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A Call to Action: Revitalizing U.S. Maritime Security for Global Stability and Prosperity

MAR LLC

Rarely is there a day without international shipping in the news. From Yemen's Houthi militants attacking shipping in the Red Sea, maritime food blockades around Ukraine, rising hostilities in the South China Sea, drought reducing traffic through the Panama Canal by almost 50%, global shipping is receiving more attention than ever before. And yet barely four years after the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain crunch, blockade of the Suez Canal by the containership Ever Given, the vulnerabilities of the maritime transportation system remain and more needs to be done to protect American interests. ZERO POINT FOUR sheds light on the industry in a way that has never been done before. Bold new solutions are called for and revealed from this cutting analysis after years of working on the front lines of the shipping crisis. If you want to get a strong understanding of why the U.S. remains vulnerable to supply chain risks and a shortage of military sealift support, then this book is required reading. After years of extensive research, The Maritime Accelerator for Resilience (MAR) released the findings of its landmark study in a book entitled ZERO POINT FOUR, spearheaded by Rear Admiral James Watson (USCG Ret.) and an esteemed panel of maritime, security, ocean and supply chain experts. This critical analysis delves into the challenges and strategic imperatives facing U.S. maritime security, emphasizing its indispensable role in global commerce, national defense, and international peacekeeping and offering near, medium and long term leadership opportunities to mitigate America’s vulnerabilities. In an era marked by complex global challenges, the U.S. maritime sector's decline to a mere 0.4% of the global oceangoing commercial fleet signifies not just a loss of commercial prominence but also a critical vulnerability in national security and global economic stability. ZERO POINT FOUR offers a stark examination of the consequences of diminished U.S. influence on the seas, from eroding economic competitiveness to heightened risks in global supply chains, energy dependence, and environmental sustainability. The book highlights five key principles around security—national, economic, energy and food, climate, and workforce-- and outlines a visionary framework for action, advocating for strategic investments in maritime infrastructure, technological innovation, and a revitalized maritime workforce. These initiatives aim to restore the U.S. as a global maritime leader, ensuring the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of international shipping lanes crucial for the flow of trade, energy, and resources worldwide. Furthermore, ZERO POINT FOUR calls for enhanced international maritime cooperation to tackle piracy, illegal fishing, and environmental hazards, reinforcing the U.S. commitment to upholding the rule of law on the high seas and fostering a climate of global peace and cooperation. The impetus for the book came from the author’s recognition of the US’s vulnerability in maritime security, and its impact on all aspects of American life. From the post-World War II period when 50% of all oceangoing commercial vessels were under the US flag to today’s 0.4%, an unsustainable shift of power and influence has occurred which needs to be remedied. In addition to Rear Admiral Watson, authors include maritime mavens Carleen Lyden Walker and Captain Anuj Chopra, technology and sustainability economist Nishan Degnarain, cyber security, physical security, and enterprise resilience veteran Rich Mason, and global supply chain specialist Jonothan Kempe. The Maritime Accelerator for Resilience urges all stakeholders — government officials, industry leaders, and the public — to unite behind these proposals. By doing so, the U.S. can secure a future where its maritime domain not only thrives but also serves as a cornerstone for global trade, environmental stewardship, and international peace. ZERO POINT FOUR is available for purchase on Amazon using this LINK. The Maritime Accelerator for Resilience (MAR LLC) is a U.S.-based maritime organization operating as a maritime policy accelerator and is dedicated to propelling the U.S. maritime industry into a new era of innovation, security, and global leadership. Collaborating with influential figures in shipping, ocean policy and innovation, MAR aims to advance policy, technology, and operational strategies that enhance maritime resilience and competitiveness. Our vision is to motivate the U.S. maritime industry to global competitiveness, navigating challenges and embracing opportunities in the next decade. For more details, visit: www.maritimeresilience.org Contact Details MAR LLC Carleen Lyden Walker +1 203-260-0480 carleen.lw@maritimeresilience.org

March 11, 2024 01:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Kevel Secures Series C Funding and Names Puja Rios as President/COO, Expanding its C-Suite team

Kevel

Kevel, the API led ad serving company, is announcing it has raised $23M in Series C funding. This round of funding was led by Series B investor Fulcrum Equity Partners with investment from Godwin Capital Group, Iberis Capital, Dunnhumby Ventures, as well as continued participation from Commerce Ventures. The new funding allows Kevel to deepen its retail media focus and drive advanced product innovation to retailers and marketplaces offering on-site retail media ad products. “What makes retailers different from traditional publishers is that they have unique 1st party data and closed loop attribution,” stated James Avery, CEO, Kevel. “Kevel’s flexible API tools enable retailers to build differentiated retail media platforms leveraging their unique attributes to provide advertisers with innovative, cutting edge decisioning, ad formats, targeting, and site performance, all while keeping their data safe and secure at scale.” In order to effectively expand further into the retail media market and continue to serve its retailers, Kevel is announcing the expansion of its senior leadership team with the addition of former Frame.io Chief Revenue Officer Puja Rios joining the company as President / COO. Her strategic appointment comes at a critical time for the business as it looks to capitalize on the retail media momentum, with ad spend expected to increase 10.4% to $141.7 billion in 2024. With over 25 years of experience in the software industry, Rios has a proven track record of scaling revenue, building high-performance teams and delivering stellar results. Rios focus will centralize around the next phase of growth for Kevel, expanding the company’s client base further into the retail media sector. “ Kevel’s success and innovation in the retail media market reflects its relentless pursuit of pushing boundaries to deliver a solution that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of its customers,” commented Rios. “I am proud to join a company where innovation knows no bounds and where we are redefining what's possible in the ever-evolving landscape of retail media.” This heightened focus on retail media comes at a pivotal time for the billion dollar retail advertising industry as it enters the age of differentiation. Retailers and marketplaces are striving to capture advertiser demand for inventory, flexibility and maximum ROI by offering the best mix of data targeting, ad formats and measurement while balancing the preservation of their brand, data assets and shopper experience. Avery continued, “We see a large shift in the retail media landscape as brands focus on doubling down on the retail media networks that are delivering value, and cutting back from the retail media networks that are commoditized. This is pushing retailers to invest in moving from off the shelf solutions to building high-end, differentiated retail media networks. Adding Puja to our team is going to enable us to scale with more retailers and help them in their quest to earn their spot on the media plans of the largest brands in the world." For more information about Kevel, please visit www.kevel.com About Kevel Kevel powers innovative, flexible ad tech infrastructure APIs that fuel its ad serving solutions. It’s unique offering empowers multi-brand retailers to launch differentiated retail media networks that improve the shopper experience while maintaining total control of their first-party data. Kevel believes that every digital retailer should have the capability to scale their own distinct ad platform, just like big tech players like Amazon. Customers like Edmunds, Klarna, Delivery Hero, Leroy Merlin, Slickdeals, and other leading retailers and marketplaces all launched their own retail media network with Kevel. The company has garnered numerous accolades, most recently earning recognition as one of the leading 100 innovative tech start-ups driving the future of brand-to-consumer in 2023 and awarded the MarTech Breakthrough Award for best overall ad tech company in 2022. Learn more at www.kevel.com Contact Details Kevel Jennifer Choo +1 973-343-8819 jchoo@kevel.com

March 07, 2024 02:43 PM Eastern Standard Time

Roughly Half of Nations That Invest in AI Develop Their Own Generative Models, Reveals the First Global GenAI Landscape

AIport

AIport, an online community dedicated to covering the latest international ML developments, has crafted the first volume of its Global Generative AI Landscape 2024. This initial edition examines notable GenAI players worldwide across several key categories. This is the first generative AI landscape analysis to emphasize regional attributes and encompass four times more nations than the average GenAI landscape available to the public. The research process involved examining all 62 countries invested in the AI market, as featured in the Global AI Index by Tortoise. In-house model developers were identified, filtered by the team of editors and data scientists, and subsequently cross-referenced with current GenAI landscapes from Sequoia Capital, Antler, Base10, and others, before being segmented into ten GenAI categories. As the final step, the data was divided into continental regions: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. The first volume of the global GenAI landscape from AIport aims to present a balanced view of international companies, encompassing not only Western firms, but also those from other regions. The landscape offers a comprehensive analysis, detailing which players are developing GenAI solutions, their locations, and the specific nature of their contributions. It contains a total of 128 generative models from 107 companies. As Avi Chawla, a data scientist and community manager at AIport, put it: “We noticed that many generative AI landscapes tend to focus either on the Silicon Valley giants or the tech powerhouses of Europe, covering no more than 10 countries on average. While this approach does serve its purpose, it can’t really offer a complete picture. To address this, we decided to dig deeper, and this is what we came up with after weeks of research. We believe Volume 1 of our Global Generative AI Landscape 2024 provides an objectively international outlook. And we’re also planning to delve into other aspects of GenAI more closely in the future.” The landscape and key highlights Of the 62 countries listed in the Global AI Index, only 35 develop their GenAI solutions in-house. Roughly 90% of them focus on one model type. Regional leaders by the number of active GenAI companies are North America – USA; South America – Argentina; Europe – UK and France; Asia – China and Israel; Oceania – Australia and New Zealand; Africa – South Africa. The average number of GenAI models per company is the highest in North America, being the only region to have at least one model from each of the 10 model categories. Approximately 10% of all companies covered in the study have implemented multimodality in their GenAI models, with a majority of these developers located in the US. This indicates that while multimodality represents an emerging trend, its adoption outside North America still remains in the nascent stages. A total of 11 companies worldwide have developed more than one type of GenAI model. Stability AI leads with five distinct GenAI model types (image, video, audio, 3D, and code), followed closely by OpenAI (chatbot, audio, video, and multimodal) and Google (text, image, audio, and multimodal) – both with four model types. Microsoft, Meta, Tencent, Baidu, and Yandex are among those companies that developed between two to three types of distinct GenAI models. 13 companies have developed multiple models within a single GenAI category. AssemblyAI has two speech-to-text models, MosaicML offers two iterations of its MPT for code generation, while IPOXCap has introduced two chatbots designed for business intelligence applications. About AIport AIport is an online community of AI writers, researchers, and data scientists that aims to provide a transnational perspective on AI. Recognizing that most ML-related publications primarily focus on the “big leagues” in the West, AIport seeks to be more inclusive by widening the angle and broadening the narrative. This approach ensures a more diverse and impartial representation, offering a well-rounded take to the global AI community. Contact Details NettResults LLC Nick Leighton +1 949-478-5880 nick.leighton@nettresultsllc.com Company Website https://aiport.substack.com/

March 07, 2024 10:22 AM Pacific Standard Time

The New American Home® 2024

News Media Group, Inc.

Contact Details News Media Group, Inc. Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/

March 04, 2024 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Top 5 New Crypto Coins to Watch in 2024

Spark Metro

The cryptocurrency world keeps evolving rapidly, and 2024 has introduced a wave of exciting new crypto coins. Investors and crypto coins enthusiasts are eager to explore opportunities that promise significant returns. New projects and tokens are emerging every day in this sector. In this article, we shall see the list of new crypto coins considered best for investing in 2024. Stay with us till the end, as it will help you gauge which one is perfect for you to invest in. 5 New Crypto Coins in 2024 Hare are the List of New Crypto Coins of The Year 2024 1. 5th Scape Coin (5thScape) It is a popular new crypto coin which combines virtual reality with the blockchain system, 2. Hypergrowth Protocol (HGP) It is suitable for investors seeking stability in their return on investment. 3. Ocean Data Network (ODN) It is suitable for those investors seeking data privacy while investing in crypto coins. 4. Sustainable Energy Coin (SEN) As the name suggests, these new crypto coins mainly focus on renewable energy. 5. MetaVerse Guild (MVG) These crypto coins allow users to dive into the immersive world to buy and sell properties. Let us take a closer look at all the above new crypto coins: 1. 5th Scape Coin (5thScape) 5th Scape Coin stands out not just for its unique name but also for its ambitious mission to transform the gaming industry. Based on an Ethereum blockchain, 5th Scape aims to create a decentralized virtual gaming ecosystem where players own their in-game assets and experiences. Imagine a world in which you can seamlessly transfer your hard-earned virtual items across different games, participate in community governance, and even monetize your creations through a robust NFT marketplace. It is the vision 5th Scape is striving to make a reality. Click Here to Visit 5thScape Presale Page Key features of 5th Scape Coin Interoperable Game Network: Connect and interact with various games within the 5th Scape ecosystem, carrying your assets and progress with you. Player-Owned Economy: Own your in-game items and currency with the freedom to trade, sell, or utilize them as you see fit. Decentralized Governance: Participate in shaping the platform's future through transparent and accessible voting mechanisms. NFT Marketplace: Create, buy, and sell unique digital assets, giving players the power to monetize their creativity and skills. Sustainable Blockchain: 5th Scape's PoS consensus mechanism significantly reduces the total energy consumption compared to traditional crypto coins mining methods. Seamless VR and AR integration for an immersive gaming experience. Enhanced privacy and security through state-of-the-art encryption technologies. 2. Hypergrowth Protocol (HGP) HGP focuses on DeFi (Decentralised Finance) by offering high-yield staking opportunities. Users can lock their digital assets in Hyper Growth pools, earning passive income through automated yield-generation strategies. HGP utilizes complex algorithms to optimize returns and minimize risks, appealing to individuals seeking stable and profitable crypto investments. The below three hyper-growth crypto coins are worth watching and considering to add to your investment strategy. Avalanche (AVAX-USD): A leading layer-1 network in terms of its architecture. Solana (SOL-USD): Its enhanced performance makes it a strong player and a preferred choice in the DeFi space in 2024. Near Protocol (NEAR-USD): This token has seen outsized interest in recent weeks due to several catalysts. 3. Ocean Data Network (ODN) ODN strategically tackles the issue of data privacy and monetization. It empowers individuals to control their data, selling it on a secure marketplace to researchers and businesses while retaining ownership. ODN aims to democratize data access and create a fairer value distribution system for data owners. 4. Sustainable Energy Coin (SEN) SEN promotes ecological responsibility by connecting investors to renewable energy projects. SEN holders can fund clean energy initiatives and earn rewards based on the generated electricity. This innovative approach encourages investment in renewable energy infrastructure and combats climate change. The vision is to see a future with sustainability, equitable and resilient transportation, buildings and communities. The funds raised through these crypto coins will go to the sustainable energies of low-income communities. 10% tax will be levied, 5% will be distributed to the holders, and 5% will be added to the liquidity of the firm. 5. MetaVerse Guild (MVG) MVG caters to the rapidly growing Metaverse scene. MVG tokens act as a passport to exclusive virtual worlds, enabling users to purchase land, build structures, and engage in unique experiences within the Metaverse. MVG aims to foster a thriving virtual community and drive the development of immersive digital spaces. Remember, the cryptocurrency market is inherently volatile and involves significant risks. Thorough research and a cautious approach are crucial before investing in any new project. We have recreated this list to provide a glimpse into some of the promising newcomers in the crypto landscape, not financial advice. While exploring these fascinating possibilities, keep your eyes peeled for the game-changing potential of the 5th Scape Coin. Its vision for decentralized virtual gaming might reshape how we interact with virtual worlds in the future. Conclusion In conclusion, the new crypto coins of 2024 bring forth a diverse range of offerings, each with its unique value proposition. While hyper-growth protocol tokens stand as promising for gaining substantial returns, investors should carefully research and assess the potential of each coin based on their individual goals and risk tolerance. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, staying informed about these new opportunities is essential for those looking to ride the wave of innovation in the digital asset space. Contact Details Spark Metro Alex +1 302-597-6768 media@sparkmetro.com Company Website https://sparkmetro.com/

March 03, 2024 11:24 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Ben Brunton, Co-Founder of Prestige Motorsports, Fosters Community for Luxury Car Enthusiasts

Prestige Motorsports

Ben Brunton, co-founder of Prestige Motorsports in San Antonio, is a prolific entrepreneur with multiple successful business ventures under his belt. Ben has an extensive background in business, specifically healthcare. He is a founding partner of Medical Facilities Holdings (MFH), PSN Affiliates, and, most recently, BE Enterprises, LLC. Ben’s most recent venture, BE Enterprises, encompasses his and his business partner’s luxury lifestyle brands. Ben spends much of his time curating these unique lifestyle brands, ranging from luxury estate experiences with Edward Anthony Lifestyles, a bed and breakfast vineyard in Napa, Chateau De Vi, and most recently, opening a motorsports club and luxury car service, storage, and leasing business, Prestige Motorsports. “ Since childhood, I have had a massive passion for vehicles, cars, and motorsports. I saw a need in Texas, nationally, and globally with people like myself who have a car collection. These folks want to ensure each vehicle is serviced well, all while showing off their collection. This niche brings like-minded people together, and we saw an opportunity to create a country club-esque membership for people with this shared passion. That was the impetus for starting my storage and service facility. It allows me to enjoy my cars while giving back to the larger vehicle-loving community,” says Brunton. At their state-of-the-art facility spanning 19,000 square feet in the northern part of San Antonio, members can enjoy a wide array of amenities. Provided by their in-house boutique dealership, car enthusiasts have the opportunity to purchase, sell, trade, or consign their vehicles. The members-only clubhouse boasts an opulent viewing lounge situated on a 3,000-square-foot mezzanine, complete with a full-service bar, large-screen TVs, a cutting-edge realistic Formula 1™ simulator, and more. A range of services is offered to their members to ensure their vehicles remain in optimal condition. The Prestige Performance Shop, their official service and performance provider, can provide a spectrum of detailing services, from routine maintenance washes to comprehensive paint correction and ceramic coating. Also, the climate-controlled and secure storage facility presents an enticing and distinctive option for the storage needs of car collectors. Moreover, members gain access to an array of social events, including Formula 1™ and other major sports viewing parties, poker nights, networking events, and more. Prestige Motorsports also holds exclusive access to Edward Anthony Lifestyles' property portfolio in Napa Valley. With every curated experience and event, the Prestige team takes care of every detail for an elevated excursion. Prestige Motorsports continually hopes to expand its offerings for its members and strives to continue to give back to the San Antonio community. The team is highly focused on their commitment to customized customer services. Bruton hopes that Prestige Motorsports will leave a legacy and open up opportunities for community, partnership, and connections with shared vision and passions. He wants Prestige Motorsports to cultivate a place where people can connect and make memories. Prestige Motorsports is the premier automotive social club in the San Antonio area. Surround yourself with the most “prestigious” people and cars San Antonio has to offer. Our beautiful dealership, storage facility, and lounge are the ultimate places for motorsports enthusiasts and car lovers to enjoy. Whether you’re coming by to have a drink, enjoy the clubhouse, or network with our membership community—Prestige Motorsports has you covered.From drive days and watch parties to members-only events with special guests, we are more than just a show gallery for your vehicles. We are a group where you can connect and build friendships.With our full-service bar, state-of-the-art Formula simulator, and luxurious automotive-themed lounge, members are sure to enjoy their time at Prestige Motorsports. Contact Details R Public Relations Madison Baber +1 210-213-2426 madison@rprfirm.com Company Website https://prestigemotorsports.us/

February 29, 2024 05:43 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Photography and Videography Jobs Soar in 2023, Finds Freelancer.com

FREELANCER.COM

Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN), the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, today published the fastest growing online jobs for 2023 based on data from more than 1 million projects posted to the platform. The data reveals that jobs related to video content creation are in high demand. Videography ranked as the second fastest growing skill of 2023, with Video Production and Video Editing jobs also growing significantly and placing in the top growing jobs. Other video-related jobs, such as YouTube Video Editing and TikTok, were also amongst the top 25 fastest growing jobs on Freelancer.com for 2023. Fueling this demand is an increase of brands incorporating video in their marketing strategies. According to Wyzowl, video content marketing is an essential part of a majority (88%) of marketers strategies with most (85%) planning to increase spending on video in 2024. Demand for skills in photography and photo editing was also a driver for new jobs. Adobe Lightroom projects saw the highest percentage growth across the year, while Photography as a skill grew by 3,625 total jobs. In terms of earning potential, freelancers in the United States are charging up to $300/hour for Photography skills, $200/hour for Videography and Video Editing, and $160/hour to create TikTok content. “Advances in generative AI are changing the way businesses are communicating and marketing themselves. A boom in video and photography services is a clear indication that there’s a shift towards visual, highly-produced content as opposed to reliance on legacy forms of internet marketing, such as a reliance on blog posts and articles to generate traffic. We expect this trend to continue and are already seeing signs of video and marketing categories continuing to increase in 2024,” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer.com. One example of how businesses are shifting towards video and moving away from written content is evident when looking at the decreasing skills of 2023. Blog writing ranked as 13th in the top falling jobs on Freelancer.com, decreasing by 66% from 4,872 to 1,648 jobs posted in 2023. While some may speculate that the introduction of generative AI tools is impacting writing, blog writing was the only writing skill present in the falling jobs. In fact, other forms of writing such as Fiction Writing (up 36.1%), Creative Writing (up 18.8%) and Microsoft Word (up 16.8%) were both amongst the fastest growing jobs of the year. “AI can’t replace creativity, yet. Although this may emerge with model scale. We said this in the middle of the year when we saw creative writing jobs increase in Q2 2023 and the sentiment remains the same in 2024. What we are seeing is that our freelancers are moving up the stack. They’re evolving from just blog writers to editors. Moving from just illustrators to directors. Ultimately, AI is elevating our talent and improving efficiency and productivity in the process,” added Barrie. Top Freelance Jobs The most popular job in 2023 was graphic design, with more than a quarter million projects requiring the skill. Graphic design has always historically been the number one job type on Freelancer.com for over a decade. Jobs related to graphic design are also the best way for new freelancers to break into freelancing, as there is an abundance of projects offering Website Design, Logo Design, Icon Design, and other forms of graphic design available. Best Paid Skills Per Hour on Freelancer.com in 2023 Marketing, photography and video related jobs took out the top spots for the best paid skills per hour on the platform for 2023. These skills being paid the most is consistent with these categories also being the most in-demand for the year Best Paid Jobs per Project on Freelancer.com in 2023 As for jobs paid per project, internet marketing takes out the top spot, followed by website design, graphic design, data entry and video services. ###### Freelancer Fast 50 Freelancer Fast 50 The Freelancer Fast 50 index is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 1,122,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer platform between 1 January to 31 December 2023. 2023 Growing Skills 2023 Falling Skills About Freelancer Twelve-time Webby award-winning Freelancer.com is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 71 million registered users have posted over 23 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer also owns Escrow.com, the leading provider of secure online payments and online transaction management, and Loadshift, an Australian enterprise freight marketplace. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Contact Details Freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 mzitko@freelancer.com

February 27, 2024 08:23 AM Eastern Standard Time

THE LIP BAR LAUNCHES ‘BAWSE VENTURES’ GRANT PROGRAM TO EMPOWER BIPOC AND WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

The Lip Bar

The Lip Bar Inc., the trailblazing beauty company known for its commitment to authenticity and inclusivity, announces ‘ Bawse Ventures’, a micro-fund initiative aimed at supporting the next generation of BIPOC and women entrepreneurs. The program seeks to provide grant and seed funding to small businesses, addressing the critical need for financial support in the early stages of entrepreneurial journeys. The application is now available with submission criteria including: Eligibility: Business sells product or offers a service, with annual revenue of at least $50K or more, and BIPOC individuals must own at least 50% or more equity in the company Purpose: The inspiration and reasoning for the business, included but not limited to how it improves the quality of life for customers, proven interest in products/services, and goals to take the business to the next level Selection: The Lip Bar will offer up to three business owners up to $25k in funding, along with quarterly mentorship for 1-year with Founder and CEO Melissa Butler and access to selected members of Butler ’s professional network The application window is open now through April 12 th, with finalists notified in June 2024 and winners announced in September 2024. Since launching in 2012, The Lip Bar has thrived as a community-based business, driven by the unwavering support of its customers. Bawse Ventures, whose name is inspired by the brands iconic number one red matte liquid lipstick, Bawse Lady (notably loved and supported by Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, Actress Taraji P. Henson, and more), embodies the spirit of empowerment and a universal movement, encouraging women to embrace confidence in their entrepreneurial journeys – never hesitating to stand out and be a ‘bawse’ in their endeavors. Having encountered the hurdles of transitioning a new business from its initial stages to a larger scale, Butler has gained firsthand insight into the challenges entrepreneurs face. Witnessing the disparities in early-stage funding, particularly for business owners of color who may lack access to family or friends for financial support, Butler recognized both an opportunity and a responsibility. Motivated by her own journey, she is now driven to inspire and invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs. “ The Lip Bar was built as a community-based business,” says Butler. “Our customers’ support and belief in us allowed us to make history, and now it’s time for us to give that same love, care, and contribution back.” This initiative honors a commitment to paying it forward and creating opportunities for those who, like Butler, may not have had the same financial support to turn their dreams into reality. As BIPOC businesses hold the highest percentage of being underfunded and neglected in receiving financial backing and access to DEI programs to help get to the next level, Bawse Ventures aims to do just that. "Many people are able to raise friends and family rounds to get their businesses off the ground. But in the black and brown community, we don’t have friends and family with excess dollars to give. So, I want to be the friend that allows that next generation of entrepreneurs to follow their dreams fearlessly," Butler adds. The combination of mentorship and funding is important for the growth and expansion of BIPOC businesses, as shown in Butler ’s network of mentors and friends that has helped accelerate the success of TLB. Bawse Ventures aims to break down barriers and provide crucial resources to empower budding entrepreneurs in building their own success stories. About TLB TLB is a beauty brand started in the kitchen of Founder and CEO, Melissa Butler while working on Wall Street. Since her early days of developing formulations, The Lip Bar has become a pioneer on clean beauty and inclusion, proudly founded and owned by a self-made Woman of Color. Since its launch in 2012, Butler has been on a mission to change the way people think about beauty. Believing that all beauty brands have the capacity to represent all beauty lovers, while creating clean and exciting products. Contact Details First and Last PR First and Last PR thelipbar@firstandlastpr.com Company Website http://www.thelipbar.com

February 21, 2024 08:57 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Stifel North Atlantic and ASTRO America Announce a First-of-its-Kind Private Equity Fund Under New DOD-SBA Initiative

ASTRO America

Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman and National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard announced at a White House event last Wednesday that the partnership between Stifel North Atlantic (NYSE: SF) and ASTRO America is the first recipient of a “Green Light” to raise private capital for an SBIC Critical Technologies (“SBICCT”) fund. Officially called the AM Forward Critical Technologies SBIC, the Fund is actively fundraising and moving forward with the final SBA licensing process. The SBA-DoD SBICCT initiative is the first program under a historic SBA-DoD collaboration, launched by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and SBA Administrator Guzman in December 2022. By pairing private capital with SBA administered leverage, the initiative will support private sector investment in US national security-vital component-level technologies and production processes. The structure will achieve the important mission of bolstering U.S. national security and the Defense Industrial Base without reliance on deficit funding, while supporting American small businesses. “This new Fund is important to both our national security and American competitiveness,” said ASTRO co-founder and President, Neal Orringer. “Not only will it provide essential financial support to small and medium-sized manufacturers, but it will help modernize key supply chains, helping accelerate adoption of technologies such as metal 3D printing that are increasingly important to America’s defense and aerospace industries.” He continued, “We are grateful for the DoD and SBA’s leadership in developing innovative approaches for catalyzing the injection of private capital into critical defense supply chains, at no cost to the taxpayer.” ASTRO America leads the White House’s AM Forward initiative, which includes a compact between the Administration and seven iconic American lead system integrators. The AM Forward member companies identified access to capital as a key barrier to eliminating bottlenecks, modernizing and increasing resiliency within their supply chains, particularly in metal castings and forgings. In early 2023, ASTRO selected Stifel North Atlantic as the financial partner to manage the SBIC Fund based on Stifel’s rich history of support for small and middle market companies and extensive experience managing SBIC Funds. ASTRO will lead the Fund’s Technical Advisory Board. “We are deeply committed to both our unique partnership in the SBICCT fund as well as with the SBA more broadly,” shared Victor Nesi, Stifel Financial Co-President. “The SBA has made remarkable progress in developing innovative ways to reach out, support and nurture the small business ecosystem that is so foundational to our organization. We are also grateful for the thought leadership provided to this project by key AM Forward member Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT).” Mike Nitka, Managing Director at Stifel North Atlantic offered, “This fund is a rare opportunity to mix purpose and passion. We are advancing the adoption of mission-ready production technology for the US aerospace and defense supply chain while supporting the journey of emerging US small businesses. Through this revolutionary partnership with the SBA, DoD, ASTRO America, and our anchor investors, we have the opportunity to create jobs and build US manufacturing capacity. I applaud all involved as this is a truly unique non-partisan approach to solving for a universal American need – national security.” During the event, in addition to key Biden-Harris Administration officials from the White House, SBA and DoD, Stifel and ASTRO executives also met with leading investors from the financial industry and executives from major aerospace and defense companies. With committed strategic and financial investors, Stifel North Atlantic and ASTRO expect to complete the final phase of the SBICCT licensing process and execute a first closing on the Fund in the coming months. After the initial closing, the Fund will begin actively investing in small business manufacturers to help strengthen the U.S. aerospace and defense supply chains. The White House readout of the event can be read here and the SBA overview of the event can be read here. More information on the SBA-DoD SBICCT initiative can be found here. The Applied Science and Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-partisan Research Institute and Think Tank. It was established in 2018 to advance the public interest through manufacturing technology and policy. Led by manufacturing professionals with broad public and private sector experience, ASTRO America supports collaborations by government agencies and companies to address supply chain challenges in highly regulated industries, including aerospace and defense. Find out more: https://www.astroa.org/ Established in 1890, with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, Stifel is a full-service financial services firm with a distinguished history of providing securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, institutions, corporations, and municipalities. Contact Details Elizabeth Heaton +1 202-445-9858 elizabeth@astroa.org Company Website https://www.astroa.org

February 21, 2024 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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