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Xeneta Appoints Peter Sand as Chief Analyst

Xeneta

Xeneta, the leading ocean and air freight rate benchmarking, market analytics platform and container shipping index, today announced the appointment of Peter Sand as Chief Analyst at Xeneta. Sand’s appointment comes on the heels of Xeneta successfully closing a $28.5 million Series C round at over a $130 million valuation. Sand is set to begin his role on Nov. 1. “We are excited to welcome a seasoned professional like Peter Sand who has extensive knowledge and a successful track record in the shipping and logistics industry,” said Xeneta CEO Patrik Berglund. “Peter is a staple in the market who consistently gives a fresh and global outlook into the ins and outs of the ever-changing container shipping world. His extremely well thought-through market commentaries and expert insights will serve to further position Xeneta’s data as the go-to-source for accurate container rate information. Sand joins Xeneta after over a decade at BIMCO, where he was responsible for analyzing commercial markets based on the global economic situation and its influence on trade. Prior to Sand’s Chief Shipping Analyst role at BIMCO, he worked with D/S NORDEN, a Danish shipping company operating in the dry cargo and tanker segments worldwide, as a Senior Analyst. Throughout his career, Sand has been regarded for his widely read articles and industry insights, as well as his regular appearances on global news networks such as CNN, BBC, CNBC and Bloomberg. He holds a Master’s in Economics from the University of Copenhagen. “This is an exciting time to be joining a pioneer-leading company and I am fortunate to become a part of the Xeneta team at a time where the company is experiencing growth and momentum,” said Sand. “Xeneta’s groundbreaking freight rate data insights addresses industry pain points and I am eager to leverage my shipping and logistics expertise to help navigate such an unprecedented time that our sector is facing.” As Chief Analyst, Peter Sand will be responsible for delivering expert insights to strengthen Xeneta’s state-of-the-art intelligence software for both ocean container and air freight. His analysis will be invaluable to the company’s strong portfolio of multi-billion dollar brands such as General Mills, Volvo, John Deere, Amer Sports, Rockwell Automation, Volvo and CEVA Logistics. For more information on Xeneta, visit www.xeneta.com. About Xeneta Xeneta is the leading ocean freight rate benchmarking and market analytics platform transforming the shipping and logistics industry. Xeneta’s powerful reporting and analytics platform provides liner-shipping stakeholders the data they need to understand current and historical market behavior – reporting live on market average and low/high movements for both short and long-term contracts. Xeneta’s data is comprised of over 280 million contracted container and air freight rates and covers over 160,000 global trade routes. Xeneta is a privately held company with headquarters in Oslo, Norway, and regional offices in New York and Hamburg. To learn more, please visit www.xeneta.com. Contact Details Xeneta Katherine Barrios +47 951 46 414 press@xeneta.com Trust Relations Noe Sacoco +1 408-340-8130 xeneta@trustrelations.agency

September 08, 2021 05:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ECI Development, Community Build Announce 400-Key Sustainable Tourism Village in El Salvador

ECI Development

ECI Development, a leading provider of responsibly developed properties in Central and South America, and The Community Build, a US-based non-profit that serves communities in El Salvador, today announced plans to develop a sustainable tourism village in El Salvador. The village will provide authentic tourist experiences that celebrate and conserve local heritage and culture and will grace the Pacific coast of El Salvador near the town of El Zonte, nicknamed “Bitcoin Beach,” known for its world-class surf beaches and Bitcoin economic ecosystem. The Community Build’s 40-acre property located near El Zante, and ECI Development’s village design, engineering, marketing, and construction, as well as property and rental management post-completion, will produce a tourism village that serves equally Salvadorians and North Americans. “There is currently a shortage of hotel rooms and homes for sale along the El Salvadorian coast. The residences we will develop will serve the Salvadorian and North American marketplace for both ownership and rentals,” said Michael Cobb, CEO of ECI Development. “Because of the central location along the best surf beaches in El Salvador, and the close proximity to the town of El Zonte, the property is perfect for the development of a sustainable eco-tourism village.” The eco-sustainable village will have 400-450 addresses with multiple price points and models for both rent and ownership, offering luxury condos, affordable condos, and tiny homes ranging from $150,000 to $1 million. El Salvador is the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender with a law that takes effect today, September 7. In light of this world first, ECI Development will offer property discounts when buyers use Bitcoin as opposed to fiat currency or financing. “We expect the tourism village to create sustainable jobs for young people in the city and surrounding area, helping boost the local economy and preventing migration to San Salvador, the capital and the country's most populous city,” said Mike Peterson, the founder and President of Missionsake, of which The Community Build is an initiative. “We also want to become the standard-bearer for Bitcoin transactions in real estate for this country and the world, ushering in a new level of comfort for the broader society to utilize Bitcoin in their daily lives.” About ECI Development ECI Development is a real estate development company that has been responsibly developing properties within communities in Nicaragua, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, and Argentina for more than 20 years. Visit www.ecidevelopment.com for more information. About The Community Build The Community Build is a non-profit organization born in 2017 designed to help foster the growth and education of the youth in El Zonte, El Salvador. The Community Build is an initiative of Missionsake. Missionsake exists to help develop the spiritual, mental, physical, and relational health of the missionary community in El Salvador and also of the local communities in which they serve. Visit thecommunitybuild.com for more information. Contact Details Razor Sharp PR Ray Young +1 512-633-6855 ray@razorsharppr.com Company Website https://www.ecidevelopment.com/

September 07, 2021 02:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Velocity Global named the presenting sponsor of PGA TOUR University

Velocity Global

Velocity Global has partnered with the PGA TOUR and GOLF Channel to become the presenting sponsor of PGA TOUR University, the PGA TOUR announced Tuesday. Additionally, Velocity Global, which delivers a global work platform for employers to grow compliant distributed workforces in 185 countries and all 50 United States, has been named the Official Global Workforce Solutions Platform of the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions as part of the multi-year agreement. Entering its second season, PGA TOUR University presented by Velocity Global rewards elite college players with access to Tours operated under the PGA TOUR umbrella, while upholding the principles and virtues of collegiate athletics. At the end of each college golf season, the top 15 players in the final Velocity Global Ranking earn status on the Korn Ferry Tour or a PGA TOUR international tour. The Class of 2022 Ranking will be finalized May 30 following the conclusion of stroke play at the NCAA D-I Men’s National Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. “We’re excited to welcome Velocity Global to the PGA TOUR family as the first-ever presenting sponsor of PGA TOUR University,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Velocity Global shares our passion in supporting the top collegiate golfers on their journey to the professional game, and we look forward to their partnership in growing PGA TOUR University together.” As the Official Global Workforce Solutions Platform and Official Professional Employer Organization of the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, Velocity Global will have a presence in programming throughout PGA TOUR media properties, align with PGA TOUR players and host customers at PGA TOUR events. “This partnership highlights access to opportunity. The Velocity Global Ranking identifies the top players in college golf and rewards them with access to the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA TOUR’s international network of competition, just as we make global work accessible to employers and talent,” said Ben Wright, Velocity Global Founder and CEO. “We’re proud to partner with the PGA TOUR to open doors for these players and support the game’s future stars, as Velocity Global supports the future of work.” Billy Horschel, a six-time PGA TOUR winner and the 2014 FedExCup champion, is a global brand ambassador for Velocity Global and an avid supporter of college golf. During his four-year career at the University of Florida, Horschel was a two-time SEC Player of the Year and a four-time All-American. “Velocity Global is the perfect match to present the top college players in the world of golf because it is the company that drives how work gets done for the next generation,” said Horschel. “They cheer for hard work and success, and that’s exactly what the PGA TOUR University presented by Velocity Global does. It creates access to global opportunities for these players to compete right away which is so important for their development as pros. I look forward to competing against these guys really soon.” In addition to being the presenting sponsor of PGA TOUR University, the agreement also includes a partnership with GOLF Channel. PGA TOUR University and the Velocity Global Ranking will be featured each Wednesday on Golf Today and within weekly live tournament coverage, as well as across GOLF Channel and PGA TOUR digital platforms throughout the season. GOLF Channel’s first college tournament broadcast of the season is next week’s Maridoe Collegiate Invitational (September 13-15). Additionally, GOLF Channel will collaborate with Velocity Global to highlight a new PGA TOUR University charity program to be announced at a future date. “As the television home of college golf, we’re excited to continue the growth and development of PGA TOUR University alongside our partners at the PGA TOUR,” said Tom Knapp, EVP, Partnerships and Programming, NBC Sports. “The addition of an international partner like Velocity Global enhances our ability to cultivate this important platform, and ensure the top collegiate players will be showcased on GOLF Channel as they progress toward competing throughout the professional ranks and ultimately on the PGA TOUR.” The PGA TOUR University Class of 2021 made their marks in their first summers as professionals. Arizona State’s Kevin Yu finished 4th in the 2021 Velocity Global Ranking, and he posted five top-25s and two top-five finishes in eight starts on the Korn Ferry Tour. On the Forme Tour, Arizona’s Trevor Werbylo and SMU’s Mac Meissner both have wins after finishing 9th and 8th, respectively, in last year’s Velocity Global Ranking. With one event remaining this season, Werbylo leads the Order of Merit and Meissner is fifth, and both players are in position to be promoted to the Korn Ferry Tour next season. For more information, please visit www.pgatour.com/university or  velocityglobal.com. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its global work platform simplifies the employer and employee experience to employ any talent anywhere with just a click through its proprietary cloud-based workforce management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. The company offers additional services including Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across five continents. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. About PGA TOUR University presented by Velocity Global PGA TOUR University presented by Velocity Global rewards elite college players with access to Tours operated under the PGA TOUR umbrella, while upholding the principles and virtues of collegiate athletics. Introduced in 2020, the program strengthens and elevates the path to the PGA TOUR through the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR international tours. The Velocity Global Ranking will be featured on GOLF Channel each Wednesday on Golf Today and within weekly live tournament coverage, as well as across GOLF Channel and PGA TOUR digital platforms throughout the season. For more information, please visit www.pgatour.com/university and follow PGA TOUR University on Twitter and Instagram (@PGATOURU). Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com PGA TOUR Chris Richards ChrisRichards@pgatourhq.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

September 07, 2021 09:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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RESTAURANT OPERATORS BEWARE OF ONLINE MENU BLIND SPOTS AND SUGGESTIVE SELLING TOO LATE

Revenue Management Solutions

Revenue Management Solutions, in partnership with the University of South Florida’s Center for Marketing and Sales Innovation (CMSI) and CMSI Director and Study Primary Investigator Dr. Rob Hammond, has released preliminary findings from its newest study using remote eye-tracking technology to analyze how consumers navigate online menus. TGI Fridays volunteered to participate in the first phase of the study. Early results could mark big learning for restaurants: Distinct search patterns revealed blind spots when customers review online menus on a desktop. Suggestive selling opportunities within the “buyer’s journey” of online ordering identified, a set of discrete phases uncovered during analysis. The research, which began in May 2021, marks the first remote eye-tracking study of online ordering behavior. New technology developed by iMotions in collaboration with CMSI allowed researchers to use participants’ own webcams to gather eye-tracking data as they ordered from TGI Fridays’ online test menu via their desktops or laptops. Data was analyzed using Emotional Artificial Intelligence tools, and pre- and post-study survey responses assessed participants’ recall of their ordering journey, behavior and total spend. “In the past 18 months, we’ve undergone a seismic shift in the way our customers interact with our menu,” said Sara Bittorf, Chief Experience Officer at TGI Fridays. “The research has already given us tools to improve the guest experience and increase menu profitability. We’re looking forward to exploring further menu engineering insights as the research proceeds.” Blind Spots Revealed According to the eye-tracking data and the research team’s gaze-path analysis, preliminary findings indicate a persistent blind spot on the left side of the menu. Though each respondent had a unique path, respondents started with a site’s main menu categories (appetizers, sandwiches, etc.), reading across from left to right. Respondents’ focus then shifted down toward the center of the screen, like a “T,” and navigated predominantly to the right of the center. Results show that approximately 50% of the time, respondents missed items displayed on the left of the screen altogether. Suggestive Selling The RMS and USF research team also uncovered a distinct buyer’s journey within the online ordering process, revealing untapped opportunities for suggestive selling. They observed four discrete phases with mental tasks and outcomes for each, including: Familiarization: Respondents scanned the entire menu/website. Exploration: Respondents narrowed and evaluated choices. Affirmation: Respondents began adding items to the cart while toggling back to menu options to add or search additional items. Confirmation: Respondents completed checkout. “We found that respondents were more likely to change their mind or add items during the exploration and affirmation phases of the process,” said Ryan Garner, data architect for Revenue Management Solutions. “Yet most suggestive selling happens during checkout. If these results translate across many menus — and we anticipate that they will — it could be a game changer for operators.” Researchers are finalizing the next phase of the ongoing research, which will be open to interested brands. Subsequent phases will investigate how consumers navigate brand menus with different designs across various media, including online, mobile and physical menus. Analysis will also include age and gender demographics, compare cost/spend recall to actual cost and evaluate other ordering behaviors. The research will conclude this winter. RMS first partnered with CMSI in 2019 to conduct in-laboratory eye-tracking research that revolutionized how the industry thinks about the way we read physical restaurant menus. For more than 25 years, RMS has served restaurant industry leaders with data analytics expertise and profitability solutions. This research is true to RMS’ roots — using restaurant industry science and data and translating highly academic insights into practical solutions for restaurants. About Revenue Management Solutions RMS provides numerous data-driven solutions and services to the restaurant industry, all designed to help brands drive sales and profitability while maintaining traffic and enhancing brand value long-term. RMS works with more than 50 major brands in more than 40 countries, with its patented processes of revenue management used in more than 100,000 restaurant locations globally. The company holds five U.S. patents on menu pricing and customer segmentation and supports ongoing academic research efforts. For more information on how RMS helps its clients, visit www.revenuemanage.com. About TGI Fridays As the world’s first casual bar and grill, TGI Fridays is the birthplace of fun, freedom, and celebration, bringing people together to socialize and experience “That Fridays Feeling TM ”: a sense of celebrating the fun in everyday moments, big and small. For over 50 years, Fridays has been lifting spirits around the world with more than 700 restaurants in 54 countries, serving high-quality, classic American food and iconic drinks backed by authentic and genuine service. Visit www.Fridays.com for more information and join Fridays Rewards®. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact Details Tracy Henderson +1 720-989-3530 tracy@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://www.revenuemanage.com

September 07, 2021 08:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Infinix & Royal Observatory Greenwich team up for a unique out of this world collaboration

Infinix

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach - 6 September 2021 – Global smartphone brand Infinix has embarked on a corporate partnership with the Royal Observatory Greenwich in London as part of the company’s commitment and pursuit towards science and innovation, and is an exciting way to bring the public closer to astronomy using groundbreaking new technology from Infinix. As part of their support, Infinix is also making a sizable donation to the Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope at the Royal Observatory so that people can learn about the universe and get inspired to explore for generations to come. Skye Chen, Head of Infinix Global Public Relations said, “Infinix is proud to be on the list of donors to the Greenwich Observatory as a supporter of astronomy. As a supporter of astronomy, Infinix has kept a true to heart brand spirit of empowering today’s youth in the emerging markets to explore themselves, that has deeply resonated with space exploration and Greenwich’s philosophy in exploring astronomy. Lucy Cooke, Head of Development at Royal Museums Greenwich said, “We are very grateful for Infinix’s generous support and commitment to increasing access to astronomy. The collaboration is a natural fit for both our organisations and we are delighted that together, we can give more people the opportunity to explore and experience the Moon and universe.” As part of the corporate partnership, Infinix will be holding an online workshop at the world-famous UNESCO world heritage site at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, titled “Infinix presents: See beyond”, on September 13 th, 2021, which will bring together a unique panel of experts, hailing from both the astronomy and technology fields. Starting from where the eastern and western hemispheres meet, the Observatory will also be the launch location of Infinix’s brand new smartphone that features ground-breaking photography technology, aiming to provide a creative platform for the younger generation, and take them from ZERO to hero. Stay tuned to social media and website updates for more information on the corporate partnership and the Infinix presents: See beyond event. About Infinix: Infinix Mobile is an emerging smartphone brand that designs, manufactures and markets an expanding portfolio of mobile devices worldwide under the Infinix brand which was founded in 2013. Targeting Generation Z, Infinix focuses on developing cutting-edge technology embodied in meticulously designed mobile devices that offer refined style, power and performance. Infinix devices are trendy, energetic, attainable & progressive with the end-user at the forefront of every step forward. With “THE FUTURE IS NOW” as its brand essence, Infinix aims to empower today’s youth to stand out from the crowd and show the world who they are & what they stand for. The company’s portfolio of products is sold in more than 40 countries around the world, covering Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Expanding at a phenomenal rate, Infinix grew an unprecedented 160% during 2018-2020 and has huge plans to continue creating premium designed flagship-level devices offering striking designs and strong value propositions. https://www.infinixmobility.com/ Facebook: @InfinixMobile Instagram: @infinixglobal Twitter: @Infinix_Mobile About Royal Observatory Greenwich: Notes for editors: 1. The Royal Observatory Greenwich is home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian and one of the most important historic scientific sites in the world. Since its founding in 1675, Greenwich has been at the centre of the measurement of time and space, and visitors today can still stand on the historic Prime Meridian line. The Observatory galleries and Peter Harrison Planetarium help unravel the extraordinary phenomena of time, space and astronomy. In 2018 the Royal Observatory acquired the Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope (AMAT), the first new telescope to be installed in Greenwich in over 60 years, marking a new era for the world-famous site and restoring its status as a working Observatory. 2. The Royal Observatory Greenwich is part of Royal Museums Greenwich which also incorporates the National Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House and Cutty Sark. This unique collection of museums and heritage buildings, which form a key part of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomes over two and a half million British and international visitors a year and is also a major centre of education and research. The mission of Royal Museums Greenwich is to enrich people’s understanding of the sea, the exploration of space, and Britain's role in world history. Contact Details Infinix Infinix PR team Global.PR@infinixmobility.com Royal Observatory Greenwich Naomi Finn nfinn@rmg.co.uk Company Website https://www.infinixmobility.com/

September 06, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Pencil announces free creative AI dashboard for brands to learn from their past Facebook ads

Pencil

Creative AI company Pencil has today released a free creative AI dashboard and also an Instant Predictive Audit (IPA) which can analyse thousands of Facebook and Instagram ads to generate new ideas and predictions for ecommerce and SME advertisers. Pencil is the only automated system which generates unlimited video ads that then learn to improve and drive more sales over time. The new creative dashboard will be free forever, and automatically analyses a Facebook account, and then groups all of a brand’s previous ads into “winners” and “losers.” Winners are ads that are performing above a threshold (e.g. the average, top 10%, or top 25%) on a particular metric, and they can be used to generate new strong ideas, with a “More like this” feature. Losing ads can be switched out and improved in a few clicks using the “Replace” feature, and there’s also indicators to identify “Fatiguing” and “Scaling” ideas. “The new creative AI dashboard is going to significantly improve the way we build and run ads on Facebook and Instagram,” said Tye DeGrange, founder of Round Barn Labs. “We already know that creative quality and variety is driving more than 50% of our performance for us on Facebook, but identifying winners and losers with the speed and scale we want is often difficult. We estimate this tool will change the game for our team, improving our vision, speed, creativity, and results.” Pencil’s customers will be able to access the new IPA which will audit thousands of ads to provide “Day Zero” new ideas and predictions, enabling brands to use their best creative to make their next creative. Previously, users needed to run sufficient Pencil ads and media investment before gathering enough data to see any predictions, which might take several weeks. Now with the IPA, Pencil already knows on Day Zero what has worked before and what didn’t, and users get predictions built on all their past Facebook ad tests. Pencil also revealed that 3 out of 4 Pencil users successfully find ad “winners” which outperform their average performance benchmarks. On average these winning ads beat their baselines by 79% (ROAS, return on advertising spend) and 48% (CPA, cost per acquisition). The new data was published in the Q3’2021 edition of “Creative AI Works”, based on an analysis of over 650 Pencil ads that ran between November 2020 and July 2021. The report also found that teams which ran 10 or more Pencil ads were typically able to find “winners” that performed 100% higher than ROAS baselines and 50% lower than CPA baselines. The full report can be downloaded here. Will Hanschell, CEO and co-founder of Pencil commented: “These results and these new features mean that we and our users are already further ahead with Creative AI than where we expected to be during 2021. We didn’t want to just build a product, we wanted to create a whole new system, to help solve this $100 billion video advertising industry problem. We now have an effective, integrated SaaS system tested and launched, and a way for any small business to get started and get value immediately.” Finally, these new features would not be possible without the outstanding partnership and performance of CLIP. IPA utilizes OpenAI's CLIP neural network, which is trained across 400 million image-language data points to learn the presence of concepts in the images automatically. Earlier in the year, Pencil upgraded from OpenAI’s GPT-2 to GPT-3 to drive its ad copy generation, and saw its success rates jump from ~65% to over 95%. About Pencil Pencil is a Creative AI company on a mission to generate unexpected ideas that get results. Pencil generates ads that learn to drive sales, delivering the return on ad spend that helps brands scale their businesses. Pencil was founded in 2018 with a team from Google, Facebook and Uber and is backed by Sequoia Capital India, Wavemaker Partners, Singapore Innovate and Entrepreneur First. Further information visit: www.trypencil.com Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com

September 02, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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BRP Selects Akeneo to Rev Up the Powersports Product Experience

Akeneo

BRP, a global leader in the world of powersports vehicles and propulsion systems, today announced its selection of Akeneo’s product experience management (PXM) platform to drive digital transformation, increase customer lifetime value, and boost the brand’s net promoter score (NPS). Akeneo will play a pivotal role in accelerating BRP’s growth plan. Akeneo’s PXM solutions will deliver brand consistency across BRP’s portfolio of websites, which include 10 main eCommerce sites, numerous build-your-own sub-sites, and a corporate online hub. Akeneo will also deliver a unified product information architecture to break down internal silos, allowing BRP to replace numerous disparate product-data spreadsheets with a single integrated software solution for the entire company. Built using Magento, and with the support of Accenture as digital consultant and O2 Web as the systems integrator, BRP’s eCommerce network handles thousands of SKUs and many product combinations, including countless options to configure colors, engines, accessories, gears, and more. Akeneo will empower BRP to improve the customer experience across all touch-points, enabling customers to build their own orders but still enjoy a streamlined, consistent experience with dealers. BRP will also benefit from Akeneo’s recent PXM Studio launch, with new tools to support its complex business needs, and Akeneo Onboarder, which enables businesses to strengthen collaborative relationships with external suppliers and rapidly integrate up-to-date product information into their Akeneo PIM deployment. About Akeneo Akeneo is a global leader in Product Experience Management (PXM) helping businesses with products to unlock growth opportunities by delivering a consistent and compelling product experience across all channels, including eCommerce, mobile, print, points of sale and beyond. With its open platform, leading PIM, add-ons, connectors and marketplace, Akeneo PXM Studio dramatically improves product data quality and accuracy, simplifies catalog management, and accelerates the sharing of product information across channels and locales. Leading global brands, manufacturers, distributors and retailers, including Staples Canada, Fossil, Air Liquide and Myer, trust Akeneo to scale and customize their omnichannel commerce initiatives. Using Akeneo, brands and retailers can improve customer experience, increase sales, reduce time to market, go global, and boost team productivity. More information at https://www.akeneo.com Contact Details Ran XU +1 213-309-2373 ran@rosebudpr.io Company Website https://www.akeneo.com

September 02, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

True Global Ventures 4 Plus, World’s First Truly Global Blockchain Equity Fund, Oversubscribed Surpassing $100M Target

True Global Ventures

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 1 September 2021 - True Global Ventures (TGV) announced its recently closed True Global Ventures 4 Plus (TGV 4 Plus) Fund, the world’s first truly global blockchain equity fund was oversubscribed—surpassing its US$100 million target. The fund is dedicated to blockchain companies, primarily in late-stage Series B and C across four verticals: Entertainment, infrastructure, financial services, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI). The TGV 4 Plus fund has invested in five companies to date: Animoca Brands, unicorn global market leader in “Play-to-Earn” blockchain gaming and non-fungible tokens (NFTs); Forge Global, global market leader in secondary private markets; The Sandbox, global market leader in gaming metaverse; Canada Computational Unlimited, Bitcoin mining company with 100% renewable energy and QuantumRock, AI asset management market leader. Under TGV 4 Plus, these portfolio companies have seen material value creation and commercial traction in the past months. Eric Munson, CIO & Founder, Adit Ventures, said, “We’ve been impressed by TGV’s unique deal sourcing and selection of bold entrepreneurs and companies globally. This has enabled us to deliver outsized returns across all our family, friends and investor partners.” Financial institutions are a key growth driver as they look to deploy blockchain applications in NFTs, enterprise blockchain solutions, digital identities, digital currencies, and decentralized finance (DeFi). Increased commercial adoption of distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) such as blockchain will accelerate the mainstream adoption of digital currencies. With the growing recognition of blockchain equity as an asset class, TGV plans for more equity funding rounds, following the TGV 4 Plus Fund launch. TGV 4 Plus’ 40 partners contributed 27% of the fund, together with entrepreneurs, business angels, family offices and institutional investors, many with co-investment rights in future equity rounds. The partners help portfolio companies with commercial relationships, investment promotions, introductions to VCs, loans, and private equity firms for refinancing, and company acquisitions and exits. “The TGV team continues to demonstrate their incredible value add to their portfolio companies by helping them not only with client introductions but also with next round financing and ultimately exits,” said Howard Morgan, Chairman, B Capital Group, Co-Founder, First Round Capital. The 57th True Global Ventures Conference: Bridge between Nordics and North America will be held on September 16, 2021. Visit www.tgv4plus.com for more information. About True Global Ventures True Global Ventures (TGV) is a global Venture Capital firm built by a group of serial entrepreneurs with a solid track record of investing their own money together with Limited Partners into early and late-stage ventures run by serial entrepreneurs. Portfolio companies leverage technology, data, AI and blockchain as a competitive advantage to drive change with proven products. TGV is present in 20 cities: Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Moscow, Stockholm, Paris, Warsaw, New York, San Francisco, and Vancouver, among others. Visit us at www.tgv4plus.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details True Global Ventures info@trueglobalventures.com

September 01, 2021 10:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Spotlight Sports Group Acquires Alarm Sports Network, Leading US Fantasy Sports Operator

Spotlight Sports Group

Spotlight Sports Group announced today the acquisition of FA Media LLC (Alarm Sports Network), a leading fantasy sports technology and media company, in an all-cash transaction. Spotlight Sports Group is a world-leading technology, content and media company specializing in sports betting and fantasy sports. Alarm Sports Network provides white-label proprietary technology solutions and free-to-play contests for blue-chip media and sports content providers. It also develops engaging content for its popular consumer sports platforms: Fantasy Alarm, DFS Alarm and Wager Alarm. The addition of these services to Spotlight Sports Group creates an all-encompassing sports betting and fantasy sports offering. Spotlight Sports Group is recognized for its sports betting expertise on direct-to-consumer platforms like Pickswise, one of the fastest-growing sports betting content providers in North America, and Racing Post in the UK and Ireland. Spotlight Sports Group also supplies sports betting technology, tooling and actionable content to drive user engagement for the world’s leading sportsbooks and media owners. “This acquisition immediately accelerates our growth across North America with the addition of proprietary technology and authoritative, scalable content. We are delighted to be joining forces with a vastly experienced management team steeped in fantasy sports and sports betting expertise. ASN will also broaden our business-to-business footprint through partnerships with Yahoo, FTN Network, SiriusXM and others,” said Alan Byrne, CEO of Spotlight Sports Group. “This is a transformative deal for Spotlight Sports Group. It allows us to combine the skills and expertise which have fueled our digital growth in the UK and Ireland with the talent and flair of the team at ASN in order to have a significant impact on the all-important US market.” Key highlights from the deal include: Spotlight Sports Group will retain the expertise of the Alarm Sports Network team: co-founders Dan and Al Williams, former NBC executive and Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association Hall-Of-Famer Rick Wolf and former FOX Sports & EA Sports executive Ed Bunnell. Alarm Sports Network, who developed the technology to help drive user engagement and revenue at sports media companies like FTN Network, Yahoo, Bally Sports and The Nation Network, will fold into Spotlight Sports Group’s brand. ASN brands Fantasy Alarm, Wager Alarm, DFS Alarm and Fantasy Rundown join Pickwise in a new look direct-to-consumer brand roster for sports bettors and fantasy players across North America. Spotlight Sports Group will integrate the ASN team, growing the Group’s staff to more than 500 people. “This deal creates a powerhouse sports betting and fantasy sports business, proven to drive revenue with engagement-led solutions. Using our unique mix of product technology, expert content and authoritative brands, we will continue to deepen our relationships with our partners to help them grow and monetize their audiences,” said Rick Wolf, President Alarm Sports Network. “We are tremendously excited to become part of Spotlight Sports Group, working together to help solve challenges and drive innovation for our partners in the fast-evolving sports media and affiliate landscape,” added Dan Williams, Co-Founder. For more information on Spotlight Sports Group please visit: https://www.spotlightsportsgroup.com/en_us/ ABOUT SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP Spotlight Sports Group (owned by Exponent Private Equity) is a leading technology, content and media business specializing in sports betting. Evolved from the Racing Post Group, Spotlight Sports Group engages millions of people directly through Racing Post, Pickswise, Free Super Tips and myracing. The company also has decades of experience in powering growth and conversion for the world’s biggest sportsbooks and media companies, delivering best-in-class technology and expert scalable content experiences in more than 70 languages. ABOUT THE ALARM SPORTS NETWORK Alarm Sports Network’s (ASN) mission is to create products, services and content that entertain and inform so that sports fans can learn, play and win whether it is fantasy sports or sports betting. This has been achieved through three digital platforms: Fantasy Alarm, Wager Alarm and DFS Alarm. ASN platforms cover all 10 major US sports (including Esports) offering a mix of free and premium content. The business-to-business division supplies media companies with a range of tools from data modelled projections for player performance to full turnkey white-label platforms and free-to-play contests. Contact Details Michael Adorno +1 212-931-6143 madorno@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://www.spotlightsportsgroup.com/en_us/

September 01, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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