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Institutional investors embrace next wave of ETFs

Tradeweb

Since their first introduction in the early 1990s, U.S. retail investors have embraced Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) as a way to diversify their investment portfolios, viewing ETFs as a pathway to better pricing, greater efficiency, better investor access and improved execution for a wide variety of assets and trading strategies. Now, as new ETF products have launched and investor demands have changed, institutional investors are playing a larger role in driving ETF adoption. Take the recent listing of spot Bitcoin ETFs, for example. Earlier this year, after receiving approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), eleven spot Bitcoin ETFs debuted in the U.S. market. Hailed as the most successful ETF launch in history, on its first day of trading, total spot Bitcoin ETF volumes reached over $4.6 billion. In the first four days of trading, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) ETF reached $1 billion in assets, the first among the group of eleven newly launched ETFs to reach this milestone. Now the world’s largest Bitcoin fund, the ETF has garnered nearly $20 billion in total assets. Although popular among retail investors, cryptocurrencies have received mixed reviews from institutional investors, with many rejecting the assets outright because of their potentially speculative and unregulated nature. However, in the months following the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs, market makers and institutional investors lined up in force to price these ETFs and gain exposure to these assets – resulting in strong liquidity and high volumes on its first day of trading. This momentum continued to build, with roughly 500 institutional investors allocating funds into spot Bitcoin ETFs in the first quarter of 2024. On the Tradeweb platform, BlackRock’s IBIT ETF reached an average daily volume of $4.2 million in the first six months. Benefits of the ETF Wrapper While the strong volumes that played out across the market and on the Tradeweb platform over the past six months are a testament to the sophistication and preparedness of institutional firms themselves, they also underscore the attractiveness of ETFs more broadly. A variety of characteristics make the ETF structure appealing. The most basic is that an ETF looks, feels and settles like a stock, while simultaneously managing risk efficiently and providing exposure to a wide range of asset classes. Because of this, more types of investors are willing to use ETFs in various ways, such as for cash equitization, asset diversification and tax management purposes. They also serve as hedging tools for traders wishing to express short-term tactical views on the market. In the case of Bitcoin, though, institutional investors may be more focused on the SEC's approval than price transparency and liquidity. This important step could influence whether Bitcoin and other digital currencies become more mainstream, as many institutional investors and ETF providers – skeptical about buying and settling the asset – still reject crypto currencies in their portfolios. Now, the ETF wrapper has made these assets more appealing. Instead of avoiding Bitcoin, investors just might justify with their investment committees buying assets that are more like equity, trade on a national exchange, and have regulatory approval. While the SEC noted that approving these spot Bitcoin ETFs was not an endorsement or approval of Bitcoin itself, the SEC emphasized the protections that would be afforded to investors by SEC regulation of the spot Bitcoin ETFs, such as full and fair product disclosure. Democratizing Fixed Income This is somewhat of a deja vu moment, since we’ve seen ETFs broaden an asset’s investor base before, and indeed transform a market. In fixed income, ETFs have changed the buying and selling of bonds by creating these fungible, easily tradeable proxy shares for assets that had largely been the domain of institutions and high net-worth individual investors. Traditionally, investors were more commonly set up and familiar with trading equities rather than fixed income, making it harder to source, price, bundle and trade certain bonds. As a result, retail investors, in particular, had difficulties accessing the full breadth of the fixed income market. But in the form of ETFs, investors were able to tap into multiple areas of the bond market, bringing on a whole new level of liquidity and price transparency to the underlying assets. That’s opened fixed income to retail investing and spawned a fixed income ETF boom over the past decade. Today, fixed income ETFs make up a $2 trillion asset class and in the U.S. alone, over 700 fixed income ETFs are currently trading, all of which are available to trade on the Tradeweb platform under the request-for-quote (RFQ) protocol. Since launching our first RFQ cash equities platform in Europe in 2018, institutional market participants have increasingly turned toward the protocol because of its advantages, including seamless integration into trading workflows, more flexibility, better pricing and increased efficiency. Moreover, we continue to report strong volumes across the ETF platform, driven by the constant expansion of electronic trade types and the introduction of new trading efficiencies. Since the launch of our institutional European ETF platform in 2012[1] and our U.S. ETF platform in 2016, we’ve reported a rise of 51% and 59%, respectively, in total average annual notional volume growth[2]. Sure, generally, the assets underlying an ETF need to be liquid already for an ETF to be successful, but if our experience watching more retail investors leaping into fixed income ETFs is a guide, we’re likely to see new kinds of investors dabbling in digital assets and institutional investors continue to make a bigger splash in areas where they hadn’t in the past, such as cryptocurrencies. Ethereum Takes the Spotlight With the successful launch of Bitcoin behind us, spot Ethereum ETFs are the latest to get the greenlight after the SEC approved the listing of eight spot ether ETFs in May 2024. On the first day of trading, the eight new spot ether ETFs hit $1 billion in trading volume on their first day – a smaller number than the over $4.6 billion in total trading volume spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in on the first day, but a significant milestone nonetheless. What the SEC has not signaled in these narrow approvals of crypto ETFs, though, is its willingness to approve listing standards for crypto asset securities in general, citing the speculative, volatile nature of the asset. ETFs based on baskets of different crypto assets have yet to emerge, and investors hoping to broadly diversify their crypto holdings through ETFs have had to settle for shares whose underlying assets are companies that own or deal in crypto currencies – rather than the currencies themselves. Even still, as we’ve seen in fixed income, the ETF wrapper can play a significant role in changing a market, leading the way to greater acceptance of the asset class and promoting broader interest and acceptance among investors by offering a more tax-efficient and transparent way to diversify holdings and gain exposure to a broader range of assets. These characteristics have made ETFs appealing to retail investors, who have historically pioneered ETF adoption, and institutions and high-net-worth investors, who have more recently been driving this trend. It’s a role we’ll continue to watch over time as innovation, new asset classes and technologies shape what’s next for ETFs. [1] Tradeweb’s European ETF platform was launched in October 2012; therefore, data for 2012 does not include a full calendar year. [2] As of July 31, 2024. About Tradeweb Markets Tradeweb Markets Inc. (Nasdaq: TW) is a leading, global operator of electronic marketplaces for rates, credit, equities and money markets. Founded in 1996, Tradeweb provides access to markets, data and analytics, electronic trading, straight-through-processing and reporting for more than 50 products to clients in the institutional, wholesale and retail markets. Advanced technologies developed by Tradeweb enhance price discovery, order execution and trade workflows while allowing for greater scale and helping to reduce risks in client trading operations. Tradeweb serves more than 2,500 clients in more than 70 countries. On average, Tradeweb facilitated more than $1.7 trillion in notional value traded per day over the past four fiscal quarters. For more information, please go to www.tradeweb.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements related to, among other things, our outlook and future performance, the industry and markets in which we operate, our expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, prospects and assumptions and future events are forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the documents of Tradeweb Markets Inc. on file with or furnished to the SEC, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, preliminary average variable fees per million dollars of volume traded are subject to the completion of management’s final review and our other financial closing procedures and therefore are subject to change. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are not guarantees of future events or performance and future events, our actual results of operations, financial condition or liquidity, and the development of the industry and markets in which we operate, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. In addition, even if future events, our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity, and events in the industry and markets in which we operate, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this release, they may not be predictive of events, results or developments in future periods. Any forward-looking statement that we make in this release speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this release. Contact Details Tradeweb Media Contact Savannah Steele +1 631-655-4225 Savannah.Steele@Tradeweb.com Company Website https://www.tradeweb.com/

August 08, 2024 08:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Huntington Park Police Renews Knightscope Partnership for Sixth Year as Crime Rates Drop

MarketJar

Knightscope, Inc. (NASDAQ:KSCP), a leading Silicon Valley-based AI and security tech innovator, has once again secured the trust of Huntington Park Police Department, renewing its contract for the sixth consecutive year. This extension ensures that the K5 Autonomous Security Robot (ASR) will continue its crucial role in safeguarding Salt Lake Park, a move that has already led to a significant reduction in crime and enhanced public safety. Knightscope, which is known for its cutting-edge autonomous security robots (ASRs) and blue light emergency communication systems, creates technology that deters, detects, and reports incidents in real time. These robots are more than just gadgets; they represent a new frontier in crime prevention, offering security professionals unparalleled situational awareness. With their cost-effective deployment, Knightscope ’s robots are protecting various environments across the country, from workplaces and schools to parks and public spaces. The company's overarching mission is to transform the United States into the safest country in the world. Huntington Park Police Chief Cosme Lozano expressed his enthusiasm about the continued collaboration, stating, “The integration of the K5 ASR into our city resources has been transformative. It has greatly improved our capacity to monitor public spaces, boost public safety, and enhance the overall perception of our community.” The impact of the K5 ASR has been nothing short of remarkable. Since its deployment, the robot has played a key role in reducing crime and nuisance activities at Salt Lake Park. According to the city manager, the presence of the K5 ASR led to a 10% reduction in service calls and a staggering 46% decrease in crime reports during its initial year of operation. These figures underscore the effectiveness of Knightscope ’s technology in fostering a safer environment for the community. Knightscope also upgraded the Huntington Park Police Department to the fifth-generation K5 Autonomous Security Robot (ASR) at no extra cost, further enhancing its capabilities in safeguarding Salt Lake Park and continuing its impressive track record of reducing crime and boosting public safety. 1 The upgraded fifth-generation K5 Autonomous Security Robot features a wider stance for better stability, a raised camera for near eye-level 4K video capture, improved battery architecture, enhanced audio, additional lighting for better nighttime visibility, and a design optimized for easier maintenance. These improvements enhance its effectiveness and operational reliability. 2 William Santana Li, Chairman and CEO of Knightscope, emphasized the importance of equipping law enforcement with advanced tools, stating, “Our law enforcement officers deserve the utmost respect for their dedication and the best tools available to support their mission. We are honored to continue our partnership for another year, helping to protect the places where people live, work, study, and visit.” The K5 ASR, a cornerstone of Knightscope ’s technology suite, is not just making waves in Huntington Park. It’s also gaining widespread recognition in the tech world. Recently, Citi featured the K5 robot in its influential report titled "The Rise of AI Robots," positioning it alongside Boston Dynamics' Spot robot and Tesla's Optimus. 3 This acknowledgment underscores the growing impact of Knightscope ’s innovations and highlights the K5’s role in advancing security technology. Knightscope Expands Contracts with Schools, Transit Agencies, and University of Texas The recent extension with the police department is just the tip of the iceberg. Knightscope, Inc. (NASDAQ:KSCP) has achieved significant contract expansions with a diverse range of clients, including schools, transit agencies, multifamily communities, and universities, highlighting the growing confidence in its security technologies. Last month, the company renewed and expanded its contracts with several school districts and transit agencies. The enhanced agreements will see the deployment of Knightscope 's K5 Autonomous Security Robots (ASRs) to patrol and monitor public spaces, offering real-time incident detection and reporting to boost safety. The University of Texas has increased its use of Knightscope 's emergency communication systems, a move aimed at bolstering the university’s preparedness and response capabilities during emergencies. In California, a multifamily community has expanded its contract with Knightscope to include more K5 ASRs. This expansion will enhance security and improve safety for residents through continuous monitoring and prompt incident reporting. Additionally, two other universities have extended their contracts with Knightscope, incorporating more of its security solutions to further strengthen campus security and create a safer environment for students and staff. These expansions reflect Knightscope ’s growing impact and its commitment to improving safety and security across a variety of sectors and locations. For further information on Knightscope 's innovative solutions and projects, please visit Knightscope's website (NASDAQ:KSCP). Footnotes: [1] https://x.com/iKnightscope/status/1765815077918175447 [2] https://www.knightscope.com/post/the-fifth-generation-k5---an-exercise-of-evolutionary-discipline [3] https://www.citivelocity.com/rendition/eppublic/public/documentService/dXNlcl9pZD1qNzhtc2xQZkt0dz0/ZG9jX2lkPTMwMjY0MjM0JnBsYXRmb3JtSWQ9NzgmbWVudUl0ZW1JZD1BTExfSU5TSUdIVFM?ancestor=CVR22 Disclosure: 1) The author of the Article, or members of the author’s immediate household or family, do not own any securities of the companies outlined in this Article. The author determined which companies would be included in this article based on research and understanding of the sector. 2) The Article was issued on behalf of and sponsored by, Knightscope, Inc. Market Jar Media Inc. was paid $1,500 for the production and publishing of this article by Knightscope, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Agency of Record (Native Ads Inc.). Additional details relating to Market Jar Media Inc.’s engagement by Knightscope, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Agency of Record (Native Ads Inc.) are set out in https://pressreach.com/disclaimer-kscp. 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not Market Jar Media Inc., its directors or officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Market Jar Media Inc. for this Article. Market Jar Media Inc. was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this Article. Market Jar has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of Market Jar or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Market Jar Media Inc. relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Market Jar Media Inc. has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) The Article does not constitute investment advice. All investments carry risk and each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional. Any action a reader takes as a result of the information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Market Jar Media Inc.'s terms of use and full legal disclaimer as set forth here. This Article is not a solicitation for investment. Market Jar Media Inc. does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on PressReach.com should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on PressReach.com. 5) Market Jar Media Inc. and its respective directors, officers and employees hold no shares for any company mentioned in the Article. 6) This document contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), which reflect management's expectations regarding Knightscope, Inc.’s future growth, future business plans and opportunities, expected activities, and other statements about future events, results or performance. Wherever possible, words such as “predicts”, “projects”, “targets”, “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “anticipate” or “does not anticipate”, “believe”, “intend” and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology have been used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: (a) revenue generating potential with respect to Knightscope, Inc.’s industry; (b) market opportunity; (c) Knightscope, Inc.’s business plans and strategies; (d) services that Knightscope, Inc. intends to offer; (e) Knightscope, Inc.’s milestone projections and targets; (f) Knightscope, Inc.’s expectations regarding receipt of approval for regulatory applications; (g) Knightscope, Inc.’s intentions to expand into other jurisdictions including the timeline expectations relating to those expansion plans; and (h) Knightscope, Inc.’s expectations with regarding its ability to deliver shareholder value. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this document including, without limitation, assumptions about: (a) the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute Knightscope, Inc.’s business plan; (b) that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; (c) Knightscope, Inc.’s ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; (d) the accuracy of budgeted costs and expenditures; (e) Knightscope, Inc.’s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; (f) political and regulatory stability; (g) the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third-party approvals, licenses and permits on favorable terms; (h) changes in applicable legislation; (i) stability in financial and capital markets; and (j) expectations regarding the level of disruption to as a result of CV-19. Such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of Knightscope, Inc. to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: (a) Knightscope, Inc.’s operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; (b) public health crises such as CV-19 may adversely impact Knightscope, Inc.’s business; (c) the volatility of global capital markets; (d) political instability and changes to the regulations governing Knightscope, Inc.’s business operations (e) Knightscope, Inc. may be unable to implement its growth strategy; and (f) increased competition.Except as required by law, Knightscope, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither does Knightscope, Inc. nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this document. Neither Knightscope, Inc. nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this document by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this document. 7) Any graphs, tables or other information demonstrating the historical performance or current or historical attributes of Knightscope, Inc. or any other entity contained in this document are intended only to illustrate historical performance or current or historical attributes of Knightscope, Inc or such entities and are not necessarily indicative of future performance of Knightscope, Inc. or such entities. 8) Investing is risky. The information provided in this article should not be considered as a substitute for professional financial consultation. Users should be aware that investing in any form carries inherent risks, and as such, there is a possibility of losing some or all of their investment. The value of investments can fluctuate significantly within a short period, and investors must understand that past performance is not indicative of future results. Additionally, users should exercise caution as transactions involving investments may be irreversible, even in cases of fraud or accidental actions. It is crucial to acknowledge that rapidly evolving laws and technical issues can have adverse effects on the usability, transferability, exchangeability, and value of investments. Furthermore, users must be cognizant of potential security risks associated with their investment activities. Individuals are strongly encouraged to conduct thorough research, seek professional advice, and carefully evaluate their risk tolerance before engaging in any investment endeavors. Market Jar Media Inc. is neither an investment adviser nor a broker-dealer. The information presented on the website is provided for informative purposes only and is not to be treated as a recommendation to make any specific investment. No such information on PressReach.com constitutes advice or a recommendation. Contact Details James Young +1 800-340-9767 campaigns@pressreach.com Company Website https://pressreach.com

August 08, 2024 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Versatility Of Nickel Makes It An Essential Element In Batteries And Energy Storage

Benzinga

By Kyle Anthony, Benzinga Base metals, particularly nickel, are essential to our modern economy and are critical to supporting sustained economic growth. Nickel’s versatility is evident in numerous use cases. However, two key trends within our modern economy – energy storage and electrical vehicles – have driven increased nickel demand in recent years and are projected to continue doing so in the years to come. The Versatility Of Nickel Nickel plays an important role in our modern economy due to its distinctive attributes of high resistance to heat and corrosion and its ability to be easily cleaned. Approximately two-thirds of nickel’s usage is in stainless steel items, which range from pots and pans to large-scale industrial manufacturing items, such as jet engines. Due to nickel’s high resistance to corrosion and heat, it is a versatile metal that can be used across differing manufacturing use cases. As the world moves to meet growing global requirements for electricity, the importance of nickel in batteries and energy storage is increasing further. For example, lithium-ion batteries increasingly use more nickel to increase the drivable range. Adding nickel increases the energy density of these batteries, leading to a longer drivable range. So, for geographic areas such as North America, which are very car-dependent, nickel will likely become an increasingly important part of the transition from gas-powered cars to electric vehicles in the coming decades. Nickel Supply Amid Growing Demand As reported in the 2024 International Energy Agency (IEA) Global EV Outlook, the shift to a clean energy system is set to drive a huge increase in metal requirements, leading the energy sector to become a significant stakeholder in their procurement. In a scenario that meets the Paris Agreement goals, the IEA forecasts that the demand for metals will rise significantly over the next two decades, with total demand increasing by 60-70% for nickel. Given the anticipated demand for nickel, understanding where it can be sourced is important. Presently, Indonesia is the primary region where nickel is mined, accounting for approximately 50% of global production. Some other countries – namely, the Philippines, Russia, New Caledonia and Australia – are also nickel providers; however, the scale of Indonesia’s mineral reserves warrants its market share. From a geopolitical perspective, China has been getting close to Indonesia for the last two decades as it tries to corner various aspects of the critical minerals market. In turn, to spur investment in Indonesia’s nickel industry, stakeholders interested in accessing their nickel reserves to help build up their supply chain could be important. Future Use Cases For Nickel As mentioned earlier, the growth of the EV sector is expected to be a strong driver for nickel demand. However, the development of data centers and AI is proving to be another catalyst for demand. AI requires vast data centers that contain sophisticated servers, which use large amounts of energy for ongoing computational power. One of the things that data centers need during periods when they might not have excess energy, such as if they're using solar or if there are other infrastructure problems, is battery backups. Innovation within battery design is demonstrating that nickel-zinc battery chemistry has a high energy efficacy rating, resulting in a much denser battery, which means it takes up less space - which is at a premium inside AI data centers and also allows these batteries to operate at a much higher temperature. Investing In Nickel With Sprott As the world moves to meet rising requirements for electricity, growing numbers of electric vehicles and a greater need for energy storage, a myriad of technological innovations will undoubtedly be brought to market, but they all will require the necessary battery metals for them to be viable. The Sprott Nickel Miners ETF Fund (NASDAQ: NIKL) aims to capitalize on the growing demand for nickel. The potential value of the Sprott Nickel Miners ETF Fund is three-fold. Firstly, as commodity exposure – commodity indexes tend to be underweight nickel or exclude it altogether. Investors could consider this ETF to add to their commodity portfolio, or to allocate more to nickel than the benchmark they are tracking may be providing. Secondly, as a thematic or growth bucket. Thematic and growth often tend to go hand in hand. Since nickel is an area of the commodity sector expected to grow in the coming decades, future-focused investors may want to look into this ETF for exposure. Finally, as a global equity energy allocation – given that non-U.S. countries hold the largest nickel reserves, investors looking to diversify their energy exposure could consider this fund in light of the importance of nickel in EV batteries and energy storage. Sprott’s recent special report, The Case for Investing in Nickel Miners, argues that as electric vehicles and energy storage technologies become mainstays in our global economy, the companies that reflect the value of battery materials will represent real economic value and be a source of wealth-building for investors. Featured photo by Kumpan Electric on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 08, 2024 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

Taillight Ascends to Top 5 Naming Firms and Top 15 Branding Firms Worldwide on Clutch

Rev Up Marketers

Taillight, a strategic branding agency, has recently achieved significant recognition by being ranked among the top 5 naming firms and top 15 branding firms worldwide by Clutch, a leading B2B research, ratings, and reviews platform. Additionally, Taillight is now listed as the #1 branding firm in Canada. These accolades highlight Taillight’s rapid ascent in the branding industry, distinguishing itself through innovative and impactful brand storytelling. "Being recognized by Clutch is a testament to our team's dedication to creating memorable and differentiated brand experiences," said Jaclyn Hesse, co-founder of Taillight. "We strive to help our clients tell their stories with clarity and impact, ensuring their brands stand out in a competitive marketplace." Bruno Benedini, co-founder of Taillight, added, "Our rise in the Clutch rankings reflects the hard work and creativity our team brings to every project. We are thrilled to see our efforts acknowledged and are excited to continue delivering exceptional results for our clients." Taillight's impressive growth and success can be attributed to its collaborations with notable clients such as Vertiv, IMO Health, Peoplelink, Sage Raven, and YD3. These partnerships have showcased Taillight’s expertise in crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and drive brand success. Clutch is a preeminent platform that identifies leading marketing, IT and software service providers based on in-depth market research and client reviews. Taillight’s rise in the rankings reflects the positive feedback and successful outcomes delivered to its clients. For more information about Taillight and its award-winning services, please visit https://taillight.agency/. About Taillight Taillight is a forward-thinking strategic branding agency dedicated to helping brands accelerate ahead of the competition. With a presence in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Costa Rica, the team comprises seasoned strategists, designers, marketers, business developers, writers, researchers, and web developers. Founded by experienced industry professionals in 2023, Taillight partners with founders, CEOs, CMOs, and other business leaders to create distinctive brands, catchy names, elegant visual identities—and much more. Clients include visionary start-ups, ambitious scale-ups, solid mid-caps, and global Fortune 500s—the gamut of the business world. What sets Taillight apart is the ability to turn strategic insights into beautiful brands that are more than just beautiful—they help drive lasting business results. For more information, visit https://taillight.agency/. Contact Details Taillight Jaclyn Hesse +506 8773 7130 jaclyn@taillight.agency Company Website https://taillight.agency/

August 08, 2024 06:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time

CheersAI Launched by High School Innovators from Sammamish Create Groundbreaking Mental Health Support Platform

Rev Up Marketers

CheersAI, an innovative mental health support platform designed by high school students from Eastlake High School, is now live. Created by co-founders Dhruv Reddy (CEO), Balaji Prasanna Venkatesh (CTO), and Rithvik Rathinasabapathy (CIO), CheersAI offers a simple and accessible way for students to find support during challenging times. Inspired by a local tragedy, CheersAI aims to provide a supportive space for students, free from the distractions and complexities of high-tech features. This initiative aligns with the broader focus on mental health and well-being, making its introduction especially meaningful. CheersAI Co-Founders: - Dhruv Reddy (CEO) - Balaji Prasanna Venkatesh (CTO) - Rithvik Rathinasabapathy (CIO) Features of CheersAI.co 1. Call AI Therapist: Connect with a non-judgmental AI therapist 24x7 by simply clicking the call button, eliminating the overwhelm of complex features. 2. Chat and Ask Questions: Utilize available prompts or ask anything you need, providing a supportive and interactive chat experience. 3. Free and Anonymous: Enjoy complete privacy and confidentiality, with no cost to access and use the platform. Quotes from the Co-Founders: - Dhruv Reddy, CEO: " We wanted to create something that wasn't overly complicated. The simple chat and call features allow students to talk and share their feelings, which can be a crucial step in getting through low phases. It's this simplicity that sets us apart from other platforms." - Balaji Prasanna Venkatesh, CTO: " CheersAI is designed to foster a supportive environment. We want to make sure that students feel they have a place where they can openly express themselves without fear of judgment." - Rithvik Rathinasabapathy, CIO: " Our goal was to create a resource that felt approachable and impactful. ” Addressing Critical Issues: CheersAI addresses three major obstacles in current mental health support for high schoolers: 1. Accessibility: Providing a free and straightforward platform that is easily accessible to all students. This online portal, while targeted for high schoolers, can be used by anyone as it offers universal features that can support individuals during their low moments. 2. Affordability: Offering a cost-free solution to ensure no student is left without support due to financial constraints. 3. Versatility: While primarily designed for students, CheersAI is versatile enough to deal with a wide range of needs. Whether a lonely parent seeking conversation, someone with sleep issues wanting to hear a Buddhist story, or any other individual needing support, CheersAI is always there to help. Direct Connection to the Community: As high school students themselves, the founders have direct access to their peers, allowing them to gather feedback and iterate on the platform quickly. This unique advantage enables them to understand and address the real needs of their target audience more effectively than larger companies. Join the Movement: The CheersAI team, predominantly composed of high school students, is dedicated to maintaining the platform's relevance and user-friendliness. They invite everyone to join them in supporting student mental health by visiting CheersAI's website. For more information, please visit https://cheersai.co About CheersAI: CheersAI is a free, user-friendly website that allows students to communicate and share their feelings through simple chat and call features. The platform has already received positive feedback for its simplicity and effectiveness, highlighting its potential to make a significant impact on student mental health. Contact Details CheersAI Dhruv Reddy help.cheersAI@gmail.com Company Website https://cheersai.co

August 08, 2024 06:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Heavyweight Unlimited CEO Jesse Is Heavyweight Launches New Music Projects With Community Initiatives

Rev Up Marketers

In the latest record, Heavyweight Unlimited CEO Jesse Is Heavyweight launches new music projects amidst continued community initiatives and industry success. Following continued success within the entertainment industry and a dedication to impactful community initiatives, Jesse Is Heavyweight announces the launch of new music projects, further solidifying his artistic influence. In addition, Jesse Is Heavyweight has consistently pushed boundaries and defied expectations. The company transcends traditional industry lines, fostering impactful partnerships with major corporations and organizations to drive positive change across various sectors. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Jesse Is Heavyweight remains a prominent creative force, consistently captivating audiences with his artistic vision. Now Heavyweight Unlimited's growing and ever-changing roster has a dozen fresh acts poised for breakout global success. R&B, Afrobeats, Rap, and hardcore Hip Hop artists make up the diverse Heavyweight Unlimited roster. About Jesse Is Heavyweight: Jesse Is Heavyweight is an accomplished business executive, performance and recording artist as well as a film producer. Jesse is also a sought-after fashion designer for a luxury fashion house. Jesse's music, which carries a prosperity message, is heralded by the most valued and highly respected platforms in hip hop like The Joe Budden Podcast. In addition to running a media company, Jesse Is Heavyweight has curated the awarding of many scholarships to date with his Esco Fortune Scholarship Fund and has implemented a Beautify The Globe initiative where he has overseen around 724 streets cleaned to date. About Heavyweight Unlimited: Heavyweight Unlimited is in a bidding war with larger companies. Heavyweight Unlimited is a high-powered conglomerate that innovates across industries including Entertainment, Applied Sciences, and Humanitarianism. Heavyweight continues to Save The World through innovative initiatives. The company continues to innovate culture globally. Like popular conglomerates like Meta and Google, Heavyweight acquires companies for exponential growth. Prepared by H2O Water Marketing on behalf of Heavyweight Unlimited For press questions: h20watermarketing@gmail.com 1213 779 8194 (text) For more info on Heavyweight Unlimited https://heavyweightunlimited.com/ Contact Details Heavyweight Unlimited Nikki Mack nikki.mack@heavyweightunlimited.com Company Website http://HeavyweightUnlimited.com

August 08, 2024 05:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ArtUrban Sculpture Co. Ltd Announces Affordable And Innovatively Designed Custom Bronze Sculptures

Rev Up Marketers

ArtUrban, an art sculpture manufacturer in China, proudly announces its commitment to providing custom-made bronze sculptures with innovative clay mold and clay 3D drawing designs on a budget. With ArtUrban’s custom-made sculptures, the company hopes to provide much-needed innovation, quality, and expertise to help clients across the globe. ArtUrban, the leading bronze art sculpture manufacturer in China, focuses on the highest quality sculptures, reasonable pricing, and complete customization to serve the world's businesses with the best in the industry. The company specializes in bronze, stone, stainless steel, and resin material sculptures. With every project, ArtUrban strives to exceed customer expectations with premium quality and timely product delivery. ArtUrban, a China bronze life size statue manufacturer, is committed to strength and durability in producing all kinds of high-quality art sculptures with the right material. ArtUrban exports its products to many countries across the globe, where they have garnered acclaim at every level. With a mission to deliver the highest quality bronze sculptures, ArtUrban excels as the leading custom bronze sculpture service in China. In order to remain at the top of the industry globally, ArtUrban is committed to continual improvement and education of its employees as well as the provision of a safe working environment for sculpture artisans. The budget-friendly custom-made bronze sculptures with clay mold and 3D drawing designs of ArtUrban aim to provide fine art statues with consistent quality and suitable material according to the client's drawings and pictures. Using mirror polishing technology and colorful plated technology, the ArtUrban life-size sculptures can level up the ambiance through high-quality design and durability. ArtUrban's extensive experience and expertise in art sculptures allow them to make life size statues for maximum impact and engagement. ArtUrban's custom-made sculptures with clay mold and 3D drawing designs were developed to ensure the artistic and historical value of real people, animals, Gods, cartoons, life size movies, and more could be represented through life size statues, guaranteeing every art sculpture meets high standards of quality and durability. From the proper finishing of life size statues to decreasing the product costs, the custom bronze sculptures by ArtUrban are what make it a high-quality bronze sculpture manufacturer in China. The ArtUrban custom bronze life size statues, outdoor statues, and garden statues on a budget allow customers to commemorate important figures and events through accurate replicas. The ArtUrban, a bronze life size statue manufacturer, can accurately replicate the proportions of animals and humans, making the viewer feel more connected and emotional. The high-quality custom bronze sculptures by ArtUrban can be bought to represent cultural symbols, iconic figures, and more. The life size bronze statues by this company help clients save money by decreasing the cost associated with production. The fine art statues of ArtUrban can evoke strong resonance and emotional experiences for customers with guaranteed detail and quality during casting and use. ArtUrban custom art sculptures are designed with the latest technologies and advanced surface treatment in the hometown of sculpture, Tang County. The animal statues and religious bronze statues by ArtUrban have been manufactured through a casting process led by experts in the sculpture field who have more than 20 years of experience. Clients looking for a bronze memorial statue or replica statues can enjoy high-quality bronze sculptures at a reasonable price with ArtUrban. Hotel owners and museums can enhance their ambiance and customer engagement by investing in ArtUrban's life size statues and displaying them on their property. “The bronze sculptures provided by the ArtUrban life size statue manufacturers come with guaranteed detailing and aesthetic appeal of the finished product,” says Susanna Zhang, the CEO of ArtUrban. “We support shipments on a large scale and want to quickly meet your needs through custom-made bronze sculptures with clay mold and 3D drawing designs. You can send the requirements you want, and we will strive to meet your sculpture needs the best," adds the CEO, Susanna Zhang. ArtUrban’s design and technological abilities can also reduce product recalls and errors by increasing productivity and efficiency. Different kinds of life size statues, garden statues, and outdoor statues by ArtUrban can be purchased at guaranteed product quality and budget-friendly prices. Customers can share their design drawings, photos, and ideas with the ArtUrban team and get a free quotation from the company. About the Company – ArtUrban Sculpture Co. Ltd ArtUrban Sculpture Co. Ltd specializes in bronze, stone, stainless steel and resin material. The main sculptures are Art replica, bronze animal, buddha, christian, Figure, Fountain etc. Official Website: https://www.arturbanstatue.com/ Whatsapp: 008617366532936 Media Contact Details Organization: ArtUrban Sculpture Co. Ltd Contact Person Name: Susanna Zhang Website: https://www.arturbanstatue.com/ Email: susanna@arturbanstatue.com Contact Number: +8617366532936 Address: Room 611, Qifan Business lincubators, Renhou Zhen, Tangxian County City: Baoding City State: Hebei Province Country: China Contact Details ArtUrban Sculpture Co. Ltd Susanna Zhang susanna@arturbanstatue.com Company Website https://www.arturbanstatue.com/

August 08, 2024 05:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Messari and CryptoRank Research Highlight TRON's Surging Onchain Activity

TRON DAO

Geneva, Switzerland - August 7, 2024 - Messari, a leading provider of digital asset markets intelligence products, and CryptoRank, a leading crypto industry research & analytics platform, have released research reports highlighting the TRON network's significant surge in onchain activity over six consecutive quarters. These reports highlight a continuous rise in network engagement and emphasize TRON's robust, reliable technical architecture and impressive scalability. Messari Research Messari's research report introduces TRON as a public, open-source blockchain network distinguished by its security and efficiency. TRON secures its network using a Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) mechanism combined with the Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) consensus algorithm. The TRON Virtual Machine (TVM), which is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), offers developers affordable and fast smart contract execution, further accelerating its adoption and utility in the blockchain ecosystem. Key Analysis: In Q2, TRON was one of the few smart contract platforms that saw increasing onchain activity. Average daily transactions rose by 29% quarter-over-quarter, reaching 6.3 million, with June marking the highest monthly transaction volume of 2024 at 202.6 million. Average daily active addresses grew by 31% quarter-over-quarter from 1.5 million to 2.0 million. Average daily new addresses increased for the third straight quarter, up 12% QoQ from 177,200 to 198,000. TRON's circulating market cap increased for the sixth consecutive quarter. The research from Messari concludes by adding that TRON DAO is actively expanding the TRON ecosystem with strategic initiatives such as the Grants Program, a $100 million AI development fund, and the HackaTRON series. Read the full research report from Messari here. CryptoRank Research CryptoRank's research report provides an insightful analysis of the TRON network, highlighting its impressive technical capabilities. On TRON, blocks are generated every 3 seconds, with the network supporting up to 2,000 transactions per second. The report dives into the TRON architecture, detailing its three foundational layers. The Core Layer manages the consensus mechanism, accounts, and TRON Virtual Machine (TVM) and runs Solidity-based smart contracts. The Storage Layer optimizes data storage and segmentation, prioritizing security and stability. Finally, the Application Layer facilitates the creation of decentralized applications, making TRON a robust and scalable platform for developers and users alike. Key Analysis: TRON now holds the second place in dApps TVL among all blockchains with over $8.2 billion. It is important to note that TRON's TVL, as well as most other indicators, barely correlates with market-wide fluctuations. TRON shows outstanding performance in terms of user on-chain activity with over 181 million active addresses in Q2 2024, repeating its success from Q1. TRON has gained over 274 million unique addresses, mostly represented by user accounts. CryptoRank's research concludes that TRON is a critical player in global crypto transfers. This widespread adoption extends beyond crypto-native users to businesses and e-commerce platforms worldwide. Looking ahead, TRON is set to enhance its capabilities through initiatives like Bitcoin Layer 2 integration and gasless stablecoin transfers, removing barriers and further solidifying TRON's position as a leader in the blockchain space. Read the full research report from CryptoRank here. About TRON DAO TRON DAO is a community-governed DAO dedicated to accelerating the decentralization of the internet via blockchain technology and dApps. Founded in September 2017 by H.E. Justin Sun, the TRON network has continued to deliver impressive achievements since MainNet launch in May 2018. July 2018 also marked the ecosystem integration of BitTorrent, a pioneer in decentralized Web3 services boasting over 100 million monthly active users. The TRON network has gained incredible traction in recent years. As of August 2024, it has over 248 million total user accounts on the blockchain, more than 8 billion total transactions, and over $21 billion in total value locked (TVL), as reported on TRONSCAN. In addition, TRON hosts the largest circulating supply of USD Tether (USDT) stablecoin across the globe, overtaking USDT on Ethereum since April 2021. The TRON network completed full decentralization in December 2021 and is now a community-governed DAO. Most recently in October 2022, TRON was designated as the national blockchain for the Commonwealth of Dominica, which marks the first time a major public blockchain partnered with a sovereign nation to develop its national blockchain infrastructure. On top of the government’s endorsement to issue Dominica Coin (“DMC”), a blockchain-based fan token to help promote Dominica’s global fanfare, seven existing TRON-based tokens - TRX, BTT, NFT, JST, USDD, USDT, TUSD, have been granted statutory status as authorized digital currency and medium of exchange in the country. TRONNetwork | TRONDAO | Twitter | YouTube | Telegram | Discord | Reddit | GitHub | Medium | Forum Media Contact Yeweon Park press@tron.network Contact Details Yeweon Park press@tron.network Company Website https://trondao.org/

August 08, 2024 12:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NEC Bio Therapeutics and AGC Biologics Announce Collaboration to Manufacture Personalized Cancer Vaccines

AGC Biologics

NEC Bio Therapeutics and AGC Biologics have announced a partnership to advance the production of NECVAX-NEO1, an orally delivered, bacteria-based DNA vaccine designed to target patient-specific tumor neoantigens. This important and promising collaboration aims to enhance the production of personalized cancer treatments by leveraging the biotechnology strengths of both companies. Advancing Personalized Cancer Treatment NEC Bio Therapeutics, a Mannheim based German company focused on clinical development of innovative drugs by using proprietary AI, is developing NECVAX-NEO1, a personalized cancer vaccine that uses cutting-edge AI/machine learning technology to target specific tumor neoantigens that are unique to each patient. NECVAX-NEO1 relies on powerful and flexible plug-and-play bacteria-based platform technology and is convenient for patients due to its oral delivery. Unlike traditional treatments, NECVAX-NEO1 requires tailored manufacturing capacities and is produced by cost-efficient microbial fermentation at a small scale and with a quick turnaround time. New Phase1/2 clinical trials for NECVAX-NEO1 are slated to begin in cancer patients throughout 2024 and 2025. These trials will play a crucial role in validating the efficacy and safety of this novel treatment, potentially offering new hope to countless individuals battling cancer. Expert CDMO Collaboration for Global Manufacturing AGC Biologics is well-equipped to support the current supply chain needs of NECVAX-NEO1, ensuring timely delivery for clinical trials. As a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), AGC Biologics will use its state-of-the-art Heidelberg, Germany facility, a site with almost 40 years of microbial fermentation expertise, to perform a technology knowledge transfer, implementation and qualification of analytical methods, preparation for large scale clinical manufacturing, engineering and batch execution with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and drug product release testing. "Personalized medicines have the potential to innovate how a treatment can address specific traits of a disease in a patient and give them a better quality of life. That is truly a remarkable endeavor, and the Heidelberg site is proud to have this opportunity to help NEC Bio Therapeutics on its mission of combining AI and machine learning with traditional biologics and personalized care,” said Dieter Kramer, General Manager, AGC Biologics Heidelberg. “We are eager to begin work and to collaborate with our new partners on this important journey.” AGC Biologics is the large molecule arm of the AGC Life Science Company, the life science division of AGC Inc. AGC Biologics offers end-to-end services for protein biologics, cell and gene therapies, plasmid DNA and messenger RNA, with operations in Europe, North America, and Japan. Collaboration Kickoff in Germany The partnership between NEC Bio Therapeutics and AGC Biologics will commence with a focus on clinical development and GMP-compliant manufacturing in Germany. Both companies have strategically positioned teams in Heidelberg and Mannheim, close to each other, fostering a collaborative environment for advancing this critical initiative. “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with AGC Biologics to support the manufacturing of NECVAX-NEO1. This partnership represents a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable personalized cancer vaccines to patients. This collaboration underscores our dedication to improving global health outcomes in the oncology field. We look forward to the transformative impact this partnership will have on our operations and, more importantly, on the lives of the patients we serve," said Dr. Heinz Lubenau, CEO, NEC Bio Therapeutics. About NEC Bio Therapeutics NEC Bio Therapeutics, established in Manheim, Germany, focuses on the clinical strategy and development, as well as planning and execution of clinical trials in the oncology area. It is a subsidiary of NEC Bio, the biotech arm of NEC Corporation. NEC Bio, a subsidiary of NEC Corporation, is located in the Netherlands and dedicated to the development of innovative biotechnological solutions to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges. NEC Bio's research and development efforts are focused on creating personalized therapies that improve the quality of life for patients worldwide. NEC OncoImmunity in Oslo, Norway, is also a subsidiary of NEC Bio. For more information, visit NEC Bio: AI Drug Development | NEC. NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. ©2024 NEC Corporation. About AGC Biologics: AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, every step of the way. We provide world-class development and manufacture of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with cGMP-compliant facilities in Seattle, Washington; Boulder and Longmont, Colorado; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba, Japan. We currently employ more than 2,500 Team Members worldwide. Our commitment to continuous innovation fosters the technical creativity to solve our clients’ most complex challenges, including specialization in fast-track projects and rare diseases. AGC Biologics is a part of AGC Inc.’s Life Science Company. The Life Science company runs more than 10 global facilities focused on biopharmaceuticals, advanced therapies, small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients, and agrochemicals. To learn more, visit www.agcbio.com. Contact Details Nick McDonald +1 425-419-3555 nmcdonald@agcbio.com Company Website https://www.agcbio.com/

August 07, 2024 10:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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