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Castle Rock Hormone Health announced a strategic partnership with Franchise Sidekick to support a national franchise expansion initiative as the company scales its proactive and optimization-focused healthcare model across the United States.

The company says the initiative is intended to support the development of 100 to 250 new clinics in 2026. CRHH states that it currently operates across multiple states in the East Coast, Midwest, and Rocky Mountain region, and is building toward a long-term goal of 1,500 clinics over the next five years.

As interest in preventative care and optimization medicine continues to grow, CRHH says its franchise model is built around standardized clinical and operational systems designed for replication across multiple locations. The company states that its clinics provide hormone therapy, medically guided weight management, and longevity services, including peptides and IV offerings, through a cash-pay structure intended to reduce administrative complexity associated with traditional insurance billing.

According to CRHH, its clinical protocols were developed under the guidance of Dr. Lee Moorer, Castle Rock Hormone Health co-founder and CMO, with an emphasis on consistency, monitoring, and ethical standards. The company’s recurring care model includes ongoing laboratory review and continuous patient monitoring designed to support long-term optimization of metabolic, cognitive, and physical performance. Although traditionally associated with low testosterone and menopausal care, Castle Rock Hormone Health is increasingly serving a broader demographic of patients focused on longevity, prevention, and sustained peak performance.

“Responsible healthcare expansion requires strong infrastructure, clinical governance, and disciplined execution,” said Christopher Stolzman, CEO of Castle Rock Hormone Health. “Our collaboration with Franchise Sidekick supports sustainable national growth.”

CRHH says the partnership is intended to strengthen franchise development and operational support as the company expands into additional markets. “Operational consistency and franchisee support are critical when scaling healthcare concepts,” said Tyler Altenhofen, Chief Growth Officer and co-founder of Franchise Sidekick. “CRHH demonstrates strong alignment across clinical standards and operational systems.”

Castle Rock Hormone Health says it has served more than 10,000 patients nationwide to date and views the partnership as a step toward broader access to proactive and optimization-focused healthcare services across the United States.

About Castle Rock Hormone Health

Castle Rock Hormone Health is a longevity, hormone optimization and replacement franchise serving men and women across multiple U.S. regions, including the East Coast, Midwest, and Rocky Mountain markets. The company provides hormone therapy, medically guided weight loss, peptide and IV therapies, and related services aimed at addressing hormone imbalance and associated symptoms for a growing national patient base exceeding 10,000 individuals to date. For more information, visit crhormonehealth.com.

Disclaimer

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any franchise or healthcare service. Any forward-looking statements, including projected clinic growth and expansion plans, are based on current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. Healthcare services referenced are subject to applicable laws, regulations, and clinical guidelines, which may vary by jurisdiction. Individuals should consult qualified healthcare professionals before making medical decisions.

Media Contact

Carlos Conde
carlos@crhormonehealth.com

Anthony S. Marinello, president of Tropic Air Rescue at Tropic Air Charters Inc., is expanding the company’s operational reach, positioning it as a key provider of air rescue and emergency support across Florida and the Bahamas.

This expansion will enable Tropic Air Charters Inc. to continue supporting emergency response operations. Marinello’s work remains centered on improving access to rapid-response aviation services and supporting missions that require coordinated, time-sensitive action.

Expanding Emergency Aviation Capabilities

In 2021, Marinello acquired Tropic Air Charters Inc., where he now oversees a team of 16 pilots who conduct rescue missions and provide aviation services for cruise lines. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its operational footprint and strengthened its role in emergency response.

In 2024, Marinello led the launch of the first rescue helicopter program in the Bahamas, addressing a long-standing gap in regional emergency infrastructure. The program has supported complex rescue missions and continues to develop as a resource for emergency services in the area.

A Career Rooted in Service

Marinello began his career in 1979 with the New Jersey State Police, where he served for more than 25 years. Over the course of his tenure, he advanced from state trooper to captain and became a helicopter pilot. He later served as the city of Newark's first chief helicopter pilot, establishing the department’s aviation program and supporting law enforcement operations through aerial coordination.

Following his law enforcement career, Marinello transitioned into private-sector leadership. He served as chief executive officer of SAS Group LLC, a private investigation and security firm, and later worked as a simulator instructor with Canadian Aviation Electronics Inc. He continued to build his expertise in aviation safety as director of safety and security at HeliFlite.

Throughout his career, Marinello has emphasized discipline, preparation and accountability in mission-critical environments. He has maintained that leaders must continuously assess conditions and prioritize safety when making operational decisions. His approach reflects decades of experience in both law enforcement and aviation, where outcomes often depend on precise coordination and sound judgment.

Recognition for Leadership in Aviation and Public Safety

Additionally, Marinello was recently presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who, recognizing his 47-year career in law enforcement, aviation and emergency response, as well as his continued leadership in advancing air rescue operations across Florida and the Bahamas.

Marquis Who’s Who selected Marinello based on his sustained contributions to emergency management, aviation safety and public service. His work has focused on improving response capabilities in high-risk environments and expanding access to aviation-based rescue services.

This recognition affirms Marinello’s longstanding commitment to service, operational leadership and innovation in emergency aviation. His career reflects a consistent focus on advancing capabilities that support both public safety agencies and the communities they serve.

About Tropic Air Rescue

Tropic Air Charters Inc. offers aviation services focusing on air rescue operations, medical evaluations and essential transport in Florida and the Bahamas. The company meets various emergency response needs, including maritime incidents and urgent evacuations, additionally providing aviation services to commercial partners. Tropic Air prioritizes reliability and quick deployment, expanding its capabilities in areas where access to organized emergency infrastructure remains limited. For more information, visit www.tropicairrescue.com.

About Marquis Who's Who

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, marquiswhoswho.com.

Media Contact

Marquis Who’s Who
info@marquiswhoswho.com

AIT Technology School ؜received ؜annual ؜licensing ؜approval ؜from the Commission for Independent ؜Education, Florida Department ؜of ؜Education ؜؜(Institution I.D. 13240), which authorizes ؜the organization to operate educational programs in the state of ؜Florida. This milestone ؜marks the ؜company’s entry into the ؜regulated ؜؜U.S. education market and reflects ؜its continued ؜international expansion from Israel through ؜؜Europe and into the United States.

The Florida education license confirms that ؜AIT meets state requirements related to ؜academic ؜standards, faculty qualifications, program ؜structure, and operational ؜؜processes. It establishes ؜a compliant ؜foundation ؜for the company’s growth in the U.S. and supports its position ؜as an ؜international ؜education ؜platform serving professionals and students across international markets.

Founded in ؜Israel, AIT expanded ؜؜into Germany ؜and Austria ؜before entering the U.S. market. The organization serves ؜engineers, career ؜changers, and ؜professionals who seek structured ؜pathways into engineering ؜and technology roles. Florida ؜؜represents a significant ؜step ؜in reaching one of the largest education ؜؜markets in ؜the country.

“Receiving annual ؜licensing ؜approval ؜in Florida ؜is an important ؜؜milestone ؜؜for AIT and a meaningful step ؜in our international growth. It reflects the work we have done ؜to build a ؜serious, compliant, and market-relevant ؜؜education platform,” ؜said Denis Brovarnyy, founder and CEO of AIT Technology ؜School.

Employers ؜continue to shift hiring priorities toward ؜candidates ؜who can contribute to projects from ؜the start. Many ؜traditional programs ؜still emphasize theory, while demand grows for job-ready ؜engineers ؜and applied technical talent. This gap drives ؜reskilling and upskilling ؜across ؜technical ؜fields, including ؜AI workforce training ؜and AI ؜engineer training.

AIT addresses ؜this need through ؜mentor-led, project-based AI education ؜؜that prepares ؜participants ؜for ؜practical ؜engineering ؜؜work. Programs ؜combine live ؜instruction, daily mentoring, and lab environments. Participants move through stages that include ؜Practitioner, Integrator, Engineer, and Founder, supporting ؜pathways ؜؜into ؜roles such as AI engineers ؜and participation ؜in ؜an AI founder ؜program.

The model ؜connects training ؜؜to execution through project work and lab environments. Participants ؜complete ؜applied work during training, and selected ؜teams continue ؜development ؜in ؜Startup ؜Lab with structured support. This approach creates ؜a pipeline from ؜training ؜to ؜real projects, founder development, and early-stage ؜venture ؜creation.

“Traditional education ؜often moves more slowly ؜than the labor market, especially in fast-changing ؜technical ؜fields. We built AIT around a different premise: that the real measure of education is how fast someone can contribute in a real environment,” ؜Brovarnyy said.

AIT Technology School has ؜trained ؜more than 1,500 participants ؜and operates under regulatory ؜approvals ؜in multiple ؜regions. The company ؜continues to ؜build ؜its presence in ؜workforce training ؜and project-based education across ؜international markets.

As part ؜of its U.S. expansion, AIT plans ؜to pursue SEVIS certification in 2026 and statewide accreditation ؜in 2027, subject to ؜regulatory ؜؜review ؜and approval.

About AIT Technology School

AIT Technology School is an education and venture platform focused on training engineers, incubating founders, and supporting the development of technology-driven companies. The organization delivers mentor-led, project-based programs aligned with current workforce needs. Its model combines live instruction, daily mentoring, lab environments, and founder pathways for top-performing teams. Founded in Israel, AIT operates across Europe and the United States as it continues its international expansion. For more information about AIT Technology ؜School and its programs, visit www.my-ait.com.

Media Contact

Denis Brovarnyy
Founder ‍‌and ‍CEO, AIT ‌Technology ‍⁠‍؜School
ceo@my-ait.com
+1 305-686-9577

The American Kratom Association (AKA) today issued a nationwide Consumer Alert warning consumers, regulators, and public health officials about the growing proliferation of dangerous products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and other synthetic or semi-synthetic substances that are being falsely marketed as “kratom.”

According to the AKA, these products bear little resemblance to natural kratom leaf and instead represent a new category of chemically manipulated, highly concentrated compounds that pose significantly greater safety risks to consumers.

“Consumers deserve to know the truth,” said Mac Haddow, AKA Senior Fellow on Public Policy. “These 7-OH products are not traditional kratom. They are being engineered, concentrated, and marketed in ways that create risks not associated with natural kratom leaf.”

A Stark Scientific and Regulatory Distinction

Natural kratom leaf contains only trace levels of 7-OH formed through natural post-harvest oxidation. In contrast, the products highlighted in this Consumer Alert often contain artificially elevated concentrations of 7-OH, frequently delivered through high-risk formats that include sublingual strips and dissolvable tablets designed for rapid absorption into the bloodstream and targeting of mu-opioid receptors.

These delivery systems are designed to bypass normal metabolic processes, rapidly delivering potent concentrations into the bloodstream.

Federal health officials have already drawn a clear line between these substances. During a July 29, 2025, joint announcement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) leadership emphasized that chemically manipulated 7-OH products are fundamentally different from natural kratom leaf. This distinction was described by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary as “like night and day.”

Consumer Deception and Public Health Risk

The AKA warns that many 7-OH products are mislabeled as “kratom,” misleading consumers, packaged in child-appealing forms, marketed with unsubstantiated claims for pain relief or mood enhancement, and sold without adequate safety data or labeling standards.

This has created widespread confusion among consumers and policymakers, with some legislative efforts mistakenly targeting natural kratom products rather than the actual source of emerging risk: synthetic or chemically enhanced 7-OH compounds.

“This is not a debate about kratom,” Haddow added. “This is about stopping a new class of unregulated, opioid-like substances from being disguised as something they are not.”

Call for Targeted Regulatory Action

The AKA is calling on federal and state regulators to take immediate, targeted action to protect consumers:

• Ban or schedule chemically manipulated 7-OH and its analogs
• Prohibit the marketing of 7-OH products as “kratom”
• Enforce strict labeling and safety standards
• Preserve legal access to natural kratom leaf products under Kratom Consumer Protection Acts (KCPA)

Protecting Consumers Through Truth and Transparency

The Consumer Alert is part of a broader initiative to combat what the AKA describes as a growing wave of misinformation and deceptive marketing practices that threaten both consumer safety and informed policymaking.

“If regulators fail to act with precision, they risk banning safe products while leaving truly dangerous ones in the marketplace,” Haddow said. “We must get this right.”

About American Kratom Association (AKA)

American Kratom Association (AKA) is a consumer-based, nonprofit organization, focused on furthering the latest science as guidance for kratom public policy. AKA works to give a voice to millions of Americans by fighting to protect their rights to access safe and natural kratom. For more information, visit americankratom.org and learn more at kratomanswers.org.

Media Contact

Mac Haddow
Senior Fellow on Public Policy
press@americankratom.org

High-net-worth individuals with assets across multiple jurisdictions are facing increasing challenges in managing their wealth, as traditional models struggle to keep pace with more global financial structures, according to Kevin Crowther, founder of KC Private Wealth.

While access to international markets, banking, and investment opportunities has expanded significantly over the past decade, Crowther said the systems used to manage that wealth have evolved more slowly.

“The traditional model was built around simplicity, one bank, one jurisdiction, one strategy,” he said. “That no longer reflects how wealth is created or held today.”

As a result, many internationally mobile investors, particularly entrepreneurs and expats, are more exposed to concentration risk, banking risk and adverse taxation than they realise, despite appearing diversified on the surface.

“What we’re seeing is not a lack of options, but a lack of coordinated structure,” Crowther said. “Portfolios often look diversified, but underneath they are heavily concentrated and layered with inefficiencies.”

At the same time, increasing regulatory scrutiny and compliance requirements are increasing operational complexity, particularly when capital needs to move across borders.

“Wealth is easier to build today, but more difficult to operate,” he said. “Opening accounts, transferring funds, or restructuring assets has become more time-consuming and, in some cases, more restrictive.”

This can become particularly relevant when personal circumstances or liquidity events occur.

“For example, an entrepreneur may exit a business, receiving proceeds personally in their country of residence,” Crowther said. “At that point, diversifying capital across jurisdictions, or implementing tax and succession planning measures, can become significantly more complex and costly than if it had been considered in advance.”

In response, some investors are shifting toward more diversified banking and structuring approaches, reducing reliance on any single institution or jurisdiction.

“Clients are placing greater emphasis on flexibility and control - how quickly they can move capital, access assets, or adapt to changing circumstances,” he said.

Crowther added that timing plays a critical role in mitigating these risks, particularly as personal circumstances or regulatory environments change.

“The most significant costs tend to arise not from the investments themselves, but from decisions made too late,” he said.

As wealth becomes more international, demand for coordinated cross-border strategies is likely to increase, particularly among globally mobile entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals.

“Building wealth is one challenge,” he said. “Ensuring it remains efficient and adaptable over time is another.”

About KC Private Wealth

KC Private Wealth is an independent, Dubai-based multi-family office advising internationally mobile high-net-worth individuals and founders on cross-border wealth structuring, banking access, and professional asset management.

DTEK, Ukraine’s major private energy company, is set to build one of Europe’s large onshore wind farms — the 650 MW Poltavska wind farm — in its latest major investment in the country’s energy security. The total investment is expected to reach €1.2 billion.

Its subsidiary, DTEK Renewables, will install up to 100 wind turbines at Poltavska, located in Poltava, central Ukraine.

Once completed, the flagship project will make a major contribution to strengthening energy security by replacing generation capacity damaged or destroyed during russian attacks, while accelerating Ukraine’s transition to a cleaner, more decentralised power system.

DTEK recognised as Ukraine’s largest private wartime investor, according to NV

The scale of the Poltava investment reflect's DTEK’s broader role as the leading private investor in Ukraine. Last week, business publication NV named DTEK as Ukraine’s largest private investor since the start of the full‑scale war — accounting for 22% of all investments made by the 150 largest companies since 2022.

Despite more than 220 Russian attacks on the company’s thermal power plants and significant damage to power grid infrastructure, DTEK has invested UAH 101.7 billion (€2.4 billion*) in Ukraine’s economy since 2022. This represents around 22% of the total UAH 454.7 billion (€9.7 billion) invested by more than 150 private companies included in the ranking.

DTEK’s annual investment in 2025 almost doubled to UAH 45.4 billion (€964 million), compared with UAH 23 billion (€530 million) in 2024, reflecting the further expansion of the company’s activities during wartime.

“Even in the face of constant attacks, we are restoring capacity, scaling renewable generation, and modernising grids, because a resilient energy system is the foundation of Ukraine’s survival and future prosperity,” said DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko. “With the full support of our shareholder, Rinat Akhmetov, we continue to invest during wartime, sending a clear signal: Ukraine remains attractive for investment today, and international partners have a real opportunity to help build a modern, European energy system.”

About DTEK

DTEK Group is a major private investor in Ukraine’s energy sector, with 55,000 employees and over €12 billion of capital invested since 2005. The company generates electricity at wind, solar and thermal power plants; distributes and supplies power to end consumers; extracts natural gas and coal; trades energy resources on Ukrainian and foreign markets; and provides domestic and commercial energy services. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, DTEK Group has restored power to more than 36 million consumers in regions affected by hostilities. DTEK Group is 100% owned by SCM (System Capital Management). The ultimate beneficiary and sole shareholder is Rinat Akhmetov, a businessman and philanthropist. For more information, visit scm.global.

Disclaimer

Euro-UAH rates are based on the rate at the time of investment.

Media Contact

Pavlo Bilodid
bilodidpp@dtek.com
+380 97 511 2087

Bodor Laser has ranked No. 1 globally in sales of laser cutting machines (1,000W and above) for the seventh consecutive year, according to audited data released by Qianzhan Industry Research Institute in March 2026. In 2025, the company exceeded 10,000 units in annual sales, remaining the only manufacturer to maintain this position for seven consecutive years—a milestone verified by industry-standard production benchmarks.

The recognition was announced at ITES 2026, where Bodor Laser showcased its ISO-certified manufacturing processes and global expansion.

Seven Years at No. 1: Global Leadership and Compliance

Over the past year, Bodor Laser expanded its operational capabilities. Its DreamSpace super factory delivered more than 10,000 machines, while its South China headquarters entered operation. All facilities adhere to rigorous international safety and environmental standards, ensuring that high-volume production never compromises equipment reliability.

“This milestone reflects our focus on technical safety and sustained investment in innovation,” said Zhan Zhihao, SVP at Bodor Laser.

The Strategy: In-House R&D and Technical Expertise

Bodor Laser’s leadership is rooted in a disciplined growth strategy. Over the past five years, the company has invested tens of millions of dollars in R&D, building a team of several hundred engineers. It has achieved full in-house development of core components—laser heads, sources, and control systems—ensuring seamless integration and superior safety fail-safes compared to third-party assemblies. This expertise is reflected in a substantial patent portfolio and international design awards like Red Dot and iF.

Product Portfolio: High-Precision, Safe Solutions

Bodor Laser provides comprehensive solutions, including the SK Series tube laser and SC Series sheet metal systems. Designed with user-experience at the forefront, these systems feature advanced protective enclosures and real-time monitoring to mitigate operational risks in automotive and precision sectors.

Beyond standalone units, the company’s integrated solutions combine cutting, bending, and welding with automated handling. By incorporating AI-driven diagnostics, Bodor systems can predict maintenance needs, reducing downtime and enhancing workplace safety.

Global Footprint: Localized Service and Support

Bodor Laser strengthens its presence through more than 10 overseas subsidiaries and technical centers in markets like the U.S., Germany, and Japan. With 3,500+ employees, Bodor provides localized technical support and safety training in 180+ countries, ensuring that global customers have immediate access to expert maintenance and operational guidance.

About Bodor Laser

Bodor Laser is a global manufacturer of laser cutting solutions, specializing in sheet metal, tube cutting, and laser welding systems. The company serves customers in more than 180 countries and regions and is committed to advancing industrial efficiency through innovation. For more information, visit www.bodor.com.

VIVAZEN®, a leader in high-quality botanical wellness solutions, and Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), America’s leading military health and wellness community, today announced a new partnership to support veteran well-being and strengthen community connection nationwide.

Together, VIVAZEN and Team RWB will combine performance-driven wellness solutions with community-based programming to help veterans build resilience, improve wellness goals, and stay connected.

The partnership will support Team RWB’s Memorial Minutes campaign, taking place May 1–25, 2026. The 25-day national initiative honors the more than 1.3 million U.S. service members who have lost their lives in service to the country.

VIVAZEN joins the campaign in that same spirit; committed to the wellness and resilience of those who served and those who carry their memory forward.

As part of the collaboration, VIVAZEN will serve as the exclusive botanical supplement partner for the Memorial Minutes campaign and provide support to expand Team RWB’s programs, which focus on physical health, mental well-being, purpose, and relationships.

Team RWB’s community of over 320,000 members and supporters nationwide engages veterans through in-person and digital programming designed to foster connection, movement, and holistic wellness.

“The men and women who have worn the uniform understand what it means to push through, and they deserve products that are created with that same standard of reliability and trust,” said Bryan Derr, Chief Operating Officer of VIVAZEN. “Partnering with Team RWB allows us to support a community that embodies resilience, discipline, and service. We are honored to stand alongside Team RWB in helping veterans stay strong, connected, and well — especially as we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“When a partner is genuinely invested in the Veteran community, that’s when the real impact happens,” said Col. (Ret.) Michael “Sully” Sullivan, Executive Director of Team RWB. “We’re glad to add VIVAZEN to our team as we build more opportunities for veterans and service members to stay active and connected in the month of May.”

The collaboration will include national and local activations across Team RWB’s chapter network, shared wellness experiences with members, product engagement with participants, and co-branded campaigns designed to drive awareness and participation. VIVAZEN and Team RWB will also engage communities through key events, including GORUCK Ruckapalooza DC.

VIVAZEN’s portfolio of plant-based products delivers fast-acting relief, energy, and calm without compromise, helping veterans and active adults age 21+ maintain clarity and control in high-pressure moments. Team RWB’s programs continue to play a vital role in supporting veterans’ long-term health and well-being.

About VIVAZEN

For over a decade, VIVAZEN has delivered trusted, high-quality botanical supplements that provide people with functional wellness without compromise. Grounded in centuries of wellness practices and backed by modern innovation, VIVAZEN products offer functional, feel-good alternatives for those who want to live — and feel — on their own terms. Join the millions who trust VIVAZEN to Feel Great™ naturally. For more information, visit vivazen.com.

About Team Red, White & Blue

Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and America's leading health and wellness community for the military-connected community. Team RWB's events and programs empower Veterans and Service Members to build a healthy lifestyle focused on four pillars: physical health, mental health, genuine relationships, and a sense of purpose. With over 320,000 members and supporters across the nation, Team RWB is enriching lives and local communities through both in-person events and dynamic in-app programming. Visit teamrwb.org to get involved.

Media Contact

VIVAZEN Contact
press@vivazen.com

Team RWB Contact
press@teamrwb.org

Magicare.ai (formerly Exponential) today announced it is exiting stealth and has closed $3.6 million in pre-seed funding to scale a suite of AI agents purpose-built for post‑acute operators. Investors include leading operators and Mana Ventures, reflecting a shared thesis: the next generation of post‑acute software will not be another point solution — it will be an agentic operating system that runs complex workflows end-to-end with human oversight where it matters.

The Oracle: Patient-Centric Intelligence at the Core

For years, post-acute care handled growing load by hiring more people, but that’s reached a breaking point. There aren’t enough workers — the staffing shortage gets worse every year, and is now a crisis. Healthcare operators are starting to get more comfortable using AI automation, especially as their competitors start reaping the benefits. The AI technology is now good enough to do most healthcare paperwork and admin, if built the right way.

At the core of Magicare is an AI agent named “Oracle,” which models each patient’s likely care pathways and runs Monte Carlo simulations to stress-test clinical, operational, and financial outcomes. Oracle is designed to answer a different class of question than traditional deterministic rule engines: not only “what happened?” or “what’s next on the checklist?” — but “what range of futures are we choosing between — and what is best for the patient’s recovery?”

That probabilistic layer centered around the patient journey becomes the shared brain for the rest of the platform: a dynamically updating forecast and risk surface that downstream agents can execute against, audit against, and escalate to clinicians and administrators when confidence or policy thresholds require it.

From Forecasting to Execution: AI Agents Across the Enterprise

Building on Oracle, Magicare is developing specialized AI agents that can deliver end-to-end automation across operators’ biggest pain points — spanning functions that today depend on a disjointed system of portals, faxed packets, spreadsheets, and manual handoffs:

• Admissions: Ingest and reason over complex referral packets, accelerate clinically sound acceptance decisions, and compress the time from referral to bed with traceable rationale.
• Discharge: Coordinate timing, documentation, and stakeholder communication so transitions are safer, faster, and less reliant on heroic manual follow-through.
• Compliance & survey readiness: Continuously monitor evidence trails, policy alignment, and task completion patterns so teams can operate in a state of preparedness rather than panic-driven remediation.
• Revenue cycle management (RCM): Automate eligibility-to-claim workstreams, reduce rework, and keep billing operations aligned to the same clinical and operational truth Oracle encodes.
• Staffing & scheduling: Align capacity to census volatility and acuity signals, reducing the friction between “what we think will happen” and “who needs to be on the floor when it does.”

Magicare’s architecture is explicitly agent-first: workflows are composed as coordinated agents with guardrails, tool access, and human-in-the-loop checkpoints — rather than bolting chatbots onto legacy forms. Magicare is partnered with leading healthcare operators all across the U.S., including CareOne, Lionstone, and Vivage-Beecan.

Deep Market Demand

Magicare’s first commercial product was to reinvent the admissions process, at the point when patients leave the hospital and transition to post-acute care. This is the beginning of the patient journey in post-acute. It is also a painfully manual process, and slow admissions can cost operators the revenue they need to stay in the black.

“Operator-led feedback has shaped every step of our roadmap,” said Magicare’s CEO Daniel Schoenbrun. “We’re very excited to innovate alongside best-in-class operators, to improve care quality while redirecting up to $100 billion of cost back to patient care.”

“Magicare is at the cutting edge of AI — and it has filled our census,” said Nathan Hertzl, CEO of Arabella. “The team combines a rare mix of engineering excellence, intuitive product design, and white glove execution. We’re seeing the impact where it counts: referrals moving, decisions getting made, and beds filling with the right patients.”

About Magicare AI

Magicare is the agentic operating system for post‑acute care — a platform of coordinated AI agents anchored by Oracle’s pathway forecasting and simulation layer, extending into admissions, discharge, compliance and survey readiness, RCM, and staffing scheduling. The company partners with facilities and health systems that need agentic automation grounded in clinical, operational, and financial reality. To learn more, visit magicare.ai.

About Mana Ventures

Mana Ventures is a leading VC that partners with founders building category-defining companies at the intersection of software, data, and regulated industries. For more information, visit www.manaventures.vc.

Media Contact

Eliana Raskas
Magicare AI
eliana@magicare.ai

Lever & Ecker, PLLC, a plaintiff’s personal injury law firm, announced today that two of its attorneys have been named to the "2026 Top 25 Westchester County Super Lawyers" list, published by Thomson Reuters. The distinction is reserved for an elite group of just 25 attorneys in the area recognized for outstanding peer recognition and professional achievement.

Additionally, all four of Lever & Ecker, PLLC’s attorneys have been named to the "2026 Westchester County Super Lawyers and Rising Stars" lists.

“These recognitions reflect the strength and consistency of our team of attorneys and the work that we do. I am proud of our firm and our continued commitment to our clients and our community,” David B. Lever said.

The firm regularly secures multimillion dollar outcomes and is frequently featured in the media.

• David B. Lever has been named to the 2026 Top 25 Westchester County Super Lawyers list, placing him among a select group of 25 attorneys recognized across the Westchester County, New York region.
• Daniel G. Ecker has been named to the 2026 Top 25 Westchester County Super Lawyers list, reflecting his continued excellence in advocacy and results for clients.
• Adam C. Weiss has been selected to the 2026 New York Metro Rising Stars list for the seventh consecutive year.
• Katherine A. Henderson has earned the 2026 New York Metro Rising Stars recognition for the second year.

Super Lawyers recognizes the top 5% of attorneys across more than 70 practice areas through a rigorous, multiphase selection process that includes peer nominations, independent research, and peer evaluations. Rising Stars the top 2.5% of up-and-coming attorneys who are either 40 years old or younger or have been practicing for 10 years or less.

“Being named to the Top 25 Westchester County Super Lawyers list is a meaningful honor, especially alongside such a respected group of attorneys. I’m proud to be part of a team that is deeply committed to advocating for our clients and delivering strong results when it matters most,” Daniel G. Ecker said.

The annual Super Lawyers lists are widely regarded as a comprehensive resource for identifying top legal talent.

About Lever & Ecker, PLLC

Lever & Ecker, PLLC is a New York-based plaintiff’s personal injury law firm dedicated to representing individuals and families affected by serious injury and wrongful death. The firm is known for its client-centered approach and track record of achieving significant results in complex cases. For more information, visit www.leverecker.com.

Media Contact

Amanda Orr
amanda@orrstrategygroup.com

Foods and Wines from Spain's Eat Spain Drink Spain is back from April 15 to May 16, 2026, bringing a nationwide celebration of Spanish food, wine, and culture to retailers and restaurants across the country.

This month-long campaign invites consumers to discover the flavors that make Spain so special through in-store tastings, curated displays, and restaurant experiences designed to be fun, approachable, and full of flavor.

From timeless favorites to new discoveries, shoppers and diners can explore iconic products like jamón ibérico and jamón serrano, alongside standout cheeses such as Manchego, Mahón, and Murcia al Vino. Expect plenty of ways to enjoy Spain’s pantry staples too, from rich extra virgin olive oil, Sherry vinegar, and flavorful olives to conservas, Spain’s beloved premium tinned seafood made for sharing.

And of course, no Spanish experience is complete without wine. Whether it’s a refreshing and crisp albariño, elegant cava, juicy garnacha, or savory tempranillo, there's something for every taste and occasion.

“Eat Spain Drink Spain is all about making it easy and exciting for people to experience the incredible variety of Spanish food and wine,” said Jeffrey Shaw from Foods from Spain at the Trade Commission of Spain in NY.

With events happening nationwide and digital content to match, it’s never been easier to explore, taste, and enjoy Spain — wherever you are.

About Foods and Wines from Spain

Foods and Wines from Spain is the official brand of ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, dedicated to promoting Spanish food, wine, and beverages worldwide. Through trade events, marketing campaigns, and educational initiatives, it connects Spanish producers with international trade professionals and consumers, highlighting the quality, diversity, and innovation of Spain’s gastronomy sector. For more information and participating locations, visit www.foodswinesfromspain.com and follow on Instagram.

Media Contact

Pablo Olay
pablo@tastenetwork.com

CityLaila, a Dubai-based travel platform, has expanded its operations to more than 44 countries, marking a significant milestone in its growth from a local ticketing provider into a global travel business with integrated services and growing ownership of travel experiences. While the expansion provides access to a broader customer base and supplier network, it also places the company in a more competitive global environment where scale, operational control, and service consistency are critical.

From Local Ticketing to Multi-Market Operations

The expansion reflects the company’s rapid evolution since its founding in 2019, when it began as a platform for booking attraction tickets and activities in Dubai.

Today, CityLaila offers a broad range of travel services, including attractions, holiday packages, hotel bookings, flights, airport transfers, and visa services, serving both individual travelers and B2B partners across multiple international markets. This also positions the company within a more competitive global travel landscape.

The expansion represents a structural shift rather than incremental growth. Instead of operating as a single-market platform, CityLaila now manages supply, distribution, and customer delivery across multiple regions, supported by operational presence in India, Thailand, Singapore, and Egypt. The company said this footprint allows it to manage supplier relationships and customer support more directly while adapting to regional demand.

“We are no longer operating as a local booking platform,” said Manish Aryan, founder and CEO of CityLaila. “The expansion reflects how the business has evolved into a system that connects multiple markets, partners and services through a single platform.”

Funding and Ownership Strategy Supporting Expansion

The milestone comes alongside a broader set of developments that have supported the company’s transition. CityLaila has secured approximately $2 million in funding, which it said is being used to support market expansion, strengthen its B2B distribution network and invest in technology infrastructure. 

“This investment allows us to scale with discipline — strengthening our infrastructure, expanding market access, and building a globally connected travel ecosystem,” said Mantu Kumar, co-founder and CFO of CityLaila. The company is also targeting new markets including the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia as part of its next phase of growth.

Unlike many travel platforms that operate purely as aggregators, CityLaila has begun investing in owned inventory. The company has acquired a 50% stake in a Dubai-based desert safari operation, allowing it to directly manage both standard and premium safari experiences. This move provides greater control over pricing, service delivery, and customer experience — areas that are typically harder to manage in a purely marketplace-driven model.

The company is extending this approach into additional categories, including cruise and yacht offerings, as it builds a portfolio of owned and operated experiences alongside third-party supply.

“Ownership changes how you operate,” said Shamiullah Ansari, co-founder and CMO of CityLaila. “It allows you to control the quality of the experience, not just the transaction. That becomes critical when you are trying to scale across markets.”

Positioning for Global Travel Demand

Named “Most Promising Travel Company in the Middle East 2025” at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards, the company’s model is built around combining direct supplier relationships, owned inventory, and centralized distribution with the aim of delivering consistent travel experiences at competitive pricing. In a sector where customers often face trade-offs between cost and quality, CityLaila is positioning itself around the idea that affordability does not require compromise on the experience.

As part of its next phase, the company is focusing on strengthening its role in both B2B and B2C segments. On the B2B side, it is building a network that allows travel agents to access global inventory through a single platform, while on the consumer side it continues to expand its end-to-end travel offering.

For CityLaila, the shift from a Dubai-based ticketing platform to a multi-country travel operator reflects a broader trend within the travel industry, where companies are moving beyond aggregation toward more integrated and controlled models.

The company said it will continue to invest in infrastructure, partnerships and owned experiences as it expands into additional markets and deepens its presence in existing ones.

About CityLaila

CityLaila is a Dubai-based travel platform and destination management company offering attractions, experiences, holiday packages, hotel bookings, flights, transfers, visa services and B2B travel solutions across more than 44 countries. Serving both individual travelers and travel industry partners, CityLaila connects users with curated local experiences while supporting tourism businesses through global distribution and visibility. For more information, visit www.citylaila.com.

Media Contact

Debo Das
debo@citylaila.com

Mis-Sold Expert today announced the launch of a new review framework designed to help UK consumers assess their motor finance agreements following findings from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that firms widely failed to disclose commission structures and key pricing information.

The framework is being introduced as the FCA prepares to implement an industry-wide motor finance redress scheme covering agreements entered into between April 6, 2007 and Nov. 1, 2024. The regulator estimates average compensation of approximately £829 per agreement, with total payouts expected to reach £7.5 billion.

What Has Changed

The FCA’s review identified widespread and systemic issues in how car finance agreements were sold, particularly around transparency. In many cases, consumers were not clearly informed that brokers could influence interest rates or that higher rates could increase commission payments.

These practices, according to the FCA, may have resulted in consumers paying more than necessary and being unable to make fully informed decisions. The regulator has confirmed that around 12.1 million agreements could fall within scope of the redress scheme, with most cases expected to be resolved by the end of 2027.

Introducing the Mis-Sold Expert Review Framework

In response, Mis-Sold Expert’s new framework provides consumers with a structured way to review their agreements ahead of formal lender outreach. The framework focuses on key indicators highlighted by the FCA, including:

• Whether commission arrangements may have influenced the interest rate
• Whether key pricing and broker relationships were clearly disclosed
• Whether the overall structure of the agreement could be considered unfair

The tool is designed to be accessible without specialist knowledge, helping consumers understand their position before lenders begin contacting affected customers.

Why It Matters Now

Although firms will be required to review agreements and contact eligible customers, Mis-Sold Expert emphasizes the importance of early awareness. Consumers who review their agreements in advance may be better prepared to understand compensation offers and respond more effectively.

Under the FCA’s framework, firms will assess whether an agreement created an “unfair relationship,” particularly in cases involving discretionary or undisclosed commission. Compensation will vary depending on the structure of each agreement, with the £829 figure representing an average rather than a fixed payout.

Who May Be Affected

Consumers who entered into Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Hire Purchase agreements through dealerships or brokers between 2007 and 2024 may fall within scope. The FCA has divided the review period into two phases — 2007 to 2014 and 2014 to 2024 — to reflect changes in market practices over time.

Not all agreements will qualify, but firms are required to assess each case against the regulator’s criteria.

Supporting Consumer Readiness

Mis-Sold Expert’s framework is intended to complement the FCA’s upcoming redress process by helping individuals evaluate their agreements independently. By reviewing documentation, understanding how interest rates were set and identifying potential gaps in disclosure, consumers can gain clarity ahead of formal notifications from lenders.

As the FCA begins implementing the scheme in 2026, the review framework aims to provide practical guidance during what is expected to be one of the largest financial redress exercises in the UK.

Media Contact

Leah Young
info@mis-soldexpert.co.uk

Bitdefender announced the release of its Bitdefender Threat Debrief | February 2026, a monthly intelligence report designed to help organizations track emerging ransomware activity, attacker tactics, and shifting victimology using a blend of OSINT and observed data-leak-site (DLS) trends.

The February Threat Debrief analyzes ransomware claims posted between January 1–31 and records 831 claimed victims, representing nearly 10% growth compared to the same period the prior year.

Key findings and highlights from the February 2026 Threat Debrief

• 0APT’s rapid “victim” surge raises red flags: The debrief spotlights 0APT, a previously unknown group that claimed 91 victims in two days—a pace Bitdefender notes is suspicious for a new entrant and may be explained by factors such as inaccurate infection polling from sandbox environments rather than verified compromises.
• Notepad++ compromise used in targeted attacks: Bitdefender highlights reports that compromised Notepad++ updates have been used to target organizations in Asia and Central America, with potential impact dating back to June 2025 and affecting versions preceding 8.9.1.
• Healthcare data extortion escalates: The report notes FulCrumSec’s claimed responsibility for a healthcare breach impacting 160,000+ ID-linked individuals and close to a million exposed patients, including exposure of sensitive patient data.
• Ransomware ecosystem shifts: The debrief also covers Clop’s return to the “Top 10” list (including 90 claimed victims in January) and the reported disruption of the RAMP forum following an FBI-led operation.
• Operational reality check from MDR: Bitdefender’s MDR incident insights emphasize that modern ransomware incidents are increasingly credential-led and tool-driven, underscoring the need for proactive detection of credential dumping, privilege escalation, lateral movement, and remote tool abuse.

Read the report

The full February 2026 edition is available here: Bitdefender Threat Debrief | February 2026. Organizations looking to strengthen prevention, detection, and response can learn more about Bitdefender’s enterprise cybersecurity solutions.

About Bitdefender

Bitdefender is a cybersecurity leader delivering best-in-class threat prevention, detection, and response solutions worldwide. Guardian over millions of consumers, enterprises, and government environments, Bitdefender is one of the industry’s most trusted experts for eliminating threats, protecting privacy, digital identity and data, and enabling cyber resilience. With deep investments in research and development, Bitdefender Labs discovers hundreds of new threats each minute and validates billions of threat queries daily. The company has pioneered breakthrough innovations in antimalware, IoT security, behavioral analytics, and artificial intelligence and its technology is licensed by more than 180 of the world’s most recognized technology brands. Founded in 2001, Bitdefender has customers in over 170 countries with offices around the world. For more information, visit www.bitdefender.com.

Lucra, the plug-and-play loyalty SDK powering competition with real-money and rewards, today announced it has raised $20 million in a financing round led by Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest Venture Fund, with participation from industry-leading investors including Alumni Ventures, Astralis Capital, Harlo Equity Partners, Simplex Ventures, SeventySix Capital, and WTI. 

Lucra is building the infrastructure layer for the next generation of loyalty across real-world venues and consumer experiences. Its white-label technology enables brands to launch tournaments, live competitions, and peer-to-peer challenges directly inside the apps, websites, and spaces they already own and operate.

Traditional loyalty programs rely on passive points and discounts — approaches that increasingly fail to create meaningful, lasting behavior change in a competitive and distracted consumer environment. Lucra takes a different approach, turning competition into an engagement engine that helps brands create more memorable, social, and high-intent experiences — without having to build the underlying compliance, payments, fraud prevention, or settlement infrastructure themselves.

"Loyalty only works when it changes behavior," said Dylan Robbins, founder and CEO of Lucra. “We built Lucra to make competition native to the experiences people already love. This raise gives us the capital to deepen our platform, expand into new verticals, and bring that infrastructure to every brand that wants to turn passive consumer touchpoints into active, high-intent moments."

“Human connection and competition are powerful, often underutilized drivers of engagement,” said Cathie Wood, founder, CEO, and CIO of ARK Invest. “Lucra is building the infrastructure to bring these elements into digital and real-world experiences at scale, creating a new model for loyalty that we believe can redefine how consumers interact with brands.”

“We believe Lucra is tapping into a fundamental shift in how engagement and retention are built,” said Nick Grous, Director of Research at ARK Invest. “By enabling real-time, peer-to-peer competition with real stakes, Lucra is turning passive experiences into active ones and creating a compelling new paradigm for loyalty across consumer platforms.”

Lucra is on pace to surpass 1 million unique tournament signups in 2026, reflecting rapid adoption as brands look for better ways to drive retention, monetization, and community through competitive experiences. The company’s platform is already used by leading entertainment, hospitality, and consumer brands including Five Iron Golf, Puttshack, Backyard Sports, ChessKings, and TouchTunes.

Lucra’s technology is designed for brands that want to launch quickly without adding operational complexity. By handling the back-end infrastructure, Lucra allows partners to focus on the experience itself while creating new opportunities for engagement, retention, and revenue. As consumer brands look for more effective ways to turn attention into action, competition-based loyalty is emerging as a powerful new model.

About Lucra

Lucra is a plug-and-play SDK that integrates into apps or websites, enabling peer-to-peer competitions with real-money or rewards. It handles compliance, payments, fraud prevention, and settlement out of the box, so partners can instantly offer gamified experiences without building or managing complex infrastructure themselves. Top entertainment, hospitality, and consumer brands, including Five Iron Golf, Puttshack, Backyard Sports, ChessKings, TouchTunes, and more, use Lucra's white-label technology to power tournaments and challenges, build loyalty, and drive new revenue. Learn more at playlucra.com.

Media Contact

Lindsay Linhart
Brand Strategist, Lucra
lindsay@lucrasports.com

Backbase today launched the AI-native Banking OS, the most significant evolution in the company's 22-year history, establishing a new market category in banking technology. The Banking OS introduces the Unified Frontline: the operating model for AI-native financial institutions, where customers, employees, and AI agents collaborate as one — across digital channels, front office, and operations.

The launch addresses one of banking's most persistent structural challenges: fragmentation. Based on insights from more than 120 deployments, Backbase estimates that roughly 80% of frontline banking work happens in the whitespace between systems — the handoffs, coordination, and exceptions no single application owns. It's the same work banks now want to hand to AI agents, and it's exactly where agents break.

"AI agents need shared context, clear authority, and a unified execution layer," said Jouk Pleiter, CEO and founder of Backbase. "Without it, adding more AI accelerates the fragmentation it was meant to solve."

The Banking OS closes that gap. It sits above a bank's existing systems — cores, payments, cards, risk, CRM — without replacing them. It understands the customer in one shared view, coordinates the work across every system, authorizes every action, and optimizes continuously — learning from every interaction, signal, and outcome.

The result is what Backbase calls Elastic Operations: a model in which financial institutions can scale customers, products, and support without increasing headcount, handoffs, or complexity. By aligning every channel, employee, customer, and AI agent on a single operating system, the frontline becomes adaptive, resilient, and inherently scalable. Capacity flexes with demand, the way cloud infrastructure flexes with traffic.

"Elastic Operations is a state no fragmented bank can match and it’s only possible on a Unified Frontline," said Pleiter. "That changes the strategic question every bank CEO has to answer in the next five years: can you still afford to run the bank on a fragmented frontline? Can you scale onboarding, credit, and servicing when your employees, your AI, and your customers are all on different systems? The banks that answer those questions now will compound their advantage every quarter. There's no version of the next decade where a fragmented bank wins."

A New Operating System for Agentic Banking

Expanding on Backbase's award-winning architecture, three new layers transform it into an AI-native operating system for banks.

1. The Intelligence Layer: Spot risk, revenue, and churn signals weeks before they surface. Fraud patterns forming across accounts. Revenue opportunities hiding in transaction data. Churn indicators emerging weeks before a customer leaves. Every signal becomes an action plan, delivered to the right actor at the right moment.
2. The Semantic Layer (Nexus): Every employee and every AI agent now sees the same customer, the same context, the same truth. Nexus turns every customer, account, product, and case into a shared, always-current record. One reality, read from and written to by every actor in the bank.
3. The Authority Layer (Sentinel): Enterprise AI that a regulator can trust. Sentinel decides what each actor — customer, employee, or AI agent — is allowed to do. Every action gets checked against bank policy before it executes. Every action gets logged. Trust can be revoked at any time, in any domain.

Proven at Scale

Backbase surpassed $350 million in revenue in 2025 and serves over 120 financial institutions across 50 countries. The company was bootstrapped to a €2.5 billion valuation before raising its first external capital from Motive Partners in 2022. Major deployments include Navy Federal Credit Union, TD Bank, Techcombank, Standard Bank Group, Eurobank, and Keybank.

The AI-native Banking OS is available through Backbase's global operations and partner network.

About Backbase

Backbase built the AI-native Banking OS — the operating system that turns fragmented banking operations into a Unified Frontline. Customers, employees, and AI agents work as one across digital channels, front-office, and operations. 120+ leading banks run on Backbase across Retail, SMB & Commercial, Private Banking, and Wealth Management. Backbase was founded in 2003 by Jouk Pleiter and is headquartered in Amsterdam, with teams across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.

Media Contact

Press Team
Backbase
press-relations@backbase.com

Phillips Distilling Company, a Minnesota-based pioneer in breakthrough flavors and spirits innovation in North America for more than 109 years announced today that its Prairie Organic Vodka has been named the No. 1 Best Vodka in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards in the Distilleries category.

Prairie Organic Spirits

This recognition comes as the brand celebrates Earth Day, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to supporting farming communities and environmentally responsible practices. Prairie Organic Vodka is crafted from organic, non-GMO corn grown on Midwestern family farms, resulting in a spirit with a naturally soft sweetness and creamy mouthfeel. Challenging the idea that vodka should be completely neutral, Prairie Organic Vodka leans into ingredient quality to deliver a vodka with real character that performs in cocktails and stands on its own. 

“As consumers become more intentional about what they’re drinking, transparency and ingredient integrity matter more than ever,” said Laura Donnelly, Vice President of Marketing at Phillips Distilling Co. “This recognition reflects our commitment to working with organic family farms across the Midwest and producing a vodka that delivers on both quality and taste. We’ve always believed great ingredients should come through in the glass.”

In addition to its organic distillation process, Prairie Organic Spirits has deepened its commitment through the Bee Better program, an ongoing initiative focused on protecting pollinators, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening the ecosystems behind its ingredients. In partnership with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Prairie advances pollinator protection efforts while inviting consumers to participate in the impact. Every purchase, whether a bottle or enjoying a Prairie cocktail at participating bars and restaurants, helps support the initiative and protect bee populations.

Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards

The Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards recognize standout businesses, brands, and experiences across a wide range of consumer categories. Winners are determined through a public voting process in which readers select the companies and organizations they believe deliver exceptional quality, value, and customer experience.

The 2026 program highlights leading companies across numerous industries, including the Distilleries category, where Phillips Distilling Company’s Prairie Organic Vodka was recognized as No. 1 Best Vodka 2026.

“Each year, the Readers’ Choice Awards celebrate the best of the best, as chosen by the people who matter most — our readers,” said Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Jennifer H. Cunningham “We’re proud to recognize those organizations that continue to raise the bar for quality, innovation, and customer experience.”

About Phillips Distilling Company

Phillips Distilling Company is one of the most innovative and enduring distilled spirits companies in North America. Over 109 years in the making, Phillips continues to produce high-quality products using only the finest ingredients, sourced from around the globe. Phillips is consistently a pioneer in the spirits industry, from America's first schnapps in the 1930s to flavored vodka in the 1950s to flavored whiskey in the 1990s to organic spirits in the 2000s. The Phillips portfolio includes Phillips Spirits, UV Vodka, Prairie Organic Spirits, Revel Stoke Whiskies, Tomatin Scotch Whiskies, Trader Vic's Rums, and Douglas & Todd Small Batch Bourbon. The company is based in Princeton, Minn., with offices in St. Paul. For more information, go to phillipsdistilling.com.

About Newsweek

Newsweek is the global digital news organization built around the iconic 93-year-old American magazine. Newsweek reaches 100 million people monthly with its thought-provoking news, opinion, images, graphics, and video delivered across a dozen print and digital platforms. Headquartered in New York City, Newsweek also publishes international editions in EMEA and Asia. For more information, visit www.newsweek.com.

Media Contact

Zach Groth
VP, Top Shelf PR
groth@curichweiss.com

salt+blue today announced the launch of its new BODY Sunscreen, a mineral-based formula designed to provide broad-spectrum sun protection while minimizing potential harm to marine ecosystems. The product is powered by non-nano zinc oxide and formulated without oxybenzone or octinoxate, two chemical UV filters linked to coral reef damage.

The launch comes ahead of Earth Day as regulatory scrutiny and scientific research continue to highlight the environmental impact of certain sunscreen ingredients. salt+blue’s BODY Sunscreen is enriched with organic and wildcrafted botanicals and reflects the brand’s focus on ingredient transparency and environmental considerations.

“Non-nano zinc oxide is one of the few UV filters that gives you both broad-spectrum protection and inherent photostability,” said Rachel Pachivas, co-founder of salt+blue. “We built the rest of the formula around not compromising that — no chemical filters, nothing that degrades in sunlight, nothing we couldn’t defend on environmental grounds.”

Product Formulation and Ingredient Approach

salt+blue’s BODY Sunscreen is formulated using non-nano zinc oxide, which does not readily dissolve in seawater and has not been shown to cause coral bleaching or DNA damage associated with certain chemical UV filters. The formulation avoids nano-sized particles, which can be absorbed by marine organisms, and instead prioritizes larger particle structures designed to remain on the skin’s surface.

The product is part of the brand’s broader approach to developing mineral-based sun care solutions that balance performance with environmental considerations.

Industry Context: Environmental Impact of Sunscreen Ingredients

According to the U.S. National Park Service, between 4,000 and 6,000 tons of sunscreen enter coral reef environments annually. Research published in Science by Stanford University scientists found that oxybenzone can be metabolized by corals into compounds that become toxic when exposed to sunlight. Additional studies have shown that even low concentrations may contribute to coral deformities and DNA damage.

In response, regions including Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Palau have enacted restrictions on sunscreens containing certain chemical UV filters.

A 2022 review by the National Academies of Sciences noted that chemical UV filters may pose risks to aquatic ecosystems and called for further ecological assessment, while mineral-based alternatives were found to have fewer observed effects on marine life.

Brand Background and Development

salt+blue was founded by Kevin Gianni and Rachel Pachivas, drawing on formulation experience from Annmarie Skin Care. The brand is built around the premise that sun protection products can be developed without introducing ingredients that may negatively impact ocean ecosystems.

The company positions its products for a broad consumer audience, aiming to provide accessible sun care options that do not require specialized knowledge of ingredient sourcing or formulation.

Consumer Awareness and Market Trends

As consumer awareness around environmental impact increases, terms such as “reef safe” have become more common in the marketplace, though definitions and regulatory standards vary. salt+blue’s approach focuses on clearly defined formulation choices, including the exclusion of certain chemical filters and the use of non-nano mineral ingredients.

“My hope is that one day the majority of people — not just a select few — are deeply aware of the impact their personal care products have on the world around them,” Pachivas said. “That awareness already exists — I see it in how people shop, how they read labels, and how they talk about the ocean.”

Broader Environmental Considerations

Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor but support an estimated 25% of marine species, according to NOAA. While climate change remains the primary threat, scientists indicate that reducing localized stressors — including chemical pollution — may help improve reef resilience.

salt+blue states that its BODY Sunscreen is intended to offer consumers an alternative option as awareness of these environmental considerations continues to grow.

The product is available at salt.blue.

Media Contact

Michael Graziano
michael@mindfulagency.com

Vera Clinic, internationally recognised as a leading centre of innovation in hair restoration surgery, has released the full findings of a controlled clinical validation study suggesting that its patented Vector-10™ CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) Lab-Grown Diamond blade may reduce post-operative epithelial healing time by up to 40% on average compared to surgical steel, and demonstrates potential improvements over the current industry-standard sapphire instrument across every measured clinical parameter.

The study, conducted in collaboration with material science firm Appsilon Enterprise, independently validated by CinarLabs, and Vera Academy's R&D centre, marks what the clinic describes as the most consequential advancement in FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) instrumentation in over a decade.

From Sapphire to Diamond: A Lineage of Innovation

The announcement carries particular institutional weight: Vera Clinic was the originating force behind the sapphire-tipped incision tool, a technology that has since been adopted as standard across the global hair transplant industry. The Vector-10™ represents the clinic's deliberate successor to that benchmark, under full patent.

"We built the sapphire standard. We watched it become universal. That was validation enough," said Waleed Taleb, board member of Vera Clinic. "Vector-10™ is what we built after asking what comes next, and this time, the patent belongs to us."

The Clinical Findings of Vector-10™

The study stratified patients undergoing FUE procedures into three groups (historical steel-blade outcomes, a concurrent sapphire-blade control cohort, and the Vector-10™ intervention group) measuring epithelial healing time, inflammatory response, blade force consistency, and patient-reported intraoperative sensation. Key observations from this independent research are as follows:

Epithelial healing time

• Surgical Steel: 7–10 days
• Sapphire: 6–7 days
• Vector-10™ CVD: 5 days (~40% faster)

Visible scabbing at day 5

• Surgical Steel: 89% of patients
• Sapphire: 74% of patients
• Vector-10 CVD: 12% of patients

Blade durability

• Surgical Steel: ~1,000 incision cycles
• Sapphire: ~6,000 incision cycles
• Vector-10 CVD: 150,000+ cycles (zero degradation; ~25× sapphire)

Intraoperative sensation

• Surgical Steel: Detected
• Sapphire: Detected
• Vector-10 CVD: None reported (Ångström-level edge, 10⁻¹⁰ m)

Surgeon force consistency

• Surgical Steel: Degrades during session
• Sapphire: Degrades during session
• Vector-10 CVD: Uniform across 4,000+ grafts (100% of physicians)

Durability data comes from independent fatigue testing conducted by CinarLabs. Clinical outcomes are based on a controlled observational cohort study carried out at Vera Clinic in Istanbul.

"This is my second hair transplant. I felt the incisions in the first one. This time I didn't feel anything at all," said Daniel J. C., a Vector-10™ patient at Vera Clinic.

The Science Behind the CVD Lab-Grown Diamond Blade

Vector-10™ is manufactured through a CVD process in which carbon atoms are deposited atom by atom onto a substrate in a controlled plasma environment, producing a fully sp³-bonded carbon lattice, the same tetrahedral covalent structure as natural diamond, achieved under laboratory precision. The resulting blade registers 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, the absolute maximum, and maintains an edge radius measurable in Ångströms rather than micrometres. By comparison, traditional sapphire blades register 9 on the same scale.

It is this material superiority, extreme hardness, zero edge degradation across 150,000+ incision cycles, and an Ångström-level cutting geometry, that underpins the clinical observations. The blade's ultra-fine edge is designed to displace rather than drag tissue, generating no frictional heat, no compression trauma, and no mechanical trigger for the inflammatory cascade that drives post-operative oedema, crusting, and extended recovery. These physical properties of the diamond edge are measurable constants; the degree to which individual patients experience accelerated recovery remains subject to biological variability (see Important Considerations below).

Scientific Context and Individual Variability

While these findings represent a meaningful advance in surgical instrumentation, Vera Clinic emphasises that hair transplantation is a biological process influenced by numerous patient-specific variables.

"Our goal with Vector-10™ was to provide our surgeons with the most precise tool possible to minimise trauma," said a lead researcher at Vera Academy. "While our data shows a clear trend toward faster surface healing, it is important to remember that 'recovery' is a multi-phase process. The ultimate success of a transplant still relies on the patient's overall health, their adherence to aftercare protocols, and their individual physiological response."

Vector-10™ Research with Vera Academy

The Vector-10™ was developed through Vera Academy, Vera Clinic's internal medical research and education division, which trains Turkish physicians in advanced hair restoration techniques and functions as the clinic's primary applied R&D arm.

The clinic's recovery infrastructure, including OxyCure (its in-house hyperbaric oxygen therapy system and the only such unit housed within a hair transplant facility globally), operates in clinical complement to the reduced-trauma profile of the Vector-10™.

Global Hair Transplant Market Evaluation with Vector-10™

The global hair restoration market is projected to reach $10.64 billion by 2031 (Grand View Research), driven by expanding patient demographics and the destigmatisation of aesthetic medicine. Istanbul has functioned as the global centre of FUE innovation for over a decade, a position Vera Clinic has shaped directly and which the Vector-10™ is designed to reinforce.

"The Vector-10™ is not merely a surgical instrument," the study concludes. "It is a catalyst for the next era of precision aesthetic medicine, with the potential to transform a daunting medical procedure into a premium refinement experience with a meaningfully accelerated path to recovery."

Important Considerations of the Study

• Individual Results May Vary: The observed average healing time of 5 days and the up-to-40% improvement in epithelial recovery are derived from controlled study parameters. Actual outcomes depend on factors including age, skin type, smoking status, scalp condition, and underlying medical health.
• Comparative Basis: The 40% figure represents the upper bound of improvement observed in a comparison between Vector-10™ and standard surgical steel blades within this study's specific cohort and conditions.
• Professional Consultation Required: Vector-10™ is a precision surgical instrument designed to assist the operating physician. It does not replace the need for a comprehensive medical evaluation, a personalised surgical plan, or qualified clinical oversight.
• Post-Operative Care: Optimal recovery outcomes are observed in conjunction with recommended aftercare, including OxyCure Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and prescribed scalp hygiene protocols.

About Vera Clinic

Vera Clinic is an Istanbul-based, internationally accredited centre for hair restoration and aesthetic surgery, operating from a purpose-built facility and serving patients across more than 60 countries. The originating institution behind the sapphire-tipped FUE incision tool and patent holder of the Vector-10™ CVD Lab-Grown Diamond surgical blade, Vera Clinic has twice set the instrumentation standard for an entire industry. Its research and training division, Vera Academy, drives applied R&D and delivers advanced education in hair restoration and facial cosmetic surgery to physicians across Turkey. That infrastructure extends to OxyCure, Vera Clinic's in-house hyperbaric oxygen therapy system and the only such unit housed within a hair transplant facility globally. The clinic's work has been recognised by the European Medicine Award (2021) as the best hair transplant clinic in Turkey, the IDA Design Award (2024), and in 2026 by the Global Excellence Award (GHB), the WhatClinic Patient Satisfaction Award, and the iF Design Award for clinic design.

Vector-10™ is a registered trademark and patented technology of Vera Clinic. All clinical data collected under institutional observational study protocols. CinarLabs independent validation report available on Vera Clinic's website.

Vector-10™ diamond blades demonstrated an average epithelial healing time of 5 days in controlled study conditions, representing an improvement of up to 40% compared to standard surgical steel. Results are subject to individual patient variability. Full study parameters available upon request. For more information, visit www.veraclinic.net.

Media Contact

Vera Clinic
info@veraclinic.net

Doba, a dropshipping platform that has served more than 3.2 million sellers since its founding, has released Doba Pilot, its most technically advanced AI platform to date. The system brings the company's full suite of automation tools into a single, unified hub accessible via natural language commands, enabling U.S-focused eCommerce entrepreneurs to source products, build storefronts, generate listings, and manage fulfillment from a single interface without switching between separate software systems.

Doba Pilot consolidates three previously independent tools into a connected operational workflow. AI Pickr, the platform's product intelligence engine, analyzes real-time demand signals, trend data, and supplier pricing across Doba's vetted domestic catalog to surface commercially viable product recommendations. The AI Store Builder configures Shopify and BigCommerce-compatible storefronts automatically based on a seller's specified category, brand direction, and target market. The Auto Lister converts supplier data into complete, SEO-aligned product listings covering titles, descriptions, pricing recommendations, and item attributes. Under Doba Pilot, these functions execute in sequence from a single plain-language instruction, with each step's output feeding directly into the next. The result is a workflow that takes a seller from business concept to a populated, operational storefront without requiring technical configuration or manual data transfer between systems.

"What we set out to build with Doba Pilot was a platform where the operational complexity sits entirely with the software, not the seller," said Mandy Ji, CEO at Doba. "A founder using Doba Pilot should be spending their time on product strategy and customer relationships, not on moving information between tools. That separation is what makes the difference between a platform that enables a business and one that becomes a job in itself."

The platform's release comes as AI adoption across e-commerce software has accelerated materially. The retail eCommerce SaaS sector is growing at approximately 20% annually through the late 2020s, driven by mounting demand for platforms that deliver unified operational automation rather than expanding feature sets requiring manual coordination. Merchants across experience levels are consolidating their software stacks, and platforms capable of handling the full operational workflow from a single interface are gaining traction as the preferred operating environment for lean eCommerce businesses. Doba Pilot positions the company directly within that demand shift, offering a unified system in a category where multi-tool stacks have been the prevailing model.

A critical component of Doba Pilot's commercial value for U.S.-focused sellers is the domestic supplier infrastructure beneath it. More than 90% of Doba's vetted supplier network is U.S.-based, which means almost every product recommendation generated by the platform's AI is tied to domestic inventory with consistent shipping timelines. For sellers targeting American consumers, who according to industry research now expect two-day delivery as a baseline standard, this domestic supplier concentration is an operational prerequisite rather than a secondary benefit. Doba Pilot's AI recommendations are not theoretical suggestions drawn from a global catalog. They are actionable sourcing decisions grounded in verified U.S. domestic stock.

"Our supplier network and our AI tools are designed as one system," Mandy Ji added. "The intelligence the platform generates is only useful if the inventory behind it is real, available, and shippable within a timeline U.S. customers expect. The domestic supplier foundation is what makes the AI trustworthy for a seller building a real business."

Doba Pilot is currently available as an add-on to existing Doba users and new registrants through the platform's official website. The platform supports channel integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, Walmart, TikTok Shop, Wix, and BigCommerce, allowing sellers to manage multi-channel operations from within a single Doba Pilot workflow. Individual AI tools including AI Pickr, the Auto Lister, Ai listing Migrator, Ai Listing Optimizer and the AI Store Builder remain accessible through the main Doba platform for sellers who prefer modular use. Future development will focus on deepening the platform's personalized product intelligence, expanding its pricing optimization capabilities, and introducing seller-specific performance analytics informed by historical store and catalog data.

About Doba

Doba is a US-based dropshipping platform founded to make eCommerce entrepreneurship accessible to founders at every stage of business development. The platform has served more than 3.2 million sellers worldwide and combines a vetted supplier network, with over 90% of suppliers based in the United States, with AI-powered tools for product discovery, automated store building, listing generation, and order fulfillment. Doba integrates with major eCommerce platforms including Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Walmart, WooCommerce, TikTok Shop, Wix, and BigCommerce. The platform holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating on the Shopify App Store. Doba Pilot, the company's unified AI platform, became available in March 2026. Visit Doba's website to learn more about Doba Pilot and explore available platform plans.

Media Contact

Tabitha Parsons
tparsons@doba.com