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AI Singapore Awards S$20M in Research Funds to Address Challenges Relating to Increase Use of AI in Emerging Apps

AI Singapore

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 26 July 2023 - AI Singapore (AISG) announced today that it will award up to S$20 million, through the Robust AI Grand Challenge and the AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenge, to support five multidisciplinary teams which will address challenges related to the increasing use of AI in emerging applications. AISG launched both Grand Challenges in December 2022 in collaboration with the Future Systems and Technology Directorate (FSTD), MINDEF Singapore, and DSO National Laboratories (DSO). Each Challenge is a first-of-its-kind and represents a major milestone in research collaboration between the academia and defence ecosystems. The research outcomes will have the potential for dual-use applications and can be leveraged by both the industry and defence to benefit Singapore. The grant awards were presented by Mr Heng Chee How, Senior Minister of State for Defence at the Joint Grant Awards Ceremony. In his speech, Mr Heng said, "The advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will open up new possibilities and MINDEF/SAF is poised to harness its power to build important capabilities for our future. MINDEF's approach is to collaborate extensively with local and global partners from research institutes, and institutes of higher learning and industry. MINDEF's Defence Technology Community, which designs and develops technological capabilities for the SAF, will play a key role in this effort. "Moving forward, we will also be expanding our partnerships with industry, to accelerate progress in developing AI technologies and applications. I encourage the various communities to come together to co-ideate and co-innovate. I would like to invite all researchers and practitioners with bold ideas to reach out to us. Together, let's collaborate, innovate and build an exciting and better future, he added." Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, Deputy Executive Chairman for AISG, said that the current development efforts and outcomes can be translated into better and safer technologies for everyday living. "The problems that are being addressed have dual-use applications and can be leveraged by both industry and defence ecosystems to benefit Singapore. We are excited to work with our valued collaborators, FSTD and DSO, as they have deep expertise in both grand challenges to advise, guide and empower our research teams to develop novel AI solutions that can effectively address important problems faced by Singapore and the world. We believe that there is potential for these technologies to be scaled globally in the future". Robust AI and AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenges AISG's Grand Challenge programme takes an outcome-driven approach to solve important problems faced by Singapore and the world through multidisciplinary collaboration and translation of AI-based solutions from research to deployment. Researchers from local Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and Research Institutes (RIs), along with their collaborators from the public and/or private sectors, were invited to propose ground-breaking research ideas that adopt AI techniques to address both Grand Challenges' statements. Each challenge statement was jointly defined by AISG, DSO and FSTD. Robust AI Grand Challenge - "How can we design robust CV systems for AVs that can recover at least 80% of their original accuracy after physical testing-time adversarial attacks?" Computer vision (CV) systems based on AI/ML are vulnerable to adversarial attacks which could compromise their safety and security, thus limiting their performance and adoption in critical environments. In the field of autonomous vehicles (AV), these could result in delays, accidents and potentially, even death. This Grand Challenge aims to encourage the development of innovative approaches that increase the robustness of these CV systems, to accelerate the adoption of CV systems in critical environments. AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenge - "How can AI accelerate inverse material design to discover advanced materials that are 50% lighter while retaining and/or enhancing their functional properties?" Technological breakthroughs and the development of next-generation systems such as lightweight transportation vehicles and energy-efficient buildings are often underpinned by the discovery and development of new and advanced materials. However, this discovery process can be prohibitively long and expensive. In addition, conventional methods can be limited by a scientist's personal experience, knowledge and even biases, resulting in only incremental discoveries. This Grand Challenge aims to advance the state-of-the-art applications of AI in materials discovery, to develop solutions that can help scientists accelerate material discovery process and overcome the constraints of conventional methods. This would in turn enable them to keep pace with the increasing demand for new and advanced materials for next-gen systems. AISG received 16 (7 Robust AI; 9 AI for Materials Discovery) quality research proposals from multidisciplinary teams in response to both grant calls. The teams comprise lead Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). They also involve industry partners and/or collaborators from overseas universities. An Evaluation Committee comprising members from various stakeholders in the AI ecosystem selected five projects to be awarded Stage 1 funding: Robust AI Grand Challenge Holistic Moving Target Defence for Autonomous Driving Perception (by Associate Professor Rui Tan, NTU) - This project will develop a Moving Target Defence (MTD) approach that creates and deploys AI mechanisms that are diverse and rapidly changing to limit the exposure of vulnerabilities and opportunities for attacks, increase the complexity and cost for attackers. Development of Stable Robust and Secure Intelligent Systems for Autonomous Vehicles (by Professor Shuzhi Sam Ge, NUS) - This project will harness the collective strengths of machine learning, stable control and generative AI to develop a robust and intelligent system that can adjust its neural network's behaviour and characteristics in real- time to counter adversarial attacks in complex environments. Towards Building Unified Autonomous Vehicle Scene Representation for Physical AV Adversarial Attacks and Visual Robustness Enhancement (by Professor Yang Liu, NTU) - This project will develop novel multi-view and multi-modal defences based on a unified framework that comprises a novel AV scene representation that will be used to generate realistic scenes with diverse conditions and attack vectors. The projects are expected to deliver suites of multi-modal attack and defence techniques that can be deployed in the real world to increase the robustness of AI models applied in multi-sensor CV systems. AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenge MATAI: An AI-Powered Generalist Material Discovery Platform (by Professor Bo An, NTU) - This project will develop an AI-powered generalist platform with three key components: a holistic material database, a foundational material property predictor and a generalist multi-property material designer in a large search space. Design Beyond What You Know: Material Informed Differential Generative AI (MIDGAI) for Light-Weight High-Entropy Alloys and Multi-functional Composites (by Professor Ivor Tsang, A*STAR) - This project will develop a generative AI framework for materials design that combines with discriminative models to enhance robustness and overcome data scarcity. By incorporating domain knowledge, the AI model will enable a more controllable, directed, and efficient exploration of material design spaces through advanced optimisation algorithms. The projects are expected to deliver AI solutions that can be used by AI and materials researchers to (i) discover novel materials based on performance needs, (ii) efficiently explore beyond the boundaries of conventional methods, (iii) exploit new and existing scientific knowledge and (iv) reduce resource and time cost of material discovery cycles. In Stage 1, the teams will be awarded up to S$4M each to work on their project for the next three years. Funding support for Stage 2 will be determined as part of the final evaluation near the end of Stage 1. Selected teams could be funded up to S$5M over 2 years where the teams will have the opportunity to work with agencies to adapt and scale up the developed AI techniques for dual-use applications. About AI Singapore AI Singapore (AISG) is a national programme launched by the National Research Foundation (NRF) to catalyse, synergise and boost Singapore's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to power our future, digital economy.AISG will also bring together all Singapore-based research institutions and the vibrant ecosystem of AI start-ups and companies developing AI products, to perform use-inspired research, grow the knowledge, create the tools, and develop the talent to power Singapore's AI efforts.AISG is driven by a government-wide partnership comprising NRF, Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Economic Development Board (EDB), Enterprise Singapore (ESG), amongst others. Contact Details Communications Consultant Joseph Rajendran +65 9228 7801 joseph@wiredcomms.sg Company Website https://aisingapore.org/

July 26, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Effectiv Raises $4.5 Million to Accelerate Solutions in Combating AI-driven Fraud

Effectiv

Effectiv, a real-time fraud and risk management platform for financial institutions and fintech companies, announced today it has raised an additional $4.5 million in seed funding, bringing its total raise to more than $9 million. The investment will be used to accelerate Effectiv’s growth in helping organizations fight financial fraud, a problem that has worsened since the pandemic. The funding round was led by Better Tomorrow Ventures and participation from Accel and angel investors. The platform, which provides AI-driven solutions such as payment fraud detection, customer and business onboarding verification, and compliance management, has experienced rapid growth since launching in 2022. The company has helped organizations process more than $27 billion in financial products and is currently processing more than $100 million daily. Ravi Sandepudi, the CEO and co-founder of Effectiv, attributes the company's success to its technology, the team, and its growing customer base, which includes BHG Money, Cardless, Pomelo, USALLIANCE Financial, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, and more. The company has also seen strong revenue growth, crossing $1 million a year after launching. “We are incredibly grateful that our product has resonated with our partners, especially when fraud is at an all-time high. We also recognize that the financial world is rapidly digitizing, changing how consumers and organizations interact. At the same time, advanced generative AI technologies are attacking organizations at a scale we have never seen. For example, fraudsters are using a technology called deepfakes to clone an individual's voice, alter someone’s image or video to access financial accounts, create banking accounts, process wire transfers, and more. It’s a critical problem, and one that our team is committed to fighting,” said Ravi Sandepudi, CEO and co-founder of Effectiv. In the past year, Effectiv has seen a rise in fraud with real-time payments. As banks get ready to adopt FedNow, an instant payment service launched by the Federal Reserve, the company is preparing to release DeviceAI, a new device biometrics technology. The feature, which analyzes and flags suspicious user behavior on a device, is expected to further improve Effectiv’s payment fraud solutions. “Stopping payment fraud and helping organizations with FedNow, are a special focus for Effectiv and an area where our AI and platform truly shine. After months of research and product development, we are very excited to launch DeviceAI, which will improve our solutions even more. Effectiv’s ability to look at all end-user interactions holistically helps us identify fraudulent transactions with very high accuracy in real-time. While mechanisms such as one-time passwords or voice authentication were functional in the past, we are repeatedly seeing that they are easily compromised and no longer sufficient. For instance, a customer's voice can now be forged in a few seconds with off-the-shelf AI. Therefore, taking a holistic evaluation approach is necessary,” said Ritesh Arora, COO and co-founder of Effectiv. Better Tomorrow Ventures, who led this funding round, couldn’t agree more with Effecitv’s expansion of new solutions and long-term vision in helping organizations prevent fraud. “Effectiv has done an incredible job proving the cutting-edge technology they are building can withstand one of the biggest challenges we face today in the financial industry. They are experts not only in the fraud space but also in machine learning and AI. This combination makes them the most formidable team in the industry to tackle this problem,” said Sheel Mohnot, co-founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures. Dinesh Katiyar, who led the investment for Accel, believes Effectiv’s team and technology capabilities are what truly make them stand out and why they decided to partner with the company. “Ravi and the team have been helping companies detect and prevent fraud for decades. With Effectiv, they have figured out how to do this from nearly all angles in a truly scalable, adaptable, and economical way. They understand how AI can be used to fight fraud in this age of AI-assisted bad actors. We’re excited to be part of Effectiv’s journey,” said Dinesh Katiyar, Partner at Accel. The firm led Effectiv’s pre-seed round in 2021 and was joined by REV Venture Partners, BHG VC, and angel investors. About Effectiv Effectiv is a real-time fraud and risk management platform with AI solutions for financial institutions and fintech companies. Behind the company are several team members who helped build Simility, a fraud detection software company that was acquired by PayPal in 2018. The company was founded by Anupam Tarsauliya, Jonathan Doering, Ravi Sandepudi, and Ritesh Arora, who all met at Simility. Prior to Simility and PayPal, the founding team members were experts in fighting fraud and building machine-learning products for companies such as Google and Walmart. The company is based in San Francisco, California. Contact Details Effectiv Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website http://effectiv.ai/

July 26, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act Bill (CVTA) Announced before the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Communication Service for the Deaf

Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts announced the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act Bill (CVTA) this morning before the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accessibility standards and requirements have not kept pace with advances in communication technology since the 21 st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) was passed over a decade ago. As such, individuals who rely on closed captioning, audio descriptions, and a wide range of other accessibility features do not have full access to a range of products and services that are integral to our daily lives. The passage of the CVTA Bill will ensure that Deaf and disabled communities have full access to technology in their personal and professional lives by addressing the following: Requiring closed captioning for online video programming, mirroring current televised video programming requirements; Requiring audio description for both online and televised video programming; Directing the FCC to create and update quality standards for video programming accessibility; Requiring video conferencing services to have built-in accessibility features, such as automatic captioning functions, and the ability to connect sign language interpreters and assistive technologies that are designed to increase access for people with disabilities (e.g., refreshable braille displays); Establishing standards for American Sign Language interpretation when provided during video programming; Ensuring Deaf people who use sign language have equitable access to 9-1-1 emergency services through the use of direct video calling or telecommunications relay services; Requiring manufacturers of devices that display video programming, such as televisions and computers, to include features that allow easy activation and customization of closed captioning and audio description preferences; Expanding the contribution base for the Telecommunications Relay Services Interstate Fund to ensure its sustainability; and Empowering the FCC to ensure accessibility regulations keep pace with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality platforms. The team at Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) encourages you to get in touch with your congressional leaders and express your support for the CVTA Bill. Let Your Representatives Know You Support the CVTA You can download one of our letter templates to get started and use the links below to find your Congressional representative(s). Download the template that applies to you Find your representative Learn more about the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) Learn more about the CVTA Bill “We are committed as an organization to clearly identifying barriers to accessibility wherever they reside and delivering solutions to ensure full inclusion for all as technology evolves and advancements are made,” Chris Soukup, CEO of CSD, shared. “The CVTA Bill supports this important work and advances equitable access to information, communication, and opportunities for deaf and disability communities.” With this legislation in place accessibility standards will catch up with the rapid advancements in communication technology, ensuring that closed captioning, audio descriptions, and other essential features are seamlessly integrated into television programming and online video streaming platforms. Viewers with disabilities will have the power to easily activate and customize their preferred settings, whether on televisions, smartphones, laptops, or tablets, empowering them to engage fully with the content they love. Together, we can secure a brighter future for the Deaf and hard of hearing community, where technology is a tool for empowerment, not exclusion. Support the CVTA Bill and be a part of this inspiring journey toward equality. About Communication Service for the Deaf Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) is the largest Deaf-led social impact organization in the world. For more than four decades, CSD has been a leader in creating and providing accessible and innovative solutions for the Deaf community. Today, CSD continues its work to create opportunities for personal and economic growth within the Deaf community, specifically addressing leadership and employment. For more information, please visit CSD and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Contact Details Communication Service for the Deaf Molly Miller +1 315-679-8948 mmiller@csd.org Company Website https://www.csd.org/

July 25, 2023 02:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Five Years After Its Launch, the MPI BEST 20 Tracker Index Closely Captures the Performance of Elite Managers

Markov Processes Inc.

Markov Processes International, Inc. (“MPI”), a leading independent FinTech provider of technology and services for analyzes of alternative investments, today released five-year performance data for the MPI BEST 20 Tracker Index, an investible benchmark showing that it is possible to capture diversification and risk-mitigation benefits of some of the most sophisticated systematic trading strategies. In 2018, MPI partnered with BarclayHedge to develop the MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index (BLOOMBERG: MPBEST20) to provide a more representative benchmark for an institutional portfolio of hedge funds focused on managed futures. The index comprises the 20 largest systematic traders reporting to the BarclayHedge database. At the same time, MPI also launched the MPI BEST 20 Tracker Index (BLOOMBERG: MBEST20T) that aims to closely track the performance of the hedge fund benchmark using liquid, transparent exchange-traded funds. “Five years ago, we came to realize that the proliferation and diversity of systematic trading strategies coupled with a wide range of their outcomes virtually begged for an investible benchmark to measure their performance,” said Michael Markov, founder and chief executive officer of MPI. “The result is industry-first benchmark that captures common trade signals of the group of 20 elite systematic traders delivering consistent performance with low volatility.” Five-year performance data shows the index is truly representative of elite managed futures strategies, and the tracker provided attractive returns during major equity market drawdowns while delivering positive returns at other times. “BarclayHedge’s indices, including the MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index, have long represented a veritable gold standard for measuring the performance of systematic traders,” reflected Ben Crawford, Vice President of Research at BarclayHedge. “Now, through our partnership with MPI, we are proud to have contributed another cutting-edge capability to the managed futures industry’s toolkit: The industry’s first investible managed futures benchmark, the MBEST20 Tracker Index. Today, whether you’re a CTA investor, a hedge fund manager, or the sponsor of an alternative ETF or UCITS product, the MBEST20 Tracker Index can provide you with an indispensable yardstick for what’s truly achievable with an allocation to systematic managed futures funds.” It is well documented that incorporating managed futures in a portfolio can enhance returns, mitigate risks, and improve diversification. However, finding the right benchmark has been elusive for many investors. MPI's index construction approach represents a logical evolution in the history of hedge fund performance tracking. First generation hedge fund indices sought to measure the performance of the entire industry, which introduced biases that skewed results. MPI's Hedge Fund Index model seeks to correct for this shortcoming by targeting elite subsets of hedge funds to create a more stable, accurate gauge for measuring performance. For additional information on the MPI BEST20 Tracker Index, please contact MPI at +1 (908) 608-1558 or info@markovprocesses.com. About MPI Markov Processes International Inc. (MPI) is a leading provider of solutions for investment research, analysis and reporting to the global wealth and investment management industry. MPI works with more than 200 client organizations, including pensions and endowments, sovereign wealth funds, global wealth management firms, institutional consultants, regulators, investment advisors and asset managers. Rooted in the principles of transparency, objectivity, and efficiency, MPI takes an innovative approach to problem solving in the areas of fund analysis, risk management, asset allocation, and reporting to ensure that its clients have the tools to succeed in ever-more-crowded markets. Follow us on Twitter @MarkovMPI and connect with us on LinkedIn. About BarclayHedge BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions Group, maintains data on more than 7,000 hedge funds, funds of funds and CTAs to assist institutional investors, brokerage firms and private banks worldwide save time and resources by providing data for research and due diligence, performance benchmarking, marketing and strategy replication. Connect with us on LinkedIn. Contact Details For MPI info@markovprocesses.com Company Website https://www.markovprocesses.com/

July 25, 2023 01:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time

AdvicePay Names Alex Sauickie as CEO to Scale Up as Fee-for-Service Demand Continues to Grow

AdvicePay

AdvicePay, the leading platform for processing payments and overseeing compliance of fee-for-service financial planning has named Alex Sauickie as Chief Executive Officer. Sauickie succeeds Alan Moore, Co-Founder of AdvicePay, who announced he was transitioning to Executive Chairman of the Board earlier this year. Co-founder Michael Kitces will continue to support the company in his current role. Sauickie brings decades of experience in leading and scaling financial technology organizations in support of RIAs, Broker-Dealers, and large financial institutions. Most recently, Sauickie was Global Head of Wealth and Retirement Services at FIS, and formally President & CEO of CircleBlack, after roles as President and COO of Scivantage, with leadership roles and payment experience at Paytrust and Billtrust. Sauickie is known for a track record of exceptional results, driving revenue growth, fostering strong enterprise relationships, and leading successful strategic initiatives in support of advisors and enterprise institutions. His deep understanding of market dynamics, emerging trends, and the evolving needs of the industry will be instrumental in charting the course for AdvicePay’s continued success and growth. “I am honored and thrilled to join AdvicePay as its new CEO and lead this incredible team,” said Sauickie. “AdvicePay’s culture and commitment to excellence, talented team, and unwavering dedication to innovation has set it apart as an industry leader. I am committed to building upon the strong foundation established by Alan and Michael and look forward to working closely with the team and leveraging our collective strengths to achieve even greater milestones together to bring the growing trend of fee-for-service to more advisors and enterprise institutions." Sauickie’s appointment comes after an extensive search conducted by the Board and AdvicePay’s leadership team. His selection reflects the board’s desire to shape a strategy to lead AdvicePay through its next phase of growth as it continues to be the fee-for-service platform of choice for large financial institutions, their advisors, and their clients. “Alex was the best choice from a deep pool of highly qualified candidates,” Moore said. “He is a seasoned leader who brings a unique combination of strategic mindset, operational expertise, and a passion for the industry that aligns perfectly with AdvicePay’s core values. We are excited about the future under Alex’s leadership and have no doubt that he will steer AdvicePay to even greater success and further scale AdvicePay as the leading platform as the industry embraces fee-based financial planning. “ “It has been an honor to serve as CEO since founding the company, and I am incredibly proud of everything our team has accomplished in just seven years,” Moore continued. “I look forward to supporting the company under my new role as Executive Chairman of the Board." Under Moore’s leadership in the past two years, AdvicePay has experienced a 123% increase in advisors added to the platform, a 153% growth in transaction volume, and a 141% increase in annual recurring revenue. Additionally, AdvicePay ranked No 636 among America's fastest-growing private companies on the Inc. 5000 list in 2022 and ranked No 1 in Montana. “Advisors can’t engage in new fee models to expand the reach of financial planning unless they can execute their billing efficiently to ensure they’re getting paid for their advice,” said Michael Kitces, co-founder of AdvicePay and XY Planning Network. “AdvicePay is at the center of the industry’s shift to alternative fee-for-service financial planning models beyond assets under management. The Board and I are confident that Alex is the right person to build on this accelerating momentum as AdvicePay continues to move the industry forward. Alex’s appointment as CEO signifies AdvicePay’s commitment to scaling up with advisory firms and financial services enterprises, in a manner that does not compromise service, quality, or our ongoing innovation, as consumer demand for alternative fee methods continues to increase.” AdvicePay remains steadfast in its commitment to its customers, team members, and partners, and looks forward to continuing its legacy of excellence and innovation under the guidance of Sauickie. As Sauickie assumes the role of CEO, he will work closely with the leadership team to continue a culture of innovation and growth. Together, they will build on AdvicePay’s strong foundation and set new benchmarks for success in the best interest of their customers. To learn more about the AdvicePay platform, log onto www.AdvicePay.com. About AdvicePay Established by well-known financial advisors Michael Kitces and Alan Moore, AdvicePay is the industry-leading billing and payment workflow solution created specifically for fee-for-service financial planning. Financial services firms and their advisors benefit from efficient workflows designed exclusively to support their fee-for-service financial planning revenue, including up-to-date compliance and data security management, all in one unified platform. Contact Details AdvicePay Shannon Beck +1 406-412-2047 media@advicepay.com

July 25, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

Toggle3D.ai hires former Amazon marketing team member Anita Matte as Director of Growth Marketing

Toggle3D.ai Inc

Toggle3D.ai CEO Evan Gappelberg joined Steve Darling from Proactive to to announce the appointment of Anita Matte to the newly created role of Director of Growth Marketing. In this key position, Matte will be responsible for driving subscriber growth and increasing Software as a Service revenue for the company. Gappelberg shared with Proactive that Matte brings a wealth of experience to Toggle3D, having previously worked at Amazon, where she played a vital role in driving marketing strategies for the technology giant. With over 10 years of experience, Matte possesses a deep understanding of the B2B market and its challenges. Her familiarity with pain points and value propositions in various markets, coupled with her comprehensive understanding of the B2B industry, makes her a valuable asset to the company. As the Director of Growth Marketing, Matte's main objectives will be twofold. Firstly, she will work on Increasing Brand Presence by implementing comprehensive digital marketing strategies to enhance the company's visibility and reach within the market. Secondly, she will focus on Conversion Rate Optimization, aiming to convert free subscribers into premium users, thus driving revenue growth for Toggle3D's SaaS platform. The addition of Anita Matte to the team is expected to bolster Toggle3D's marketing efforts and accelerate the company's growth trajectory. With her expertise and strategic insights, she will play a crucial role in advancing Toggle3D's market presence and driving the company's expansion in the competitive B2B landscape. Contact Details Proactive Canada +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

July 25, 2023 12:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Next Generation DFS Platform GameBlazers Signs New Partnerships with Full Moon Sports Solutions and Raging Moose

GameBlazers

GameBlazers, a sports gaming platform empowering sports fans to create and manage their own experience, today announced the company signed partnerships with two industry-leading and best-in-class consulting companies, Full Moon Sports Solutions and Raging Moose. Both companies will help accelerate GameBlazers’ business objectives as it brings its revolutionary product to the Beta Test phase and eventual launch. Full Moon Sports Solutions is a strategy consulting firm specializing in business and product development for the fantasy, gaming and sports betting industry. Full Moon is aiding in developing strategic partnerships and licensing opportunities with professional sports leagues and associations. Raging Moose is a technology consulting group specializing in game design and gameplay mechanics. The group is assisting GameBlazers in developing a proprietary Item Distribution Framework that assigns the Athletes, Multipliers, Rarities and other forms of metadata, to the in-game Items. The firm has experience working on FIFA Ultimate Team, as well as other major video games with similar mechanics to those on the GameBlazers platform. “In any start-up environment, surrounding yourself with the smartest minds in the industry and creating a network of strategic partnerships is the cornerstone for success,” said Rourke Sturthers, CEO of GameBlazers. “GameBlazers is unlike anything the daily fantasy market has seen, so bringing in Full Moon Sports Solutions and Raging Moose was paramount to making sure our vision for the platform was met. From both companies’ previous work, we know that GameBlazers will bridge the gap between the modern and future worlds of fantasy sports, and live up to its unique user experience.” GameBlazers is set to launch before the 2023 football season. For updates and information about the platform, check out GameBlazers.com. About GameBlazers GameBlazers is a new sports gaming platform bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds into a first-of-its-kind user experience. GameBlazers blends the best elements of fantasy sports, sports gaming, and collectible in-game items to create a more sustainable and more engaging gameplay. GameBlazers enables innovative gameplay mechanics that give Players the opportunity to be the Owner, GM and Coach of their Fantasy Franchise. For more information or to join the beta, please visit: https://www.gameblazers.com/ Contact Details Sterling Randle srandle@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://www.gameblazers.com/

July 25, 2023 10:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Minuteman Press Franchise Owners Jim and Seamus Mooney Celebrate 5 Years and Relocation to Clark, NJ with Grand Opening Event

Minuteman Press International Inc

Jim and Seamus Mooney have a lot to celebrate lately. The father-son team behind the Minuteman Press franchise in Clark, NJ (formerly Westfield) held their Grand Opening Palooza Event on June 22, 2023 as they celebrated their relocation to Clark as well as 5 years in business. Minuteman Press in Clark is located at 1120 Raritan Road, Suite 2, Clark NJ 07066. The grand opening event for Minuteman Press in Clark, NJ was sponsored by the Irish Business Association and featured live music, food trucks, vendors, and more. The Irish Business Association also recently honored Minuteman Press in Clark by awarding Jim and Seamus their Company of the Year Award. In addition, Jim and Seamus continue to hit new monthly sales milestones for their business. On the relocation, Jim shares, “We opened our doors on June 1, 2018. We have been in business for 5 years and we were looking for a larger production facility. Today, Minuteman Press Clark is a full-service printing, mail-house, and marketing design firm. We specialize in apparel (screen printing and embroidery), signage, paper based products (booklets, brochures, letterhead, envelopes, etc.) promotional products, mailings and graphic design.” Over the past 5 years, Jim has helped grow the family business through networking with a heavy focus on community involvement. He is President and an active member of Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, which includes multiple towns in Union County. Jim also appreciates being able to put his own stamp on Clark, Westfield and the surrounding community through his business. On that note, Jim says, “We have a lot of pride when we see our work displayed or distributed in the community – storefronts, window signage, direct mail, brochures, business cards – it’s always great to get kudos from happy clients.” Jim’s professional background includes managing strategic marketing for multi-unit franchise brands across various industries, most notably, McDonald’s Corporation working on the Company and Ad Agency side of the QSR industry. Jim says, “As the majority of my career was spent in franchise marketing, I am a true believer in franchising. Because I worked in advertising agencies where we had production and graphic design capabilities; I was very comfortable buying this business.” Jim continues, “I look at Minuteman Press as an ad agency for other businesses in Clark and Westfield and the surrounding towns. My career skills match up really well with what we are doing, and I am proud of our capabilities as well as the infrastructure we have in place being part of the Minuteman Press franchise family.” Speaking of family, while Jim concentrates on marketing the business, his son Seamus handles the operations. Prior to Minuteman Press, Seamus worked in recruiting and education operations management. Jim says, “Seamus is fantastic as our Vice President of Operations and I couldn’t do this without him. We’re a good team because we complement each other’s skills.” What’s it like going to work every day as a father and son? “It's an opportunity most people don't get to have,” Seamus Mooney said. “It's been great getting to work together for over five years — I've learned a lot during this time about business and life. Having a family business is rewarding." “It is fantastic to work with my son Seamus and to see him grow strategically and operationally as our vice president of operations,” Jim Mooney added. “Seamus is also a great thought partner in the business. It is a unique and fun experience.” Minuteman Press in Clark, NJ is located at at 1120 Raritan Road, Suite 2, Clark NJ 07066. For more information, call 908-857-4644 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/nj/clark/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 25, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NMTC Coalition Opens Sign-on Letter to Congress Urging Members to Make the NMTC Permanent

NMTC

The NMTC Coalition is circulating an organization sign-on letter to Congress urging members to make the NMTC permanent. Organizations committed to community and economic development, adding jobs and increasing wages, and supporting healthcare, education, manufacturing, infrastructure, telecom, energy, the arts, and recreation are encouraged to add their name to this letter in support of a bipartisan program with a 20-year track record of success. The sign-on letter, available at NMTCCoalition.org, closes on August 31, 2023. Any organization (businesses, trade groups, city governments, Mayors, nonprofits, investors, CDEs) can sign the letter using the form on the NMTC Coalition website. “As we continue our efforts to make the NMTC program permanent, it is critical for our elected officials in Congress to hear from the businesses and organizations who bring these programs to life across our country and are charged with making communities stronger and more economically sound,” said NMTC Coalition spokesperson Bob Rapoza. “This is an opportunity to make your voice heard and to make a real difference in communities that need help the most.” Authorized by Congress in 2000, the NMTC Program incentivizes community development and economic growth through the use of tax credits (given as allocations) that then attract private investment to distressed communities. The unique beauty of the NMTC program is that it is used effectively in both rural and urban areas to support good jobs and strong wages and has historically held bipartisan support. In addition to creating high-quality jobs, NMTCs create and expand access to health care, early childcare and schools, job training, groceries, telecommunications, energy, arts, recreation, and infrastructure in ways that traditional private sector financing cannot effectively meet. Since 2003, the NMTC has provided much-needed investment and advancement opportunities for underserved communities across the country. In just two decades, NMTCs have spurred an unprecedented level of investment in rural and urban low-income communities, generating nearly $130 billion in capital investment through public-private partnerships and creating more than one million jobs nationwide. The NMTC has an outstanding track record of revitalizing communities outside of the economic mainstream as a targeted, cost-efficient financial tool — and it has the potential to achieve an even greater impact. Currently, the NMTC program is set to expire in 2025. By adding their name to the sign-on letter, organizations will lend their support for making the NMTC permanent by passing the bipartisan NMTC Extension Act of 2023 (S. 234 and H.R. 2539). In addition to extending the program at $5 billion in allocation per year, the legislation would provide an inflation adjustment for future years. It also includes reforms to ensure the NMTC program maintains its efficiency during an economic downturn when it is needed the most. “Organizations, especially CDEs and investors on the frontlines of community revitalization efforts using NMTCs, are encouraged to join this effort to ensure no community is left behind and to preserve one of the federal government’s most successful community development programs,” said Aisha Benson, President and CEO of Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) and President of the NMTC Coalition. The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) was enacted in 2000 to stimulate private investment and economic growth in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural communities lacking the patient capital to support and grow businesses, create jobs, and sustain healthy local economies. Since its inception, the NMTC has generated more than one million jobs. Due to the NMTC, nearly $130 billion is hard at work in underserved communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.NMTCCoalition.org. Contact Details New Markets Tax Credit Coalition Greg Wilson +1 571-239-7474 gregwilsonpr@gmail.com Company Website https://nmtccoalition.org/

July 25, 2023 09:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time