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StreamLayer and Kaizen Partner to Transform the Betting Experience

StreamLayer

StreamLayer, an audience engagement technology company focused on transforming the live sports viewing experience across mobile devices and CTVs, is bringing interactive viewing to Kaizen bettors worldwide. The partnership extends across 12 countries on three continents, accommodates seven different languages, and is already delivering impressive results. StreamLayer’s next-generation video engagement and monetization solution enables streaming platforms—including media companies, leagues, and increasingly, sportsbooks—to transform their live content into highly engaging interactive viewing experiences. This innovation drives subscriber growth, reduces churn, and significantly expands monetizable opportunities. Having been utilized during some of the largest live-streamed sporting events on record, StreamLayer’s technology consistently generates substantial boosts in viewing times and other key engagement metrics. Now, for the first time, StreamLayer and Kaizen are leveraging this technology to give sports bettors compelling reasons to stay engaged on their apps during live games, thereby increasing user sessions and, consequently, overall handle. "Until now, sportsbooks have struggled to retain users in their apps once the game begins, missing out on a tremendous monetization opportunity between the kickoff and final whistle," said John Ganschow, CEO of StreamLayer. “Kaizen has been at the forefront of addressing this challenge, so we’re incredibly proud to partner with them and bring our proven technology to the betting industry for the first time.” View promotional video here. StreamLayer is revolutionizing the economic model for OTT providers around the globe. The Company’s proprietary Video Engagement Operating System (VEOS) enables content programmers and broadcast rights holders to transform linear streaming video feeds into highly monetizable interactive viewing experiences, seamlessly integrated into their own native app environments to facilitate valuable first-party data collection. StreamLayer is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Contact Details StreamLayer John Ganschow +1 312-543-0488 john@streamlayer.io Company Website https://www.streamlayer.io/

May 07, 2024 10:19 AM Central Daylight Time

mimic joins the race to develop the first AI-driven collaborative robot, as it raises $2.5M

mimic

The race to develop the first commercially available humanoid robot has been primarily concentrated in the US – until now. mimic, a Switzerland-based startup, is challenging US dominance and joining the robotics race to be the first to take a robotic arm and humanoid hand combination to market using generative AI, as it raises a pre-seed round of $2.5M. mimic’s $2.5M round is led by early stage Swiss investor Founderful, together with participation from German-based fund another.vc, UK-based Tiny.vc and an all-star lineup of specialized angel investors. Spinning out from the research university ETH Zurich, mimic was founded by researchers Elvis Nava, Stefan Weirich,Stephan-Daniel Gravert and Benedek Forrai in 2024. The founding team were working at the intersection of robotics and AI under Professor Robert Katzschmann’s Soft Robotic Labs when they became increasingly convinced that the latest developments in large scale generative AI models would upend a multitude of industries, beyond just language and image generation. The team set out to develop a foundation model for robotic manipulation and quickly realized how much value their idea held to revolutionize the way robotics fit into our everyday lives and economy. Today, global labor shortages are rocking businesses across multiple sectors and employers are struggling to find, hire and retain workers. Against the backdrop of a pronounced shift in work preferences, like reduced hours and enhanced flexibility to work from home, labor shortages are especially severe in the case of menial, repetitive, and demanding manual tasks. mimic plans to ease these shortages with dexterous, human-like robotic hands that fit seamlessly into existing manual labor workflows, driven by state-of-the-art AI models trained directly from human demonstrations. “Most use cases are stationary and do not require a full humanoid robot with legs. That’s why we focus data-collection and hardware ingenuity on a universal robotic hand that is compatible with off-the-shelf industrial robotic arms for positioning.” says co-founder Stephan-Daniel Gravert. This solution will enable a robot with humanoid hands to understand and imitate any behavior, simply by watching a human perform it. This marks a departure from conventional robotic solutions, which focus on being purpose-built for narrow use cases. Since each use case requires expensive ad-hoc engineering and comprehensive pre-programmed movements, robots are only able to complete the narrowly specific task they are designed for. In contrast, mimic is developing robots with a unified, general purpose approach to achieve a variety of tasks with a single robot design. “We designed our robot to mimic a human hand so it fits in our world, instead of re-designing the world to fit with our robot,” says co-founder Elvis Nava. mimic’s robots will be powered by a foundation AI model, meaning they will be able to reason and understand the physical world. The downstream effect is that robots can execute tasks with minimal demonstrations and without requiring expensive, complicated programming by engineers for each new task. These robots are designed for any industry employing workers in repetitive but hard-to-automate tasks involving complex motor skills. Already, the team has been approached by a wide range of initial customers, from supermarkets, industrial baking and gastronomy to manufacturing, recycling and pharmaceutical lab automation. “Conventional automation leaves a huge gap of tedious, low to medium volume manual labor tasks that often fall under the table because they are too complex or not economical to automate. For companies from retail to manufacturing, it becomes increasingly harder to find the right staff for these tasks. Taking AI-driven robotic manipulation to the next level, we can now address these challenges with unparalleled flexibility and ease of use”, says co-founder Stefan Weirich. Humanoid AI and robotics companies are exploding in popularity. According to Goldman Sachs, the global market for humanoid robots could reach $38 billion by 2035. mimic is planning to keep ahead of the competition by collaborating closely with industry clients to develop solutions for the real world while staying laser-focused on platform-agnostic manipulation and hands rather than building an entire humanoid robot. Alex Stöckl, founding partner at Founderful, commented: "We were impressed by mimic's technology and vision. We believe that the market for AI driven robots is going to grow exponentially, and we will see these robots gain widespread adoption very soon". Looking forward, the team will spend the coming months further developing their robot and AI model to prepare for mimic’s official product launch this year. “In the robotics space, adopting general-purpose AI techniques can solve a nearly infinite amount of real-world problems. This approach is so far only constrained by the limited availability of robot training data. We are changing that,” says Elvis Nava. About mimic mimic creates practical and intuitive robots that make life easier for everyone. Originating in a cutting-edge research project at ETH Zurich, the team combines expertise across AI research and engineering disciplines, as well as business strategy. mimic builds embodied intelligence scalable AI models for universal robotic manipulation. It's solutions help to intuitively automate the most complex and tedious manual labor tasks from retail to manufacturing. For more information please visit mimic | Embodied Intelligence (mimicrobotics.com) About Founderful Founderful is Switzerland’s leading pre-seed fund. We give every founder our deepest understanding and highest levels of support, and together, we’re building the future of the Swiss startup ecosystem. Contact Details mimic Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.mimicrobotics.com/

May 07, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Birmingham Airport Chaos Highlights Dire Need for Improved Security

MarketJar

Birmingham Airport faced chaos last week as travelers encountered significant delays and some missed flights due to a 'technical issue' at security during peak departure times. 1 Reports of distress emerged, with one individual collapsing amid the turmoil, leading to descriptions of the situation as a "disaster" and an "absolute shambles." The airport acknowledged that the security problem worsened the already busy schedule, severely impacting operations. Travelers took to social media to express frustration and disappointment. One person described queuing for two hours, only to miss their flight as Ryanair departed on time with a half-empty plane. Roger Burton, a local from Redditch, missed his flight despite arriving three hours early, highlighting the challenges faced by elderly passengers. Another passenger noted the sluggish queues, waiting for 80 others trapped in the winding lines. One traveler criticized the airport's handling as "absolute shocking incompetence." Criticism persisted as passengers observed the stark contrast between the crowded security area and the empty post-security zone, pointing out the airport's inability to efficiently handle passenger volume. The spokesperson for Birmingham Airport expressed regret over the inconvenience caused by the technical issue, apologizing for the subpar service. Ongoing construction and the transition to a new security area, contributed to passenger challenges. The chaos at Birmingham Airport closely follows a shocking report from the US Transportation Security Administration. The report reveals at least 300 instances of people bypassing parts of airport security since March 2023, 2 prompting the administration to continue its efforts to bolster security, which includes a $3.8 million contract with AI security company Liberty Defense Holdings (TSXV:SCAN) (OTCQB:LDDFF) for its advanced security solutions that can detect concealed weapons in high-traffic areas like airports, stadiums, and schools. Liberty Defense offers multi-technology security solutions for concealed weapons detection in high-volume foot traffic areas and locations requiring enhanced security, such as airports, stadiums, and schools. The company’s HEXWAVE product, licensed from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), provides discrete, modular, and scalable protection with layered, stand-off detection capability for metallic and non-metallic weapons. Liberty has successfully deployed HEXWAVE across various market verticals, including aviation, courthouses, national labs, prisons, and government facilities. Liberty Defense Expands HEXWAVE Deployment to a Major Airport in Canada In April 2024, Liberty Defense ’s HEXWAVE™ product received formal equipment authorization approval from Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED). This milestone signifies a significant achievement for Liberty 's ultra-wideband technology. With this certification, the company can deploy HEXWAVE for commercial and government applications across Canada. On May 6, Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:SCAN)(OTCQB:LDDFF) announced the shipment of multiple commercial HEXWAVE units to a major airport in Canada. HEXWAVE surpasses legacy security systems by detecting a wide array of materials, including metal and non-metal threats, liquids, powders, plastic explosives, and 3D-printed ghost guns. Bill Frain, CEO of Liberty Defense, explained the technology behind HEXWAVE, which uses millimeter wave, advanced 3D imaging, and AI for comprehensive screening. Frain highlighted HEXWAVE's efficiency in processing high volumes of passengers without requiring them to remove everyday items like wallets. The system's mobility enables the airport to swiftly deploy and relocate HEXWAVE units as needed, both indoors and outdoors. Liberty Defense is also expanding its international base, recently shipping commercial units of its HEXWAVE™ system to Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Subic Bay Airport in the Philippines. Click here for more information about Liberty Defense (TSXV:SCAN) (OTCQB:LDDFF). [1] https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/birmingham-airport-chaos-passengers-miss-29085692 [2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/04/airport-security-tsa-stowaway/ Disclaimer 1) The author of the Article, or members of the author’s immediate household or family, do not own any securities of the companies set forth in this Article. The author determined which companies would be included in this article based on research and understanding of the sector. 2) The Article was issued on behalf of and sponsored by, Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. Market Jar Media Inc. was paid $1,500 for the production and publishing of this article by Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s Digital Marketing Agency of Record (Native Ads Inc.). Additional details relating to Market Jar Media Inc.’s engagement by Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s Digital Marketing Agency of Record (Native Ads Inc.) are set out in https://pressreach.com/disclaimer-scan. 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not Market Jar Media Inc., its directors or officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Market Jar Media Inc. for this Article. Market Jar Media Inc. was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this Article. Market Jar has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of Market Jar or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Market Jar Media Inc. relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Market Jar Media Inc. has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) The Article does not constitute investment advice. All investments carry risk and each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional. Any action a reader takes as a result of the information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Market Jar Media Inc.’s terms of use and full legal disclaimer as set forth here. This Article is not a solicitation for investment. Market Jar Media Inc. does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on pressreach.com should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on pressreach.com. 5) Market Jar Media Inc. and its respective directors, officers and employees hold no shares for any company mentioned in the Article. 6) This document contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), which reflect management’s expectations regarding Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s future growth, future business plans and opportunities, expected activities, and other statements about future events, results or performance. Wherever possible, words such as “predicts”, “projects”, “targets”, “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “anticipate” or “does not anticipate”, “believe”, “intend” and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology have been used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: (a) revenue generating potential with respect to Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s industry; (b) market opportunity; (c) Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s business plans and strategies; (d) services that Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. intends to offer; (e) Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s milestone projections and targets; (f) Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s expectations regarding receipt of approval for regulatory applications; (g) Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s intentions to expand into other jurisdictions including the timeline expectations relating to those expansion plans; and (h) Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s expectations with regarding its ability to deliver shareholder value. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this document including, without limitation, assumptions about: (a) the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s business plan; (b) that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; (c) Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; (d) Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s ability to enter into contractual arrangements with additional parties; (e) the accuracy of budgeted costs and expenditures; (f) Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; (g) political and regulatory stability; (h) the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third-party approvals, licenses and permits on favorable terms; (i) changes in applicable legislation; (j) stability in financial and capital markets; and (k) expectations regarding the level of disruption to as a result of CV-19. Such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: (a) Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; (b) public health crises such as CV-19 may adversely impact Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s business; (c) the volatility of global capital markets; (d) political instability and changes to the regulations governing Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd.’s business operations (e) Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. may be unable to implement its growth strategy; and (f) increased competition. Except as required by law, Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither does Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this document. Neither Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this document by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this document. 7) Any graphs, tables or other information demonstrating the historical performance or current or historical attributes of Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. or any other entity contained in this document are intended only to illustrate historical performance or current or historical attributes of Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. or such entities and are not necessarily indicative of future performance of Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. or such entities. 8) Investing is risky. The information provided in this article should not be considered as a substitute for professional financial consultation. Users should be aware that investing in any form carries inherent risks, and as such, there is a possibility of losing some or all of their investment. The value of investments can fluctuate significantly within a short period, and investors must understand that past performance is not indicative of future results. Additionally, users should exercise caution as transactions involving investments may be irreversible, even in cases of fraud or accidental actions. It is crucial to acknowledge that rapidly evolving laws and technical issues can have adverse effects on the usability, transferability, exchangeability, and value of investments. Furthermore, users must be cognizant of potential security risks associated with their investment activities. Individuals are strongly encouraged to conduct thorough research, seek professional advice, and carefully evaluate their risk tolerance before engaging in any investment endeavors. Market Jar Media Inc. is neither an investment adviser nor a broker-dealer. The information presented on the website is provided for informative purposes only and is not to be treated as a recommendation to make any specific investment. No such information on PressReach.com constitutes advice or a recommendation. Contact Details James Young +1 800-340-9767 campaigns@pressreach.com Company Website https://pressreach.com

May 06, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Enkrypt AI Unveils LLM Safety Leaderboard to Enable Enterprises to Adopt Generative AI Safely and Responsibly

Enkrypt AI

The rapid adoption of Generative AI, including in regulated settings, has continued to make the security and safety of Large Language Models (LLMs) a key concern amongst cybersecurity professionals. Policy-makers and security professionals around the world continue to seek new technology to help mitigate the risks of Generative AI technologies. For example; just days ago, the US Government’s Department of Homeland Security appointed a board to advise on the role of artificial intelligence on critical infrastructure. Sahil Agarwal, CEO of Enkrypt AI commented: “LLMs are increasingly seen as potential back-office powerhouses for enterprises, processing data and enabling faster front-office decision-making. Consider a fintech where an LLM-powered application is key in rejecting a loan application from a person of color without clear explanation. This raises concerns about implicit biases, as LLMs often reflect societal inequities present in their training data sourced from the internet. Moreover, cases like Google's LLM appearing 'woke' highlight the risks of overcorrecting these biases. How safe is Anthropic’s Claude3 Model? Is Cohere’s Command R+ LLM really ready for enterprise use? These scenarios underscore the urgent need for careful checks on these models to prevent exacerbating societal inequities and causing harm.” At the highly anticipated RSA conference, Enkrypt AI, the leader in securing Generative AI technologies, will introduce its latest innovation, the LLM Safety Leaderboard. This product is part of Enkrypt AI's comprehensive Sentry suite, designed to empower enterprises to deploy LLMs with heightened security and peace of mind. The LLM Safety Leaderboard will provide essential insights into the vulnerabilities and hallucination risks of various LLMs, enabling technology teams to make informed decisions about which models best suit their specific needs. This tool aims to educate and raise awareness about the relative strengths and potential weaknesses of different LLMs, so AI engineers can make informed decisions about the unique strengths of each. Highlights of the LLM Safety Leaderboard include: Comprehensive Vulnerability Insights which delivers detailed evaluations of potential security risks, including data leakage, privacy breaches, and susceptibility to cyber-attacks. Ethical and Compliance Risk Assessment which tests for biases, toxicity, and compliance with ethical standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring models align with enterprise and brand values. The LLM Safety Leaderboard is a new component of Enkrypt’s Sentry suite, which includes Sentry Red Team, Sentry Guardrails, and Sentry Compliance. This suite offers a holistic approach to managing and securing LLMs, aligning with the strictest standards for privacy, security, and compliance within the enterprise environment. The announcement comes as a new preprint paper by Enkrypt AI, “ Increased LLM Vulnerabilities from Fine-tuning and Quantization ”, has found that common practices used to implement LLMs in business settings, namely fine-tuning and quantization, lead to increased risk of security vulnerabilities namely from jailbreaking. However, implementing external guardrails platforms like Enkrypt’s Sentry Guardrails solution was successful in mitigating such vulnerabilities. On one model, Enkrypt’s Sentry Guardrails provided a 9x reduction in vulnerability to jailbreaking attacks. Sahil Agarwal, CEO of Enkrypt AI said: “With the launch of the LLM Safety Leaderboard, we are enhancing our commitment to enabling the safe, secure, and responsible use of generative AI in the enterprise. This tool will serve as a critical resource for organizations aiming to navigate the complexities of AI implementation with full confidence in their security posture.” Prashanth Harshangi, CTO of Enkrypt AI, added: “In the last two quarters, our team has been solely focused on generative AI safety and making rapid progress with our Sentry Suite. Comprising three key components - Sentry Red Team, Sentry Guardrails, and Sentry Compliance. With the LLM Safety Leaderboard, we are proud to offer a product that not only identifies potential risks but also empowers businesses to proactively manage and mitigate these challenges, enabling informed and faster decision making.” About Enkrypt AI Enkrypt AI, co-founded by Yale PhDs Sahil Agarwal and Prashanth Harshangi, is pioneering the safe adoption of Generative AI within enterprises. With an innovative all-in-one platform, Enkrypt AI is revolutionizing how Large Language Models (LLMs) are integrated and managed, addressing critical needs for reliability, security, data privacy, and compliance in a unified solution. Used by mid to large-sized enterprises in industries including finance and life sciences, Enkrypt AI's Sentry offers a proactive approach to AI security, fostering trust and efficiency in AI implementations from chatbots to automated reporting. Enkrypt AI sits between users and AI models, to offer a variety of safety and security layers. Enkrypt AI stands apart by merging threat detection, privacy, and compliance into a comprehensive toolkit, poised to become the definitive Enterprise Generative AI platform for an evolving regulatory landscape. For more information please visit https://www.enkryptai.com/ or follow via LinkedIn, X, Instagram or YouTube. Contact Details Enkrypt AI Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.enkryptai.com/

May 06, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ToolsGroup Reimagines Supply Chain Decisions: Launching Decision Hub and Real-Time Decision-Centric Planning

ToolsGroup

ToolsGroup, a global leader in retail and supply chain planning and optimization software, today announced the global launch of Decision Hub, an innovative solution enabling decision-centric planning through zero-latency decision alignment. As a pioneer in solutions that enable supply chain executives to navigate uncertainty, ToolsGroup has long been on the cutting edge, enabling smarter, faster decisions that drive profit. With the release of Decision Hub, ToolsGroup now makes continuous, collaborative and asynchronous decisions in the face of supply chain volatility simple. Supply chain leaders face unprecedented and increasing supply chain disruptions. They need a faster and more effective way to decide how to respond to emerging threats and situations, unconstrained by the frustrating scheduling conflicts, endless email threads and ad hoc discussions missing critical voices that characterize today’s decision-making process. Decision Hub transforms traditional supply chain decisions by bringing together the right stakeholders at the right time, armed with the right information to make better decisions faster. With Decision Hub, teams can come together in a virtual situation room to collaborate in real-time to run multiple scenarios, evaluate potential impacts, and decide on the most profitable response. Cross-functional teams can react earlier to changes affecting the balancing of supply and demand, evaluate options to mitigate risks and exploit opportunities, and align on the best actions. By making decisions more efficiently, companies will be able to make plans to respond to changes in the supply chain far enough in advance to maximize the returns on working capital. "Today, data latency, poor collaboration and rigid decision-making processes all work against companies trying to make the right decisions in the face of uncertainty. Supply chain leaders must collaborate seamlessly and respond in real-time to critical events, adapting production and distribution plans to changes in demand and supply. Decision Hub reimagines this process, innovating decision collaboration for the speed of today’s supply chain," said Robert Kaufholz, Senior VP of Product Management at ToolsGroup. We are excited to welcome the initial beta users of this transformative technology. If you’re interested in learning more, come visit ToolsGroup today at the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo™ 2024 conference in Booth #817 in the Planning Village or read more HERE. About ToolsGroup ToolsGroup’s innovative AI-powered solutions enable retailers, distributors and manufacturers to navigate through supply chain uncertainty. Our retail and supply chain planning suites empower a new level of intelligent decision-making and unlock powerful business improvements in forecast accuracy, service levels and inventory – delighting customers and achieving financial and sustainability KPIs.. Stay in touch with ToolsGroup on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or visit www.toolsgroup.com. Contact Details Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.toolsgroup.com

May 06, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Airship AI Awarded Contract With DOJ Agency, Marking Second Big Government Contract Win Since December IPO

Benzinga

By Meg Flippin, Benzinga Airship AI Holdings (NASDAQ: AISP), the Redmond, Washington, artificial intelligence company helping U.S. Homeland Security agencies monitor the nation’s border, announced that it won a large contract with an agency within the Department of Justice to support emerging public safety and investigative requirements. The DOJ will use Airship AI’s Acropolis Enterprise Video and Data Management Platform which is capable of gleaning actionable information in real-time from several sources including body cams, surveillance cameras, drones and CCTV, among others. Airship AI said it won the sole-source contract with the DOJ agency because it was the only company bidding on it capable of providing the necessary technology. Airship AI’ s Acropolis backend enterprise management system will enable the agency to manage devices and sensors across the entire digital ecosystem – directly to the cloud or through Airship AI’s Outpost AI Edge Appliance. Built on the NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) Jetson platform, Outpost AI provides advanced analytic processing at the edge, along with highly efficient video and metadata encoding and encryption over various RF and network backhauls back to the cloud. The management system, which can be deployed in specialized law enforcement agencies, has been engineered to meet law enforcement-specific needs including workflow for preserving evidence, advanced auditing capabilities, virtualized server instances and individualized cases for adaptive compartmentalization of sensitive data and video. Making Inroads The contract marks the first agency within the DOJ to deploy Acropolis within the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program or FedRAMP, the U.S. federal government’s compliance program designed to create a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and monitoring of cloud applications and services across all government agencies. Getting an in with the DOJ should position the company for future contracts, Airship AI said. “This award represents an expansion of a pilot program started with the agency in 2023, validating our ability to meet demanding agency operational and security requirements,” Paul Allen, President of Airship AI, said in a press release. “Equally as exciting is this project represents the second U.S. Government agency to deploy our Acropolis platform in a FedRAMP-certified cloud environment.” Airship AI’s President noted the company has a strong pipeline for 2024. When news of the award broke in early March, shares of Airship AI soared. Year-to-date the stock is up over 300% as of this writing. Big Addressable Market As it stands, surveillance can be extremely complex, with law enforcement agencies and others in surveillance tasked with managing disparate applications, equipment and permissions while at the same time managing various access levels across multiple departments. Airship AI’s platform pulls it all together – helping law enforcement, intelligence agencies and companies make informed decisions in real time. Its tailored software operating platform opens up customers' access to data from cameras and sensors for decisive and accurate responses using data that’s enhanced by AI. Airship AI customers can use their existing hardware – saving them time and money getting up and running. Airship AI is creating a niche in an area where organizations can get bogged down in the exacting and evolving technical difficulty of turning dynamic data into intelligence in real time. Managing, analyzing and gleaming actionable information from an array of sources can be difficult and time-consuming. The company said there is a big demand for its technology and pegs the addressable market at $7 billion for edge AI software and hardware. Airship AI said the market is projected to grow to over $40 billion by 2030. The company’s revenue growth seems to back up the demand estimate. For the full fiscal year 2023, Airship AI earned revenues of $12.3 million on gross profits of $5.8 million. The company entered 2024 with about $140 million in the pipeline comprised largely of U.S. government customers and new growth opportunities within commercial sectors. For all of 2024, Airship AI expects triple-digit revenue growth and positive cash flow. The Second Major Contract Win For Airship AI The deal with the DOJ agency marks the second big contract awarded to Airship AI since it went public in late December via a Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. or SPAC deal with BYTE Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: BYTS). As part of that win, Airship AI provided solutions based on its AI Outpost product to agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to support real-time intelligence collection along the U.S. borders. The $10.9 million contract was first inked in September. Airship AI’s Outpost solution is the company’s edge product, which consists of an edge appliance that provides local high-definition recording with user-defined low-bit rate video stream encoding and on-board edge analytic capabilities – providing the Department of Homeland Security with advanced object detection and recognition capabilities. Airship’s platform is already being used by federal, state and local law agencies as well as the private sector, including FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD). Airship AI is making inroads into government agencies with its advanced monitoring and surveillance platforms. With two deals under its belt and a robust pipeline for 2024 and beyond, the company is optimistic it will further make its mark, helping federal, state and local governments step up enforcement and monitoring to make the world a safer place for everyone. Featured photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

May 06, 2024 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

AC MILAN AND WEB3 IGAMING LEADER TG.CASINO SIGN NEW PARTNERSHIP DEAL

Finance News

AC Milan and TG.Casino are delighted to announce a new partnership, which sees the online casino platform become the Official Regional iGaming Partner of the Rossoneri in Europe. This new collaboration between two frontrunners in their own fields offers a great opportunity to create something new and innovative. This partnership demonstrates the platform’s intent to take on and beat the iGaming competition to become the ultimate destination for all ambitious Gamefi players. The deal catapults TG.Casino into the top ranks of GameFi by bringing the brand into the living rooms and onto the mobiles of tens of millions of consumers all over Europe. Thanks to this new partnership, $TGC token holders will have the chance to win lots of experiences offered by the Rossoneri club. From visits to the Milanello training centre to winning official AC Milan jerseys and VIP access at the San Siro stadium, football fans will have the chance to enjoy unique and exclusive experiences. The new partnership provides AC Milan with a new fan engagement tool, creating bespoke experiences, which aim to give them more access, and bring them even closer to their beloved Club. TG.Casino on Web: https://shrt.care/e44200d4 TG.Casino on Telegram: https://t.me/tgcasinoofficialbot?start=intpr Contact Details Alex Brown alex@sportsnews.com

May 06, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

HTX Research：DePIN: Current State and Prospects

HTX Ventures

Introduction: DePIN - Current State and Prospects Singapore / April 30, 2024 – Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) are reshaping the blockchain landscape with their innovative use of existing infrastructure and data-centric business models. Moving beyond traditional IoT frameworks, DePIN stands out for its decentralized efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This report explores the burgeoning DePIN sector, particularly within the Solana network, noted for its robust infrastructure and innovative applications. DePIN projects prioritize tangible profitability over speculative financials and are pivotal in integrating technologies like privacy enhancements, zero-knowledge proofs, and artificial intelligence. The strategic composability with other ecosystems positions DePIN to transform economic systems through data integrity and scalable solutions. As the leading platform for DePIN, Solana exemplifies the integration of high-performance blockchain technology with physical networks, promising significant economic returns and pioneering new ways to merge technology with practical applications. HTX Ventures, the global investment arm of HTX, leverages an integrated approach that combines investment, incubation, and research to identify the most exceptional and promising teams around the world. To date, HTX Ventures has supported over 200 projects spanning multiple blockchain tracks, with some high-quality projects already listed on HTX for trading. Key Takeaways · While DePIN projects are decentralized physical infrastructure networks, their core business models focus on effectively utilizing data, whether for storage, transmission, sharing, or use. · There is no need to compare DePINs to traditional IOT projects or categorize them as Web2 or Web3. What matters most is their ability to utilize data efficiently and distribute economic resources effectively. · DePIN's development will combine blockchain technology to enhance data credibility and establish extensive protocols along with the Internet of Things, creating an infinite network connecting people to people, people to machines, and machines to machines. · When assessing DePIN projects, it's crucial to disregard speculative or financial aspects, which are more applicable to sectors like DeFi, meme, and BRC20. Instead, the focus should be on a project's profit potential. · In the near term, attention should be paid to the composability of DePIN with other ecosystems, such as DePIN x Privacy, DePIN x Gaming, DePIN x ZK, and DePIN x AI. In the long term, DePIN's future involves gig economy, sharing economy, and data credibility. · The Solana network has emerged as the preferred blockchain for deploying DePIN projects. Solana DePIN projects boast an FDV exceeding $10 billion and a market capitalization of over $4 billion. · Advantages of Solana for DePIN include: o Superior performance and technological advancements o Robust token standards and a thriving ecosystem o Low cost o Concentrated liquidity, composable ecosystem, and unified community o An active developer community driving innovative projects and new concepts What Is DePIN? DePIN, short for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks, was first introduced in early 2023 in Messari's research report titled "The DePIN Sector Map." It was defined as leveraging cryptographic economic protocols for the deployment of real-world physical infrastructure and hardware networks. Essentially, DePIN employs a blockchain-driven, token-incentivized approach to encourage collective efforts in building physical infrastructure networks. While the term "DePIN" is new, projects deploying real-world physical infrastructure and hardware networks via cryptographic economic protocols have been in existence for some time. Notable examples include Helium, a decentralized network created in 2013, and Storj, a decentralized storage solution launched in 2014. These projects explored decentralized ways to build physical infrastructure networks in fields such as communications and storage. Subsequently, sectors like the internet, AI, energy, and data collection followed suit. Despite their differences, these projects share a common underlying mechanism, contributing to the flourishing landscape of DePIN today. Current State of DePIN Overview As of 2023, data from Messari and DePIN.Ninjia revealed that the DePIN ecosystem comprised 650 projects with a total market capitalization of $35 billion. These projects span various sectors, with 250 in computing, 200 in AI, 100 in wireless, 50 in sensors, 50 in energy, and 25 in services. The DePIN landscape's potential market size is estimated at approximately $2.2 trillion, projected to reach $3.5 trillion by 2028, according to Messari. According to CoinMarketCap (CMC) data, 60 DePIN projects have issued tokens, collectively amounting to a market cap of $1.33 billion. Among the top 100 projects by market cap are FIL, RNDR, HNT, THETA, BTT, AKT, and AR. Other notable examples include IOTX and ANKR, along with AI-related projects like TAO. The majority of the top 10 projects focus on AI, storage, and computing. However, DePIN currently occupies a small share of the crypto market, falling behind sectors like Meme, DeFi, and NFTs. Compared to the traditional IoT sector, DePIN has only 21 projects with a market cap exceeding $100 million and only 4 surpassing $1 billion. Based on these figures, the potential profitability of the DePIN sector is expected to be 243 times in the near-to-medium term and over 400 times in the mid-to-long term. Breakdown of DePINs Similar to IoTeX, DePINs can be categorized into software and hardware projects. Hardware encompasses sensors and wireless networks, while software includes computing, storage, network distribution, and AI. Although DePIN projects are decentralized physical infrastructure networks, their core business models focus on extracting value from data. · Sensors are responsible for data collection. · Wireless networks and network distribution are responsible for data transmission. · Computing is responsible for data processing. · Storage is responsible for data storage. · AI is responsible for data application. While hardware serves as the foundation, the evolution of DePIN projects lies in their ability to effectively utilize data. This echoes the growth model seen in traditional internet economies. Therefore, evaluating a DePIN project's potential requires a data-focused approach. Projects that utilize and control data well are more likely to succeed. It's essential to remove the speculative elements of crypto and focus on tangible value. DePIN Investors As mentioned earlier, investment institutions and entrepreneurs have shown significant interest in the DePIN sector. The limited number of new DePINs in early 2023 was primarily due to unfavorable market conditions and the sector's nascent stage. By the end of 2023, improving market conditions and accumulated experience led to the emergence of tangible prototypes, prompting their introduction to the market. These developments garnered attention, establishing DePINs as a noteworthy presence in a landscape hungry for technological innovation. Venture capital firms like Multicoin, Borderless, A16Z, and HTX Ventures have made substantial investments in the DePIN sector, focusing on projects with robust utility and minimal speculative elements. That said, DePINs still represent a small portion of their portfolios. The following image shows the capital raised by top DePIN projects.Top DePINs by Capital Raised. Solana DePIN Projects Solana: The Preferred Choice for DePIN Project Deployment · Solana DePIN projects boast a Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) exceeding $10 billion and a market capitalization of over $4 billion. According to CMC data, the top 500 Solana DePIN projects by market capitalization feature Render Network (RNDR), Helium Network (HNT), and Helium Mobile (MOBILE). Other notable DePINs include Helium IOT (IOT) and Hivemapper (HONEY). Recent trending projects include MOBILE and IOT, as well as getgrass, a bandwidth network market project set to issue tokens. · DePIN and Solana: A Synergistic Partnership Solana's recovery is attributed in part to the irreplaceability of Mass Adaption, especially DePIN and Web2 applications. Solana successfully met the needs of STEPN, a project that made Web3 stand out. Solana's cNFTs provide DePIN/PoPW nodes with more cost-effective authorization certificates, which is a common practice. The migration of RNDR and Helium to Solana has empowered these projects with enhanced capabilities. For instance, Render's transition enabled new features such as real-time streaming, dynamic NFTs, and state compression. This has significantly improved the network's performance and scalability while unlocking its range of use cases. Unlike high-value DeFi applications, DePIN projects are closely aligned with traditional edge computing and IoT concepts. They prioritize stability and affordability, while Solana excels in synchronization. Helium, with over 300,000 IoT devices and 3,000-some 5G devices, underscores the huge demand for hardware coordination, which can only be satisfied by Solana. · DePIN Brings High Value to Solana Projects like Helium have remarkably increased the number of active wallets within the Solana ecosystem. Helium alone reports over 60,000 active wallets monthly, engaged in activities like reward collection, staking, delegation, or token burning. Additionally, over 30,000 wallets are using other SPL programs, highlighting Helium's impact on the Solana ecosystem. From the perspectives of regulators and policymakers, DePIN showcases Solana's practical application, enhancing its legitimacy and brand recognition. Solana's Advantages · Superior Performance and Technological Advancements Solana boasts remarkable throughput capability, handling over 65,000 transactions per second (TPS) at peak times and between 2,500 to 3,000 TPS during regular periods. Notable performance features include rapid transaction confirmations, scalability, and block size. After the Firedancer upgrade, theoretical TPS could surpass 1 million, with routine TPS potentially exceeding 100,000. This is a primary reason why both Visa and DePIN have selected Solana. · Robust Token Standards and a Thriving Ecosystem Solana is a dynamic ecosystem with well-tested DEXs and established standards such as compressed NFTs (cNFTs), programmable NFTs (pNFTs), and Token Extensions. These provide fundamental components for DePIN projects to develop and launch their on-chain products. · Low Cost Even after the Cancun upgrade, Solana remains a low gas fee L1 solution. Some leading L2s, including ZK Rollup-based ZkSync and Starknet, as well as Optimistic Rollup-based Optimism and Base, have switched their DA layers to Ethereum mainnet Blob. This has reduced gas fees significantly, but not to the lowest level, as they didn't switch to Celestia. · Concentrated Liquidity, Composable Ecosystem, and Unified Community Significant ideological differences between Ethereum and other L2s have led to liquidity competition. This has been particularly pronounced in the current bull market, where minimal differentiation in technologies and ecosystems has resulted in limited wealth opportunities. General L2s pose no threat to competitive chains like Solana. Driven by the recent momentum of meme coins, Solana's DeFi ecosystem has experienced rapid growth, with TVL reaching $3.3 billion. This suggests the launch of more attractive yield products and speculative products on Solana. Coupled with RWA, AI, and DePIN projects, DeFi products are poised for greater composability. · An Active Developer Community Driving Innovative Projects and New Concepts Solana has nurtured an active developer community through hackathons and various incentives, driving the expansion of its ecosystem. Prominent projects like Magic Eden, Stepn, and jito have emerged. Solana maintains its developer ecosystem and community activities even during bear markets. Through consistent incentive measures and hackathons, Solana has improved its infrastructure and stimulated greater development of innovative applications, further fueling its ecosystem's growth. · Wealth Creation as the Best Marketing Tool Saga's massive airdrops lead the way for crypto phone strategies, fostering the unity within Solana's communities. Projects like Solend, Helius, Chads, and Solcial have announced airdrops, benefits, and giveaways for Saga 2 owners. In the recent bull market, meme coin $BOME achieved the feat of being listed on Binance within just three days. Ecosystem Developments Below is a summary of DePIN projects on Solana Summary of the Solana DePIN Ecosystem: Leading Projects: RNDR and Helium RNDR is a decentralized rendering platform. Helium Network is a wireless network project. Since its inception in 2014, Helium has raised over $350 million from renowned investors such as a16z, Deutsche Telekom, Google, and Tiger Global. It migrated to the Solana blockchain in April 2024. Its current ranking on CMC is 64. Second-tier Projects: Helium series (MOBILE and IOT), io.net, and Nosana MOBILE and IOT are projects within the Helium ecosystem. · IOT: The protocol token for the Helium IoT network, mined by LoRaWAN Hotspots through data transmission revenue and coverage proof. · MOBILE: The protocol token for the Helium 5G network, awarded to those who provide 5G wireless coverage and Helium network validation. MOBILE is currently ranked 166th on CMC. io.net is a "GPU Aggregator" that integrates GPU networks from data centers, crypto miners, and projects like Render, utilizing computing power for machine learning applications. Yet to issue tokens, it has 426,000 followers on Twitter. Its Serie A financing totaled $30 million, led by Hack VC, with participation from Multicoin Capital, 6th Man Ventures, M13, Delphi Digital, Solana Labs, and Aptos Labs. Its GUP miners have exceeded 50,000. Nosana is a consumer marketplace connecting user-provided GPU networks and aiming to develop AI products. Potential Projects: ALEPH, HONEY, and Shadow ALEPH is a storage solution and interchain database. Hivemapper (HONEY), launched in November 2022, is a decentralized global mapping network, rewarding contributors who collect 4K street images using dash cams through the Drive-to-Earn model. In April 2022, the project completed $18 million in financing, led by Multicoin Capital, with participation from industry professionals such as Solana's founder, former Apple Maps executives, and Helium's CEO. Hivemapper is currently ranked 513th on CMC. Shadow, a rival to Filecoin, employs Shdw Drive to reduce the cost of corporate data center storage by utilizing efficient traditional and action computing – a technology called DAGGER. Prospects of DePINs · As DePIN projects demand infrastructure with high throughput, they are likely to be established on high-performance L1 networks, or even on L2 or L3 solutions. · DePIN projects may explore various possibilities, including clean energy infrastructure and virtual power plants, exemplified by projects like Daylight and Etheos. · The transition of DePIN projects to larger platforms, as observed with Helium and Render, enables smaller projects to harness their capabilities for further development. · Dedicated DePIN chains have emerged, such as Peaq and IoTeX, two EVM/substrate chains specifically designed for DePINs. Additionally, some blue-chip DePIN projects, like Dimo, are using Polygon CDK to build their chains, indicating the demand for application chains. · The composability of DePIN with other ecosystems is particularly evident on Solana, exemplified by the wealth opportunities resulting from Bonk's airdrops to Saga holders. In the future, we can anticipate further integration between DePIN and DeFi for enhanced returns and speculative activities, as well as the fusion of DePIN with RWA, providing financing solutions for projects or data for the real world. Let's look at some examples. · DePIN x ZK As technology continues to advance, solutions like ZK TLS can prove the authenticity of Web2 or Web3 data, bridging the gap between the two. Combining DePIN with ZK technology will give rise to a flurry of Web3 projects capable of "vampire attacking" their Web2 counterparts, a development worth noting. Take Space and Time as an example. Space and Time is a verifiable compute layer that extends zero-knowledge proofs on decentralized data warehouses, providing trustless data processing for smart contracts, LLM, and enterprises. It connects indexed blockchain data with off-chain datasets and adopts Proof of SQL to prevent computations from being tampered and to validate the integrity of query results. Proof of SQL, a new ZK-proof develped by Space and Time, allows the data warehouse to generate a SNARK cryptographic proof of SQL query execution, proving that query computation was done accurately and that both the query and the data are verifiably tamperpoof. Through the project, developers can connect indexed on-chain and off-chain data, and perform low-latency cached queries and large-scale analytical tasks using SQL transformations. Additionally, they can customize data into business-specific patterns, deploy queries to APIs, and build dashboards. Meanwhile, zero-knowledge technology ensures that tamperproof query results are sent to smart contracts in a trustless manner or directly published on-chain. Currently, Space and Time has indexed Ethereum, Polygon, Sui, Sei, and Avalanche. It is supporting more chains while integrating with Chainlink. · DePIN x AI The development of decentralized physical infrastructure networks could revolutionize data utilization, including decentralized machine learning, exemplified by projects like Bittensor. Bittensor is an open-source protocol that powers a decentralized, blockchain-based machine-learning network. Machine learning models engage in collaboration training in TAO and receive rewards based on the value of information they contribute. TAO also facilitates external access, empowering users to extract information from the network and customize network activities to suit their requirements. · DePIN x Privacy As mentioned earlier, while DePINs are decentralized physical networks, their business models focus on data utilization. Protecting data privacy is paramount for large decentralized networks. Consequently, integrating privacy protection measures is imperative for the growth of DePIN. Therefore, it's crucial to keep an eye on the sector's integration with privacy-enhancing technologies. · DePIN x Gaming The integration of DePIN and gaming can be analyzed from multiple angles: 1. Large decentralized hardware networks may enhance gaming experiences to some extent. 2. The combined concept of real-world wearable devices, gaming, and metaverse could become popular again. 3. DePIN hardware infrastructure may reshape incentive mechanism and gaming experiences. References 1. https://www.panewslab.com/zh_hk/articledetails/8vy12wz3Ft.html 2. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/DE28WI5hE7OE5s2D-TFLxw 3. https://foresightnews.pro/article/detail/53218 4. https://DePIN.ninja/leader-board 5. https://DePINhub.io/rankings/investors About Us This article is a product of diligent work by the HTX Research Team that is currently under HTX Ventures. HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice. HTX Ventures presently backs over 200 projects spanning multiple blockchain sectors, with select high-quality initiatives already trading on the HTX exchange. Furthermore, as one of the most vigorous Fund of Funds (FOF) investors, HTX Ventures collaboratively forges the blockchain ecosystem alongside premier global blockchain funds, including IVC, Shima, and Animoca. Contact Details Michael Wang glo-media@htx-inc.com Company Website https://www.htx.com/en-us/ventures Disclaimer 1. The author of this report and his organization do not have any relationship that affects the objectivity, independence, and fairness of the report with other third parties involved in this report. 2. The information and data cited in this report are from compliance channels. The sources of the information and data are considered reliable by the author, and necessary verifications have been made for their authenticity, accuracy and completeness, but the author makes no guarantee for their authenticity, accuracy or completeness. 3. The content of the report is for reference only, and the facts and opinions in the report do not constitute business, investment and other related recommendations. The author does not assume any responsibility for the losses caused by the use of the contents of this report, unless clearly stipulated by laws and regulations. Readers should not only make business and investment decisions based on this report, nor should they lose their ability to make independent judgments based on this report. 4. The information, opinions and inferences contained in this report only reflect the judgments of the researchers on the date of finalizing this report. In the future, based on industry changes and data and information updates, there is the possibility of updates of opinions and judgments. 5. The copyright of this report is only owned by HTX Ventures. If you need to quote the content of this report, please indicate the source. If you need a large amount of references, please inform in advance (see “About HTX Ventures” for contact information) and use it within the allowed scope. Under no circumstances shall this report be quoted, deleted or modified contrary to the original intent. About HTX Ventures HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice. HTX Ventures presently backs over 200 projects spanning multiple blockchain sectors, with select high-quality initiatives already trading on the HTX exchange. Furthermore, as one of the most vigorous Fund of Funds (FOF) investors, HTX Ventures collaboratively forges the blockchain ecosystem alongside premier global blockchain funds, including IVC, Shima, and Animoca. Contact Details Michael Wang glo-media@htx-inc.com Company Website https://www.htx.com/en-us/ventures

May 03, 2024 10:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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How Can Small Investors Access Private Deals With Big Potential?

OurCrowd

By MATTHEW KALMAN OurCrowd allows investors to stake a claim in promising startups for as little as $10,000 “Stripe, a payments startup, is one of the most successful companies to emerge from Silicon Valley in a generation. Last year, it hit a valuation of $65 billion. But in the 15 years since it was founded, there has not been a way for most individuals to invest in it,” Erin Griffith reported in The New York Times in April. “It is a problem that has vexed retail investors for years, as startups like Stripe, SpaceX and OpenAI soar to enormous valuations in the private market,” Griffith says. “By the time the companies go public a decade or more after they started, their growth has often slowed and their valuations are high.” Even if you can access such deals, the minimum investment is “often very high,” James Seyffart, a research analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, tells Griffith. One rare access point for such private deals is OurCrowd, a global investment platform that has introduced its worldwide community of over 235,000 accredited investors to opportunities in more than 460 portfolio companies, attracting over $2.3 billion in commitments to date. The minimum investment in a single startup deal through OurCrowd can be as little as $10,000. <iframe width="560" height="315" src= https://www.youtube.com/embed/MOoAs0m2JRE?si=qS2U_CDdsArdnTip title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> The definition of “accredited investor” varies, depending on your jurisdiction. In the U.S., the SEC sets the bar at someone with an annual income of at least $200,000, or a net worth of $1 million or more. That’s because investing in startups is a high-return, high-risk business and investors must be wealthy and sophisticated enough to realize what they are getting into. Startup companies seeking private investment generally prefer to attract VCs, institutions, pension funds and high net worth individuals who can commit at least six-figure sums. This keeps the company’s cap table clean, allowing its executives to concentrate on building their business instead of fielding phone calls from dozens of retail investors. The result: thousands of would-be investors are locked out of opportunities where startups can sometimes grow by 50x or 100x. Extending Access The OurCrowd model blows open this exclusive club, extending access to these potential blockbuster deals to thousands of investors for whom a $100,000 investment in a single company is too high, but $10,000 is attractive. “OurCrowd is enabling hundreds of thousands of investors around the world to access the exciting venture capital asset class,” says Jon Medved, OurCrowd’s founder and CEO. “It turns out that if you want to make real money today, you have to invest in startup companies before they go public. In the good old days, you could have invested in something like Amazon or Microsoft, held it from an IPO and made thousands of times your money. But today that's not possible because the private companies are going public much later.” “The smart money, the smart investor, wants to find a way to get into these exciting dynamic growth stories while they're still private,” Medved says. While SpaceX did not appear on the OurCrowd platform, members have invested in Axiom Space, selected by NASA to build the successor to the International Space Station and NASA’s new generation of space suits; Stoke Space, which is developing reusable rockets for daily launch missions; ICON, which is creating 3D-printed housing for use on the Moon; and Ursa Major, America’s only independent provider of aerospace propulsion engines for the commercial space, hypersonic and defense launch markets. Likewise, OpenAI is not available via OurCrowd, but other promising AI companies have recently attracted millions of dollars of investment and, for investors wishing to further diversify, OurCrowd also offers a dedicated AI Fund. “It’s traditionally very hard for accredited investors and even family offices to invest in individual startup investment opportunities,” says Lisa Graston, OurCrowd’s associate director for Investor Relations. “You can invest via a VC fund, but then you’re relinquishing control and you’re dependent on the fund managers.” “Historically, the VC asset class has outperformed the public markets and it’s an asset class that’s really difficult to access. We are really democratizing the space,” Graston adds. To give investors added comfort, OurCrowd vets every opportunity offered on its platform and selects only a small number, invests its own money in every deal, and co-investors often include many of the world’s leading VCs and institutions. By participating through OurCrowd, smaller investors can secure access to some of the best classes of shares, anti-dilution protection and other privileges usually reserved for major shareholders. “It can be difficult to get a clear picture of the current valuation of a private company when you are investing through secondary marketplaces. When you invest with OurCrowd you are joining a funding round alongside other very experienced dealmakers, reducing the risk of investing at an outsized price compared to the current company value,” Graston says. OurCrowd is not a passive investor. It takes an active role in helping the companies added to its portfolio to succeed, often taking a seat on the board and introducing them to potential partners, customers and future investors. Recently, OurCrowd extended its offering beyond VC funds to additional private market alternatives, including venture debt, private credit and private equity funds where the entry ticket can start at half a million dollars or more. OurCrowd makes funds from top-tier managers available to investors at much lower minimums, enabling many more people to participate in these opportunities. “The innovation wave, which is changing all of our lives – whether telemedicine or e-commerce or climate change – is going to be led by entrepreneurs who are backed by smart money and smart investors,” Medved says. “OurCrowd is where those entrepreneurs meet the smart money on a global basis, where they can work together to benefit everyone.” For more information about investing in startups with OurCrowd, click HERE. Featured photo courtesy of OurCrowd. OurCrowd was started in 2013, driven by the idea that the business of building startups grows bigger and better when the global ‘crowd’ gains access to VC-level investment opportunities.Today, OurCrowd is a global venture and alternative investing platform that empowers institutions and individuals to invest and engage in emerging companies. OurCrowd vets and selects companies, invests its capital, and provides its global network with unparalleled access to co-invest and contribute connections, talent and deal flow. OurCrowd builds value for its portfolio companies throughout their lifecycles, providing mentorship, recruiting industry advisors, navigating follow-on rounds and creating growth opportunities through its network of multinational partnerships. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Lisa Graston lisa.graston@ourcrowd.com Company Website http://www.ourcrowd.com

May 03, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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