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September 19, 2024 10:30 AM
EDT
•
San Francisco, CA

New Survey Reveals the Growing Burden of Remote Caregiving on U.S. Families

A new survey by JubileeTV shines a spotlight on the growing strain remote caregiving is placing on American families. The findings reveal that while 59% of adult respondents in the U.S. regularly care for aging loved ones from afar, more than 40% of those who provide care don’t even consider themselves caregivers—even as they invest significant time each week and deal with mounting stress, social isolation, financial obligations and career disruptions. It’s a crisis hiding in plain sight, as millions struggle with the unrecognized burden of managing finances, coordinating care, and providing emotional support.

A full report of the key findings can be found here.

Key Findings at a Glance

  • It’s a Part-Time Job: 1 in 3 remote caregivers spend 10+ hours a week supporting aging loved ones, the equivalent of having a part-time job.
  • Social Life on Hold: Over 30% say caregiving leaves them with less time for friends, hobbies, and self-care.
  • Work-Life Collision: Nearly 1 in 4 caregivers have had to take more vacation days or leave early from work to manage their caregiving duties.
  • Confidence Gap in Caregiving: Less than half of remote caregivers feel confident in their ability to meet the needs of their loved ones while living outside the home. 

“The disconnect between what people think of as ‘caregiving’ and what they’re actually doing is distressing,” said JubileeTV Caregiving Advisor, Lili Udell Fiore. “Many remote caregivers fail to see themselves as caregivers simply because they live outside the home, and they often feel ill-equipped to provide the necessary support. This uncertainty, combined with the emotional pressure and time demands of this hidden labor is an enormous burden for millions of people who are also trying to live and balance their own careers and lives. It’s time to accept the reality of these challenges and create solutions that help people cope with the pressures of trying to live their own life while they are caregiving for their loved ones and lessen their burden.”

The Hours Behind Remote Caregiving

Contrary to common perceptions, not living in the same household doesn’t make caregiving any easier. In fact:

  • More than one-third of remote caregivers spend 10+ hours weekly on caregiving, with 13% devoting 20 hours or more assisting a loved one from afar.
  • Nearly 20% of remote caregivers provide daily assistance, and over 75% provide some form of care every week.

The Personal Impact of Remote Caregiving

The significant toll remote caregiving takes on the personal lives of caregivers extends well beyond the time spent providing support. The survey highlights the personal sacrifices caregivers are making as they balance their responsibilities:

  • Social Isolation: One-third of remote caregivers (34%) report having reduced time for friends and social activities.
  • Limited Time for Hobbies: Nearly 32% of respondents have had to cut back on hobbies and personal interests due to their caregiving duties.
  • Mental Health Toll: Two-thirds of remote caregivers (66%) experience stress or anxiety related to assisting a loved one, and 29% report that the increased stress has negatively impacted their physical health.
  • Travel Restrictions: Over 26% find it challenging to travel or take vacations because of their caregiving obligations.

Career vs. Care Decisions Colliding

Remote caregiving isn’t just a personal challenge; it’s having a significant effect on careers and workplace productivity. The survey underscores how caregiving pressures extend beyond the home, leading to professional sacrifices and long-term career impacts.

  • Missed Time from Work: 22% of respondents report needing more flexible hours or missing work altogether due to caregiving responsibilities.
  • Stalled Career Growth: 15% have missed out on career advancement opportunities, such as promotions or taking on new projects due to caretaking time commitments.
  • Increased Use of Leave: 24% report taking increased vacation days or personal leave to manage caregiving duties.
  • Considering Job Changes: 19% have considered changing jobs or reducing work hours to accommodate caregiving needs.

Technology Challenges

Adding to these challenges, many caregivers are finding that existing technology solutions are inadequate for their needs.

  • 25% of respondents expressed frustration with the lack of effective remote caregiving tools, citing that current technologies are either too complex for their aging loved ones or fail to address specific caregiving tasks. 
  • Nearly 60% of remote caregivers have had to make an avoidable in-person visit to solve issues, often related to technology problems.

“The technology gap is a significant barrier for many remote caregivers,” said Fiore. “They need tools that are not only easy for their loved ones to use but also effective in addressing the unique challenges remote caregivers face. JubileeTV is committed to bridging this gap with solutions designed specifically to meet these needs and help ease the time spent on frustrating common problems.”

For more information on the study, visit this link.

Methodology

The JubileeTV-commissioned study surveyed 2,000 adults in the United States who self-identified as someone who helps a family member over the age of 65 that does not live in the same household.

About JubileeTV

JubileeTV is dedicated to improving the lives of seniors and family members who care for aging loved ones. By leveraging the familiarity and comfort of television, the company's hardware and software solutions enable greater independence, reduce social isolation, and facilitate remote caregiving. Its transformative television experience simplifies TV operations for seniors, while providing peace of mind to family members by allowing for easy connections with and support for their loved ones. For more information, visit https://getjubileetv.com/

Media Contact

Kirsten Underwood
kirsten.underwood@caavo.com

September 18, 2024 4:37 PM
EDT
•
DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia

News Shop Group Expands Its Offerings with Smart Media Site

News Shop Group, a Damman-based company providing technology solutions to customers, today announced that it is strengthening its core offerings through digital expansion in marketing technology. Through its site Smart Media, an agency specializing in website design, digital videos, and social media services, News Shop Group now provides smart solutions to support the sustainable growth of websites and social media accounts. News Shop Group relies on a targeted marketing strategy for a large number of leading companies and provides services such as content creation, professional website design, and strong social media account management. This strategy is directed to attracting potential customers and converting them into effective reference customers.

News Shop Group owner Khaled Alrawaeli states, "Our goal is to provide companies and websites with the strategies they need to excel in a market. We are confident that our proven plan will achieve measurable results, helping companies grow and build a strong presence on the web."

As part of this expansion, through its agency Smart Media, News Shop Group offers an initially free site for digital marketing efforts. News Shop Group exists to satisfy customers with advanced technologies.

About News Shop Group

Based in Saudi Arabia, News Shop Group is a umbrella company for Smart Media Store, Top Shop Store and Sweet Cake blog. For more information about News Shop Group, please visit https://smart7line.com or @smart7line on Instagram.

Media Contact

KHALED ALRAWAELI
shop@smart7line.net

September 18, 2024 11:19 AM
EDT
•
MD, Moldova

Where Business Meets Nature: TechVillage 2024 Sets a New Standard for Startup and Investor Events

TechVillage, Moldova's flagship retreat for startups and investors, wrapped up its 2024 edition, held from September 6–8. The event brought together more than 30 startups from Eastern Europe and 20 investors and VCs from 12 countries, creating a dynamic platform for meaningful, long-term partnerships.

Set in Butuceni, a scenic Moldovan village, TechVillage redefined the traditional startup event model. Unlike typical conferences, TechVillage adopted an "unconference" approach. Startups and investors interacted in a relaxed atmosphere like campfires and outdoor activities, and over traditional Moldovan meals. This unconventional setting encouraged deeper connections.

Highlights from TechVillage 2024

High-impact connections: The event's small-scaled format allowed each startup to have personalized discussions with investors. Some startups are already in talks for potential deals right after the event.

Cultural immersion and adventure: Participants explored the beauty of rural Moldova through village activities and wine tastings, which helped break the ice between startup founders and investors.

Diversity: Even though it is a small event, TechVillage brought together angel investors and venture capital representatives from 12 countries. Attendees of TechVillage 2024 included: Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, Business Angels Moldova, Science & Technology Angels Network (STAN), Katalista Ventures, Contriber Ventures, N1 Ventures, Tensor Ventures, Vitosha Venture Partners, Startup Wise Guys, LAUNCHUB VC, Sparking Capital, Impact X Ventures, Vintage Investment Partners, and Transylvania Angels Network.

TechVillage showcases Eastern Europe's growing innovation landscape, with startups in AI, healthtech, fintech, and more.

Participants enjoyed a village quest, fed horses, and even made wine by hand. The first day continued with investor and startup pitches, ending with a Moldovan dinner, traditional dances, and music. The second day focused on one-on-one sessions, ending with a special vineyard dinner and networking by the campfire. The final day included hillside networking and a cave lunch with wine tasting.

The 2025 edition aims to introduce even more opportunities. Startups or investors can secure their spot for TechVillage 2025 now by joining the waitlist by visiting https://techvillage.md.

About TechVillage

TechVillage is an annual event that brings together startups and investors in the picturesque village of Butuceni, Moldova. This event is organized by XY Partners and Technovator, with the support of the regional investment fund Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund in partnership with the Future Technologies Activity in Moldova (FTA), funded by USAID, Sweden and UKaid with the assistance of Switzerland and Helvetas as part of the OPTIM project; and Invest Moldova Agency. For more information, visit https://techvillage.md.

Media Contact

Dumitrita Culiuc
dumitrita@xy.md

September 18, 2024 10:00 AM
EDT
•
New York, NY

DX Announces the Launch of DXKulture

DX, a full-service strategic marketing and solutions company, today announced the launch of DXKulture, a DEI-certified advertising technology platform, built by marketers and focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and emerging cultures—providing everyone with an equal voice at scale. DXKulture is a global advertising platform with the largest DEI-verified supply and omnichannel solution to reach underrepresented audiences with a focus on transparency and campaign ROI.

DX has over 20 years of experience working with a varied roster of clients including: Paramount, National Geographic, Univision, Schmidt Bros. Knives, Franklin Templeton Investments and many more. During its tenure, DX saw a demand from clients to reach highly targeted nuanced audiences. To achieve that reach, DX began working more directly with a wider range of publishers to create marketing-based partnerships for their sites. Simultaneously it became very evident that the existing ad tech infrastructure is not set up to reach diverse hyper targeted audiences at scale with meaningful, authentic engagements leaving many publishers and communities out of the advertising ecosystem.

Authentically reaching diverse consumers is growing more complex as states pass new legislation requiring a lens for Sensitive PII and safeguarding ethnic targeting. The DXKulture supply-side platform (SSP) simplifies the media buying process by creating sources of inventory that are diverse-owned and operated as well as a curating data intelligence surrounding a breadth of hyper-nuanced audiences—able to be bought with a simple touch of a button across all media platforms including: display, audio, mobile, social, digital out-of-home, CTV, and in-hotel.

Sandy Rubinstein, CEO of DX and DXKulture, said, "DXKulture is about lifting everyone up, sharing each audience’s unique perspective, and amplifying those conversations with like-minded people. We built DXKulture to turn traditional adtech into an 'enabler for good' by creating end-to-end monetization solutions that democratize access to necessary ad tech while ensuring great revenue shares make it to those delivering the most value—the publishers and content owners—all while super-serving the advertiser and the consumer."

"Working with Sandy and her team is always a pleasure. They focus on creating meaningful connections with our customers via hyper targeted social media. The opportunity to further focus targeting to DEI communities and build those relationships is very exciting," added Samantha Sichel, Head of Social Product & Digital Innovation at Live Nation Entertainment

DXKulture is a multifaceted product offering media, grounded in marketing support, research and insights. Given DX’s roots in the entertainment and television industry, CTV and FAST offerings are a tremendous priority and a key part of the company’s future plans. DXKulture believes that the CTV/FAST ecosystem is an underutilized marketplace for advertisers and provides rich access to nuanced audiences. DXKulture is rolling out a suite of custom CTV solution offerings and further talent announcements in the coming weeks.

For more information on DXKulture visit https://dxkulture.com.

About DX

DX is a full-service strategic marketing shop with in-house capabilities for B2B and B2C that span strategy, creative, content, CRM, research and insights, and e-commerce. Our multi-channel approach ensures we deliver strategic plans and cost-effective results to move your business forward. To learn more about DX, visit https://dxagency.com.

Media Contact

Kara Silverman
kara@variousand.com

September 18, 2024 8:37 AM
EDT
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NASHVILLE, TN

Michael Chandler Goes Viral for Breaking a TV, New Fight Announced

A viral video featuring 1st Phorm athlete and UFC star Michael Chandler is breaking the internet, with over 35 million views in just 24 hours after the UFC announced Chandler’s upcoming fight against Charles Oliveira at Madison Square Garden this November. The video, which shows Chandler playfully smashing a TV during a prank involving fellow 1st Phorm athlete Adley Kinsman and influencer Jake Stump, has created a whirlwind of excitement leading up to what many consider to be one of the year’s most anticipated UFC matchups.

The video, originally posted by Adley Kinsman, who is known for creating viral content for brands and celebrities, showcases Chandler’s comedic timing as well as his legendary strength—one that fans believe will be on full display in the octagon. In the video, Chandler humorously throws Jake Stump into a TV, leaving fans wondering if it’s his intense training regimen or his 1st Phorm supplements fueling his powerhouse persona.

Chandler, a top UFC lightweight contender, is no stranger to the spotlight. With a career that includes multiple title wins and accolades across mixed martial arts, Chandler’s fan base continues to grow both inside and outside the octagon. His upcoming fight against Charles Oliveira is set to take place at the iconic Madison Square Garden, where he’ll be looking to cement his legacy in UFC history. Fans are eager to see how this viral momentum will translate into the high-stakes matchup.

Adley Kinsman, recognized for her ability to engineer viral moments, has once again demonstrated her knack for creating impactful, buzzworthy content. Her partnership with Chandler highlights the athlete’s magnetic personality and unstoppable drive, while providing fans with a lighthearted glimpse into his life ahead of fight day.

As excitement builds for Chandler’s UFC showdown, fans are encouraged to follow his journey on social media and watch the viral video that has captivated millions worldwide. Catch the full clip on Kinsman’s Instagram at @adley, Chandler’s at @mikechandlermma, and Jake Stump’s at @misterstumpofficial.

For more information on Michael Chandler’s upcoming fight and to stay updated with UFC news, visit UFC’s official site.

Media Contact

Nick Cavuoto
nickc@viralish.com

September 18, 2024 8:30 AM
EDT
•
SANTA CLARA, CA

LeanData Unveils Groundbreaking Products to Boost B2B Revenue Growth Through Buying Groups

LeanData, the modern revenue orchestration platform for today’s growth leaders, is thrilled to announce the launch of two groundbreaking products: Buying Groups Blueprint and Buying Groups Orchestrator. These innovative solutions are designed to help B2B enterprises optimize their go-to-market (GTM) strategies by leveraging the power of buying groups, enabling companies to drive more revenue, close deals faster and uncover new opportunities.

In today’s complex B2B landscape, enterprise purchase decisions are rarely made by a single individual. Instead, they involve a collection of stakeholders—commonly referred to as buying groups—who each play a critical role in the decision-making process. However, many organizations struggle to identify and engage these groups effectively which leads to missed opportunities and prolonged sales cycles.

“Buying groups have always been key to B2B selling—it’s how the best reps succeed. But scaling this approach across a sales team has been challenging,” said Evan Liang, CEO and co-founder of LeanData. “Now, companies are automating buying groups across go-to-market teams to drive stronger revenue results.”

LeanData’s new Buying Groups Blueprint and Buying Groups Orchestrator products address this challenge head-on:
 
Buying Groups Blueprint

  • Analyzes historical patterns in both won and lost opportunities.
  • Identifies the roles and personas that influence sales outcomes.
  • Provides a comprehensive analysis of the last 24 months of closed opportunities to identify touchpoints and roles by stage, showing where and how buying groups influence the buying process.
  • Helps enterprises jumpstart deployment of their buying group strategy more broadly in the enterprise.

Buying Groups Orchestrator

  • Automates the creation, tracking and management of buying groups without requiring any changes to existing sales processes.
  • Leverages AI to identify and assign buying group members and their key contact roles throughout the opportunity lifecycle, including surfacing new potential buying groups members.
  • Visually summarizes the engagement of every critical stakeholder and their influence on the deal via Journey Tracker functionality.
  • Tracks the effectiveness of buying groups strategies with out-of-the-box reporting on key metrics such as sales cycle length, win rate and pipeline additions.

LeanData is already helping leading companies like TechTarget, Siemens, Palo Alto Networks and NVIDIA to gain a competitive edge in their markets.
 
“LeanData is proving to be an amazingly useful component in our tech stack for both efficiency and innovation, especially as we evolve toward more sophisticated and nuanced buying groups motions,” stated John Steinert, Chief Marketing Officer at TechTarget. “We use LeanData for routing and related automations, leveraging both out-of-the-box functionality and additions custom built with the LeanData team. We’re grouping together different types of intent data-informed leads and contacts to form a buying group that we can understand and manage more effectively as we work it through our stages.”

“LeanData has been critical in laying the groundwork for NVIDIA’s approach to buying centers,” stated Aristomenis Capogeannis, Senior Director of Enterprise Revenue Marketing at NVIDIA. “Through LeanData’s matching and routing capabilities, it allows NVIDIA to detect key buying signals from the buying center, which feeds into sales efficiency and ultimately, more revenue.”

The launch of these products marks a significant milestone in LeanData’s mission to transform B2B GTM strategies. By enabling companies to better understand, construct and manage their buying groups, LeanData is helping them navigate the challenges of modern B2B sales, ultimately leading to increased win rates, faster sales cycles and larger deals.

The shift to buying groups is driving more revenue for organizations. According to Terry Flaherty, VP and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research on their recent webinar, Drive Long-Term Growth With A Customer-Centric Revenue Transformation, "One of the things we're seeing is if we form buying groups, leverage signals and deliver to sales—opportunities with three or more buying group members, the conversion rates are dramatically different—have seen ranges from 250%, 400% improvement."

For more information on LeanData and its new buying groups products, visit LeanData’s Buying Groups Resource Center, join the LinkedIn Buying Group Leaders community, or talk to a LeanData expert today.

About LeanData

LeanData is the gold standard in revenue orchestration, empowering growth leaders to excel in the buyer-directed world of modern B2B selling. With a fully integrated solution, LeanData simplifies the coordination of plays, people and processes, transforming buyer signals into actionable decisions that drive revenue. For more information, visit LeanData.com.

Media Contact

Jim Bell
jim.bell@leandata.com

September 17, 2024 10:04 AM
EDT
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Milwaukee, WI

Introducing Mighty Mist™ by DayBreak Skincare, a Premium Hypochlorous Acid Mist for All Skin Types

DayBreak Skincare, a new skin health company specializing in products made with a proprietary formulation of ultra-premium hypochlorous acid (HOCl), today introduced its first product, Mighty Mist. The company’s debut offering is a 4 fl oz hydrating mist designed to calm, soothe, and restore the skin, making it a versatile addition to any skincare routine.

Mighty Mist harnesses the power of MightyHOCl™, a premium form of hypochlorous acid, celebrated for its ability to calm and restore out of control skin while preserving your body's natural pH balance. HOCl is a naturally occurring substance produced by the body’s white blood cells and is recognized in the skincare industry for its ability to support the skin’s natural healing processes. This premium version, MightyHOCl™, is formulated in an FDA-registered and EPA-regulated facility that also supplies the world’s top hospitals. DayBreak Skincare is the exclusive provider of this specific HOCl formulation designed for consumer beauty and skin health, which was previously only available in healthcare settings.

“At DayBreak, we believe that every morning offers each of us the promise of a fresh start," says Seth Kravitz, founder and CEO of DayBreak Skincare. “Mighty Mist is our first step in delivering skincare rooted in real science that brings real results—no fluff, no filler, just honest, effective care. By utilizing the remarkable properties of hypochlorous acid, we’ve been able to create a product that genuinely transforms skin health.”

Key features of Mighty Mist include:

  • Simple ingredients: Formulated with just three simple ingredients—ionized water, sodium chloride (salt), and MightyHOCl™—Mighty Mist is a non-aerosol spray free from alcohol, fragrance, SLS, oils, phosphates, phthalates, parabens, dyes, and colorings. It is also hypoallergenic, vegan and cruelty-free.
  • Safe for all skin types: It’s your go-to product whenever your skin needs a reset, Mighty Mist helps to maintain the skin's natural pH balance and provides cleansing and skin-evening effects. It’s perfect for all skin types, including those prone to redness, breakouts, or dry, sensitive skin.
  • Versatile usage: Mighty Mist can be easily incorporated into any skincare routine as a universal second step after cleansing or used anytime the skin needs to feel calm and clean. It is particularly effective after exercise, sun exposure, or during travel, providing immediate relief. Though designed primarily for the face and neck, Mighty Mist is also safe for use on other parts of the body.

Mighty Mist is available in a 4 oz bottle ($26 MSRP). Mighty Mist is available starting today on the DayBreak Skincare website. 

As a new player in the skincare industry, DayBreak Skincare is committed to delivering high-quality, science-backed products that meet the evolving needs of skincare enthusiasts.

For more information, visit daybreakskin.com and @daybreak.skin on TikTok and Instagram. 

About DayBreak Skincare

DayBreak Skincare is a skin health company specializing in science-backed products formulated with premium hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Founded in 2024, DayBreak exists to transform the way people care for their skin by offering safe, effective products that are rooted in trusted science. The brand was inspired by the founder’s personal journey to find healthier alternatives to the harsh, chemical-laden options that dominate the market. Discovering the remarkable benefits of HOCl, DayBreak was established to bring this powerful molecule to the forefront of skincare, offering solutions that empower people to take back control of their skin health. DayBreak Skincare is committed to challenging the status quo, prioritizing transparency and quality, and helping individuals feel confident in their skin.

Media Contact

Hannah Richman
hannah@daybreakskin.com

September 16, 2024 1:00 PM
EDT
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NEW YORK, NY

EZ Newswire Signs Exclusive Distribution Deal with Reuters

EZ Newswire, an AI-enabled platform empowering organizations to turn their news into performance, today announced an exclusive multi-year distribution deal with Reuters, the world's largest multimedia news agency. The partnership enables organizations across the globe to increase the visibility and impact of their news in a premium environment that is both brand-safe and brand-suitable.

Available now, EZ Newswire’s customers can seamlessly create and publish their business news directly to a dedicated section on the Reuters website.

Since its beta launch in May 2023, EZ Newswire has experienced an increase in demand from enterprise customers for a better solution to create, publish, and amplify time-sensitive business news in premium environments. The collaboration with Reuters is consistent with EZ Newswire’s mission to be an innovation leader in the newswire industry through technology and partnerships to deliver high-quality distribution, measurable impact, and clear pricing tied to performance.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Reuters and look forward to further innovating in the years ahead to build the most powerful news and business intelligence platform,” said EZ Newswire founders Neel Shah and Caitlin Kelly.

The public launch of the integration follows a successful closed beta test with a range of customers, comprising large enterprises, growing businesses, and non-profit organizations. The use cases included a broad variety of news and announcements, including product expansions (poppi), award recognitions (Fixed Income Analysts Society), business results (OAAA), events (Primary Ventures), promotions (Einstein Bros. Bagels), and partnerships (TransferGo and Visa).

Susan Magrino, CEO of Magrino Public Relations and one of the beta testers, commented, “As an agency representing some of the most innovative and influential consumer brands, our clients require us to work at a pace that meets their business demands and to deliver exceptional results. EZ Newswire is the solution we need for business news and their deal with Reuters provides a premium environment that ensures brand safety."

Recently, EZ Newswire polled hundreds of marketing and communications decision makers about their experience using legacy newswire services. Results were conclusive: 98% of respondents currently use newswires, yet nearly 80% have an unfavorable view on the return on their investment. Respondents specifically were most dissatisfied about quality of distribution and pricing, highlighting the need for the industry to build more modern solutions for brands to publish and promote their news more effectively.

"Just as media has transformed, we are excited to see EZ Newswire modernize the legacy newswire industry to meet the needs of marketing organizations like ours by bringing together transparency, performance, and ease of use,” commented Julie Thompson, chief marketing officer of the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA).

The collaboration with Reuters is part of EZ Newswire’s phased strategy to expand its product suite with powerful new integrations and platform features that enable customers to instantly reach and engage targeted audiences with their news at scale.

Earlier this year, EZ Newswire was selected as a winner in The MBA Fund’s sixth annual pitch competition for pre-seed and seed startups. In addition to the investment from The MBA Fund, Contour Ventures invested in EZ Newswire’s last round, which saw participation from existing investors, including HearstLab and the former heads of Forbes, Hearst, IAC, Ziff Davis, and Sinclair.

About EZ Newswire

EZ Newswire empowers organizations to turn their news into performance. Our AI-enabled platform, exclusive distribution network, and amplification tools make it easy to create, publish, and promote news in premium environments to reach the right audience. From startup to scale-up to S&P 500, the most influential organizations rely on EZ Newswire to communicate smarter. For more information, visit www.eznewswire.com.
September 16, 2024 11:05 AM
EDT
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Los Angeles, CA

The Global Kratom Coalition Responds to Bloomberg Report, Calls for Evidence-Based Regulation and Education on Kratom Use

The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC), a leading advocate for responsible kratom use and evidence-based policy, welcomes Bloomberg's recent investigative report on kratom. The GKC believes this coverage provides an opportunity for further dialogue and a more nuanced understanding of this complex topic.

"We appreciate Bloomberg’s balanced reporting in their recent investigative report on kratom. This is a complex topic, and as such we believe it's essential to highlight certain critical aspects of this multifaceted issue," said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition.

Key Points Highlighted by the GKC

1. Regulatory framework: The GKC believes that clear and comprehensive regulations are essential for ensuring the safe and responsible use of kratom. To achieve this, we propose a series of regulatory measures designed to address consumer safety. The GKC advocates for comprehensive kratom regulations, including:

  • Clear legal definitions for various kratom products 
  • Manufacturing standards and labeling requirements 
  • No adulterated or synthetic kratom products 
  • Prohibition on sales to individuals under the age of 21 
  • No marketing of kratom to children 
  • Mandatory vendor registration and product testing 
  • Mechanism and funding for meaningful enforcement of these regulations 

A regulatory framework is a much better option for consumers. Thirteen states have passed kratom regulations that serve to protect consumers whilst preserving access to kratom, and many more are considering regulations. However, that leaves many states where no laws have been passed, with a regulatory gap. 

2. Not all kratom is equal: It is essential to distinguish between kratom leaf, concentrated extracts that match the chemical profile of the kratom raw material used, kratom alkaloid isolates, and, more recently, the rise in synthetically derived products that inaccurately call themselves kratom. 

Kratom leaf is an Old Dietary Ingredient (ODI) with a long history of traditional safe use in Southeast Asia. Kratom extracts are either ODIs or New Dietary Ingredients (NDIs) that are required to submit a New Dietary Ingredient Notification (NDIN) prior to marketing and sale. Isolated, purified, semi-synthetic, or synthetic alkaloids, like 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH) isolates, are novel substances that are no longer kratom and should be subject to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) process for drug approval as established in the Food, Drugs, and Cosmetic Act.

3. Comparative risk assessment: A comparative analysis of CDC, FDA, and Poison Control Center data reveals that the risk profile of kratom is notably different from other commonly used substances. For example, kratom-associated fatalities are significantly lower than those linked to legal substances like tobacco or alcohol. Additionally, US Poison Control Center statistics show that kratom-related calls are similar in number to those for energy drinks and considerably lower than those for many over-the-counter medications. This doesn't mean kratom is without risk, but it does highlight the importance of informed decision-making when considering any substance.

4. Understanding dependence: While regular, excessive consumption of kratom use can lead to physical dependence, its abuse potential is considered much lower than that of classic opioids, like oxycodone or morphine. Studies suggest that individuals with a kratom use disorder primarily fall into mild or moderate categories, like patterns seen with caffeine use.

5. Problems with prohibition: Prohibition has consistently proven ineffective in addressing public health issues and kratom is no exception. Instead of making products inaccessible, which drives the market underground, regulators should focus on regulating kratom products to ensure safety and transparency for consumers.

6. Educating stakeholders: We have identified significant knowledge gaps about kratom among consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. The GKC is spearheading initiatives to disseminate accurate, research-based information on both the benefits and potential risks of kratom.

7. Nuanced understanding: As emphasized in the documentary, the true nature of kratom lies between extremes. GKC acknowledges the potential benefits of kratom for many users while also recognizing the importance of responsible use and ongoing research. We aim to foster dialogue between kratom advocates and individuals with concerns about kratom use, promoting a balanced, fact-based approach. The Kratom Consumer Advisory Council has been formed to allow the voices of all individuals who have experience with kratom, whether positive or negative, to be heard.

The GKC remains dedicated to advancing responsible kratom use through science-driven policies, regulations, and industry standards.

About the Global Kratom Coalition

The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting and expanding access to kratom worldwide. The coalition focuses on advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations that protect consumers.

Media Contact

Byron Johnson
bjohnson@globalkratomcoalition.org

September 16, 2024 8:00 AM
EDT
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NASHVILLE, TN

Bugle Launches Volunteer Management Software Empowering Nonprofits Worldwide

Bugle, a company that specializes in volunteer management solutions, today announced the launch of its volunteer management software. After years of research and development in partnership with the Department of Computer Science at North Carolina State University, Bugle's platform is now available to nonprofits worldwide. Bugle's software enables nonprofits to efficiently organize and fundraise for community outreach projects, with the option to start for free using Bugle's Community Plan.

This announcement marks a significant milestone for Bugle as it expands its reach to support nonprofits and their community outreach initiatives. Providing a robust suite of user-friendly tools for volunteer management and fundraising, Bugle's software makes organizing volunteer events as simple as hosting an Airbnb.
 
According to Ryan Johnson, CEO of Bugle, "We are thrilled to officially launch Bugle's volunteer management software. Our company takes great pride in equipping nonprofits with modern tools that simplify the unique challenge of organizing volunteer events. At Bugle, we believe that helping others shouldn't be hard, so we build software that makes it easy."

A mission-driven company, Bugle aims to double volunteering across the U.S. by 2030 and worldwide by 2036. Achieving this goal will provide an additional $1.2 trillion in global social services annually.

For more information about Bugle and its volunteer management software, please visit https://www.buglevolunteers.com.

About Bugle

Bugle is a Nashville-based volunteer management software company that specializes in empowering nonprofit community outreach. Focused on providing innovative solutions to streamline volunteer coordination, our software enables nonprofits to significantly increase their efficiency and impact. Our unique platform allows nonprofits to quickly organize events, capture volunteer data, and turn community outreach into fundraising success. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.buglevolunteers.com.

Media Contact

Ryan Johnson
ryan@buglevolunteers.com

September 16, 2024 5:03 AM
EDT
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WUHAN, China

Yangtze River Cultural Arts Season Opening Ceremony Held in Wuhan, China

On the evening of September 14, Beijing time, the opening ceremony of the Yangtze River Cultural Arts Season took place in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

This ceremony created a cultural arts feast themed "with the sky as the curtain, the city as the scenery, and the Yangtze as the stage." Singers from the 13 provinces along the Yangtze River performed songs and dances reflecting local customs. A thousand university students from twelve universities in Hubei participated in a choir performance of "Song of the Yangtze." During the climax, thousands of drones illuminated the sky above the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, depicting landmarks from the 13 provinces along the river, followed by a dazzling fireworks display that lasted nearly ten minutes. Many citizens attended the event to appreciate the rich culture of the Yangtze River.

The opening ceremony was executed by Hubei Media Group and integrated elements of "culture + technology," using AR (augmented reality) technology and 3D drone light shows.

The Yangtze River Cultural Arts Season will continue until November 4, featuring various activities centered around Yangtze River culture and Chinese civilization, including themed art exhibitions, a film week, a stage arts showcase, a choir week, a reading week, a literature week, and an intangible cultural heritage exhibition. These activities aim to fully showcase the essence and charm of Yangtze River culture and encourage active participation from the public. All 13 provinces along the Yangtze River will participate collectively.

Media Contact

Li Xin
hubeifabutougao@163.com

September 13, 2024 6:16 PM
EDT
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NEW YORK, NY

Ring Premier Founder Manat Kaur Featured in Maxim, Highlighting the Advantages of Lab-Grown Diamonds

Manat Kaur, the visionary founder of Ring Premier, a leading custom fine jeweler specializing in lab-grown diamonds, has been prominently featured in Maxim. In the article, Kaur delves into the growing trend of lab-grown diamonds and the many benefits they offer over traditional mined diamonds.

In the Maxim piece, Kaur shares her insights on how lab-grown diamonds are revolutionizing the jewelry industry by providing consumers with ethically sourced, sustainable, and high-quality alternatives to mined diamonds. She emphasizes that lab-grown diamonds, which are chemically and physically identical to their mined counterparts, offer the added advantage of being environmentally friendly and free from the ethical concerns often associated with traditional diamond mining.

Kaur’s passion for innovation and her commitment to sustainability are at the heart of Ring Premier’s success. By embracing the potential of lab-grown diamonds, she has positioned Ring Premier as a leader in the fine jewelry market, offering clients custom-made pieces that reflect their personal style and values.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by Maxim for our dedication to redefining luxury through lab-grown diamonds,” said Kaur. “Our mission at Ring Premier is to provide clients with exquisite, responsibly sourced jewelry that they can feel good about wearing, knowing it aligns with their ethical and environmental values.”

The feature in Maxim is a testament to Kaur’s expertise and the growing demand for lab-grown diamonds. As more consumers become aware of the benefits of lab-grown diamonds, Ring Premier continues to expand its offerings, providing an extensive range of custom jewelry options that cater to the modern, conscious consumer.

For more information about Manat Kaur and Ring Premier, please visit www.ringpremier.com.

About Ring Premier

Ring Premier is a custom fine jeweler that specializes in lab-grown diamonds. Founded by Manat Kaur, the company is dedicated to creating luxurious, sustainable, and ethically sourced jewelry that reflects the values and style of its clients. With a commitment to innovation and quality, Ring Premier is redefining the future of fine jewelry.

Media Contact

Ring Premier
info@ringpremier.com

September 13, 2024 2:54 PM
EDT
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NEW YORK, NY

Big Apple Set to Outshine Silicon Valley at The AI Hot 100 Conference

Every AI founder today is wondering if they should be moving to San Francisco. A year ago, Hamza Zaveri and Angela Mascarenas were thinking the same thing as they embarked on their journeys as AI founders living in New York City and London. Pretty soon they realized there was a lack of a supportive ecosystem for AI outside of San Francisco, but they didn't want to move out of their cities. They took matters into their own hands and started bringing AI founders and developers together locally. Under The AI Furnace, they grew to over 15,000 members globally in 6 cities.

From Underground Community to a Global Movement, with The AI Hot 100 Conference

They are now funneling this movement of supporting local AI startups into The AI Hot 100 Conference on September 18 in NYC. The conference is bringing together 100 of the hottest funded AI startups from pre-seed to Series A on the East Coast, which they have curated as part of their AI Hot 100 Market Map. There will be 400+ attendees including top VCs, founders, operators, executives and researchers.

For the first time, The AI Hot 100 Conference will unite top AI startup talent from the East Coast, alongside leaders from government, venture capital, and big tech, including the New York State Economic Development Council, Andreessen Horowitz, Flybridge Capital, Gradient Ventures, Anthropic, and more. The event will showcase groundbreaking innovations and offer attendees a chance to connect with the who’s who of early stage AI. Expect to see breakthrough demos from the AI Hot 100 founders, giving an exclusive glimpse into the future.

What’s in Store

You’ll get front-row access to 100 AI startups such as Maven AGI, Arcee AI, Metaphysic, and more which have raised a cumulative $150 million. Also, connect with over 30+ top VC funds with over $65 billion AUM in dry powder. Expect engaging talks and demos on everything from AI agents to AI-generated anime and AI-fashion models. Plus, there’s a mixer for founders and funders, plenty of chances to network over breakfast and lunch, and even a chance to connect with founders who are hiring. And don’t miss the afterparty to chill and unwind!

Sponsors include NVIDIA, NEAR Foundation, Fidelity, Rho, and Metronome.

You can buy tickets and find out more at https://aifurnace.com.

What does the future hold for The AI Furnace?

Angela Mascarenas and Hamza Zaveri aim to support local and regional AI talent around the world. They plan to curate the AI Hot 100 List for different regions and take The AI Hot 100 Conference globally to support local AI innovation. The New York City edition is just the beginning.

About The AI Furnace

The AI Furnace is a global network of 15,000+ AI founders, researchers and investors. We host IRL events in NYC, London, Boston and Paris. Built by AI founders to educate the world, we showcase the latest innovations and founders in AI through our digital media channels, newsletter, podcasts, videos and world-class events. Our founders have gone on to raise from the likes of a16z, Sequoia, Village Global, Google Ventures, and more.

Media Contact

Angela Mascarenas
angela@aifurnace.co

September 12, 2024 10:50 AM
EDT
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Push Cash Brings a New Era of Payments

Today, Push Cash is launching instant, guaranteed payments for merchants and fintech platforms. Founded by former product leaders at Plaid, the company uses a first of its kind multi-network processing approach to realize higher payment authorization rates at better economics. While in stealth, Push Cash secured multiple enterprise customers in online sports betting, and will soon be available in additional verticals.

U.S. payments are stuck in the 1900s: Debit and credit card processing is expensive and rife with chargebacks. In an effort to minimize card processing costs, there has been a recent push by fintechs toward “bank transfers” (read: ACH). However, given ACH’s batch processing and lack of risk signal, bank transfers are slow and can sometimes indirectly cost more than debit card processing. Fintech innovation to date has focused on improving ACH or credit card processing, as opposed to trying to make payments faster and safer for consumers and merchants.

Push Cash has taken a new approach to payment processing. Instead of trying to optimize the performance of debit card processing or ACH processing, it optimizes overall payment processing by routing transactions to the payment network best positioned to minimize risk and maximize performance. This approach reduces merchants' payment costs by eliminating chargebacks and increases merchants’ top line by approving more good transactions.  

Eric Morse and Andrew Coover met at Plaid, where Eric founded the money movement team, creating the ACH processor Transfer and the ML-based risk tool Signal. Andrew led the transfer product's development. Before Plaid, Eric held various leadership roles at Visa, including developing their card-on-file token product.

Morse describes, “With Push, we wanted to start from a clean sheet of paper—could we actually speed up payments while also reducing risk? What if we combined push-style payments and strong customer authentication with a multi-network processing strategy?” This insight led to Push Cash, designed to eliminate the trade-offs between cost, risk, and performance in today's processing systems.

In addition to its launch, Push Cash also announced $4M in seed funding, led by Foundation Capital with participation from angels of Affirm, Bleacher Report, PayPal, Uber, SeatGeek. The raise supports building product and hiring the engineering and operations team.

“The multi-network approach that Push Cash has pioneered is quite novel and really moves the needle on payment performance for merchants. Those are rare commodities in the payments space these days,” said Zach Noorani, partner at Foundation Capital.

About Push Cash

Push Cash is on a mission to reduce transaction risk and take a merchant’s payments costs close to zero. With Push Cash, you can’t push money you don’t have, you can’t push money from a closed account, and you have to authenticate to Push. Push Cash will make account-to-account transactions instant, safe, and simple for consumers and merchants. For more information, visit https://www.pushcash.com.

Media Contact

Sam Morse
eric@pushcash.com

September 12, 2024 8:32 AM
EDT
•
Santa Monica, CA

Botanic Tonics Responds to Bloomberg Documentary: Emphasizing Kratom Safety, Education, and Responsible Industry Practices

Botanic Tonics, maker of feel free, appreciates Bloomberg's examination of the complex issues surrounding kratom use and regulation in the U.S. As a company committed to consumer safety and transparency, we feel it is important to provide additional context on several key points:

1. Leaf kratom vs. extracts/synthetics: There is a critical distinction between natural leaf kratom, which has been safely used for centuries, and concentrated extracts or synthetic compounds. Our feel free CLASSIC product uses only natural leaf kratom, not potent extracts or isolates that pose greater risks.

2. Dangers of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH): We share concerns about highly concentrated 7OH products flooding the market. Our products do not artificially boost 7OH levels, which can only be accomplished through chemical manipulation or adulteration. We strongly oppose the sale of isolated 7OH products.

3. Need for regulation: We actively support and advocate for appropriate regulation of kratom products to ensure consumer safety. This includes backing initiatives like the Kratom Consumer Protection Act and supporting the FDA's clinical research efforts.

4. Consumer education: We have significantly expanded our consumer education efforts, including comprehensive information on our website about ingredients, potential risks, and responsible use guidelines.

5. Voluntary responsibility measures: We have implemented numerous voluntary measures to promote responsible use, including:

  • Enhanced product labeling with detailed ingredient information and clear warnings
  • Adding visible serving size indicators on bottles
  • Raising our minimum purchase age to 21+
  • Conducting clinical trials on our products to better understand their effects

6. Commitment to safety: All our products are manufactured in an FDA-registered, cGMP-certified facility with rigorous quality control and safety testing protocols. Not all kava and kratom are created equal. Botanic Tonics goes to extraordinary lengths to ensure the highest quality and safety standards for its customers:

  • cGMP certified: Our facility adheres to Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations enforced by the FDA. This certification ensures consistent quality in production processes and facilities.
  • Rigorous testing: Every batch undergoes comprehensive in-house testing in our ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab for purity, potency, and contaminants. 
  • Sustainable sourcing: We partner directly with farmers to ensure ethical and sustainable harvesting practices. 
  • Cutting-edge processing: Our state-of-the-art equipment preserves the natural properties of kava and kratom while eliminating impurities. 
  • Transparency: We provide a finished goods COA (Certificate of Analysis) that gives the specification results for bottles, lids, microbial, iron, heavy metals, pesticides and active materials.

We acknowledge that while our early marketing practices met or exceeded all requirements at the time, we now realize that those rules and best practices were not sufficient. As a result, we have taken the lead in guiding the industry towards more transparent and consumer-focused efforts to drive education and awareness.

We have worked diligently to improve transparency and prioritize consumer safety. While kratom has helped many people, we recognize it is not appropriate for everyone and can be habit-forming if misused.

We remain committed to ongoing research, education, and collaboration with regulators to ensure the safest possible market for kratom products.

Disclaimer: Consume responsibly. Adults 21 years of age and older only.

About Botanic Tonics

Botanic Tonics is a plant-based herbal supplement company headquartered in Broken Arrow, OK. Established in 2020, we produce kava-forward tonics under our feel free brand. Our signature product, feel free CLASSIC, is crafted with ancient functional plants to provide mood lift, energy, and focus. Botanic Tonics’ products are manufactured in an FDA-registered, cGMP-certified facility and actively supports consumer safety regulations through transparent labeling and educational resources. Learn more at https://botanictonics.com.

Media Contact

Botanic Tonics
media@botanictonics.com

September 11, 2024 12:12 PM
EDT
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NEW YORK, NY

Chalice Custom Algorithms Welcomes Michael Riley as New Head of Sales

Chalice Custom Algorithms, a leader in custom AI ad tech, is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Riley as the company's new EVP, Head of Sales.

Michael brings a wealth of experience from his successful career at Nativo Inc, where he started as an account director and rose to Head of Sales through 7 promotions over 9 years. Michael's tenure at Nativo played an instrumental role in driving Nativo’s growth through consultative selling and innovative market strategies.

As Chalice continues to expand its offerings, including AI Audiences and CurateAI, Michael will lead the sales team in driving new business and building deeper relationships with brand and agency partners. His background in adapting products to meet the needs of the ever-evolving advertising landscape aligns perfectly with Chalice's pivot from custom bidding algorithms to a suite of custom AI powered products.

Ali Manning, COO of Chalice Custom Algorithms, expressed her excitement about Mike’s arrival: "We are thrilled to have Mike joining to lead us through the next phase of growth at Chalice. Mike comes at a pivotal time as Chalice introduces new products that package our custom AI capabilities into seamless audience and curation solutions across CTV, programmatic, and social platforms. His expertise in consultative selling and custom products will enable Chalice to scale our new go-to-market quickly, while always keeping the customer first."

Michael added: "Advertising is at its best when there is a perfect balance of some of the most advanced tech and most creative humans. Adam, Ali, and Joe have found that perfect balance, all in the midst of one of the most transformative periods in AdTech. I am excited to lead sales and bring my prior experience adapting products to best fit brands and agencies' needs as they look for better effective reach and more transparency."

Mike’s addition to Chalice Custom Algorithms marks a significant step in the company’s journey toward shaping the future of AI-driven advertising.

About Chalice Custom Algorithms

Chalice Custom Algorithms is the leading custom AI software in advertising technology. Chalice AI’s products are configured to make advertising directly impact the business outcomes that matter to advertisers, using the most advanced applications of generative and predictive AI. To learn more, visit www.chalice.ai.

Media Contact

Marlie Baker
marlie@chalice.ai

September 11, 2024 8:55 AM
EDT
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ZÜRICH, Switzerland

New Open Systems Report Reveals 71% of Organizations to Increase IT Budgets in 2025

Open Systems, the leading provider of native, managed SASE solutions, today announced the results of its 2025 IT Infrastructure Report. According to the report, many U.S. organizations expect to spend more on networking and security in 2025, particularly on SASE-related expenses.

Open Systems commissioned Osterman Research to survey 200 IT leaders in the U.S. about their priorities, challenges, and budgets related to SASE and network transformation. The report’s findings highlighted a trend toward increased IT spending and a growing preference to outsource SASE management to a third party.

Key Findings

Organizations are moving toward SASE, despite the implementation barriers that many face such as infrastructure problems and lack of skilled staff. What’s more, many organizations are allocating extra budget to address these barriers. For example, nearly two-thirds of IT leaders who cited infrastructure problems as a barrier to SASE implementation reported that their IT budget will significantly increase in the next 12 months.

Managing SASE internally is more expensive. 43% of organizations currently managing SASE internally expect to significantly increase their budgets over the next 12 months. By comparison, only 31% of those managing SASE externally are planning a significant budget increase. Keeping up to date with new equipment and finding new staff members to manage the deployment often equates to a big price tag.

Organizations increasingly want to outsource SASE management to external providers. Seventy percent of organizations already rely on an external provider to manage their SASE deployment and that figure increases to 73% three years from now. Additionally, more than 70% of organizations managing SASE internally see complexity, limited budget, and a lack of expertise as their main challenges to SASE implementation.

“Despite challenging economic times, organizations see the value of investing in IT needs, especially networking and security,” said Stefan Keller, Chief Product Officer, Open Systems. “Our research shows that while many companies face challenges in implementing SASE, they are still moving forward with SASE adoption and are dedicating resources to ensure a successful implementation. It’s gratifying to see that many organizations understand the benefits of outsourcing SASE management to a third party like Open Systems.”

The report also explored what IT leaders look for in a SASE service or solution and respondents cited 24/7 customer support from experts, technical integrations, service agility, and having a single-vendor SASE solution as equally important factors. Interestingly, having a single-vendor SASE solution was less important to those who manage SASE internally than it is to those who outsource SASE management.

For further analysis of the survey findings and to download the full report, visit https://go.open-systems.com/LP-ITIndustrySurvey-US.html.

About Open Systems

Open Systems is a leading provider of native, managed SASE solutions that enable organizations to simply connect and secure hybrid environments to meet their business goals. Backed by our Service Experience Promise, Open Systems’ SASE Experience helps reduce risk, improve efficiency, and accelerate innovation with a comprehensive, easy-to-implement, and use combination of SD-WAN and Security Service Edge delivered as a service with a superior user experience. SASE Experience combines SD-WAN, firewall, SWG, CASB, and ZTNA into a framework that supports secure connectivity across cloud and hybrid environments and locations. It provides a comprehensive SASE solution through an easy-to-use customer portal, underpinned with a unified data platform to drive future innovation, all delivered as a 24×7 managed service.

To learn more about Open Systems, visit www.open-systems.com.

Media Contact

Mackenzie Kreitler
mkreitler@open-systems.com

September 11, 2024 7:05 AM
EDT
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LOS ANGELES, CA

Indonesia Regulates Kratom Exports to Increase Value and Prevent Abuse

The Indonesian government has officially recognized kratom as an export commodity and issued new regulations to control its exports. The regulations, Permendag No. 20/2024 and Permendag No. 21/2024,  outline the types and sizes of kratom that are prohibited and allowed for export.

According to the Director General of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Trade, Isy Karim, the new regulations aim to regulate the export standards of kratom to ensure the quality and safety of the product. This is in response to reports of Indonesian kratom being detained abroad due to quality issues.

The regulations prohibit the export of kratom leaves and coarse crumbs but allow the export of finely crumbled kratom in powder form. This ensures that the exported kratom meets the quality standards of the destination countries.

The government also hopes that by regulating the export of kratom, the price and added value of the commodity can be increased for Indonesia. The regulations require exporters to register for export permits and have their export allocations regulated in quantity.

"With the management of kratom export in Indonesia, the Indonesian government can offer the importing country the pre-export notification (PEN) mechanism. Through this PEN, importing countries can give import permits to importers to minimize the abuse of kratom," said Isy Karim.

Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition, noted the Indonesian government's move, stating, "Generally speaking, setting regulations in Indonesia seems to be a positive step towards ensuring the quality and safety of kratom exports. We are learning more and working to understanding the real world implications of these regulations to better understand the impact that this will have in the U.S."

The government's decision to regulate the export of kratom is not a ban on the domestic use of the commodity. The Ministry of Health, BRIN, and BPOM are still conducting research to determine the safe consumption of kratom in Indonesia.

About the Global Kratom Coalition

The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting and expanding access to kratom worldwide. The coalition focuses on advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations that protect consumers. For more information, please visit https://globalkratomcoalition.org.

Media Contact

Byron Johnson
bjohnson@globalkratomcoalition.org

September 10, 2024 8:30 AM
EDT
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SANTA CLARA, CA

LeanData Announces Winners of the 2024 OpsStars Awards

LeanData, the modern revenue orchestration platform for today’s growth leaders, and the OpsStars Community are excited to announce the winners of the 2024 OpsStars Awards. These prestigious awards celebrate the exceptional achievements of operations professionals who are leading the way in driving innovation and growth in their organizations. The OpsStars Awards recognize individuals and teams that have made significant contributions to the operations profession, helping to shape the future of the industry.

"We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of our finalists and winners," said Evan Liang, CEO and co-founder of LeanData. "Your remarkable achievements in operations continue to inspire and drive the evolution of our industry. Thank you for leading the way and setting new standards of excellence in operations."

The 2024 OpsStars Award Winners

Account-Based Program of the Year
  • Winner: Workiva
Digital Transformation Award
  • Winner: Juniper Networks
Lead Management Program Transformation of the Year (<1,000 employees)
  • Winner: Teikametrics
Lead Management Program Transformation of the Year (>1,000 employees)
  • Winner: BMC Software
Most Cutting-Edge Ops Program of the Year
  • Winner: MongoDB
Constellation Award
  • Winner: Sumo Logic
OpsStar of the Year
  • Winner: Kelly Goles, NVIDIA
The OpsStars Awards are part of the broader OpsStars Community, a vibrant network of professionals dedicated to advancing the operations field. These awards highlight the strategic role that operations professionals play in their organizations, from developing innovative account-based programs to driving digital transformation and lead management excellence.

The OpsStars Community continues to grow, bringing together thousands of sales, marketing, customer, and revenue operations leaders to share best practices, develop their careers, and build meaningful connections. The OpsStars Conference, held annually at the historic San Francisco Mint, provides a platform for this thriving community to come together and celebrate the successes of its members.

Join the OpsStars Community

Interested in learning more about the groundbreaking work of this year’s winners? Be sure to register for the OpsStars Conference and explore the full OpsStars agenda.

LeanData and the OpsStars Community encourage all operations professionals to engage with the community, learn from these inspiring leaders, and aspire to be future OpsStars Award winners.

About the OpsStars Awards

The OpsStars Awards celebrate individuals and teams whose groundbreaking innovations have propelled their organizations forward. Categories include Account-Based Program of the Year, Digital Transformation Award, Lead Management Program Transformation of the Year, Most Cutting-Edge Ops Program of the Year, The Constellation Award and OpsStar of the Year. These awards highlight the strategic role operations professionals play in driving revenue and the impact of their leadership within their organizations.

About LeanData

LeanData is the gold standard in Revenue Orchestration, empowering growth leaders to excel in the buyer-directed world of modern B2B selling. With a fully integrated solution, LeanData simplifies the coordination of plays, people and processes, transforming buyer signals into actionable decisions that drive revenue. For more information, visit LeanData.com.

Media Contact

Kimberly Peterson
kimberly.peterson@leandata.com

September 6, 2024 7:14 PM
EDT
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MIAMI, FL

Martin Karp Returns to the Ballot for Miami-Dade School Board This Fall

Martin Karp, an award-winning educator and lifelong advocate for Miami-Dade’s public schools, is officially back on the ballot for the fall election. As an experienced teacher, administrator, and former school board member, Karp is uniquely positioned to serve Miami-Dade’s students, parents, and educators, offering leadership that is rooted in firsthand experience and a deep commitment to academic excellence.

Karp’s extensive background in education makes him the best candidate for the Miami-Dade School Board. With years of classroom and administrative experience, he understands the complexities of the public school system and the importance of creating policies that truly benefit students. His award-winning track record as an educator sets him apart from other candidates and highlights his dedication to fostering success for all students.

"No one understands the needs of our schools better than someone who has worked directly with students, teachers, and families," said Martin Karp. "As an educator, I have seen what works and what needs improvement, and I am committed to ensuring that every student in Miami-Dade has access to the tools and resources they need to succeed."

Throughout his career, Karp has championed programs and initiatives that support student achievement, mental health, and teacher empowerment. His hands-on experience in education, combined with his deep understanding of the challenges facing today’s schools, makes him the ideal candidate to lead Miami-Dade’s public school system into the future.

"Education is the foundation of a strong community, and there’s no better way to support our future than by investing in our students today," said Karp. "I am running for the Miami-Dade School Board to ensure that every child has access to high-quality education and that our schools are equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow."

This fall, Miami-Dade voters have the opportunity to elect a proven leader and advocate for students. With his unwavering dedication to education and his commitment to building stronger, safer schools, Martin Karp is the clear choice for the Miami-Dade School Board.

About Martin Karp

Martin Karp is an award-winning educator and former Miami-Dade School Board member. With a long history of service in education, he has worked as a teacher and administrator, and has been a vocal advocate for policies that support academic excellence, student well-being, and teacher development. His candidacy for the Miami-Dade School Board is driven by his commitment to improving educational outcomes for all students.

Media Contact

Dr. Martin Karp
martinkarp@yahoo.com

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