Andersen Consulting Adds Advisory and Market Intelligence Firm Ventures

 SAN FRANCISCO - Wednesday, 20. August 2025

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Andersen Consulting announces a Collaboration Agreement with Ventures, a leading advisory and business intelligence firm based in the Middle East, enhancing its capabilities in market analysis, economic advisory, and industry forecasting across key sectors.

Founded in 2002, Ventures delivers comprehensive services across advisory, consumer research, and business intelligence through its divisions—Ventures Onsite, Ventures Connect, and Market Research. The firm combines deep regional expertise with advanced analytical tools to support strategic decisions for governments, developers, suppliers, and investors. Specializing in the construction, oil and gas and the public sector, Ventures serves listed companies, local agencies, and multinational corporations.

“Collaborating with Andersen Consulting expands our global capabilities, enhances our service offerings, and allows us to bring a more global perspective to our clients,” said Ahmad Khabra, CEO of Ventures. “We are now able to offer a broader range of solutions through Andersen Consulting’s global platform. It’s an exciting opportunity to grow and deliver more value to our clients.”

Mark L. Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen, added, “Ventures has a strong track record of delivering critical intelligence and strategic advice to clients. This collaboration marks another step in Andersen Consulting’s continued expansion, providing clients with seamless service and deep sector knowledge across borders.”

Andersen Consulting is a global consulting practice providing a comprehensive suite of services spanning corporate strategy, business, technology, and AI transformation, as well as human capital solutions. Andersen Consulting integrates with the multidimensional service model of Andersen Global, delivering world-class consulting, tax, legal, valuation, global mobility, and advisory expertise on a global platform with more than 20,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 500 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. Andersen Consulting Holdings LP is a limited partnership and provides consulting solutions through its member firms and collaborating firms around the world.

 

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Contacts

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DriveWealth Names Naureen Hassan Chief Executive Officer

 Distinguished financial services executive and former president of UBS Americas will lead DriveWealth’s next phase of growth and innovation

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- DriveWealth, a leading financial technology platform providing Brokerage-as-a-Service, has announced the appointment of Naureen Hassan as Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Hassan succeeds Michael Blaugrund, who is stepping down as CEO to accept a newly created position at ICE (Intercontinental Exchange).

Hassan joins DriveWealth with decades of deep expertise in digital and product innovation, operational excellence and regulatory management across global banking and wealth management. She will guide the company’s operations, lead its continued growth and expansion across markets, and help fulfill DriveWealth’s mission of democratizing investing around the world.

“Michael has overseen a period of significant growth, expansion into new markets and profitability over the last two years as CEO and we thank him for everything that he has accomplished,” said Robert Cortright, DriveWealth Founder and Executive Chairman. “Naureen has a proven track record as an industry innovator and disruptor and is the perfect person to lead DriveWealth through our continued evolution and next phase of growth. She joins us during a period of accelerating growth, and we look forward to all that is to come under her visionary leadership.”

Prior to DriveWealth, Hassan served as President of UBS Americas, where she led a $14B revenue division with more than 25,000 employees, while also spearheading UBS’s integration of Credit Suisse in the Americas—the first-ever acquisition between two globally systemically important financial institutions. She also worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where she drove innovations across payment operations, technology, human resources, risk management, and finance.

Before joining the Fed, Hassan served as Chief Digital Officer of Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management business and drove strategy and platform innovation for Charles Schwab’s Investor Services division. She began her career at McKinsey & Company.

“DriveWealth is truly changing how and where people invest and providing unique value and capabilities to partners across the globe,” Hassan said. “I am honored to step into this role, to continue building on the great work Robert and Michael have done, and to help guide the company’s continued growth and success. DriveWealth has grown by opening doors to new opportunities for investors in new markets and we will continue to work toward realizing the company’s potential as the market’s most trusted embedded investing technology partner.”

A leading provider of Brokerage-as-a-Service and other critical investment infrastructure, DriveWealth operates in markets across five continents, including the U.S., the EU/UK, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, and Brazil. The company supports an average of over 2 million trades per day for its B2B partners around the world, facilitating 24-hour trading, fractional share execution and multi-asset class support for millions of individual global investors.

DriveWealth was recently named to CNBC’s “World’s Top Fintech Companies 2025” list and recognized on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies for the second year in a row.

About DriveWealth:

DriveWealth is a global B2B financial technology platform. Our core business is providing Brokerage-as-a-Service, powering the investing and trading experiences for digital wallets, broker dealers, asset managers, and consumer brands. DriveWealth’s APIs provide our partners with a modern, extensible and flexible toolkit to develop everything from traditional investment workflows to more innovative techniques like rounding up purchases into fractional share ownership. For more information, visit www.drivewealth.com.

 

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Contacts

Media Contact:

Ryan Hall

Caliber Corporate Advisers

drivewealth@calibercorporate.com

 

Buyback and Burn of $MBG Unveiled as MultiBank Group Posts $209M H1 Revenue

 (BUSINESS WIRE)--MultiBank Group, the world’s largest financial derivatives institution, has announced a strategic buyback and burn program for its $MBG Utility Token. Backed by strong H1 2025 results, with $209 million in revenue (up 20% year-on-year) and $170 million in profit, the measure is designed to enhance scarcity and drive long-term value for $MBG token holders.

Since its debut on July 22 across MultiBank.io, MEXC, Gate.io, and Uniswap, $MBG has surged to seven times its listing price, quickly becoming one of the most closely followed tokens globally.

Under the program, $MBG will be repurchased from the open market and permanently removed from circulation. The framework projects up to $58.2 million in buybacks within the first year and a cumulative $440 million over the initial five years. The Group describes the initiative as both a celebration of its H1 results and a gesture of gratitude to its worldwide client base.

“This is our way of thanking our customers and community for their trust,” said Naser Taher, Founder and Chairman of MultiBank Group. “We’ve established a solid foundation in traditional finance, and the rapid adoption of $MBG proves we’re equally ready to lead in digital assets. The token burn program is just the beginning, and we have more major announcements on the horizon.”

The $MBG token powers MultiBank’s four-pillar ecosystem:

MultiBank TradFi: The Group's traditional CFD powerhouse, which generated $362 million in revenue last year, allows traders to use $MBG for reduced fees and enhanced platform features.

MEX Exchange (Institutional ECN): This is a $23.7 billion institutional-grade hybrid FX and crypto ECN for emerging markets. $MBG automates settlement, reduces counterparty risk, and enables smart contract-based margin and delivery versus payment (DvP).

MultiBank.io (crypto exchange): Regulated across multiple jurisdictions, including the UAE and Australia, the platform offers both spot and leveraged trading. $MBG unlocks reduced costs along with additional utilities such as launchpad access, staking, and token participation opportunities.

MultiBank.io RWA: Built on Mavryk’s layer-1 blockchain, this division stems from the world’s largest real-world asset (RWA) tokenization initiative to date, a $3 billion real estate deal with MAG Lifestyle Development. $MBG holders receive fee discounts and early entry to projects.

Together, these four pillars are fueling MultiBank’s expansion, momentum that is also reflected in the Group’s growing community of more than 396,000 members on Telegram and over 280,000 followers across its X channels. With more than two million clients, 17+ financial licenses across five continents, and an unblemished compliance record since 2005, MultiBank Group is accelerating its blockchain and DeFi infrastructure to deliver more value-driven initiatives in the months ahead.

ABOUT MULTIBANK GROUP

MultiBank Group, established in California, USA in 2005, is a global leader in financial derivatives. With over 2 million clients in 100+ countries and a daily trading volume exceeding $35 billion, it offers a broad range of brokerage and asset management services. Renowned for innovative trading solutions, robust regulatory compliance, and exceptional customer service, the Group is regulated by 17+ top-tier financial authorities across five continents. Its award-winning platforms provide up to 500:1 leverage across Forex, Metals, Shares, Commodities, Indices, and Cryptocurrencies. MultiBank Group has received over 80 international awards for trading excellence and regulatory compliance.

For more information, visit MultiBank Group’s website.

 

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Contacts

 

Yazan Shakfeh

Global Head of Marketing

mohammad.shakfeh@multibankfx.com

 

Interactive Brokers Launches Connections Tool for Smarter Investment Discovery

 GREENWICH, Conn. 

A new feature that helps investors explore connected products, strategies, and market themes with greater clarity

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), an automated global electronic broker, today announced the launch of Connections, a powerful new tool that helps investors uncover trading ideas and evaluate investment opportunities by highlighting connected investment ideas across the global market. Built directly into the IBKR platform, Connections enables users to explore related stocks, ETFs, options, economic indicators and other products from one centralized location.

Because Interactive Brokers offers access to one of the most extensive selections of global products in the industry, Connections can surface a broad set of related products. By combining cross-asset insights from stocks, options, futures, bonds, Forecast Contracts, themes, and more across 160 markets, Connections helps investors discover relationships that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“Clients of Interactive Brokers can access stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, funds, and more across 160 global markets from a single integrated platform,” said Milan Galik, Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers. “That breadth is the result of decades of work expanding our product offering and geographic reach, and it’s what makes Connections possible. By bringing all of this together, Connections helps our clients uncover opportunities that other platforms simply cannot match.”

The Connections feature includes data on peer companies, themes, Forecast Contracts tied to economic indicators such as housing starts and interest rates, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, and trading strategies. This gives investors a complete and flexible toolkit for discovering new opportunities, managing risk, or building ideas around a specific stock or theme.

Real-World Use Cases:

A user analyzing a well-known technology company may uncover lesser-known competitors in cloud storage and explore the Cloud Computing theme to view other connected names within that industry.

An investor with a long position in a major homebuilder can explore Forecast Contracts linked to new home sales or view options strategies that could reduce exposure to shifts in housing data.

For emerging topics like Carbon Capture, users can identify companies linked to the theme through ETFs, revenue streams, or macroeconomic factors, revealing new ideas and insights that may not be immediately obvious.

With the Connections tool, investors can:

Analyze all connected instruments and strategies in one view

Explore related companies, thematic trends, Forecast Contracts, and sector-aligned ETFs, as well as other tradable instruments like futures, options and bonds

Compare companies and performance across market themes and sectors

Identify ways to hedge, diversify, or expand exposure using a broader market context

In addition to Connections, Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive set of discovery tools, including global valuation comparisons, sentiment analysis, bond screening, and securities lending insights, designed to help investors uncover opportunities across markets, asset classes, and investment styles.

To learn more about the Connections tool, visit:

US and countries served by IB LLC: Connections

Canada: Connections

UK: Connections

Europe: Connections

Australia: Connections

Hong Kong: Connections

Singapore: Connections

India: Connections

Japan: Connections

Product availability may vary depending on the country of residence and the Interactive Brokers affiliate.

The best-informed investors choose Interactive Brokers

About Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.:

Interactive Brokers Group affiliates provide automated trade execution and custody of securities, commodities, foreign exchange, and forecast contracts around the clock on over 160 markets in numerous countries and currencies from a single unified platform to clients worldwide. We serve individual investors, hedge funds, proprietary trading groups, financial advisors and introducing brokers. Our four decades of focus on technology and automation have enabled us to equip our clients with a uniquely sophisticated platform to manage their investment portfolios. We strive to provide our clients with advantageous execution prices and trading, risk and portfolio management tools, research facilities and investment products, all at low or no cost, positioning them to achieve superior returns on investments. Interactive Brokers has consistently earned recognition as a top broker, garnering multiple awards and accolades from respected industry sources such as Barron's, Investopedia, Stockbrokers.com, and many others.

Follow Interactive Brokers on social media:

US and World (except Europe): Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, TikTok

UK and Europe: Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok

 

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Contacts

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

Media: Katherine Ewert, media@ibkr.com

 

The Estée Lauder Companies Nominates Dana Strong, CBE and Annabelle Yu Long for Election to its Board of Directors

 (BUSINESS WIRE)--The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) announced today that Dana Strong, CBE and Annabelle Yu Long have been nominated by its Board of Directors for election as directors at the upcoming annual meeting of stockholders to be held on November 13, 2025.

Ms. Strong and Ms. Long are globally respected leaders whose careers have been defined by visionary leadership, strategic insight, and strong track records of driving growth and operational excellence at consumer-focused, high-performing companies. Their nominations underscore the company’s commitment to cultivating a board with deep, strategically aligned expertise across digital, operational and turnaround transformations, Asia/Pacific business matters, direct-to-consumer marketing, and technology.

“We are pleased to nominate Dana and Annabelle for election to our Board,” said William P. Lauder, Chair of the Board of Directors, The Estée Lauder Companies. “We are confident that they will bring a distinct and highly relevant blend of global, digital, consumer innovation and business transformation experience. Combined, their deep expertise in turnaround leadership, media, consumer engagement, and the Asia/Pacific region will be instrumental as we continue to drive long-term growth, agility, and transformation across our portfolio.”

Dana Strong, CBE: Global Media, Digital and Operations Executive

Ms. Strong currently serves as CEO of Sky, part of Comcast Corporation, where she oversees a broad media and entertainment business across six countries in Europe. With more than 25 years of experience leading some of the world’s most recognized media brands, including Sky, Xfinity, Virgin Media, and AUSTAR, Ms. Strong brings strategic acumen across direct-to-consumer, digital innovation and operational transformation capabilities.

Ms. Strong has a proven track record of transformational leadership and innovation, spearheading Sky’s shift from traditional media distribution to digital and streaming platforms. She launched services such as Sky Glass and Sky Stream, expanded Sky Mobile, and repositioned and expanded Sky’s sports and original content portfolio. Previously, as President of Xfinity Consumer Services, she successfully led the most significant revenue segment of Comcast, the largest broadband provider and one of the largest distributors of entertainment in the United States.

With extensive international experience across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and the U.S., Ms. Strong has demonstrated agility in diverse regulatory, cultural, and business environments. She currently serves on The Wharton School of Business EMEA Advisory Board and previously served on the board of Telenet Group.

Annabelle Yu Long: Managing Partner, Board Member and Asia Markets Strategist

Ms. Long is an experienced venture capitalist and board member with a strong background in digital innovation, and business operations in Asia/Pacific. She currently serves as Founding and Managing Partner of BAI Capital, a venture capital firm focused on businesses operating in Asia and beyond with investments across AI, fintech, consumer retail, media and content innovation. Additionally, Ms. Long is a member of the Group Management Committee of Bertelsmann, where she contributes to global corporate strategy and development, and where she has led Bertelsmann’s China growth strategy and its transformation into a well-regarded global investment powerhouse.

Ms. Long also sits on several public boards, including Tapestry Inc. (parent company of Coach and Kate Spade), NIO Inc. (an electric car company) and LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. (a credit technology-empowered personal finance service provider). She is also on the board of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.

Named to Forbes’ Midas List in 2024 and Asia’s Power Businesswomen in 2020, Ms. Long brings strategic insight on Asian consumer behavior, technology disruption, and public company governance.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include those in the various quotations. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include the ability to successfully implement its strategy, including the Company’s profit recovery and growth plan; successfully transition its leadership; and those other factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise.

About The Estée Lauder Companies

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products, and is a steward of luxury and prestige brands globally. The Company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD, Smashbox, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD, and BALMAIN Beauty.

ELC-C

 

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Contacts

 

Media Relations:

Brendan Riley

briley@estee.com

Investor Relations:

Rainey Mancini

rmancini@estee.com

 

Zed Raises $32M Series B Led by Sequoia to Scale Collaborative AI Coding Vision

 BOULDER, Colo. - Wednesday, 20. August 2025 AETOSWire Print 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zed Industries, creator of the high-performance open-source code editor Zed, today announced it has raised $32 million in Series B funding led by Sequoia Capital, bringing total funding to over $42 million. The investment will accelerate development of new capabilities that enable real-time collaboration between developers and AI agents directly within code.

Contextual and Collaborative Coding for the AI Era

Zed is building persistent, contextual conversations tied directly to code. Unlike Git, which enables collaboration through commits and branches but leaves developers working alone between commits, Zed's approach captures ongoing discussions and decisions as they happen using character-level permalinks powered by conflict-free replicated data types (CRDTs).

“We're building fundamentally better primitives for collaborative coding, which will allow conversations with teammates and agents to take place directly within the IDE," said Nathan Sobo, CEO and co-founder of Zed. “By durably linking conversations to specific sections of the code via character-level permalinks, we can transform codebases into multi-dimensional sources of context explaining how any line of code came to be.”

"The future of software development is collaboration – both with other humans and AI agents – and Zed is pioneering the infrastructure to make that vision reality," said Sonya Huang, Partner at Sequoia Capital. "Their approach to contextual coding represents a fundamental shift in how developers will work with AI agents, and we're excited to support their mission to transform the development experience."

Built From the Ground Up for Collaboration

Unlike competitors who have forked Microsoft's VS Code and bolted on AI features, Zed was engineered from the ground up for collaboration. Built on a lightning-fast Rust codebase with GPUI, a GPU-accelerated UI framework created by the Zed team, the editor enables seamless interaction between humans and AI agents. Since going open-source in 2024, Zed has grown quickly, attracting 1,100 contributors and more than 150,000 active developers.

Learn more about Zed, their vision and the product by visiting: www.zed.dev.

About Zed

Zed is an open-source, multiplayer code editor built for performance from the ground up in Rust. Founded by the creators of Atom and Electron, Zed is designed to make software creation joyful, fast, and collaborative.

 

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Media Contact: hi@zed.dev

Faraday Future launches “EAI + Crypto” dual-flywheel & dual-bridge ecosystem

 Wholly owned subsidiary has been established for the crypto business

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc, a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, has officially launched its “EAI + Crypto” Dual-Flywheel & Dual-Bridge Ecosystem Strategy — marking the beginning of a new chapter in AI mobility and Web3 integration.

This initiative integrates Embodied AI (EAI) with the explosive growth of the crypto asset economy to create a two-way, independently operating circular growth engine between Web2 and Web3, positioning FF at the forefront of the next era in global industrial and financial evolution.

A new growth paradigm

Faraday Future believes that AI represents the next great leap in productivity, while Crypto and Web3 signify a revolution in the relations of production. Together, these forces offer a once-in-decades opportunity for transformation — a meta-chemistry that FF aims to drive through its newly launched strategy.

“The next decade could be a super long bull cycle for the crypto market,” said Ian Calderon, FF Co-Creation Officer and Founding Board Member of the California Blockchain Working Group. “FF is building a dual-engine circular growth system — combining the long-cycle, high-value EAI EV ecosystem with the short-cycle, high-velocity Crypto ecosystem. These two flywheels will empower each other, redefining what’s possible in mobility and financial innovation.”

Building the bridge between Web2 and Web3

FF’s Dual-Bridge Strategy positions the Company as one of the first U.S.-listed public companies directly connecting real-world business operations with on-chain assets. Plans are underway to launch the EAI Vehicle Chain, enabling tokenized vehicle sales, crypto-based deposits, and Web3-native user engagement — while leveraging blockchain technology to create a decentralized and transparent mobility economy.

“The Dual-Flywheel & Dual-Bridge Strategy reflects our deep insights into the future of the global economy,” said YT Jia, Founder & Co-CEO of Faraday Future. “FF is not just transitioning into a Web3 era — we are architecting it. This is how we deliver exponential value creation for our stockholders.”

A new crypto infrastructure for capital markets

FF also officially announced the C10 Index, a market-cap-weighted basket of the world’s top 10 crypto assets (excluding stablecoins), calculated from midnight Pacific Time on August 16, 2025, with a base value of 1,000. The Index will be tracked in real-time on FF.com and the FF App.

Accompanying the Index, the FFAI C10 Treasury is being launched — targeting $500M to $1B in initial crypto asset purchases, with a dedicated $30M funding round completed or nearly complete. Assets will be allocated using an 80% passive, 20% active strategy. The treasury is designed to provide sustainable returns, with staking yields estimated at 3%–5%, creating stable income that can fund product innovation, stock buybacks, and further asset growth.

FF is also preparing to apply for a C10 ETF license, aiming to expand public access to the value potential of this portfolio.

The Crypto Flywheel strategy — operated through a wholly owned and independently managed subsidiary, FFAI Crypto Treasury and Bridging Holdings Inc. — is expected to dramatically enhance FF’s income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow. With on-chain assets serving as both reserves and flexible capital, the strategy enables FF to generate stable income through staking, reduce reliance on high-cost financing, and improve net asset value and structure. It aims to accelerate product development and market expansion through a 1/3–1/3–1/3 profit reinvestment model.

FF’s crypto and EV businesses are operated under separate legal and financial structures to ensure risk isolation, operational independence, and asset transparency. Digital assets will be held by third-party custodians and will be fully verifiable on-chain. The structure is designed to allow strategic synergies without cross-subsidization, ensuring both lines of business can flourish independently — while reinforcing each other.

With this launch, Faraday Future offers investors access to potential dual benefits from the AI mobility and crypto asset markets. This revolutionary move supports the Company’s long-standing commitment to maximize stockholder value in a future-forward and sustainable manner.

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Contacts

Namita Thakkar  

namita@matrixdubai.com

ISACA and INGRYD Academy Partner to Train 10,000 Aspiring Tech Professionals in Nigeria

 (BUSINESS WIRE)--Global IT professional association ISACA and Nigeria-based tech talent training and outsourcing academy INGRYD Academy today announced a partnership focused on advancing IT/information security readiness and workforce development for those pursuing careers advancing trust in technology, including cybersecurity, emerging technologies and IT audit.

Designed to support Nigeria’s national workforce development goals and meet Africa’s growing demand for digital skills, the five-year partnership will equip 10,000 aspiring tech professionals with in-demand training and access to ISACA’s global professional community. Each year, 2,000 INGRYD Academy students will receive several Fundamentals courses from ISACA, a one-year ISACA student membership, and networking and mentorship opportunities through ISACA’s global chapters, as well as workshops, conferences, and other events with INGRYD staff and ISACA members where they can share ideas, knowledge and best practices.

Africa’s digital economy is projected to reach $180 billion by 2025, according to a report from IFC and Google, yet the region faces a critical shortage of trained professionals to meet growing demand. Nigeria, with more than 100 million internet users and a fast-growing tech sector, is well positioned to lead—but continues to experience gaps in cybersecurity capacity and workforce readiness. This collaboration helps address that need at scale.

The collaboration provides a unique opportunity to expand IT and cybersecurity training to help close the global tech talent gap, helping aspiring tech professionals build relevant, future-forward skills that will launch their careers, including through ISACA courses on cybersecurity and AI.

This program aligns with ISACA’s academic and workforce development efforts to support the next generation of learners around the globe seeking in-demand IS/IT skills and communities looking to grow their digital trust workforce, as well as with INGRYD Academy’s mission to produce highly trained tech talent with the right expertise, culture and work readiness to support the increasing demand from businesses globally.

“Empowering the next generation as they embark on their tech career journeys not only ensures the strength of our global IT and cybersecurity workforce but also builds tech and cyber capability—a critical enabler of economic growth and overall societal prosperity through the safer adoption of digital technologies,” says Chris Dimitriadis, ISACA Chief Global Strategy Officer. “We are excited about our partnership with INGRYD Academy, and we applaud its efforts to open new learning pathways for students and work towards a safer digital world.”

“The collaboration between ISACA and INGRYD Academy represents a powerful driver of opportunity and change. By providing Nigerian students with globally recognized credentials and connecting them to ISACA’s community, INGRYD Academy is opening doors to new careers and empowering the younger generations to contribute to sustainable growth and innovation across the region,” says Gustavo Frega, Senior Academic Strategy and Business Partnership Manager, ISACA.

“This partnership marks a transformative step in our mission to close the digital skills gap in Africa. By equipping 40,000 learners with globally recognized training, we’re enabling long-term career mobility. We’re not just creating tech talent—we’re building a generation of problem-solvers and digital leaders. That’s the kind of impact that moves nations forward.” says HRM Khadijat Abdulkadir, CEO, Ingryd Academy.

For more detail about ISACA courses, visit www.isaca.org/training-and-events/online-training/online-review-courses. Learn about ISACA academic and workforce development partnerships at www.isaca.org/partnerships/become-an-academic-partner.

Learn more about INGRYD Academy and its programs at https://ingrydacademy.com/en/academy.

About ISACA

For more than 55 years, ISACA® (www.isaca.org) has empowered its community of 185,000+ members with the knowledge, credentials, training and network they need to thrive in fields like information security, governance, assurance, risk management, data privacy and emerging tech. With a presence in more than 190 countries and with nearly 230 chapters worldwide, ISACA offers resources tailored to every stage of members’ careers. Through the ISACA Foundation, ISACA also expands IT and education career pathways, fostering opportunities to grow the next generation of technology professionals.

About INGRYD

INGRYD Academy is a leading technology Academy that offers tech training, certifications, talent outsourcing, and consulting services, with physical presence in Europe, Africa, and the United States. Ingryd has trained thousands of learners and certified over 4,500 professionals, drawing from a talent pool of over 100,000 aspiring tech talents who have been placed with our 288 partner organisations across the world. INGRYD closes the global tech talent gap and helps aspiring tech professionals build relevant, future-forward skills that will launch their careers by offering specialised training of 200 hours on courses. INGRYD Academy also supports Nigerian youths by offering 4,000 scholarships yearly to increase access for young people at a disadvantage. Having worked with several government and private organizations across the world, INGRYD is experienced in developing custom trainings and systems to support real world career accelerations.

Instagram: @ingrydacademy

TikTok: @ingrydacademy

Facebook: INGRYD Academy

LinkedIn: INGRYD Academy

Twitter/X: @INGRYDAcademy

 

 

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Contacts

Emily Ayala, communications@isaca.org, 847-385-7223

The Arabian Silk Road: First Global Path to Responsible Consumption and Production

 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 

Saudi Green Building Forum convenes its 15th Edition hosted by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing,

 

Renowned for its green plains and world-famous dates, Al Qassim has emerged as a Saudi model for integrating agricultural heritage with modern sustainability practices. Under the patronage of HRH Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the “Qassim Land” initiative was launched to promote green cities and a circular economy, in support of SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

The initiative aims to enhance production methods, recycling, and effective utilization of agricultural waste, while expanding exports into global markets. Al Qassim’s experience was recently showcased at the UN’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Goals in July, during which the Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF) presented a success story, illustrating Saudi Arabia’s efforts to localize SDGs by aligning them with circular economy principles.

SGBF Secretary-General Faisal Al-Fadl, explained that the Qassim governor’s initiative is documented through saaf® as a standard framework that promotes innovation and sustainability. He also emphasized that “circular economy is no longer an option but a necessity to ensure food and environmental security.”

Dubbed “the Arab Silk Road”, the Qassim dates industry reaches markets across various continents. To further elevate the Kingdom’s standing, HH the Governor of AlQassim launched the “International Date Road” initiative to link Saudi date production to the historic Silk Road. The project will facilitate the export of more than 578,000 tons of dates annually, strengthening the Kingdom's position as a global hub for date trade, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

The Saudi Green Building Forum, recognized in Consultative Status with the United Nations, hosts its 15th edition, with 3,000+ participants, from companies such as Saudi Aramco, Nesma & Partners, Climatech, Roshan, and Shaker Group. Titled: “Energizing Green Action: Driving Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Development Goals”, the SGBF will feature 50 speakers and more than 20 sessions to address green city challenges, promote multilateral agreements, and further accelerate localization of Sustainable Development Goals in light of Saudi Vision 2030. Sponsored by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, the forum will take place on October 1-2, 2025, at Al-Malfa Hall - Mohammed bin Salman Non-Profit City (MiSK City), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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Contacts

Ms. Abia Subair

abiazubair@sgbf.sa

+971527306747

Saudi Green Building Forum

info@sgbf.sa

www.sgbf.sa

LevelBlue Completes Acquisition of Trustwave to Form the World's Largest Managed Security Services Provider

DALLAS - Tuesday, 19. August 2025

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- LevelBlue, a global leader in cloud-based, AI-driven managed security services (MSS), has completed its acquisition of Trustwave, a global provider of cybersecurity and managed detection and response (MDR) leader.

Today’s acquisition establishes LevelBlue as the world’s largest pure-play MSSP with the broadest and most comprehensive portfolio of managed security, offensive security, strategic advisory, incident response, and security software. This unmatched scale empowers clients and partners to accelerate threat detection, streamline security operations, reduce cyber risk, and mature their overall cybersecurity posture.

“The acquisition of Trustwave makes us the most complete cybersecurity partner in the industry,” said Bob McCullen, Chairman and CEO of LevelBlue. “We’re redefining what it means to be a managed security provider—combining world-class human expertise with AI-powered, platform-led services to give clients faster detection, smarter response, and long-lasting resilience against evolving threats. By uniting offensive and defensive strengths, we can deliver true defense in depth for enterprises, governments, and partners worldwide.”

LevelBlue and Trustwave unite decades of leadership in MSS, MDR, incident response, and threat intelligence. The combined company integrates LevelBlue’s expertise in network security, strategic risk management, and threat intelligence with Trustwave’s market-leading MDR powered by the Fusion Security Operations Platform, offensive security capabilities, and elite SpiderLabs threat intelligence team. Together, they form a single, unified partner that simplifies operations, accelerates effective response, optimizes leading cyber technologies, and ensures cohesive protection across cloud, on-prem, and hybrid environments.

LevelBlue’s expanded intelligence ecosystem now merges OTX, the world’s largest open threat-sharing platform, with the proprietary detection logic and advanced research capabilities of both LevelBlue Labs and Trustwave SpiderLabs. This unique combination delivers exceptional situational awareness across the threat landscape, enabling faster detection, reduced alert fatigue, and more proactive threat mitigation throughout the security lifecycle.

Earlier this year, Trustwave became the first and only cybersecurity pure-play provider to achieve full authorized status under both the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) and StateRAMP. These credentials significantly strengthen LevelBlue’s ability to serve the U.S. Department of Defense, the Defense Industrial Base, federal agencies, and state and local governments worldwide, providing streamlined procurement, compliance assurance, and mission-critical resilience for organizations that cannot afford downtime or exposure.

“LevelBlue’s acquisition of Trustwave, on the heels of the Stroz Friedberg transaction, marks a pivotal moment in cybersecurity, delivering a very broad portfolio of capabilities among pure-play services providers,” said Craig Robinson, IDC Research Vice President for Security Services. “As cyber risks escalate, resilience is now mission-critical for enterprises and government agencies alike.

“IDC research shows that 36% of organizations are significantly increasing their cyber-resilience spending in 2025. This reality reflects security teams’ needs for increased cybersecurity maturity while simultaneously satisfying the C-Suite’s demands for increased resilience and uptime. LevelBlue’s full-featured suite of solutions, including MDR, AI-driven threat detection, incident response, offensive security, and strategic advisory, sets up organizations to shift from a reactive defense posture to proactive resilience at scale.”

This acquisition is part of LevelBlue’s broader strategy to merge the industry’s strongest organizations and capabilities to deliver superior outcomes for clients. In addition to acquiring Trustwave, LevelBlue recently announced the completion of its acquisition of Aon’s (NYSE: AON) Cybersecurity and Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation consulting groups, including the respected cybersecurity firms Stroz Friedberg and Elysium Digital.

These strategic consolidations address the growing demand for more comprehensive, integrated, and adaptive cybersecurity solutions, positioning LevelBlue as the largest independent, pure-play MSSP globally. The company remains committed to strengthening partnerships, maximizing measurable ROI for clients, and driving innovation to meet evolving threats.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About LevelBlue

We simplify cybersecurity through award-winning managed services, experienced strategic consulting, threat intelligence, and renowned research. Our team is a seamless extension of yours, providing transparency and visibility into security posture and continuously working to strengthen it.

We harness security data from numerous sources and enrich it with artificial intelligence to deliver real-time threat intelligence; this enables more accurate and precise decision making. With a large, always-on global presence, LevelBlue sets the standard for cybersecurity today and tomorrow. We easily and effectively manage risk, so you can focus on your business.

About Trustwave

Trustwave is a globally recognized cybersecurity leader that reduces cyber risk and fortifies organizations against disruptive and damaging cyber threats. Trustwave’s comprehensive offensive and defensive cybersecurity portfolio detects what others cannot, responds with greater speed and effectiveness, optimizes clients’ cyber investments, and improves security resilience. Trusted by thousands of organizations worldwide, Trustwave leverages its world-class team of security consultants, threat hunters, researchers, and market-leading security operations platform to decrease the likelihood of attacks and minimize potential impact.

Trustwave is an analyst-recognized leader in managed detection and response (MDR), managed security services (MSS), cyber advisory, penetration testing, database security, and email security. The elite Trustwave SpiderLabs team provides industry-defining threat research, intelligence, and threat hunting, all of which are infused into Trustwave services and products to fortify cyber resilience in the age of inevitable cyber-attacks.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250819451116/en/

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Contacts

Media Contact

Devon Swanson

Devon.swanson@trustwave.com

1 (831) 737-3132

Board Achieves Microsoft Solutions Partner Designation with Azure Certified Software for its Enterprise Planning Platform

BOSTON - Tuesday, 19. August 2025 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Board, a leading Enterprise Planning Platform, today announced it has earned the Microsoft Solutions Partner designation with Certified Software for Azure, recognizing the company's proven capabilities in delivering enterprise-grade SaaS solutions on Microsoft Azure.

This designation recognizes the Board Enterprise Planning Platform for meeting Microsoft’s highest technical standards for financial planning software. It validates the platform’s ability to empower customers with continuous, autonomous cloud governance—driving smarter financial strategies and streamlined operations across the enterprise.

"Achieving the Certified Software for Azure designation is a major milestone in our strategic alignment with Microsoft," said John Kelley, Global Lead, Microsoft Alliance at Board. "We’re committed to delivering secure, scalable, and compliant software solutions that help our partners and customers accelerate their strategic financial and operational planning performance."

"Board continues to demonstrate excellence as part of our ISV partner ecosystem,” comments Andrew Reid, Commercial Partner Lead Switzerland, Member of the Swiss Leadership Team, Microsoft. “We’re proud to recognize them with the Certified Software for Azure designation. This designation reflects Board’s commitment to the highest standards in architecture, security, and operational performance—empowering customers with smarter, scalable, and trusted enterprise planning in the cloud.”

As a long-standing global Microsoft ISV (Independent Software Vendor) partner and member of the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program (MAICPP), Board is positioned to deepen its collaboration with Microsoft, delivering more effective support for enterprise customers and greater value through the Microsoft commercial marketplace.

To learn more, visit www.board.com or find Board in the Azure Marketplace.

About Board

Board is the Enterprise Planning Platform built to accelerate business performance, enable continuous planning, and drive confident, aligned decisions. It powers more accurate forecasts with real-time visibility into enterprise and external data. It unifies finance and operations with a single source of the truth. And with AI-augmented experiences for every role, teams can continuously make smarter decisions for predictable, profitable business outcomes. That’s why visionary global brands including H&M, BASF, Burberry, Toyota, Coca-Cola, HSBC, and thousands more trust Board to navigate complex markets with confidence. For more information, visit www.board.com.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250819778837/en/

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Contacts

Jennie Olean
jolean@board.com

Andersen Consulting Expands Platform with Addition of Australia’s Liberty IT Consulting Group

 

SAN FRANCISCO - 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Andersen Consulting further strengthens its digital transformation capabilities with Liberty IT, a leading provider of enterprise-grade digital transformation in financial services.

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Australia, Liberty IT specializes in technology consulting for top-tier financial services organizations such as banks, wealth management entities and the stock exchange. The firm specializes in banking systems modernization, payments, data and digital with strong focus in cloud-native solutions implementation, systems integration, data migration, engineering, DevOps, AI, and enterprise merger and integration. With a strong reputation in the market, Liberty IT works with clients to deliver platforms at scale, drive operational efficiency, optimize performance, minimize cost, maximize odds for successful project delivery, and accelerate digital transformation initiatives.

“Collaborating with Andersen Consulting enables us to scale our impact and bring even greater value to clients undergoing technology transformation—particularly in the banking and finance sector,” said John Dimitropoulos, CEO of Liberty IT. “Our industry knowledge, combined with strong focus on technology and deep understanding of the Australian culture, has allowed us to maintain a competitive edge in the market. Together, with Andersen Consulting’s global resources, we’re well positioned to deliver comprehensive, high-impact solutions globally.”

Mark L. Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen, added, "Liberty IT’s reputation and focus on long-term client success align with our values. This collaboration will strengthen our ability to deliver technology-led transformation, offering our clients an integrated approach that merges business strategy, operational insight, and advanced technical implementation.”

Andersen Consulting is a global consulting practice providing a comprehensive suite of services spanning corporate strategy, business, technology, and AI transformation, as well as human capital solutions. Andersen Consulting integrates with the multidimensional service model of Andersen Global, delivering world-class consulting, tax, legal, valuation, global mobility, and advisory expertise on a global platform with more than 20,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 500 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. Andersen Consulting Holdings LP is a limited partnership and provides consulting solutions through its member firms and collaborating firms around the world.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250819303269/en/

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Contacts

mediainquiries@Andersen.com

Multimedia, Inc. Launches Celebration of Its 35th Anniversary – A Legacy of Global Advertising Excellence

 ORLANDO, Fla. - Tuesday, 19. August 2025 AETOSWire Print 

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Multimedia, Inc., a global leader in international marketing and advertising services, is proud to announce the kickoff of its 35th Anniversary celebration. The company, founded in Orlando, Florida, on July 9, 1991, is preparing to commemorate 35 years of innovation, growth, and global impact in 2026.

Since its founding, Multimedia has evolved from representing leading Brazilian publications to becoming the exclusive Americas representative for top-tier digital and print media outlets across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Today, the company boasts a robust network of 82 distinguished agents in 31 countries, strong ties with major agencies and clients worldwide, and a well-earned reputation for professionalism, prestige, and results.

Multimedia’s expertise spans all advertising platforms—digital, print, radio, TV, and out-of-home (OOH)—enabling clients to execute high-impact campaigns across all continents. “We’re incredibly proud of the brand prestige we've built over the decades,” said Fernando Mariano, Founder and President of Multimedia, Inc. “I’ve personally visited nearly 80 countries, many of them multiple times—to foster strong relationships with agents, agencies, clients, and media leaders. From São Paulo to Seoul, from Paris to Singapore, our mission has always been to connect global brands with the world’s most influential media platforms.”

Among the renowned media represented by Multimedia are O Globo and O Estado de S.Paulo (Brazil), People’s Daily and China Daily (China), JoongAng Ilbo (South Korea), Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines), Bangkok Post (Thailand), and Khaleej Times (UAE).

This powerful media reach has attracted an impressive portfolio of global clients, including Air France, Airbus, American Airlines, Armani, Bank of America, Boeing, Breitling, Canon, Citibank, Dolce & Gabbana, Emirates, Gucci, Hitachi, Hyundai, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Oracle, Qatar Airways, Rolex, Seiko, Siemens, Turespaña, UBS, and Visa, to name just a few.

Multimedia’s guiding principle of brand prestige—defined by high quality, credibility, and global trust—continues to shape the company’s strategy and services as it enters a new era of innovation and opportunity.

Agents, agencies and clients benefit from Multimedia highly recognized expertise and its commercial agreements with leading media outlets located in all continents, providing the best digital, print, radio, TV and OOH advertising possibilities worldwide.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250818657702/en/

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Contacts

 

Multimedia, Inc.

Carol Souza, +1-407-903-5000 Ext. 249

carol@multimediausa.com

IQM to Integrate Quantum Computer Into Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s HPC Systems

  TENNESSEE, USA & ESPOO, Finland - Tuesday, 19. August 2025 AETOSWire

IQM Radiance 20-qubit upgradeable full stack superconducting quantum computer will be the first on-premises quantum computer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

The system will be delivered by the third quarter of 2025, and it will be integrated with ORNL’s high-performance computing (HPC) systems to advance hybrid quantum-classical application development.

 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) today announced it has selected IQM Radiance as its first-ever purchased on-premises quantum computer to be integrated into high-performance computing (HPC) systems at ORNL.

IQM Radiance 20-qubit quantum computer is based on superconducting technology and aimed at accelerating hybrid quantum-classical application development. The quantum computer will be delivered by the third quarter of 2025 and is upgradeable to higher qubit counts in the future.

Acquiring an on-premises IQM Radiance supports ORNL’s mission to work towards seamless, tight integration between quantum computing hardware and HPC infrastructure. ORNL’s teams have been recognised for leading quantum-HPC integration efforts in the research community for years.

Today’s announcement follows an earlier announcement of ORNL’s Quantum Computing User Program (QCUP) leveraging the IQM Resonance cloud platform for advanced quantum research.

“ORNL has a decades-long history in high-performance computing and is today one of the leading research institutions in the US for quantum computing,” said Travis Humble, advisor to the QCUP and director of the Quantum Science Center at ORNL. “IQM’s on-premises installation will allow our researchers hands-on access to cutting-edge quantum computing technology as we explore how quantum computers will be integrated with HPC systems to tackle early quantum advantage.”

“We are excited that ORNL has selected IQM Radiance as their first-ever purchased on-premises quantum computer,” said Mikko Välimäki, Co-CEO of IQM Quantum Computers. “This further proves that quantum computers are already today highly useful and in demand. Important research can be done to integrate quantum computers with classical hardware and develop the platform for quantum advantage.”

Since entering the US market, IQM has been leveraging its leading global market position, state-of-the-art technology, and partnerships to drive quantum research, adoption and education.

“We are committed to supporting ORNL's pioneering efforts to advance quantum computing across the US. Our shared vision to accelerate the integration of quantum and HPC infrastructure has made this journey incredibly rewarding, and we are just getting started. Our long-term goal is to collaborate closely with ORNL’s researchers in quantum application areas like fluid dynamics, particle physics and electronic structure simulations,” said Jan Goetz, co-founder and co-CEO of IQM.

About IQM Quantum Computers:

IQM is a global leader in superconducting quantum computers. IQM provides both on-premises full-stack quantum computers and a cloud platform to access its computers. IQM customers include the leading high-performance computing centres, research labs, universities and enterprises which have full access to IQM's software and hardware. IQM has over 300 employees with headquarters in Finland and a global presence in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, Singapore, South Korea and the United States.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250819262096/en/

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Contacts

Media contact:

Email: press@meetiqm.com

Mobile: +358504790845

www.meetiqm.com

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, is undeniably one of the fastest-growing real estate markets in the Middle East: industry leaders

 

 Ras Al Khaimah is experiencing an unprecedented real estate boom, rapidly emerging as among the most dynamic property markets in the UAE, guided by the forward-looking vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

The Emirate is shaping its skyline as it builds its resilient, diversified economy, in line with a strategy that centers around sound planning, sustainability, enhancing quality of life and world-class developments.

In recent years, property sales and prices have surged in Ras Al Khaimah, driven by a wave of hospitality, commercial and residential projects. An expected population growth from 0.4 million to 0.65 million by 2030 is set to generate demand for an estimated 45,000 additional residential units. This sustained growth is anchored in a diversified economy, investor-friendly regulations and the entry of global developers into the market, such as Emaar, Aldar and Ellington, alongside local leaders Marjan, Al Hamra and RAK Properties.

At the forefront of Ras Al Khaimah’s transformation is Al Marjan Island, a premier waterfront destination making strides in the sector under the leadership of CEO Eng. Abdullah Al Abdooli, and playing host to ultra-luxury brands including Wynn, JW Marriott, Nobu, Missoni and The Address. Further expanding its offering, Marjan is developing commercial district RAK Central, a multifunctional hub that blends business, lifestyle and innovation.

Developer Al Hamra, led by CEO Benoy Kurien, continues to set the standard for integrated living with Al Hamra Village’s 4,000+ homes, golf course and vibrant community of 10,000+ residents, complemented by major projects such as Waldorf Astoria Residences, Falcon Island and Al Hamra Waterfront.

Further along the coast, RAK Properties is enhancing the Emirate’s shoreline with its flagship Mina development already home to award-winning Anantara and InterContinental resorts, with others including Nikki Beach and Four Seasons in the pipeline.

“The vision for Ras Al Khaimah is becoming a reality,” said RAK Properties Chairman Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Zaabi. “We are creating a vibrant, sustainable environment that is attracting global investment.”

The company’s CEO, Sameh Muhtadi, asserted: “We are witnessing unprecedented global interest – and this momentum will only continue.”

Downloads:

Long video: RAK Real Estate.mp4

Short video: RAK Real Estate short.mp4

Images: Real Estate

Permalink

https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/rakm1982025

Contacts

Steven McCombe

media@rakmediaoffice.ae

500 Global and UNDP Launch New Innovation Programs to Boost Africa’s Ecosystem

 The launch is the latest in a series of firm actions to reinforce support for the African venture ecosystem

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--500 Global, one of the world’s most active venture capital firms1, today announced the launch of their first founder programs in Nairobi, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to support the pan-African ecosystem2.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250817561005/en/

Nairobi will serve as host for three programs run by 500 Global in partnership with UNDP this year. The programs are co-designed to support startups at every stage—from early to growth—by offering tailored acceleration programs appropriate to each startup’s level of maturity. The first program, the Pre-Acceleration Academy, will support founders at the earliest stage of their journey through an in-person program running October 6 - 12th. The second program, the Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator, will provide support for seed-stage founders who are developing sustainable innovation solutions.

The third program, 500 Global’s Bootcamp for Accelerator Managers, is designed to upskill accelerator managers and incubators within UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, who are committed to advancing innovation across Africa. The three programs aim to support continued ecosystem development while broadening opportunities to invest in African founders across the continent.

500 Global’s Africa leadership aims to work with founders, investors, and institutions like UNDP, to become a more active participant within the African innovation ecosystem.

“With the launch of these programs, we are excited for 500 Global to deepen our work with African entrepreneurs and to help them adapt to this new global landscape. We are looking forward to working closely with partners like UNDP across the continent to provide the infrastructure for sustained innovation and growth. ” - Mareme Dieng, Partner, 500 Global

Together, 500 Global and UNDP hope to provide African founders the insights and expertise to navigate the evolving global landscape and capitalize on opportunities to scale, by providing support, mentorship, as well as their global network of resources.

“At UNDP, we believe that Africa’s future lies in the ingenuity of its people. Through this partnership with 500 Global, we are not just investing in startups, we are investing in innovators driving Africa’s sustainable transformation. By equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and mentorship they need, we are building a resilient ecosystem that will power inclusive growth and deliver on the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals”, said Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant UN Secretary General and Director of UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa.

Applications are open for all three programs. Founders can learn more and apply through the Pre-Acceleration Academy and Sustainable Innovation Accelerator Program pages.

About 500 Global

500 Global is a multi-stage venture capital firm with $2.1B in assets under management3 that invests in founders building fast-growing technology companies. We focus on markets where technology, innovation, and capital can unlock long-term value and drive economic growth and development. We work closely with key stakeholders and advise governments on how best to support entrepreneurial ecosystems and economic development in emerging markets. 500 Global has backed over 5,000 founders representing more than 3,000 companies operating in 80+ countries. We have invested in more than 35+ companies valued at over $1 billion and 150+ companies valued at over $100 million (including private, public, and exited companies). Our 175+ team members are located in more than 25 countries and bring experience as entrepreneurs, investors, and operators from some of the world’s leading technology companies.

500 Global made its first investment in Africa in 2011. Since then, 500 has invested in and supported 100+ portfolio companies headquartered in Africa, notably backing Chipper Cash, Smile Identity, Stitch, Money Fellows and Asaak. Beyond direct investment, 500 Global has been a partner in ecosystem development, working closely alongside governmental entities, like the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), to develop education for accelerator managers, in addition to providing infrastructure and resources for an additional 150+ Egyptian founders since 2022.

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations agency fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

timbuktoo is a pan-African initiative, led by UNDP, with a focus on unlocking Africa’s innovation potential by supporting entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth. It helps high-potential startups in key sectors through tailored funding, expert mentorship, and access to global markets. Learn more at http://www.undp.org/africa or follow @UNDP and @UNDPAfrica on social media.

THE CONTENT IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. 500 GLOBAL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OR INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN AND WHILE 500 GLOBAL HAS TAKEN REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE, NO LIABILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERROR OR OMISSIONS. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, ANY PREDICTIONS, FORECASTS, CONCLUSIONS, VIEWS OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED REPRESENT THE CURRENT VIEW AND THINKING OF 500 GLOBAL WITH REGARD TO THE SUBJECT MATTER THEREIN BASED ON INTERNAL DATA AGGREGATED ACROSS ALL 500 GLOBAL FUNDS AS OF OCTOBER 23, 2024 AND/OR ANALYSIS WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED, AND WHICH IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY OF THE CONTENT IN THIS PRESS RELEASE BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL, TAX OR INVESTMENT ADVICE FROM 500 GLOBAL OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES. 500 GLOBAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANY FUTURE RESULTS FOR ANY DECISIONS MADE BASED IN WHOLE OR IN PART ON THE CONTENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ALL READERS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL, ACCOUNTANT OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PRESS RELEASE.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY INFORMATION OR CONTENT IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, BE CONSIDERED AS AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF INTEREST TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES ADVISED BY 500 GLOBAL OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES. FURTHER, NO CONTENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASEIS OR IS INTENDED AS AN OFFER TO PROVIDE ANY INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OR FINANCIAL ADVICE BY 500 GLOBAL. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYTHING HEREIN BE CONSTRUED AS FUND MARKETING MATERIALS BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 GLOBAL INVESTMENT FUND. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY CONTENT BE INTERPRETED AS TESTIMONIALS OR ENDORSEMENT OF THE INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE OF ANY 500 GLOBAL FUND BY A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 GLOBAL INVESTMENT FUND.

____________________

1Based on PitchBook’s 2024 Global League Tables.

2The programs are supported by additional partners, such as Shell Foundation, in addition to UNDP.

3ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT (AUM) CALCULATIONS ARE BASED ON INTERNAL ESTIMATES AS OF MARCH 31, 2025.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250817561005/en/

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Contacts

Media Contacts

Media Relations at 500 Global

press@500.co

 

TCL Dominates With Five EISA Awards, Redefining Excellence In Large-Screen & QD-Mini LED Tech

 TCL, a global leader in consumer electronics and the world’s No.1 Mini LED and Ultra-large[1]TV brand has cemented its industry leadership by clinching five prestigious EISA awards, Europe’s top honour for audio-visual innovation. Dominating both the Home Theatre Display & Video and Home Theatre Audio categories, TCL’s triumph highlights its relentless push for groundbreaking advancements in large-screen brilliance and QD-Mini LED precision.

Leading the charge, the TCL 98-inch C8K earned the “EISA STATEMENT TV 2025–2026” award for its revolutionary design and jaw-dropping visuals, while the TCL 85C9K claimed the “EISA HOME THEATER MINI LED TV 2025–2026” title, setting a new gold standard for cinematic immersion. The TCL 75C7K was honored as the “EISA FAMILY TV 2025–2026” for its perfect blend of stunning clarity and smart functionality, and the TCL 55C6K took home “EISA GAMING TV 2025–2026”—a must-have for next-gen gamers. Rounding out the accolades, TCL’s Q65H Soundbar secured the “EISA BEST BUY SOUNDBAR 2025–2026” award, delivering theater-quality audio at an unbeatable value.

TCL 98C8K: EISA “STATEMENT TV 2025-2026”

Chosen as EISA “STATEMENT TV FOR 2025–2026”, the TCL 98C8K redefines large-screen excellence with TCL’s industry-first architecture for large-screen TVs. Thanks to the use of advanced, premium materials, the TV achieves a Virtually ZeroBorder display that maximizes screen space for a more immersive viewing experience.

Beyond its striking design, the 98C8K is also engineered for top performance. Through TCL’s newly upgraded CrystGlow WHVA panel, the TV delivers an exceptional native contrast ratio of up to 7,000:1. A 0.5% low-reflection film further enhances image clarity by reducing glare, while the panel’s 40% ultra-wide color viewing angle ensures vivid, lifelike visuals from any direction. Paired with TCL’s proprietary All-domain Halo Control Technology, the 98C8K delivers precise light and shadow control—bringing advanced picture quality with uncompromising brightness, contrast, and detail to every frame.

TCL 85C9K: EISA “HOME THEATER MINI LED TV 2025-2026”

As TCL’s flagship model, the TCL 85C9K is crafted to deliver an uncompromising cinematic experience at home. Featuring a Virtually ZeroBorder display and CrystGlow WHVA Panel, the 85C9K provides a borderless, immersive visual experience with ultra-wide viewing angles and consistent picture quality from every direction. Supported by TCL’s QD-Mini LED Technology, the Precise Dimming Series TV features up to 5,184 separate brightness zones with a peak brightness of 6,500 nits, allowing it to render detailed light and shadow transitions that elevate contrast and depth across all content types. To complement its visual power, the 85C9K also features immersive Audio by Bang & Olufsen, ensuring that what you hear is as impactful as what you see.

TCL 75C7K: EISA “FAMILY TV 2025-2026”

The winner of the EISA “FAMILY TV 2025–2026” award, the TCL 75C7K is the ultimate hub for family entertainment. As a member of TCL’s Precise Dimming Series, the 75C7K uses advanced QD-Mini LED technology to deliver stunning picture quality with exceptional brightness, contrast, and color accuracy, all housed in an ultra-slim, minimalist design that complements any living space.

Powered by the TSR AiPQ Processor, the 75C7K intelligently optimizes picture quality based on content and user preferences, while integrated Google TV enables seamless access to personalized content and smart home controls. Additional family-friendly features such as Kids Profiles, Art Gallery Mode, and TÜV-certified low blue light protection ensure a safe and engaging experience for viewers of all ages.

TCL 55C6K: EISA GAMING TV 2025-2026

The TCL 55C6K is built for gamers who demand top-tier performance. Its QD-Mini LED display and native 4K 144Hz refresh rate ensure ultra-smooth gameplay and crystal-clear motion, eliminating stutter and blur, while an immersive ONKYO 2.1 Hi-Fi sound system brings cinematic audio to every gaming session. With Game Master Mode, AMD FreeSync, and SuperWide GameView, the C6K delivers a full suite of game-optimized features designed for intense, responsive, and truly immersive play.

Beyond display excellence, TCL also continues to push the boundaries of audio innovation. Named EISA “BEST BUY SOUNDBAR 2025–2026”, the Q65H Home Theater Soundbar features RAY·DANZ—TCL’s proprietary acoustic technology designed to precisely direct sound through a custom acoustic structure, creating a wide soundstage for a striking cinematic audio experience.

Currently available in select markets worldwide, these award-winning products represent TCL’s ongoing commitment to Inspire Greatness through premium and immersive entertainment experiences.

About TCL

TCL is a leading consumer electronics brand and leader in the global television industry. TCL now operates in more than 160 markets around the world. The company specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of consumer electronics products ranging from TVs, audio, home appliances, mobile devices, smart glasses, commercial displays, and more. Visit the TCL website at https://www.tcl.com.

 

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[1] Ultra-large: TVs measuring 85 inches and above

 

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Mayukh Sikdar

mayukhsikdar@watermelonme.com

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tel: +971 4 2833655

SVP Worldwide Announces Global Launch of Three New PFAFF® Sewing Machines: creative expression™ 750, quilt expression™ 725, and expression™ 715

 NASHVILLE, Tenn. -

(BUSINESS WIRE)--SVP Worldwide, the parent company of PFAFF®, SINGER®, and HUSQVARNA® VIKING® sewing brands, today announced the highly anticipated global launch of three new PFAFF sewing machines: the creative expression 750, quilt expression 725, and expression 715. These machines combine precision engineering, cutting-edge technology, and the timeless craftsmanship PFAFF is known for.

The new models will be available for purchase beginning August 14, 2025 on PFAFF.com and at authorized PFAFF Dealer locations across the United States and Europe. Expanded global distribution in Latin America and Asia Pacific is planned throughout Q3 and Q4 of 2025.

"This launch represents an exciting new chapter for PFAFF and for passionate sewists around the world," said Rob Will, CEO of SVP Worldwide. "These three machines are designed to inspire creativity and confidence, offering the precision and innovation that our customers expect from the PFAFF brand. We can’t wait to see the extraordinary projects our ‘PFAFFies’ will bring to life with this new lineup."

The new expression series machines showcase advanced features tailored to both serious hobbyists and professional sewists. All models offer:

Built-in connectivity to the CREATIVATE™ digital platform of creative tools

Large color capacitive touch screens for an intuitive, modern sewing experience

Automatic Needle Threaders eliminate threading frustration

Exclusive PFAFF stitch techniques for distinctive embellishments

The creative expression 750 and quilt expression 725 also feature adjustable laser sewing guidance, enabling users to achieve unmatched accuracy for complex projects.

"The new PFAFF expression series brings together precision and innovation in a way that truly elevates the sewing experience," said Jason Zielke, Chief Product and Technology Officer at SVP Worldwide. "We are especially proud of the new Hoop Scanning feature on the creative expression 750, which allows a sewist to see their hooped project on the 8” color touch screen for a more accurate placement of the embroidery before stitching."

The launch of the PFAFF creative expression 750, quilt expression 725, and expression 715 reaffirms SVP Worldwide’s commitment to empowering creators worldwide with products that push the boundaries of sewing technology and innovation.

For more information or to locate a dealer, visit www.pfaff.com.

PFAFF, SINGER, VIKING, CREATIVE EXPRESSION, QUILT EXPRESSION, EXPRESSION and CREATIVATE are exclusive trademarks of Singer Sourcing Limited LLC or its Affiliates. HUSQVARNA and the “H” Crown Device are trademarks of Husqvarna AB and are used under license. © 2025 Singer Sourcing Limited LLC or its Affiliates. All rights reserved.

 

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Media Inquiries:

Devon Smiddy

Sr. Director of Global Marketing, SVP Worldwide

devon.smiddy@svpworldwide.com

LambdaTest Unveils the Fourth Edition of the Testµ ('TestMu') Conference in 2025

 The largest virtual event for quality and engineering professionals returns with a focus on innovation, AI, and future-ready testing strategies

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--LambdaTest, a leading GenAI-native quality engineering platform, is excited to unveil the 4th edition of its flagship Testµ (‘TestMu’) Conference, taking place virtually from August 19–21, 2025. This year’s event is set to host over 50,000 quality, engineering, and DevOps professionals from more than 120 countries, making it one of the largest online global gatherings dedicated to the future of quality engineering.

Testµ (‘TestMu’) Conference 2025 is designed to explore cutting-edge trends, emerging tools, and breakthrough innovations shaping the world of technology. With an esteemed lineup of 100+ global speakers, the conference will feature some of the most influential voices in tech, including Angie Jones, Global Vice President of Developer Relations of Block; Bratin Saha, Chief Product and Technology Officer of DigitalOcean; Dana Lawson, Chief Technology Officer of Netlify; Luis Héctor Chávez, Chief Technology Officer of Replit; Subba Ramaswamy, Managing Director of Accenture; and T.R. Vishwanath, Co-Founder and CTO of Glean.

"In the spirit of 'μ' — the micro that makes the macro matter — Testμ 2025 is where precision meets perspective," said Sachin Sharma, Senior Manager SDET at Adidas and one of the speakers at the 2025 edition. “It's not just about finding bugs; it's about reframing problems, sharpening decisions, and elevating every outcome. Whether you're a tester, developer, or delivery leader, join us to explore the details that define excellence and the ideas that shape the future," he added.

Over three days, attendees will have access to 60+ sessions, including keynotes, interactive workshops, fireside chats, and panel discussions on topics including Generative AI, automation at scale, test frameworks, mobile testing, API testing, AI in software testing, visual testing, accessibility testing, tools and technologies in quality & engineering, technology leadership strategies, and much more. These sessions are designed to foster insightful conversations, hands-on learning, and the exchange of strategic ideas to tackle the future of testing in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

“TestMu Conference 2025 is LambdaTest's flagship, annual conference built for the community, by the community,” said Asad Khan, CEO and Co‑Founder of LambdaTest. "This conference brings together a community of visionaries, disruptors, and changemakers committed to reshaping the future of engineering and quality. It’s not just an event, it’s a platform for all of us to connect, learn, and inspire one another. At LambdaTest, we’re excited to share how we’re driving innovation in software testing through collaboration, and the TestMu Conference is one such initiative. Let’s break new ground and build a future where software quality is the cornerstone of success."

The conference also provides unparalleled opportunities for peer networking, hands-on learning, and live challenges with exciting prizes. Testμ Conference 2025 also has a rich ecosystem of partners, including Accenture, Wipro, Cognizant, CircleCI, Elastic, Planit, Netlify, Microsoft, and many others.

Registration for the conference is now open. For more details, including the full event schedule, speaker lineup, and topics covered, visit: https://www.lambdatest.com/testmuconf-2025.

About LambdaTest

LambdaTest is a GenAI-powered Quality Engineering Platform that empowers teams to test intelligently, smarter, and ship faster. Built for scale, it offers a full-stack testing cloud with 10K+ real devices and 3,000+ browsers.

With AI-native test management, MCP servers, and agent-based automation, LambdaTest supports Selenium, Appium, Playwright, and all major frameworks. AI Agents like HyperExecute and KaneAI bring the power of AI and cloud into your software testing workflow, enabling seamless automation testing with 120+ integrations.

LambdaTest Agents accelerate your testing throughout the entire SDLC, from test planning and authoring to automation, infrastructure, execution, RCA, and reporting.

For more information, please visit https://lambdatest.com

 

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LambdaTest Unveils Media Injection for Real Device Testing

 Innovative camera simulation feature enables robust testing of image and video capture workflows across 10,000+ real mobile devices

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- LambdaTest, a unified agentic AI and cloud engineering platform, has launched Video Injection capability in Media Injection for real device testing, bringing powerful support for testing camera and video-based app functionalities at scale. This new capability empowers developers and QA teams to simulate image and video capture scenarios on real Android and iOS devices, unlocking comprehensive validation for camera-driven app experiences.

With Media Injection, users can test key workflows like QR code and barcode scanning, digital check processing, real-time video streaming, and photo or video upload features, directly on physical devices. This is made possible through LambdaTest’s proprietary Sensor Instrumentation technology, which seamlessly injects simulated media into the app’s camera interface, bypassing the need for physical camera use while ensuring realistic results.

Media Injection supports a wide range of commonly used camera APIs and integrates effortlessly with existing LambdaTest environments. With compatibility across more than 10,000 real devices, the feature ensures unparalleled coverage and accuracy for mission-critical camera workflows.

“Camera functionality is at the heart of many modern apps, whether it’s mobile banking, streaming, or shopping,” said Jay Singh, Co-Founder at LambdaTest. “With Media Injection, we’re removing the guesswork from camera testing and giving teams the power to validate these flows with real precision and scale.”

Video Injection under Media Injection is now available for all users running app tests on real devices through LambdaTest’s cloud platform. For more information, please visit https://www.lambdatest.com/support/docs/camera-image-injection-on-real-devices/#supported-camera-video-apis

About LambdaTest

LambdaTest is a GenAI-powered Quality Engineering Platform that empowers teams to test intelligently, smarter, and ship faster. Built for scale, it offers a full-stack testing cloud with 10K+ real devices and 3,000+ browsers.

With AI-native test management, MCP servers, and agent-based automation, LambdaTest supports Selenium, Appium, Playwright, and all major frameworks. AI Agents like HyperExecute and KaneAI bring the power of AI and cloud into your software testing workflow, enabling seamless automation testing with 120+ integrations.

LambdaTest Agents accelerate your testing throughout the entire SDLC, from test planning and authoring to automation, infrastructure, execution, RCA, and reporting.

For more information, please visit https://lambdatest.com

 

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Contacts

press@lambdatest.com