The fifth SBC Summit Ukraine 2026 All-Ukrainian Sports Marketing Conference took place at Kyiv’s Parkovy Exhibition and Convention Center. Betting brand GGBET, the event’s premium sponsor, presented the panel discussion on Gen Z’s behavior and habits regarding watching sporting events, consuming content and spending on sports. Panelists discussed the transformation of sports content, the change in the audience’s habits, and new challenges in the fight for their attention.

The discussion was attended by GGBET UA CEO Sergii Mishchenko, Tribuna.com editor-in-chief Oleh Shcherbakov, Adidas Ukraine general director Ihor Marynych, and Head of Media at FC Polissya Oleksandr Fedoryshyn. Sports blogger Dmytro Povoroznyuk served as the moderator.

GGBET presented the results of a sports audience study conducted among FC Polissya fans, GGBET UA’s audience, subscribers of Tribuna.com and Sports Business Media, and Dmytro Povoroznyuk’s audience. A total of 937 individuals took part in the survey.

First off, the study refuted the widespread belief that zoomers in Ukraine almost never watch matches due to their short-form content consumption habits. The results showed that 54% of Gen Z members not only watch matches, but do so regularly, i.e., several times a week or more. In this regard, there’s almost no difference between them and millennials or Gen X.

In addition to that, zoomers are the most active consumers of short-form content. They have the greatest demand for a variety of content, particularly entertainment content.

During the discussion, GGBET UA CEO Sergii Mishchenko shared three principles for sharing content that the GGBET UA team put together after analyzing its own advertising campaigns. He stated that effective sports content today must adhere to three criteria: be exclusive, unique, and timely.

“As one of the top betting operators in Ukraine, GGBET UA produces and publishes a large volume of content. The only way to attract and retain an audience is to constantly be in their information bubble. 

We present players as real-life people, just like the fans. We record quizzes, challenges, and Q&As with them, and basically give a behind-the-scenes look,” Sergii Mishchenko said.

Some of the interesting insights from the study include the following:

• Online is the primary way people interact with sports (94% of zoomers, 96% of millennials, and 94% of Gen X watch sports events online).
• Zoomers are the most social offline: 37% want to interact with players, and for 65%, a match is an opportunity to spend time with friends.
• Alternative broadcasts with streamers have the lowest demand among all generations compared to other types of content.
• While only 16% of all respondents go to the stadium, a significant proportion does so regularly. 
• Only zoomers have subscriptions and content (33%) at the top of their sports-related spending.

The SBC Summit Ukraine 2026 conference brought together approximately 1,200 participants and over 60 speakers, including representatives of federations, brands, and media and sports organizations. The event served as a platform to discuss top trends in the sports industry, developing partnerships, communications, and interacting with the target audience. This wasn’t GGBET UA’s first time at the event. Last year, the brand organized a panel discussion entitled "Ukraine in esports: facts and fakes" at SBC Summit Ukraine 2025, which was the first professional dialog among esports industry experts in SBC Summit Ukraine’s history.

Disclaimer

This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advertising, an offer, or an invitation to participate in gambling activities. Gambling involves risk and may be addictive. Participation is restricted to persons of legal age in accordance with applicable laws. Please gamble responsibly.

Media Contact

Press Office
pr@ggbet.ua

Inperium announces a new affiliation with KidsPeace, a leading behavioral and mental health organization that has supported children and families for more than 140 years. The affiliation reflects a shared commitment to strengthening community support systems while helping nonprofit organizations adapt to changing social and technological realities.

KidsPeace operates a broad continuum of behavioral and mental health services for children, families, and communities across the United States. The organization provides inpatient and outpatient programs, foster care services, educational support, community programs, and crisis intervention resources. According to Michael Slack, President and CEO of KidsPeace, the challenges facing children today continue to evolve as social relationships, school pressures, anxiety, and depression increasingly shape the experiences of young people and their families.

Slack explains that KidsPeace has adapted its programs and outreach efforts over time to ensure children and families can access support in ways that reflect modern life. He points to initiatives such as TeenCentral, where young people can ask questions and receive guidance about emotional and behavioral challenges, as well as the organization’s podcast and Healing Magazine, which serves professionals and caregivers working in the mental health space. From his perspective, maintaining open channels of communication remains essential as the needs of children continue to change.

The affiliation also comes at a time when many nonprofit organizations are navigating the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Slack notes that the disruption of school routines, peer relationships, and social interaction created emotional strain for many children. He also explains that care professionals experienced significant burnout during the pandemic, contributing to workforce shortages across the behavioral health field.

“Our business is people helping people, and that human connection remains at the center of everything we do,” Slack says. “Technology can improve access and create efficiencies, but meaningful care still depends on relationships, trust, and consistent support for children and families.”

Ryan Dewey Smith, Founding Executive Chairman and CEO of Inperium, says the organization’s affiliate model is designed to help nonprofit providers strengthen sustainability, operational support, and innovation while continuing to focus on mission-driven care. According to Smith, the affiliation with KidsPeace reflects a broader effort to support organizations responding to rapidly changing community expectations and technological developments.

“Organizations serving children and families are facing new pressures that require thoughtful collaboration and long-term support,” Smith explains. “This affiliation reflects a shared commitment to helping communities adapt while ensuring organizations like KidsPeace have the resources and strategic support needed to continue their important work.”

Leaders from both organizations emphasize that innovation will remain an important part of the relationship moving forward. As digital communication, virtual services, and emerging technologies continue to shape healthcare and nonprofit operations, both organizations see value in using technology to expand access while preserving the human relationships that remain central to effective care.

According to Smith, the affiliation also reflects a broader philosophy centered on innovation through collaboration. By supporting affiliates with operational expertise and shared resources, Inperium aims to help mission-driven organizations continue serving communities while adapting to rapid social and technological change.

For KidsPeace, the affiliation represents another step in the organization’s long history of evolving alongside the communities it serves. For Inperium, the relationship demonstrates its continued focus on supporting organizations that are addressing some of the most urgent challenges facing children and families today.

The affiliation brings together two organizations committed to strengthening access, expanding support, and helping communities respond to a changing world.

Media Contact

Inperium Team
info@inperium.org

On May 29, Parkland Group unveiled the complete blueprint at a worldwide launch event for Guangzhou One Pengrui, its "globally influential residential complex." The event also announced a prospective partnership with Raffles and debuted the world's first immersive indoor-outdoor golf facility.

Independently developed by Pengrui, this pioneering golf facility features three major technological breakthroughs: IMAX-scale screen immersion, dynamic putting greens, and seamless indoor-outdoor integration. By eliminating the distance and weather constraints of traditional golf, this innovation delivers an all-weather, premium sports and social hub right in the heart of the city.

Furthermore, Guangzhou One Pengrui has curated an extraordinary portfolio of amenities, integrating the Bay Song Art Center, the 214-acre ecological Beidisha Island, and the expansive 10,000-square-meter Guangzhou Shenwan Club. Anchored by the prospective partnership with the century-old, legendary Raffles Hotel, alongside upcoming additions to the North District — including Michelin-starred dining, global ultra-luxury brands, and the One Art Museum — the development establishes a holistic international lifestyle ecosystem that seamlessly encompasses living, socializing, business, sports, and the arts.

With its world-class amenities and an ever-evolving lifestyle ecosystem, Guangzhou One Pengrui not only bolsters Guangzhou’s competitive edge as a global city but also offers the world a definitive new paradigm for ultra-luxury living in China.

About Parkland Group

Parkland Group is a diversified enterprise with operations spanning real estate development, healthcare, commercial operations, property management, and private equity investment. Driven by a commitment to creating high-quality urban living experiences, forward-thinking planning, refined management practices, and a focus on innovation, sustainability, culture, and design, Parkland has established a strong presence in China's high-end real estate sector. As it expands across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and beyond, the company aims to contribute to modern urban development while delivering world-class communities for residents, businesses, and future generations. 

Media Contact

Li Yun
liy07@szprl.com

Skill Shot Golf today announced a partnership with John Daly alongside the launch of their real-money golf competition app. The platform utilizes patent-pending video validation and ball tracking technology to transform everyday golf rounds into nationwide closest-to-the-pin contests. For the first time, golfers can now compete from their favorite local course against players across the country for thousands in cash prizes.

Daly’s involvement goes beyond a traditional endorsement deal. As an equity partner, he has a direct stake in Skill Shot Golf’s long-term success and will play a visible role across the brands marketing campaigns, networking, and promotions. Known for his unfiltered personality, massive loyal fan base, and lifelong connection to the everyday golfer, Daly represents exactly who Skill Shot Golf was built for: golfers who love the game and seek the thrill of competing with something at stake.

A New Way to Compete, Anywhere You Play

At the core of the Skill Shot Golf experience is a simple but powerful concept: side games golfers are already playing, scaled nationally, verified digitally, and settled securely.

Competitions are 100% skill-based, not gambling. Through its partnership with Lucra, Skill Shot Golf’s free-to-play contests are legal at over 17,000 courses in all 50 states, so golfers across the country can participate with confidence.

“Our platform amplifies what most golfers are already doing by scaling friendly local competitions into nationwide contests,” said Kevin Reed, CEO of Skill Shot Golf. “The off-course golf market has exploded by offering players gamified, digital experiences. Skill Shot Golf injects that same energy into traditional, on-course golf.”

“I’ve been golfing my whole life and one thing hasn’t changed — golfers want to compete for something,” said John Daly. “I’ve seen first-hand how much golfers are playing for on the course. Skill Shot takes this to the next level.”

Real-Money Beta Tournaments Are Live

Golfers interested in competing can download the app here and enter Skill Shot Golf’s $1,000 cash prize beta tournaments for free — no purchase required.

Pay-to-play contests for larger payouts, as well as curated golf experiences like VIP tickets to the WM Open and opportunities to golf with celebrities will be announced in conjunction with the full-scale launch later this summer.

About Skill Shot Golf

Skill Shot Golf is a skill-based mobile golf competition platform that enables players to compete in live contests for real cash prizes across the United States. Designed to be fun, competitive, and social, Skill Shot Golf unites golfers through exciting contests, digitally verified scoring, live leaderboards, and instant cash payouts, all based on players’ real-world performance. For more information, please visit www.skillshotgolf.com. Partnership and investment inquiries can be emailed to marshall@skillshotgolf.com. 

Media Contact

Marshall Threw
Co-founder, CFO, Skill Shot Golf
marshall@skillshotgolf.com

On May 30, 2026, emerging brand AVIDLOVE, in collaboration with SHOWYOO and AVIDLOVE PLAY, presented a boundary-pushing visual spectacle at the historic pool of the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel during Miami Swim Week.

Scene-Breaking: From Bedroom to Beach — Lingerie as Outerwear Becomes Everyday Grammar

The entire show stayed true to the "Sparks Fly" theme, turning the venue into a real "vacation with AVIDLOVE." Three themed fantasy light shows — Comfort, Awakening, Desire — took the stage one after another. Professional models walked alongside influencers with millions of followers, showcasing everything from casual outerwear-ready looks to sexy styles made for the outdoors. Shimmering pool waters and high-energy DJ beats created an electric atmosphere.

Daytime street style, nighttime party ready. AVIDLOVE uses design to shatter the barrier between indoor and outdoor spaces, proving that lingerie is no longer confined to the bedroom , it can be confidently worn on beaches, streets, and social scenes. Paraiso, with its long-standing heritage, has laid a classic foundation for this lingerie-as-outerwear revolution.

It is worth noting that the independent brand AVIDLOVE PLAY was featured in a guest-style showcase, receiving frequent interactions from media and influencers and becoming a hot topic of discussion at the show, marking the transition of the "self-pleasure economy" from concept to reality.

Influencer Spotlight: The Self-Love Image Elevated

On the influencer front, the show united UN Impact Award winner Victoria Jancke, fashion model Zarinayeva, and pageant champion Nadia Mejia on the same runway. Each carries a personal brand built on female confidence and rehabilitation advocacy — a perfect match for AVIDLOVE's core identity of "self-love and confidence."

Brand Voice: Every Woman Deserves the Ultimate Experience of Unleashing Her Charm

AVIDLOVE CMO Mr. Sun said, "Miami feels like the perfect place for AVIDLOVE. It's vibrant, confident, diverse, and full of energy — everything we love about the women we design for. Over the years, we've been fortunate to earn the trust of millions of customers through quality products and genuine customer feedback. As we continue to grow, our focus is simple: making it easier for customers to discover and shop AVIDLOVE wherever they prefer — whether that's on Amazon, TikTok Shop, our website, or hopefully soon in more retail stores."

From poolside starlight to underwear worn proudly on the street, from charitable impact to fashion crossover — AVIDLOVE lit up a new island-resort style with the fire of self-love. Looking ahead, the brand will continue to deepen its multi-scenario fusion, joining women worldwide in igniting the confident spark that belongs to every one of them.

For more information, please visit the AVIDLOVE website and its Amazon storefront, or connect with AVIDLOVE on Facebook and Instagram.

JumboBee, a U.S.-based online marketplace for used heavy equipment, has launched a platform aimed at digitizing one of the most fragmented segments of cross-border industrial trade.

The platform integrates verified buyer and seller onboarding, sanctions screening, instant shipping cost estimates for domestic and international routes, in-platform negotiation, and direct messaging across buyers, sellers and shipping coordinators — functions that have traditionally required coordinating multiple separate companies to complete a single transaction.

“The rapid evolution of large language models opens up enormous potential for the heavy equipment space, and we are already actively leveraging them to improve product data quality and transaction analytics,” said Dmitry Bashkirov, JumboBee’s Head of Product.

The launch comes as the United States posted a record $1.24 trillion goods trade deficit in 2025, with an overall trade gap of $901.5 billion, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Heavy machinery has remained one of the country’s stronger export categories, though cross-border transactions in the segment have long been hampered by limited digital infrastructure.

The global heavy construction equipment market was valued at $224.5 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $286.5 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual rate of 5.0%, according to MarketsandMarkets. Demand for used machinery is growing fastest in Asia, Latin America and parts of Africa, where contractors source equipment from the U.S. and Europe to manage cost and supply constraints.

JumboBee was founded by Maryana Serafinas, who also founded and leads Atlantic Project Cargo, a heavy equipment freight company.

Atlantic Project Cargo is a division of Atlantic Express Corp., a licensed Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier under the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. Established in 1992, the company has more than three decades of international logistics experience across agricultural, construction, mining and industrial equipment categories.

“The U.S. is one of the largest sources of high-quality used heavy equipment in the world, but the friction of moving that equipment across borders has kept a lot of demand on the table,” Serafinas said. “We built JumboBee so that an international buyer doesn’t need to coordinate five to ten different companies to close one deal.”

JumboBee is in early-stage rollout and is onboarding buyers and sellers. The platform supports both U.S.-to-international and domestic transactions across categories including tractors, harvesters, excavators, loaders, mining machinery and oilfield equipment, and draws on a global logistics network of more than 1,000 partners.

The company said it expects to expand its verified seller network and deepen financing integrations through 2026.

About JumboBee

JumboBee is a global marketplace with integrated logistics solutions for heavy equipment. JumboBee connects trusted sellers and buyers in the agriculture, construction, and industrial sectors, offering end-to-end support from listing to delivery. For more information, visit jumbobee.com.

Media Contact

Dana Martynova
dana@jumbobee.com
+1 800-383-7073

Palmetto Commercial Properties, LLC is proud to announce the promotion of Jenna S. Philipp, CCIM, to the position of Partner.

With a remarkable track record in the commercial real estate brokerage sector, Ms. Philipp has distinguished herself as a leading expert and a dedicated professional. Her contributions extend beyond her career, as she actively engages in our community. Ms. Philipp currently serves as Vice President of the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors’ Commercial Investment Division (CID) and has held the role of President of the North Charleston Chamber of Commerce for three consecutive years. Her leadership in these organizations exemplifies her commitment to fostering growth and collaboration within the local business community.

In addition to her professional achievements, Ms. Philipp is passionate about mentoring the next generation of brokers at Palmetto Commercial Properties. She balances her professional responsibilities with family life, raising two young boys alongside her husband, Gavin. Ms. Philipp is a graduate of Summerville High School and Clemson University, Ms. Philipp's dedication to both her work and community is an inspiration to many.

Eddie Buxton, Broker-in-Charge, states about Ms. Philipp: “I am very proud to welcome Jenna as a Partner.  Her commitment to the real estate industry, her coworkers, and fellow brokers, as well as loyalty to the company, is unparalleled. The future is bright at Palmetto!”

Richard Morse, CCIM, states about Ms. Philipp: “Jenna is one of the hardest working brokers in our market, and her promotion to Partner at our firm is well deserved. Her passion for real estate and leadership amongst her peers will take Palmetto Commercial Properties to new heights!"

Media Contact

William Allen
Palmetto Commercial Properties
william.allen@pcpsc.com

"The King of Trash," a feature-length documentary about David Duong and his family, is entering the final stage of its private screening tour with upcoming screenings in Washington, D.C. and Orlando, Florida.

The film has already been privately screened in San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Irvine, Dallas, and Houston, drawing thousands of attendees and receiving coverage from more than 40 media outlets and publications nationwide. But beyond the numbers, the documentary has struck audiences for a deeper reason. It tells a story many families understand, the story of losing almost everything, surviving what should have broken you, and choosing to build anyway.

Directed by award-winning cinematographer Errol Webber, The King of Trash follows David Duong from the fall of Saigon in 1975 to the open sea, where his family faced hunger, fear, and uncertainty with no promise they would survive. Like many Vietnamese refugees, they carried the pain of leaving home, the weight of starting over, and the quiet hope that life could still be rebuilt.

For David Duong, survival was only the beginning.

In America, he did not inherit opportunity. He created it through discipline, sacrifice, and years of work that few people ever saw. From those beginnings, the Duong family built California Waste Solutions in Oakland and later Vietnam Waste Solutions in Ho Chi Minh City, creating a family-owned environmental services legacy that now reaches across two countries.

The King of Trash looks beyond the public image of business success. It shows the private cost behind the achievement, the long days, the family sacrifices, the pressure of responsibility, and the belief that a company should do more than make a living. It should serve people. It should create jobs. It should improve communities. It should carry a family’s values into the future.

At the center of the film is not only a businessman, but a father and refugee who turned loss into duty. The documentary shows how David Duong’s life became tied to family, work, environmental responsibility, and community service. His story reflects a generation of immigrants who rarely spoke about their pain, but showed their strength through what they built.

Across the six-city screening tour, thousands of audiences have responded with emotion because the film does not present success as something easy or polished. It presents success as something earned through hardship, patience, and the willingness to continue when there is no guarantee of recognition.

Many attendees described the film as deeply personal, especially for refugee and immigrant families who saw parts of their own history reflected on screen. Others connected with its broader message about family, forgiveness, resilience, and the responsibility that comes with achievement.

“This film is powerful because it does not only ask people to look at what David Duong built,” said a representative of the production team. “It asks people to understand what he survived, what his family carried, and why those legacy matters.”

The documentary has also connected with business leaders and civic audiences because it presents a different kind of American success story. It is not only about growth, expansion, or recognition. It is about building a family-owned company with roots in service, responsibility, and long-term commitment to the communities it serves.

As The King of Trash moves to Washington, D.C. on June 11 in the United States Navy Memorial, followed by Orlando on June 14, the film enters its final private tour stops before broader release. These screenings will bring the documentary to new audiences, including community leaders, civic leaders, cultural organizations, business leaders, and families.

The film’s journey across the country has shown that David Duong’s story is not limited to one community. It speaks to anyone who has known struggle, carried family responsibility, or tried to build something meaningful from difficult beginnings.

As the team prepares for wider distribution, The King of Trash continues to stand as a story of survival, family, forgiveness, work, and service. It is a reminder that legacy is not built in one moment. It is built over a lifetime, through the choices people make after they have survived the storm.

Upcoming Screening Events

Washington, D.C.:

• Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
• Time: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM EDT
• Location: United States Navy Memorial
• 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

Orlando, Florida:

• Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026
• Time: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM EDT
• Location: Regal Winter Park Village Stadium
• 510 N Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

About The King of Trash

"The King of Trash" is a feature-length documentary directed by award-winning cinematographer Errol Webber. The film tells the true story of David Duong and the Duong family, Vietnamese refugees who survived the fall of Saigon, rebuilt their lives in America, and founded California Waste Solutions and Vietnam Waste Solutions. The documentary has completed a six-city private screening tour across the United States and is continuing toward wider distribution. For media inquiries or event information, contact info@thekingoftrash.us or visit www.thekingoftrash.us.

Media Contact

Wendy Nguyen
info@thekingoftrash.com

Lazarev.agency, an AI-native digital product design agency headquartered in San Francisco, became a winner at the 30th Annual Webby Awards in the AI – Visual Design category for Elva – AI art director, a voice-first AI video editor designed end to end by the agency. The win sits inside the Webbys' newly expanded suite of dedicated AI categories, introduced for the 30th edition to reflect how comprehensively AI has reshaped consumer software since the prior cycle.

Elva - AI art director win is Lazarev.agency's third consecutive year of Webby recognition for AI products. The agency was previously recognized for Accern at the 28th Webbys in 2024 (Features & Design – Best Homepage) and for VT News at the 29th Webbys in 2025 (Responsible Technology – Responsible Information).

"Three Webby cycles in a row. Three different AI products. Three different categories. The Webby Academy and the public have both said the same thing about how we design AI — and that is what we set out to be measured on when we started to design the first AI products in 2017," said Kirill Lazarev, CEO and founder of Lazarev.agency.

Elva is a voice-first AI video editor for mobile. Users speak a request — for example, "make a travel reel from last weekend" — and Elva selects clips from the camera roll, cuts the edit to rhythm, scores it to a mood, and produces a social-ready video. Lazarev.agency delivered the full product system, including brand identity, AI persona, agentic conversation design, voice-first in-app UX, an intelligent in-view finder camera, onboarding and App Store optimization, and a context-aware monetization layer.

Lazarev.agency has been practicing AI product design since 2017, when "AI-native" had not yet entered the industry vocabulary. The agency has shipped over 30 AI products and more than 600 total digital product design engagements across fintech, logistics, media, edtech, and AI / ML, with clients backed by Tribe Capital, Allianz Strategic Ventures, Fusion Fund, Mighty Capital, Plug and Play Ventures, 10X Capital, Viaduct Ventures, TMT Investments, and Evolution Ventures. Named clients include Peel (acquired by Shopify), AspenTech (a part of Emerson Electric; NYSE: EMR), Nimble (a 3PL robotics unicorn), AfroTech (the largest community of Black tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors), Blade (a travel-industry unicorn, now: Strata Critical Medical, Inc; NASDAQ: SRTA), Unico Logistics, and more.

About Lazarev.agency

Lazarev.agency is an AI-native digital product design agency headquartered in San Francisco. Since 2015, the agency has shipped more than 600 digital products, including over 30 AI products, for founders and product leaders at venture-backed startups, scaleups, and enterprise platforms. Lazarev.agency has been recognized at three consecutive Webby cycles for AI product design — Accern (2024), VT News (2025), and Elva – AI art director (2026) — with the 2026 win in the AI – Visual Design category at the 30th Annual Webby Awards. Engagements typically run four to eight months, on time-and-materials billing. Service programs include AI product launch, AI and data product UX redesign, AI UX patterns, generative AI design systems, and brand and website demos for AI products. Learn more at lazarev.agency.

About The Webby Awards

The Webby Awards have honored excellence on the internet since 1996, and have been called "the Internet's highest honor" by The New York Times. The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences receives more than 13,000 entries each year from more than 70 countries. The 2026 AI category honorees include Anthropic's Claude Code (Best Product or Service, AI Features & Innovation), Google Gemini 3 (Best AI Technical Achievement), Waymo Safety Hub (Best Responsible AI Implementation), Flow (Creative Tools, AI Experiences & Applications), and Lazarev.agency's Elva – AI art director (Best Visual Design for AI). For more information, visit www.webbyawards.com.

Media Contact

Yuliia Holomedova
Head of Content, Lazarev.agency
y.holomedova@lazarev.agency

Nearly a year after the FDA recommended in July 2025 that the DEA schedule synthetic 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) — drawing a clear line between concentrated synthetics and natural kratom plant products — there is still no federal legislation, guidance, or coherent policy to back it up, leaving state legislators confused and pursuing conflicting directives. The American Kratom Association (AKA) will host a Congressional Briefing to cut through that confusion on one of the fastest growing and most misunderstood products in America. Reporters are invited to attend, hear directly from leading scientists and policy experts, and arrange interviews.

The briefing arrives at a pivotal moment: the FDA’s distinction between synthetic 7-OH and the natural kratom plant has yet to be matched by clear federal action, even as synthetic products marketed to look like natural kratom proliferate. AKA experts will explain what the scheduling recommendation does and does not target, and how proposed federal legislation would close the regulatory gaps that leave both consumers and the states without a consistent framework.

• Who: The American Kratom Association (AKA), joined by expert presenters in kratom science, pharmacology, and public policy.
• What: 2026 Congressional Briefing on FDA 7-OH Action, Kratom, and Consumer Protection Legislation — an on-the-record briefing for members of Congress, staff, stakeholders, and media.
• When: Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET.
• Where: Capitol Visitor Center, Room HVC 201, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

Why It Matters

Kratom is used by an estimated 20 million Americans, yet no federal framework governs how it is manufactured and sold. This briefing will:

• Clarify the distinction between natural kratom and concentrated, synthetic 7-OH products.
• Explain the Federal Kratom Consumer Protection Act — how it would complement FDA and DEA activity, close regulatory gaps, and establish robust consumer protections.
• Provide scientific and policy context on a nuanced issue affecting millions of consumers, including many veterans.

Expert presenters will detail how a balanced regulatory framework can protect public safety while preserving consumer access to natural kratom products.

For Reporters

• Interviews: Subject-matter experts and AKA policy leadership will be available for one-on-one interviews before and after the briefing. Advance interviews can be arranged on request.
• B-roll / visuals: Briefing presentations and supporting materials will be available to credentialed media.
• Credentials: Access to the Capitol Visitor Center requires valid press credentials. Reporters without a Congressional press pass should contact AKA in advance to coordinate entry.
• RSVP: Media are asked to RSVP to confirm attendance and receive logistical details. Walk-ups welcome as space allows.

About American Kratom Association (AKA)

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

Media Contact

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

REMEVi Health, a bilingual telehealth platform, today launched nationwide, providing GLP-1 weight-loss care and provider-prescribed peptide and injectable therapies to English- and Spanish-speaking patients across the United States. Built to operate fully in both languages from the ground up, REMEVi delivers every step of care — from the medical intake form to provider consultations to medication instructions — in English and Spanish, addressing a long-standing gap in U.S. telehealth for the country's largest non-English-speaking population.

A gap in U.S. healthcare

The United States is home to more than 62 million Hispanic and Latino residents, and roughly 42 million people speak Spanish at home — the largest non-English language group in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet most major telehealth platforms were built in English and, at best, partially translated into Spanish afterward. The consequences are well documented: studies of U.S. hospitals have found that patients with limited English proficiency experience adverse events more often than English-proficient patients, and that those events are more likely to result in physical harm. Language barriers in healthcare are not an inconvenience — they are a measurable patient-safety problem.

Built by founders who lived the problem

REMEVi Health was co-founded by Blake Chapman and Danai Del Carmen Chapman, a husband-and-wife team who experienced the gap firsthand. Danai, a native Spanish speaker, went through her own weight-management treatment as a patient and found that the medication itself was rarely the hardest part — making sense of appointments, instructions, and decisions about her own body in a second language was.

"I was making decisions about my own health while still translating English in my head," said Danai Del Carmen Chapman, co-founder of REMEVi. "Medicine should not require translation. We built REMEVi so that no patient has to choose between getting care and fully understanding it."

Bilingual at every touchpoint

Unlike platforms that rely on automatic translation, REMEVi Health was designed bilingual at every touchpoint. Its intake system, patient portal, clinical summaries, medication instructions, and care-coordinator support were all built in English and Spanish at the same time. Every patient case is reviewed by a board-certified, state-licensed provider — a physician (MD) or nurse practitioner — and bilingual care coordinators respond to patients within a two-hour window.

Care delivered in both languages

REMEVi Health offers two areas of care — GLP-1 weight-loss programs and provider-prescribed peptide and injectable therapies — each delivered fully in English and Spanish, from the first intake question through ongoing follow-up. Any prescription is issued only after an individual medical evaluation by a licensed provider, and only when that provider determines it is clinically appropriate for the patient. Where a program involves compounded medication, those preparations are made by state-licensed pharmacies for the individual patient. Full program details and transparent pricing are published on the company's website.

Compliance built in

REMEVi Health is certified by LegitScript — the verification standard for online healthcare recognized by Google, Microsoft, and Meta — and operates on HIPAA-compliant infrastructure. The company does not use artificial intelligence to make prescribing decisions; every prescription is issued by a licensed clinician after an individual medical review.

"We built REMEVi bilingual from the first line of code — Spanish is not a translation layer, it is how the platform was designed," said Blake Chapman, co-founder of REMEVi Health. "We also decided early that compliance would not be an afterthought. We completed LegitScript certification before opening to patients, because trust has to be earned before the first appointment, not after."

Availability

REMEVi Health is available now to patients in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Patients can check their eligibility through a free bilingual assessment at remevihealth.com.

About REMEVi Health

REMEVi Health is a bilingual telehealth platform providing GLP-1 weight-loss care and provider-prescribed peptide and injectable therapies to English- and Spanish-speaking patients across the United States. Founded in 2026 and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, REMEVi Health was built to deliver every step of care equally in English and Spanish, pairing board-certified, state-licensed providers (physicians and nurse practitioners) with bilingual care coordinators. REMEVi Health is LegitScript-certified and HIPAA-compliant. The company's tagline — "Your Health. Your Terms." / "Tu Salud. Tus Reglas." — reflects its focus on patient empowerment and accessible, culturally competent care. Learn more at remevihealth.com.

Disclaimer

REMEVi Health connects patients with licensed healthcare providers and is not a pharmacy or a drug manufacturer. Compounded medications are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Prescription treatments are available only if a licensed provider determines they are appropriate following a medical evaluation; not all patients will be eligible. Individual results vary, and no specific health outcome is guaranteed. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Ozempic® and Wegovy® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S; Mounjaro® and Zepbound® are registered trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company. REMEVi is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly.

Media Contact

Blake Chapman
Founder, REMEVi Health
press@remevihealth.com
+1 702-352-4746

Agnes AI, a Singapore-headquartered artificial intelligence model company that develops and trains its own full-modality foundation models entirely in-house, today unveiled three major milestones in a single announcement: it has become the first Singapore-born AI model company to be listed on the Artificial Analysis global benchmark leaderboard with a top 10 AI lab placement; it is opening free access to its complete model suite for a limited period; and it is joining Singapore's National AI Impact Program in partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and AI Singapore, contributing its proprietary AI models to support the nationwide upskilling of 40,000 technology professionals.

These announcements arrive as Agnes AI continues to extend its global benchmark presence across each of its three model categories — text, image, and video — on two of the most closely watched independent evaluation platforms in the international AI community: Claw-Eval and Artificial Analysis.

Singapore's First AI Lab on the Artificial Analysis Global Leaderboard

Agnes AI is the first Singapore-born AI model company to appear on the Artificial Analysis global benchmark leaderboard — and has now reached global top 10 AI lab placements across three distinct model categories: Agnes-2.0-Flash for text and agentic capability on Claw-Eval, Agnes-Image-2.0-Flash for image editing on Artificial Analysis, and Agnes-Video-V2.0 for video generation on Artificial Analysis.

The standings position Agnes AI alongside AI laboratories from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, KlingAI, ByteDance, and Alibaba — companies that represent some of the largest AI research and development investments in the world. Agnes AI reached these results with models conceived, built, and trained in Singapore, and without any reliance on third-party open-source frameworks 

• Claw-Eval (text/agentic): Agnes-2.0-Flash ranks in the global top 10 AI labs, ahead of Gemini and MiniMax: claw-eval.github.io 
• Artificial Analysis (image): Agnes-Image-2.0-Flash ranks in the global top 10 AI labs for image editing, evaluated through independent blind review: artificialanalysis.ai/image/leaderboard/editing 
• Artificial Analysis (video): Agnes-Video-V2.0 ranks in the global top 10 AI labs for video generation — the first Singapore AI model company to appear on this leaderboard: artificialanalysis.ai/video/leaderboard/image-to-video

"Singapore's National AI Strategy 2.0 set out a clear ambition: that Singapore should be a builder of AI, not merely an adopter of it. These benchmark results are evidence that this ambition is being realised. Agnes AI was built here, trained here, and is now recognised among the world's top 10 AI labs — competing on equal terms with the largest labs globally. Our goal has always been to build AI that is globally competitive, openly accessible, and independent of any single power or ecosystem. We are just getting started," said Bruce Yang, CEO, Agnes AI.

Joining Singapore’s National AI Impact Program with IMDA and AI Singapore

Agnes AI has joined Singapore's National AI Impact Program, a government-backed initiative led by IMDA together with AI Singapore, designed to upskill 40,000 technology professionals across the country. As part of this partnership, Agnes AI contributes its proprietary AI models to the programme, giving participants direct, hands-on access to frontier-level generative AI capabilities developed within Singapore.

The partnership was unveiled at an official event attended by Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, a signal of the Singapore government's continued commitment to building a nationally competitive AI ecosystem grounded in homegrown technology. Having trained its models at the National University of Singapore and operating from a Singapore headquarters, Agnes AI's participation underlines how locally built AI can directly contribute to advancing the country's AI ambitions.

Agnes AI's role in the programme reflects its founding mission of AI inclusion and parity: ensuring that access to advanced AI capabilities is not reserved for large enterprises or well-funded teams, but is opened up to professionals across Singapore's broader technology sector.

Free Access Now Available — The Real Models, Not a Demo

Agnes AI is opening free access to its full model suite for a limited period, including Agnes-2.0-Flash (text), Agnes-Image-2.0-Flash (image), and Agnes-Video-V2.0 (video generation). This is not a stripped-down trial or a lesser model. These are the same models that rank in the global top 10 AI labs on independent international benchmarks.

Most free AI tiers offer access to limited versions of lesser models. Agnes AI is making its full production suite available at no cost, because the company believes frontier AI should be accessible to everyone — not just teams with the largest budgets. Access is available directly at platform.agnes-ai.com with no subscription required during the free access period.

Top-10 Performance at a Fraction of Market Price

Agnes AI's benchmark rankings are paired with pricing that sits significantly below market rate across all three model categories.

• Agnes-2.0-Flash (text): US$0.03 per million input tokens and US$0.15 per million output tokens — approximately half the cost of DeepSeek-V4 Flash.
• Agnes-Image-2.0-Flash (image): US$3.00 per 1,000 images — set against US$211.00 per 1,000 images for OpenAI's GPT Image 2 at high quality.
• Agnes-Video-V2.0 (video): US$0.30 per minute — less than one-tenth of the cost of other top-tier video models, which range between US$2.00 and US$30.00 per minute.

Across text, image, and video, Agnes AI delivers global top 10 AI lab performance at less than one-tenth the cost of comparable models — a pricing position the company describes as a structural reset of what frontier AI should cost.

Developed, trained, and deployed in Singapore, Agnes AI is proof that frontier AI does not have to be expensive or imported. Built in Singapore. Recognised globally.

About Agnes AI

Agnes AI is a Singapore-based artificial intelligence model company building proprietary full-modality foundation models in-house across text, image, and video generation. Guided by its mission of AI inclusion, parity, and neutrality, Agnes AI develops scalable AI solutions for users, developers, and organisations worldwide. Agnes AI is the first Singapore-born AI model company to be listed on the Artificial Analysis global benchmark leaderboard. For more information, visit agnes-ai.com.

About IMDA

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) develops and regulates Singapore's infocomm media sector, driving innovation and talent for a vibrant and inclusive digital future.

About AI Singapore

AI Singapore is a national AI programme that builds deep AI capabilities in Singapore, creating value-generating AI projects that can be adopted by industry, and developing the AI talent pipeline.

Media Contact

Victoria Agatha
agnes@sapiens-ai.io

versus, a regulated prediction market and news platform, launched in the United Kingdom and Canada this week, becoming the first such service licensed for mainstream consumers and marking an attempt to bring a category long dominated by offshore, cryptocurrency-based operators into the regulated market.

The platform lets users take real-money positions on the outcomes of real-world events across politics, culture, finance and sport. It is built natively for iOS and Android and is available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. It accepts Apple Pay, Mastercard and Visa debit cards, and e-wallets. Unlike the largest prediction market platforms by global volume, which operate offshore and require users to transact in cryptocurrency, versus is fiat-based and verifies the identity of every user.

versus combines the markets with a news product the company says is the first of its kind: a free, fully ad-free news service. An in-house team verifies stories before publication, hand-curated commentary from X and Reddit appears alongside each one, and a proprietary assistant called versus AI answers user questions about a given story using the most recent live data, sometimes not even written in any article yet. The platform also features versus Awards and versus Leaderboards that recognise the users with the strongest track records, turning accurate forecasting into a visible, competitive pursuit. The company says the design lets users read about an event, see the public reaction to it, research it and take a position on its outcome within a single application.

“The news and the markets were always two halves of the same thing,” said David Worldorf, the company’s founder and chief executive. “People read about an event and form a view. Until now they had to go elsewhere to act on it, usually offshore, usually after buying cryptocurrency first. versus puts the reading, the research and the decision in one regulated place, and you pay with Apple Pay like you would for anything else.”

The category’s best-known platforms, Polymarket and Kalshi, are restricted by regulators from serving users in the United Kingdom and Canada, where neither is licensed. versus enters those markets as the licensed alternative.

The company is launching in the United Kingdom, Canada and Latin America, and says the combination of its licences gives it the broadest jurisdictional footprint of any prediction market operator, extending also to parts of Europe. versus holds operating licences from the U.K. Gambling Commission (000-101143-R-342325-001) and the Tobique Gaming Commission, and is, in addition, currently pre-approved at Tobique for further markets. The platform is operated by WORLDORF Ventures LLC, which markets and runs the product under versus Inc. The company says it raised its first closed investment round at a valuation of $10.6 million.

Worldorf says the platform is intended to be more than a venue for placing predictions. “We are not building an app whose only purpose is to predict on outcomes,” he said. “versus is a place of debates and minds. We want to foster curiosity, sharpen people’s skills, offer genuine entertainment, and become a global, verified news app that people trust. The prediction market is one layer of that, not the whole point.”

Worldorf says two years of building the markets taught the company how to design against the unfairness that affects the category. versus screens strictly for insider trading, blocks automated and bot activity, and verifies every participant. The aim, he says, is to move the platform away from the widely cited industry figure that around 90% of prediction market and trading-app users lose money over time. The company plans to introduce a free educational programme, versus Academy, eight weeks after launch, built with industry experts and focused on forecasting and decision-making.

“An operator running a transparent, fair market benefits when its users are better informed, not worse,” he said. “That figure, that almost everyone loses, is the industry’s quiet shame. We built versus to be the opposite of it.”

For Worldorf, the project is also a statement about how products should be built. “versus is my homage to product engineering,” he said. “It is built on the philosophy Steve Jobs stood for. A product should not only create joy and progress for the people who use it. It should inspire entire industries beyond its own to build better products. That is the standard I hold versus to.”

versus is available now in the United Kingdom and Canada on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

About versus

versus is a regulated prediction market and free ad-free news platform launching in the United Kingdom, Canada and Latin America in 2026, with licensing that also covers parts of Europe. Within a single native application for iOS and Android, it combines verified news, hand-curated commentary from X and Reddit, a proprietary artificial intelligence assistant called versus AI, versus Awards and versus Leaderboards, and real-money prediction markets across politics, culture, finance and sport. Founded in 2024 and built single-handedly by 28-year-old David Worldorf, the platform is operated by WORLDORF Ventures LLC, headquartered in Dubai, and marketed and run under versus Inc. versus holds a UK Gambling Commission operating licence (000-101143-R-342325-001) and a Tobique Gaming Commission licence. For more information, visit www.versusapp.com.

Disclaimer

Prediction markets involve financial risk and may not be suitable for all users. Users should only participate with funds they can afford to lose. Availability of services may vary by jurisdiction and is subject to local laws and regulatory requirements. versus operates under applicable licences in approved markets only. Nothing in this release constitutes financial, investment or legal advice. Past performance, rankings or forecasting accuracy do not guarantee future results.

Media Contact

David Worldorf
Founder and CEO, versus Inc.
press@versusapp.com

OpenWeb, the community engine of the open internet, today announced that Footballco, the world’s largest digital football culture and media company and home of GOAL, has expanded its partnership with OpenWeb through 2028. The multi-year agreement, now in its third year, deepens Footballco’s investment in owned fan communities as the 2026 World Cup approaches, the most anticipated soccer event in a generation and the first to be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The partnership brings OpenWeb’s community engagement technology to GOAL’s global audience of passionate football fans, enabling real-time discussion, debate, and connection directly on Footballco’s owned properties. Rather than ceding fan conversation to social platforms, Footballco is doubling down on building community and the first-party audience relationships that come with it within its own ecosystem.

With an estimated 6 billion people, roughly 73% of the world's population, expected to engage with the 2026 World Cup through various media, with digital, streaming, and social platforms, sports publishers face a pivotal moment where they need to capture the surge in attention and convert it into lasting audience relationships. Footballco’s bet on community is a strategic move to ensure GOAL becomes the destination for the world’s most passionate football fans.

"GOAL has built one of the most passionate sports audiences in the world, and our work together is focused on making sure Footballco owns that relationship directly. By giving fans a place to debate, connect, and engage right on their own properties, we're helping Footballco turn World Cup momentum into a community that compounds long after the tournament ends," said Haim Sasson, President of OpenWeb. He continued “Communities built around a passion for sports and sports fandoms are very powerful. We are seeing a ton of momentum in this category and believe in the opportunity.” 

OpenWeb’s community product suite, Community Core, gives Footballco’s editorial team real-time community intelligence such as topic momentum, engagement quality, and audience behavior to inform programming and advertising decisions. Aida, OpenWeb’s AI-assisted, brand-safe moderation tool ensures that as fan conversation scales around major match moments, the community remains a trusted environment for both the fans and advertising partners.

By hosting fan communities on its own properties, Footballco gains access to exclusive, engagement-based inventory and rich audience signals. This is a significant advantage at a time when AI-generated content fragments audience attention and erodes referral traffic and the deprecation of third-party identifiers has made owned audience relationships the most durable currency in digital media.

“At Footballco, we focus on fulfilling fans’ cravings outside the 90 minutes. For some, it means nurturing a sense of belonging, through communities and debates — whether that’s our latest player match ratings or Arsenal’s critical moments to end a 22-year title drought. It’s why we’re excited to work with OpenWeb in giving fans a best-in-class tech stack to build community. In turn, we expect to see benefits across our global family of web, app and social brands, increasing time-spent, engagement and our own fan data set,” said Jaune Delgado, CEO

The partnership reflects a broader shift among premium sports publishers moving beyond passive content distribution toward active community building as a core growth lever. OpenWeb works with more than 5,000 top-tier publishers globally, including CNN, New York Post, and Wall Street Journal, helping partners build high-value audience communities that drive registration, engagement, and monetization.

“We are focused on building deeper, more meaningful fan relationships across our global family of brands. By integrating OpenWeb’s commenting and community solutions, we are able to supercharge our 500 million-plus Footballco IDs, with declared user data signals from these touchpoints. This deeper and richer understanding of fan interests on and off the pitch increases loyalty and our ability to segment audiences. It bolsters our unique proposition in the market when it comes to reaching football fans globally by targeting their interests, passions and propensity to convert into customers,” said Vanessa Horgan, SVP Revenue Operations.

About OpenWeb

OpenWeb is the community engine of the open internet. Our integrated system turns passive audiences into engaged communities around trusted voices and content, delivering direct audience relationships and insights, loyalty, and revenue for publishers, brands, and advertisers. More than 150 million monthly active users participate across a network of 5,000 premium publisher properties powered by real human connection. Founded in 2015, OpenWeb has offices in New York, Tel Aviv, Kyiv, London, and Paris. The company is backed by leading investors, including Insight Partners, Georgian, Entrée Capital, The New York Times, Samsung Next, Dentsu, and ScaleUp. For more information, visit www.openweb.com.

About Footballco

Footballco, the world's leading football culture and media company, operates five publishers Voetbalzone, Calciomercato, Kooora Spox, and GOAL — the world's largest football publisher. Through this portfolio, Footballco reaches more than 640m football fans a month publishing across web, apps, email, social media, podcasts, video, and more. Footballco is majority-owned by Integrated Media Company (IMC), an affiliate of US private equity giant TPG. DAZN Group retains a minority stake. For more information, visit www.footballco.com.

Media Contact

Kara Silverman
kara@variousand.com

GableGotwals, a full-service law firm with offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Houston, has selected Laurel as its AI time platform, deploying the platform across 120 timekeepers firmwide.

After a thorough evaluation, GableGotwals chose Laurel as the platform best positioned to automate time capture, improve activity code accuracy, and reduce revenue loss from incomplete or delayed entries. Central to the decision was Laurel's ability to classify work, generate compliant narratives, and give leadership real-time visibility into how time is spent across matters and clients.

“Our evaluation was deliberate and thorough. As we continue investing in innovation across the firm, we sought an AI-powered platform that could transform the traditionally burdensome task of timekeeping into a smarter, more strategic process. We needed a platform that could seamlessly integrate into the way our attorneys work, capture time with great accuracy, and deliver meaningful insight into how legal services are performed. Laurel stood out for the strength of its AI, the quality of the team, and the clarity of the value it delivers,” said John Dale, Chairman and CEO at GableGotwals.

“GableGotwals ran a rigorous evaluation and made a decisive choice. Committing to a full firmwide deployment across all 120 timekeepers from day one is exactly what separates the firms that extract real value from AI from those still experimenting. We are proud to partner with one of Oklahoma and Texas’s most respected firms as they continue to build a data-driven foundation for the next generation of legal practice,” said Emil Dyrvig, Chief Revenue Officer at Laurel. 

About Laurel

Laurel is the world’s first AI-native work intelligence platform built for professional services. The platform’s AI transforms how firms capture, classify, and optimize their most valuable resource: time. By automating timekeeping and ensuring narrative compliance with client billing guidelines and outside counsel guidelines, Laurel helps firms capture billable work accurately and submit time that meets the standards clients demand. Connecting time data to business outcomes, Laurel enables many of the world’s leading law, accounting, and consulting firms to reduce write-downs, improve realization rates, and make data-driven decisions about how their people and matters are performing. For more information, visit www.laurel.ai.

About GableGotwals

GableGotwals is a full-service law firm with more than 100 attorneys and 70 additional business professionals across offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Houston. The firm advises clients across more than 25 practice areas, including energy, corporate, insurance defense, litigation, real estate, and labor and employment, drawing on deep regional expertise in Oklahoma and Texas. GableGotwals has been recognized as a top tier law firm by Chambers & Partners, IFLR1000, Benchmark Litigation, and Best Lawyers. For more information, visit www.gablelaw.com.

Media Contact

Alexa Guerra
alexa@laurel.ai

Leading international law firm Allens is rolling out Laurel as a firmwide platform for recording time and responding to specific client billing requirements.

Allens selected Laurel following a thorough and rigorous evaluation, identifying it as the platform best positioned to automate time capture, improve billing accuracy, and deliver the analytical insights their clients require. The selection is a further demonstration of the firm’s commitment to transformation and AI-driven innovation.

Bill Tanner, Chief Information Officer at Allens, said: “Our digital transformation strategy is grounded in a clear ambition: to deliver higher value insights and efficiency when it matters most. With Laurel, we're harnessing AI to improve how client requirements are handled in the billing process and enhance their overall experience with Allens. Addressing these considerations earlier supports better outcomes for both our people and our clients.”

Ryan Alshak, CEO at Laurel, said: “Allens has a clear vision for what the modern law firm looks like, and their decision to deploy Laurel firmwide reflects that focus. We’re proud to support their rollout and the improvements they’re driving in client experience and time capture.”

About Laurel

Laurel is the world’s first AI-native work intelligence platform built for professional services. The platform’s AI transforms how firms capture, classify, and optimize their most valuable resource: time. By automating timekeeping and ensuring narrative compliance with client billing guidelines and outside counsel guidelines, Laurel helps firms capture billable work accurately and submit time that meets the standards clients demand. Connecting time data to business outcomes, Laurel enables many of the world’s leading law, accounting, and consulting firms to reduce write-downs, improve realization rates, and make data-driven decisions about how their people and matters are performing. For more information, visit www.laurel.ai.

About Allens

Allens is a leading international law firm, working with clients in the moments that shape their future. With 164 partners and approximately 1,700 professionals across offices in Brisbane, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Melbourne, Perth, Port Moresby, and Sydney, and a global network of 40 offices in 25 countries through its integrated alliance with Linklaters, Allens works with clients on their most complex challenges. To learn more, visit www.allens.com.au.

Media Contact

Alexa Guerra
alexa@laurel.ai

KH Marque has been recognized with a 2026 Global Recognition Award for converting the global Green Tracker supply chain from a largely unstructured waste stream into a traceable, compliance-ready feedstock network that directly powers the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (RD), earning recognition across the categories of Revenue Growth, Innovation, Startup Of The Year, and Leadership.

Founded in 2021 and now operating across 11 countries, KH Marque has built a proprietary purification infrastructure and launched the Green Tracker. This industry-first platform converts waste oil collection into a fully traceable, carbon-optimized asset for the world's largest energy refiners. The company enables an 88% to 93% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil-based feedstocks, measured at the point of end use by refiners and fuel operators supplying commercial airlines and major transportation networks.

Restructuring a Market That Lacked Infrastructure

Before KH Marque entered the market, the Used Cooking Oil collection was predominantly manual, documentation was inconsistent, and supply chains offered refiners limited visibility into feedstock origin, quality, or carbon credentials. KH Marque addressed these structural gaps by developing both the physical purification infrastructure and the digital tracking layer needed to make Green Tracker a credible, scalable input for the clean energy sector.

The Green Tracker represents a foundational change in how the biofuel feedstock industry functions. It enables data collection to be converted into compliance-ready records that meet the requirements of major international energy refiners. This capability did not exist at this scale before KH Marque built it. The platform brought traceability and regulatory accountability to a market that had historically operated without either.

During the Global Recognition Award evaluation, KH Marque received the highest available ratings across every innovation metric assessed, including novelty, market impact, technological advancement, adoption rate, patent portfolio strength, and disruption of existing industry patterns. The evaluation applied the Rasch model, a psychometric measurement tool that constructs a linear scale across categories to enable consistent comparisons across applicants. KH Marque's uniform top performance across all dimensions reflected comprehensive achievement rather than strength in isolated areas.

Operating at Scale Across 11 Countries

KH Marque manages an extensive network of collection and purification hubs across 11 nations. This logistical undertaking would challenge organizations far older and better resourced than a company founded five years ago. Sustaining consistent quality and regulatory compliance across that footprint requires coordinated operations in multiple jurisdictions, each with its own standards and reporting requirements.

The company's ability to maintain carbon accountability across this multinational network has drawn coverage from Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, and MSN Finance. Where most competitors in the biofuel feedstock sector continue to operate within single-market models, KH Marque designed its supply chain for international scale from the outset, a structural decision that now gives it a measurable advantage as demand for traceable, low-carbon feedstocks continues to grow.

KH Marque's environmental contribution is independently verifiable. The 88 to 93 percent greenhouse gas reduction it enables is not a projected figure; it is measured at the point of end use, where Green Tracker-derived fuel directly powers the decarbonization efforts of airlines and freight operators working under increasingly stringent emissions targets.

Recognition Across Multiple Independent Platforms

KH Marque's performance has been assessed and recognized by multiple credible, competitive industry bodies. The company earned the Chief Trailblazer of the Year distinction at the S&P Global Energy Awards 2025, reached the finalist stage for SME of the Year at the Reuters Global Sustainability Awards 2025, and received a Gold Award at the 2025 Dun & Bradstreet Singapore Business Eminence Awards. At the TITAN Business Awards, KH Marque claimed Platinum honors across four categories: Environment of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Sustainability Leader of the Year, and Net Zero Achievement of the Year.

Each of these programs applied independent judging criteria before conferring recognition. The consistency of KH Marque's results across different sectors and evaluation frameworks indicates that its performance holds up to external scrutiny, not simply to its own reporting.

Alex Sterling, a spokesperson for Global Recognition Awards, said: "KH Marque sets a clear standard for what world-class achievement looks like in this industry, having built something technically original while maintaining the operational rigor, leadership integrity, and
measurable climate impact that earned it a 2026 Global Recognition Award."

KH Marque's growth from a 2021 startup to a multi-national feedstock infrastructure company at the center of the global clean energy supply chain reflects what focused execution and deliberate system-building can produce and signals how much the broader industry is only beginning to catch up.

About Global Recognition Awards

Global Recognition Awards is an international organization that recognizes exceptional companies and individuals who have significantly contributed to their industry. For more information, visit globalrecognitionawards.org.

Media Contact

Alex Sterling
alex@globalrecognitionawards.org

3D Factory Korea (3DFK), a South Korean immersive-media company, today announced that its Saudi subsidiary, Vision Plus, has launched VisionX, an AI-powered digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising platform anchored by a Guinness World Records-certified projection display on Saudi Arabia's Al-Hada mountain. The platform went live in the city of Taif following approximately one month of pilot operations.

VisionX is built as a self-serve, open marketplace that allows advertisers — from large brands to small businesses and individuals — to book outdoor advertising directly through a single interface. This contrasts with the agency-led, closed transaction model common in the region's out-of-home advertising market.

The platform integrates an AI engine that automates the advertising workflow, including a recommendation system that optimizes pricing and placement in real time, a tool that generates ad creative from text and image inputs, and a moderation system that screens content before broadcast. 

VisionX's anchor asset is a permanent media façade installed on Al-Hada mountain at an altitude of 1,737.5 meters. Guinness World Records certified the projection-mapping display in April as the highest-altitude permanent installation of its kind, and Vision Plus held a certificate presentation ceremony in Taif on April 22.

“Since the Al-Hada display received its Guinness certification, we have seen growing interest from advertisers across the GCC,” said Brian Oh, Chief Executive Officer of 3D Factory Korea. “This launch is not a one-off media event but a decision to build sustainable digital infrastructure in the Middle East's DOOH market.”

3DFK signed a 10-year exclusive outdoor-advertising concession with the Taif Municipality in 2024. VisionX consolidates the Al-Hada façade and more than 150 advertising screens across Taif into a single inventory, allowing advertisers to combine assets ranging from city streets to the mountaintop landmark within one campaign.

“The traditional outdoor-advertising market, centered on agencies, has had high barriers to entry,” Oh added. “VisionX gives everyone access to the same tools regardless of an advertiser's size, and that is why we chose an open platform over a closed sales structure.”

The company's Saudi business is aligned with Vision 2030, the kingdom's plan to diversify its economy and digitize tourism and media infrastructure. Taif, a highland resort city in western Saudi Arabia, is one of the kingdom's domestic-tourism destinations. Vision Plus positions the Al-Hada façade as a digital touchpoint for global brands seeking to reach consumers across the GCC and the wider Muslim world.

The VisionX launch represents the first phase of a plan to expand the platform into a global DOOH advertising exchange, where media owners worldwide can register and trade their own outdoor assets. The company aims to link regional advertising inventory across the GCC this year and to formally launch a global marketplace in 2027, using world-record landmark assets such as the Al-Hada façade as anchors.

About 3D Factory Korea

3D Factory Korea is a South Korea-based company specializing in projection mapping, immersive media, 3D hardware, and extended-reality (XR) content. Its Saudi subsidiary, Vision Plus (Ruyah Faidah), operates Gulf-region DOOH advertising and large-scale media assets under an exclusive concession with the Taif Municipality. For more information, visit 3dfglobal.com.

Media Contact

Jeong Hyeon-bin
Korea Communications Lead, 3D Factory Korea / Vision Plus
pr@vision-plus.net

McDonald Hopkins LLC, a national business advisory and corporate law firm founded in 1930, is deploying Laurel as its firmwide AI time platform across all 220 fee earners. The firm has offices in Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, and West Palm Beach.

McDonald Hopkins selected Laurel following a thorough evaluation, choosing it over established time and billing vendors. The firm identified Laurel as the platform best positioned to give attorneys their time back by automating time capture, enforce narrative compliance with client billing guidelines, and give leadership real-time visibility across practices, matters, and offices. McDonald Hopkins is partnering closely with Laurel's Customer Success & Implementation team to successfully deploy to all 220 timekeepers across its six-office network. 

With Laurel, attorneys will move from manual, end-of-day time entry to automated time capture that records and structures work as it happens, saving them time and allowing them to focus on what matters most: their clients. The platform connects time data to business outcomes, giving the firm the foundation to reduce write-downs, improve realization rates, and make better decisions about how the firm operates.

“We evaluated the market carefully and Laurel stood out for its ability to capture time automatically and increase the visibility we have been missing across our practices. Our attorneys invest real effort in their work, and it is important that every hour is captured accurately and structured in a way that meets client expectations. We are excited to get started,” said James Stief, Co-President at McDonald Hopkins.

“McDonald Hopkins ran a disciplined evaluation, chose the best platform, and committed to deploying it across all six offices from day one. That is what operationalizing AI looks like, and it is exactly what sets the leading firms apart. We are proud to partner with them and support their efforts to improve productivity and continue to grow profitably,” said Emil Dyrvig, Chief Revenue Officer at Laurel.

About Laurel

Laurel is the world’s first AI-native work intelligence platform built for professional services. The platform’s AI transforms how firms capture, classify, and optimize their most valuable resource: time. By automating timekeeping and ensuring narrative compliance with client billing guidelines and outside counsel guidelines, Laurel helps firms capture billable work accurately and submit time that meets the standards clients demand. Connecting time data to business outcomes, Laurel enables many of the world’s leading law, accounting, and consulting firms to reduce write-downs, improve realization rates, and make data-driven decisions about how their people and matters are performing. For more information, visit www.laurel.ai.

About McDonald Hopkins

McDonald Hopkins LLC is a national business advisory and corporate law firm founded in 1930. With more than 220 attorneys and professionals across six offices in Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, and West Palm Beach, the firm serves clients across industries including corporate and business law, litigation, labor and employment, taxation, data privacy and cybersecurity, and real estate. For more information, visit www.mcdonaldhopkins.com.

Media Contact

Alexa Guerra
alexa@laurel.ai

Pump.co, the free AI-powered platform for cloud savings, visibility, and security, is expanding its position in cloud cost optimization as companies face a new wave of spending pressure from AI inference, token usage, and multi-cloud infrastructure.

Pump helps companies reduce cloud spend across AWS, GCP, and Azure while giving teams a unified view of their infrastructure and AI costs in one place. The platform is completely free for customers. There are no platform fees, no percentage of savings, no contracts, no cancellation fees, and no minimum commitments. Cloud providers compensate Pump for helping customers stay optimized and efficient.

“Companies are being asked to build faster, adopt AI faster, and manage more infrastructure than ever, but the costs are becoming harder to understand,” said Spandana Nakka, CEO of Pump.co. “Pump was built to make that easier. We help teams lower their cloud and AI bills, see what they are spending, and make better infrastructure decisions without adding another vendor fee.”

Pump now supports companies representing more than $600 million in annual cloud spend across thousands of customers in 22 countries. The company reports average monthly savings of approximately 19%, with some customers saving up to 60%. Customer Butlr Technologies reduced its monthly AWS bill by more than $100,000 with Pump.

The platform has also earned recognition across the cloud and startup ecosystem. Forbes named Pump the “Costco of Cloud Compute.” Pump is backed by Y Combinator, holds Advanced Tier Partner status with AWS, GCP, and Azure, and is SOC 2 compliant and ISO 27001 certified. The company was also named #1 Product of the Day on Product Hunt at launch.

“Cloud cost optimization should not be expensive or difficult to adopt,” said Nakka. “If a company is already spending heavily on cloud infrastructure, the last thing it needs is another complicated tool that takes months to implement. Pump can onboard companies in under five minutes with read-only billing access, and customers can begin seeing savings opportunities almost immediately.”

Pump’s platform includes three core products. Pump Save automates cloud commitment purchasing with fully insured recommendations. Pump View consolidates spend data from AWS, GCP, Azure, and more than 20 integrations, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Datadog, Cursor, and ClickHouse. Pump Secure monitors infrastructure against more than 30 compliance frameworks, including SOC 2, HIPAA, and NIST.

One of Pump’s biggest differentiators is its uncapped commitment insurance. Every cloud commitment Pump recommends is fully insured. If a customer’s usage drops and a Reserved Instance or Savings Plan goes unused, Pump covers the remaining cost out of pocket. This removes the financial risk that often keeps companies from committing to cloud savings opportunities.

“We believe it should be impossible to lose money working with Pump,” said Nakka. “If we recommend a commitment, we stand behind it. That gives customers the confidence to capture savings without worrying that a change in usage will turn into a financial penalty.”

Pump operates only at the billing layer. It cannot access customer code, infrastructure, network traffic, or user data. For security-conscious companies, Pump also offers flexible onboarding options where customers do not have to join Pump’s AWS organization or provide their management account. This makes the platform accessible to enterprise and compliance-heavy teams that need savings without compromising control.

The company is also expanding deeper into AI cost optimization as inference spend becomes one of the fastest-growing and least understood expenses for technology companies. Businesses are now spending tens of thousands of dollars per month on AI usage through OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS Bedrock, and other providers, often without clear visibility into which products, teams, or workflows are driving those costs.

Pump helps companies save 20 to 40% on AI costs and is building tools to provide deeper visibility into token-level spend across major AI providers. Through AWS Bedrock routing and AI cost tracking, Pump is positioning itself as a single platform for managing both cloud and AI spend.

“AI costs are becoming the next cloud bill,” said Nakka. “Companies are moving quickly with AI, but many do not yet have the systems to understand what each model, feature, or workflow actually costs. Pump gives teams the visibility and savings tools they need before those costs become unmanageable.”

As Pump marks its three-year anniversary in April, the company is focused on helping startups, growth-stage companies, and technical teams reduce cloud and AI spend without slowing down product development.

“Pump exists because infrastructure should help companies grow, not quietly drain their budgets,” said Nakka. “Our goal is to give every team a clearer, faster, and safer way to manage the cost of building.”

About Pump.co

Pump is the free AI-powered platform for cloud savings, visibility, and security. Pump helps companies reduce cloud and AI spend by up to 60% across AWS, GCP, and Azure while providing a unified dashboard for tracking costs across 20+ integrations, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Datadog, and more. Backed by Y Combinator, Pump is an Advanced Tier Partner with AWS, GCP, and Azure, and supports companies representing over $600 million in annual cloud spend. Pump is headquartered in San Francisco. To learn more, visit www.pump.co.