INVNT GROUP™ Presents Mad Dog Jones’ Newest NFT Collection ‘Fallen Gravity’: Cyberpunk Art and Star Songs Collide in collaboration with INVNT.ATOM™, Artemis Music Entertainment, and Nifty Gateway

New York, New York, April 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a collaboration powered by INVNT GROUP’s digital innovation and Web3 agency, INVNT.ATOM, artist Michah Dowbak, aka ‘Mad Dog Jones’ is set to drop his newest NFT collection, “Fallen Gravity”. The collection (available on Nifty Gateway) offers collectors unique opportunities to mint exclusive animated artworks, prints, and NFTs inspired by space and the mysteries of the cosmos; the artwork in one of the drops is embedded with unique Star Songs curated by Artemis Music Entertainment and will be sent into space along with a personalized message.

On his inspiration for the project, Mad Dog Jones comments, “Fallen Gravity is about drifting into the unknown. There’s a scientific mastery and human passion interwoven in the art, and music created from the cosmos which represent timeless wonder and dreams of discovery.”

The final phase, ‘Unknowable Dimensions’ will give 500 collectors the rare opportunity to mint a one-of-a-kind NFT that is embedded with its own unique Star Song capturing the music of a celestial spacescape. The Star Songs are created utilizing data sonification algorithms that convert astronomical images into audible music, mapping characteristics of the stars. Powered by Artemis Music Entertainment, the Star Songs integrated with the NFTs are generated from 500 telemetry coordinates over the lifetime of the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting the Earth, from its creation on December 6, 1998, through 2030, when it’s set to be decommissioned. The custom Star Songs are integrated with the NFTs to celebrate and honor the duration of the International Space Station’s journey.

Each of the 500 NFTs will feature a unique and distinct snapshot of the sky, mapped to a specific time, location (longitude and latitude), and date of the ISS’s orbital position. Some images will showcase the sky from 1988 to the present year, 2024, capturing historical skies. Others will offer a forward-looking perspective, rendering what the sky will look like up to the expected decommission year, 2030. Additionally, upon minting the final phase, each collector will have the ability to submit a 50-character personalized message. The approved messages and digital assets will be transmitted through the Artemis Space Network by Mission Control spaceflight engineers where they are beamed to space, orbit around Earth aboard the ISS and beamed back down. Upon completion, collectors will receive a custom Flight Certificate that verifies the asset and personalized message has gone to space, and successfully orbited the planet.

“Fallen Gravity represents the endless possibilities in this new era of storytelling. From the dawn of time and through groundbreaking moments of innovation like the Apollo Program and cinematic experiences like ‘Interstellar’, the human spirit for space exploration has always been intertwined within the matrix of our technicolor society. We’re proud to launch this mission, brought to life with our brilliant collaborators and partners, Mad Dog Jones, Artemis Music Entertainment, and Nifty Gateway. With this once-in-a-lifetime multimedia experience, we weave a story of discovery through art, music, and technology, while offering Web3 and Blockchain enthusiasts, NFT communities, and global collectors a unique opportunity to mint a piece of history and send a message to space. This boundless convergence of art, technology, and creativity will propel the future of human possibility into unchartered and exciting frontiers.” says Scott Cullather, President & CEO of INVNT GROUP and CEO of INVNT.ATOM.

“The Fallen Gravity collection represents the essence of why we created Artemis Music – to inspire and enable artists to create new works through meaningful connections to space and the stars, celebrated through digital space missions that are accessible for anyone. Mad Dog Jones has done this beautifully by integrating Star Songs into his Fallen Gravity collection, while also honoring the legacy of the International Space Station – perhaps the most magnificent technical and socially unifying creation of humanity,” says Bob Richards, Co-Founder of Artemis Music Entertainment.

This collection will drop on April 3rd on the Main Stage of NFT NYC at the session, “Speaking with Extraterrestrials – NFTs in the galaxy” (session time at 1:55PM ET), where Scott Cullather (INVNT GROUP & INVNT.ATOM) will be joined by Mad Dog Jones, Space Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of (Artemis Music Entertainment) and Artemis Space Network, Bob Richards, and Senior Producer of (Nifty Gateway), Patrick Milgram. The group is set to have a candid conversation covering how storytelling is shaping the future of NFTs, the inspiration behind the work, and the roles that blockchain and Web3 can play in the exploration of new realms.

The NFT Collection will drop as follows:
Phase 1 INVERTED DARK MATTER (Open Edition – $99USD) – 1x Animated Artwork + 1x Embroidered Mission Patch, available from Wed April 3 1.55PM ET – Tuesday 9 April 10AM ET

Phase 1.1 DISTANT GALAXIES (Open Edition – for Mad Dog Jones Forever Mart Collection Holders only) – 1x Animated Artwork – limited 24 hours to redeem via Burn/Redeem on the Manifold App, available Monday April 8 12PM ET – Tuesday April 9 11.59ET.

Phase 2 INFINITE DEPTH (Limited Edition of 1000 Pieces – $349USD) – 1x Animated Artwork + 1x A2 HD Print, available for presale on Tuesday April 9 11AM EDT – 11.59AM EDT, available for general sale Tuesday April 9 12PM ET – Wednesday April 10 11.59AM ET

Phase 2 UNKNOWABLE DIMENSIONS (Limited Edition of 500 Pieces – $749USD) – 1x Animated Artwork + 1x Unique Star Song + Space Flight Cert + Personal Message to Space, available for presale on Tuesday April 9 11AM EDT – 11.59AM EDT, available for general sale Tuesday April 9 12PM ET – Wednesday April 10 11.59AM ET

Fallen Gravity is now available at niftygateway.com/fallengravity.

ABOUT MAD DOG JONES (Michah Dowbak)
Michah Dowbak aka Mad Dog Jones is a multidisciplinary artist from Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he still resides. His works deftly interweave cyberpunk, dystopian imagery exploring themes of beauty, nature and technology. As a lover of the wilderness, which was ever present where he grew up, he brings a fresh thematic to the metropolitan aesthetic, done up in citrus and neon tones of technology somehow rendered as a space naturally human. Dowbak rose to fame in the world of crypto art with the recent success of his Crash + Burn series of NFT artworks as the 1:1 Replicator sold via Phillips NFT Marketplace and was a headliner in the first major NFT art exhibition at UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing. www.maddogjones.com/

ABOUT INVNT.GROUP™
[INVNT GROUP] THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT™ is a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward-thinking organizations everywhere, impact the audiences that matter, anywhere, with offices in New York, London, Sydney, Singapore, Dubai, San Francisco, Mumbai, Stockholm, Detroit, and Washington D.C. Led by President and CEO, Scott Cullather, [INVNT GROUP] was established as a growing evolution of the live global brand storytelling agency INVNT, with a vision to provide engaging, well-articulated, impactful brand stories across all platforms. The GROUP consists of: modern brand strategy firm, Folk Hero™; creative-led culture consultancy, Meaning; production studio & creative agency, HEVĒ™; events for colleges and universities, INVNT Higher Ed; digital innovation division, INVNT.ATOM™; creative multimedia experience studio, Hypnogram™; ITP Live (Any Venue Video, Thunder Audio, In Sync), portfolio of full-service production for live entertainment; and the original live global brand storytelling agency, INVNT. For more information visit www.invntgroup.com

ABOUT INVNT.ATOM™
INVNT.ATOM, part of [INVNT GROUP] THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT™, is an innovation and brand experience agency devoted to helping global brands chart a course, navigate, activate, and create new opportunities at the digital frontier of Web3. Headquartered in Singapore, the collective of strategists, marketers, creators, programmers, matchmakers, and thought leaders, turn strategies into stories and stories into experiences that engage communities on the global stage. For more information about INVNT.ATOM, visit: www.invntatom.com

ABOUT ARTEMIS MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT and ARTEMIS SPACE NETWORK™
Founded by space entrepreneur Bob Richards and musician Kristopher Houck, Artemis Music Entertainment is enabling a digital space economy for the arts by connecting creators, collectors, and communities to accessible, participatory, and meaningful space experiences. The Artemis Space Network, developed by Artemis Music Entertainment Inc., is a space-based commercial platform facilitating digital space missions that are accessible to anyone, anywhere. Artemis Music Entertainment has origins working with NASA to develop astronomically inspired music, art and entertainment initiatives supporting its Artemis Moon-Mars program and transmitted the first ever Web3 artwork and music to space and to the International Space Station to orbit the Earth on July 28th, 2021. www.artemismusicentertainment.com

ABOUT NIFTY GATEWAY™
Nifty Gateway is a leading platform revolutionizing the way digital art is bought, sold, and experienced. Backed by cutting-edge blockchain technology, Nifty Gateway offers a diverse range of digital art pieces, from collectible editions to immersive experiences, captivating a global audience of art enthusiasts and investors alike. www.niftygateway.com

Access Media Kit HERE

Attachment

 For “Fallen Gravity” campaign & press enquiries please contact: Paola Cracknell – pcracknell@invnt.com or Anna O’Young - aoyoung@invnt.com  
+61 452 452 051

For [INVNT GROUP] press inquiries please contact: Jhonathan Mendez de Leon - jmendezdeleon@invnt.com    
+1 347 819 2089

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9083836

Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week 2024 dresses Barcelona and the world in fashion

BARCELONA, Spain, April 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week (BBFW) 2024 is set to become one of the most outstanding editions to date, with 37 major brands taking the catwalk and over 400 firms participating in the trade show. The event, organized by Fira de Barcelona with the support of the Catalan Ministry of Business and Labor, has become a key meeting point for designers and professionals from the bridal fashion world.

With a 14% increase in the number of brands and a record figure of 80% of internationality with firms from more than 35 countries, BBFW 2024 promises to be a showcase of excellence and creativity in bridal fashion from April 17 to 21.

The Director of BBFW, Albasarí Caro, emphasizes the importance of an edition that will “bring together the most prestigious designers in the industry and transform Barcelona, more than ever, in the world epicenter for business and trends in the industry.”

In addition, the world-famous haute couture and ready-to-wear designer Giambattista Valli will be the star of the Barcelona Bridal Night with the presentation of his third “Love Collection” 2025, which will also be the first exclusively bridal fashion show in the firm’s history.

The show will also feature couture brands Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab, Stephane Rolland, or Viktor&Rolf, as well as other fully established international designers including Jenny Packham, Tony Ward or Ines Di Santo, joined for the first time in this edition by Georges Hobeika.

The event will open to the city with the Barcelona Goes Bridal! art installation, which will represent the cycle of the bridal fashion industry and will showcase dresses from local brands.

BBFW 2024 will not only focus on fashion and trends, but also on business, with an ambitious plan to attract key international buyers. More than 80 countries will be represented, with a large presence from key markets such as Europe, USA, Japan, South Korea and Latin America.

The Barcelona Bridal & Fashion Awards ceremony will round off the event recognizing the talent and creativity of designers, as well as their commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity in their collections.

Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week 2024 promises to be a celebration of excellence in bridal fashion, focusing on internationality, creativity, and business opportunities.

For media requests please contact:

Salvador Bilurbina
email: sbilurbina@firabarcelona.com
phone: +34628162674

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000932762

KFSH&RC Welcomes Dr. Björn Zoéga as New Deputy CEO

KFSH&RC Welcomes Dr. Björn Zoéga as New Deputy CEO
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Björn Zoéga as Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 01 April 2024. This strategic move is set to accelerate KFSH&RC’s aspiration of becoming a leading healthcare institution on the global stage, leveraging Dr. Zoéga’s notable career and proven track record of leadership in top-tier medical institutions.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Björn Zoéga as Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 01 April 2024. This strategic move is set to accelerate KFSH&RC’s aspiration of becoming a leading healthcare institution on the global stage, leveraging Dr. Zoéga’s notable career and proven track record of leadership in top-tier medical institutions.

As the former CEO of the internationally renowned Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, Dr. Zoéga played a pivotal role in upholding the institution’s high standards and global recognition as the second highest rated among European hospitals and seventh best worldwide according to Newsweek’s ranking of the World’s Best Hospitals 2024. His administration at Karolinska was marked by innovative strategies and excellence in healthcare delivery—all which he is posed to enrich within KFSH&RC.

Dr. Zoégabrings decades of healthcare management and clinical expertise to KFSH&RC, having spearheaded operations as CEO of the National University Hospital of Iceland and the Stockholm Spine Center. His experience and faculties in research and education are also invaluable, given his former roles as President and Board Chairman of the EU-Cervical Spine Research Society and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Alvotech.

As Deputy CEO, Dr. Zoéga will serve as chief lead of KFSH&RC’s healthcare delivery and research and innovation groups, following on the hospital’s commitment to integrating global best practices in healthcare and pursuing cutting-edge medical research and technology.

KFSH&RC extends its invitation to the community, partners, and stakeholders to welcome Dr. Björn Zoéga, as the institution embarks on a promising new chapter in healthcare, committed to fostering a brighter and healthier future for all.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Essam Al-Zahrani, Media Affairs Acting Head, 0555254429

Mr. Abdullah Al-Awn, Senior Media Editor, 0556294232

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a2fb3b5-9219-4e72-82fd-8f093f22996e

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9083029

Now Open for Nominations: The First Edition of the Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence

The newest edition of the world’s premier business awards will celebrate technology-related achievements worldwide

Now Open for Nominations: The First Edition of the Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence
The newest edition of the world’s premier business awards will celebrate technology-related achievements worldwide including Green and Clean Technology, Financial Technology, Artificial Intelligence., and many others.

FAIRFAX, Va., March 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Stevie® Awards, organizers of the world’s premier business awards, have opened a ninth international competition: the Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence. This new Stevie Awards program celebrates the remarkable accomplishments of individuals, teams, and organizations shaping the future of technology across all industry sectors.

Now Open for Nominations: The First Edition of the Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence

Individuals and organizations worldwide are eligible to enter – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The program will recognize the world’s best technology professionals, organizations, achievements, products, and services since the beginning of 2022.

The early-bird entry deadline, with reduced entry fees, is May 2. The entry deadline is May 30, but late entries will be accepted through June 28 with payment of a late fee. Entry details are available at www.StevieAwards.com/tech.

Michael Gallagher, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Stevie Awards, expressed enthusiasm about this significant Stevie Awards milestone, “We are thrilled to announce the opening of our latest Stevie Awards competition, the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. As we celebrate 22 years since the inception of the first Stevie Awards competition in 2002, this launch fulfills a long-awaited vision. With categories distinct from our existing programs, this competition provides a unique opportunity for startups, small businesses, corporations, and forward-thinking individuals to spotlight their technological accomplishments on a prestigious, global stage.”

The program features more than 250 categories across 20 technology-industry groupings, with a broader set of categories for Information Technology. Category groupings include:

Each year, Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations from organizations of all types and sizes in more than 70 nations. Past Stevie Award winners include Cisco Systems, Inc., DP DHL, EY Global Services Limited, HCLTech, IBM Corporation, LLYC, Proctor & Gamble, Samsung, Toyota, Verizon, Viettel Group, and many others.

Juries featuring more than 100 executives worldwide will determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners. Winners will be publicly announced on August 7 and celebrated at a joint awards gala with the ninth annual Stevie® Awards for Great Employers on September 16 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, New York City.

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the newest Stevie Awards program, the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive over 12,000 entries annually from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Contact:
Nina Moore
+1 (703) 547-8389
Nina@StevieAwards.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/91ea8fc2-fd10-4e4b-ac13-67f99083a926

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9079613

EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited Granted Full Regulatory Licence from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA)

EBC Financial Group strengthens its global presence with full CIMA licence, underscoring the group’s commitment to stringent global regulatory standards

EBC Financial Group – CIMA Full Regulatory License

EBC Financial Group has been granted full regulatory license from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).

HONG KONG, March 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EBC Financial Group (EBC Group or EBC) is pleased to announce that its Cayman Islands subsidiary, EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited, has been awarded a full Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) licence. This significant achievement marks a major advancement in EBC’s global regulatory portfolio, following its existing accreditations from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

EBC Financial Group - CIMA Full Regulatory License

Within CIMA’s strict regulatory framework, EBC will offer more comprehensive financial services, including trusts, securities, futures, and funds, specifically catering to retail, professional, high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors.

List of EBC Financial Group Full Regulatory Licenses

A list of authorised and full regulatory licenses from the UK, Australia and Cayman Islands awarded to EBC Financial Group.

The Cayman Islands, recognized as a premier offshore financial centre, gathers 90% of the world’s banks and over 85% of hedge funds. CIMA, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, is renowned for its rigorous standards and comprehensive oversight, mirroring the UK’s legal framework. Strict information disclosure, client fund protection, and compliance management requirements ensure the integrity and stability of the financial sector.

Among the Global Elite with Full Licensing
Since its establishment, CIMA has issued only a limited number of full regulatory licences. In the past two years, only four entities have passed the audit. EBC Group stands as one of the very few firms to have secured the coveted full regulatory licence.

EBC Group, having undergone stringent scrutiny, secured a full regulatory licence, granting EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited comprehensive permissions in dealing, arranging, managing, and advising, all under CIMA’s strictest regulations, including the Securities Investment Business (SIB) framework. EBC adheres to these requirements, ensuring comprehensive investor fund security.

Before receiving the full regulatory licence from CIMA, EBC held two top global regulatory licences: EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd is authorized and regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

List of EBC Financial Group Full Regulatory Licenses

The full regulatory licence issued by CIMA consolidates EBC’s position as a global top-tier financial group, promotes cross-jurisdictional asset allocation, and provides more comprehensive framework support for expanding global services.

EBC Group holds the highest-level Corporate Banking Account with Barclays, providing equal fund security under different regulatory bodies. Consistent with EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited’s strict adherence to the FCA’s CASS rules, EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited rigorously complies with CIMA’s client fund protection regulations. Client funds are independently safeguarded at Barclays UK, enjoying the same AAA-level security protection.

Future Directions:
EBC Group is set to explore new horizons and expand its diversified and innovative services globally. Looking ahead, EBC will adhere to its original intention, strictly abide by CIMA’s high standards, ensure that investors enjoy a compliant trading environment, and thus build a safer regulatory protection mechanism to promote industry trust and information transparency.

For more information on EBC Financial Group, please visit: https://www.ebc.com/.

About EBC Financial Group

Founded in the esteemed financial district of London, EBC Financial Group (EBC) is renowned for its comprehensive suite of services that includes financial brokerage, asset management, and comprehensive investment solutions. With offices strategically located in prominent financial centres, such as Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, Limassol and more, EBC caters to a diverse clientele of professional, individual and institutional investors worldwide.

Recognised by multiple awards, EBC prides itself on adhering to the highest levels of ethical standards and international regulation. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited is regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd is regulated by Australia’s Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).

At the core of EBC Group are seasoned professionals with over 30 years of profound experience in major financial institutions, having adeptly navigated through significant economic cycles from the Plaza Accord to the 2015 Swiss franc crisis. EBC champions a culture where integrity, respect, and client asset security are paramount, ensuring that every investor engagement is treated with the utmost seriousness it deserves.

Media Contact:
Douglas Chew
+6011 3196 6887
douglas.chew@ebc.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/91e6abd0-80e6-4fec-b2d8-9d31ea416203

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GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9080861

Core Specialty Leads the Way in Innovation with Duck Creek’s Cloud-based SaaS Solutions via Microsoft Azure Marketplace

Through their relationship with Microsoft, Duck Creek is redefining the customer experience and simplifying transactions for technology-focused insurers like Core Specialty

BOSTON, March 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duck Creek Technologies, the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, highlights Core Specialty as its inaugural customer transacting its Duck Creek OnDemand subscription on Microsoft’s commercial marketplace to use its existing Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC).

Duck Creek and Microsoft are enhancing customer experience and streamlining transactions for technology-centric insurers such as Core Specialty. As a forward-facing leader in the insurance industry, Core Specialty recognizes the strategic value of acquiring software-as-a-service (SaaS) products through the Azure Marketplace. This approach allows Core Specialty to apply its Duck Creek SaaS fee payments as a credit to its MACC and simplifies the billing process through a consolidated invoice.

As a technology-focused insurer immersed in continuous product innovation and business expansion, Core Specialty benefits from Duck Creek’s presence in the commercial marketplace. This relationship between Duck Creek and Microsoft drives impactful results for insurers with regard to scalability, security, and sustainability, as well as getting to market quickly with innovative and emerging technologies.

“We take pride in championing Core Specialty on their path to growth, innovation, and service excellence for both their customers and distribution partners through our world-class solutions and industry expertise,” said Mike Jackowski, Chief Executive Officer, Duck Creek Technologies. “The decision to make Duck Creek solutions available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace is a strategic move and adds substantial value for insurers by aligning their Duck Creek and Microsoft relationship and investments with impactful results.”

“Duck Creek’s win with Core Specialty Insurance demonstrates the immense partner opportunity of building on Microsoft Azure and selling solutions via the Azure Marketplace, resulting in streamlining Core Specialty’s cloud transformation strategy across SaaS and transactable solutions. This underscores the power of collaboration, where forward-thinking technology providers and insurers come together to drive innovation, enhance customer experiences, and transform the insurance landscape. As we continue to empower the financial services industry, relationships like these exemplify the true potential of the cloud and the Microsoft partner ecosystem,” said Karen Del Vescovo, CVP Financial Services, Microsoft.

“At Core Specialty, our dedication to meeting the needs of our customers and brokers is unwavering,” said Jeff Consolino, Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer, Core Specialty. “Through our relationship with Duck Creek and Microsoft, we have heightened our emphasis on using technology to elevate the customer experience. This relationship empowers us to uphold our commitment to delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions.”

Learn more about the Azure Marketplace and how insurers with Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) credits can use their spend towards Duck Creek’s OnDemand solutions, including policy, rating, billing, claims, producer, insights, distribution management, and industry content.

About Core Specialty

Core Specialty offers a diversified range of specialty insurance products for small to mid-sized companies. From its underwriting offices spanning the U.S., the company focuses on niche markets, local distribution, and superior underwriting knowledge; offering traditional as well as innovative insurance solutions to meet the needs of its customers and brokers. Core Specialty is an insurance holding company operating through StarStone Specialty Insurance Company, a U.S. excess & surplus lines insurer, and StarStone National Insurance Company, Lancer Insurance Company, and Lancer Insurance Company of New Jersey, each of which is a U.S. admitted markets insurer and Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, a life, accident, and health insurer. All Core Specialty Insurance entities are AM Best rated A- (Excellent). For further information about Core Specialty, please visit www.corespecialty.com.

About Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek Technologies is the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and X.

Media Contacts:
Dennis Dougherty
dennis.dougherty@duckcreek.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9079456

AI, Inclusion, and Sustainability: Must-Haves for Business School Aspirants

GMAC’s annual survey finds evolving motivations for advanced business education

RESTON, Va., March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the world emerged from a turbulent year that witnessed greater geopolitical conflicts, economic uncertainty, volatile job markets and disruptive technology, individuals are turning to graduate management education with a new-found focus. They aim to upgrade their skills while approaching their study, work—and life—with a purpose, according to an annual survey of global prospective students of business school released today by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). The research shows more than two-thirds of potential students agreed that equity and inclusion, as well as sustainability, are important or very important to their academic experience. In addition, three-quarters of candidates say efforts around well-being — defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of no poverty, zero hunger, clean water and sanitation, and decent work and economic growth —are important to them when pursing higher education, to the point that many of them would eliminate schools from their consideration if these themes were not incorporated in the curriculum.

What’s also driving the interest in advanced business education of would-be students is the transformative technology of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Candidate demand for it grew 38 percent year-over-year, with two-fifths now saying it is essential to their curricula. Interest was the highest among those from the Middle East and Latin America as well as among millennials and men. Global interest in STEM-certified business programs also grew 38 percent in five years—and to new heights in Asia, driven by demand in India and Greater China.

“The 2024 survey of prospective students reveals that candidates expect graduate business education to help equip them to advance social impact as a component of their professional and personal goals. Their strong desire to build evergreen skills like leadership in an uncertain world, data-driven problem-solving, and effective technology and human capital management persists, even though their preferences for delivery formats and study destinations may shift,” said Joy Jones, CEO of GMAC. “I am encouraged by how today’s candidate is aspiring and adapting to meet new global challenges in the forever-evolving business environment and really owning their career trajectory. It is creating enormous opportunities for business schools to satisfy the ever-changing demands of candidates and industry with a wide variety of degree offerings and course flexibility.”

Demand for flexibility reaches new high.

Over the past five years, interest in hybrid learning has grown around the globe at the expense of in-person learning. Most hybrid candidates want to spend half or more of their class time in-person and the rest online. This growth is seen across regions, except for Central and South Asia, with preference for hybrid study being the highest in Africa and North America. Not surprisingly – and consistent with previous years’ findings – women are more likely to prefer hybrid programs compared to men, with 20 percent of female prospective students with this preference compared to 15 percent of men.

“This year’s prospective student survey adds to a growing slate of evidence that candidates’ appetite for flexibility is increasing,” said Andrew Walker, director of research analysis and communications at GMAC and the report author. “Interest in hybrid learning has grown across regions and demographic types as hybrid workplaces have also increasingly become available and expected by prospective employees. While in-person learning remains the most preferred delivery format among most candidates, its dominance among candidates is diminishing.”

Affordability and growth of quality in-region institutions reshape global student mobility.

While the United States remains the top study destination for most business school candidates globally, multi-year survey data shows that more candidates than ever before plan to apply to study within their country of citizenship instead of internationally, particularly in Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. For example, most Indian candidates now plan to apply domestically, growing from 41 percent in 2022 to 53 percent in 2023. Among them, most cited affordability as their top reason, followed by the reputation of India’s educational system. At the same time, candidates of Greater China showed less interest in studying in the U.S. with a nine-point drop since 2019, reaching a five-year low. While Chinese candidates still associate the U.S. with better preparation for their careers, a reputable educational system, and an attractive location, their interest in studying in Western Europe has largely remained strong, with a majority associating Western European programs, which tend to be shorter in duration, with affordability.

“As high-quality educational institutions and economic opportunities continue to rise in Asia, it is no surprise that many candidates would choose to stay closer to home instead of traveling afar,” said Curtis Alan Ferguson, managing partner of Ventech China and a board member of GMAC. “That said, graduate business programs in the U.S. and Western Europe still enjoy quite an advantage because of their established reputations of the educational systems and well-rounded preparation for candidate careers.”

About the Prospective Student Survey

With more than 15 years of survey responses representing all world regions, the GMAC Prospective Students Survey has provided the world’s graduate business schools with critical insights into the decision-making processes of people currently considering applying to a graduate management education program. This year’s summary report considers data collected in the 2023 calendar year from 4,105 respondents in 132 countries around the world. Among them, 42 percent are female, 61 percent are Gen Z, and 29 percent of the U.S. sample are from underrepresented populations. The survey continues to explore trends in the candidate pipeline, program preferences, and career goals, with new questions added to this year’s survey about candidate demand for equity and inclusion, sustainability, and health and well-being in their academic experiences. The report also considers surging interest in AI; evolutions in candidate expectations for flexibility; motivations behind candidate mobility from key markets; trends in certifications and micro-credentials; and the ongoing patterns in candidate career preparation and upskilling.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission-driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. GMAC provides world-class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry as well as resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test™ (GMAT™) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment.

More than 12 million prospective students a year trust GMAC’s platforms, including mba.comGMAC Tours, and BusinessBecause, to learn about MBA and business master’s programs, connect with schools around the world, prepare and register for exams, and get advice on how to successfully achieve their business education and career goals. GMAC is a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com

Media Contact:

Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
Mobile: 202-390-4180
thsu@gmac.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9078315

Park Place Technologies Acquires SDV Solutions

Park Place acquires trusted U.S. Government TPM services provider.

CLEVELAND, OH, March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Park Place Technologies, the world’s leading data center and networking optimization firm, has acquired Virginia-based SDV Solutions, which provides client-centric data center infrastructure solutions exclusively to Federal Government agencies.

Founded in 2004 by Service-Disabled Veteran and current Owners Mike McMahan (U.S. Air Force) and Erin McMahan, SDV is a multi-OEM, independent third-party services provider exclusively to the U.S. Federal Government. Mike McMahan will remain with Park Place to ensure clients have a consistent and trusted team supporting the most critical missions of the U.S. Government.

“SDV has always been about teamwork, efficient service to Government clients, and exceeding performance expectations,” McMahan said. “We will now be able to offer our Federal clients a larger breadth of Hardware Maintenance, Managed Services and Professional Services. Park Place will help government agencies accomplish more with their budgets, get longer life from IT assets, and carry forward SDV’s legacy of trust and high-level security.”

Park Place helps more than 21,000 clients optimize data center budgets, productivity, performance, and sustainability so they can think bigger – and act faster. From procurement to decommissioning, Park Place’s comprehensive portfolio of services and products helps IT teams optimize IT lifecycle management. This frees time and spend so they can focus on transforming their businesses for the future.

Chris Adams, Park Place Technologies President and CEO, said SDV’s reputation and business practices make it an important addition for Park Place’s established Federal client base.

“We have been firmly entrenched in the Federal space and continue to foster long-term relationships at the highest levels,” Adams said. “The trust and unquestioned dedication SDV is known for will be joined with our mission to optimize government data center budgets, productivity, performance, and sustainability.”

SDV’s Channel partners will have access to Park Place’s decades-long platforms of partner incentives, Federal-adherent processes, U.S.-based supply chain and deeper depth of security-cleared field engineers.

“SDV and Park Place will do more than maintain current standards; we will strengthen our services and provide options that will solidify our place as the U.S. Government’s most-trusted data center maintenance and optimization firm,” McMahan said.

Agile Equity provided exclusive investment banking transaction services to SDV Solutions.

About Park Place Technologies

Park Place Technologies is a global data center and networking optimization firm. Park Place’s industry-leading and award-winning services portfolio includes Park Place Hardware Maintenance™, Park Place Professional Services™, ParkView Managed Services™, Entuity Software ™ and Curvature Hardware sales. For more information, visit www.parkplacetechnologies.com. Park Place is a portfolio company of Charlesbank Capital Partners and GTCR.

Attachment

Michael Miller
Park Place Technologies
4409915509
mmiller@parkplacetech.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9079019

Park Place Technologies Acquires SDV Solutions

Park Place acquires trusted U.S. Government TPM services provider.

CLEVELAND, OH, March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Park Place Technologies, the world’s leading data center and networking optimization firm, has acquired Virginia-based SDV Solutions, which provides client-centric data center infrastructure solutions exclusively to Federal Government agencies.

Founded in 2004 by Service-Disabled Veteran and current Owners Mike McMahan (U.S. Air Force) and Erin McMahan, SDV is a multi-OEM, independent third-party services provider exclusively to the U.S. Federal Government. Mike McMahan will remain with Park Place to ensure clients have a consistent and trusted team supporting the most critical missions of the U.S. Government.

“SDV has always been about teamwork, efficient service to Government clients, and exceeding performance expectations,” McMahan said. “We will now be able to offer our Federal clients a larger breadth of Hardware Maintenance, Managed Services and Professional Services. Park Place will help government agencies accomplish more with their budgets, get longer life from IT assets, and carry forward SDV’s legacy of trust and high-level security.”

Park Place helps more than 21,000 clients optimize data center budgets, productivity, performance, and sustainability so they can think bigger – and act faster. From procurement to decommissioning, Park Place’s comprehensive portfolio of services and products helps IT teams optimize IT lifecycle management. This frees time and spend so they can focus on transforming their businesses for the future.

Chris Adams, Park Place Technologies President and CEO, said SDV’s reputation and business practices make it an important addition for Park Place’s established Federal client base.

“We have been firmly entrenched in the Federal space and continue to foster long-term relationships at the highest levels,” Adams said. “The trust and unquestioned dedication SDV is known for will be joined with our mission to optimize government data center budgets, productivity, performance, and sustainability.”

SDV’s Channel partners will have access to Park Place’s decades-long platforms of partner incentives, Federal-adherent processes, U.S.-based supply chain and deeper depth of security-cleared field engineers.

“SDV and Park Place will do more than maintain current standards; we will strengthen our services and provide options that will solidify our place as the U.S. Government’s most-trusted data center maintenance and optimization firm,” McMahan said.

Agile Equity provided exclusive investment banking transaction services to SDV Solutions.

About Park Place Technologies

Park Place Technologies is a global data center and networking optimization firm. Park Place’s industry-leading and award-winning services portfolio includes Park Place Hardware Maintenance™, Park Place Professional Services™, ParkView Managed Services™, Entuity Software ™ and Curvature Hardware sales. For more information, visit www.parkplacetechnologies.com. Park Place is a portfolio company of Charlesbank Capital Partners and GTCR.

Attachment

Michael Miller
Park Place Technologies
4409915509
mmiller@parkplacetech.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9079019

Park Place Technologies Acquires SDV Solutions

Park Place acquires trusted U.S. Government TPM services provider.

CLEVELAND, OH, March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Park Place Technologies, the world’s leading data center and networking optimization firm, has acquired Virginia-based SDV Solutions, which provides client-centric data center infrastructure solutions exclusively to Federal Government agencies.

Founded in 2004 by Service-Disabled Veteran and current Owners Mike McMahan (U.S. Air Force) and Erin McMahan, SDV is a multi-OEM, independent third-party services provider exclusively to the U.S. Federal Government. Mike McMahan will remain with Park Place to ensure clients have a consistent and trusted team supporting the most critical missions of the U.S. Government.

“SDV has always been about teamwork, efficient service to Government clients, and exceeding performance expectations,” McMahan said. “We will now be able to offer our Federal clients a larger breadth of Hardware Maintenance, Managed Services and Professional Services. Park Place will help government agencies accomplish more with their budgets, get longer life from IT assets, and carry forward SDV’s legacy of trust and high-level security.”

Park Place helps more than 21,000 clients optimize data center budgets, productivity, performance, and sustainability so they can think bigger – and act faster. From procurement to decommissioning, Park Place’s comprehensive portfolio of services and products helps IT teams optimize IT lifecycle management. This frees time and spend so they can focus on transforming their businesses for the future.

Chris Adams, Park Place Technologies President and CEO, said SDV’s reputation and business practices make it an important addition for Park Place’s established Federal client base.

“We have been firmly entrenched in the Federal space and continue to foster long-term relationships at the highest levels,” Adams said. “The trust and unquestioned dedication SDV is known for will be joined with our mission to optimize government data center budgets, productivity, performance, and sustainability.”

SDV’s Channel partners will have access to Park Place’s decades-long platforms of partner incentives, Federal-adherent processes, U.S.-based supply chain and deeper depth of security-cleared field engineers.

“SDV and Park Place will do more than maintain current standards; we will strengthen our services and provide options that will solidify our place as the U.S. Government’s most-trusted data center maintenance and optimization firm,” McMahan said.

Agile Equity provided exclusive investment banking transaction services to SDV Solutions.

About Park Place Technologies

Park Place Technologies is a global data center and networking optimization firm. Park Place’s industry-leading and award-winning services portfolio includes Park Place Hardware Maintenance™, Park Place Professional Services™, ParkView Managed Services™, Entuity Software ™ and Curvature Hardware sales. For more information, visit www.parkplacetechnologies.com. Park Place is a portfolio company of Charlesbank Capital Partners and GTCR.

Attachment

Michael Miller
Park Place Technologies
4409915509
mmiller@parkplacetech.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9079019

Ambiq Apollo510 Delivers 30x Power Efficiency Improvement to Unleash Endpoint AI

The next-generation Apollo pairs vector acceleration with unmatched power efficiency to enable most AI inferencing on-device without a dedicated NPU

Ambiq Apollo510 PR KV

Ambiq Apollo510 PR KV

Feature Highlights

  • Apollo510, based on Arm Cortex-M55, delivers 30x better power efficiency and 10x faster performance compared to previous generations
  • The ability to do AI/ML workloads concurrent with complex graphics, telco-quality voice applications, and always-on voice/sensor processing
  • 4 MB on-chip NVM, 3.75 MB on-chip SRAM, and high bandwidth interfaces to off-chip memories
  • 2.5D GPU with vector graphics acceleration for vibrant, crystal-clear, and smooth graphics, a 3.5x overall performance enhancement over the Apollo4 Plus family
  • Support for Memory in Pixel (MiP) displays, typically found in the lowest-power products
  • Robust security on Ambiq’s secureSPOT® platform with Arm TrustZone technology

AUSTIN, Texas, March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ambiq, a technology leader in exceptionally energy-efficient semiconductors for IoT devices, is introducing the new Apollo510, the first member of the Apollo5 SoC family, which is uniquely positioned to kickstart the age of truly ubiquitous, practical, and meaningful AI.

The Apollo510 MCU is a complete overhaul of hardware and software that fully leverages the Arm® Cortex®-M55 CPU with Arm Helium™ to reach processing speeds up to 250MHz. The Apollo510 achieves up to 10x better latency while reducing energy consumption by around 2x, compared to Ambiq’s previous power efficiency leader, the Apollo4. This desirable combination of performance and efficiency allows our customers to deploy sophisticated speech, vision, health, and industrial AI models on battery-powered devices everywhere, making it the most efficient semiconductor on the market to operate with the Arm Cortex-M55.

“We at Ambiq have pushed our proprietary SPOT platform to optimize power consumption in support of our customers, who are aggressively increasing the intelligence and sophistication of their battery-powered devices year after year,” said Scott Hanson, Ambiq’s CTO and Founder. The new Apollo510 MCU is simultaneously the most energy-efficient and highest-performance product we’ve ever created.”

Apollo510 Preliminary AI Results Graph

Apollo510 Preliminary AI Results Graph

“As applications across health, industrial, and smart home continue to advance, the need for secure edge AI is crucial for next generation devices,” said Paul Williamson, SVP and GM, IoT Line of Business at Arm. “Ambiq’s new family of SoCs, built on Arm, will deliver significant performance gains for on-device AI, helping developers and device manufacturers deliver the capabilities required for the AI era.”

With more than 30x energy improvement, the Apollo510 is capable of running a vast majority of today’s endpoint AI calculations, including low-power sensor monitoring, always-on voice commands, telco-quality audio enhancement, and more. Manufacturers of IoT devices that perform AI/ML inferencing, such as next-gen wearables, digital health devices, AR/VR glasses, factory automation, and remote monitoring devices, can greatly expand their power budget while adding more capabilities to their devices through the Apollo510’s SPOT-optimized design.

Apollo510 contains everything needed for driving intelligent systems: ultra-efficient compute, expansive on-chip memories, high-bandwidth interfaces to off-chip memories, and security. Arm Helium technology on Apollo510 supports up to 8 MACs per cycle as well as half, full, and double precision floating point operations, making it ideal for AI calculations in addition to general signal processing operations. Apollo510 also improves its memory capacity over the previous generation with 4 MB of on-chip NVM and 3.75 MB of on-chip SRAM and TCM, so developers have smooth development and more application flexibility. For extra-large neural network models or graphics assets, Apollo510 has a host of high bandwidth off-chip interfaces, individually capable of peak throughputs up to 500MB/s and sustained throughput over 300MB/s.

Building upon Ambiq’s secureSPOT platform, Apollo510 integrates Arm TrustZone technology with a physical unclonable function (PUF), tamper-resistant OTP, and secure peripherals. These enhancements help designers establish a trusted execution environment (TEE) to develop secure, robust applications and scale their products faster.

IoT endpoint device manufacturers can expect unrivaled power efficiency to develop more capable devices that process AI/ML functions better than before. Targeted applications and industries include wearables, digital health, agriculture, smart homes and buildings, predictive maintenance, factory automation, and more.

The Apollo510 MCU is currently sampling with customers, with general availability in Q4 this year. It has been nominated by the 2024 embedded world community under the Hardware category for the embedded awards.

Meet us at the Embedded World Exhibition and Conference on April 9- 11, 2024, for a live product demonstration.

About Ambiq
Ambiq’s mission is to develop the lowest-power semiconductor solutions to enable intelligent devices everywhere and drive a more energy-efficient, sustainable, and data-driven world. Ambiq has helped leading manufacturers worldwide develop products that last weeks on a single charge (rather than days) while delivering a maximum feature set in compact industrial designs. Ambiq’s goal is to take Artificial Intelligence (AI) where it has never gone before in mobile and portable devices, using Ambiq’s advanced ultra-low power system on chip (SoC) solutions. Ambiq has shipped more than 230 million units. For more information, visit www.ambiq.com.

Contact
Charlene Wan
VP of Branding, Marketing, and Investor Relations
cwan@ambiq.com
+1.512.879.2850

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d64aa7b3-31bb-457a-8a24-8fed2fbbea57

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/998624f8-ab5f-46a8-89df-53e125d82767

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9079062

Florida-Based Cybersecurity Company Launches Australian Data Centre

ThreatLocker Expands Endpoint Security Services and Data Infrastructure to Australia

Sydney, March 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading cybersecurity solution provider, ThreatLocker, proudly announces the launch of its advanced data centre in Sydney, Australia, just over a year after the grand opening of its second headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. This strategic move aims to enhance cybersecurity capabilities across various sectors in Australia, including the private sector, commonwealth, state, territory, and local governments.

The expansion of ThreatLocker will assist Australian entities in complying with the urgently recommended Australian Cyber Security Strategy implemented by the Australian Government. Additionally, ThreatLocker offers Zero Trust Application Controls and Ringfencing capabilities that align almost any organization with requirements presented by the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight Maturity Model.

Commenting on the extension of their security footprint, ThreatLocker Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Danny Jenkins said, “Zero Trust is a mindset, and I admire the Australian government’s holistic approach, involving the wider community to tackle a modern-day threat.”

Jenkins continued, “As one of the top vendors assisting businesses with Essential Eight guidelines, we are thrilled to strengthen our collaboration with Australia through this centre, bolstering their data protection and compliance initiatives.”

ThreatLocker, founded in 2017 by CEO Danny Jenkins, COO Sami Jenkins, and VP of Quality Assurance John Carolan, protects over 2 million endpoints across more than 40,000 organizations globally. The company provides 24/7/365 support with an average response time of 60 seconds or less. ThreatLocker offers a powerful Zero Trust endpoint protection platform that enables organizations to stop ransomware and other cyberattacks by controlling what software can run in their environments. The combined solutions of ThreatLocker, including Application Allowlisting, Ringfencing™, Storage Control, Elevation Control, and Endpoint Network Control, lead the cybersecurity market toward a more secure approach by blocking the exploits of unknown application vulnerabilities.

Attachment

Spencer Ford
ThreatLocker Inc.
press@threatlocker.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9067557