities of anxiety, the loneliness behind laughter,” Fink remarks. The therapist saw this as a bridge between the couch and the stage, two worlds she knew intimately.

Xanyland was, therefore, born as a platform where these raw, unfiltered exchanges could live. Fink developed the podcast to reflect nuance, emotional complexity, and above all, honesty. These are the very things she felt were missing from mainstream mental health narratives. The comedians on her show are viewed as collaborators, offering insights that are as emotionally intelligent as they are funny.

This structure enables the podcast to delve into various topics. Early episodes tackle the bewildering process of finding a therapist, including what to look for, how to communicate one's needs, and how to develop a meaningful relationship with a mental health provider. Other episodes explore the broader conversation around psychiatric medication. Fink approaches this subject with balance, acknowledging both the over-medicalization of mental health and the life-saving potential of psychiatric drugs. “Xanyland doesn't take a polarized stance. We value empathy and individual context,” says Fink.

Subsequent episodes delve into issues like bipolar disorder, ADHD, sobriety, and hypnotherapy, with guests who speak from personal and professional experience. Another episode breaks down the concept of narcissism, a term that has become so overused that its clinical meaning is often lost. Yet, another will examine grief and how people talk—or avoid talking—about loss.

Overall, the unifying thread across all these episodes is a commitment to realism and relational depth. Fink isn't afraid to correct misconceptions or bring in fresh perspectives. However, she does so with a grounded, conversational, and humorous tone. This approach highlights Xanyland’s impact.

The podcast aims to redefine how people engage with therapy and mental health topics more broadly. “We hope that listeners walk away with new language for their own experiences and understand that they're not alone,” Fink states.

Ultimately, Xanyland advocates for more truthful, nuanced, and human conversations about mental health. Fink plans to expand the scope of the podcast with a series of bonus episodes. These will address hot-button mental health issues beyond the world of comedy, bringing in specialists to break down complex topics like hypnotherapy and couples therapy. Another planned subseries will analyze popular TV shows through a psychological lens. Future episodes will continue exploring how mental health is portrayed in the media, shedding light on the narratives that shape public perception.

The podcast is available on all major platforms. For more information, visit aliciaracine.com or follow @xanylandpodcast on Instagram.

About Alicia Racine Fink

Alicia Racine Fink, LMFT, LPCC, is a Los Angeles–based therapist, performer, and podcast host whose work blends clinical depth with creative edge. She is the creator of Xanyland, a raw and highly educational mental health podcast where comedians explore what usually goes unspoken.

With a background in acting, stand-up comedy, and years as the lead singer of a touring band, Fink brings a rare combination of emotional insight and artistic fluency to her work. She holds a BFA in acting and a master’s degree in counseling, with advanced training in psychoanalytic therapy. Her clinical style is distinct, rooted in depth work but integrative, drawing from behavioral modalities to support real change.

Fink works as a therapist and clinical coach with clients across Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and London, including global thought leaders and creatives. Her approach invites people into conversations that are as honest as they are unexpected, where discomfort becomes insight, and insight becomes freedom.

For more information, visit aliciaracine.com.

Media Contact

Mike Fink
mike.r.fink@gmail.com