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Analysts Predict Net Zero Energy Transition Will Push Most Battery Metals Into Shortage By 2030 – How Investors Can Potentially Get Exposure

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga Shares of Sprott Energy Transition Material ETF (NASDAQ: SETM) could be positioned for growth as the quest for new supplies of key battery metals like lithium and nickel intensifies. Sprott Asset Management launched the ETF at the beginning of the year as a way to give investors pure-play access to critical minerals that will be key to the global clean energy transition currently underway. Battery Metals Are Quickly Approaching Extreme Shortages According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), lithium demand has tripled since 2017, and it’s forecast to increase tenfold from 2022 to 2040 in order to meet the battery and electricity storage needs of countries aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The soaring demand for lithium is almost entirely tied to the net zero transition. The mineral is a key component of EV batteries and clean energy storage platforms. About 56% of the demand for lithium in 2022 came from EV batteries exclusively. That’s only expected to get higher in the decades ahead as the typical battery contains about 8 kilograms (17.5 pounds) of lithium and about 2 billion electric vehicles (EVs) will need to be on the road by 2050 in order to meet the net zero emissions target. Meanwhile, while EV batteries and storage only represent about 11% of the current demand for nickel, the IEA estimates that it’ll account for over half of total nickel demand by 2040. A similar trajectory is forecast for cobalt and other minerals that are used to make various kinds of EV batteries and other storage units. To meet that demand, McKinsey & Company estimates that over 380 new mines would need to be added on top of the approximately 500 mines currently operating today. The Sprott Energy Transition Materials ETF (SETM) Gives Investors Broad Upstream Exposure to Critical Minerals SETM tracks the Nasdaq Sprott Energy Transition Materials TM Index, which is composed of over 100 global companies directly involved in energy transition materials including copper, lithium, nickel, uranium, cobalt, graphite, manganese, rare earths and silver. Currently, the index is heavily weighted toward lithium-, uranium-, and copper-related stocks, with each group accounting for about a quarter of the portfolio’s weight. With an even mix of large, medium and small-cap stocks all over the world, this gives investors broad exposure to the companies poised to benefit most from the net zero transition. It’s also concentrated on upstream companies – including producers, developers, explorers, refiners, recyclers and other companies involved in providing raw materials to EV makers, power plants and other downstream companies that will need those critical materials. With a supply shortage looming, upstream exposure might not only give investors a way to capture returns from surging battery metal prices but also to limit exposure to downstream companies that might not be able to keep up with competitors as costs increase. While the need for clean energy is clear and policymakers are enacting increasingly stricter emissions standards, it still remains to be seen which companies will come out on top and exactly what the clean energy mix will look like in the future. But what is fairly certain is that these critical minerals will be key to building the infrastructure to store and distribute that clean energy. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

September 27, 2023 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

New Advertising Partnerships Will Help Sekur Reach Wider Business Audience As It Rolls Out More Enterprise Cybersecurity and Privacy Solutions

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga This month, Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQX: SWISF) (CSE: SKUR) (FRA: GDT0) signed an advertising partnership and distribution agreement with VYRE Network, a global news-based streaming channel and website with over 1 million viewers worldwide. “The VBNGtv partnership is part of… strategy to launch our SMB and Enterprise solutions in the USA to the 30 million+ small businesses in the USA,” said Sekur CEO Alain Ghiai in a statement on the new agreement. The cybersecurity and internet privacy provider offers a suite of secure and private communication services aimed at eliminating the kind of data mining concerns and vulnerabilities that many of the existing solutions in this space have. Advertising Partnership Agreement With VYRE Will Help Sekur Reach Larger Global Enterprise And Investor Audiences The VYRE network deal will place Sekur commercials and banner ads throughout the streaming news website in exchange for a revenue share of all Sekur signups, primarily targeting its enterprise and investor audiences. The deal is part of Sekur’s plans for a global rollout of its enterprise communication services, including the SekurMessenger app, SekurMail and SekurVPN along with new products slated to launch in the coming months. In Morocco, for example, Sekur is partnering with the IT services consulting company Digital Smart Solution Sarl (DSS) to distribute SekurMessenger to some of the nation’s leading companies in the telecommunications and banking industries. “According to market research, approximately 90% of African businesses are operating without cybersecurity protocols in place, making them vulnerable to cyber threats, such as hacking, phishing, and malware attacks,” said Ghiai. “The economic consequences of digital insecurity are already substantial.” SekurMessenger can help provide a stronger line of defense against data breaches and other cybersecurity threats. The app is available on all Android and iOS devices and offers end-to-end encryption along with a number of other advanced security features like VirtualVaults and Helix Tech for storing data on encrypted Swiss-hosted servers and a customizable self-destruct timer that automatically deletes messages after a certain time frame or trigger. So nothing is stored unless users want to store it and when data is stored, the app defaults to a highly secure encrypted storage option. SekurMessenger is also one of the only apps that doesn’t ask for a phone number when signing up. Instead, users get a Sekur username and number that can be used to contact them through the app without disclosing any personal information. Thanks to the recent launch of the proprietary “chat-by-invite” feature, Sekur users can enjoy that same level of security and privacy even when chatting with people who don’t have the app. After receiving an invite via text or email, the non-Sekur recipient simply clicks on the link to go to a secure messaging channel where they can chat with the Sekur user who invited them. There’s no need for the non-Sekur user to download the app or give out personal information to register. This makes it an ideal option for keeping internal conversations within a company private and secure and also offers a way to keep sensitive data safe when communicating with customers. Unlike other messenger apps which either don’t offer advanced encryption or require all participants to download the app in order for the conversation to be fully encrypted, SekurMessenger can maintain maximum privacy and security even when the recipient isn’t a Sekur user. “The entire communication only happens in our Swiss encrypted server environment as opposed to sending encryption keys back and forth over the internet,” explained Ghiai in an interview. So, a conversation with non-Sekur users doesn’t expose the messages to non-encrypted environments. Meanwhile, SekurMail offers similar security and privacy for email communications, while using SekurVPN can add an additional layer of security to protect businesses from hacking and malware attacks. Looking ahead, the company has plans to add innovative products like SekurVoice, which is slated for this Q1 2024, and, according to Ghiai, will let users make “encrypted calls to anyone in the world without having to dial their phone number.” The Sekur CEO also mentioned plans for a video conferencing product as well as a portfolio of other enterprise communication solutions. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

September 27, 2023 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

VPN Trust Initiative: VPN Trust Seal Accreditation Program Launch

VPN Trust Initiative

The Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) launched the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) in 2020 to establish a baseline for how virtual private network (VPN) providers should operate. The goal is to help avoid oversights, misunderstandings, or vague legislation that could invite abuses of power and short-sighted legislation of helpful technology. As a result of collaborative efforts, the VTI Principles serve as a comprehensive set of best practices for VPN providers that bolster consumer confidence and provider accountability, promoting wider VPN adoption and access to the technology’s benefits. Today VTI is announcing the launch of the VPN Trust Seal accreditation program, which provides a clear public indicator that a participating VPN provider follows established best practices for delivering service in the following five areas: Security: VPNs will use the necessary security measures, including strong encryption and authentication protocols, to appropriately address the risks. Advertising Practices: Given the complexity and different use cases for VPNs, claims must not mislead. Privacy: VPNs should keep as little data as they deem necessary to provide the service and only produce data to law enforcement when legally required. Disclosure and Transparency: To foster trust, member companies must take steps toward informing users and the public about their actions and procedures. Social Responsibility: VPN providers will promote VPN technology to support access to the global Internet and freedom of expression. Principles guiding VPN Trust Seal accreditation are informed by input from businesses, legislators, free speech advocates, and other outside experts to protect the privacy and security of VPN users; offer practical policy guidelines for VPN providers; and ensure policymakers, regulators, and the wider market have access to clear criteria for evaluating these technologies. The inaugural group of VPN providers that have earned accreditation includes Certida, FastVPN, IvacyVPN, NordVPN, PureVPN, Surfshark, Texas.net, IPVanish, StrongVPN, eVenture Ltd, and ExpressVPN. “Now when VPN customers try to determine which providers align with their ethics, they can look for the VPN Trust Seal and gain some assurances about the commitments behind the products they are looking to purchase,” said Christian Dawson, Co-Founder & Executive Director, i2Coalition. For more detailed information on each of these principles and how to get the VPN Trust Seal, please visit the VTI website. About i2Coalition’s VPN Trust Initiative i2Coalition’s VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) is an industry-led consortium that promotes consumer safety and privacy online by increasing understanding of VPNs and strengthening business practices in an industry that already protects millions of Internet users. The VTI leverages first-hand knowledge to advocate, create, vet, and validate guidelines that strengthen trust and transparency and mitigate risk for users. To learn more about the VTI, please visit vpntrust.net. About the i2Coalition The Internet Infrastructure Coalition (“i2Coalition”) ensures that those who build the infrastructure of the Internet have a voice in public policy. We are a leading voice for web hosting companies, data centers, domain registrars and registries, cloud infrastructure providers, managed services providers, and related tech. We protect innovation and the continued growth of the Internet’s infrastructure which is essential to the global economy. Our coalition launched at a significant time in our industry’s history. The genesis of the organization began in 2011 when many of the i2Coalition founding and charter members joined forces during the successful effort to prevent SOPA and PIPA from becoming United States law. After mobilizing to ensure the Internet’s free flow of information and commerce, we realized the ongoing need for an industry voice, founding formally in 2012. To learn more about the i2Coalition and explore membership, please visit i2Coalition.com. Contact Details Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://vpntrust.net/

September 26, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

After $6.4 Million IPO, Inspire Veterinary Partners Shifts Into Next Phase Of Acquisition-Driven Growth Strategy

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga With more Americans owning pets and those pet owners increasingly prioritizing the health and well-being of those new pets, the market is ripe for veterinary hospitals everywhere. So the closing of Inspire Veterinary Partners Inc.’s (NASDAQ: IVP) Initial Public Offering (IPO) last month, marking the introduction of the first publicly traded vet services company is a great opportunity for investors who want to gain exposure to that $61 billion vet services market. Inspire generated $6.4 million in gross proceeds from the IPO which will fund its ongoing growth strategy as it works on finalizing a series of new acquisition deals. The owner and operator of a growing network of acquired veterinary hospitals has set a goal of 10 new acquisitions per year over the next five years, giving investors plenty to look forward to with this new entry on the NASDAQ. Vet Hospitals Are Poised For Growth As Pet Owners Take Greater Interest In Pet Health And Wellbeing Unlike other pandemic-era booms that went bust soon after quarantines lifted, the pet boom began decades before COVID and shows every sign of being here to stay. Today, 62% of Americans own at least one pet (about half of those pet owners have two or more). As pet ownership increases, so does the amount owners spend on their pets. Even as inflation strains household budgets, nearly half of pet owners say they haven’t made cuts to their monthly spending on their pets. Inspire Is A Vet Hospital Consolidator With A Flexible, Long-Term Approach To Acquisitions Inspire’s approach to consolidation is unique. Rather than an exit-driven strategy, the vet hospital owner structures acquisitions with the goal of owning that hospital for the long term and helping it improve its operations, costs and revenue along the way. Adding a personal touch, the company’s CEO personally visits each potential acquisition to interact with the staff and address any concerns. Additionally, Inspire allows each hospital to maintain its unique practice methods and identity, thereby appealing to sellers who are wary of the centralized models of larger competitors. This differentiates the vet hospital owner from most players in the game. “The overwhelming majority of organizations that buy and open veterinary clinics in the United States are owned by private equity investors and managers,” said Inspire President and CEO in a recent blog post. “Funds are put in, a company is grown, and down the line those investors sell the company to new investors, take profit as a result and then look for another company or industry in which to invest.” In most cases, Carr says that process is happening in the span of about two to five years. Not only is that not enough time to understand the business, it also incentivizes those investors to focus on short-term growth strategies that may or may not make sense for the long-term potential of that hospital. Instead, Inspire looks for hospitals and clinics that it can own for the long haul, not just opportunities to flip in two or three years for a quick profit. Then, it works closely with each one of those acquisitions to help it achieve sustainable long-term growth—an investment of time, talent, and resources that benefits everyone involved. For shareholders, that approach has the potential to generate more sustainable long-term growth as the hospitals already under the Inspire umbrella continue to grow their revenue while later acquisitions help Inspire expand that revenue base. It also puts Inspire in a unique position to create additional revenue opportunities by expanding existing hospitals, adding on new services, and building a network for case referrals by connecting nearby hospitals and clinics in Inspire’s expanding network. For the stakeholders in the hospitals themselves, that acquisition approach alleviates the stress of dealing with new owners who have no intention of sticking around for more than a couple of years and may have little interest in the long-term health of the business. It also gives them access to training and consultation from an experienced team of medical and operational coaches with a deep well of vetted experience. This approach can help improve margins as Inspire consolidates purchasing relationships and provides on-the-ground consulting and training to improve overall operations and identify the best growth strategy for each location. In its current phase of growth, Inspire is focused on buying existing businesses that are already profitable. As soon as the deal is closed, a growth strategy tailored to that location is implemented. To date, it successfully applied this approach to 13 locations across nine states for a combined annual revenue run-rate estimated at approximately $19 million for 2023. With multiple acquisition agreements in progress that would add significant future revenue, Inspire expects to see an improvement to its bottom-line performance as well. Looking ahead, the company plans to acquire 10 locations per year over the next several years using a tried and tested assessment process and a team with functional expertise. This approach is intended to help the company to efficiently scale its acquisition strategy without sacrificing the flexibility needed to bring in locations across any state or demographic market while providing the tailored support each location needs to grow. As with the past couple of years, Inspire will continue to focus on general practice veterinary hospitals that already have a track record of profitability while diversifying into new clinic types in the years to come. As each new acquisition allows the company to further scale and bring more of its operations in-house, it plans to expand into emergency care clinics and earlier-stage practices as well. Acknowledging the vast market opportunity, Inspire Veterinary Partners notes that less than 30% of the over 28,000 veterinary hospitals in the U.S. have been consolidated, signaling a large upside potential for further acquisitions. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

September 26, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Seizing The Future Of Crypto: Why Swopblock Could Be Your Ground-Level Opportunity

Benzinga

By James Wells, Benzinga Learn more about and invest in Swopblock via Wefunder The largest asset managers on Earth seem to be competing to secure approvals for Spot Bitcoin ETFs, with BlackRock leading the pack with a 575-1 approval rate. This marks a significant milestone for investors, as traditional finance is increasingly adopting cryptocurrency and considering tokenization across various sectors. Recent wins for Grayscale's Bitcoin ETF and Ripple's SEC case have elevated confidence in the crypto market among traditional financial institutions, while retail investors remain cautious. This divergence between institutional and retail interest has created market inefficiencies, lowering the actual risk and opening doors for significant wealth creation, especially for those who can identify these gaps. However, for the average investor, simply investing in Bitcoin for modest returns is not enough due to its already massive market cap. The real opportunities lie in finding undervalued projects, particularly in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, which has gained traction following the 2022 FTX collapse and subsequent insolvencies. Enter Swopblock, a new entrant aiming to revolutionize the crypto subsector by becoming the world's first fully decentralized cross-chain exchange platform. This article will explore why Swopblock is not just another crypto project but a potentially high-reward investment with enormous market potential. Unveiling The Competitive Edge Of Swopblock Swopblock stands out as an innovator in the crowded DeFi landscape, offering fully decentralized, cross-chain trading features. Unlike other decentralized exchanges that still incorporate centralized elements, Swopblock offers total decentralization, reporting that they provide a level of security unseen in the cryptocurrency space. Had investors used Swopblock, losses from the FTX collapse, Celsius, or 3AC would have been avoided. The platform's unique approach to liquidity involves distributing it across user wallets, enabling you to contribute your own liquidity for trading. Adding to its allure is the limited supply of its native asset, SWOBL. With a cap of 52.8 million assets, over 18 million have already been allocated to early investors. How Swopblock Stands Out While platforms like Polygon and PancakeSwap offer decentralized features, they still carry risks – particularly in their liquidity pools. Swopblock distinguishes itself from competitors like THORChain and Polygon by providing complete decentralization while also providing cross-chain functionality. Fueled by its native SWOBL token, Swopblock allows users to bring their own liquidity to their trades, maintaining full control within their own wallets. This not only resolves the self-custody issues often found in centralized finance but also eliminates the 'honeypot' vulnerabilities typical of traditional DEXs. Understanding The Critical Role Of Scarcity In cryptocurrency trading, scarcity often boosts value. Swopblock's limited SWOBL asset supply creates urgency and growth potential for investors. Serving as the sole liquidity source, SWOBL as linked to various blockchains like Ethereum and Bitcoin, tying its demand to trading volume. As Swopblock gains traction, the demand for SWOBL is likely to rise, offering traders, investors and asset holders – including Swopblock itself – an opportunity for substantial gains. This is a golden opportunity to invest in a project that offers not just scarcity but also value accrual and genuine innovation in the DeFi sector. The DEX Market Opportunity With institutional investors flooding into the market and retail following thereafter – the demand for self-custodial and secure means of exchange will be astronomical. Decentralized exchanges are not a fad; they are the future. The evolution of mainstream cryptocurrency adoption generally starts with centralized exchanges (CEXs) and gradually moves towards DEXs. A recent Binance report highlights this shift, showing that the DEX-to-CEX spot trade volume ratio has surged from 0.23% to 16.9% in just over three years. As investors recognize CEX risks and the profitability of altcoins on DEXs, the shift towards DEXs is expected to continue. Swopblock, with its unique 'Consensus Mechanism and Liquidity Stream' technology, offers a 100% decentralized means of exchange, setting it apart in the growing DEX landscape. Swopblock: The Future Of Cryptocurrency Trading? If you're an investor who wants to get ahead and take advantage of the current uncertainty in the crypto market — especially as big financial institutions take greater interest — Swopblock could be an excellent opportunity for you. With its advanced technology and limited $SWOBL supply, Swopblock may be poised for potential gains in the next bull market. Investing via Wefunder would allow you to join this transformative venture. However, while Swopblock has its merits, it's important to note that crypto investments are risky due to their volatile and speculative nature. Always diversify and do your research before investing. Learn more about and invest in Swopblock via Wefunder This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

September 26, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Wallabing Is Giving Renters And Owners An Alternative To High Fees Plaguing The Peer-To-Peer RV Rental Market

Benzinga

By Rachael Green, Benzinga Click here to learn more about Wallabing and invest in its raise Younger travelers, in general, look for adventure and new experiences, with RV travel ranking high as a lower-cost means of exploring the country, especially with a family in tow. In a survey by RVshare, 75% of millennials and 58% of Gen Z said they were planning to take a road trip or vacation in an RV within the next year. For many, the reason they’re opting for RV travel is a greater preference for nature and wildlife as well as an interest in spending quality time with friends and family. Peer-to-peer rental platforms like Wallabing make getting that experience and quality time that today’s travelers value easier and more affordable. As the new RV rental platform raises capital on WeFunder and works toward profitability, take a look at why RV rental platforms are taking off and what makes Wallabing different from similar platforms in the space. Younger Experience-Focused Travelers Are Driving A Renewed Interest In RV Travel As millennials start entering their 30s and 40s, the notorious industry-killing generation isn’t killing travel – but they are drastically changing it. According to a Morning Consult report, millennials travel more than any other age group, even edging out the wealthier and often retired Baby Boomers. Despite being saddled by debt and weathering three economic downturns, millennials are not only still willing to spend on travel but see it as an important piece of their identity and what makes life worth living. As a result, that spend tends to be a lot more intentional, and they’re much more likely to spend on experiences rather than luxury goods. That high priority younger travelers place on travel balanced by the need to be cost-conscious and careful about how they spend their travel budget makes RV rentals one of the best ways to check all the boxes. Spontaneous new adventures suddenly become more attainable when you can just book an RV when you need it and give it back to the owner when you’re done. For owners, the platform can not only help make up the cost of ownership but also turn their RV into a passive revenue stream when they’re not traveling themselves. Since most owners only use their RV for about 20 days per year on average, that’s a lot of downtime that can be turned into extra cash. RV Rental Platforms Like Wallabing Bridge The Gap Between RV Owners And Renters That win-win scenario for owners and renters has helped the emerging RV rental market see notable growth. “With the rapidly growing rental market for RVs, valued at $546 million in 2020, and the forecast of 44 million Americans planning to go RVing this summer, Wallabing's platform emerges as an essential solution,” said Wallabing’s lead investor, Mark Thimmig. However, the challenge that owners and renters alike face in the current RV rental landscape is high fees. “I currently rent my 2 Campers on both Rvshare and Outdoorsy,” said Wendell Olson, a Wallabing investor on WeFunder. “I see RVshare take 25% of my nightly rate and the same on back end charges. Outdoorsy takes less on nightly and much less on back end charges but it's still high.” Moreover, many of these platforms are also charging similarly high fees to renters. So renters end up paying more – and RV owners earn less. That’s what Wallabing founder and CEO Jason Carlson wanted to do differently with the launch of the new RV rental platform. On Wallabing, owners pay nothing to list and aren’t charged any fees when their RV is rented. The price they set is the price they get, making it the only platform to date that doesn’t charge a commission to owners. Instead, the platform earns revenue from a flat 10% fee charged to renters on the nightly rate only – not on any cleaning fees or other add-on services. The transparent, low-fee pricing structure saves renters up to 25% per trip on average. In the first phase of its growth, Wallabing has been focused on building up its RV inventory, which has grown 628% so far, including a 25% increase in new listings in the first half of this year. Its goal is to have over 150,000 RVs listed on the platform within the next five years. Alongside that growing inventory, Wallabing recently began a PR and marketing campaign to reach renters. That helped bring in over 30,000 new users since June and substantially grow the company’s social media following. As that increased user base and social media following starts to translate into RV bookings, the peer-to-peer RV rental platform is targeting $780,000 in gross revenue per month by the end of their fiscal year. As it works toward profitability, it is raising funds via its recent WeFunder campaign and talking with Venture Capitalists and angel investors. So far, it’s raised over $1 million in capital from an initial family and friends funding round along with over $55,000 from investors on WeFunder. Learn more about Wallabing and its raise here. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

September 26, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Shapeways Enables and Empowers Small to Midsized Manufacturers Through Digitization

Benzinga

By Faith Ashmore, Benzinga Greg Kress, the CEO of Shapeways Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHPW), recently appeared on the Let’s Talk Supply Chain podcast. During the discussion, Kress highlighted the gaps in the digitization of the manufacturing industry and explained Shapeways’ role in addressing these challenges. As a leader in the field of digital manufacturing, Shapeways continues to redefine the global manufacturing industry by providing on-demand manufacturing and simplifying complex production processes through proprietary software. The company is helping small and midsized manufacturers do this by providing access to Shapeways’ proprietary software and supporting them in digitizing their operations, growing revenue and expanding manufacturing capabilities. “Small and midsized manufacturers are enabling incredible amounts of innovation in the US,” said Kress. “They are driving the manufacturing industry—and the amount of available work out there is enormous. Our goal is to enable them to be really successful.” Kress compares his business model to what Toast (NYSE: TOST) did for the restaurant industry. Toast is a cloud-based restaurant management software that has essentially brought much of the restaurant industry into the 21st century. Shapeways is using that inspiration to provide small and midsized manufacturing companies with the resources they need to succeed and expand. “Previously no one had access to industrial grade manufacturing equipment without investing millions of dollars and having a ton of know-how and time,” said Kress. “Now, Shapeways is allowing anyone to get access to on-demand manufacturing services at scale,” Shapeways is democratizing the manufacturing industry and expanding accessibility so that small to midsized companies can excel in their craft. The company has invested millions of dollars in the digitalization of end-to-end operations and building scalable software that caters to the market. On the podcast, Kress discussed how the pandemic has been a wake-up call for the company, regarding the need for better workflows in manufacturing overall, sharing: “COVID has re-set the playing field. The amount of on-shoring we’re seeing is significant, and with the level of supply chain flexibility that’s required moving forward, there’s a different expectation. Those two challenges require businesses to take a step back and reexamine their approach in how to solve them.” In many ways, Shapeways has become that solution. Realizing a need–and recognizing the opportunity–to reshape manufacturing, Shapeways responded with the launch of OTTO, a proprietary software platform that streamlines ordering, performs file analysis, and accelerates production. OTTO offers advantages beyond optimizing labor efficiency, asset utilization, and inventory costs. This powerful software platform also strengthens relationships between manufacturers and their customers, encouraging growth and paving the way for future opportunities. Shapeways acquired MFG in 2022 to provide further support to manufacturers and buyers by adding new software features and services. MFG allows buyers—including engineers, product designers, and inventors—to submit requests for quotes (RFQs) to MFG’s network of independent manufacturers. This enables buyers to get multiple quotes quickly, at no cost. Manufacturers also benefit from the opportunity to gain new leads and build customer relationships. Shapeways isn’t content to stop there though. With increased investment in MFG, the platform now offers new orders and transactions features that streamline process management and payments, aimed at increasing efficiency for both manufacturers and buyers. Shapeways recently introduced MFG Materials too, a new feature providing paid members with access to a wide range of raw materials at 15 to 50% off list prices. Kress shared that the company has experienced success with customers under their multi-tiered model: "Our customers typically upgrade very quickly. The payback period is very fast. If you close one order on the platform, you’ve paid for your investment in MFG for the next two years. There’s a very strong ROI associated with the process." Shapeways seems well-positioned to revolutionize the manufacturing landscape, and Kress is confident in the company’s unique offerings within the industry. By extending their innovative, on-demand manufacturing services and software to a broad range of industries, Shapeways allows other companies to tap into their knowledge and insights to remain competitive in an ever-changing modern market. Read more about what Shapeways is doing in the manufacturing and software industries. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

September 25, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

MultiversX Rivals the World’s Largest Hackathon Prize Fund of $1M to Expand the Blockchain Ecosystem at xDay 2023

STORM Partners

Sep 22nd, 2023 - MultiversX has announced the launch of its global development event, the xDay Hackathon, to further expand the Web3 ecosystem for new and emerging projects. Organized alongside Encode and Dora Hacks, the event is powered by its esteemed partners, including Google Cloud, Tencent Cloud and Deutsche Telekom, offering prizes and funding of up to $1M. MultiversX is offering one of the largest hackathon prize funds in history. Beyond cash and seed funding rewards, the grand prize offers the winning project an exclusive spot on the xLaunchpad platform. This grants them access to an incubation platform that provides emerging projects with assistance in multiple areas including: funding, legal & compliance, marketing and developer support amongst other services, while also giving access to a community of over 100,000 users. The xDay Hackathon has already garnered impressive interest, with over 500 participants registered. The event has been designed to offer invaluable learning opportunities, including 19 workshops and 4 AMA sessions. Developers can build tools, scripts or smart contracts in languages like Rust, C/C++, Python, and TypeScript, making the xDay Hackathon a global call for coders of all skill levels. " The xDay Hackathon is the very best time to build. Builders, tools, prizes, funding. Everything is ready for the global builder community. Time for builders to explore new ways of utilizing the unique capabilities of the MultiversX network. " says Beniamin Mincu, CEO of MultiversX. Registrations for the xDay Hackathon are still open at xday.com/hackathon until October 16th. The event spans across six tracks: AI, DeFi, Payments, Infrastructure & Dev Tooling, Mobile Apps, Gaming & Metaverse, running from September 21st to October 20th. While the event is hosted online, the grand finale will be held at the xDay conference, in Bucharest, Romania, with optional in-person attendance. The MultiversX ecosystem has rapidly grown to become a leading force in the blockchain space, boasting an impressive 2.3 million wallets, over 345 million processed transactions, and a thriving community of builders with 2,500+ tokens, 6,500+ applications and over 2 million NFTs created. About MultiversX MultiversX is a highly scalable, secure and decentralized blockchain network created to enable radically new applications, for users, businesses, society, and the new metaverse frontier. About Encode Encode Club is a leading web3 education community. Its mission is to help ambitious, talented people achieve personal and professional goals together in web3. Encode does this through organising high-quality programmes including hackathons, coding bootcamps, educational workshops, and accelerators in partnership with the leading blockchain protocols. Once participating in the programming, they help people get hired through the dedicated recruitment arm or receive investment through the investment fund. About DoraHacks DoraHacks is a global hackathon organizer and one of the world's most active developer incentive platforms. It creates a global hacker movement in blockchain, quantum computing and space tech, and provides a wide range of toolkits to help developers around the world team up and fund their ideas and BUIDLs via hackathons, bounties, grants and more. Distributed by STORM Partners. Contact Adrian Bono for interviews and quotes - adrian.bono@storm.partners or telegram @STORMPartners Contact Details Media Contact: Dan Voicu, Head of Communications dan.voicu@multiversx.com

September 22, 2023 10:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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TECH SOLUTIONS FOR BUSY FAMILIES & CONNECTED PARENTS

News Media Group, Inc.

Contact Details Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/

September 22, 2023 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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