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J Alvarez Headlines NuestroFest Hispanic Heritage Month Broadcast and Livestream Event Hosted by Natti Natasha this Saturday

Brilla Media

-- NuestroFest is collaborating with the Rhythm Foundation to broadcast the Virtual Festival Live on stage of the North Beach Bandshell on 73rd and Collins Avenue from 8 -11 pm free -- -- Los Wizzards will Debut New Album ‘Spanglish Love’ at the In-Person Live Event -- Organizers of NuestroFest today announced that J Alvarez will headline the stellar music lineup of its Oct. 2nd Hispanic Heritage Month broadcast TV and live stream event that is being hosted by Reggaeton superstar Natti Natasha. Presented by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the virtual event will also feature a free, in-person viewing party and concert from 8 to 11 pm EST in the North Beach Bandshell featuring Latin Funk sensation Los Wizzards, who will launch their new album, “Spanglish Love”. Produced by Atlantino and Brilla Media, the virtual part of the event features a jam-packed line-up of iconic and emerging Latin music artists, mixology segments, comedy, and other creative surprises. “We’re honored to have Natti Natasha, the pride of Santo Domingo, as the host of this inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month show,” said NuestroFest co-executive producer Ralph Paniagua. “Natti is the first female Reggaeton superstar to host one of our national pop culture festivals and her presence alone elevates the line-up.” Natti’s appearance coincides with the launch of her brand-new album, Nattividad. Other talent performing at the event include: Latin Legend Richie Ray; Anna Dominguez; Artefacto; Bryanne; Hemir; Chrissie-I-EECE; David Kada; Guillermo Roude; Isairis; JawnDarko; Soleil; Julito Alvarado; Leo Aether; Luis Gonzalez; Solo Fernández; and William Cepeda. Sponsored in part by the upcoming film “Dune” (in theaters and on HBO Max October 22), NuestroFest will also include mixology segments from Hey Bartender’s Gustavo Rojas and Spirit & Spoon’s Karl Steuck. Award-winning director Efrain Gonzalez is producing a series of historic music segments about how Miami has given the world many grooves ranging from the Miami Sound Machine and Marc Anthony to Willy Chirino and the Bee Gees. In addition, NuestroFest is collaborating with the Rhythm Foundation to broadcast the Virtual Festival Live on the 25’ Stage Screen at the North Beach Bandshell on 73rd and Collins Avenue on Miami Beach from 8-10 pm free for all music lovers. Los Wizzards are performing from 10 to 11 p.m. Atlantino and Brilla Media have already produced five of the pandemic’s most prominent U.S. Hispanic virtual festivals, including the recent Cinco de Mayo LA Virtual Festival, Altísimo Live, which was a PRWeek 2021 finalist for the Best Multicultural Marketing Campaign of the Year, the 116th Street Fest and last year’s Calle Ocho Live. Where to View the Broadcast and Livestream NuestroFest will enjoy major national and regional media, digital and OTT views thanks to distribution partnerships with VME TV Network, VivaLive TV, Tarima TV Network, Bronx Net, MEGA TV Miami, Maria Marin Live, and the Bean & Chisme Show. In - Person Viewing and Live Performance NuestroFest is collaborating with the City of Miami Beach Hispanic Affairs Committee and the Rhythm Foundation to broadcast the Virtual Festival Live on the 25’ Stage Screen at the North Beach Bandshell on 73rd and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach from 8-10 pm on Saturday October 2. Admission to the Bandshell is free with the support of Miami Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins. RSVP can be done at www.northbeachbandshell.com Other Production Partners Additional media and production partners of NuestroFest include Latinx Newswire; Dustelli Music; Eddie Lopez; Heather Lopez, and Lynda Thorn. Award-winning broadcaster and producers Richy Miranda-Cortese and Ralph Paniagua will direct the broadcast with Efrain Gonzalez as the Master Editor. About Atlantino LLC Over the past 35 years, Ralph and Joseph Paniagua have built Atlantino, a minority-owned company, into a powerhouse sponsorship and activations organization for Latino sports, entertainment, experiential, and digital. Through Atlantino, they have spearheaded Fortune 100 brand activations with Major League Baseball programs, the Roberto Clemente Brand, and more recently Golden Boy. In 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic canceling many major Latino events, Atlantino pivoted to co-produce the 116 Street Festival, Calle Ocho Festival, and the Dominican Days at the Ballpark at 18 MLB stadiums reaching millions of viewers. And through 2022, Atlantino will produce a series of Virtual content promoting the Baseball Icon Roberto Clemente. About Brilla Media Latina-owned and operated, Brilla Media provides brand marketers with premium Latinx branded storytelling, distribution, and guaranteed media. Created by Angela and Manny Ruiz, the innovative entertainment company features five pillars: Brilla Media (digital and social distribution), Brilla Creative (original storytelling), Brilla Social (influencer marketing with social media amplification), Brilla Live (festivals and livestreams), and Brilla Purpose (social good). Source ( LATINX NEWSWIRE ) Contact Details Angela Sustaita-Ruiz +1 305-321-5002 angela.sustaitaruiz@brillamedia.com Company Website https://www.nuestrofest.com/

September 29, 2021 10:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Agile Therapeutics Partners with Carli Lloyd, U.S. Women’s Soccer Star and Four-Time Olympian, to Bring Awareness to Women’s Health Topics

Agile Therapeutics

Agile Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGRX ), a women's healthcare company, announced today a partnership with U.S. Women’s Soccer legend, Carli Lloyd. The partnership with Agile will focus on bringing awareness to women’s health topics, and Agile’s commitment to elevating women’s healthcare. Lloyd, who will play her final game for the U.S. Women’s National Team on October 26 th against South Korea, was attracted to the company’s mission of addressing the healthcare needs of today’s women. “I’m excited to be partnering with a company solely dedicated to women’s health,” said Lloyd. “I aim to work with organizations that focus on things I care about, and staying healthy has been a priority for my career on the field and will continue to be so as I look ahead to my next chapter. Agile’s focus on bringing women options and knowledge when it comes to their healthcare decisions is a mission I’m proud to be part of. And the fact that I’m a Jersey girl, representing a New Jersey company makes it even better.” Agile has built its brand around a commitment to addressing women’s health needs. It received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2020 for its first product, Twirla ® (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) transdermal system, a weekly contraceptive patch. It currently has four additional contraceptive products in its pipeline. “Carli’s ‘ always believe and never quit ’ attitude fits what Agile Therapeutics believes as a company,” said Al Altomari, CEO of Agile Therapeutics. “We’ve been selective about aligning with the right partners at the right time, and Carli is someone who seamlessly fits our corporate culture, aligns with our values, and understands the importance of empowering women, especially young women, to reach beyond their limits, believe in themselves, and never compromise, especially with their healthcare.” As a growing company, Agile sees this partnership as an opportunity to help further develop its culture and corporate brand by partnering with leaders who share the company’s values and mission.. “Our short-term goal is to establish Twirla in the contraceptive market, and our long-term mission remains the same: Build a robust women’s health franchise, and Carli is a critical piece of that puzzle,” said Altomari. “She’s been a vocal advocate for women, and her voice is an important one in the national conversation about women’s health and healthcare needs. We want to be sure we communicate our message and commitment to women’s health in an authentic and relatable way. This is a mission we share with Carli, and we are proud to welcome her to our team.” About Agile Therapeutics, Inc. Agile Therapeutics is a women's healthcare company dedicated to fulfilling the unmet health needs of today’s women. Our product and product candidates are designed to provide women with contraceptive options that offer freedom from taking a daily pill, without committing to a longer-acting method. Our initial product, Twirla®, (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol), a transdermal system, is a non-daily prescription contraceptive. Twirla is based on our proprietary transdermal patch technology, called Skinfusion®, which is designed to allow drug delivery through the skin. For more information, please visit the company website at www.agiletherapeutics.com. The Company may occasionally disseminate material, nonpublic information on the Company’s website. About Twirla® Twirla (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) transdermal system is a once-weekly combined hormonal contraceptive (CHC) patch that contains the active ingredients levonorgestrel (LNG), a type of progestin, and ethinyl estradiol (EE), a type of estrogen. Twirla is indicated for use as a method of contraception by women of reproductive potential with a body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2 for whom a combined hormonal contraceptive is appropriate. Healthcare providers (HCPs) are encouraged to consider Twirla’s reduced efficacy in women with a BMI ≥ 25 to <30 kg/m2 before prescribing. Twirla is contraindicated in women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. Twirla is contraindicated in women over 35 years old who smoke. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from CHC use. Twirla is designed to be applied once weekly for three weeks, followed by a week without a patch. Contact Details Matt Riley, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications mriley@agiletherapeutics.com Company Website https://agiletherapeutics.com

September 28, 2021 02:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Au Bon Pain Caffeinates National Coffee Day with $1 Coffee for Three Days

Au Bon Pain

Au Bon Pain is raising the bar for National Coffee Day with a THREE-day pay-it-forward celebration. From Wednesday, Sept. 29, through Friday, Oct. 1, the bakery-cafe chain is offering freshly brewed drip coffees for just $1 and encouraging guests to pick up two coffees — one for themselves and one (or two or three) to treat someone else. This inclusive promotion is open to any guest from National Coffee Day on Wednesday, Sept. 29, through International Coffee Day on Friday, Oct. 1. Participating restaurants include locations in New York City, Washington, D.C., Miami and Philadelphia. “What’s better than brightening someone’s day?” said Au Bon Pain Chief Marketing Officer Beth Collins. “We extended our National Coffee Day celebration to three days so our guests have more opportunities to enjoy $1 coffee and spread joy to someone else.” Ampex Brands, a Yum! Brands Inc. and 7-Eleven franchisee with more than 400 restaurants and convenience stores, acquired Au Bon Pain from ABP Corporation, a subsidiary of Panera Bread, in June 2021. “Au Bon Pain’s greatest asset is its loyal guests,” said Au Bon Pain President Ericka Garza. “We are reminded of it every day while we’re in our cafes, and this is our way of giving back.” Au Bon Pain (translated “from good bread”) offers gourmet convenience to travelers, students, commuters and friends. Its quality products made from simple ingredients are served in locations including transportation hubs, airports, urban office buildings, universities and hospitals. Read its full menu of fresh and flavorful sandwiches, bread, pastries, salads, soups and coffee or order online at aubonpain.com. Founded in Boston in 1978, the company was acquired by Dallas-based Ampex Brands in 2021, catapulting the company into the franchisor role and expanding its footprint internationally. Contact Details Center Reach Communication Ashley Clontz ashley@centerreachcommunication.com Center Reach Communications Tracy Henderson +1 720-989-3530 tracy@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://www.aubonpain.com/

September 27, 2021 07:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

D8.co to Launch 1-Hour Delivery for Delta-8 THC Products

D8 Holdings, Inc.

D8.co the market leader in hemp-derived Delta-8 THC —today announced it is launching 1-hour delivery for consumer orders throughout the United States. D8.co will deliver their award winning Delta-8 carts, Delta-8 disposables, and Delta-8 gummies to any customer within 1-hour in a 25-mile radius of any professional NFL team. Outside that radius customers will receive next day packages at the latest. “The largest problem we have is fulfillment and delivery,” said Chris Duffield, CEO of D8.co. “Anyone shipping consumer goods knows that all the carriers are a current nightmare. We have shipped thousands of packages priority and the majority show up two or three days late, with far too many getting lost or stolen. If a customer places an order after cutoff on Friday, they have to wait an additional three days. Customers want our products, and they want them immediately.” The first six states D8.co will integrate into their program are Texas, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, and North Carolina. The company will expand into the rest of the U.S immediately, with full integration expected to take approximately 45 days. “We have more than 50 major fulfillment centers locked in that are centrally managed from our cloud technology. Once an order is placed, our customers will receive an email and text where they can track our drivers all the way to delivery,” said Hugh McPherson, EVP of D8.co. D8.co expects to immediately double online sales with the new integration. “We are extremely excited to launch 1-hour delivery,” said Duffield. “We just became the largest cannabis company in the United States, which makes us a prime acquisition target. I’m very proud of our core team and all the hard work everyone has put in to make D8 the number one brand in the market.” About D8.co D8.co is based in Colorado and Miami with satellite offices in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The company is an assembly of the top hemp and cannabis minds in the country. With backgrounds in extraction, chemistry, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and legal, the D8 team came together organically around this elusive, but extremely powerful molecule to create a new category of products. More info at www.d8.co. Contact Details D8.co Chris Duffield +1 424-333-2112 chris@d8.co Company Website https://d8.co/

September 23, 2021 12:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time

BEASY, a Blockchain-as-a-Service technology company, selects Texture Capital’s online marketplace for digital security offering

Texture Capital

Texture Capital Inc., the Institutional Marketplace for Private Capital, today announced that BEASY, a startup formed to make the benefits of blockchain easy to achieve throughout the consumer and enterprise value chains, has selected Texture’s online marketplace for their digital security offering. Texture Capital will support capital raising and secondary market trading of the BEASY digital tokens, enabling BEASY to reach a broader network of investors and enable potential secondary market liquidity opportunities in the future. BEASY—a.k.a. Blockchain Made Easy - is a Blockchain-as-a-Service technology company focused on developing blockchain solutions that enable a broader range of stakeholders, from consumer to the enterprise, to participate in the blockchain economy. Significant growth of blockchain adoption is expected, from digital currencies to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), to supply chain management at the global enterprise-level, with t he global Blockchain Market expected to grow by US$ 15.1 Billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 69.3% in the given forecast period 1. However, many organizations continue to face challenges when implementing blockchain at the technical, strategic, and organizational levels. BEASY makes blockchain easy for customers. Through a user-friendly, comprehensive approach, BEASY develops products and services that aim to offer best-in-class pricing, functionality, compliance and customer support. “The first application of BEASY technology, AthleteChain, provides a turnkey business management platform to enable professional and college athletes to create, issue and manage NFTs”, said Richard Johnson, CEO of Texture Capital. “We believe BEASY is well positioned to benefit from continued growth in NFTs and the blockchain economy overall 1.” “As developers of self-service NFT tools and capabilities for artists and athletes, it makes sense for BEASY to issue equity via Digital Securities”, said Bob Kramich, CEO of BEASY. “We have been impressed by Texture Capital’s expertise, track record, and holistic approach to issuance and secondary trading via blockchain technology which aligns closely with BEASY’s commitment to serve creators and their supporters in modern, flexible ways.” [1] https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/blockchain-market-report-2021-global-industry-size-competition-trends-and-growth-opportunities-to-2028-2021-07-02 About Texture Capital Texture Capital, the institutional marketplace for private capital, is a technology-driven marketplace for institutions and issuers to more efficiently and directly participate in the private markets, improving liquidity, transparency, and access. We leverage blockchain technology and smart contracts to streamline the current market structure for private placements; supporting the primary issuance and secondary trading of digital securities through a regulated broker- dealer and a registered ATS. Please visit https://texture.capital for more information and to stay informed of future updates. About BEASY Blockchain Made Easy, LLC, dba BEASY, was formed to make the benefits of blockchain easy to achieve throughout the consumer and enterprise value chains. Our initial focus is on the multi-billion-dollar annual North American Sports & Entertainment markets, through the commercialization of a scalable blockchain platform designed to meet the demands of small, mid-sized, and large businesses. BEASY leverages advanced, proprietary blockchain technology to deliver business applications that enable our individual and enterprise customers to curate their complex and fluid professional, philanthropic, and business activities. Important: An investment in BEASY is speculative, involves a high degree of risk and that investors must be prepared to bear the economic risk of their investment for an indefinite period of time and be able to withstand a total loss of their investment. BEASY has a limited operating history, which makes it difficult to predict future operating results. Failure to manage our growth may adversely affect their business or operations. BEASY has a history of losses. Failure to achieve profitability or generate positive cash flow from operations in the near future, may impact their ability to raise additional capital, obtain financing or monetize significant assets. BEASY or its technology may be the subject of cyber-attacks, which may result in security breaches and the loss or theft of assets, which could expose BEASY to liability and reputational harm and could seriously curtail the utilization of BEASY’s services or technology and could result in claims against BEASY. BEASY's success will be dependent on its ability to hire, retain or motivate qualified personnel. Blockchain is a new technology and unproven in financial markets. There is no guarantee that tokenization will enable any secondary market liquidity in the future and your investment may remain illiquid. Contact Details Texture Capital CJ Lengua +1 347-524-1100 cj@texture.capital Company Website https://www.texture.capital

September 23, 2021 10:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Ripken Baseball Announces Expansion in 2022 throughout United States with Ripken Select Tournaments

Ripken Baseball

Coming off the largest summer in company history and hosting over 5,000 teams and 250,000 guests this year, Ripken Baseball is excited to announce its 2022 schedule. Known for providing the best baseball experience in youth sports with permanent facilities in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Maryland, Ripken Baseball will embark on their first multi-city tour through their newly added Ripken Select Tournaments. For the first time in more than 20 years, these tournaments will be accessible to baseball teams in multiple markets outside of their own Ripken Baseball facilities. The Ripken Select Tournaments were first introduced in 2021 at a single location in Round Rock, Texas, through a 60+ team event in partnership with Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment. Based on demand, the Ripken Select Tournaments will expand next summer to Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and include an additional stop in Texas. In the inaugural multi-city tour, each Ripken Select Tournament destination keeps in mind the formula that makes The Ripken Experience™ so special. Combining fields and experiences that make every ballplayer feel like a Big Leaguer, destinations packed with countless entertainment options creating lifelong family memories, and a staff that makes you feel at home from the first pitch. The best experience in youth sports will be felt at each Ripken Select Tournament across the country. “Behind every decision at Ripken Baseball, our focus remains a customer experience first mindset, on and off the field,” explained Mike Kenney, Executive Vice President of Ripken Baseball. “We believe that if we can provide Big League experiences that create lifelong memories to as many players, coaches, and parents as we can, that we’ll be able to help them enjoy and play the game for as long as possible.” The summer tour will feature five stops from June to July, with each stop having one dedicated week-long event. Although each destination will provide its own unique local market experience and family entertainment options, every tournament will provide a consistent Big-League Experience featuring professional facilities, a tournament appearance by a former Major Leaguer, opening ceremonies and skills competitions, and player announcements & walk-up music to make every at-bat unforgettable. Ripken Select Tournament Dates: June 5 – 10, 2022 – Panama City Beach, Florida; Panama City Beach Sports Complex June 12 – 17, 2022 – Gilbert, Arizona; Cactus Yards June 19 – 24, 2022 – Mansfield, Texas; Big League Dreams Mansfield July 10 – 15, 2022 – Aurora, Illinois; Stuart Sports Complex July 17 – 22, 2022 – Round Rock, Texas; Old Settlers Park Ripken Select Tournaments are part of the company’s innovation strategy to enhance the player and team experience. Just recently the company announced a partnership with LeagueApps as their Official Technology Partner, which will allow them to collaborate in providing best in class solutions for event registration, communication, advanced data security, and future integrations to elevate the player and coach experience. These integrations will look to work with Ripken Baseball’s progressive software partners, including, but not limited to; National Sports ID, the first-ever baseball age verification software to ensure a fair and safe playing field, and RallyUp, a fundraising platform focused on providing unforgettable fundraising experiences and making The Ripken Experience more accessible to current and new teams. Ripken Baseball’s focus to enhance brand partnerships continues with its earlier addition of 3N2 Sports and DOME Headwear as the official apparel brands providing custom high performance baseball apparel for current and future athletes as well as their families. To learn more about additional 2022 Ripken Select Tournament locations and the latest with Ripken Baseball, visit www.ripkenbaseball.com or give a teammate a call at 410-306-7575 and if you have interest in hosting a Ripken Select Tournament in 2023, please contact hraburn@ripkenbaseball.com. About Ripken Baseball: Ripken Baseball brings teammates, coaches and families together through its Big-League Experiences, while teaching the values of the game, and how to play it the right way – the Ripken Way. Ripken Baseball continues to innovate the game through on-site tournaments, camps and spring training hosted at their state-of-the-art baseball and softball facilities – The Ripken Experience™ Aberdeen (Maryland), The Ripken Experience™ Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), and The Ripken Experience™ Pigeon Forge (Tennessee). Contact Details Stacey Graham stacey@sgprgroup.com Company Website https://www.ripkenbaseball.com/

September 22, 2021 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

TIM HORTONS® U.S. CELEBRATES PUMPKIN SPICE SEASON WITH LIMITED-EDITION PUMPKIN PACK

Tim Hortons

Calling all pumpkin spice fanatics! Starting today through September 28, Tim Hortons® U.S. is introducing the ultimate pumpkin spice bundle with the new, limited-time Pumpkin Pack. Available only through the Tim Hortons App or website, guests can get the full line-up of pumpkin spice baked goods – Pumpkin Spice Glazed Donut, Pumpkin Spice Muffin, and Pumpkin Spice Timbits® – for FREE, with the purchase of a large Pumpkin Spice Latte. Limited edition pumpkin themed packaging will also be available at select restaurants*. How much pumpkin spice is too much? The limit simply does not exist. In addition to the Pumpkin Pack, all Tim Hortons U.S. restaurants feature a pumpkin spice line-up for fall including: Pumpkin Spice Latte: A creamy espresso-based beverage served either hot or cold with pumpkin spice syrup, topped with fluffy whipped cream and pumpkin spice syrup drizzle. Pumpkin Spice Iced Capp: A cold sweet and spicy beverage made with pumpkin spice syrup and topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice syrup drizzle. Pumpkin Spice Muffin: A pumpkin spice flavored muffin filled with a rich, creamy filling. Pumpkin Spice Timbits®: Sweet pumpkin spice flavored cake donut holes with a glazed exterior. Pumpkin Spice Glazed Donut: A pumpkin spice flavored cake ring donut coated with a sugary sweet glaze. Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew: Launching 9/29, the Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew combines the flavors of our rich pumpkin spice syrup with our classic cold brew topped off with a sweet, creamy cold foam and an extra syrup swirl. The Pumpkin Pack bundle is available starting today through September 28, at select Tim Hortons® U.S. restaurants, while supplies last, starting at $3.49. Guests can redeem by adding the Pumpkin Pack bundle to their cart on the Tim Hortons App or website. Offer not valid with à la carte purchases. No modifications. No substitutions. Additional terms apply. See timhortons.com/offer-terms for details. *6850 Hospital Dr Dublin, OH; 9007 Columbus Pike Lewis Center, OH; 790 Center Street Lewiston, NY; 748 Niagara Falls Blvd North Tonawanda, NY; 1360 Southfield Rd Lincoln Park, MI; 940 Rochester Rd Rochester Hills, MI About TIM HORTONS® Tim Hortons® is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of guest tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, teas and our famous Iced Capps™), fresh baked goods, hot breakfast sandwiches, breakfast snacking items, and other food products. Tim Hortons has more than 4,800 system wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States and around the world. More information about the company is available at www.timhortons.com. Contact Details Adrianna Lauricella +1 212-230-1800 tims@abmc-us.com Company Website https://www.timhortons.com/

September 22, 2021 07:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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MarketFinance in pole position as it raises £280m and is approved for Recovery Loan Scheme lending

Stockwood Strategy

Fintech business lender MarketFinance has today announced a £280m debt and equity fundraise and its accreditation under the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). This comes after MarketFinance became one of the first fintechs to be accredited under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), having lent £250m to companies across the UK. Launched by the British Business Bank in April 2021, the Recovery Loan Scheme supports access to finance for UK businesses as they recover and grow following the pandemic. Funding from the Scheme can be used for any legitimate business purpose including managing cashflow, investment in new equipment and preparing for future growth. It is designed to appeal to businesses that can afford to take out additional finance for these purposes. MarketFinance is ready to lend immediately with its debt and equity funding. The debt financing has been provided from a large global investment firm alongside Italy’s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. The equity investment was led by Black River Ventures (previous investments include Marqeta, Upgrade, Coursera and Digital Ocean) with participation from existing investor, Barclays Bank PLC. Alongside this, the launch of MarketFinance Flex Loans today will aim to help nearly one million SMEs in the UK solve their short-term funding gaps up to £100,000. Viola Credit has provided MarketFinance with £20m to launch the Flex Loans product. Similar to a credit card or overdraft, businesses will have a pre-agreed limit of up to £100,000 which they can withdraw at once or in smaller amounts. Flexible repayment options enable the businesses to spread their repayments over 3 - 12 months based on their working capital needs. It is a solution to support a variety of one-off and ongoing funding requirements such as purchasing inventory, clearing outstanding invoices, upfront supplier payments, investment into sales and marketing, or expanding the team. Anil Stocker, CEO at MarketFinance, commented: “This funding and our accreditation as a Recovery Loan Scheme lender is testament to the brilliant work everyone at MarketFinance has done to serve UK businesses during a difficult period. Adapting to the increased demand from businesses looking for finance online instead of through traditional avenues also drove our profitability this year, which has continued into H2 2021”. From today, businesses can immediately apply* for an RLS loan from MarketFinance between £50k and £250k repayable over 4, 5 or 6 years. Repayments in the first six months of the term will only consist of interest charges, an additional support measure as businesses gear themselves for a full reopening of the economy. Anil Stocker aded: “Businesses have been resilient and managed to hold their nerve during one of the most difficult periods in recent history. We were there to help with the CBILS and will do the same with the RLS by offering a simple application process, quick decisions and sending funds to businesses immediately. Our fundraise puts us in pole position to do this. We played a key role during CBILS, as one of the first fintech lenders, to help get funds to businesses quickly when they found their applications were delayed and or denied by others. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with businesses and help navigate them through to the full reopening of the economy and beyond”. As a native fintech, the MarketFinance platform is designed to receive, process and manage large volumes of businesses applying for finance using the platform. From simple online application forms, enhanced credit risk models to exceptional one-to-one customer support, MarketFinance will get RLS funds to businesses in need, quickly. “We aim to quickly lend to businesses around the UK. We anticipate demand for RLS to come from companies that will need capital to scale operations ahead of the full reopening of the economy. Manufacturers, wholesalers, public services businesses and a range of others will need the funds to ramp up supplies and build pipelines as business returns to normal” added Anil Stocker. Ends *Minimum eligibility criteria for RLS business loans through MarketFinance: Limited Company or Limited Liability Partnership Trading for more than 3 years, has a turnover of more than £200,000 Company sells goods and/or services to consumers and/or other businesses About MarketFinance MarketFinance is a business finance company with offices in London and Manchester. The online platform enables businesses to access a range of flexible finance solutions - quickly and easily. This smart technology is backed by help from real people so business owners can save time and focus on growing their business. Since 2011, MarketFinance has cumulatively advanced over £2.6 billion to companies across a range of sizes and sectors, providing working capital and finance for everything from paying staff and suppliers to launching new products or services and accelerating growth. MarketFinance is backed by Barclays Bank PLC, Mouro Capital, European venture capital fund Northzone (invested in Klarna, iZettle and Trustpilot), and private equity group MCI Capital (also invested in iZettle, Azimo and Gett). About the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) The Recovery Loan Scheme is managed by the British Business Bank on behalf of, and with the financial backing of, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. British Business Bank plc is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. It is not authorised or regulated by the PRA or the FCA. Contact Details MarketFinance Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://marketfinance.com/

September 21, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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How Well Do States Support Small Businesses?

YourUpdateTV

The 2021 Small Business Friendliness Survey results are in from Thumbtack, the only app homeowners need to care for their home. This year, they heard from more than 3,600 small business owners in the home maintenance and construction industries as well as events, lessons, and business services who evaluated federal, state, and local governments on their experiences over the past year and the support they received. In addition, Thumbtack surveyed over 1,150 Americans to learn about the actions they’ve taken to champion local businesses. Recently, David Steckel, Home Expert at Thumbtack, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the survey results and much more. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/XxtlN7bIbPw Cities and states across the U.S. received grades from “A+” to “F” on overall friendliness as well as several other factors including regulations, taxes, training opportunities and more. Here are some of the highlights: Overall Friendliest States for Small Businesses: Maine – A+ New Hampshire – A+ North Carolina – A+ Florida – A Georgia – A- Overall Friendliest Cities for Small Businesses: Jacksonville, FL – A+ Salt Lake City, UT – A+ Orlando, FL – A Baltimore, MD – A Seattle, WA – A- Female-Owned State Support Rank: Maryland – A+ Washington – A+ Massachusetts – A- Georgia – A- Virginia – B- BIPOC-Owned State Support Rank: Virginia – A+ Florida – A+ Maryland – A+ Georgia – A+ New York – A+ For more survey results and to explore services, visit Thumbtack.com About David Steckel: David Steckel is a Home Expert at Thumbtack, with 15 years of experience in the home building industry. At Thumbtack, he provides homeowners with the guidance they need to better plan, budget, and complete home maintenance projects. As a licensed general contractor, David has experience in custom home building as well as residential and commercial building maintenance. Prior to his role at Thumbtack, David founded Setter, a subscription-based home maintenance and repair service. About Thumbtack: Thumbtack is a technology leader building the modern home management platform. Through the Thumbtack app, homeowners can effortlessly manage their homes — confidently knowing what to do, when to do it, and who to hire. Bringing the $500 billion home services industry online, Thumbtack empowers millions of homeowners to fix, maintain, and improve their most valuable asset. Hundreds of thousands of local service professionals, from painters and plumbers to photographers and math tutors, use the Thumbtack platform to grow their business each year. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 17, 2021 05:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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