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Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, and Levy Konigsberg, LLP announce the filing of another lawsuit on behalf of a fourth St. Ann’s student alleging sexual abuse against the Catholic Bishop of Chicago (aka the Archdiocese of Chicago) surrounding Fr. Keehan’s tenure at St. Ann’s Elementary School and Parish in Chicago. The complaint outlines Fr. Keehan’s extensive history of abusing minors, which began in 1967, shortly after his ordination. In 1993, the Archdiocese's Professional Fitness Review Board determined that there was at least one "credible" allegation of child sexual abuse involving Fr. Keehan, and concluded he posed too significant a danger to ever be left alone with any minors. Despite this finding, the Archdiocese allowed Fr. Keehan to continue his ministry at St. Ann’s School and Parish in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. During this time, Fr. Keehan served as Head Pastor, overseeing the elementary school and parish, which had approximately 300 children. Parents, parishioners, and teachers at St. Ann’s were never informed of Fr. Keehan history of abuse, and consequently he continued to prey upon unsuspecting minors. Fr. Keehan remained at St. Ann’s until the early 2000s, when he was eventually placed in the Cardinal Stritch Retreat, a facility where the Archdiocese placed many of its pedophile priests.

For decades, the Archdiocese misled the public, parishioners, and its own teachers and lay staff regarding the serious dangers children faced at Archdiocesan parochial schools and parishes by predatory priests. For example, in late 1992, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin and the Archdiocese’s Director of Legal Services informed media outlets, including the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune and the Catholic Reporter, that no priest who has ever engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor will ever return to parish ministry or any type of ministry that includes access to minors. At the time they made these statements to the public, they knew they were not true.

Plaintiff, now an adult, filed this case as John Doe 4 to protect his identity. He is the fourth former St. Ann student to file a lawsuit against the Archdiocese related to abuse perpetrated by Fr. Keehan at St. Ann’s. Plaintiff is the 8th known victim of abuse by Fr. Keehan. The Archdiocese failed to promptly report any allegations of abuse perpetrated by Fr. Keehan to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), law enforcement, or the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Currently, despite the number of victims who have come forward, Fr. Keehan is still a priest.

A history of Fr. Keehan’s assignment history within the Archdiocese is below, with notes in red regarding locations where there have been allegations of sexual abuse misconduct with minors.

Plaintiff is represented by Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC Founding Partners Martin D. Gould, Mike R. Grieco, Bryce T. Hensley, and Attorney Valerie A. Letko; and Levy Konigsberg, LLP Partners Jerome H. Block and Audrey P. Raphael.

"This case is every parent’s and child’s worst nightmare. The Archdiocese allowed a priest they knew had sexually abused children to run an entire elementary school and parish, where he had essentially unlimited, unsupervised access to children. Keehan was instructing the Principal and teachers to instruct children to leave class to ‘help’ him in the Church or rectory, where he would sexually abuse them and then send them back to class. The Archdiocese never warned any of the parents, students, or teachers about Fr. Keehan, and instead, allowed the school to continue to teach the children that this dangerous predator was ‘Christ’s representative on earth’ and their and path to salvation," said SGGH Founding Partner Martin D. Gould.

"Sexual abuse has a devastating lifelong impact on victims continuing from childhood through adulthood destroying lives and families. Our clients trusted the Archdiocese to protect them and the Archdiocese failed. We are immensely proud of the courage our clients demonstrate in coming forward and speaking out against their abusers, including the clergy," said LK Partner Audrey P. Raphael.

If you are a former student, altar server, or parishioner who experienced sexual abuse by Fr. Jack Keehan or within the Archdiocese of Chicago, or have any helpful information, please contact Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC (justice@SGGHLaw.com; www.sgghlaw.com) to discuss your legal rights.

For media inquiries, please contact Lynn Smith at lynn@lynnsmithtv.com.

Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley is a boutique national personal injury firm dedicated to advocating for victims of abuse and catastrophic injuries in high-stakes litigation. We pride ourselves on being Innovators of Law and Providers of Justice. Our attorneys have litigated and won cases nationwide, representing thousands of individuals, including hundreds of survivors of rape, sexual assault, and childhood sexual abuse in many of the highest profile abuse cases across the country. These cases include claims against institutions such as University of Michigan (Dr. Robert Anderson), Michigan State University (Dr. Larry Nasser), professional sports teams, Jeffrey Epstein, private and public schools, elite private boarding schools, orphanages, foster care programs, hospitals, mental health facilities, Fortune 500 companies, and numerous religious institutions and related entities. Recent successes include participating in global settlements valued at nearly $3 billion. For more information, visit https://www.sgghlaw.com.

Founded in 1985, Levy Konigsberg, a national law firm, has been a leader in representing victims in many settings including victims of sexual abuse in churches, hospitals, prisons, jails, and juvenile detention facilities. LK is proud to advocate for victims of sexual abuse at the hands of clergy members, medical professionals, and correctional officers. The entire LK team, including trial attorneys and victim advocates, fights for victims across the country and advocates for legislative changes to enable all victims to pursue claims against their abusers no matter where or when the abuse occurred. For more information, visit https://www.levylaw.com.

Media Contact

Lynn Smith
+1 646-717-0354
lynn@lynnsmithtv.com

Bellori Couture, a pioneering sensitive skincare brand, has rapidly emerged as a standout in the beauty industry. Founded and led by 23-year-old entrepreneur Wendell Varner, Bellori Couture has achieved remarkable success, boasting a valuation of $170,000 in just one month's time.
 
Building Bellori Couture

Wendell Varner, the dynamic CEO of Bellori Couture, has always been passionate about skincare. Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, Wendell noticed a gap in the market for high-quality, sensitive skincare products. Drawing on his background in graphic and fashion design, Wendell embarked on a mission to create a brand that prioritizes the health and well-being of its customers.

Designed in Charleston

Bellori Couture is proudly designed in Charleston, a city known for its rich history and vibrant culture. Despite the challenges of operating in a smaller city compared to major metropolises, Wendell's innovative approach and dedication have propelled Bellori Couture to new heights. The brand's unique formulations and commitment to sensitive skincare have resonated with customers, establishing a loyal following.

Overcoming Obstacles

Building a niche business in a smaller city comes with its own set of challenges. Wendell Varner has faced these obstacles head-on, leveraging Charleston's tight-knit community to foster strong relationships and support. His determination and resilience have been key factors in Bellori Couture's rapid growth and success.

Health and Giving Back

At the heart of Bellori Couture is a commitment to putting the health of people first. The brand's products are meticulously crafted to cater to sensitive skin, using only the finest ingredients. Wendell Varner's vision extends beyond skincare; he believes in making a positive impact on society. Bellori Couture donates to one random charity at a time, demonstrating its support for modern-day concerns and contributing to meaningful causes.

About Bellori Couture

Bellori Couture is a sensitive skincare brand dedicated to providing high-quality products designed for those with delicate skin. Founded by Wendell Varner, the brand combines innovative formulations with a commitment to health and well-being. Bellori Couture is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and continues to make waves in the beauty industry. For more information, visit https://www.belloricouture.com.

Media Contact

Leigh Dennis

Classiq today announced a collaboration with NVIDIA and the BMW Group to optimize mechatronic systems, marking a significant advance in the sophistication of quantum computing implementation in the automotive sector.

The initiative is focused on solving a complex computational challenge to find the optimal architecture of electrical and mechanical systems. This problem involves defining the optimal combination of components, from electrical engines and batteries to coolers, and how these should be connected. The goal of this project is to enhance efficiency and reduce energy waste, which can result—among other things—in the increased efficiency of electric vehicles.

Classiq’s sophisticated approach demonstrated how cutting-edge quantum algorithms may be used to address the problem, including the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) and the Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd (HHL) algorithm. The latter of these approaches leverages amplitude and digital encoding to efficiently solve and convert complex linear equations, utilizing a novel Quantum Analog to Digital Conversion (QADC) process.

The project resulted in the BMW Group’s quantum experts creating a highly sophisticated quantum program, with many quantum sub-routines, among the most complex quantum programs implemented to date. The implementation was enabled by the advanced modeling and compilation capabilities of the Classiq platform. The large and complex quantum circuit implementation was simulated using NVIDIA GPUs and the powerful NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform.

“Our collaboration with Classiq and NVIDIA has enabled an innovative quantum implementation that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in the application to automotive technologies,” said Lukas Mueller, Lead Future Compute at BMW Group IT. “NVIDIA’s quantum stack has been instrumental in simulating this complex algorithm, facilitating its detailed testing and refinement.”

“This project exemplifies the power of collaboration in the quantum computing sphere. By bringing together the best of quantum hardware, software and automotive domain expertise, we have achieved groundbreaking advancements in a remarkably short time,” said Nir Minerbi, CEO of Classiq Technologies.

“Quantum computing, which has the potential to transform society, will require accelerated computing with extreme performance for users to take full advantage of its value,” said Tim Costa, director of HPC and quantum computing at NVIDIA. “NVIDIA’s collaboration with innovators such as the BMW Group and Classiq is pushing the boundaries of quantum simulation and helping to usher in an era of useful quantum computing.”

Quantum computing is still a nascent technology, and further effort is required to bring the developed solution to industrial applicability. Classiq and its collaborators continue to develop the interface between automotive technology and quantum computing by expanding the boundaries of quantum design, implementation, and computation.

Classiq Technologies, the leading quantum software company, provides an all-encompassing platform (IDE, compiler and OS) with a single point of entry into quantum computing, taking you from algorithm design to execution. The high-level descriptive quantum software development environment, tailored to all levels of developer proficiency, automates quantum programming. This ensures that a broad range of talents, including those with backgrounds in AI, ML and linear algebra, can harness quantum computing without requiring deep, specialized knowledge of quantum physics. Classiq democratizes access to quantum computing and equips its users to take full advantage of the quantum computing revolution, including access to a broad range of quantum hardware.

Classiq’s core technology, algorithmic quantum circuit compilation, is engineered to power the quantum ecosystem of today and the future. Classiq works closely with quantum cloud providers and advanced computation hardware developers providing software for use with quantum computers, HPC and quantum simulators.

Backed by investors such as HPE, HSBC, Samsung, Intesa Sanpaolo and NTT, Classiq’s world-class team of scientists and engineers has distilled decades of quantum expertise into its groundbreaking quantum engine. Follow Classiq on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter) or YouTube, and visit the Slack community and https://www.classiq.io to learn more.

Michelle McMahon

The Kava Coalition proudly announces its endorsement of an upcoming study conducted by Dr. Simon Gellar, focusing on the lived experiences of kava consumers in the U.K., U.S., and Vanuatu. Dr. Gellar's research delves into the intricate interplay of cultural norms, economic dynamics, and external drug policies, offering a nuanced perspective on kava consumption across diverse contexts.

Titled "Elixir of the South Pacific or Harmful Muddy Water: Examining the Consumption of Kava from a Cross-Cultural Perspective and the Lived Experience of Macro-Level Social Processes," the study is slated for publication later in 2024. Post-publication, the research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed channels and promoted by the Kava Coalition.

"Dr. Gellar's research is invaluable for kava consumers, producers, and regulators,” said Matthew Lowe, Executive DIrector of the Kava Coalition. “By establishing a scientific foundation for understanding kava consumption, we can foster responsible regulations that prioritize consumer safety."

Dr. Gellar's methodology involved conducting in-depth interviews with kava consumers in the U.K., U.S., and ethnographic fieldwork in Vanuatu. In Vanuatu, where kava has been ingrained in social and ceremonial practices for centuries, its consumption holds profound cultural significance. In contrast, the U.K. and U.S., lacking such historical use context, now witness kava consumption being adopted for therapeutic purposes outside conventional medicine or as an alternative to alcohol.

The study also addresses concerns over previous reports linking kava consumption to liver damage, which have been debunked, through discourse with people who consume Kava on a daily basis. 

"Our perceptions of kava, whether in Europe, North America, or the South Pacific, are multifaceted,” said Dr. Gellar. “This study offers a qualitative assessment of kava consumption today across different countries, shedding light on cultural nuances and policy implications."

The Kava Coalition is committed to amplifying the study's findings upon publication. "As members of the Kava Coalition, we are dedicated to educating consumers about kava through various channels, including social media, conferences, and retail platforms,” said Lowe. “Dr. Gellar's research serves as an invaluable resource for delivering evidence-based messages."

The press release concludes by encouraging stakeholders to stay tuned for the release of Dr. Gellar's study and to engage with the Kava Coalition's educational initiatives.”

Dr. Simon Gellar teaches criminology at the University of Kent in the UK, where he has worked since 2021.

 

Kava Coalition (KC) is an alliance of kava consumers, experts, and industry leaders committed to advancing kava education, advocacy, and choice. Through educational initiatives and community engagement, KC promotes awareness and appreciation for kava’s traditional practices and cultural significance. Simultaneously, KC advocates for modern regulation that reflects current scientific knowledge, ensuring consumer safety and product integrity.

Media Contact

Byron Johnson
bjohnson@kavacoalition.org
+1 202-680-8129

Saison Technology, a global leader in data management and integration, announced investing $10 million in DNX Ventures Fund IV US.

Founded in 2011, DNX Ventures (DNX) is a venture capital firm investing in B2B startups from seed to late stage, primarily in North America and Japan. It has over 190 portfolio companies with 23 exits and over $630 million under management.

Saison Technology has been expanding its data management and integration business since its 2023 launch of HULFT Square, the company’s cloud-based iPaaS solution that is gaining significant adoption in Japan, Europe, and the United States. Through this investment in DNX, Saison Technology will collaborate with DNX’s portfolio of AI, SaaS, and other startups in North America and Europe, providing transformational products, services and support to them and collaborative solutions for their clients.

“We are very pleased to have Saison Technology as a limited partner in Fund IV,” said Mitch Kitamura, Managing Partner/COO at DNX Ventures. “Beyond providing venture capital, we aid our portfolio companies with value-added resources through collaboration with our limited partners. Saison Technology is a market leader with many decades of experience helping companies of all sizes with digital initiatives. Through its commitment to Fund IV, Saison Technology will help guide our portfolio companies in expanding their businesses.”

“As companies continue to purchase and implement cutting-edge cloud and AI technologies, having a proven platform to integrate them with existing enterprise applications and legacy data systems is essential,” said Makoto Hayama, President and CEO of Saison Technology Co. LTD. “Our company is one of the only providers that offers data management and integration solutions in the cloud, on-premise and as a managed service. We will provide these options to the DNX portfolio and their customers so that they have ultimate flexibility as they navigate more complex IT architectures.”

DNX Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley and Tokyo that has been investing in B2B startups since 2011, primarily in the US and Japan. To date, in addition to the four main funds, we have managed a total of 11 funds including Annex and Seed, with a total of approximately $630 million USD (¥99 billion JPY), invested in 190 startup companies mainly in the US and Japan, and led 23 companies to exit. Among B2B startups, our main investment areas are AI, Enterprise SaaS, Deeptech, Climate Tech, Retail Tech, and Fintech, all of which we invest in at the early stage.

Additionally, DNX Silicon Valley Team actively supports large corporations’ Open Innovation activities by leveraging Silicon Valley’s ecosystem. Running over 70 programs annually to foster talent development to support Open Innovation and has helped create collaborations between over 200 companies and overseas startups. By leveraging this experience, network, and knowledge, we aim to further collaborate between Japanese corporations and overseas startups and create new businesses. For more information, visit https://www.dnx.vc/jpfund-en/top.

Saison Technology (TYO: 9640) has helped more than 10,000 global enterprises move critical information, streamline data flows, and automate processes to instantly put knowledge where it is needed. Knowledge empowers people, inspires strategy, and transforms businesses and markets. In the right hands, in the right place, it is much more than a set of facts. Knowledge is a force that can inspire innovation, drive profits, and affect positive change. For more information, please visit https://saison-technology-intl.com.

Media Contact

Kurt Foeller

+1 415-588-6390

Botanic Tonics, a leading provider of premium plant-based supplements based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is proud to announce its support for the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) as an Annual Fund Donor. This commitment reflects Botanic Tonics' dedication to promoting a safe, transparent, and responsible herbal products industry. 

The American Herbal Products Association is the national trade association and voice of the herbal products industry. AHPA is committed to protecting public health by establishing high standards for the herbal products industry and providing guidance to consumers, healthcare professionals, and regulatory agencies. Through its efforts in data collection, research, and education, AHPA works tirelessly to ensure that consumers have access to safe, effective, and high-quality herbal products. 

"At Botanic Tonics, we firmly believe in the importance of the work carried out by the American Herbal Products Association," said Cameron Korehbandi, CEO of Botanic Tonics. "Their commitment to consumer safety, industry transparency, and the promotion of responsible practices aligns perfectly with our own values. By supporting AHPA as an Annual Fund Donor, we aim to contribute to their ongoing efforts to create a thriving and trustworthy herbal products marketplace." 

Botanic Tonics focuses on what's important by helping people make the most of the moments that matter. By adhering to AHPA's best practices and standards, Botanic Tonics ensures that its products, including feel free, are safe, effective, and of the highest quality, allowing consumers to reset, re-think, and re-engage with themselves and the world around them. 

Botanic Tonics respects tradition by celebrating the indigenous farmers they work with and source from. By supporting AHPA's educational initiatives, Botanic Tonics contributes to the dissemination of knowledge about the traditional uses and cultural significance of herbal products, fostering a deeper appreciation for the rich history of plant-based practices. 

Botanic Tonics embraces the power of plants, leaning into botanical solutions rather than lab-produced synthetic options. By supporting AHPA's advocacy efforts, Botanic Tonics helps ensure that regulatory policies support the responsible sale of herbal products, making it easier for consumers to access safe and reliable plant-based products. 

Botanic Tonics believes in the power of nature and the centuries-old use of plants in social and cultural practices. By supporting AHPA's research initiatives, Botanic Tonics contributes to the growing body of knowledge surrounding the safety and quality of herbal products, ultimately benefiting consumers seeking natural options. 

For more information about Botanic Tonics and its range of premium plant-based supplements, including feel free, please visit www.botanictonics.com.

About Botanic Tonics

Botanic Tonics is a plant-based herbal supplement company headquartered in Broken Arrow, OK. Established in 2020, it produces kava-forward tonics under its feel free brand. Its signature product, feel free CLASSIC, is crafted with ancient functional plants to provide mood lift, energy, and focus. Botanic Tonics’ products are manufactured in an FDA-registered, cGMP-certified facility and actively supports consumer safety regulations through transparent labeling and educational resources. Learn more at https://botanictonics.com.

Maxim AI, an enterprise-grade evaluation and observability platform for AI applications, announced a $3M funding round led by Elevation Capital. The round also saw participation from marquee angel investors including founders of Postman, Chargebee, Groww, Razorpay, Media.net, among others. With the infusion of capital, Maxim announced the General Availability (GA) launch of their platform, marking a significant milestone in their journey.

With the recent explosion of large language models, the race to build & deploy AI applications has intensified. Traditionally, software was built in a deterministic paradigm with standardised best practices for predictably testing performance and systematically improving products, tightly integrated into the development lifecycle. Generative AI products, however, are getting built in a non-deterministic paradigm with unpredictable variability in quality and performance depending on factors including models, parameters, data or context, or simply the framing of the question. Moreover, challenges around hallucinations, inaccuracies, safety, and output structure lead to compromised user experiences and reputational risks for organisations. Organisations are resorting to non-scalable techniques, high-paid manual effort, and tediously slow iteration cycles as they test and ship their AI into production.

Founded in 2023 by Google-Postman duo Vaibhavi Gangwar and Akshay Deo who collectively bring over a decade of experience in building AI and developer-focused tools, Maxim aims to bring the best practices of traditional software development to streamline AI development workflows.

Maxim’s infrastructure, which sits between the foundational model and application layers of the AI stack, is deeply focused on AI developers who comprise the traditional AI/ML engineers as well as the emerging class of backend engineers now leading AI development across organizations. The Maxim stack provides end-to-end AI evaluation across the development lifecycle: right from prompt engineering, pre-release and post-release testing for quality and functionality, to data management and fine-tuning. While the automated evaluation platform by itself helps teams ship products >5x faster, the platform also offers the critical last-mile for evaluation including support for human evaluation as well as custom datasets and models.

“Even though we are seeing tremendous value creation in the AI hardware and foundational model stack, for the benefits to be realized meaningfully up the value chain, we need the products built on top of the generative AI stack to be trustworthy and reliable. This makes evaluation a very critical piece of AI infrastructure. However, today there is no standardization in the generative AI testing space unlike traditional software development. That’s where Maxim comes in: with our users, we have become this very core piece of infrastructure that is powering high quality AI development, streamlining team collaboration, and saving development teams hundreds of hours per month,” said founders Gangwar and Deo.

Talking about the investment, Akarsh Shrivastava, Principal at Elevation Capital said, “Maxim AI is addressing a crucial need in the evolving AI landscape. Their focus on creating a standardized, scalable evaluation infrastructure addresses a deep pain point for AI developers. As the complexity and diversity of AI use cases continue to rise, Maxim's platform will play a critical role in ensuring trustworthy and reliable AI systems. We are super excited to partner with Vaibhavi and Akshay as they build Maxim into a critical piece of this AI catalyzed paradigm shift we are going to see.”

So far, in private beta, the company has attracted multiple global customers who are at the forefront of the AI revolution. Looking ahead, Maxim is committed to expanding its platform capabilities including proprietary domain-specific evaluations for quality and security as well as its data engine to accelerate reliable and scalable deployment of AI products. The company plans to use the funds to expand its world-class team and scale its operations to partner with more leading enterprises building AI products.

Founded by Vaibhavi Gangwar and Akshay Deo, professionals with over a decade in AI and developer tools at top technology firms (including Google, Postman, and Slack), Maxim AI is the generative AI evaluation and observability platform for modern AI teams. It streamlines the entire AI development lifecycle from design to production, enabling faster, reliable, and high quality deployment of AI across organizations.

Elevation Capital is a leading venture capital firm that provides seed and early-stage capital for emerging companies in India. Having invested in India since 2002, Elevation has deployed over $2.6 Bn of capital in 190+ companies. The firm announced its eighth pool of capital of $670 million in April 2022. Co-led by Managing Partners Ravi Adusumalli and Mukul Arora, along with Partners Mridul Arora and Mayank Khanduja, the firm has invested across Consumer Internet, SaaS, Fintech, Consumer Brands, Edtech, Healthtech and Deeptech. Elevation Capital has offices in Bengaluru and Gurgaon.

Media Contact

Bilal Mahmood

+44 7714 007257

Prosperr.io, a leading fintech platform solving tax for individuals, has secured a $1.55 million pre-seed funding round. The round was led by Gokul Rajaram, a board member at Pinterest and Coinbase and prominent investor, known for backing exceptional companies like Faire, Figma, and Airtable. The round also saw participation from notable angel investors, including Vinodh Bhat (co-founder of JioSaavn), Ramakant Sharma (Founder of Livspace), Kunal Shah (QED Ventures), Saurabh Jain (CEO of Livspace), among several others.

Founded in March 2022, Prosperr.io offers a subscription-based product designed to manage income tax comprehensively for individuals, ensuring maximum eligible tax savings and compliance. By using deep-tech products powered by AI, the company aims to create a digitally intelligent solution, benefiting millions worldwide. The capital raised will be used primarily to launch the product in the US market.

"With the growing population of high tax-payers and the ever-changing complexity of income tax regulations, there's a need for user-friendly, technology-driven solutions. Our mission is to address this challenge by developing AI-powered solutions that redefine tax management and help our customers save money while achieving their financial goals. We've already seen significant traction in India market with employees of 1,500 companies using Prosperr.io," said Manas Gond, CEO and co-founder of Prosperr.io.

They have launched the “Super Saver” product for the India market. It's an AI powered tax management product. The “Super Saver” product tracks subscribers’ income and spending in order to provide a continually-updated snapshot of what they owe in tax, and to recommend strategies for reducing the liability while remaining compliant. An AI-driven engine sitting behind, scans tax codes and curates personalized recommendations for each user according to the reliefs their financial affairs may qualify them for.

They are planning to launch the Super saver for people in the U.S. market by 2024. They are raising more funds to evolve their AI solution to work across geography and laws. The Super Saver product has gained very good traction with 7,000 taxpayers signed up so far. Prosperr’s founders expect to secure annual recurring revenues of $1 million within the next month or so.

"I'm excited to support the Prosperr team on their mission to build the best tax optimisation platform for consumers not just for India but for the world. The world of taxes is complicated and confusing, and Prosperr's AI platform helps individuals and employees stay compliant while maximizing tax savings," said Rajaram.

International expansion is an important part of the strategy for achieving that goal, with Prosperr now planning a launch into the U.S. market, another country where income tax compliance is different. They are developing a smart AI engine to work on any tax-codes and jurisdictions, which supports their vision to go global in the coming future.

On the funding, Dev Kumar, CPTO and co-founder of Prosperr.io added, “We are building a constitutional AI agent to solve tax globally. Our product philosophy has always been to build products personalized for the users. We understand user’s financial data in depth to generate capability to develop AI solutions to simplify personal finance in future for the users across the globe. Our next step is launching in the U.S. market to amplify.”

Prosperr.io, a new-generation fintech company, is an AI-driven platform that simplifies tax management for individuals. It was founded in March 2022 by Manas Gond and Dev Kumar with a vision to streamline personal finance and help customers achieve their financial goals. The company offers two core products: the Super Saver product, which helps individuals plan and save their taxes efficiently, and the Flexi Benefits product, which enables employers to provide non-taxable allowances. This helps people increase their take-home salary through their easy-to-use service for claiming non-taxable allowances. For more information, visit https://www.prosperr.io.

Bilal Mahmood

+44 7714 007257

Augie, formerly known as Aug X Labs, announced today the commercial launch of its flagship platform, Augie Studio, an all-in-one video studio that empowers businesses of any size to create compelling social video content at scale—regardless of their experience or skill set. Augie also announced Studio tiers and pricing, including an Enterprise tier to meet larger demands of creative advertising and marketing teams. 

Augie Studio features a refreshed interface and a suite of new features that make professional-quality video creation accessible to all. For Premium and Enterprise customers, Augie Studio includes access to over 100 million pieces of pre-licensed high-quality content from Getty Images, including stock photography, clips, and background music. Paying tiers also include AI-enhanced script-writing, inline recording, hundreds of pre-built AI voices, and Augie's core automated storyboarding technology. 

"Today, we are excited to announce the commercial launch of Augie Studio, delivering  high-quality video production capabilities without the learning curve," said Jeremy Toeman, founder and CEO of Augie. "Early users of Augie have reported a significant reduction in production time and costs, as well as increased engagement on Augie-produced videos compared to ‘talking head’ videos. Augie is solving real-world problems for marketers and creators everywhere by addressing their needs with social and commercial video."

Augie Studio combines an intuitive user experience to provide social media managers, brand managers, creatives, and ad professionals a video creation tool designed for them, empowering teams to produce high-quality, brand-aligned videos rapidly and efficiently, with no learning curve or extra fees.

Augie Studio significantly enhances the efficiency of the video creation process for non-professionals, enabling more rapid compilation and creation of videos to suit a wide range of creative and business needs. 

With its commercial launch, Augie Studio introduces several innovative features that set new standards in the AI-enabled video production industry:

"37% of marketers avoid video creation due to costs alone, and roughly 70% of businesses struggle to produce more than a single piece of video content annually for their marketing and professional needs," added Toeman. "We are living in a video-first marketing world, yet most businesses have neither the skills or budgets to participate, Augie was created to bridge this gap—and our dynamic growth this past year really shows the massive demand for an all-in-one video marketing platform."

Augie Studio is now available at my.augie.studio with several subscription packages:

These tiers take into account the needs of marketers and creators of any size, from small business owners to marketing professionals, Augie makes video marketing attainable to produce high-quality promotional videos effortlessly and efficiently.

For more information about Augie or to sign up for a free trial, please visit www.augie.studio.

Augie is an all-in-one video studio designed to make video-first marketing attainable for any business. With easy-to-use features that cover the entire video creation and editing workflow, anyone can confidently jump in and create engaging social video content in minutes—no matter their experience or skill set.

Gabi Rubino

+1-303-443-5159

Theresa McClure has joined HNTB as a national practice consultant and vice president, bringing more than two decades of extensive leadership and strategic communication expertise. As part of HNTB’s National Growth Office, McClure will concentrate on strengthening client relationships and providing high level facilitation services to support the most significant projects and programs of HNTB’s clients.

“Theresa is an accomplished advisor with a wealth of expertise in the infrastructure industry and a strong track record of delivering extraordinary value to clients,” said Michelle Graham, HNTB chief growth officer and senior vice president. “Her commitment to driving strategic processes and facilitating successful outcomes will be invaluable to our clients and HNTB.”

Prior to HNTB, McClure led a strategic communications practice for a global consulting firm. She directed a diverse team of communication professionals who delivered communications and engagement activities for major transportation programs across the country.

“We’re very excited to have Theresa join us in South Carolina where she will play a key role in implementing HNTB’s growth strategy for the state,” said Bryan Jones, HNTB Mid-Atlantic division president and senior vice president. “Her experience will be critical in supporting our clients’ success on the east coast and beyond.” 

McClure currently holds key positions within industry organizations, serving as both the vice president and Communications Committee chair for the American Council of Engineering Companies and Infrastructure Works Institute in South Carolina. Additionally, she acts as the Special Events Committee chair for the South Carolina Chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar and is active in Transportation Research Board.

McClure earned a master’s degree in strategic public relations from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

About HNTB 

HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With 110 years of service, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients’ most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, and program and construction management. For more information, visit HNTB.com, or follow HNTB on LinkedIn, X, Facebook or Instagram.

Media Contact

Molly Hall
mohall@hntb.com

The Links, Incorporated, an international, not-for-profit, volunteer service organization, established in 1946, has selected Sandra Evers-Manly to receive its 2024 Co-Founders Award for the Arts. The award will be presented during the Civic Luncheon at the 44th Links National Assembly at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas by Ethel Isaacs Williams, J.D., National President, on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. CT.

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit, volunteer service organization, established in 1946. With a membership of more than 17,000 influential, civic-minded, professional women of color, they have 299 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom. The Links incorporated are one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of Black women, and are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African descent. Collectively, The Links document more than one million service hours annually, supporting individuals and families in the communities they serve.

This award, established in the spirit of The Links co-founders, Margaret Rosell Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott, is caringly offered to individuals who have made a significant impact on the lives of others and society as a whole by being standard bearers of truth and equality.

According to President Williams, “Evers-Manly continues to chart a most distinguished career, with achievements that extend well beyond the corporate arena and into the realm of film and media. Her passion for the arts and storytelling, the commitment to amplifying youth and diverse voices, and her keen understanding of the power of film to shape perceptions and inspire change, has made her a driving force and an undeniably deserving recipient of this award.”

Evers-Manly has generated overwhelming support from more than thirty years behind initiatives that support filmmakers from underrepresented communities to ensure that their stories are told. Past Co-Founders Award recipients include novelist, Alice Walker, The Color Purple; award-winning actress, Cicely Tyson, Roots; author Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet, Gwendolyn Brooks, Annie Allen; Dancer/Choreographer Judith Jamison, Alvin Ailey American Dance Company;  Emmy Award-winning actress Lynn Whitfield, The Josephine Baker Story and author Poet, Playwriter, Activist, Sonia Sanchez, Homecoming (1969)—all of whom, like Ms. Evers-Manly, are creative giants of public service and personal sacrifice who are an inspiration to others.

The Co-Founders Award is proudly bestowed with a commissioned Elizabeth Catlett bronze sculpture for this accolade and designed to signify the freedom to believe, achieve and overcome. In addition, Evers-Manly may designate a charity of her choosing to receive monetary donation from The Links in her honor.
 

“I am truly honored and humbled to receive this amazing recognition by The Links, Incorporated, one of the most distinguished and cherished organizations in our country. The work of The Links has impacted and changed so many lives and to be honored with the Co-Founders Award for the Arts, my heart is full of gratitude. It comes with even more responsibility to continue the work to ensure Black representation in films and television, equity and equality while supporting the arts,” said Evers-Manly.

About Sandra Evers-Manly

Sandra J. Evers-Manly, is president and founder of the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC), former president of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). She is an Emmy-winning executive producer for the Best Science and Technology Documentary, Into the Unknown, executive producer of the film currently in IMAX theaters, Deep Sky, and the author of a children’s book Raised Up By Mrs. Manly & Her L’s. A few of the past organization that have honored Evers-Manly for her service include The Memorial Foundation, Brotherhood Crusade, Los Angeles Sentinel, City of Los Angeles, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Evers is a champion for social and civil rights and uses every opportunity to advance these causes through film and philanthropy. Since 1996, BHERC has been a vital advocate, nurturing Black representation in film and TV through education, research, and events. Her "Films With A Purpose" initiative empowers emerging filmmakers to shed light on pressing societal issues.

Website:  www.bherc.org  | www.BHERC.TV

Instagram: @bhercdotorg | @sandraeversmanly

Media Contact

Stephene Johnson

+1 310-284-3170

Greenwood Leather, a family-run business dedicated to producing high-quality full-grain leather goods, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest collection. Since its inception in 2016, Greenwood Leather has been committed to creating innovative designs that seamlessly blend tradition with contemporary trends, ensuring exceptional satisfaction for its customers.

The new collection, which will be available on the company's website https://www.greenwoodleather.com.au/, showcases Greenwood Leather's dedication to craftsmanship, quality, and customer happiness. Each piece is meticulously crafted from the finest full-grain leather, promising durability, elegance, and timeless style.

Faisal Nawaz, the founder of Greenwood Leather, emphasizes the company's dedication to excellence. "Our mission has always been to produce leather goods that not only meet but exceed our customers' expectations," says Nawaz. "With this new collection, we've pushed the boundaries of design and craftsmanship to offer products that are not just accessories but lifelong companions."

Greenwood Leather takes pride in its ability to harmonize traditional leatherworking techniques with modern design aesthetics. The company's artisans, many of whom have honed their skills over decades, employ time-honored methods to ensure each product is of the highest quality. At the same time, the design team continually seeks inspiration from current fashion trends, ensuring that every item in the new collection is both stylish and functional.

As a family-run business, Greenwood Leather places great importance on maintaining a personal connection with its customers. This approach has fostered a loyal customer base that appreciates the attention to detail and the care that goes into every product. "We consider our customers part of the Greenwood Leather family," says Nawaz. "Their feedback and support drive us to continuously improve and innovate."

In addition to their commitment to quality and design, Greenwood Leather is also dedicated to sustainability. The company sources its leather from reputable suppliers who adhere to ethical practices, ensuring that the production process is as environmentally friendly as possible. This commitment to sustainability is reflected in the durability of Greenwood Leather products, which are designed to last for many years, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Founded in 2016, Greenwood Leather is a full-grain leather goods company based in Victoria, Australia. The family-run business has consistently developed and created new designs, improving upon the old and combining tradition with contemporary trends. The company's mission is to make their customers happy by providing high-quality, stylish, and durable leather products.

For more information, please visit https://www.greenwoodleather.com.au.

Media Contact

Faisal Nawaz

Brookstone Capital Management (“Brookstone”), a leading, SEC-Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm and affiliate of AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), announced today that it has partnered with Hoffman Financial Group, a nationally recognized financial planning firm based in Atlanta. Per the agreement, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We’re excited to partner with the Hoffman team. This collaboration will only strengthen both organizations and continue to provide best-in-class solutions for them and all the clients they serve,” said Dean Zayed, CEO of Brookstone Capital Management. “Additionally, this partnership underscores Brookstone’s ongoing investment and commitment to our advisors and our goal to be the leader at the intersection of insurance and securities.”

“Hoffman Financial Group is a premier financial services firm – Chris and his team have created something special that we are excited to be a part of,” added Darryl Ronconi, president of Brookstone Capital Management. “With a broader relationship with Brookstone and AmeriLife, our goal is to help continue to accelerate their significant growth by providing them with even more resources and support.”

Founded in 2011, Hoffman Financial Group is a comprehensive financial and retirement planning firm with one goal in mind: to be the go-to financial advisor for individuals wanting to retire. The firm offers a completely hands-on approach to retirement planning and a full suite of wealth management offerings, including investment management, 401(k) and IRA rollovers, tax planning, and more through its eight investment advisor representatives. Hoffman Financial Group has applied this high-touch approach to unique offerings such as Her Wealth Her Way®, designed specifically to help women retire with comfort, confidence, and class.

Hoffman Financial Group is also incredibly active in the media, bringing its expertise on money management to viewers of The Financial Edge on Atlanta’s CBS 46 and ABC’s Good Morning America Weekend every Sunday morning, and to listeners of Money Unleashed on Atlanta’s 95.5 WSB every Sunday afternoon. Additionally, the firm is an Official Partner of the University of Georgia Bulldogs® and, most recently, was named Official Financial Advisor of former Bulldog and NFL player Brock Bowers, partnerships that have cemented Hoffman Financial Group as a leading financial services company alongside two distinguished names in collegiate sports.

“I couldn’t be more excited to partner and expand our relationship with Brookstone,” said Chris Hoffman, founder of Hoffman Financial Group. “They are the best partner to take us to the next level. The entire team is thrilled about the opportunity of aligning Hoffman Financial Group with the extensive resources and talent that they offer.”

Now, as part of the AmeriLife family of companies, Hoffman Financial Group will enjoy broad access to best-in-class platforms, tools, resources, and an expansive product portfolio to move quickly into new markets, accelerate production, and drive the firm’s growth for years to come.

“Chris Hoffman has built a powerhouse brand and business that is reshaping retirement planning for America’s retirees,” said Mike Vietri, Chief Distribution Officer for AmeriLife Wealth Group. “We’re incredibly excited for Hoffman Financial Group to join forces with Brookstone as part of AmeriLife Wealth Group, and look forward to integrating their unique approach, expertise, and leadership into our fast-growing distribution platform.”

Hoffman Financial Group is a leading financial planning firm based in Atlanta, Ga. With a personalized approach coupled with highest standards of financial advisory services, the firm specializes in principal protection, income planning, wealth accumulation, legacy planning, and more. For more information, visit HoffmanCorporation.com.

Founded in 2006, Brookstone Capital Management (BCM) is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm with over $9.5B in Assets Under Management (AUM), providing fee-based investment management services through its network of more than 750 financial advisors and firms. Brookstone is an innovator and industry leader and empowers independent financial advisors of all sizes to scale their business by providing access to a Turnkey Asset Management Platform (TAMP) along with a dedicated team to support every aspect of an advisor’s practice. Visit BrookstoneCM.com for more information.

AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as a leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors and 120 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Jeff Maldonado

Patrick Nichols

The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) commends the California Senate Health Committee for the successful passage of Assemblymember Matthew Haney's AB 2365. This significant legislative milestone marks a pivotal step toward establishing comprehensive regulations for the kratom industry in California, ensuring the safety, quality, and responsible sale of kratom products.

"Today's approval by the Senate Health Committee is a major step toward making AB 2365 California law," said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition. "The Committee's decision reflects a strong commitment to consumer safety through well-researched, science-backed standards. These standards recognize the complexities of the evolving kratom marketplace and the importance of distinguishing quality kratom products. As this bill moves forward, we encourage the California Legislature and kratom advocates from all sectors to support this essential bill."

AB 2365 introduces a comprehensive framework designed to safeguard consumers while maintaining access to leaf kratom and kratom extracts. Key provisions of the bill include defining what constitutes leaf kratom and kratom extracts, establishing packaging and labeling standards, enforcing age restrictions for purchases, requiring registration and rigorous testing protocols for kratom processors, and specifying enforcement measures for violations.

Of specific importance is that AB 2365 ensures that kratom products do not contain synthetic “kratom” derivatives that could create highly potent, adulterated products. In conjunction with this, the bill limits the metabolite 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH) to 1% of the total alkaloid fraction in a kratom product. 7OH is found in almost undetectable amounts in dried kratom leaf, which limits the effect of this compound, which has a high affinity to opioid receptors. Manipulating kratom products to increase their potency artificially involves adding more than 1% 7OH as a fraction of total alkaloids, which makes them adulterated. Setting these limits ensures consumers are not inadvertently consuming dangerously potent products. 

“Assemblymember Haney’s holistic approach in AB 2365 not only prioritizes consumer safety through robust safety measures but also ensures access to accurately labeled and responsibly formulated kratom products,” said Lowe. 

The GKC emphasizes that continued support for AB 2365 is critical to its ultimate success. The Coalition urges all stakeholders, including legislators, industry participants, and consumers, to advocate for the bill's passage.

For Californians interested in sending a letter to local legislators, click here.

To sign up for regular email updates from the Global Kratom Coalition on AB 2365, click here.

The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) exists to protect and expand access to leaf-based kratom around the world. The organization represents the interests of advocates committed to positive change benefiting consumers. The organization supports education and the development of kratom science, which is central to the GKC’s mission—to empower individuals worldwide with access to safe and responsibly sourced kratom products by advancing scientific research and sensible regulation.

The GKC operates on five key values:

Please follow us at:

Website: https://globalkratomcoalition.org

Twitter: @kratomcoalition 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/globalkratomcoalition

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalkratomcoalition

Media Contact

Byron Johnson
bjohnson@globalkratomcoalition.org
+1 202-680-8129

The Kava Coalition (KC) is proud to support a series of articles, "Kava: A Story of Misinformation and Resilience," which published recently in The Fiji Times. The series detail’s kava’s long history of safe, traditional use; reviews scientific literature to dismiss claims of liver toxicity, which arose in the early 2000s and still dictate some counties’ policies, despite their lack of scientific basis; and projects a bright future for the industry, as Pacific Island growers achieve record exports to supply the growing demand for kava products globally.

The three-part series, written by journalist Mattha Busby in partnership with KC, can be found in its entirety in the News section of the Kava Coalition’s website.

"Sharing accurate information about kava, so that consumers may make informed decisions, is KC’s fundamental mission," said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Kava Coalition. "This series takes an unbiased look at kava’s history and sheds light on past misinformation which has hampered kava’s global availability."

The first article, "A History of Kava," explains the plant’s origins and its recent past. The second installment, "Moving Past Misinformation," describes the unfair stigma of liver toxicity still attached to kava today. And the third article, "Kava Today, Changing the Narrative," outlines the developing, global economy around kava.

"My interest in public health and policy attracted me to the subject of kava—a remarkable plant dogged by spurious health claims," said Busby. "I hope the reader finds this story to be as informative and illuminating as I did in researching and writing it."

The Fiji Times is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, the capital and largest city of Fiji. Each part of the "Kava…" series initially appeared in The Fiji Times on March 12, March 19, and March 25.

The Kava Coalition is dedicated to promoting the responsible use and understanding of kava. Comprising industry professionals, researchers, and advocates, the Coalition strives to uphold the cultural significance and therapeutic potential of kava while advocating for safety and transparency within the herbal products industry. For more information about The Kava Coalition and its advocacy efforts, please visit https://www.kavacoalition.org/.

Mattha Busby is a freelance journalist with an interest in health, drug policy, and society. His work has appeared in The Guardian, Vice, The Times of London, GQ, and Men’s Health.

Media Contact

Byron Johnson
bjohnson@kavacoalition.org
+1 202-680-8129

Shop TODAY has awarded plant-powered skincare brand TruSkin® a beauty award for its best-selling Vitamin C Facial Serum. The brand, currently a top trending brand per NielsenIQ, is thrilled that its hero product won best budget vitamin C serum.

Made with sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP), a gentle and effective form of vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and MSM, the serum encourages brighter, firmer, healthier skin without stripping the skin. With over 90,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, this product is the highest-rated vitamin C serum on Amazon.

Last week, the brand also received two 2024 SELF Beauty Awards for products launched in the past year: The Longevity Depuffing Eye Cream and Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub.

Made with a unique blend of Bakuchiol, coffeeberry extract, and lingonberry stem cells, the Longevity Depuffing Eye Cream was designed with sensitive skin in mind. It is formulated to help reduce under-eye puffiness and brighten the eye area with an antioxidant-rich blend of nature’s finest ingredients. Bakuchiol—a plant-based and less irritating retinol alternative—reduces the look of under-eye wrinkles and improves firmness. Rich in caffeine, coffeeberry extract helps to reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles, while lingonberry stem cells protects the skin from blue light damage and oxidative stress.

"For anyone looking to reduce under eye puffiness, this eye cream is a great option," said Dr. Marisa Garshick, a New York City-based dermatologist. "The combination of Bakuchiol, coffeeberry extract and lingonberry stem cells really helps promote youthful skin."

The second product, the Vitamin C Scrub, is made with yuzu lemon, Tahitian white sand, and SAP. The former is a powerhouse citrus fruit packed with vitamin C, which is a natural source of brightening benefits. Found on the beaches of Bora Bora, Tahitian white sand has an ultra-fine texture, making it a natural and gentle exfoliator. These ingredients combine to create a creamy cleanser for all skin types.

"This scrub is a great option as it works to brighten the skin and eliminates dead skin cells without leaving the skin feeling dry or irritated, making it a great option even for those with sensitive skin," commented Dr. Garshick. “Combining yuzu lemon with sodium ascorbyl phosphate helps to leave the skin glowing.”

The Vitamin C Facial Serum (2 oz) retails for $38.99, the Longevity Eye Cream is $24.99, and the Vitamin C Scrub is $11.99. All three are available on Amazon, www.TruSkin.com, and select TruSkin® retailers.

Note: These products will be on sale on Amazon next month during Prime Day 2024. The Vitamin C Serum will be 46% off, the Longevity Eye Cream will be 35% off, and the Vitamin C Scrub will be 20% off.

TruSkin® was founded on the belief that skin health is fundamental to overall health and wellbeing, and is committed to nurturing skin health from the outside in with our purposeful, plant-powered blends, intentionally chosen to work with skin, not against it. With its "skin friendly skin nutrition" motto, TruSkin® formulas are also cruelty-free, dermatologist and clinically-tested, manufactured in the USA, and clean (with no parabens, sulfates, phthalates or PEGs). TruSkin®'s formulas can be used in a customizable way to adhere to all of your skincare needs. From cleansers and toners to serums and moisturizers, there’s a product or even a combo of products for every skin type.

TruSkin® is a Wellbeam Consumer Health brand and is available at Amazon, Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and other retailers.

Wellbeam Consumer Health is a diversified portfolio of differentiated wellness brands, including TruSkin, EU Natural, and BioTRUST. Wellbeam is accelerating its brands by expanding on its eCommerce strength and leadership, building out a growing omni-channel retail presence, and launching meaningful new product innovation. Wellbeam brands aim to make a difference by enabling people to reach their wellness goals and live healthier lives. Wellbeam is backed by American Pacific Group. For more information, please visit wellbeam.com.

Media Contact

Sophie Reardon
AMP3 PR
sophie@amp3pr.com

Veterans Help Group (VHG), the national advocacy business that focuses exclusively on getting veterans and their families the disability benefits they deserve, today announced that registration for the 2024 “No Soldier Walks Alone” 10K Step Challenge has opened to the public. The virtual challenge, organized by Soldiers’ Angels in conjunction with Good United, will run from July 1 to July 30, 2024 and is aimed at raising awareness and funds to ensure no soldier has to walk their own personal journey alone. Participants will attempt a daily walking challenge of 10,000 steps and gather pledges and donations from their personal network to support those who have sacrificed for our country.

To join the challenge visit GoodUnited.io/Challenge. Participants can engage either by taking part in the walking challenge or by making financial contributions to the campaign here.

"We are honored to support Soldiers' Angels in this important campaign," said Joe Waring, board member of Veterans Help Group. "Our mission has always been to support our nation's veterans, and this initiative aligns perfectly with our commitment to ensure that no veteran feels isolated or unsupported. We believe that by walking together, we can make a significant impact in the lives of those who have sacrificed for our country."

“We are incredibly appreciative of the generous donation from partners like Veterans Help Group,” stated Amy Palmer, CEO of Soldiers' Angels. “As we launch this national campaign, we invite all families and military supporters to join in our efforts everyday of the year—but especially in July—as we embark on our fundraising for our most dedicated defenders of national security.”

In May 2024, Veterans Help Group announced their annual contribution to Soldiers’ Angels in the amount of $15,000. Read more about the donation here.

About Soldiers' Angels

Soldiers' Angels is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides aid, comfort, and resources to the Military, Veterans, and their families. Founded in 2003 by the family of General George Patton, hundreds of thousands of Soldiers' Angels "Angel" volunteers assist Veterans, wounded and deployed personnel and their families in a variety of unique and effective ways. (Tax ID# 20-0583415, CFC# 25131). Learn more at soldiersangels.org.
 
May no soldier go unloved | May no soldier walk alone | May no soldier be forgotten | Even after they come home.™

About Veterans Help Group

Veterans Help Group (www.veteranshelpgroup.com) is a national advocacy organization that focuses exclusively on getting veterans and their families the disability benefits they deserve. The group serves across all 50 states and is actively involved in partnering and supporting nonprofits that empower veterans. For more information, visit https://veteranshelpgroup.com.

Joe Waring
jwaring@epgroup.net

The Kava Coalition, a leading advocate for the responsible use and understanding of Kava, celebrates the release on the updated entry for Piper methysticum (kava) root rhizome in the second edition of the American Herbal Products Association’s (AHPA’s) Botanical Safety Handbook (BSH). This update represents a significant milestone in the kava industry, providing the most comprehensive and scientifically backed information on the safety profile of the plant-based botanical.

The Botanical Safety Handbook is renowned as the industry-leading compendium with application for safe use of kava. The updates underwent rigorous review by an Expert Advisory Council of esteemed herbal and integrative medicine experts from the U.S. The inclusion of kava in the handbook underscores the importance of ensuring accurate and reliable information for consumers, practitioners, and manufacturers alike locally and globally.

The Kava Coalition praised the AHPA BSH update as a pivotal step in enhancing understanding of kava's safety profile. With the most up-to-date science as a foundation, it is evident that kava is well-tolerated, whether consumed traditionally or through modern extraction techniques, paving the way for its continued safe use. 

"This update reflects the advancements in scientific understanding of kava and dispels misconceptions surrounding its safety,” said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of The Kava Coalition. “It reaffirms that claims of liver injury from kava are unsubstantiated and underscores the importance of quality control in product manufacturing."

The handbook update delineates between "traditional" kava, typically water-based extracts, and "contemporary" kava products, which utilize organic-based extraction methods. Importantly, it highlights that any association between kava-related liver injury and organic-based extraction methods is tenuous at best, with quality control issues often being the culprit.

Notably, the safety sections were updated to incorporate human clinical trial results demonstrating the rarity of liver injury associated with kava consumption. Additionally, the handbook now recognizes the historical use of kava as a food in the United States prior to 1958, further underscoring its traditional global use and safety profile.

"The Botanical Safety Handbook sets the gold standard for the herbal supplements industry,” said Simon Gellar, PhD, who teaches criminology at the University of Kent. “Its inclusion of kava and comprehensive review process provide consumers and practitioners with reliable information backed by scientific evidence."

Dr. Gellar's research on kava delves into the intricate interplay of cultural norms, economic dynamics, and external drug policies, offering a nuanced perspective on consumption across diverse contexts. Dr. Gellar will publish a major research paper, "Elixir of the South Pacific or Harmful Muddy Water: Examining the Consumption of Kava from a Cross-Cultural Perspective and the Lived Experience of Macro-Level Social Processes", later in 2024.

The Kava Coalition reiterates the importance of responsible consumption and adherence to safety guidelines. The required trade statement from AHPA remains unchanged, urging caution and advising consultation with healthcare professionals before use.

The Kava Coalition encourages its members and other stakeholders across the herbal products industry to utilize the updated information in the BSH to promote safety and transparency in the formulation, recommendation, and use of kava-containing products. 

For more information about The Kava Coalition and its advocacy efforts, please visit https://www.kavacoalition.org/.

The Kava Coalition is dedicated to promoting the responsible use and understanding of kava. Comprising industry professionals, researchers, and advocates, the Coalition strives to uphold the cultural significance and therapeutic potential of kava while advocating for safety and transparency within the herbal products industry.

Media Contact

Byron Johnson
bjohnson@kavacoalition.org
+1 202-680-8129

Tune.FM, a groundbreaking decentralized music streaming platform and unique music NFT marketplace, and Space Blue, the curator of the Lunaprise Museum, which made history as the first art museum to land on the moon on February 22, 2024,  announced plans today to unveil a rare compilation including live performances by some of the world’s most iconic musicians including Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Carlos Santana, The Who, Marvin Gaye, Eric Clapton and The Yardbirds, and others. The albums were curated with Lunar Records, a joint venture between Space Blue (manager of Galactic Legacy Lab's official payload launched atop SpaceX Falcon 9 on February 15, 2024), Melody Trust, a subsidiary of Hollywall Entertainment, Inc., and Beverly Hills Productions.

Andrew Antar, founder and CEO of Tune.FM  joined Dallas Santana, founder of Space Blue at Consensus 2024, the world’s most influential event for leaders across the cryptocurrency, blockchain, and Web3 industries to discuss the new partnership and the future of the music streaming platform. There are 26 songs on the two-volume series (13 songs per volume) from some of the world’s most renowned and respected artists in the industry, which landed on the moon in the Lunaprise time capsule. Summer of Love Volumes I and II will drop exclusively on Tune.FM this summer.

Summer of Love Volume I includes a rare song performed by Jimi Hendrix called "Bleeding Heart (Peoples, Peoples, Peoples)", released posthumously in 1971; a 17-minute live performance of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly; Carlos Santana’s closing song at Woodstock, "Soul Sacrifice"; and Bob Marley’s first collaboration with Lee Perry, "Soul Rebel". Summer of Love Volume II features a live version of Jimi Hendrix’s "Love Love", a 10-minute live version of Marvin Gaye’s "Sexual Healing", and rare, live tracks featuring a 6-minute live version of "Reelin' and Rockin'" by Chuck Berry and James Brown.

Blockchain Funds / Influencers Attend Private Event Hosted by Space Blue to Announce Tune.FM Partnership at Consensus 2024

Space Blue hosted a lakeside luxury retreat during Consensus 2024 where Tune.FM leader Andrew Antar and Space Blue founder Dallas Santana spoke about the intersection of music and space as well as equity and opportunities for music artists. The intimate lakefront event was attended by music legends like Jimi Hendrix and Woodstock band member and drummer, Gerardo Valez; as well as founders of crypto fund DNA Fund; Michael Gord with GDA Capital; Blockstreet Capital; Kenji Claudio with Momentum Media Fund; the former CEO of Cointelegraph; private equity and hedge fund manager Kelvin Ung;  Catalyst Global; Bitbasel founders; Kat Miroshnikova of Unit Network; Brandi Veil and The Coin Republic; NFT leading investor, influencer, and star of the film "The 9th Raider", "CL7"; Kwasi Asare of media group Feedia; space entrepreneur Josh Hanes of Space+; Rock Tree Capital, space innovator and co-founder of Karman Line, Sean Graham; Web3 influencer and TV host Audrie Mikulaco; and a special live stream with Nasdaq studios in New York, which beamed in to announce the arrangement between Tune.FM and Space Blue.

Tune.FM is transforming artist compensation and monetization, positioning itself as one of the world’s most transformational startup technology companies, by seamlessly integrating Hedera Hashgraph blockchain technology, with features including elaborate multimedia NFTs, exclusive super fan experiences and streaming royalty payments, Tune.FM is reshaping the music industry landscape.

Breaking away from the traditional subscription-based and ad-supported models of mainstream streaming services today, Tune.FM is creating a more sustainable ecosystem through decentralization and tokenization (JAM), allowing artists to be compensated significantly and more fairly. In fact, Tune.FM compensates artists by up to 100X compared to other streaming platforms. In addition, artists can sell music, release exclusive NFT drops and multimedia elements directly to fans, and can take advantage of exclusive, immersive super fan experiences including merch bundles, meet and greets, VIP events, backstage passes, FaceTime opportunities with artists, and more. Offering a pay-as-you-go model, Tune.FM gives users the ability to choose what they listen to and pay for only what they consume, and to get compensated for listening to promoted music streams, representing a seismic shift in the music fan experience. 

"This partnership with Space Blue further underscores how Tune.FM is creating a paradigm shift in the way music is consumed, distributed, and monetized," said Antar. "Tune.FM’s innovative and disruptive approach features a music streaming platform that offers rare or exclusive content from legacy artists and is a great platform to introduce new and upcoming artists. This approach provides great opportunities for artists to connect with fans and significantly expand monetization opportunities through streaming royalty micropayments and exclusive, unlockable and immersive super fan experiences. This is just the beginning of the type of content we will offer on Tune.FM," said Antar.

Driven by his passion for music and technology, Antar is on a mission to disrupt and democratize the music industry. His visionary approach and the immense potential of Tune.FM’s model and vision have captured the attention of investors as he has secured over $30 million in funding.

"Space Blue’s mission is to create a unique, rare asset class of content off earth through the Lunaprise time capsule, and a platform for artists worldwide, supporting humanity and promoting a sustainable future and today we are thrilled to further propel our mission forward and partner with Tune.FM to bring these unreleased and rare tracks to music lovers and fans worldwide," said Dallas Santana, Space Blue's founder and curator of the Lunaprise Museum which landed on the moon on February 22, 2024. "We have been waiting for the right partner with the right platform and Tune.FM is the perfect match for both us and music fans across the globe.”

Space Blue Club made history curating the Lunaprise Museum, which landed on the moon on February 22, 2024, and is a global space tech-art community, where art and technology collide, providing VIP experiences during high-profile space launch events and hosting global impact and charity auctions to support nonprofit causes, reinforcing their commitment to social responsibility. NFT art has revolutionized the creative landscape as Space Blue Club partners with leading blockchain networks to mint rare NFT artwork for collectors around the globe. Lunar lander Odysseus landed on the moon with the Lunaprise Museum, a time capsule with 222 art projects on board curated by Space Blue. With Mission 1 complete, Lunaprise is curating partnerships with artists and unique brands for Mission 2, scheduled for later this year.

The partnership between Space Blue and Tune.FM is significant as it represents a shift towards a more immersive and interactive music experience. Combining iconic artists' nostalgia with cutting-edge technology, this collaboration aims to redefine how music is consumed and shared in the digital age.

Looking ahead, Space Blue plans to continue exploring innovative ways to connect music enthusiasts with unforgettable experiences that transcend traditional boundaries. By leveraging technology and creativity, the company aims to revolutionize the music industry and create new opportunities for artists and fans alike.

For more information, visit https://tune.fm/ and Space Blue at https://spaceblue.club/.

Tune.FM is a Web3 decentralized music streaming platform with an integrated music NFT marketplace, which enables artists to monetize their fan base directly through streaming royalty micropayments and digital music collectibles with exclusive unlockable experiences, powered by the JAM token built on Hedera Hashgraph. The company was co-founded by lifelong musicians and brothers Andrew Antar and Brian Antar, who attended Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania. Andrew, a classically-trained violinist, won concerto competitions, toured the world with several orchestras, joined several bands, taught himself to code, founded the first startup accelerator and incubator fund at Brown University, and built large enterprise applications for clients like Bank of America, EY, and Comcast where he was awarded a blockchain patent. Brian, also a classically trained violinist, was the concertmaster for the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, produced music with local artists at Penn Studios, earned his Master’s degree in creative writing at Penn, and ran a successful e-commerce and 3PL fulfillment business generating millions in sales.

About Space Blue

Space Blue, headquartered in Beverly Hills, is a revolutionary enterprise at the forefront of integrating art with space exploration. Our vision is rooted in connecting lovers of art and space by curating exceptional art and experiences for significant space missions. Our unique position as the first museum to reach the moon underscores our commitment to pioneering the sector and expanding human expression to new frontiers. For more information, visit https://www.spaceblue.club.

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Activate, the world’s first active gaming facility and TikTok viral sensation, is thrilled to announce its first location in Kansas City, set to open on June 21, 2024. Building on the success of its openings in Dallas-Southlake, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Houston-Katy, Activate provides a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience that continues to capture the imagination of gamers everywhere. Activate Kansas City is located at 6900 W 119th St, Overland Park, KS 66209.

Activate is transforming the gaming landscape, counting 11 locations in the United States and 13 locations across Canada with no signs of slowing down. Attracting over 2.6 million players worldwide, the experience blends cutting-edge technology with action-packed challenges for an adrenaline-fueled adventure.

"Bringing our interactive and immersive gaming experience to Kansas City’s vibrant community is a significant milestone for us," expressed Will Gray, Director of Marketing at Activate Games. “We can't wait for locals to dive into our high-tech, adrenaline-pumping adventures that blend physical activity with digital gameplay. This opening marks our expansion into a dynamic new market and reinforces our commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences. Get ready, Kansas City – the future of gaming has arrived.”

With over 11,000 square feet of fun, Activate Kansas City’s new state-of-the-art gaming facility welcomes all ages and skill levels, encouraging players to explore and create their own unique experiences. Here’s what to expect:

In addition to Kansas City, Activate can be found in major U.S. markets such as Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and New Jersey, along with Canadian markets such as Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, and Brampton. Additional Activate locations are set to open in 2024 across the United States in markets such as New York (Roosevelt Field), and Detroit, MI, along with internationally, including Dubai opening in the Fall, 2024 and launching in the UK in 2025. Activate operates over 30 locations across Canada, and the U.S.

For a sneak peek into Activate’s dynamic gaming experience and to keep tabs on the Activate Kansas City grand opening, click here.

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About Activate

Activate is the world’s first active gaming experience where players #EnterTheGame. Activate offers a unique blend of physical activity and gaming that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Each Activate location provides fun and interactive rooms for players to compete, earn stars and track achievements. With the global headquarters located in Winnipeg, Canada, Activate has grown to 30 locations across Canada, the U.S. and now the world! To join the active gaming movement, visit playactivate.com.

Follow Activate on social media:

Facebook: Activate

Instagram: @activategames

TikTok: @activategames

Jalila Singerff

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