SHANGHAI, China, August 18, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Baoshili Technology (BSL) recently released the results of its metal ion leaching validation conducted on its 200 L ultra-clean HDPE drum using G5-grade (96%) sulfuric acid. After eight months of continuous immersion in G5-grade sulfuric acid, the leaching concentration of each individual metal impurity remained below 10 ppt (parts per trillion), in compliance with the packaging, storage, and transportation requirements for G5-grade high-purity chemicals.

These results demonstrate BSL’s capabilities in raw material formulation and manufacturing process innovation. In addition to maintaining metal ion leaching at the ppt level, BSL’s ultra-clean HDPE drums deliver industry-leading performance in key parameters such as particle release and UV transmittance. To date, BSL has secured nearly 20 proprietary intellectual property rights for the ultra-clean HDPE drum, covering the drum body and related components.

The manufacture of ultra-clean HDPE drums involves significant technical barriers, and only a limited number of companies worldwide are capable of mass production. With continued advances in the core technologies behind its ultra-clean HDPE drums, BSL is rapidly expanding its presence in the high-end chemical packaging market.

BSL continues to expand its portfolio of ultra-clean chemical packaging solutions, with new products — including ultra-pure small-volume containers and photoresist packaging containers — to be introduced in stages.

About Baoshili Technology

Established in 1999 with a registered capital of RMB 50 million, Baoshili Technology — operating legally through Xiamen Baoshili Dustless Technology Co., Ltd. and Baoshili (Shanghai) New Material Technology Co., Ltd. — is a leading manufacturer of high-purity and ultra-clean industrial supplies.

With production facilities in Xiamen and Shanghai, Baoshili specializes in localized alternatives to imported components, including cleanroom wipes, ultra-clean PFA tubing and connectors, and ultra-clean HDPE drums. The company delivers scalable, industrial-grade solutions to global leaders across the semiconductor, display, photovoltaic, and pharmaceutical sectors.

For more information, visit www.bsl-clean.com.

Media Contact

Lotus Huang
lotus@xmbsl.com

CHARLESTON, SC, August 18, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Veteran Charleston real estate broker and market analyst Bryan Crabtree has released his new book, "The History & Future of Charleston Real Estate," now available in paperback on Amazon. Spanning nearly 400 years of history, the book examines the people, events, architecture, economics, and geography that transformed Charleston from a colonial settlement into one of the most desirable and resilient real estate markets in the United States.

Unlike traditional real estate books that focus primarily on buying and selling homes, Crabtree's work traces the evolution of Charleston itself. From King Charles II's original land grants and the earliest peninsula subdivisions to the Great Fire of 1838, the Civil War, the devastating 1886 earthquake, Hurricane Hugo, the Great Recession, and today's explosive population growth, the book explains how each chapter of Charleston's history has shaped its real estate values and long-term trajectory.

Drawing on decades of experience, extensive historical research, and more than $1 billion in Charleston real estate sales, Crabtree offers readers a perspective that blends history with modern market analysis.

"The biggest lesson I learned while researching this book is that Charleston has never behaved like a typical American real estate market," said Crabtree. "The more I studied nearly four centuries of history, the more obvious it became that Charleston's greatest advantages were established generations ago. Geography, preservation, architecture, culture, and scarcity didn't accidentally create today's market — they compounded over hundreds of years."

Throughout the book, Crabtree explains why Charleston consistently defies conventional housing trends, why many investors and real estate professionals struggle to understand the market, and why the city's unique combination of history and physical constraints continues to drive long-term demand.

"People often ask whether Charleston is becoming too expensive," Crabtree continued. "I believe they're asking the wrong question. A better question is why people continue to place such extraordinary value on living here. Once you understand Charleston's history, its development patterns, and the decisions that preserved so much of what makes it unique, today's values become much easier to understand."

The book also explores Charleston's future, examining projected population growth, infrastructure challenges, flood mitigation efforts, transportation improvements, housing affordability, and the long-term outlook for property values. Rather than offering speculative predictions, Crabtree argues that Charleston's future becomes remarkably clear when viewed through the lens of its past.

"History leaves clues," Crabtree said. "This book taught me that Charleston's future isn't hidden — it's embedded in the city's history. Every generation has faced enormous challenges, whether fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, wars, economic downturns, or explosive growth. Charleston has consistently adapted without losing its identity, and that may be its greatest competitive advantage."

Over the course of more than two dozen chapters, readers will discover:

• The origins of Charleston's land ownership and the earliest subdivision of the peninsula
• How fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, and wars reshaped the city's architecture and building practices
• Why Charleston's historic preservation movement permanently altered its real estate trajectory
• The evolution of Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, James Island, Daniel Island, and the region's surrounding communities
• Why Charleston's geography creates one of the highest barriers to entry for new housing in America
• How decades of planning — and, at times, poor planning — continue to influence growth, infrastructure, and property values today
• What Charleston's history suggests about its future over the next 10, 25, and 50 years

Crabtree believes the book fills a gap that has existed for decades.

"Charleston is consistently ranked among America's best places to live, visit, and invest, yet very few people have ever explained why," he said. "This isn't simply a history book or a real estate book. It's the story of how centuries of decisions created one of the most remarkable housing markets in the country."

As a longtime Charleston broker, market commentator, and advocate for thoughtful growth, Crabtree has spent much of his career studying the forces that influence the Lowcountry's housing market. His experience spans thousands of transactions, leadership of hundreds of real estate professionals, and advising buyers and sellers through nearly every type of market cycle.

"The History & Future of Charleston Real Estate" is available now in paperback through Amazon.

About Bryan Crabtree Real Estate

Bryan Crabtree is a Charleston real estate broker with more than 25 years of experience and over $1 billion in career real estate sales, the overwhelming majority of which have occurred in the Charleston market. Having represented thousands of buyers and sellers while mentoring hundreds of real estate professionals, Crabtree has become known for his market analysis, historical perspective, and advocacy for responsible growth that preserves Charleston's unique character. He lives and works in the Charleston area, where he continues to help clients navigate one of America's most distinctive real estate markets. For more information, visit therealestateexperts.com.

Media Contact

Bryan Crabtree
Real Estate Broker, The Real Estate Experts
bc@therealestateexperts.com
+1 843-343-4141

MUMBAI, India, August 18, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- upGrad, one of Asia's largest integrated skilling and lifelong learning companies, today reported a decisive step-up in profitability for fiscal year 2026 (FY26). Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS) EBITDA rose more than eightfold to $13 million, up from $1.6 million on the same basis in FY25. Net loss narrowed 52% to $13.8 million — marking the third consecutive year in which losses have more than halved year-on-year, down from a peak of $121 million in FY23.

The company reported gross revenue of $219.5 million (inclusive of taxes), up 7% year-on-year, and the post-Ind-AS accounting closed at a total income of $184 million. upGrad also carries $56 million of collected and yet-to-be-recognised revenue to be recognised in future years. In terms of business scale, the company now has, at any given time, more than 100,000 concurrent learners across its online skilling and degree, study abroad, and offline skilling programs. On the B2B front, more than 700 enterprises chose upGrad Enterprise for their employee skilling, recruitment, and workforce-development needs in FY26. Underpinning that scale is a wide range of offerings — from university-led undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, MBAs and doctorates, bootcamps, diplomas, and professional certificates — delivered both online and offline, spanning disciplines from technology, data, and AI to management, finance, and law.

AI now runs through both what upGrad teaches and how it operates. In the curriculum, AI is embedded across more than 80% of upGrad's programs and spans every price point, with strong demand across the range. On the operating side, upGrad's own adoption of AI is making the business structurally more efficient. Both marketing and technology costs came down year-on-year, even as revenue grew.

"FY26 has been a strong year on profitability, built on disciplined execution and right cost management. It’s a result of the strong execution over the last three years, and reflects the profitability discipline that has got us here — one we will carry forward as we scale," said Mukesh Mundra, Chief Financial Officer of upGrad.

Adding to that, Ronnie Screwvala, co-founder and chairperson of upGrad, said, "FY26 has brought us to a strong basecamp — in financial position and in business scale. Over the next few years, our focus is growth, both organic and through acquisitions, including Internshala and Unacademy, which we are now closing. With these, we complete upGrad's integrated story: serving learners across their entire lifecycle. From this base, we intend to compound across India and global markets."

Exchange rate conversion note: $1 USD = 94.31 INR

About upGrad

Founded in 2015, upGrad is Asia’s leading integrated skilling and workforce development company, powering the complete learning cycle for individuals. It offers a range of online and hybrid skilling programs and certifications through its B2C portfolio and partners with top Indian and global universities to offer diploma, master’s, and executive doctorate programs, with all degrees awarded solely by the respective universities. The company supports learners at every career stage — from first job to boardroom. Additionally, select programs are tailored for enterprise clients through its corporate skilling division, along with recruitment and staffing services. For more details, visit www.upgrad.com.

Media Contact

upGrad
richa2.sharma@upgrad.com

DALLAS, TX, August 18, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Dr. Jodi Blinco, founder of ZenLeader and The U School, is expanding her human-first approach to leadership and workforce development with the upcoming launch of the ZenLeader Pocket Coach and the continued evolution of AI-powered coaching tools through The U School. Together, these innovations are designed to strengthen employee confidence, improve workplace performance, and enhance human-to-human interactions across corporate and higher education environments.

Human-First AI Coaching for the Modern Workforce

Scheduled to launch in late fall 2026, the ZenLeader Pocket Coach is a free AI-powered application created to provide employees with accessible, on-demand coaching that helps them navigate workplace challenges with greater confidence, resilience, and clarity. At the same time, The U School is expanding its AI coaching capabilities better to support higher education enrollment and student success professionals as institutions respond to changing enrollment trends and increasing workforce pressures.

Rather than positioning artificial intelligence as a replacement for employees, Dr. Blinco has developed an approach that places AI in a supporting role, equipping people with practical guidance to help them perform at their best in the conversations that matter most.

"The next competitive advantage isn't more automation. It's a more confident, more human employee, the one your customer actually talks to. I'm not building AI to replace that person. I'm building AI to stand behind them," said Dr. Blinco.

ZenLeader Pocket Coach Launches This Fall

Organizations across industries continue investing in AI to improve efficiency and streamline operations. However, Dr. Blinco believes long-term success depends on strengthening the confidence, emotional regulation, and communication skills of the people responsible for delivering customer experiences, supporting students, and leading teams. Her coaching philosophy centers on the belief that technology should empower employees rather than replace them.

The ZenLeader Pocket Coach builds upon years of leadership development work delivered through ZenLeader's corporate training, coaching, and workforce wellbeing programs. Designed for employees at every level, the platform provides practical, real-time guidance that helps individuals remain calm under pressure, improve communication, and build stronger leadership habits.

"If we want better customer experience, we have to start with better-supported humans. The ZenLeader Pocket Coach exists to raise confidence and calm the chaos for the people carrying that weight every day, for free, because that support shouldn't be a luxury tier," said Dr. Blinco.

Expanding AI Innovation in Higher Education

The U School continues expanding AI-powered coaching solutions tailored specifically for higher education. The platform helps admissions, enrollment, and student support professionals confidently navigate conversations with prospective students, parents, and adult learners while improving service quality and institutional outcomes.

Built on more than two decades of behavioral coaching insights, the platform reflects Dr. Blinco's commitment to combining technology with practical leadership development. The U School was previously acquired by EducationDynamics, demonstrating the value of its workforce development model and its impact on higher education institutions.

Supporting People and Strengthening Organizations

The expansion comes at a time when organizations worldwide are facing rising employee burnout, increasing workforce turnover, and growing demand for personalized professional development. In higher education, admissions and enrollment teams continue navigating demographic shifts and evolving student expectations, making frontline employee support more important than ever.

By combining AI technology with proven coaching frameworks, Dr. Blinco aims to create practical, accessible tools that improve confidence, communication, and workplace performance while preserving the human connection at the center of every customer and student interaction.

The upcoming launch of ZenLeader Pocket Coach represents the next chapter in the company's mission to connect employee wellbeing with organizational success. Together with The U School's expanding AI innovations, Dr. Blinco continues to champion a human-first vision of AI that helps organizations build stronger leaders, healthier workplace cultures, and more meaningful customer and student experiences.

About ZenLeader

ZenLeader is a holistic leadership development company dedicated to helping individuals and organizations thrive through emotional intelligence, resilience, mindful leadership, and performance-focused coaching. Through evidence-based training, workshops, coaching programs, and AI-powered tools, ZenLeader empowers employees and leaders to improve organizational culture, engagement, and long-term business performance. For more information, visit zenleader.org.

Media Contact

Dr. Jodi Blinco
jodi@drjodiblinco.com

LOS ANGELES, CA, August 18, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Biotechnology entrepreneur and healthcare executive Sanjiv Lal, CEO and co-founder of Regen Therapy, is expanding industry collaborations designed to advance physician education, strengthen clinical partnerships, and support the responsible growth of regenerative medicine and longevity-focused healthcare.

The expanded collaborations reflect Regen Therapy's continued commitment to helping bridge the gap between emerging scientific research and everyday clinical practice through education, interdisciplinary partnerships, and evidence-informed healthcare initiatives.

Expanding Physician Education and Clinical Collaboration

Drawing on more than 24 years of experience across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, molecular genetics, diagnostics, and laboratory operations, Sanjiv Lal has built a career focused on translating scientific innovation into practical healthcare solutions. Throughout his professional journey, Lal has founded and scaled multiple biotechnology laboratory organizations while working to improve access to education and operational resources for healthcare providers.

Through Regen Therapy, Lal is expanding physician education initiatives that include weekly webinars, live clinical training, educational resources, and collaborative programs focused on regenerative medicine, cellular signaling, and healthy aging. These initiatives are designed to help healthcare professionals better understand emerging therapies while supporting responsible clinical implementation.

"Regenerative medicine continues to advance rapidly, but education and clinical adoption must evolve alongside the science," said Lal. "Our goal is to provide physicians with practical, evidence-informed educational resources while fostering meaningful collaborations that support responsible innovation and improved patient care."

Supporting Responsible Growth in Regenerative Medicine

The expanded collaborations bring together healthcare providers, researchers, healthcare organizations, and industry leaders committed to advancing regenerative medicine through scientific integrity, education, and measurable clinical outcomes.

Rather than positioning regenerative medicine as an alternative to conventional healthcare, Regen Therapy promotes an integrated approach that combines traditional medicine, diagnostics, regenerative therapies, lifestyle strategies, and emerging technologies. The company's educational initiatives are intended to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration while helping establish stronger clinical standards as the field continues to mature.

According to Sanjiv Lal, building trust within regenerative medicine requires more than scientific advancement. It also requires consistent education, collaboration, and responsible implementation that enables healthcare professionals to confidently evaluate and integrate emerging innovations into patient care.

Expanding Industry Leadership and Strategic Partnerships

In addition to leading Regen Therapy, Sanjiv Lal remains actively involved in conferences, healthcare innovation summits, physician education events, and industry discussions focused on biotechnology, longevity science, and personalized healthcare.

Recent milestones include co-curating the Longevity Leadership Conference at the Verizon Innovation Lab in Los Angeles and supporting Regen Therapy's partnership with Hall of Fame Health to expand regenerative medicine and longevity resources for elite athletes and veterans. Sanjiv Lal also serves on the Nugevia™ Advisory Board for Jupiter Neurosciences (NASDAQ: JUNS), contributing industry expertise to initiatives focused on healthcare innovation.

These collaborations reflect Regen Therapy's broader mission to strengthen the educational and operational infrastructure that supports the continued evolution of regenerative medicine within modern healthcare.

Looking Ahead

As regenerative medicine continues to evolve, Sanjiv Lal believes healthcare is moving toward a future that places greater emphasis on preserving function, resilience, and long-term quality of life through earlier intervention and personalized care.

Looking ahead, Regen Therapy plans to continue expanding physician education programs, strengthening strategic partnerships, and supporting initiatives that improve access to regenerative medicine education for healthcare professionals nationwide. Through continued collaboration with clinicians, researchers, healthcare organizations, and industry innovators, the company aims to help advance responsible clinical adoption while fostering greater understanding of longevity science and regenerative medicine.

"Scientific breakthroughs create opportunity, but lasting impact comes from education, collaboration, and trust," said Lal. "By working together across disciplines, we can help build the clinical and educational foundation."

About Sanjiv Lal

Sanjiv Lal is the CEO and co-founder of Regen Therapy. With over 24 years of experience in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, molecular genetics, diagnostics, and regenerative medicine, Sanjiv Lal has founded and scaled multiple biotechnology organizations while helping advance physician education, clinical collaboration, and healthcare innovation. Through Regen Therapy, he works to support the responsible integration of regenerative medicine into modern healthcare through education, scientific collaboration, and evidence-informed clinical practices.

Disclaimer

This press release is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Regenerative medicine and longevity therapies encompass evolving areas of clinical research, and any specific procedures, cellular signaling techniques, or products referenced have not been evaluated, approved, or cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unless explicitly stated. The information, opinions, and statements contained herein — including descriptions of physician training, clinical partnerships, and educational programs — are intended solely to detail corporate developments and industry initiatives. They should not be interpreted as guarantees of safety, efficacy, or specific medical outcomes, nor do they replace direct clinical evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional. Individual patient suitability for regenerative therapies varies, and healthcare decisions should always be made in consultation with a licensed medical practitioner. Furthermore, forward-looking statements regarding future programs, partnerships, or industry shifts reflect current company expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially.

Media Contact

sanjiv@regentherapy.com

NEW YORK, NY, August 18, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Warp today announced Warp Factories: open, flexible infrastructure for engineering organizations to build and run their own cloud software factories, automating software development at scale. Teams retain full control of their data, inference, and compute.

While interactive coding agents have increased developer productivity over the past year, they are not the right end state as organizations scale their use of AI. Today, most agents are deployed as individual developer tools, with each developer installing, configuring, and operating them on their laptop.

"I hear again and again from engineering leaders that interactive agents have created two major problems. The first is measuring and improving coding agent ROI over time. The second is governance and control. In both cases, cloud software factories are the solution," said Zach Lloyd, founder and CEO of Warp.

Cloud software factories are automation loops around the software development lifecycle that enable cloud agents to manage work from triage through verification, while humans weigh in at key decision points. Software factories give engineering organizations a way to increase software throughput, optimize the cost and quality of agentic development, and improve how coding agents are governed over time.

Warp Factories include:

• Open, flexible infrastructure: Build customizable software factories around your existing codebases, tools and workflows, with factories defined as version-controlled code.
• End-to-end SDLC automation: Automate triage, specification, implementation, review and verification with configurable agents and human oversight at key decision points. Set up a factory on your codebase in less than five minutes.
• Multi-model, multi-harness support: Use the models and coding harnesses that work best for your workflows, including open-weight models, Claude Code and Codex.
• Built-in measurement and self-improvement: Measure throughput, cost, quality and ROI with metrics, evals and benchmarks on your own workflows, then use self-improvement loops to continuously optimize factory performance. Built-in memory helps factories improve over time.
• Extensible agent infrastructure: Create custom agents, skills and automations, and connect factories to Slack, Teams, Linear, Jira, GitHub, GitLab and other tools through APIs, SDKs, CLI and the Factory MCP.
• AI sovereignty and control: Own and control your factory’s data, inference, compute and configurations, with flexible options to bring your own infrastructure or use Warp’s. Warp provides the infrastructure and control plane while teams retain the flexibility to customize and extend their factories.

As organizations scale their use of coding agents, software factories are emerging as the next layer of engineering infrastructure. Just as CI/CD became foundational to modern software development, software factories are poised to become a standard part of the engineering stack, and a critical piece of infrastructure for organizations to own and control. Warp Factories give teams the foundation to achieve that. Teams can adopt automation incrementally, starting with individual workflows or agents and expanding over time, with humans able to step into the process at any point.

Warp Factories is available in closed beta today. Warp is onboarding a limited number of companies, and qualified organizations receive $10,000 of factory usage to get started.

Warp is already automating roughly 30% of its own engineering tasks through Warp Factories and expects that share to increase significantly in the coming months. Apply to try it yourself at warp.dev.

About Warp

Warp is the open platform for agentic development. Warp is used by nearly one million developers at companies including Docker, Ramp, and Peloton, as well as leading AI labs, Big Tech, and over half of the Fortune 500. Warp was founded by Zach Lloyd, former Principal engineer for Google Sheets and the Google Docs suite, and is backed by Sequoia Capital, GV, Sam Altman, Marc Benioff, and Dylan Field. The company is based in New York and can be found online at warp.dev.

Media Contact

press@warp.dev

SINGAPORE, August 18, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Questflow is building a “financial codex” that turns professional investment strategies into transparent, configurable, and executable AI Finance Agents, giving investors broader access to expert financial intelligence while keeping them in control of their capital.

Questflow today announced a major brand evolution, repositioning the company as a platform for AI Finance Agents and advancing its vision of building a “financial codex.” The platform is designed to help leading investors turn their market strategies, research frameworks, and decision-making processes into AI Finance Agents that retail investors can discover, understand, follow, and use across markets. The new positioning reflects Questflow’s broader mission: financial intelligence for all.

Markets are more open than ever. Robinhood expanded access to brokerage accounts, Hyperliquid brought sophisticated onchain markets to a broader audience, and AI trading tools have begun automating market monitoring, order placement, and portfolio rebalancing. Access to markets has been democratized.

Yet one of finance’s most important advantages remains concentrated: the judgment behind the trade. Previous waves of financial technology gave investors better access and faster execution, but they did not give everyone the frameworks used by top investors to decide what is worth buying, why and when to enter, how much risk to take, or when to exit. 

Questflow is built to close that gap. Each AI Agent captures a top investor’s strategy framework including thesis, signals, triggers, risk rules, market coverage, and execution preferences, and turns it into a transparent system. Retail investors can discover these AI Agents, understand how they think, set personal permissions and risk boundaries, and let them invest across markets. 

“Market access was the first step. The next is access to the intelligence behind the trade,” Bob Xu, founder of Questflow. “Our mission is financial intelligence for all, giving everyone access not only to markets, but also to the strategy frameworks and decision-making discipline of top investors.” 

Moving Beyond Trading Bots and Generic AI Advice

Current AI applications in finance generally follow one of two paths. The first focuses on execution. These products automate processes such as account access, order placement, portfolio rebalancing, and trade management. Although they can reduce operational friction, they provide limited assistance with the underlying investment decision.

The second focuses on AI-generated financial advice. These tools use large language models to produce research summaries, signals, market commentary, and recommendations. However, generic AI models may struggle to reproduce the highly specialized, contextual, and risk-sensitive judgment required for professional investing.

Questflow identifies three structural limitations in today’s market. First, strong investment judgment is often unstructured. It exists in portfolio managers’ experience, conversations, research notes, decision rules, and accumulated intuition. This expertise cannot always be reconstructed by combining isolated data points through a general-purpose language model.

Research referenced by Questflow from Bridgewater Associates and Thinking Machines Lab illustrates the potential value of specialist financial intelligence. In a financial information-filtering task, a customized model trained using expert data reportedly achieved an accuracy rate of 84.7%, compared with 78.2% for a general-purpose model, while operating at approximately one-thirteenth of the inference cost.

Questflow believes this suggests that domain expertise — and the ability to structure it — is at least as important as the underlying model.

Second, financial data, AI models, research tools, and trading venues are often disconnected. An AI system may generate a recommendation, but the user must still move to a separate exchange, brokerage, or wallet to execute it. This fragmentation creates an incomplete workflow between analysis and action.

Third, many existing participation models lack transparency. Traditional signal groups and copy-trading products may show users what to buy without clearly explaining why the strategy entered a position, when it should exit, or how much drawdown it is designed to tolerate.

Professional strategy providers face a related problem. Many possess tested investment processes and risk-management frameworks but lack the infrastructure to convert that expertise into transparent, scalable products. Their current options are often limited to publishing signals on social media or providing private trading guidance — models that can be difficult to scale, monetize, or verify over time.

A Two-Sided Marketplace for Financial Intelligence

Questflow is addressing these challenges by developing a two-sided marketplace. On the supply side, professional investors and strategy providers can structure and distribute their investment frameworks through AI Agents. On the demand side, users can discover, evaluate, subscribe to, and execute those strategies while retaining control over capital allocation and risk parameters.

Questflow’s central premise is not that a general-purpose AI system should independently predict financial markets. Instead, the company seeks to use AI to structure and operationalize human expertise. The source of investment alpha remains human judgment. AI serves as the layer that makes this judgment reproducible, explainable, monitorable, and executable.

Through the platform, an investment methodology can be translated into a configurable system incorporating its research logic, entry criteria, portfolio rules, risk limits, and exit mechanisms. Users can then access the system as an intelligent financial agent rather than merely receiving a signal or static report.

Structuring Expert Judgment into Financial Agents

Questflow’s platform is designed around four connected layers: models, skills, data, and execution. At the model layer, Questflow integrates leading AI models and allows users to select different models for different financial tasks, including research, analysis, monitoring, and execution. The company is also developing a benchmarking framework to compare financial models across real-world use cases, helping users assess which underlying model is most suitable for a given task.

At the skills layer, Questflow enables AI Agents to follow specialized financial methodologies rather than relying exclusively on general model reasoning. Users can install packaged investment frameworks or upload their own trading systems, research processes, and decision rules.

These skills are intended to define how an agent evaluates information, identifies opportunities, applies risk controls, and responds to changing market conditions. At the data layer, plugins can connect agents to sources such as financial news, market prices, blockchain activity, and social-media information. This gives agents access to continuously updated market signals and allows them to monitor relevant changes.

At the execution layer, accounts can be connected to exchanges, brokerages, and wallets. This enables a strategy to move from research and analysis to monitored execution within the user’s predefined permissions. Together, these layers convert an investor’s end-to-end process into modular components that can be configured and recombined: model-based reasoning, professional methodology, real-time data access, and transaction execution.

Creating Incentives for Strategy Providers

Once an investment strategy has been structured, the next challenge is distribution. Questflow plans to allow professional strategy providers to publish verified strategies as Funds, the platform’s internal term for strategy portfolios. These products are not regulated investment funds.

Strategy providers may earn fees based on factors such as assets allocated to their strategies and performance. Questflow believes this structure can create stronger incentives for providers to improve their methodologies, maintain transparent performance records, and build durable relationships with users.

Rather than monetizing one-time signals or private trading groups, providers can potentially build scalable financial products around their expertise. For users, the marketplace is intended to function like a transparent strategy marketplace. Investors will be able to filter strategies by market, asset class, investment approach, and risk profile.

Before subscribing, users can review the strategy’s logic, risk boundaries, historical behavior, and execution framework. They can then determine how much capital to allocate and set their own risk limits. Questflow believes this structure can align incentives on both sides: strategy providers receive a repeatable channel for monetizing professional knowledge, while users receive greater transparency and control over the strategies they follow.

Keeping Users in Control of Their Assets

The ability of an AI Agent to execute financial transactions creates an essential question: How can users trust an AI system with their money? Questflow’s role is to provide the intelligence and execution infrastructure that powers AI Finance Agents, not to take custody of users’ assets. 

The platform is being designed so that users retain control over their funds, permissions, and risk boundaries. AI Agents may act only within explicitly defined rules, such as capital-allocation limits, maximum position sizes, stop-loss conditions, approved markets, and transaction-approval requirements.

Users can determine how much capital an agent may deploy, what actions it is authorized to take, and whether transactions require additional approval. In this model, the user keeps control of the steering wheel while the AI operates only within clearly defined lanes.

Building a “Codex for Finance”

Questflow’s ambition is inspired by the concept of a software-agent harness: an operating framework that allows AI to complete complex tasks reliably by combining models, tools, instructions, permissions, and execution environments.

In software development, systems such as coding agents can generate code, debug applications, call external tools, and complete multi-step engineering tasks through such a framework.

Questflow is applying a similar principle to finance. Its financial-agent infrastructure is intended to help AI systems understand investor instructions while operating within the specialized requirements of financial research, decision-making, risk management, compliance controls, and trade execution.

The company believes this could establish a new model for AI in financial services — one in which AI does not merely generate commentary or automate isolated actions, but coordinates an entire investment workflow under human-defined rules.

Initial Focus on Digital-Asset Markets

Questflow is initially focusing on cryptocurrency markets, perpetual contracts, and prediction markets. These markets operate continuously, produce large volumes of information, and experience rapid price movements. The cost of manually monitoring them around the clock can be significant, making them well suited to agent-based research, risk monitoring, and execution.

Questflow’s strategy is to validate the commercialization of structured investment judgment in these markets before expanding into additional areas of traditional finance. Questflow brings experience in building AI-agent infrastructure and has previously announced collaborations and ecosystem relationships with organizations including Circle, Coinbase, Google, NEAR, and CoinGecko. 

Questflow has also disclosed backing from investors and ecosystem participants including CyberFund, Delphi Labs, Systemic Ventures, Animoca Brands, HashKey Capital, and ElizaOS. The company believes its prior work in AI-agent coordination provides a technical foundation for building financial agents capable of combining specialized reasoning, real-time information, permissions, and execution.

Addressing an Emerging Market Opportunity

Trading infrastructure, liquidity, and financial APIs have become increasingly mature. However, many AI-finance products remain focused on individual tools: automated trading bots, black-box signals, research assistants, or copy-trading platforms.

Questflow sees an opportunity to connect professional judgment with transparent execution in a single system. Should the company successfully establish this model, Questflow could become an infrastructure layer through which global investors discover and access professional financial intelligence — allowing investment frameworks to be indexed, configured, combined, and executed in a manner similar to software libraries.

The company acknowledges that this approach is more complex than building a conventional trading bot or signal platform. It requires credible strategy providers, robust performance monitoring, transparent risk controls, secure integrations, and sustained user trust.

However, Questflow believes those same requirements could create a more defensible platform over time.

“Investment intelligence should become as accessible and composable as software,” Questflow said. “Our goal is to help expert financial knowledge move beyond private notes, closed institutions, and fragmented signals — and become something investors can understand, configure, and use without giving up control of their assets.”

About Questflow

Questflow is building a “financial codex” that enables top investors to transform their market strategies into AI Finance Agents that retail investors can follow, understand, and use to invest across markets. Its mission is financial intelligence for all. By connecting AI models, financial skills, real-time data, strategy distribution, risk controls, and transaction infrastructure, Questflow aims to make expert investment frameworks more accessible while allowing users to retain control over their assets and execution permissions. For more information, visit questflow.ai.

Disclaimer

This press release contains statements regarding Questflow’s platform, products, planned features, strategy, and anticipated capabilities that may be forward-looking and subject to change. References to investment strategies, AI Finance Agents, performance, risk controls, or potential returns are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security, digital asset, or other financial instrument. Questflow does not guarantee the accuracy, profitability, or future performance of any strategy, AI Agent, or investment methodology. Investing and trading, including in cryptocurrencies, perpetual contracts, and prediction markets, involve substantial risk and may result in the loss of some or all invested capital. Users should conduct their own research, assess their financial circumstances and risk tolerance, and consult qualified professional advisers where appropriate. Any products or features described as planned, under development, or intended for future release may be modified, delayed, or not made available. As stated in the release, products referred to as “Funds” are Questflow’s internal term for strategy portfolios and are not regulated investment funds.

Media Contact

contact@questflow.ai

ISTANBUL, Türkiye, August 17, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- As Turkey remains the world’s leading destination for hair restoration, EsteFavor Clinic has detailed its technical protocol designed to address the variance between standard and high-density hair transplant outcomes. Recognized as the “Most Successful Hair Transplant Clinic” at the International Istanbul Awards in February 2026, the Istanbul-based clinic centers its methodology on graft survival rates, physician-led execution, and anatomical hairline design.

Biological Preservation and Graft Survival

A foundational element of final hair density is graft viability — the percentage of harvested follicles that successfully take root and grow. To mitigate risks associated with extraction trauma, dehydration, temperature changes, and time outside the body, EsteFavor utilizes its proprietary IceGraft™ technology.

The clinic reports a graft survival rate of 98% or higher through a combination of biological support protocols:

• CryoFlow Graft Cooling™: Maintains harvested grafts at an optimized temperature to slow metabolic decay and preserve cellular integrity prior to implantation.
• Fibroblast Stem Cell and Super Meso Treatments: Applied to enrich the recipient site, enhancing micro-circulation to support follicle establishment.

By maximizing follicle viability, surgeons can pack grafts closer together, optimizing the patient's available donor supply and achieving greater visual density per session.

Doctor-Only Protocol and Operational Limits

To ensure surgical precision and consistency, EsteFavor operates a strict Doctor-Only Protocol. Under this framework, critical steps — specifically surgical planning and channel opening (which dictates the angle, depth, and direction of future hair growth) — are performed exclusively by expert physicians rather than delegated to uncertified technicians. Continuous physician oversight is maintained in accordance with Turkish medical regulations.

To support this standard, EsteFavor limits its operations to a boutique model, performing only one or two procedures per day. Extraction is executed via a Precision Extraction System with specialized punch technology aimed at reducing donor area trauma and follicle transection.

Anatomical Hairline Engineering and Technology Suite

EsteFavor’s approach to natural hairline design relies on geometric alignment and technological analysis rather than uniform placement. Key elements include:

• Natural Hairline Philosophy™: Integrates the golden ratio to match facial geometry while incorporating controlled micro-irregularities to replicate natural hair growth patterns.
• Natural Angle Design: Governs the orientation and exit angle of each graft for realistic growth.
• Digital Mapping Systems: Utilizes AI Hair Mapping and smart density calculations alongside DeepScan Follicle Mapping™ to assess donor capacity and optimize graft distribution.
• FeatherTouch Micro-Implant™: Designed to place grafts with minimal disturbance to surrounding tissue.

The clinic incorporates these systems into its 8 Branded Technologies™, utilizing genuine sapphire blades for Sapphire FUE and Choi implanter pens for DHI Pro, as well as hybrid applications tailored to individual patient needs. Post-operative care is reinforced with laser therapy and a six-month vitamin protocol.

Pricing and Package Transparency

In 2026, hair transplant costs in Turkey generally range from $2,000 to $8,000. EsteFavor Clinic’s all-inclusive packages average approximately $3,000, with final pricing determined by individual hair loss patterns, donor capacity, and chosen technique (Sapphire FUE, DHI, or Hybrid).

Each package encompasses:

• Medical procedures, AI Hair Mapping, and supportive treatments (medications and post-op care).
• Hotel accommodation and VIP airport/clinic transfers.
• Translation support.
• A lifetime warranty certificate and one year of structured follow-up care.

International patients typically remain in Istanbul for 3 to 4 days for initial consultations, the surgical procedure, and the first post-operative wash, with final growth results evaluated at 12 to 15 months.

About EsteFavor Hair Transplant Clinic

Located in Istanbul, Turkey, EsteFavor Clinic is a doctor-led hair restoration facility specializing in high-density Sapphire FUE, DHI, and Hybrid hair transplantation. Operating on a low-volume, boutique model, the clinic combines proprietary preservation technologies with anatomical planning to serve international patients. For more information, visit estefavor.com.

Disclaimer

This press release contains statements and claims provided by EsteFavor Hair Transplant Clinic, including information regarding treatment protocols, technologies, graft survival rates, awards, pricing, expected outcomes, warranties, and other medical or operational matters. Individual hair transplant results, suitability, recovery, and outcomes may vary. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or a guarantee of results. Prospective patients should consult a qualified healthcare professional and independently evaluate the clinic, proposed treatment, potential risks, expected benefits, costs, and applicable terms before undergoing any procedure.

Media Contact

info@estefavor.com

HANGZHOU, China, August 17, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (0175.HK, “Geely Auto”) today announced its financial results for the first half of 2026, reporting record sales of more than 1.42 million vehicles. Revenue exceeded RMB 170 billion for the first time, rising 15% year on year to 173.6 billion and marking the group’s sixth consecutive year of first-half revenue growth. Core profit attributable to owners of the parent increased 46% year on year to RMB 9.68 billion, outpacing revenue growth. Gross margin rose to 17.9%, while core profit per vehicle increased 45% year on year to RMB 6,806. The group’s liquidity position remained strong. As of June 30, 2026, funding reserve stood at RMB 69.56 billion, close to a historical high.

Geely Galaxy series sold nearly 520,000 vehicles, solidifying its rank among the world’s leading new-energy vehicle brands. Geely China Star series recorded sales of more than 580,000 units. Zeekr sold more than 178,000 vehicles, accounting for approximately 12.5% of total group sales volume. Lynk & Co continued its solid momentum with sales over 144,000 vehicles. 

Geely Auto continued to accelerate its R&D and product initiatives. Total H1 R&D expenditure rose 8% year on year to RMB 9.06 billion, while the R&D expenditure ratio decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 5.2% due to enhanced operational efficiencies. Looking into the second half of 2026, the group will reshape the C-segment AI electric sports sedan market with the introduction of the Geely TT and enter the rugged off-road category with the Geely Zhanjian 700. In parallel, Geely will accelerate the electrification of its ICE lineup through advanced HEV technologies, targeting monthly sales of over 30,000 i-HEV units by year-end and an annual sales target of one million units for the Geely China Star series, laying the groundwork for international i-HEV rollouts in 2027.

International expansion served as a major growth engine, with H1 export volume reaching 474,000 units outside China — a 158% year-on-year surge that surpassed the company's full-year 2025 export volume of 420,000 units. Following monthly export exceeding 100,000 units in both June and July, Geely Auto has raised its 2026 export target from 640,000 units to 920,000 units, with a full-year aspiration of approaching one million units. To sustain high-quality global growth, the group is deploying a partnership-led globalization strategy alongside Volvo Cars, Proton, Renault Group, and Ford across local manufacturing, R&D, and supply chains. In addition, Geely has unified its engineering teams in Sweden and Germany to shorten product rollout cycles between China and global markets. The group currently operates across 114 overseas markets, with an international retail and service footprint exceeding 2,000 locations. In the premium segment, the Zeekr 9X is slated to enter additional overseas markets.

About Geely Auto Group

Geely Auto Group is a leading global automotive company headquartered in Hangzhou, China. Part of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Geely Auto Group develops and manufactures passenger vehicles under the Geely, Lynk & Co, and Zeekr brands. With a strong focus on technology innovation, electrification, and sustainable mobility, Geely Auto Group operates world-class R&D centers and manufacturing facilities across China, Europe, and key international markets. The Group is committed to delivering safe, high-quality, and intelligent vehicles enabled by advanced technologies such as hybrid powertrains, full-electric architectures, smart connectivity, and autonomous driving systems. As a global company, Geely Auto Group continues to expand its international presence through strategic partnerships, localized operations, and industry-leading platforms. Geely strives to create mobility solutions that are greener, smarter, and more accessible, driving forward the future of sustainable transportation. For more information, visit global.geely.com.

Media Contact

Janet Chen
media@geely.com

PHOENIX, AZ, August 17, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- JobAssist is launching an AI-powered job search platform engineered to put power back in applicants’ hands, giving them viable tools to navigate the treacherous terrain of the modern job market. 

In an age where the companies receiving applications for new positions are increasingly relying upon technological tools such as AI to sort through and even evaluate a given applicant’s qualifications, JobAssist aims to use that exact same kind of technology to empower applicants to more effectively cut through the clutter. 

So much of modern technology seems to be used in ways that create greater digital friction for the user. The entire purpose of JobAssist is to create less friction, fewer tabs, and less trouble by helping job seekers find the right opportunities through intelligent job matching and application automation.

The origins of JobAssist

JobAssist was developed to address a key frustration in today’s job search: spending hours browsing various job boards, repeatedly filling out the same application forms, and figuring out which opportunities are truly worth pursuing. Instead of serving as just another job board, JobAssist integrates job discovery, AI-driven matching, application automation, and tracking into a unified platform. Users set up their profiles once, get personalized job suggestions ranked by relevance, and can apply with a single click.

Today, JobAssist provides access to a continuously growing database of 10 million-plus active job listings sourced from leading job providers. More than 30,000 new job postings are added every day, and existing listings are validated to remove expired and duplicate opportunities.

How does JobAssist work?

JobAssist walks users through a step-by-step process in which they can not only create and customize their own profile, but also specify the exact types of jobs and professional roles that they are looking for. 

How to get started with JobAssist:

• Upload your resume and complete your profile once
• Select your preferences, including location, salary expectations, industries, work arrangements, employment type, and other career goals
• JobAssist continuously searches 10 million-plus active job listings from leading job providers
• Every job is evaluated using AI against your complete profile
• Each recommendation receives a Match Score (1–100) together with a detailed explanation of why it matches
• Choose the jobs you want to pursue
• Auto Apply generates a tailored cover letter, completes application forms, uploads your resume where required, and submits your application
• Track applications, recruiter responses, and interview progress from one dashboard

The source of JobAssist’s data

JobAssist continuously aggregates job opportunities from leading global job boards, employer career pages, applicant tracking systems, and recruitment platforms, providing users with access to a growing database of more than ten million active job listings.

The platform adds more than 30,000 new job postings every day while continuously refreshing existing listings to help users discover current opportunities across every major industry, seniority level, location, and work arrangement. Job sources include platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Paylocity, and numerous other trusted recruitment providers worldwide.

An intelligent solution for modern job seekers

As AI content and usage proliferate across the digital landscape, JobAssist aims to position AI as a viable tool for users seeking new jobs. Through these methods, the platform aims to make job searching more efficient without taking control away from the applicant. 

JobAssist brings job discovery, matching, applications, and tracking into one platform, helping users focus on better-fit opportunities rather than sending more applications. The team’s vision for the platform is to become one of the world’s most trusted AI-powered job search platforms as AI continues to evolve.

About JobAssist

JobAssist is an AI-powered job search platform designed to help job seekers better navigate the modern job discovery and application processes. JobAssist combines job discovery, AI-powered matching, application tracking, and application automation into one platform. Designed to help users confidently maneuver the job search process, the platform provides access to a continuously growing database of more than ten million active job listings. For more information, visit jobassist.com and follow Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Media Contact

Amanda Lauener
amanda@ascendagency.com

NEW YORK, NY, August 17, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- As enterprise brands hand more of their budget allocation to AI agents, marketing and finance leaders are discovering a costly blind spot: the tools meant to justify spend can't explain how they arrived at a number, and can't be trusted to remember it correctly six months later. Lifesight, the Agentic Unified Marketing Measurement Platform, today announced the Marketing Context Graph (MCG), a governed, time-aware system that gives marketing and finance leaders an instant, evidence-backed record of why a budget decision was made, built directly into their shared reporting, forecasting, and campaign optimization workflows.

The launch addresses two structural flaws in how enterprises measure marketing performance today:

• Channel isolation: Standard measurement tools evaluate channels in silos, missing how a brand campaign lifts search performance or how upper-funnel spend lowers retargeting costs. Left unmapped, these interactions cause reported returns to swing without any real underlying change in the business, and leave finance teams unable to reconcile the numbers marketing brings to the table.
• Loss of decision provenance: Measurement platforms log what ran and what it cost, but not the reasoning behind the decision. When cross-functional teams audit a spend increase, neither the human operators nor the AI agents involved can reconstruct why one option was chosen and another rejected. As reporting and forecasting shift to AI agents, that missing provenance is a direct path to poor budget calls and outright hallucination.

Alongside the research, Lifesight introduced the interactive Measurement Gap Calculator, a tool built for marketing and finance teams to work through together. It calculates an organization's exposure to non-incremental media spend, which Lifesight's benchmark data shows commonly consumes 20% to 40% of traditional digital marketing budgets.

Key Research Findings

Lifesight's research team tested the Marketing Context Graph against traditional, context-blind measurement systems across four dimensions that matter most to enterprise budget owners:

• Budget allocation accuracy: Mapping the causal interactions between channels meaningfully reduced allocation errors in interconnected media environments, surfacing each channel's own contribution along with its halo effect on the rest of the mix, without distorting the channels that operate independently.
• 100% provenance accuracy: Traditional fact-recall systems dropped to 25% accuracy on complex, multi-step queries about policy compliance and rejected alternatives. The Marketing Context Graph held at 100%.
• Elimination of historical error distortion: Measurement systems without time-aware memory hid up to 44% points of real historical error by retroactively applying revised data to past periods, a gap that quietly rewrites a company's own performance record.
• Cross-region transport: When translating performance findings from one geographic market to another, governed context transfer was 4 to 6 times more accurate than localized estimation, and correctly flagged when the underlying data simply wasn't sufficient to make the call.

"Most vendors give their agents a dashboard to read," said Anil Singh, co-founder and CTO of Lifesight. "We're giving ours a causal engine to think with, and the same governed structure behind this research is built into the platform 300+ brands already rely on for measurement marketing and finance can both trust."

Why It Matters for the CFO-CMO Relationship

The gap between what marketing reports and what finance is willing to approve has been a recurring source of friction at enterprise brands, and it's getting harder to close as agentic AI takes on more of the reporting and reallocation work itself. A model that can shift budget between channels but can't show its work isn't accountable in the way a finance organization requires. The Marketing Context Graph is built to close that gap by keeping a permanent, auditable trail behind every recommendation, so a CFO reviewing a quarter-over-quarter swing in spend can see the causal reasoning an agent used, not just the transaction log it left behind.

That auditability compounds as more of the budget cycle moves to autonomous agents. A system that forgets why it made a call, or silently overwrites its own history when new data arrives, becomes progressively less trustworthy the more decisions it's allowed to make unsupervised. Time-aware, governed context is what lets marketing and finance keep delegating that work with confidence instead of pulling it back in-house.

Availability

The complete research methodology, simulation datasets, and technical framework are available through Lifesight's research team. Enterprise marketing and finance leaders can audit their own current spend efficiency using the Measurement Gap Calculator, or read the full architectural breakdown on the Lifesight blog. Teams ready to see the Marketing Context Graph applied to their own budget can book a demo with Lifesight directly.

About Lifesight

Lifesight is the Agentic Unified Marketing Measurement Platform, combining causal Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM), incrementality testing, and causal attribution into a single unified architecture powered by autonomous AI agents. Trusted by over 300 global enterprise brands, Lifesight delivers a reliable, causal view of growth drivers in days rather than months. Lifesight maintains enterprise-grade security with GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, and ISO certifications. For more information, visit lifesight.io.

Disclaimer

The research findings, benchmark ranges, simulations, and performance results described in this release are based on Lifesight’s research, methodologies, datasets, and testing conditions. Results may vary depending on an organization’s media mix, data quality, market conditions, implementation, and other factors. References to potential budget inefficiencies, accuracy improvements, and other performance metrics are illustrative of the research findings and should not be interpreted as guarantees of future results or outcomes for any individual organization. The Measurement Gap Calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial, accounting, or investment advice.

Media Contact

Stephanie Balaconis
Director of Demand Generation, Lifesight
stephanie@lifesight.io

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait, August 17, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- RAprime, a leading financial brokerage, announced that it has achieved execution certification from The Financial Commission using VerifyMyTrade (VMT). This milestone follows a global push among Commission broker members since the September 2018 introduction of order execution verification, reinforcing a commitment to transparent pricing and rapid trade execution for retail traders across forex, metals, indices, and energy.

This certification underscores RAprime’s dedication to delivering a trusted trading environment, combining fast, reliable order execution with in-depth market research and education. By aligning with VMT, RAprime offers clients verifiable execution quality data, supporting smarter decision-making and enhanced confidence in every trade while maintaining its hallmark of local service and robust customer support.

"This certification marks an important milestone for RAprime as we continue to raise the bar for execution transparency and client-centric service," said Hashem Albahrani, founder and CEO of RAprime. "Mentoring traders with reliable execution data, fast technology, and accessible education strengthens trust and supports smarter investing across all market conditions."

Looking ahead, RAprime plans to expand its suite of trading tools and educational offerings, deepen client support capabilities, and explore additional integrations with transparency initiatives to further empower traders. The firm remains committed to delivering superior execution, insightful market analysis and hands-on learning experiences that help individuals master their financial journeys.

About RAprime

RAprime is a financial brokerage company that provides retail trading accounts, market analysis and educational courses to individual traders, with a mission to enable smarter investment and trading decisions. Its core offering includes MT5 trading platforms with multiple account tiers (Basic, Plus, Prime) supporting forex, metals, indices and energy, plus weekly market analysis and in-person and online training programs. The team emphasizes customer support, fast execution and local service experience, and the site includes client reviews and regulatory disclosures such as recent certification notices. For more information, visit raprime.com.

Disclaimer

Trading foreign exchange (forex), contracts for difference (CFDs), and other leveraged financial instruments carries a high degree of risk to your capital and may not be suitable for all investors. High leverage can work both to your advantage and disadvantage; small market movements can result in substantial losses, up to and including the total loss of your invested capital. You should never invest funds you cannot afford to lose.

Execution Certification & Regulatory Notice

Certification by VerifyMyTrade (VMT) and membership in The Financial Commission evaluate sample order execution quality and trade pricing benchmarking only. VerifyMyTrade is an independent analytical service, and The Financial Commission is a private, non-governmental self-regulatory organization and external dispute resolution (EDR) body. Neither VMT nor The Financial Commission acts as a government financial regulatory authority, and certification does not constitute an endorsement, financial guarantee, or protection against market volatility or trade losses.

Before engaging in trading, carefully consider your investment objectives, financial status, risk tolerance, and level of experience. Past performance, historical execution data, or market projections are not indicative of future results. The information contained in this press release is provided strictly for educational and informational purposes and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument. You are strongly advised to seek independent advice from a certified financial professional to ensure you fully understand all associated risks before entering into any transactions, keeping in mind that certain products or services may be restricted in your jurisdiction subject to local laws and regulations.

Media Contact

info@raprime.com

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 17, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Uzbekistan hosted the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026) in Tashkent from August 9 to 16, welcoming the global technology community for eight days of high-level algorithmic competition and cultural exchange. As the premier global programming event for secondary school students, IOI 2026 brought together 386 top young coders from over 97 countries — including the United States, China, Germany, Singapore, and South Korea — with total attendance exceeding 900 international delegates and guests.

Against this world-class field, Uzbekistan’s primary team delivered a strong national performance, with all four members earning honors: Jahonali Khaydaraliev (Muhammad al-Khwarizmi School) secured silver, while Timur Kadirbergenov, Ulugbek Rakhmatullaev, and Jahongirshoh Avazkhonov earned bronze, alongside an Honorable Mention for Sardorbek Salimov.

“Hosting the IOI in Uzbekistan for the first time is more than a milestone, it is a homecoming," said Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan. "Uzbekistan is the land that gave the world the concepts of algebra and algorithm, through the work of the 9th-century scholar Muhammad al-Khwarizmi. A thousand years later, that same land is training the next generation of coders and innovators. Under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s leadership, Uzbekistan has made IT education and creative thinking a national priority — building an environment where young talent can code, build companies, and compete globally. We are proud to host events of this scale, bringing together people from all over the world. They help raise our international visibility. This week, Tashkent showed the world’s tech community what this country has become. A place with a favorable tax environment, strong infrastructure, and deep talent — with the ambition to be Central Asia’s leading innovation hub.”

Uzbekistan’s historical ties to mathematics date back more than a millennium. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, the 9th-century scholar whose name inspired the words algebra and algorithm, was born in Khwarazm (modern-day Khiva, Uzbekistan). Today, the country is translating that historical legacy into a modern technology workforce.

Several of the medalists are students at Uzbekistan’s selective network of state Presidential Schools, where 65% of recent graduates gain early admission to top international universities. To scale this academic pipeline nationwide, the government-backed "One Million Uzbek Coders" initiative — launched in partnership with the UAE — has expanded digital literacy across the country, driving over 2.5 million registrations and 1.5 million course completions since 2019.

"Competing against the world's top talent right here in Tashkent was an unforgettable challenge," said Jahonali Khaydaraliev, 15-year-old silver medalist. "Winning silver proves that young coders from Uzbekistan can compete at the highest global level."

This broad push for accessible digital education has delivered unmatched global benchmarks in gender inclusion. According to a post-year analysis from Coursera assessing the gender gap in AI, Uzbekistan is currently the only country in the world where women form the majority of Generative AI enrollments, standing at 58.9%.

This talent pipeline directly feeds a rapidly expanding tech ecosystem. In the first half of 2026, the number of resident companies engaged in exports reached 1,050, with the export geography expanding to 102 countries. Of the total volume of service exports, 54% was directed to North America, 17% to the European Union and the United Kingdom, 22% to the CIS and Asia-Pacific regions, and7% to MENA countries.

In June 2026, IT Park Uzbekistan recorded a monthly high of 82 newly registered foreign-capital companies. As of August 1, 2026, the total number of resident companies with foreign capital reached 1,112, highlighting the continued growth of foreign investment and international business activity within the IT Park Uzbekistan ecosystem.

The Park’s government scheme offering free office space, equipment, and partial wage reimbursements has already helped create over 4,000 jobs and $43 million in exports. Global firms including EPAM, VEON, Plug and Play, and Techstars now maintain an active presence in Tashkent.

StartupBlink named Uzbekistan its "Country of the Year" in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026, citing a 227% growth rate. The country also saw the rise of its first two tech companies valued at over $1 billion, marking the beginning of a new era for the region's technology sector.

With 60% of Uzbekistan’s population under the age of 30, government strategy focuses on building local infrastructure to retain top young tech talent and foster home-grown global companies. These efforts are helping transform Uzbekistan into a leading IT hub, creating new opportunities for young people, attracting investment, and ultimately improving people’s quality of life.

The next edition, IOI 2027, will be hosted in Germany.

Media Contact

o.raximova@it-park.uz

MIAMI, FL, August 17, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Cata-Kor, a U.S.-based nutraceutical company focused on science-informed longevity formulations, announced that its Liposomal Glutathione supplement has reached the No. 1 best-seller position in the Glutathione category on TikTok Shop, with nearly 64,000 units sold as of August 17.

Cata-Kor Liposomal Glutathione delivers 1,000 mg of L-Glutathione Complex per serving, alongside resveratrol, vitamin C, selenium, and riboflavin — a formula designed to support cellular defense and antioxidant balance. The liposomal delivery format is intended to enhance bioavailability compared to standard glutathione supplements.

The ranking follows a broader pattern of growth for the brand on the platform. Cata-Kor, which joined the health category on TikTok Shop nearly three years ago, grew 9,000% year-over-year in its first year on the platform, with product bundles driving close to 30% of campaign GMV during its Glutathione launch — figures the company shared in a recent episode of the TikTok Shop podcast "ACE Your TikTok Shop."

"We have grown 9,000% year over year in our first year, so it's definitely been big and impactful for us as a brand," said Roman Miroedov, PhD, Product Development Lead at Cata-Kor.

Key Figures:

• No. 1 ranked glutathione brand on TikTok Shop
• 9,000% year-over-year growth in Cata-Kor's first year on TikTok Shop
• Close to 30% of campaign GMV driven by product bundles during the Glutathione launch

"Reaching number one in the glutathione category with under 200 reviews is not something that happens by accident," said Miroedov. "It reflects what buyers do when they have access to verified information — they choose the product that actually delivers what it claims."

The Glutathione ranking marks the second time this year Cata-Kor has claimed a No. 1 position in a competitive supplement category. In April 2026, the company announced it had reached the No. 1 best-seller spot for its NMN supplement on both Amazon and TikTok Shop.

About Cata-Kor

Cata-Kor is a U.S.-based nutraceutical company focused on developing longevity formulations that support cellular health, vitality, and daily performance. Cata-Kor has a manufacturing facility in the United States and conducts all testing domestically, with a focus on transparency, quality, and science-informed development. Cata-Kor’s approach is built around alignment with rigorous regulatory frameworks and independent third-party certification standards to ensure the highest levels of product integrity. Learn more at catakor.com.

Disclaimer

This press release is provided for informational purposes only. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and statements in this release have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sales rankings, sales figures, and growth metrics referenced on third-party platforms such as TikTok Shop reflect historical transaction data provided by the company and do not constitute an endorsement, official verification, or medical validation by the platform. The information in this release — including references to product ingredients, bioavailability, and cellular health support — is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual results from dietary supplements may vary, and consumers should consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen, particularly if they are pregnant, nursing, taking prescription medications, or managing an existing medical condition.

Media Contact

Roman Miroedov
PhD, Cata-Kor
press@catakor.com

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, August 17, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- The AI Collective, the largest nonprofit AI community in the world, today announced Hack for Humanity, a global civic hackathon running September 1 through October 31, 2026, across 120 chapters in 50 countries.

In June, communities in 30 countries gathered for Humans in AI Week to name the problems AI was creating in the places where they live. This fall, they start building.

The idea behind Hack for Humanity is simple: a conversation about whether AI serves humanity only goes so far. Eventually, someone has to sit down and build the version that does.

Public trust in AI remains fragile. As AI moves rapidly into workplaces, schools, governments, and everyday life, many of the decisions shaping that transformation are still being made far from the communities living with their consequences.

Hack for Humanity starts from a different premise: apply AI to the public good, and put the people closest to a problem in the room to help solve it.

"Technology should serve humanity, not the other way around," said AJ Green, President and Executive Director of The AI Collective. "The best thing our community can do is take our technical skills and point them at the places we actually live.”

Three themes surfaced repeatedly across communities in June: job displacement, technical literacy, and accessibility. Chapters will build around those themes while also setting challenges locally, based on the priorities of their own cities and communities. People who live with a problem often see things outsiders miss.

Hack for Humanity is deliberately built without a commercial outcome in mind. The AI Collective isn’t asking participants to promote a product, validate a company strategy, or build toward a specific answer. As a nonprofit, it can start with a simpler question: what problems are worth solving, and what can this many people actually do about them?

“We spend a lot of time talking about what AI might make possible. This is about finding out what people can actually build with it when you point that energy at problems that matter,” said Catherine McMillan, Chief Operating Officer of The AI Collective. “If, at the end of this, something exists that can genuinely help someone — and it didn’t exist before — that’s a meaningful outcome.”

Hack for Humanity is the culmination of Soul Summer, the global series of community programming that began with Humans in AI Week in June. That week brought together communities in 100 cities across 30 countries; this fall, 120 chapters across 50 countries will participate in Hack for Humanity, making it the largest coordinated civic build in The AI Collective’s history.

AI is lowering some of the barriers to knowledge, technical capability, and building things that once required significant capital or specialized teams. That creates an opportunity to broaden who gets to shape technology — and who gets to benefit from it.

But that outcome is not guaranteed. The question is not only what AI will make possible, but who gets to decide what gets built and which problems are worth solving.

In June, communities across The AI Collective started that conversation. This fall, they put those ideas to work.

Register now at www.aicollective.com/h4h

About The AI Collective

The AI Collective is a global nonprofit and the largest grassroots AI community in the world — 250,000+ members, 250+ chapters, 70+ countries, 2,800+ events hosted to date. AIC's mission: ensure the humanity and technology advance in harmony, so the most powerful technology in history serves all of us. For more information, visit www.aicollective.com.

Media Contact

aj@aicollective.com

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, August 14, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Velmie today announced a major upgrade to its digital banking platform, expanding the company’s ability to manage complex financial technology environments through a single operating framework.

The release is designed for financial institutions and fintech companies that rely on multiple providers to deliver banking and payment services. These environments often combine a core platform with card processing, payment networks, compliance systems, banking partners and customer applications. While each provider manages its own service, the financial institution remains responsible for the performance of the entire operating model.

Velmie’s upgraded platform brings these components together through a common integration, administration and delivery layer. It gives clients a clearer view of transaction flows, operational processes and dependencies between external systems.

The release also strengthens the tools available to operations and technology teams for managing products, customer accounts, permissions, payment workflows and third-party connections from a central back office.

“Financial institutions have invested heavily in specialist technology, but the operating burden still sits with them,” said Pavel Shumsky, CMO at Velmie. “The issue is no longer access to individual products. It is whether those products can operate as one controlled and dependable environment. This release is an important step in addressing that challenge.”

Greater Control Across Connected Systems

The upgrade extends Velmie’s integration capabilities across card issuing, domestic and international payments, customer verification, financial crime controls and banking infrastructure.

It also improves the way information moves between the core platform, external providers and digital applications. This allows institutions to introduce new services without rebuilding customer journeys or creating separate operational processes for each provider.

The platform supports both Velmie technology and third-party systems. Clients can use Velmie as their primary banking platform or deploy it as an operating and integration layer over existing infrastructure.

This approach allows institutions to retain strategic providers while reducing the internal effort required to coordinate them.

A Stronger Foundation for Production Operations

The release includes improvements to platform administration, access management, operational workflows and integration monitoring.

These capabilities are intended to give financial institutions more consistent control after launch, particularly when managing provider changes, regulatory requirements and new product releases.

Velmie also continues to support clients after implementation. Its teams remain responsible for platform maintenance, integration changes and the ongoing development of mobile, web and back-office applications.

“Launching a financial product is only the beginning,” Shumsky said. “The larger commitment is maintaining a stable service while the regulatory environment, customer expectations and provider landscape continue to change. Our delivery model is built around that reality.”

Built for Multivendor Financial Services

Most modern financial products are delivered through a network of specialist providers. A card processor may manage issuing, a banking partner may provide accounts, a compliance provider may handle screening, and separate payment providers may support local or international transfers.

The complexity emerges at the points where those services meet.

An update from one provider can affect transaction processing, reconciliation, customer communications or the mobile application. When responsibility is divided among several vendors, identifying and resolving an issue can take longer than implementing the technical fix itself.

Velmie addresses this by taking responsibility across system boundaries. The company provides solution architecture, platform implementation, third-party integration, digital channel delivery and production support under a single engagement.

The upgraded platform is now available for new implementations and existing Velmie clients.

About Velmie

Velmie is a digital banking platform provider and financial technology systems integrator. The company works with regulated financial institutions, payment companies and fintech businesses to design, implement and operate digital financial products. Velmie provides core banking technology, back-office systems, mobile and web applications, and integrations with banking, payment, card and compliance providers. Its teams support clients from initial solution design through production launch, maintenance and continued development. For more information, visit www.velmie.com.

Disclaimer

This press release is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or regulatory advice. Velmie is a technology platform provider and systems integrator, not a bank or licensed financial institution. Actual software performance, third-party vendor compatibility, and deployment timelines depend on individual financial institution configurations, regulatory approvals, and partner system capabilities. Product features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Media Contact

amanda@ascendagency.com

NEW YORK, NY, August 14, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- The “YOU BRING CHARM TO THE WORLD — The 18th Global Chinese Awards” came to a close at the Phoenix Center in Beijing on the evening of August 12.

At this year’s awards ceremony, Academician Zhang Boli of the Chinese Academy of Engineering received the Global Chinese Lifetime Achievement Award, while actress Sylvia Chang received the Global Chinese Special Tribute Award. Academician Pan Jianwei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lu Chaoyang, Chair Professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, picture-book illustrator Cai Gao, Chinese freestyle skier Xu Mengtao, Gao Du, professor at the Beijing Dance Academy, and actress Xin Zhilei received the Global Chinese Award.

In his speech, Xu Wei, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Phoenix TV, said: “Each generation of Chinese people has its own responsibilities. The older generation worked hard with their roots in their homeland, while the younger generation embraces innovation and the world, becoming connectors between different cultures.” Phoenix TV will continue to serve as an on-the-ground reporter of major global events, an international storyteller of Chinese culture, and a platform builder for international exchange, enabling audiences around the world to see more of the vibrant and diverse achievements of Chinese people.

The tribute section of the ceremony opened with an immersive children's picture-book theatrical performance based on classic works including The Story of the Peach Blossom Spring and Bao'er. Both works were created by Cai Gao, who received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration in April this year. During the ceremony, the host recalled the children's song Cai sang at the Andersen Award ceremony, prompting her to smile and sing “The Cuckoo” once again.

Upon receiving the Global Chinese Award, Cai Gao said that the splendid and outstanding artistic heritage of China has been a source of inspiration for her work, and that she has a deep love for the culture of this land. Seeing so many Chinese people achieve remarkable accomplishments in different fields has also given her spiritual strength. Quoting the phrase, “As long as life goes on, the struggle continues,” she encouraged herself to keep creating with passion and curiosity. “Life and creation require dedication and perseverance. I am willing to devote myself to them, as I always have,” said Gao.

Joining the ceremony via video link, Lu Chaoyang shared his joy and said that the honor belongs to all Chinese researchers who have climbed, generation after generation, along the long and steep road of quantum science. Looking to the future, he offered this message: “The quantum world is very small, so small that it cannot be seen with the naked eye; but China’s dreams in science and technology are immense. Through fundamental innovation, we should illuminate a farther future for human civilization.”

In her acceptance speech, Xin Zhilei said she particularly liked the phrase “YOU BRING CHARM TO THE WORLD.” “Everyone is a unique ray of light in this world. Through our efforts and down-to-earth dedication, we each make our own small contribution to the beauty of the world. As an actress, what I can do is put my heart into every role and bring to the world a little bit of the unique color that belongs to me.”

Lu Yang, director of "Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield," also sent his congratulations via video, expressing hope for continued collaboration and for the creation of more outstanding Chinese-language stories.“If the dance steps of a people disappear, that chapter of history will also lose its voice,” said Yang. 

Over the past 50 years, Gao Du and his team have traveled across more than 20 provinces and autonomous regions throughout China, venturing deep into remote mountains and visiting people's courtyards and fireside gatherings. They learned from local communities dances that had no names, no stages and sometimes not even an audience, devoting themselves to the creation of the Chenxiang series.

Gao Du said he would continue dancing, both in the classroom and on larger stages, bringing folk dance traditions rooted in the land to the world and fostering dialogue among different cultures, so that the world can see the beauty of the East.

Wu Qingcai, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China News Service, presented Xu Mengtao with the Global Chinese Award. Xu shared that August 13, 2026, marked exactly 24 years since she began competing in the aerials discipline of snow sports. She hopes everyone can create something extraordinary through perseverance and dedication. “In the future, I will once again stand on the starting platform and set off again. See you again at the summit,” said Xu.

As one of the creators of the song "Tomorrow Will Be Better," Sylvia Chang said that she and fellow Chinese-language singers hope to use music to build a bridge for peaceful communication. She expressed gratitude for being able to continue pursuing a career she loves and for having a wonderful family. “I hope to share this gratitude and these blessings with everyone,” said Chang. 

At the ceremony, the host recounted the eight-character motto that Academician Zhang Boli has followed throughout his life: “Uphold virtue to broaden its influence; use medical skills to serve humanity.” Now approaching 80, Zhang Boli continues to see patients at a clinic every week. When patients have difficulty walking, he takes the initiative to go downstairs and see them in their cars.

Zhang Boli said that the concepts of traditional Chinese medicine — including health preservation, wellness and preventive treatment — represent one of the best practices of “proactive health management.” Looking to the future with the compassion of a physician, he said: “Let traditional Chinese medicine benefit Chinese people around the world, and let traditional Chinese medicine benefit people everywhere. The world will be healthier because of traditional Chinese medicine.”

It is reported that the “YOU BRING CHARM TO THE WORLD — Global Chinese Awards” was initiated by Phoenix Media Group in collaboration with China News Service and numerous Chinese-language media organizations in China and overseas. Together, they select and honor outstanding Chinese people who have achieved excellence and made a global impact in different fields, helping to amplify the achievements of exceptional Chinese individuals and inspire more generations to come.

About Phoenix Satellite TV

Phoenix Satellite Television is part of Phoenix Media Group, a Hong Kong-headquartered media group listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Since its launch in 1996, Phoenix has grown into the largest overseas Chinese-language cultural and media group, now operating across television, digital platforms, outdoor screens, print media, mobile applications, and social media — reaching more than 2 billion people worldwide.

Media Contact

Cao Yuxuan
caoyuxuan@phoenixtv.com

SAN DIEGO, CA, August 14, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Backland Labs hosted a hands-on AI workshop for transitioning service members and recent veterans in San Diego, helping participants develop practical skills for a workplace increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

The workshop introduced participants to Claude Cowork and showed them how AI can support research, organization, professional communication, and repetitive administrative work. No previous experience with Claude or other AI tools was required.

Rather than focusing on presentations or general AI theory, the session gave participants time to work directly with the technology. Attendees learned practical principles for using AI effectively, identified tasks that could benefit from AI assistance, and received individual support as they built their own workflows and automations.

The workshop covered:

• The changing role of AI in professional work
• The fundamentals of Claude Cowork
• Practical guidelines for using AI effectively and responsibly
• How to recognize repetitive or time-consuming work that may be suitable for automation
• Open build time for creating useful workflows
• Individual support for overcoming technical and workflow challenges

Participants explored how AI could assist with tasks relevant to the transition from military to civilian work, including researching career paths, translating military experience into language employers understand, preparing professional materials, organizing complex information, and improving recurring work processes.

Service members already bring valuable skills to civilian organizations, including adaptability, disciplined execution, rapid learning, and the ability to solve problems under pressure. The workshop was designed to help participants apply those strengths while becoming more comfortable with a new generation of workplace tools.

The event was hosted by Max Krueger, founder of Backland Labs, and by Claude Community and Anthropic. Krueger previously worked at Accenture, where he helped establish early generative AI teams focused on cybersecurity applications. He also organizes the AI Tinkerers San Diego community.

Backland Labs is exploring opportunities to provide additional practical AI workshops for transitioning service members and recent veterans. The company welcomes conversations with veteran-serving organizations, employers, sponsors, and community partners interested in hosting or supporting future programs.

Organizations interested in future workshops can visit backlandlabs.io.

About Backland Labs

Backland Labs is a San Diego-based AI consulting, development, and education company focused on the legal and real estate industries. It helps organizations identify practical uses for AI, test ideas with working prototypes, automate repetitive work, build custom AI tools, and develop AI-powered products. Backland Labs also offers workshops that help leaders and teams understand AI and apply it in their day-to-day work. Its approach combines hands-on technical development, industry knowledge, and insights from San Diego’s AI builder community. For more information, visit backlandlabs.io.

Media Contact

max@backlandlabs.io

WACO, TX, August 13, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- In the early 1930s, as she traveled internationally with students from across the U.S., 16-year-old Jeanette McGinnis needed money. While students from larger cities struggled to reach their banks abroad, McGinnis contacted her family’s community bank in McGregor, Texas, where bankers she had known since childhood worked through international obstacles to wire her funds.

She was not treated like an account number. She was treated like someone they knew.

That moment became the beginning of a lifelong relationship. For decades, TFNB remained her bank, serving not just McGinnis, but her family across generations.

“Our goal has never been to be the biggest bank; it’s to be the most trusted bank for families who depend on us,” says David Littlewood, chairman and CEO. “I’ve had the privilege of serving as a community banker in Central Texas for over 40 years and have come to believe that banking is not about transactions. It’s about relationships, responsibility, and a genuine commitment to serve others.”

That same approach still defines TFNB today. Whether someone has banked there for 90 years or just walked through the door for the first time, the experience is meant to feel the same: personal, familiar, and built on trust.

“We can talk numbers, but the quality of our service is experienced on an individual level with people like Jeanette,” says Christy De Leon, president and CFO. “Her family reminds me why I’m passionate about who we are and what we do as a bank. Before her passing at 103, she became our longest-tenured customer, and her son still banks with us today.”

Supporting the Backbone of Community

The same long-term mindset extends to local businesses across Central Texas. For entrepreneurs, consistency matters. So does having a banker who understands the realities behind the numbers.

“Local businesses are the backbone of our communities,” Littlewood explains. “Our role is to understand their strategy, risks, and the cycles of their business. We take a disciplined, long-term approach to commercial banking, structuring credit thoughtfully, ensuring consistent access to capital, and providing candid guidance through both growth and uncertainty.”

In many cases, those conversations do not happen across a desk. They happen across a table.

“In many cases, we’re sitting at a customer’s table as a trusted advisor, not a lender,” says Littlewood. “We help business owners think through expansion, succession, cash flow, and the realities of navigating changing economic conditions. We see people at their best and walk alongside them through their most challenging moments.”

A Promise for Life

“Your Bank for Life” goes beyond a slogan. It reflects the role TFNB plays across every stage of a customer’s life.

“Our values are faith, family, and finances in that order,” says Jason Lavender, executive vice president and director of strategic initiatives. “We believe in the families and entrepreneurs who dream of how they want their lives to look, and they believe in us as their trusted financial institution to help their dreams come true.”

From first savings accounts to long-term planning, TFNB approaches each relationship with the understanding that trust is built over time and reinforced through every interaction.

“Faith is a foundational element of our culture,” says De Leon. “Regardless of spiritual beliefs, we are all guided by kindness, humility, and compassion. The intentionality in our interactions creates a ripple effect that benefits our communities.”

The Bank Without Branches

At TFNB, the word “branch” does not quite fit.

“The word ‘branch’ suggests separation from the main bank,” says Lavender. “We don’t build branches. We build communities. Each TFNB location is equally important, with a unique ecosystem and identity shaped by its setting, but all are united by the bank’s overarching history, values, and morals.”

Each location reflects the people and neighborhoods around it. Whether serving businesses in downtown Waco, students near Baylor University, or families across the region, the goal remains the same.

“People, employees, and customers shape a location’s personality,” says De Leon. “Our location in East Waco has different needs than a location near Baylor University where students define the culture. We identify what’s going on around the community and use that knowledge to offer products and services that create lasting financial security.”

Banking to Build Central Texas

Independent, locally owned financial institutions like TFNB play an essential role in the economic health of a community. When deposits stay local, they are reinvested into neighborhood businesses, families, and opportunities that create a cycle of growth, stability, and shared prosperity.

“When decisions are made locally, they reflect what is actually happening in the community,” says Littlewood. “That allows us to respond with clarity and consistency, even in uncertain times.”

Relationship-driven banking takes time to build, but once established, it creates a level of trust that cannot be replicated.

“Your Bank for Life means showing up consistently, serving with care, operating with integrity, and staying grounded in the values that have guided us for generations,” says Littlewood. “Our success is measured not only in financial performance, but in the strength of the businesses we help grow, the communities we serve, and the lasting impact we have on the lives of the people who trust us to do what’s right.”

Charity Champions

To celebrate TFNB’s 125th anniversary in 2014, the team created Charity Champions, a nonprofit helping Central Texas prosper by empowering the leaders making a difference.

“Charity Champions reflects our mission to help those who help others,” says Lavender. “Some nonprofit leaders have good ideas but lack the means or skill set to execute their mission. We use our connections to community leaders and colleges to connect resources with those nonprofits and help them do more good in our communities.”

Since 2014, Charity Champions has supported more than 70 nonprofits throughout Central Texas, including animal shelters, food banks, and community centers. Each organization receives marketing support, leadership development, and access to Baylor University interns for grant writing and strategic planning. They are also recognized at Baylor University sporting events, helping expand awareness and support for their mission.

The result is a program designed not only to support organizations, but to strengthen the communities they serve for generations to come.

About TFNB

TFNB Your Bank for Life was established in 1889 and is the seventh-oldest bank in Texas under its original charter. TFNB offers a full range of business and consumer loan/deposit products and services, trust services, and is a preferred lender with the Small Business Administration. TFNB delivers a high level of service to our customers with a philosophy of meeting people where they are and providing personal access to key decision-makers. TFNB is passionate about taking care of our customers and the communities we serve. For more information, visit tfnbtx.com.

Disclaimer

The information, statements, and opinions contained herein were provided by TFNB and are for informational purposes only. Nothing in this release constitutes financial, investment, legal, or tax advice, nor should it be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation regarding any financial product or service. Banking products and services are subject to applicable terms, conditions, eligibility requirements, and regulatory requirements.

Media Contact

Jason Lavender
jlavender@tfnbtx.com

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 13, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- With an estimated 15% of UK adults using short-term borrowing for everyday expenses, increasing to 28% of couples with children and 33% of single parents, direct UK lender Cashfloat today issued new guidance outlining what consumers should expect during the loan application and affordability assessment process, aiming to demystify borrowing procedures for UK households.

The firm, which has been offering responsible short-term loans since 2014 and has served thousands of customers, focuses on fairness and information-sharing to help consumers manage their finances, understand their options, and access support during financial difficulty to reduce the risk of late payments or debt reliance.

Why Consumers Applying for Loans Face Unexpected Issues

Many households applying for a loan for the first time may not have experienced credit checks, affordability assessments, or the need to submit self-declarations of their income and expenses before. For some, these processes are relatively straightforward, but for others, they can cause stress and anxiety about sharing their financial information.

Lenders have a regulatory responsibility to ensure they ask the right questions and compile data about each applicant’s financial position before they can offer a loan, which means they must be able to:

• Confirm the person’s regular income and where it originates from, such as employment, benefits, child maintenance, or self-employment
• Assess the regular outgoings and financial commitments of the applicant, including mortgage or rent payments, living costs, the number of dependents, and existing debts
• Verify whether the loan is affordable and whether they can approve the application with evidence that the consumer will be able to manage the repayments

Loan providers also require permission to run credit checks, must record the age and employment status of each applicant, need to ask about the purpose of the loan, and may require evidence of declared income or outgoings.

Cashfloat indicates that when consumers are unaware of the information they’ll need to disclose, or aren’t prepared for the level of detail they must provide, they can find the loan application process daunting, unnecessarily long-winded, and complex, especially if they are asked to produce payslips and other documentation to verify the data they have entered.

Innovation in Short-Term Lending Streamlines Loan Applications

Cashfloat uses open banking in its loan application process and focuses on affordability checks as a primary way to assess whether a borrower can keep up with their repayments without being at risk of financial distress.

"Open banking is a safe, controlled way for lenders to complete loan application checks faster, securely and with complete data protection. In many cases, it can reduce the need for borrowers to fill in lengthy forms or mitigate the stress of trying to calculate budgets and outgoings for those experiencing a financial emergency," explained Chief Operating Officer Peter Kimpton. "We introduced open banking to make accessing responsible lending easier, but also to take the strain away from consumers, who can decide if and when they permit Cashfloat, or any other lender, to communicate with their bank."

Open banking incorporates APIs, a type of software application, and bank-grade security protections. That means information is shared between a lender and a consumer’s bank in real-time, without storing data or creating an ongoing link between organisations that could be exposed to vulnerabilities. In addition, consumers choose which data they consent to share, provide permission that automatically expires after 90 days, and can withdraw their consent at any time.

"The benefit is we can confirm a customer’s identity and affordability incredibly quickly, and ensure the lending decisions we make are responsible and based on up-to-date information," added Kimpton.

Cashfloat was one of the first lenders to introduce open banking within loan application assessments back in 2020, and today the technology is used to some extent by as many as 90% of short-term lenders.

The company stresses that ensuring consumers know how open banking works, how their data is protected, and the information they’ll be required to disclose can ensure that applying for a loan is simpler, because borrowers can prepare for the process before they start the application, reducing many aspects that can cause unnecessary stress.

About Cashfloat

Founded in 2014, Cashfloat is a UK-based direct lender providing online loans to individuals across a range of credit scores. Cashfloat focuses on accessible digital lending and transparent financial services for borrowers seeking short-term credit solutions. The company operates as a trading style of Western Circle Ltd, which is fully authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For more information, visit www.cashfloat.co.uk.

About Western Circle Group

Western Circle Group is a UK-based, FCA-authorised consumer credit provider specialising in fast, responsible, online lending. Western Circle Ltd (company number: 07581337) is fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 714479) and with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO: Z3305234).

Disclaimer

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to borrow. Loans are subject to eligibility, affordability checks, and terms set by the lender. Customers experiencing financial difficulty may benefit from seeking free and independent debt advice before taking on additional borrowing. Borrowing involves risk and may not be suitable for all individuals. Readers should carefully review terms and consider seeking independent financial advice before making any borrowing decisions.