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trooVRS Launches as the First Editorial Platform Built for the Metaverse at Cannes Lions 2022

Troo Media

Troo Media, the creators of media platforms for the metaverse, today launched trooVRS, the first fully virtual and immersive editorial platform designed for the metaverse dedicated to reimagining men’s editorial, at Cannes Lions. Through immersive, VR-powered environments, trooVRS will deliver high quality editorial content and experiences in written, video, and audio-based formats that will empower male audiences across generations, race, nationalities, sexual orientation, and more with the tools and practical knowledge to positively impact their well-being. The trooVRS platform is built around the concept of “solutions journalism”, which is focused on curating content designed to provide practical knowledge and offer solutions, and elevate the quality of life of readers. On the platform, this content will target the interests and needs of men from all backgrounds by focusing on core subject matter like relationships, work, physical and mental health. The launch of trooVRS coincides with Men’s Health Month to reinforce the company’s commitment to serve as a constant voice of awareness for men’s health and encourage positive living choices. trooVRS will recruit writers and content creators from across the globe that represent a diverse set of ethnicities, nationalities, and perspectives in order to deliver a comprehensive experience for men of all backgrounds. This immersive editorial content is delivered through high-quality pixel streaming 3D “virtual worlds” which offer readers a safe space to discuss topics and build communities. The first virtual world, a remote, Scandinavian-inspired home built directly into a mountainside, is accessible today for brands and agencies to begin ideating customized experiences and activations on the platform. In addition to its core editorial offerings, trooVRS will also deliver curated NFT offerings across its environments with male audiences that support the editorial’s initiative of fostering self-care and community. trooVRS was conceptualized by Adrian Whant, a digital media and advertising veteran who has held leadership positions at companies like NBCUniversal, Univision, ABS-CBN, and digital startups, and Lisa Cavalli, the creator of influential digital Latina-focused publications HipLatina and BELatina. The two saw an opportunity to revitalize the stagnant men’s editorial space by capitalizing on the rapid expansion of metaverse-based solutions and the need for more modern and nuanced content that breaks down the dated stereotypes of masculinity. “While new media companies are emerging to connect with an increasingly diverse spectrum of audiences, we have seen very little in terms of platforms that reflect the modern values and ideals of men, which now cover a vast range of identities, interests and aspirations. The metaverse presents us with an opportunity to deliver content in a more immersive, intimate and effective environment, and its inherent decentralization will allow for the amplification of and participation from audiences that have been historically shut out in traditional media formats. With this in mind, we’re excited to introduce trooVRS as the new way for men to validate their own experiences and focus on self-improvement,” says Adrian Whant, Founder and CEO of Troo Media. The trooVRS platform also offers brands the opportunity to deliver highly curated and branded metaverse experiences to connect more deeply with male audiences. The virtual worlds are purpose-built with several environments where brands can hold activations such as presentations, tutorials and demos in relevant environments such as stages, kitchens, gyms, showrooms and more. They will also be able to offer exclusive real and virtual goods and services, including NFTs powered by blockchain technology. trooVRS is already in advanced discussions with leading brands to conceptualize initial activations on the platform. “It has been my long held belief, through direct experience, that culturally hyper-relevant content is the future of publishing success, for both media companies and brands. With trooVRS, our goal is to take the concept of solutions-driven journalism and disseminate it through new and exciting ways to create more enriching and fulfilling experiences and pave the way forward in the metaverse-driven era,” says Lisa Cavalli, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Troo Media. The virtual worlds on the trooVRS platform are designed by SPINE, an award-winning interactive media and 3D visualization studio. In collaboration with the trooVRS team, SPINE focused on constructing highly detailed, photo-realistic environments that set the platform apart from the standard gamified experiences with most current metaverse solutions. “I’m very excited to be working with Troo Media to bring their vision to life and to be building something that is both meaningful and forward-thinking. trooVRS is headed in the direction of where I see digital media evolving towards and I’m looking forward to pushing the platform to its highest potential,” says Kevin Smith, Founder and CEO of SPINE. trooVRS launches at Cannes with one virtual world already live and with an additional 5 nearing completion. The company is focused on building out its editorial roster, activating brands on the platform and continuing to build out the technology infrastructure. Troo Media will also be focused on building strategic partnerships in the coming months to bolster the growth and development of the platform. To learn more about trooVRS, please visit: https://troovrs.io/. About Troo Media Founded in 2022, TrooMedia is a purpose-built platform that serves as the foundation for trooVRS, an immersive media platform for users to engage with non-stereotypical men's lifestyle content across virtual editorial environments, shared experiences and worlds. TrooMedia was born out of the desire to create solution-driven storytelling that provides practical knowledge to readers, elevates the voices of global creators, and, most importantly, builds content that positively impacts people's lives. TrooMedia, with its partner SPINE 3D, builds virtual worlds in the metaverse designed to deliver cutting edge immersive and collaborative possibilities that deliver highly curated experiences between brands and consumers. The company is led by media, technology, and publishing leaders and is a proud minority, LGBTQ+, and women-owned digital media company. Contact Details North 6th Agency for Troo Media Kevin Pryor +1 212-334-9753 kpryor@n6a.com Company Website https://troovrs.io/

June 20, 2022 09:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Summer Dating Tips from an Expert

YourUpdateTV

According to a recent survey conducted by Bumble, more than one-third of respondents in the U.S. say they are more open to exploring a relationship with someone who lives in another city. Recently, Sex & Relationships Expert at Bumble, Shan Boodram, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss her top tips for finding a date this summer and advice on optimizing your dating profile. A video accompanying this announcement is available here: https://youtu.be/T7jBcsH4Mbs Travel is expected to be at an all-time high with vacations and weddings in full swing, which means the perfect opportunity for a summer romance in a new city or country. Dating apps like Bumble, the women-first dating and social networking app, can help you find new people you may be interested in – or at the very least, help you meet some new friends. “We’re excited to see all of the connections that will be made this summer, both abroad and at home, especially as we’re seeing a natural progression and eagerness for folks to meet in person again,” said Shan Boodram, Bumble’s Sex and Relationships Expert. “Though dating while traveling can just be a fun summer fling, we also found in a recent survey that more than one-third of respondents in the U.S. say they are more open to exploring a relationship with someone who lives in another city, so we encourage you to get out there, no matter where you may be!” Here are tips on dating while traveling, just in time for a summer of fun – and maybe even love. Plan ahead and save time: If you want to make the most out of your dating experience, lean into dating app features that may help you get a sneak preview of who you can connect with - before your trip. For example, Bumble offers a Travel Mode, which allows you to change your location to a new city so you can look for local connections before your arrival. Be open-minded: Just like you might be more open to trying a new food or activity when on vacation, apply that same attitude to meeting new people while abroad. If you meet someone who isn’t necessarily your type, don’t immediately dismiss them. Try to have an exploratory mindset and be willing to meet someone different. Update your bio: Every time you travel to a new city or country, updating your dating app bio can be a helpful way to attract the people and experiences you’re seeking. This can include the languages you speak, how long you’ll be in town, and even asking a question about the best local spot in the city. Ending on a question or an itinerary point on your travel list makes for easy conversation starters. Remember that you can change your radius to see people who are between 1-50 miles from you, too! Hop on a video call before meeting: Many online dating platforms provide secure and safe ways for people to connect. In turn, singles everywhere are getting creative, figuring out how to learn more about each other before meeting. On Bumble, you can make voice and video calls directly in the app, so you can speak to your date without sharing any personal information, like a phone number or email address. This can also help check if your new match is someone you want to spend time with on your vacation. Schedule a date as soon as possible: The time it takes to slowly build a connection is a luxury you don’t always have when traveling. Once you connect with someone you’re interested in and feel comfortable and confident with meeting them in person, don’t be shy about suggesting the first date or respectfully following up on a conversation. Also, don't be afraid to invite this person into your existing plans! People love to delight in their own city and you'd also be surprised at how many people haven't been tourists in their own town. Take charge when choosing the location: Being in charge of choosing your date location is a simple but effective way to feel safe when dating abroad. Ensure that your first date spot is somewhere in an open and public space, and suggest a daytime date for a first meeting, or if you're traveling with friends, invite them to join the group and bring friends too! Before going out and meeting someone new, let a trusted contact know where you're going, such as your rental home host, the hotel concierge, or a friend, and set time to text or check in with them every so often. If you’re on the date and feel like it’s not for you, pre-plan a natural exit strategy for yourself because if you feel uneasy at any point, it’s important that you trust your gut and put yourself first. Always feel like you can enlist the help of a bartender or server if needed and ensure that you’re familiar with local emergency contact numbers, too. For more data-driven tips, expert advice, and resources to help guide your dating journey this summer, visit bumble.com/the-buzz. The app is free and available worldwide within the App Store and Google Play. About Shan Boodram, Bumble's Sex & Relationships Expert: Shan Boodram is a certified sex educator and intimacy expert. Boodram is host of the top podcast, "Lovers and Friends," the best-selling author of “The Game of Desire,” resident expert on Netflix's “Too Hot to Handle,” and currently stars in Peacock’s new show “Ex-Rated with Andy Cohen". She is an ambassador for AIDS Healthcare Foundation and WomensHealth.gov, and a member of the American Sexual Health Association. About Bumble: Bumble, the women-first dating and social networking app, was founded by CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd in 2014. Bumble connects people across dating (Bumble Date), friendship (Bumble BFF) and professional networking (Bumble Bizz). No matter the type of relationship, women make the first move on Bumble. Bumble is built on the importance of equitable relationships and how crucial they are to a healthy, happy life. They've built their platform around kindness, respect, and equality – and their community plays an important part in that. Bumble holds its users accountable for their actions and has zero tolerance for hate, aggression, or bullying. Bumble is free and available worldwide in the App Store and Google Play. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 17, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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No. 1? What Is Making This Grocery Delivery App A Preferred Choice In Southeast Asia?

Society Pass Incorporated

Society Pass (NASDAQ: SOPA) E-commerce, made possible by the internet, is still booming. Businesses like Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY), and Shopify Inc. (NYSE: SHOP) are soaring, with more people ordering products online than buying them in stores. While most businesses nose-dived during the COVID-19 pandemic, movement restrictions induced by the pandemic fueled online retail sales. Online sales grew from 16% to 19% in 2020, with Southeast Asian countries significantly contributing to the growth, according to numbers in a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report. Southeast Asia, which includes countries like Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, is home to more than 681 million people — 47% of whom prefer online shopping, with about 144 million people regularly purchasing online. E-Grocery Boom Consumers can shop online from anywhere and choose from a wide array of products such as groceries to be delivered directly to them. Online grocery, or e-grocery, shopping has also been gaining momentum for some time. The e-grocery market is quickly expanding throughout the world, with players like Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE: UBER), Instacart, Amazon Fresh and Fresh Direct serving customers in North America and Europe. Southeast Asia is also seeing significant growth in the e-grocery market. A breakdown of the market by IGD Asia indicated: Asia, the largest regional grocery market in the world, is expected to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% between 2018 and 2023. The grocery market will be worth $4.2 trillion by 2023, up from $3.1 trillion in 2018. Its share of global grocery spending will be 37% in 2023, adding around $1.1 trillion to the worldwide grocery market. China, India and Indonesia will be the biggest contributors to the region’s top-line growth, accounting for 74% of new sales added by 2023. A Convenient Grocery Delivery App? That level of growth could be a boon for a company like Pushkart.ph, an online grocery service started in 2017 that delivers fresh goods to consumers who use its feature-packed app. Pushkart’s platform was developed by a group of young Filipino millennials whose goal was to ensure fast, convenient and safe grocery delivery to customers’ doors. From Day One, Pushkart.ph — available on the web, Google Play Store and the Apple Store — said that in addition to serving consumers, it wants to be the platform of choice for retailers and help them sell their products quickly without learning the technicalities of running a digital platform or managing a logistics fleet. From a single flagship fulfillment center at Fisher Supermarket, which has been operating since 2017, the platform is now supported by three additional hubs: Market! Market!, Ayala Malls Feliz, and AllDay Supermarket — Global South. What Makes Pushkart.ph Say It’s Confident It Stands Out From The Rest? Consumers — The company wants to bring value to consumers by allowing them to shop for their basic needs anytime from anywhere they want while sparing them from heavy city traffic or the hassle of carrying heavy bags of groceries. Companies — The company wants to make it easy for corporate clients to purchase every office pantry supply they need from a single source and with the convenience of having flexible payment schemes. Merchants — The company plans to empower retailers to reach the online market by giving them the means to easily transform their shops to include digital sales. Society — The company wants to bring more jobs through online commerce. Pushkart.ph is a division of the Society Pass Inc. ( NASDAQ: SOPA ), a Southeast Asian acquisitions-focused e-commerce holding company. Currently operating six subsidiaries, SoPa plans to expand to more than 10 more subsidiaries in eight verticals — loyalty, merchant software, lifestyle, food and beverage delivery, travel, digital advertising and telecoms — by the end of 2022. Since its inception in 2018, SoPa has amassed over 1.6 million registered consumers and over 5,500 registered merchants and brands on its platform. Apart from Pushkart.ph, SoPa provides merchants with #HOTTAB Biz, lifestyle e-commerce through Leflair.com and Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Hanoi, Vietnam. In addition, SoPa operates Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, blockchain/web3-enabled mobile virtual network operator. About Society Pass (NASDAQ: SOPA ) As a loyalty and data marketing ecosystem, Society Pass operates multiple e-commerce platforms across its key markets in SEA. Its business model focuses on analysing user data through the expected launch of its Society Pass loyalty platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points, which seamlessly connects consumers and merchants across multiple product and service categories to foster organic loyalty. Since its inception, SoPa has amassed over 1.6 million registered consumers and over 5,500 registered merchants/brands on its platform. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture with cutting edge components to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.Society Pass provides merchants with #HOTTAB Biz and #HOTTAB POS – a specialized POS technology solution, a comprehensive system for payment, loyal customer management, user profile analytics, and convenient financial support packages for small and medium-sized enterprises.In addition, SoPa operates Leflair.com, Vietnam’s leading lifestyle e-commerce platform, Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines, and Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Hanoi, Vietnam. For more information, please check out: http://thesocietypass.com/. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga.com Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website https://thesocietypass.com

June 17, 2022 08:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

COLOR FACTORY CHICAGO IMMERSES GUESTS IN A SPECTRUM OF COLOR

Color Factory

The highly-anticipated, third permanent museum from Color Factory officially opened today in Chicago. The beloved destination immerses Chicagoans in art and color with experiences that engage all the senses, including 15 new installations and exciting artist partnerships across over 25,000 square feet. Color Factory wants its visitors to experience artful wonder and to bring the joy and inhibition that they experience at the museum back into their everyday lives. With successful locations in New York and Houston, the Chicago museum invites guests to embrace play and discovery and to engage their senses in unexpected ways. Above all, Color Factory seeks to make the joy of art and color accessible to more people. "We love Chicago and are thrilled to be opening our biggest museum to date in the heart of the city. We’re excited to share and celebrate the diversity, culture, and traditions of Chicago through these dynamic installations created in partnership with amazing artists. We can’t wait for guests to see, taste, touch, hear, and smell color in a whole new way!” said Tina Malhotra, CEO of Color Factory. Partnering with both local and internationally-known artists and creatives, the new Color Factory was designed specifically for Chicago and takes guests on a unique, dynamic, and colorful journey. Local artists Edra Soto and Akilah Townsend worked with Color Factory to develop an interactive Chicago color palette; international artist Camille Walala has created an expansive maze inspired by the city’s architecture, while Yuri Suzuki ’s experience plays with the connection between what we see and what we hear. Additionally, Color Factory is partnering with local institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art and Willis Tower, nonprofits like SocialWorks and 826CHI, as well as small businesses like Kurimu and Bon Femme both on-site at Color Factory and across the city. As the largest exhibition space in the company’s history bringing together an impressive roster of artists and custom installations, Color Factory Chicago is expected to be one of the city’s top destinations in 2022 - one that should not be missed. Color Factory Chicago will be open Tuesday - Sunday from 9am-8pm. Tickets are available for purchase for $38 for General Admission, and $28 for Children (3-12). To purchase visit: https://colorfactory.co/chicago/. Additional information on Color Factory can be found online at: https://colorfactory.co. ABOUT COLOR FACTORY Color Factory is an interactive art museum that invites visitors to experience the joy of color through multi-sensory installations, immersive rooms, and carefully curated moments. In each of our locations, Color Factory collaborates with artists, art institutions, nonprofits, and brand partners to bring more art and color to the world. At the core of Color Factory's mission and work are our partner artists. These creatives, designers, and makers tell their unique stories through site-specific exhibits created just for Color Factory. Our experiences are thoughtfully designed to awaken natural curiosity and encourage uninhibited play. Every hue is hand-selected and paired with a sensory experience to unleash the full power and impact of color. Inspired by the cities that we call home, we create custom palettes for each of our locations and work to identify local charities and businesses to support and give back to the community. Since our 2017 launch with a temporary space in San Francisco, Color Factory has grown into a series of permanent locations in New York and Houston, with a new flagship location in Chicago this year. To learn more, visit www.colorfactory.co. ABOUT WILLIS TOWER Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Willis Tower is an iconic urban destination and state-of-the art, human-centered workplace. Standing 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall, Willis Tower is one of the world's tallest buildings, offering the region's most breathtaking views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. The 103rd-floor Skydeck attracts more than 1.7 million visitors annually. The Tower recently underwent a $500 million restorative street-to-sky transformation that included the addition of Catalog, a 300,000 square-feet curated dining, entertainment and community experience, as well as a 30,000 square-foot outdoor terrace and 150,000 square feet of tenant amenity spaces. Willis Tower is the largest building in the country to have achieved LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. For more information, visit WillisTower.com or connect on Facebook or Instagram. Contact Details Jalila Singerff | Senior Account Manager I jalila@jiveprdigital.com | 613.614.6777 +1 613-614-6777 jalila@jiveprdigital.com Company Website http://colorfactory.co/

June 17, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

BUCK Announces Successful Merge With VTProDesign

BUCK

BUCK (" BUCK " or the " Company "), a global creative company that brings brands, stories, and experiences to life through art, design, and technology, today announced it will be joining forces with VTProDesign (“ VTProDesign ”), the LA-based interactive design studio. The move is the first-of-its-kind network expansion for BUCK and an organic next step for both companies as they continue to create innovative experiences for their clients including Meta, Nike, Microsoft, Google, Airbnb, and Netflix, to name a few. While both companies stand to benefit from integration at the operational level, the driving force for the merger is attracting, retaining, and growing world-class talent. As the creative services industry continues to evolve, BUCK and VTProDesign are staking their success on how they work—not just what they create —putting sustainable creative culture and a commitment to craft front and center. Jeff Ellermeyer, Co-Founder and CEO of BUCK stated, “Our goal is really quite simple: to deliver incredible work by incredible people while fostering a strong culture. BUCK and VTProDesign is a partnership of exactly that. BUCK’s superpowers intersect design and technology, while VTProDesign has advanced their storytelling to experiences that blur the line between digital and physical. The partnership allows us to expand and grow with a network of like-minded talent and entrepreneurs across diverse offerings, regions and clients. We couldn’t think of a better group of masterminds than VTProDesign to join the BUCK family.” With digital revenue growth in the advertising industry 28%, the demand for immersive experiential marketing is also on the rise. 81% of both B2B and B2C marketers are currently planning in-person events, with or without a virtual component. BUCK’s merger with VTProDesign will boost the company’s talent pool in this crucial area, folding in expertise in physical experiences, interactive technologies, and bespoke tools to solve never-before-seen problems. “VTProDesign has always been about growth and advancements in innovation, reflecting our values and evolution as creators. BUCK is a natural fit for us, as we continue to grow our footprint, partnering with best-in-class creatives that are committed to craft, culture and people. The merge will ultimately result in tremendous growth for VTProDesign, unparalleled opportunity for our employees, and a really impressive mix of creatives all at one table. It’s a 5+5=11 situation, and we can’t wait to see what kind of groundbreaking work we come up with together,” said Vartan Tchekmedyian, CEO of VTProDesign. VTProDesign is no stranger to creating full 360 experiences regardless of medium, connecting people to brands, products and innovation through crafted experiences, using technology as a tool. The group names Netflix, Google, Ray-Ban, and Heineken as part of their client roster. Highlights of The Merge The network expansion is accretive to BUCK and VTProDesign, establishing a unique creative talent pool and positioning them for scaled business growth. BUCK Brand Leadership: The BUCK team has the track record and abilities to quickly amass a significant presence in the design, tech, and digital creative markets, along with the necessary expertise to integrate and incorporate new creatives across a diverse group of verticals and platforms. VTProDesign Brand Leadership: BUCK will be positioned with a best-in-class creative team, along with a management team composed of highly successful and experienced professionals across design, creative technology, and integrated production across four offices in Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, and Amsterdam. Focused Creative Market: BUCK believes it to be best suited for a network expansion as an influential and established creative company with eight straight years of high double-digit revenue growth. For 2022, BUCK will be managing in excess of 600 headcount globally with physical presences in LA, NY, Sydney, and Amsterdam. The 2022 forecast equates to 100% growth in trailing three years—all while managing the pandemic period. Merging in VTProDesign equates to an additional 50% of the 2021 hired headcount servicing a diversified client offering. VTProDesign, also a high growth company, is forecasted to add an additional 20% EBITDA to BUCK’s financials and double-digit revenue growth. BUCK entered an exclusive letter of intent with VTProDesign, officially closing on June 6th,, 2022 pursuant to which the two have merged. VTProDesign will retain its identity, and Vartan Tchekmedyian and Michael Fullman will both retain their positions at VTProDesign. Management Team Jeff Ellermeyer, Founder, and CEO of BUCK Jeff Ellermeyer has worked for nearly three decades at the intersection of technology and design, culminating in his current role as Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BUCK. In 1996, Jeff founded Fullerene, a pioneering creative services company that worked with early web and music clients. In the early 2000s, when Jeff discovered motion design, he recognized it as the future of experience. He founded BUCK in 2003 on this belief and folded in Ryan Honey and Orion Tait as partners. Drawing on his education in Computer Science and Film, Jeff’s enthusiasm for innovation and culture-shifting creativity has guided him throughout his time at BUCK. His passion is to foster a scalable, sustainable creative culture that attracts, retains, and grows the world’s best talent. Ryan Honey, Founder, Co-Chief Creative Officer of BUCK With over two decades of experience building and leading teams through ground-breaking design and content production, Ryan Honey is Co-Founder and Co-Chief Creative Officer of BUCK. Starting in 1999 at the dawn of the broadband content revolution, Ryan served as Creative Director for Heavy.com, where he and his teams pushed the boundaries of what was possible within the browser. His experience in live-action and animation combined with his background in design led him to build an early motion graphics division heavily focused on commercial production and network packaging. In 2003, Ryan left Heavy and moved to Los Angeles, where he subsequently co-founded BUCK alongside Jeff Ellermeyer and Orion Tait. Since then Ryan has led numerous projects with world-famous clients such as Google, Apple, Meta, Coca-Cola, Nike, McDonald’s, Toyota, and Honda, earning numerous awards, including an Emmy, multiple gold Cannes Lions, Clios, and over 150 additional awards from the most prestigious industry competitions in the world. Today, he continues to innovate, developing new capabilities at BUCK while fostering global growth. Wade Milne, Chief Financial Officer of BUCK Wade Milne brings over 20 years of finance and global capital market experience to his role as the Chief Financial Officer for BUCK. Graduating with a degree in accounting, Wade began his career in small business tax advising before working across multiple creative service brands, including the APAC region at parent holding company, IPG, where he successfully earned his CPA. After moving his base to the US market, Wade spent 5 years reshaping R/GA’s finance department on behalf of new leadership, partnering with the industry's best in retooling offerings and opening new locations. Following this, Wade spent time with Private Equity, strengthening his capital market muscle whilst strategically managing business operations for marketing and sales to global capital markets, before finding his long-term home at BUCK. Since joining BUCK in early 2020, Wade has successfully built its finance, FP&A, accounting function, has overseen its first external audit, led the debt raise, and has become a critical factor to BUCK’s M&A division and strategy. Vartan Tchekmedyian CEO of VTProDesign Vartan Tchekmedyian has been VTProDesign’s Chief Executive Officer since its inception, leading a team of artists, designers, and producers by providing high-level business strategy across all projects that run through the interactive L.A. design studio. Following his graduation from USC in 2010 - where he offered turnkey event production for both campus and corporate events - he founded VTProDesign as a team of one, with a simple goal of engaging with audiences through innovative mediums. Over the course of several years, Vartan successfully grew a small team focused on conceptualizing digital campaigns, expanding to the creation of full 360 experiences. Regardless of medium, Vartan’s vision is to connect people to brands, products and innovation through crafted experiences, using technology as a tool. Since then, the group has worked with household names such as Netflix, Google, Ray-Ban, and Heineken, building an honorable client roster. Michael Fullman, Chief Creative Officer of VTProDesign Michael is Chief Creative Officer at VTProDesign. He’s been progressing VT’s vision for 10 years, overseeing and pushing its creative growth and developing the organization to be a leader in interactive innovation. Michael graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a BA degree in theater and started working in music touring design shortly after. After joining VTPro, Michael dove into a combination of different projects, ranging from touring design for some wild acts to experiential designs for brands like Google. Michael has a deep understanding of design and production and has collaborated with countless brands and artists to bring their most complicated and technologically challenging ideas to life. About BUCK With offices in New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, and Amsterdam, BUCK is a global creative company pushing boundaries of art, design, technology, and digital experiences. Founded in 2004, the company has built a reputation for outstanding craftsmanship and innovation by finding creative opportunities in every challenge. BUCK has successfully created one-of-a-kind experiences for top clients across the cultural and technology spheres, including Meta, Nike, Google, Twitter, Airbnb, and Netflix, to name a few. Recognized as an industry leader within design and technology, BUCK’s awards include an Emmy, multiple gold Cannes Lions, Clios, pencils, cubes, and over 150 additional accolades from the most prestigious competitions in the world. Instagram: @buck_design Twitter: @buck_tv Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/buck About VTProDesign Building unique worlds to help brands connect audiences to radical experiences, VTProDesign is here to evoke emotion and create interactive journeys others are simply too scared to take on. The immersive design company leads with an innovative yet authentic foot forward, curating a team of trailblazers that push the boundaries on how an audience connects with an experience. Taking the immersive storytelling industry by storm, VTProDesign successfully merges art, design, and interactive visual & audio installations into one powerhouse, creating one-of-a-kind experiences. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vtprodesign/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vtprodesign References: AdAge: Agency Report 2022 Revenue Growth, 2022 Agency EA: The 2022 State of Experiential Research Study Findings, 2022 For investor inquiries, please contact: Wade Milne, Chief Financial Officer, wade@buck.co Contact Details Jive PR + Digital Jalila Singerff +1 613-614-6777 jalila@jiveprdigital.com Company Website https://buck.co/

June 16, 2022 09:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Logitix Expands Performing Arts Division to Help Theaters and Arts Events Optimize Ticket Sales

Logitix

Logitix, the leader in live event ticketing technology and analytics, announced they are expanding their performing arts division to help theaters optimize pricing, distribution, and inventory management of tickets. As part of their growth in performing arts, Logitix named longtime industry executive Jack Rubin as their strategic advisor. As the Co-Founder and former CEO of Tessitura Network, Rubin is one of the preeminent leaders in enterprise CRM, ticketing, marketing, fundraising, and analytics for theaters, arts centers, operas, festivals, dance companies, and orchestras. “Jack is an absolute icon in our industry and will be an essential part of our continued growth in the performing arts,” said Logitix President Greg Nortman. “As the most trusted solution for optimizing ticket sales, we look forward to helping even more live events within the performing arts industry.” Logitix optimizes ticket sale outcomes for all of its partners through proprietary dynamic pricing and ticket sales distribution through multiple channels. Its unique platform analyzes millions of real-time data points, providing up-to-the-minute insights within the live event marketplace. “I recognize that Logitix has the technology, data, and analytics expertise tied to sales distribution channels that can produce considerable revenue for the performing arts sector,” said Rubin “What they bring are new sales channels for these organizations. They are clearly building something special in the world of ticketing and I’m thrilled to be part of the journey.” Rubin was Co-Founder and CEO of Tessitura Network from the company's inception in 2001 until he stepped down during a long-planned transition in 2021. He guided the company from an initial two-person organization with two license holders, to over 725 organizations in ten countries using Tessitura. Rubin’s prior experience includes the position of Chief Financial and Strategic Officer of Hotels.com, where he assisted in a successful IPO for the company in 2000. Jack has an M.B.A. from the Wharton Graduate School and a B.B.A from the University of Texas. About Logitix Logitix is the preeminent monetization engine and ticketing platform for the live event industry, combining optimized pricing, distribution, and inventory management with real-time insights to help sellers and buyers respond to a rapidly changing market environment. The Logitix vision is to automate the entire ticket life cycle and provide data-driven insights to serve the diverse needs of its clients. The company is backed by ZMC and is privately held. For more information about Logitix, visit Logitix.com or find them on LinkedIn. Contact Details Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://logitix.com/

June 15, 2022 08:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Fimi Market Inc. Launches First-Ever NFT Marketplace for Women, Black Diaspora, Other Underrepresented Artists

Fimi Market Inc.

Fimi Market Inc., a technology company with a purpose to help people worldwide live and thrive through web3 experiences, has launched the Fimi NFT Marketplace, the only NFT art marketplace specifically designed to help women, people of color, Black diaspora artists and collectors sell and buy art while building lasting, successful creative careers and art collections. Artists and collectors can start minting, buying and selling today by visiting https://fimi.market, establishing an account, and either connecting their crypto wallet or opening a new one if needed. Fimi NFT Marketplace delivers art experiences through a thoughtful, multicultural, and human approach to technology, NFTs, and the metaverse – something notably absent in the current global NFT art arena, which has taken a precipitous drop in value in recent months. At the end of 2021, only 16% of NFT artists were women, and even fewer are artists of color ( source: ArtTactic ). “We’ve seen the true potential for web3 technology, despite the recent drop in crypto values, to help artists create and sell their work,” said Miguel Adwin, founder and CEO, Fimi Market. “An opportunity is now emerging for an NFT marketplace that is more widely accessible for those artists who have been traditionally marginalized by both technology and the traditional art world. Fimi is Jamaican for ‘for me,’ and Fimi NFT Marketplace is for them: for women artists, artists of color, Black diaspora artists and those from other underrepresented groups to engage the rapidly-growing NFT art market in ways that are representative, meaningful, and build lasting, financially-successful creative livelihoods.” “Sounds of Blackness is proud to celebrate Juneteenth as an Afro-centric holiday in America,” said Gary Hines, founder & music director of the three-time Grammy Award-winning and two-time NAACP Image Award nominee Sounds of Blackness. “We are offering a special limited-edition and exclusive NFT package of our new single, ‘Juneteenth Celebration.’* Sounds of Blackness recognizes that the metaverse can pave the way for entrepreneurism and economic freedom for historically underserved populations of people." Fimi NFT Marketplace is a multi-blockchain platform that accepts a wide range of crypto currencies. It will initially accept XLM, ETH, and MATIC cryptocurrencies, as well as the FIMI utility token, built on the Stellar Network. The FIMI Utility token provides benefits such as network-free transactions to mint, sell or buy on Stellar for holders of $100 or more in FIMI, reduced fees when sellers choose to receive payment in FIMI, as well as soon to be released perks such as early access to exclusive NFT drops and voting privileges for featured content. The FIMI utility token is available on the Stellar Decentralized Exchange (SDEX) and Bitmart Exchanges. The cost to mint an NFT on Stellar - the transaction fee also known as a “gas” fee - is less than $1 USD. Stellar also has minimal environmental impact for crypto currency: it uses just 0.00022 kilowatt-hours per transaction, compared to Ethereum (ETH) and Bitcoin, which use 238.22 and 1,575 kilowatt-hours, respectively, per transaction ( source: Statista ). Use of Fimi NFT Marketplace has a fee of 2.25% on each transaction, with a 20% refund if artists choose to get paid in FIMI tokens. (Other NFT marketplaces, like OpenSea and Foundation, can charge between 2.5% and 5% fee on their transactions.) Plus, artists will have the option to defer NFT minting costs until the time of its sale. The Genesis Artists - the first artists to mint on Fimi NFT Marketplace - are discovering a simple, user-friendly art minting experience. These artists include: Miriam Andolini Black Mamuu Nettie Bella Steve Brooks Ron Brown - mint by June 20 Chameleon Arts DroidINX GeekMom Sean Garrison Infinite Villains Kate Iverson Caitlin Karolczak - mint by June 20 Kwame Chris Malachi Mrs. Metal Rashad502 - mint by June 20 Sounds of Blackness - mint by June 20 Precious Wallace Combined with its focus on artists from underrepresented groups, Fimi NFT Marketplace truly puts artists and collectors first: they have the flexibility to mint NFTs on their preferred blockchain, defer minting costs until the time of sale, use multiple cryptocurrencies for buying or selling an NFT, and pay minimal transaction fees. In total, a transaction on Fimi NFT Marketplace means greater accessibility for artists and collectors, with minimized carbon impact and among the lowest transaction fees found in any NFT marketplace. “Minting is super easy and fast,” said Mrs. Metal, a Genesis Artist. “I really enjoyed how it took me step-by-step; even someone not so tech-friendly could use it without feeling like they are going to mess up.” “I honestly like the various minting options,” said Kwame, a Genesis Artist. “It adds a dynamic user experience and allows for a better artist-curated experience on a marketplace. I can tell this was well-thought out.” “It’s important for people from all backgrounds, regions and continents to see themselves in the metaverse as it takes shape,” Adwin said. “Starting with Fimi NFT Marketplace, we aim to help artists from underrepresented groups embrace the metaverse, connect with other artists and collectors to build community, and to help them financially grow so they can focus on what they do best: creating incredible works of art. No matter where you live or how you create or collect art, our goal is for you to see yourself and visualize your own success through Fimi NFT Marketplace - for you to say, ‘Fimi is for me.’” Artists are invited to visit https://fimi.market, create an account and upload their work - either a single NFT or an entire collection. *“Juneteenth Celebration” is produced and recorded by Karl Demer, Atomic K Studios; Rock the Cause Records is distributed by The Orchard. About Fimi Market Inc. Fimi is Jamaican – “for me” – and it’s for you. We strive to help people and communities, anywhere in the world, build financially-successful livelihoods through the potential of technology and the metaverse, in truly multicultural, representative, inclusive and supportive ways. Learn more at https://fimi.market. Contact Details Alice Riot for Fimi Market Inc. Dawn Bryant +1 612-859-6941 dawn.m.bryant@gmail.com Kelly Groehler +1 612-669-8602 kelly@aliceriot.com Company Website https://nft.fimi.market/

June 14, 2022 11:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Long-Time Indianapolis Fruit Leader Stepping Back

FreshEdge

Indianapolis Fruit, a member of the FreshEdge family of produce and specialty food companies shares that, effective July 4, 2022, John Cunningham will transition from COO of Indianapolis Fruit to Distribution and Retail Advisor. He will focus on deepening customer relationships, mentoring and developing the evolving executive team, and advising on strategic initiatives. “We’re excited for John to continue positively impacting our team and our customers’ business. He has a tremendous track record of elevating performance,” said Daniel Corsaro, President of Indianapolis Fruit Company. “John has been a great member of our family and has been critical to our growth and development! We are very grateful for everything he has done and look forward to the insight and great things that he will accomplish with our evolving leaders,” said Greg Corsaro, President and COO of FreshEdge, LLC, the parent company of Indianapolis Fruit. “I’m excited to announce that after 40 plus years in the produce industry and 19 with Indianapolis Fruit and the FreshEdge Team, I’ve decided to step back. I’m looking forward to enjoying my personal and professional life at a different pace. I’m eager to continue to work with Daniel Corsaro and our team to enhance our retail merchandising and education programs,” said John Cunningham, Indianapolis Fruit Company. Indianapolis Fruit will continue to be led by Daniel Corsaro, President, and the existing executive team. As part of this transition, Ross Nelson will transition from Vice President of Retail Execution to Vice President of Procurement. About Indianapolis Fruit Indianapolis Fruit, a FreshEdge company, distributes fresh produce, value-added, specialty foods, and floral to retail grocers in 20 states across the Midwest, central, and southeastern areas of the United States. Offering more than 3,500 available skus, 500 plus organic items, and a full-service fresh cut division, Indianapolis Fruit continues to deliver on what consumers want. For more information, visit www.indyfruit.com Contact Details Indianapolis Fruit Company Daniel Corsaro, President +1 317-981-3442 dccorsaro@indyfruit.com Company Website https://indyfruit.com/

June 14, 2022 10:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time

World Chase Tag® to televise action-packed World Championship, WCT5, from the U.K. on ESPN Networks

WCT

World Chase Tag® USA (WCT), the world’s first and only global competitive tag organization, will air its World Championship on ESPN, the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment brand. ESPN2 is scheduled to carry seven hours of WCT5, an event that brings together the best Parkour and Freerunning athletes from around the globe. The World Championship, WCT5, was held May 27-29th at the historic York Hall in London where the best Parkour and Freerunning athletes in the world battled it out to take home the top title. Teams from at least eight countries were represented, including the United States, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Israel, and Switzerland. WCT is the world’s first and only global competitive tag organization who recently announced an additional equity investment from production partner Tupelo Media Group, owned by Gray Television, Inc., the nation’s second largest local television broadcaster. “With more than 800 million organic online views and offering more high impact, adrenaline filled hours of content on ESPN, makes us a global brand, participating with sponsors and distribution platforms worldwide,” said Johnny McMahon, GM and Chief Content Officer of World Chase Tag. WCT and ESPN have a multi-year agreement to distribute WCT programming across ESPN television and digital platforms. ESPN and ESPN2 will be the primary television network homes of WCT. The television schedule of WCT5 is below: June 18: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm on ESPN2 June 25: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm on ESPN June 26: 1:00 am - 2:00 pm on ESPN2 July 2: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm on ESPN2 Episodes will re-air multiple times after the premiere dates. Plans for Q3 include the Pan-American Championship in the U.S. and the European Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Championship in Europe. WCT6 (World Championship) will take place in the fourth quarter in either the U.S. or the UK. In addition to the ESPN telecasts, WCT is distributed online to an engaged social following, with 2M subscribers on social platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Bilibili (China). ABOUT WORLD CHASE TAG® World Chase Tag® (WCT) combines the dynamic athleticism of Parkour with the age-old game of Tag. Invented by brothers Christian and Damien Devaux in the U.K., the competition began in 2016 and has quickly built a cult following around the world, securing millions of online views. World Chase Tag® is the ultimate test of 1-on-1 pursuit, fought out on an unforgiving arena of steel & wood, between athletes displaying extraordinary speed & agility as they juke, leap & lunge to make a point-saving tag. 20 teams from all across the country (featuring world class parkour athletes, Hollywood stuntmen, Ninja Warrior finalists and an Olympic Track & Field silver medalist) compete across 5 rounds of knockout matches culminating in an extraordinary battle to take home the Second Annual World Chase Tag® USA Championship trophy. WCT has amassed a global following including 80 WCT related videos with more than 1 million views and 50 million organic views in the last 12 months across World Chase Tag®’s social media platforms. ABOUT ESPN ESPN, Inc., is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment brand, featuring an unmatched portfolio of sports assets. It is comprised of eight U.S. 24-hour television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes, Longhorn Network, SEC Network and the ACC Network; five with HD simulcast services – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes). Other businesses include direct-to-consumer video service ESPN+, ESPN Audio (broadcast, satellite, digital, podcasts), an array of digital services (ESPN.com and many other sites, ESPN App, fantasy games and more), multi-screen ESPN3, ESPN International (26 networks, syndication, radio, digital), consumer products, ESPN Events and espnW. Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Hearst holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN. ABOUT TUPELO HONEY Tupelo Honey produces and packages over 800 live sports and entertainment shows per year. It produces coverage of sporting events involving the PFL (Professional Fighters League), NFL, MLS, TBT (The Basketball Tournament), ACL (American Cornhole League), College Football, College Basketball, NBC Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, Turner Sports, NFL Network, ACC Network, SEC Network, and more. In addition, Tupelo creates, develops and produces original programming for national syndication, including live music concerts for Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other digital platforms. Tupelo is wholly owned by Gray Television (NYSE:GTN), the second largest television broadcast company in the US. Gray also owns production companies Raycom Sports and PowerNation Studios, OTT channel Origin Sports, and production facility Third Rail Studios. It also is the majority owner of Swirl Films and an investor in Atlanta Film Studios. Contact Details World Chase Tag® Christian Devaux christian@worldchasetag.com Tupelo Honey & World Chase Tag® Cary I. Glotzer Cary@tupelohoney.net ESPN Kimberly Elchlepp Kimberly.m.elchlepp@espn.com Company Website https://www.worldchasetag.com/

June 14, 2022 09:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Entertainment