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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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YuMOVE Offers Tips for Walking Your New Pandemic Puppy

Lintbells

For many across the country, new work from home policies, quarantines, social distancing, and loneliness all added to the appeal of adding a new puppy to the home. Whether the timing was right for a pandemic puppy or owners had been planning on a new puppy for a while, there’s no doubt pet ownership is on the rise. Bringing a puppy home for the first time can be exciting, with owners anxious to get out for ‘walkies’ as soon as possible. But too much exercise especially high-impact exercise, can be bad for puppies and increase the chance of broken bones. “When a puppy is born, its bones are not fully formed,” said Veterinarian Dr. Craig Prior, B.V.Sc., C.V.J., member of YuMOVE veterinary advisory board. “The age at which the growth plates close or stop growing varies hugely between individuals, breeds and joints, but tends to be somewhere between six months and two-and-a-half years, with an average of about a year. Some studies have suggested that too much exercise before these growth plates close can put strain on joints and increase the risk of various bone and joint conditions.” Here’s a helpful chart to reference before taking your puppy out. Other tips to keep in mind when walking puppies include: Walk don’t run – Until your puppy is fully grown, avoid taking them for a jog, cycle ride, or any other type of vigorous exercise. Pay attention- While you’re walking, pay attention to your puppy, and stop if you notice them getting tired – even if it’s been less than the recommended exercise time. Vaccinations- avoid other dogs and public areas until 5-7 days after vaccination round two to keep them from getting sick. Heat- puppies, like adult dogs and humans, can be at risk for heatstroke if temperatures get too hot. Keep puppies inside if the temperature exceeds 90 degrees and pay attention to the pavement temperature as the ground can get much hotter than the surrounding air. Hold the back of your hand to the pavement for 10 seconds. If you can’t hold for the full amount, it’s too hot for your puppy as well. Play- Gentle tug of war games and rolling a ball slowly for your pup is okay, but Charging after a ball that has been thrown, or excessive rough and tumble with a larger dog should be avoided. Pet owners should talk with their veterinarian about any questions or concerns with their puppy’s activity or growing hips/joints. Being proactive and taking steps to optimize the health of your younger dog once they get to be about three years of age is a good thing as well! It means they’ll be less likely to develop problems with stiffness and mobility as they grow older. Supplements can be used by younger dogs- not recommended for use on puppies- but be sure to look for a product designed especially to support active and growing joints such as YuMOVE Young & Active joint support for dogs 5 years and younger. Interviews, additional veterinarian advice and supporting documentation available upon request. For more information on hip/joint health and keeping pets active for life, please visit https://yumove.com/blogs/health-guides. About YuMOVE YuMOVE is clinically proven* and the #1 hip and joint supplement in the UK** now available in the US. YuMOVE is on a mission to keep pets ‘active for life’ which is why we are committed to making the best joint support products in the world. Packed with unique ActivEase® Green Lipped Mussels, sustainably sourced from select New Zealand bays, YuMOVE is full of antioxidants and Omega 3. Its unique premium formula aids joint development supports active joints and structure and promotes mobility. www.yumove.com *Study conducted by the Royal Veterinary College of London, United Kingdom **Kynetec VetTrak data, sales through veterinary wholesalers, February 2021 About Lintbells Lintbells, the UK's #1 Vet Recommended Dog Joint Supplement company, currently helps more than 1 million dogs across Europe and the United States. In March 2019, Lintbells officially entered the US Market with the introduction of their most popular product abroad, YuMOVE Soft Chews. This joint supplement promotes joint and cartilage health in dogs of all breeds and sizes. Made from all-natural, human-grade, non-GMO ingredients, the secret to YuMOVE Soft Chews' success comes from Lintbells own ActivEase® Green Lipped Mussel (or GLM). GLM, a superfood derived from the purest sources in New Zealand, is an essential ingredient with extraordinary properties that improves joint function, mobility, and reduces discomfort in our dogs. This unique ingredient, rich with more Omega 3s than any other GLM, is naturally anti-inflammatory, meaning our dog's stiff joints are eased naturally. To learn more, visit www.yumove.com Contact Details Jamie Baxter +1 775-322-4022 jamie@theimpetusagency.com Company Website https://yumove.com/

August 31, 2021 10:31 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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EBY - The Authority in Seamless Underwear - Announces $6 Million in Series A Funding and the Launch of their Limited Edition Seamless Luxe Collection

EBY

Women’s empowerment & tech apparel company EBY announces today that they have raised $6M in Series A funding. Co-Founded by entrepreneur Renata M. Black in 2018, EBY is the ‘authority in seamless underwear’ - utilizing uniquely applied no-slip-grip technology to their seamless panties and bralettes. The direct-to-consumer brand also works to enable women to support other women with the one decision they make every morning - the underwear they decide to wear. 10% of proceeds from EBY underwear sales go to the Seven Bar Foundation to empower women through microfinance: small business loans to women in poverty that lead to incredible outcomes. Colt Ventures, a Dallas based investment firm, led the company’s $6M Series A financing. Colt is a diversified firm that is active in biotechnology, oil & gas, technology, consumer/retail, special situations, and real estate. The firm has a long track record of successful exits and has made notable investments in e-commerce food delivery company Deliveroo, online video platform Rumble, and marketing automation platform Eloqua. "Now more than ever, we are excited to invest in a female led company such as EBY that is bursting with market potential and has a notable social mission to support women globally. Just like Colt Ventures, EBY is laser focused on the future. We were highly impressed with Renata’s bold vision and the business she has built to date. We are excited to support her as the company enters its next growth phase.” - Sundeep Agrawal M.D., General Partner EBY’s fast growth has garnered investment from other notable investors including Silicon Valley venture capitalist firm Azure Capital (which boasts a portfolio that comprises of Native Deodorants, Bouqs and Sleep 8), Robert DiRomualdo (Chairman of Ulta Beauty), Ken Goldman (former CFO of Yahoo), and Duncan Neiderauer (former CEO of the New York Stock Exchange). EBY plans to use the funding to open new channels, make key new hires, and expand their influencer marketing efforts to support their rapid growth, which has seen 10,000 5-star customer reviews in under three years. They will be launching several new product lines over the rest of 2021, including their Limited Edition Seamless Luxe Collection, launching today - ultra-comfortable, premium seamless panty and bralette sets ranging from $21-$69. Seamless Luxe pieces will be available in two, limited edition colorways: Sakura - a beautiful hand-painted floral print, and Roseata Fleur - a luxury, lilac-like purple. The print was created in partnership with emerging graphic artist Laura Matson, in keeping with EBY’s mission of empowering women in business. In addition to the Seamless Luxe Collection, EBY will launch additional premium collections, a period underwear, and a mesh collection throughout the rest of the year. Body-inclusive EBY offers seamless underwear in sizes XS-4XL, servicing over 100 million plus-size customers who cannot shop at some of the largest retail stores in the U.S. Its flocking technology acts as a second skin and has garnered EBY with a reputation as a best-in-class seamless product. EBY’s membership program also offers consumers an underwear subscription box with exclusive product and members-only pricing. The company’s core mission is female empowerment - not only through their offerings to their loyal subscribers and shoppers, but also by supporting women in poverty through the power of microfinance. By the end of this year, EBY will have impacted over 15,000 women and children out of poverty into business. “EBY is in a unique place in a competitive market as an all-size inclusive, tech-commerce brand with a social mandate. It’s not just about revenue and growth, it's about impact and creating lasting relationships with our customers.” - Renata M. Black, Co-Founder Prices for the Seamless Luxe Collection range from $21-$69 For more information on EBY, please visit https://shop.join-eby.com. Contact Details Amber Cardullo acardullo@ogakidigital.com Company Website https://shop.join-eby.com

August 30, 2021 08:08 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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New CBD-Infused Hair and Skin Care Line Launching at Cosmoprof

LuckCBD

LUCKCBD announced today the official launch of its line of “Good Mojo” CBD hair and skin care products. These high-performing products include USA-grown CBD isolate along with other high-quality and effective ingredients. LUCK CBD is committed to offering products specially formulated with CBD to help people achieve their goal of beautiful, healthy hair and skin. LUCK CBD will debut its product line at the upcoming Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) exhibition in Las Vegas, Nev. on Aug. 29-31, 2021, at booth number 45192. LUCK CBD has been selected as one of the few brands to be featured in Cosmo Trends, the annual beauty report that advises the beauty industry of the most innovative products at Cosmo Prof. “We’re very excited to bring Good Mojo to the beauty space with our line of CBD-infused products. Not only does CBD represent one of the fastest-developing sectors in the country, but I’ve felt the market was missing something particularly in hair care. We use a healthy-hair matrix that includes organic pea shoot extract, amino acids, and USA-farmed CBD. We believe this combination results in outstanding formulas that work,” says Annie Seal, President, and Owner of LUCK CBD. “Our products use these efficacious, high-quality ingredients and we’re seeing that LUCK CBD products truly help people reach their personal hair goals.” The product line includes shampoo, conditioner, hair serum, hair mask, and all-over skin oil. The color-safe shampoo and conditioner are available in two scents, rosemary lavender, and peppermint essential oils to provide an aromatherapy experience. Each LUCK CBD product contains CBD oil that is Botanacor or Pro Verde certified to ensure consumers are receiving the highest quality CBD, without the THC and within federal regulations. LUCK CBD products are packed with ingredients that can help restore hair. We believe the CBD helps ingredients work efficiently. The super gentle sudsing agents helps hair to rinse clean, so there is no residue, film, or oil left on the hair. The result is clean, nourished hair, so that ones’ natural beauty can shine through. LUCK CBD products contain a variety of high-quality ingredients, including: Organic pea shoot extract, which has been shown to help with hair regrowth Amino acids, which are known for their contributions to hair structure and strength Argan, which is known to be a non-clogging superfood for the skin that can help boost the skin naturally Jojoba, which has antibacterial properties and antioxidants, which has been shown to soothe and nourish irritated skin MCT, which is a concentrated form of coconut oil that’s high in fat and can help condition and tone skin CBD isolate, which has been shown to have a myriad of health benefits LUCK CBD believes in the magic of CBD as one of nature's miracles. LUCK CBD is focused on creating products based on this Good Mojo philosophy. When consumers have Good Mojo, they feel joyful, more amazing, and hopefully more motivated to pay happiness forward. LUCK CBD’s goal is to bring these revolutionary beauty products into households across the country to help consumers satisfy their personal hair and skin goals. “Each product is made specifically to help consumers get what they desire for their own hair and skin, whether it is volume, hair growth, shine, better texture and more,” says Seal. “We are excited to launch at Cosmoprof so that we can introduce LUCK CBD products to the entire beauty community.” LUCK CBD products are available online at www.luckcbd.com and select local salons in the St. Louis, Mo. area. About LUCKCBD and The Luck Company, LLC LUCKCBD, and The Luck Company, LLC, is a certified women-owned business that offers beauty and wellness products based on the magic of CBD. Founded in 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri, the company has formulated a myriad of products formulated to assist with healthy living goals. Visit www.luckcbd.com for more information. Contact Details Jeremy Rives jrives@sedlockpartners.com Company Website https://www.luckcbd.com

August 24, 2021 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Juicy Juice Celebrates the Return of the Lunchbox this Back-to-School Season

YourUpdateTV

It’s finally here – the day parents and kids have been yearning for: a fresh start to a new school year and new beginnings. Parents and kids will be celebrating a back-to-school season unlike any other and experiencing a spectrum of emotions along with it. So, what can parents do to navigate both the excitement and nervousness of this back-to-school season and set their kids and themselves up for success? To help parents prepare themselves and their littles ones for the return to school, Juicy Juice is partnering with host of Disney Family Sundays on Disney+, child psychologist and founder of Yay Day Paper Co., Amber Kemp-Gerstel. Crafting expert Amber created custom-designed lunchbox notes for kids to discover at lunchtime to provide a connection to mom and dad. In addition, her tips and suggestions will help alleviate any back-to-school jitters kids may be feeling. The notes, along with other helpful advice from Amber on how to ease the transition of back to school, will be available on Juicy Juice’s website. Additionally, Juicy Juice is hosting a 100% YAY! Sweepstakes to celebrate mom, dad and the caretakers who were handling and coordinating all things virtually this past school year and get them excited and ready for back to school. Each day, ten $100 gift cards will be given away! Through September 22, parents can visit JuicyJuice.com and follow the instructions to complete and submit the online entry form. Entrants can also enter this sweepstakes every day receive a bonus entry for playing the 100% YAY! Lunchbox Game for more chances to win. Visit www.Juicyjuice.com/yay to enter and read the full rules. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

August 23, 2021 11:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Healthtech wearable glucose tracker Ultrahuman raises $17.5m in series B funding

Ultrahuman

Ultrahuman, the rapidly growing metabolic fitness platform, today announced it has raised $17.5 million, as it aims to help over a billion people in the world suffering from a metabolic health disorder. This brings the total funds raised so far to $25mn. Ultrahuman is committed to making metabolic fitness accessible to millions of people globally. The funds raised will be used for geographical expansion and to improve their biomarker technology. The series B funding came from Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI), which is backed by DisruptAD and managed by Falcon Edge, Steadview Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, Blume Ventures and Utsav Somani’s iSeed fund. Marquee founders and angel investors also participated including Tiger Global’s Scott Schleifer, Sandeep Singhal, Kunal Shah, Sujeet Kumar, Deepinder Goyal, Gunjan Patidar, Gaurav Munjal, Revant Bhate, Mohit Gupta, Vikram Dhingra and Roman Saini. The Ultrahuman Cyborg wearable helps people optimize their exercise and nutrition based on glucose biomarkers. The Ultrahuman wearable launched in June 2021 has already amassed thousands of users in the waitlist with users raving about their experience on Twitter after using the wearable. The metabolic health crisis is unarguably one of the largest healthcare crises that exists today. Over a billion people in the world suffer from a metabolic health disorder which contribute to almost 85% of all chronic diseases in the world. By helping people understand how food and exercise affects their metabolic health, people would be able to make informed choices about what they eat and their activity levels. The approach is a geography / diet agnostic way to help people eat and exercise better. A single biomarker like glucose can reveal so much about how a particular food item affects the user’s metabolic health by measuring the glucose response. This response is unique to an individual and it depends on various factors like their microbiome diversity, stress levels, time of the day, food ingredient quality etc. Ultrahuman was started by Mohit Kumar and Vatsal Singhal who were also co-founders at Runnr that later merged with Zomato. Mohit is an avid cyclist, biohacker and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast. Vatsal is a cross fit enthusiast and biohacker. Mohit was training at one of the largest MMA Camps in the world (Tiger Muay Thai). There he observed athletes train smartly via usage of data, recovery tools and protocols. He got together with Vatsal and they came up with a vision for Ultrahuman where they can make the journey of fitness for people more personalised and impactful. “Biomarkers will change how the fitness and the healthcare industry works. By being able to continuously monitor their biomarkers like glucose, users can not only avoid chronic diseases but make lifestyle changes that help them improve their fitness levels for longevity and performance, ” said Ultrahuman Founder and CEO Mohit Kumar. Navroz D. Udwadia, Co-Founder, Falcon Edge Capital, said, " We are excited to partner with Mohit and Vatsal, founders of Ultrahuman. We believe they can transform the way people view personal wellness globally. Their thoughtfulness around UI / design and consumer experience is inspiring. We are thrilled to back what could be a pioneering biomarker-driven global healthcare business. Their dual obsessiveness around product engineering and customer experience is already showing result in terms of product market fit and retention. ” Commenting on the investment, Ravi Mehta, Founder and MD Steadview Capital, said, “ We are excited to be a part of Ultrahuman’s journey as it takes what we believe to be a disruptive approach to personal wellness. Ultrahuman’s biosensor-enabled, data-first model, in our view, is the future of any personalized healthcare ecosystem, ” “We at Nexus are super excited about Ultrahuman’s biomarker based approach to build hyper- personalised diet and exercise journeys for users. We are seeing a very strong pull for Ultrahuman’s Cyborg platform globally and feel that it will be a foundational approach to personal wellness in the years to come, ” added Sameer Brij Verma, MD Nexus Venture Partners. “Mohit and team have taken their personal fitness journeys and translated them to a world class product and experience in just over a year. We expect Ultrahuman to help shape how health is proactively monitored across global audiences, “ said Karthik Reddy, Founder of Blume Ventures. About Ultrahuman Ultrahuman is headquartered in the US and India. It is the world's most advanced metabolic fitness platform. It helps people create long-term habits and changes via instant nudges and deep health insights instead of diets and strict exercise routines. For more information and updates on Ultrahuman, please visit ultrahuman.com Contact Details Ultrahuman Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com

August 19, 2021 08:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Sharp, A New Sports Betting App Focused on Empowering Bettors Through Advanced Education, Officially Launches

Sharp

Sharp announced today that its sports betting app officially launched in both the App and Google Play stores. Sharp is a first-of-its-kind sports betting app, providing an all-in-one platform experience of multimedia content, tools and solutions developed specifically to educate and empower sports bettors to make smarter decisions and manage their actions. Sharp is the amalgamation of two industry giants, Win Daily and DFS Army. With more than 10-years experience combined, in understanding the needs, wants and pain points of sports bettors, the app unites Win Daily’s exceptional media content and DFS Army’s development of proprietary technology to create the ultimate sports betting educational experience. The Sharp app is currently free for download on Android and iOS. The anchor feature of the app is “Sharp Academy.” Sharp Academy is a multimedia masterclass that will teach all skill levels different aspects of sports betting. Led by sports betting expert John Alessia, Sharp Academy will produce daily content (podcasts, live streams and articles) providing tips, advice and strategies aimed at breaking down sports betting to its foundational elements. Sharp Academy will be free for the first 1,000 downloads of the Sharp app. “Even as sports betting explodes across America, there is a significant segment of the market that is still sitting on the sidelines because they aren’t educated on how to bet, what to look for or what success over time looks like,” said Sharp co-founder and CEO Kevin Epstein. “Apps leveraging innovative technology focused on user education and self-management are already second nature to consumers looking to strengthen their personal financials or health and fitness regimen - sports betting should be no different. With Sharp, we’ve created the ultimate platform of tools and content that we wish we had when we started sports betting.” Sports betting experts and company executives Alessia, Epstein and Jason Mezrahi will all produce content for the app. Additional noted sports betting experts contracted to create content for the platform will be announced at a later date. “In bringing together Win Daily and DFS Army, we bring decades of expertise that fuses the best sports betting content and experts with world-class proprietary technology that will continue to evolve and innovate as the industry grows and expands,” said Mezrahi, co-founder and COO of Sharp. “Users can expect rich daily content across the spectrum of sports and intuitive tools to help provide historical perspective on personal bets and real-time statistics to help make the best decisions for the bettor. There has been a dearth of sports betting educational products in the market and we’re excited for users to begin seeking value from the Sharp platform.” Additional app features include: Bet tracking technology Odds checking Team and player prop projections For more information please visit: https://sharp.app/ To download the app: App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sharp-app/id1557592668 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sharpapp ABOUT SHARP APP Founded in 2020, by sports betting and fantasy experts and executives from Win Daily and DFS Army, Sharp is a first-of-its-kind sports betting app. Sharp provides an all-in-one platform experience of multimedia content, tools and solutions developed specifically to educate and empower sports bettors to make smarter decisions and manage their actions. Follow Sharp on social media - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Contact Details HPL Digital Sport Michael Adorno +1 212-931-6143 madorno@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://sharp.app/

August 19, 2021 09:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Reveals the Inspired Experiences Awaiting Visitors at its Stunning Expo Pavilion

Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

The Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has been awarded the LEED Platinum Certificate from the US Green Building Council (USGBC), placing it among the most sustainable designs in the world. The pavilion, the second largest after the UAE’s, holds three Guinness World Records for longest interactive state-of-the-art water feature, largest LED mirror screen display, and largest interactive lighting floor. Celebrated Saudi artists will exhibit their work as part of the pavilion’s ‘Vision’ exhibition. With less than two months to go, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is preparing to welcome the world to its state-of-the-art pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. At the Saudi Pavilion – the second largest after the UAE’s – visitors will experience the Kingdom’s rich past, vibrant present, and promising future. A 68 square-meter, curved LED screen greets visitors as they embark on a technology-enabled journey through five ecosystems, hinting at the Kingdom’s natural spaces, beautiful coasts, vast deserts, surrounding seas, and high mountains. The journey will walk through the flora of Al Bardani Valley in Asir Region to the mighty mountains of Tabuk, and from the dunes of the Empty Quarter in southeastern Saudi to the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea. Visitors to the Saudi Pavilion will then experience 14 cultural landmarks along a stunning escalator ride. These include acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as At-Turaif District in Ad-Diriyah, Hegra Archaeological Site in AlUla, Historic Jeddah, Rock Art in the Hail Region, and Al-Ahsa Oasis. Through an audiovisual guide, guests can explore 23 other destinations, including world-leading giga-projects which are rewriting the possibilities of sustainable development such as Qiddiya, Diriyah Gate, and King Salman Park. Following this, visitors will enter ‘Vision,’ a one-of-a-kind art exhibition curated by celebrated Saudi artists. Highlights include a 30m floating virtual sphere and a bespoke interactive floor. Finally, the pavilion will take visitors through the ‘Discovery Center’, where an innovative platform will connect leaders from around the world to forge exciting partnerships and discuss investment opportunities, visualized through an interactive digital map of Saudi Arabia. People, opportunity, nature, and heritage are the four pillars that anchor the visitor experience of the Kingdom’s 13,000 square-meter pavilion; an adventure woven into one of the most sustainable structures at Expo 2020 Dubai. It has been awarded the LEED Platinum certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the highest internationally recognized sustainability rating in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. In addition, the pavilion holds three Guinness World Records: the largest interactive lighting floor with around 8,000 LED lights, the longest interactive water feature at more than 32 meters, and the largest LED interactive digital mirror screen at 1302.5 square meters. Expo 2020 Dubai is an opportunity to reconnect, meet new people, and discover new horizons. The people of Saudi Arabia are excited to open the doors and for visitors to experience their renowned hospitality first-hand. Contact Details Hanin Faroun +971 58 823 6024 hfaroun@apcoworldwide.com

August 19, 2021 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Airbnb.org Program Offers Free, Temporary Housing to Disaster Victims

YourUpdateTV

Communities across the US are in the midst of hurricane and wildfire season. When disasters like this strike, many people find themselves in need of temporary housing and space to figure out what’s next. Airbnb.org’s emergency response program helps connect people to temporary places to stay in times of need. Recently, Kristen Berlacher, the Head of Airbnb.org Programs, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss this initiative and share tips on how to be better prepared for disasters and how to help impacted communities. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/OD7JPciKRbE The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since 2012, the program has responded to hundreds of disasters and helped find temporary housing for evacuees and relief workers around the world. Airbnb helped people in times of crisis through the Open Homes initiative. Airbnb.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the next chapter. The program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees and asylum seekers, and most recently, frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. How it Works: Airbnb.org will allow hosts on Airbnb to provide free and discounted stays to people impacted by emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. These stays, which provide alternative accommodation and shelter options, are especially helpful to government and nonprofit partners in a year where the COVID-19 pandemic has made housing vulnerable people in traditional congregate shelters extremely challenging. Hosts who support Airbnb.org by offering free stays or making recurring donations will receive a special badge on their profile to recognize their generosity and commitment to communities in need. Anyone who finds joy in helping others, who believes in kindness and is interested in helping by opening their homes or donating to this cause, can learn more at airbnb.org/join About KRISTEN BERLACHER: As Head of Airbnb.org Programs, Kristen leads a global team that supports Airbnb.org’s efforts to help people impacted by natural disasters, refugees and frontline responders fighting the spread of COVID- 19. With a background in tech-enabled social impact, philanthropy and nonprofit management, Kristen, as an employee of Airbnb, oversees strategic partnerships, government relations, response operations and community engagement for Airbnb.org with the goal of leveraging Airbnb’s unique assets to provide innovative housing solutions and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable populations around the globe. Prior to Airbnb, Kristen led Hyatt Hotel Corporation’s global philanthropy programs focused on economic empowerment, disaster response and employee volunteerism. Before Hyatt, Kristen served as Deputy Director for Working in the Schools, a nonprofit focused on literacy programming for vulnerable youth. Kristen holds a BA in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond, VA About Airbnb.org: Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.’s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org’s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a programme that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the programme has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and most recently, frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 75,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

August 17, 2021 05:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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