News Hub | News Direct

XCPCNL Business Services Awarded $2M Purchase Order from Large Tech Company

XCPCNL Business Services Corporation

McapMediaWire -- XCPCNL Business Services Corporation (OTC: XCPL ), a venture development business that leverages knowledge, skill, and experience in the consumer products industry, is pleased to announce, it has been awarded a purchase order in the amount of $2 million from a large tech company. The scope of work for the purchase order includes content creation for how ads work, digital fraud, and tracking narrative, IoT and app store principles, and expansion of consumer advocate and developer network on policy engagement, including events. This is a significant milestone for XCPCNL Business Services, and the company is excited to embark on this project. CEO Tim Matthews expressed his optimism and excitement about the purchase order, stating, "We are thrilled to have been awarded this purchase order, and we look forward to working with our partners to deliver exceptional results. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and we are confident that our expertise in SaaS and CaaS platforms will enable us to deliver high-quality solutions to our partners." XCPCNL Business Services is committed to partnering with visionary entrepreneurs and providing them with access to markets and customers. The company's platforms are built on a strategic network of innovation ecosystem, corporate, and university relationships that help their partners inform and accelerate go-to-market strategies. For legality purposes, the name of this tech company cannot be mentioned. XCPCNL Business Services Corporation (OTC: XCPL) encourages shareholders to visit their corporate Twitter account at https://twitter.com/RealXCPCNL Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer: This press release may include, and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may have, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements regarding possible business combinations and the financing thereof and related matters, as well as all other statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions, as they relate to our management team or us, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company's filing with the Over-the-Counter Market ("OTC"). All subsequent written or forward-looking oral statements attributable to persons or us acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. About XCPCNL Charlotte, NC-based XCPCNL Business Services is a venture development business that leverages its knowledge, skills, and experience in the consumer products industry. Our primary mission is to provide marketing, technology, and other business services to fast-growing consumer product companies and big-box retailers. XCPCNL is a minority-owned and controlled firm. To learn more about our businesses, services, and opportunities, please contact info@xcpcnl.com To learn more about XPCNL, visit www.xcpcnl.com. For Inquiries: Email: ir@xcpcnl.com Contact Details XCPCNL Business Services Corporation ir@xcpcnl.com Company Website http://www.xcpcnl.com/

February 22, 2023 08:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

Minuteman Press Franchise in Tigard, Oregon Celebrates 35 Years and Transitions to Second-Generation Ownership

Minuteman Press International Inc

Bob and Ruth Davidson first opened their Minuteman Press franchise in Tigard, OR (a suburb of the Portland, OR greater metro area), in December of 1987. After 35+ years of hard work and dedication to their clients and their community, Bob and Ruth are ready for their next chapter and have made way for the next generation of owners. Bob and Ruth also just recently renewed their franchise agreement for the next 35 years. Their son Craig Davidson with his wife Carolyn and longtime manager Christopher Brown with his wife Lisa, have purchased the business as of February 1, 2023, and are continuing with Minuteman Press as a strong, viable and supportive franchise model, that has been one of the key components to the long-term success of this location. Minuteman Press in Tigard is located at 7555 S.W. Hermoso Way, Tigard, OR 97223. Bob reflects on 35 years of ownership, sharing his keys to success and longevity, growing the family business, and why the future is bright for Minuteman Press in Tigard. Congrats on your incredible 35 years in business! What does this milestone mean to you? Bob Davidson: “ Life is a series of changes and this is one of them. Frankly, it is time for the next generation to have their opportunity to build on, and create, their own success story. And, it is past time for Ruth and I to enjoy some of the rewards that we have been blessed with, by the success of our business.” What are 4 keys to your success and longevity? Bob Davidson: “FIRST: Ruth and I thank God for his blessing on us in this endeavor. My prayer at the time of starting the business was: ‘ God, I am not the smartest guy in the world, so please open the doors if it is in your will, or if not, hit me over the head with a brick to get my attention.’ SECOND: I would have to say without any qualification, my wife, Ruth. When we first started our business, we were 37 years-old and I left a nearly 20-year seniority position with a national trucking company as a Teamster employee truck driver. Which also meant that I gave up a union scale wage rate, with medical and retirement benefits. Ruth at that time, was a full-time homemaker to our two children. She has stood beside me as a full partner, and fully supported the decision to start our own business. But we honestly and freely admit, it was a decision and a concern to us both. She worked just as hard as I in the business every day. Her 51% ownership and my 49% ownership enable us to qualify as both a ‘Woman-owned’ and ‘Veteran-owned’ business due to my military service. So far, Ruth hasn’t fired me, although I am sure that the thought has come to her mind on occasion! Our primary roles in the business gradually formed over time, with Ruth managing the office and all that entails and also the bindery portion of our business. I was the salesman, customer service and vendor liaison for outside services and supplies. THIRD: Would be the advice, support and assistance of the Regional Minuteman Press staff and also the other local Minuteman Press owners in the area. Their advice, suggestions, guidance, experiences, help and information were of great value in our beginning years. FOURTH: This would of course be our customers. We obviously would not exist without them. While we have ‘busted our tails’ to serve them over the years, they have in turn been incredibly loyal. We still have customers today, that initially became customers in our first year of business. We are thankful for them. BONUS TIP: My advice on customer acquisition? Take anything that comes your way. But, know that your fellow, small, local businesses, will be your most loyal and long-term customers. They will be your most consistent support and strength through the years. It is ‘sexy’ to acquire a larger nationally known corporation as a client, but they typically do not last. A new purchasing agent will come in, some other shop beats your price by a percentage point or two, or they close the local office or HQ and move away. All of the above have been my experiences. Enjoy the large companies while they last, but don’t wrap your business around them.” You have just renewed your franchise agreement for the business transition. What does it mean to you, knowing the business will stay in the family and remain in great hands? Bob Davidson: “It means a great deal to us, to be able to see what my wife and I have built over the years, continue on into the next generation and chapter. We have been blessed, in having Craig and Christopher both with us for so long. That has allowed for a gradual and nearly seamless transition. For the past two years, Ruth and I have been gradually turning over more and more of the management and decision-making to ‘the boys’ as we call them. They have made all of the equipment purchases and hiring decisions for the past 2 years. They have also attended the past 2 Minuteman Press World Expo Conventions. Also, if Minuteman Press HQ was not the company that it has been, there would have been no reason for us to renew our franchise agreement. What do I mean by that, you might say? Our experience has been one of excellent, ongoing support in all aspects from Minuteman Regional & HQ. We truly appreciate their business franchise model; their ongoing support, the network of ‘Preferred Vendors’; and their early adoption of computerized pricing, which has evolved into the FLEX program that does so many functions today that were not even dreamed of 35 years ago. All these and more make a great package and a desirable business model to follow and continue with. And then there is the family aspect, not only mine, but also the Titus family. It had been my privilege to know the founder, Roy Titus. And then to also know his son Bob Titus and now Nick and Jackie Titus, as they have all ‘grown up’ in the business and taken on their leadership roles. What is most impressive to me is that they have all been ‘just folks’ … unpretentious and unassuming, kind and caring, and have become personal friends. They have never lost sight, now through three generations, that they are stewards of an amazing corporation, that while it first and foremost is a major business, it also at the same time cares for and treats everyone like extended family. Minuteman Press International also makes sure to recognize individual achievement. It is only human to be gratified, when our best efforts are recognized by others. Minuteman’s system of recognition for various sales levels, marketing, print quality, shop appearance and other awards, are all appreciated as tangible markers of various achievements. As a 25-year (now retired) veteran of the Army, I see many parallels to Minuteman’s system of such recognition, to the military’s awards of ribbons and service medals for exemplary service.” What does the transition mean for your customers? Bob Davidson: “I jokingly say that this transition means ‘ nothin g’ to our customers. That is because unless they ask, the vast majority of our clients won’t even know right away, that Ruth and I have stepped back. But it also means ‘ everything ’ to them with regards to their printing needs. I have every confidence that Craig and Christopher will continue in the same manner of excellent quality and service that we have provided up to this point. It means that between our production efforts and that of our vendors and everyone else behind the scenes, that our customers will continue to receive a top-quality product, that is consistent, timely, and fairly priced, every time. And if for some reason it isn’t, we make it right, no questions asked.” What are some of the key ways you’ve grown your business (products, marketing, networking, etc.)? Bob Davidson: “Well, the short answer is ‘ Yes ’ … all of the above. PRODUCTS: Through Minuteman HQ’s urging, guidance and vendor connections, we have branched out into many areas that we previously did not do, or consider. Mailing services, checks and deposit slips, signs and banners, promotional products, clothing / wearables. All of these are later additions to our original business model. MARKETING: When we initially began in 1987, marketing was almost exclusively ‘cold calls’ on local businesses. The follow-up was a 3” x 5” Index Card file that was sorted by ‘call back’ dates (which I still have). That and the Yellow Page ads were your two primary sources for getting your name out. Now, digital is the primary method and our Google Reviews rating of 4.9 stars along with the reviews posted there, are critical. A frequent response from new customers when we ask, ‘How did you hear about us?’, is almost always our high Google standing. Following that would be that they received a referral from another customer. NETWORKING: Do it! We have many, many customers that have come to us through our contacts in Rotary, our local Business Leads group (LeTip) and several local Chambers of Commerce. Some of those customers are among our largest accounts.” What are the high-demand products and services as well as growth areas? Bob Davidson: “Digital and offset printing are still the core tenants of our business. All other services are either in support of those, or a supplement to rounding out the main portion of that business. Our overall business mix is still approximately 1/3 offset, 1/3 digital and 1/3 outside services of all types. Digital printing is the fastest growing segment of our business.” How would you best describe your community? Bob Davidson: “Tigard is a bedroom community of the Portland Metro area. There is a good mix of local businesses of all types, small manufacturing, distribution and warehousing. It is a growing area, as many businesses are leaving the downtown core as the switch to ‘remote’ work continues. Tigard is both a residential and business community, with a healthy mix of both.” Why do you think printing remains so vital to businesses today? Bob Davidson: “People respond well to a tangible, physical piece that you can hold in your hand. It also has a tendency to be saved, whereas a digital ad piece is quickly passed by and forgotten.” What was your background before franchising and why did you choose Minuteman Press? Bob Davidson: “I was a local pickup and delivery driver for a national truck line for nearly 20 years. At the same time, I was also an Enlisted man and then Officer in the Oregon Army National Guard. I had 4 years of active duty and 21 years of National Guard service time as a reservist. Ruth was primarily a homemaker, with our two children. In the late 1980s, it was a time of great turmoil in the transportation industry – trucking, railroads and airlines, due to deregulation. Many of those businesses either merged or closed. That was cause for concern to me as I was in the trucking industry as my primary job. I and a friend of mine went to a local business fair in the summer of 1987. Of the many business ‘opportunities’ presented there, the one for Minuteman Press was the only one that seemed to have it ‘together’. Their presentation was easily understandable, well-organized and made sense. I then began to do the follow-up process of visiting existing shops. Minuteman Press also made it easy to go through all of the multitude of steps in opening a new business, such as the training, equipment, securing a location, and the initial opening and marketing phases.” What has the support from Minuteman Press International been like for you? Bob Davidson: “ TRAINING: Ruth and I went thru the 2-week training course at Minuteman HQ in New York. And when my son Craig first came to work for us, we sent him to the New York Minuteman School, so that he would also have that base training and experience. SUPPORT: As a ‘mature’ shop of 35+ years, we seldom have a need to call on either the Regional or National offices. But when we have, they have always been responsive and helpful. This would also be the appropriate time to extend our ‘ THANK YOUS!’ to Chris Jutt, Jason Kraus, Chris Multari, Mike Jutt, and Brendan Reilly for their ongoing support and responsiveness, anytime that we have had a question or an issue. When we have made major equipment purchases (recently high-speed Digital Printers, a new Challenge 30” Programable Cutter), we have received advice and support from HQ, as well as getting favorable Minuteman Press pricing. FLEX: A great program that does so very much. It is light years beyond the first computer program that we started with.” What are the biggest personal and professional rewards of owning your business? Bob Davidson: Having some control of your own future, but my joke is: ‘ I have no deadlines of my own, my customers provide them all.’ I also find it to be rewarding to be doing something that you enjoy or find satisfaction in. Every day is both the same, and yet different, as every job is unique in some way. The challenge of the coordination of a multitude of various aspects, personal, equipment and vendors, to bring a job to completion. I sometimes liken it to a conductor directing an orchestra, to bring a complete item out of many parts. When things ‘go south’ as they sometimes do, making a solution happen in some different way.” What advice would you give to other business owners or people looking to own a business? Bob Davidson: “If you never try, you will never know if you could have done it. Be bold. Join a service organization, business group and local chambers and PARTICIPATE. People do business (and refer others who they know) with those that they know and trust. Attend the regional meetings and learn from Minuteman Press and your fellow owners. Attend the World Expos and learn even more and be boosted up by your shared experiences. Follow the Minuteman Press program and advice as much as is possible. You paid for it, and it works, so use it.” Is there anything else you’d like to share? Bob Davidson: “I’d like to share a famous quote from Winston Churchill, which is also the attitude of those of us who have served in the military: ‘Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never – in nothing great or small, large or petty – never give in………’” Minuteman Press in Tigard is located at 7555 S.W. Hermoso Way, Tigard, OR 97223. For more information, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/or/tigard/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

February 21, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image

Ready for Ron Petition Surpasses 200,000 Signatures

Ready for Ron

Ready for Ron, the only credible independent group working to Draft Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President surpassed 200,000 signatures on its petition encouraging a DeSantis candidacy. The 200,000 signatures milestone reflects the growing national movement the organization has built to draft, nominate, and elect Ron DeSantis in 2024. The Ready for Ron petition effort continues along with a recently announced $3.3 million spring advertising campaign, direct voter outreach, and expanding grassroots efforts. Veterans Ready for Ron, led by 2016 RNC Vets director Bob Carey, and Students Ready for Ron led by former Young Americans for Liberty field organizer Dylan Dean, continue recruiting volunteers at events for its field campaign. The petition is also the focus of a lawsuit Ready for Ron brought in the U.S. District Court for D.C. against the Federal Election Commission (FEC) challenging an FEC Advisory Opinion preventing Ready for Ron from sharing with Governor DeSantis the names of those who signed a petition encouraging him to run – in blatant disregard for the Constitution and clear precedent by the notoriously “Blue” agency. Ready for Ron is filing a reply to the FEC’s opposition to its preliminary injunction motion today, with oral arguments in Washington, D.C. scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Ready for Ron’s counsel, veteran political lawyer Dan Backer, who brought the case said, “Millions of Americans want Ron DeSantis to run. Nearly a quarter million people have already publicly engaged with and joined the effort. Signing the petition is the ultimate act of political free speech and association, and there is simply no basis for the FEC to stand in the way of Americans telling someone they want him to run for office, or that they continue to support him doing so. We’re going to fight to protect our right to Free Speech and Free Association to draft DeSantis to seek the Presidency, and we’re going to win.” “Americans are ready for Ron DeSantis,” stated Ed Rollins the Ready for Ron Chief Political Strategist “If he continues to govern as a bold conservative and enact pro-freedom policies, he will be poised to run for the Republican nomination and become the man to beat Joe Biden in 2024.” Since its launch in late May, Ready for Ron has enlisted more than two hundred thousand supporters to build on-the-ground grassroots support, driven national messaging campaigns to drive up Ron’s national Leadership profile, and produced and placed advertising to convince Ron DeSantis to run for President. Ready for Ron has emerged as the most successful and credible independent organization in support of a Ron DeSantis candidacy. Following nearly nine months of work by Ready for Ron, Governor DeSantis has a growing lead in several polls in key states. The advertising efforts, phone calls, petition, and grassroots campaigns are helping generate significant leads in key battleground states and in the hearts and minds of the American people. Ready for Ron continues its TV and online advertising efforts to engage Americans to sign the petition at ReadyForRon.com to Draft Ron DeSantis to run in 2024. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with a ‘Ready for Ron’ spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or dan@readyforron.com. Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 dan@readyforron.com Company Website https://www.readyforron.com/

February 21, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Chronicle raises $7.5M seed round from Accel and Square Peg to reimagine presentations

Chronicle

The slide format was created in the 1980s to design overhead projector slides. 40 years later, the way we work has completely transformed but we are still stuck with this slide format. Not only is it extremely time consuming and tedious to make great presentations, the affordances of this format make it extremely easy to make bad presentations. Today, Chronicle is announcing a new storytelling format to revolutionize storytelling for modern teams. Founded by Mayuresh Patole and Tejas Gawande, Chronicle believes that this problem needs to be solved with world-class information design. They are making a completely new way to make impactful, interactive presentations that are effortless to create. Creating presentations on Chronicle is completely different from hours of pixel pushing. Instead of spending hours tweaking slides, Chronicle allows users to create with ‘pre-designed blocks’. These blocks are interactive and are designed with world-class information design in mind. This radically reduces the time required to create a story that is highly impactful. Chronicle wants to deliver a dummy-proof creation experience - layouts are created much like arranging widgets on your iPhone meaning it's impossible to make a bad-looking Chronicle presentation. The founders have spent the last decade helping thousands of people make presentations while working in product, growth, and management consulting roles. Mayuresh Patole, Co-Founder and CEO at Chronicle, commented: “This started at university where I accidentally ended up teaching lecture halls full of students to build presentations because they thought I'd developed some kind of new interactive format. In reality, I was spending hours hacking Powerpoint to deliver a novel, interactive and engaging format. Today, with the explosion of social media, remote work, and a plethora of modern design tools, the world is ready for a new way to tell stories. I’m so excited that I can now bring that power to create visually stunning stories to anyone in seconds or minutes, not hours.” The founders realized big changes were happening in how people were telling stories - both in the creation and consumption experiences. Tejas Gawande added: “Social media has completely hijacked how people consume complex information. Attention spans have reduced by 33% since 2000 and have given rise to shorter formats across almost everything we consume. Today, most audiences stop paying attention to the presentation at the 10-minute mark. As younger generations have entered the workplace this feeling of ‘death by Powerpoint’ has only grown more acute.“ Simply making tools that lead to faster creation of poorly designed slides with chartjunk and bad information design only further aggravates this issue. Users are also spending hours making bad presentations. Employees spend, on average, more than a month every year writing and finessing these presentations. Mayuresh and Tejas were struck with a strong realization when they saw users move from conventional slide-based design tools to simpler formats that offer one core thing that users want - convenience. According to the founder, the problem is not that you cannot create great presentations with existing tools but rather that it is that the tools do not help in the process. Not only do existing tools and formats make it very difficult to deliver great presentations, they make it quite easy to make bad ones. Chronicle wants everyone to be able to share their story and be proud of the output they create. They also want to make storytelling a joyful experience. To do this they’re breaking the tyranny of the slide and replacing it with interactive blocks that work like magic. Mayuresh Patole added: “Our early adopters are able to use Chronicle to create some of the best decks in just 8 minutes instead of 8 hours. Eventually, we see Chronicle being the best way to anchor any meeting or discussion, in-person, remote, or asynchronous. It is a huge opportunity to impact millions of people who aren’t happy with how stories are told today and we are incredibly excited about it.” The founders used their platform to make their investor pitch deck that caught the eye of Accel’s Shekhar Kirani and it was quickly evident how much impact a simple, well-designed, interactive format could create. Shekhar Kirani, Partner at Accel, commented: “Chronicle is reimagining storytelling. The team is obsessed with fixing the problem and making the experience of crafting impactful stories not just bearable but joyful. Mayuresh and Tejas have put together a global, remote-first team that is fixated on solving the pressing issues that prevent people from delivering their best story, both sync and async. With its opinionated design and delightful experience, Chronicle has already started emerging as the choice of storytelling tool with modern ventures. We are thrilled to be a part of their mission and kick off a new generation of no-design tools.” Paul Bassat, founder at Square Peg, said, “It is rare to find a founder who has such a special connection with the problem. Mayuresh is absolutely obsessed and uniquely skilled to craft a new storytelling medium. When he showed us what he means by ‘a new format’ it was immediately clear that the opportunity is huge and they are thinking about this very differently. We are thrilled to be a part of their mission.” Over the course of their journey, the founders have attracted some of the most prominent thought leaders mapping out the future of work from organizations such as Apple, Google, Slack, Stripe, Superhuman, OnDeck, and Adobe. Chronicle is a fully remote team of 15, operating across the US, India, and Australia. They are currently in closed beta, rapidly iterating with their early adopters on the first version of their product that focuses on helping founders make pitch decks - a use case that is very close to the founders. They will soon be expanding to other internal and external storytelling use cases. About Chronicle Chronicle is a new format of presentations that lets you create impactful stories effortlessly. Chronicle is doing to presentations what Notion did to docs. We are not making a faster tool to make slides, we are fundamentally reimagining the format itself by taking away the design burden, making it interactive and engaging. Find out more and join the waitlist at Chronicle (chroniclehq.com) Chronicle is led by a strong team of storytellers, and product and information design leaders. Mayuresh Patole co-founded Chronicle after witnessing a significant void in the way stories are created and shared. After being repeatedly asked at talks and events about how he made his presentations, he ran a workshop on effective presentations which was a surprise success. He went on to join BCG where he would spend the next 5 years surrounded by presentations again. Tejas Gawande is a product geek who brings his deep expertise in customer and go-to-market from working across the US and 10 APAC countries in eCommerce and management consulting. He also writes a product newsletter for thousands of subscribers. Mayuresh and Tejas met at university (IIT Bombay) and have known each other for a decade. About Accel Accel is a global venture capital firm that aims to be the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere, from inception through all phases of private company growth. Accel has been operating in India since 2008, and its investments include companies like BookMyShow, BrowserStack, Flipkart, Freshworks, FalconX, Infra. Market, Chargebee, Clevertap, Cure Fit, Musigma, Moneyview, Mensa Brands, Myntra, Moglix, Ninjacart, Swiggy, Stanza Living, Urban Company, Zetwerk, and Zenoti, among many others.We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more, visit www.accel.com About Square Peg Square Peg is a global investment firm on a mission to empower exceptional founders. Square Peg was founded in 2012 and has grown into a global investment firm with teams in Sydney, Melbourne, Tel Aviv, and Singapore. Square Peg invests in emerging technology companies across the internet economy. Since 2012, it has invested in over 50 companies including Canva, Fiverr, Stripe, Tomorrow, and Airwallex. For more, visit www.squarepegcap.com Contact Details Chronicle Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://chroniclehq.com/

February 21, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image

Focus on Food Security: Seven Talented Women Scientists from the Global South Awarded the 2023 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards

Elsevier

Seven researchers have been awarded the 2023 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World for their contributions to research that is helping meet the challenge of food security and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, Zero Hunger, which focuses on agricultural productivity and sustainable food production. The winners’ research explores a wide range of ways that food insecurity can be tackled, from crop disease resilience to improved child nutrition, and indigenous plant use to increase productivity. The prize also acknowledges the scientists’ commitment to leadership, mentoring and engagement within their communities, including the use of innovative technologies in their research. Jennifer Thomson, President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) said “Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could achieve SDG2, Zero Hunger? Our amazing awardees for 2023 are trying to do their bit to bring this about – and what a ‘bit’ that is! Just read about the research they are doing in their regions of the developing world and I am sure you will be as impressed as I was when we selected them as the winners. We wish them every success in their endeavors.” This year’s winners are: Renuka Attanayake, of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka: plant and molecular biology; crop disease identification and management Carla Fabiana Crespo Melgar, of the Universidad Mayor de San Andres, Bolivia: biotechnology and microbiology; increasing agricultural productivity Haneen Dwaib, of the Palestine Ahliya University, Palestine: nutrition and dietetics; obesity and dietary interventions Eugenie Kayitesi, of the University of Pretoria, South Africa: food science and technology; improved use of indigenous plant-based foods Gabriela Montenegro-Bethancourt, of the Maya Health Alliance, Guatemala: life sciences and nutrition; maternal mortality and child malnutrition Munkhjargal Tserendorj, of the Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Mongolia: veterinary medicine, animal and food hygiene; diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases Yeyinou Laura Estelle Loko, Université Nationale des Sciences, Technologies, Ingénierie et Mathématiques, Benin: entomology, plant genetic resources and crop protection; insect pests and resistant crops “With these awards, our vision is to celebrate these impressive women scientists who are helping to make real progress towards the UN SDGs,” explained Ylann Schemm, Executive Director of the Elsevier Foundation. “We know that a quarter of all women are engaged in agriculture, which makes them more vulnerable to both climate change and resource scarcity. By focusing on food security in 2023, we want to spotlight the important research undertaken by women who are inspiring role models for communities most affected by this issue.” First awarded in 2013, the award is given in partnership by the OWSD and Elsevier Foundation. OWSD chairs a panel of distinguished scientists to select the winners, and the Foundation awards a cash prize for each winner of USD $5,000, as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the 2024 5 th Global Food Security conference to provide them with vital networking opportunities. The winners will also have the opportunity to publish their work in STAR Protocols, an open access, peer-reviewed journal from Cell Press which offers structured, transparent, accessible, and repeatable step-by-step experimental and computational protocols from all areas of life, health, earth and physical sciences. Past Award winners have been invited to meet their country’s presidents, and have been celebrated by local, national and international media, while other winners have gone on to receive other prestigious awards and fellowships including L’OREAL-UNESCO’s For Women in Science Fellowships. --- Notes for editors Photos and reference sheets for each award winner, with a more extensive biography and description of their work, are available upon request, please contact the Elsevier Newsroom at newsroom@elsevier.com. For interview requests, journalists can contact Rebecca Clear, Corporate Responsibility Communications Director at r.clear@elsevier.com. Short bios of the 2023 winners: Prof Renuka Attanayake, Sri Lanka Renuka Attanayake is a plant pathologist working on crop disease identification and management in Sri Lanka. Her projects include the optimization of a rapid detection method of coconut phytoplasma in Sri Lanka, and the identification of genetic diversity of white mold pathogen on cabbage and black mold on onions. With her work, she is contributing to the development of resistant inducer treatments and farmers' education to reduce the negative effects of some of the most common crop diseases in her country. Dr Carla Fabiana Crespo Melgar, Bolivia Carla Fabiana Crespo Melgar is a biochemist focused on increasing agricultural productivity as a crucial step to alleviate hunger. With her research, she is investigating the potential of using beneficial microorganisms and application protocols as biocontrollers, biofertilizers, bioinoculants and growth promoters for crop production in Bolivia and the region, with the aim of exploring ways that they can be produced locally by communities or small companies, once the technology and application protocols are validated. Dr Haneen Dwaib, Palestine Haneen Dwaib has a background in Nutrition and Public Health, and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences. She is investigating dietary interventions to tackle obesity as a case of disguised hunger, since the lack of a decent, well-balanced diet causes deficits in the majority of micronutrients and occasionally macronutrients. Her research focuses on studying the gut microbiota and to find non-invasive early detection biomarkers of premature cardiovascular dysfunction and adipose tissue inflammation in pre-diabetic laboratory rats. Prof Eugenie Kayitesi, Rwanda Eugenie Kayitesi is a food scientist, who is trying to improve nutrition, diet diversity and food security in Africa developing unique products from underutilized food sources, as well as improving their nutritional composition and health promoting constituents. The core of her research relates to indigenous, underutilized African plant-based foods, such as legumes, cereals, green leafy vegetables and fruits. Her work has highlighted the importance of using readily available and affordable food crops to create food products with improved nutritional, functional and sensory quality. Gabriela Montenegro-Bethancourt, Guatemala Gabriela Montenegro-Bethancourt is a nutritionist and food scientist whose work contributes to strengthen primary health care in rural Guatemala. She works in the most impoverished communities in Guatemala’s to provide health care in Mayan languages and contribute to reducing maternal mortality and child malnutrition, overcoming barriers to the treatment of complex medical conditions, providing optimal care to children and adults with chronic conditions, and promoting access to clean water. Her research is designed to take into consideration nutrition’s broad strategic possibilities, such as empowering women, increasing the availability of nutrient-rich foods, improving access to health services, and design effective policies. Dr Munkhjargal Tserendorj, Mongolia Munkhjargal Tserendorj is a Veterinary Doctor with a PhD in Animal and Food Hygiene, who is helping Mongolia to control economically important tick-borne diseases. She has conducted national and international projects for strengthening capacities in the diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases, especially vector-borne diseases, leading to the development of effective strategies to decrease severe economic losses in the small ruminants' population in Mongolia. Data from these studies is now used as base information for initiating prevention and control programs. Dr Yeyinou Laura Estelle Loko, Benin Yeyinou Laura Estelle Loko is an Entomologist with a PhD in plant genetic resources and crop protection committed to the reduction of losses caused by insect pests. She develops control methods that respect human health and the environment, favoring the use of naturally resistant varieties, medicinal plants with insecticidal properties, entomopathogenic microorganisms, and predators. She is also working on the development of a digital toolbox and an intelligent monitoring system adapted to smallholder farmers for effective pest management in Benin. To find out how the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award helps shape our understanding of the Global South, find out more about 2022’s winners here. About OWSD The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) provides research training, career development and networking opportunities for women scientists throughout the developing world. Headed by eminent women scientists from the South, OWSD has more than 9,000 members and runs various programs, including a PhD fellowship programme with over 360 successful graduates from Least Developed Countries and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as an Early Career fellowship programme providing research grants of up to USD$50,000 in addition to leadership training. OWSD is the only international forum to unite women scientists from the developing world with the objective of strengthening their role in the development process and promoting their representation in scientific and technological leadership. OWSD is affiliated with The World Academy of Science (TWAS), a program unit of UNESCO, and is based in Trieste, Italy, with national chapters throughout the developing world. www.owsd.net About The Elsevier Foundation The Elsevier Foundation is a corporate not-for-profit 501(c)(3), funded by Elsevier, a global information analytics business specialized in science and health. Since 2006, the Elsevier Foundation provides over $1.5 million USD a year in grants to knowledge-centered institutions around the world, which address the UN Sustainable Development Goals through tech-enabled innovations in inclusive health and research. The Foundation offers a comprehensive matching gift and volunteering fund to enable employees to work with Foundation partners and support their communities. The Elsevier Foundation is part of Elsevier’s larger corporate responsibility program which centers on our unique contributions to sustainable development in gender, health, climate and reducing inequalities. elsevierfoundation.org About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions and funders. Elsevier employs 8,700 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our over 2,700 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell; our over 43,000 eBook titles; and our iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com Contact Details Elsevier Rebecca Clear +44 7919 396403 r.clear@elsevier.com OWSD Giulia Signori-OWSD Communications communications@owsd.net Company Website https://www.elsevier.com/

February 21, 2023 03:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Comcast Plans Major Network Expansion in Texas

Comcast Houston

Comcast announced today it will significantly expand its next-generation network, the Xfinity 10G Network, in a major way across several southeast Texas counties in 2023. The media and technology company said it will invest more than $100 million to install at least one thousand miles of new fiber-rich highways that will reach up to 80,000 homes and businesses by the end of this year. The planned expansions add to Comcast’s ongoing $2.8 billion investment in Texas over the last three years. Network expansion efforts will begin in Kingwood, Pinehurst, Prairie View, Waller, New Caney and Conroe. Construction will continue in other communities that have ongoing network infrastructure builds in the Houston area. Construction has started in Kingwood, which will be the largest expansion of the year; it is expected to be complete by the end of 2023 and will reach nearly 24,000 Kingwood homes and businesses. These locations will have the foundational next-generation network in place to begin deploying DOCSIS 4.0, setting the stage for the introduction of new symmetrical multi-gigabit Internet options. “We will bring our fiber-rich network to twice the number of homes and businesses this year compared to the number we passed last year,” said Ralph Martinez, Senior Regional Vice President of Comcast’s Texas Region. “Southeast Texas’ rural and suburban communities have been growing fast, and we are building out our next-generation Comcast network in tandem with the growth. We will continue to expand to even more rural communities in the next few years.” Once complete, Comcast, the nation’s largest provider of 1.2 Gigabit per second speeds, will give consumers access to reliable and fast Xfinity Internet and Xfinity Mobile service that outperforms its competitors. Comcast engineers have also developed multiple artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies that make the network faster and more reliable while delivering up to 100 Gbps for Comcast Business customers. In addition, Comcast’s next-generation technology provides multiple layers of security that automatically detect and block hundreds of thousands of cyber events every second, and a Smart Network that automates many core network functions and dramatically reduces the number of outages. “Access to reliable internet and telecommunications services is something that we cannot go without in our day-to-day activities,” said Houston Mayor Pro-Tem and Kingwood resident, Dave Martin. “Comcast and their new construction project in Kingwood is a perfect example of a business working to bridge the gap to connect more people to much-needed services while increasing accessibility to much-needed services and their dependability. I appreciate Comcast’s partnership and commitment to District E.” Comcast is also committed to addressing digital equity in communities we serve, through Project UP, the company’s $1 billion dollar commitment to help tens of millions of people connect to the internet and build futures of unlimited possibilities. Last year, Comcast Texas invested more than one million dollars to help local community organizations provide personalized digital skills training, offer workforce development/readiness workshops and other tech education to students, adults, and people with disabilities. The funding also supports ongoing efforts to build awareness about connectivity programs like Internet Essentials and the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offers eligible households up to $30/month credit, or up to $75 for households on tribal lands, for home Internet. Comcast proudly participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program, and offers Internet Essentials Plus, a $29.95/month home Internet service that is effectively free for eligible households, once the ACP credit is applied. Interested customers can visit Xfinity.com/ACP or call 1-800-Xfinity to learn more about this program and find out if they qualify. For more construction details and updates, visit ComcastTexas.com/Expansion. Powered by the Xfinity 10G Network Comcast’s next-generation network and Internet experience are powering homes today and into the future: · Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect nearly 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. The Xfinity 10G Network with the next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. · Fastest Internet: 10 million+ Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products, and Ookla rated Xfinity the fastest Internet provider at the end of 2022*. Symmetrical gig speeds to the first homes are planned for later this year. · Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get wall-to-wall WiFi coverage with a powerful xFi Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas, with plans for an offering of increased support for in-home WiFi through a “boost guarantee” later this year. · Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network – the Xfinity 10G Network – that passes 60 million homes and business and counting. The company plans to launch a new device that is “storm-ready” with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. · Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity 10G Network and the latest xFi Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home. For local businesses, Comcast Business offers a suite of connectivity, communications, networking, cybersecurity, wireless, and managed solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest-growing providers of Ethernet services. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Ookla’s SpeedtestTM Market Index report shows that Xfinity delivered the fastest median download speeds to its Internet customers in the United States for the final quarter of 2022. Contact Details Comcast Steve Campion +1 832-920-2001 Steve_Campion@Comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

February 20, 2023 10:08 AM Central Standard Time

Video Image

i2Coalition Warns of Crippling Impact in Amicus Brief filed with U.S. Supreme Court in Gonzalez v. Google LLC

i2Coalition

In advance of the oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court for Gonzalez v. Google LLC, the Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) warns of the crippling impact this case could have on businesses of all sizes that build the Internet. On January 18, 2023, the i2Coalition, joined by our members cPanel, LLC; Identity Digital Inc.; Texas.net, Inc.; and Tucows Inc., filed an amicus brief calling on the Court to affirm the judgment of the Ninth Circuit and protect the foundational role Section 230 plays in ensuring the Internet's infrastructure functions efficiently and effectively. "While Section 230 may in part be responsible for protecting giant platforms that host user-generated content, it is also one of the pillars of intermediary liability law, which protects the entire ecosystem of lesser-known Internet infrastructure companies that operate the Internet at every level, down to the Internet user," said Christian Dawson, the i2Coalition's executive director. "Google may be the company listed on the case, but an adverse ruling would have far-reaching implications and cripple the ability of our member companies to ensure that the infrastructure running the Internet can continue to operate." The i2Coalition's brief demonstrates that Section 230's expressed words provide no basis for excluding the automated operation of algorithms (instructions to computer systems) from Section 230 liability protection. The coalition explains that a myriad of companies throughout the Internet ecosystem, including those providing its infrastructure, depend on algorithms to classify, organize, process, and transmit all sorts of data and that these functions do not alter Section 230(c)(1)'s protection of those companies. These include services that may seem mundane but are critically important, such as Domain Name Service (DNS) resolutions that translate domains into IP addresses. These services require stable, clear, and neutral rules that are not subject to political combat and weaponization by regulators and other actors. The extraordinary breadth of stakeholders that filed briefs last month in support of preserving Section 230, in its current form, includes private sector companies, entrepreneurs, advocacy organizations, academics, and computer scientists. Collectively, these briefs urged the Court to uphold Section 230 liability protection as courts have uniformly applied it for the past 25 years. In addition, the filings included the submission to the Court of an amicus brief from the original co-authors of the statute, former U.S. House Representative Christopher Cox and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. "With the Internet as we know it at stake, we implore the Court to uphold Section 230's protections," said Christian Dawson, the i2Coalition's executive director. "For 25 years, courts have uniformly applied the law without Congress seeking to steer the courts onto a different course. If revisions to Section 230 are warranted, Congress alone should make those changes." The full i2Coalition amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court docket can be found here. About the i2Coalition Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) is a trade association representing the interests of businesses that construct and operate essential building blocks of the Internet. Its members include cloud providers, data center operators, domain name registrars, domain name registries, and other foundational Internet enterprises. Its mission is to preserve a free and open Internet as an engine for growth and innovation. It works with its members to advocate for sensible policies, establish and reinforce best practices, help create industry standards, and promote awareness of how the Internet works. To learn more about the i2Coalition, please visit www.i2Coalition.com. Contact Details Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0785 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://i2coalition.com/

February 20, 2023 10:35 AM Eastern Standard Time

News Release

Gamelancer Media's new dead of global partnerships & sales making quick impact with new connections

Gamelancer Media Corp

Gamelancer Media Corp's new head of global partnerships & sales Kris Mychasiw joins Proactive's Natalie Stoberman to share how he intends to make an impact in the short-form content space. Mychasiw has nearly two decades of experience in the sponsorship and marketing industries, and is known as an industry disrupter, noted for tapping into emerging markets and developing innovative sponsorship strategies to create new monetization opportunities. During his tenure with the Canadiens, Kristopher worked with many multinational brands such as CIBC, Crypto.com, Lenovo, Manscaped, and Lowes, among others. Contact Details Proactive Investors Canada +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

February 17, 2023 11:06 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video

PTOP Announces Pink Current Status! PTOP Also Announces Payment Completed To Accountants For Q1 Financial Statements To Be Completed Soon!

Peer to Peer Network

McapMediaWire -- Peer To Peer Network a.k.a MobiCard Inc. (OTC: PTOP ) is proud to announce it has obtained the coveted “Pink Current Status” from the OTC Markets and has also made payment to Blue Chip Accounting to have 1 st quarter financials completed soon. “We fell out of compliance for Pink Current only because the attorney letter had not been submitted after we submitted our fiscal year-end financial reports. When I found out, I notified our attorney and he promptly sent in the attorney letter to cover the financial periods for the annual report required. It took OTC markets 3-5 business days from the time they received the attorney letter to put us back to “Pink Current Status”. I assume this will open the gates back up to new investors who otherwise would not be able to buy the stock,” commented Chairman & CEO Joshua Sodaitis. “I remain steadfast in adhering to the proper reporting requirements. We paid the accountants for our Q1 financials and should have them completed and posted to OTC Markets by the end of February. I also remain committed in wiping off debt from the balance sheet,” elaborated CEO Sodaitis. OTC Markets revised their Pink Current and Pink Limited guidelines on the information that’s required by companies to qualify for each, which are publicly available on the otcmarkets.com website. According to the OTC Markets Group website: “ The Pink Limited tier, and the information required to be qualified as Pink Limited is more basic — what you need under Rule 15c2-11. Pink Current goes above that. In order to meet those guidelines, you’re going to need to have specific financial information — more than the Pink Limited guidelines. Both will allow a security to be quoted on an ongoing basis, but the Pink Current guidelines are more stringent. And with respect to the impact of being on one tier versus the other, brokers that are quoting those securities may place restrictions on the Pink Limited tier that they do not place on Pink Current. Companies that trade on our Market are subject to the Blue Sky laws in the 50 states and four territories. That also is impacted depending on whether or not you are Current or Limited. As an example, for companies that come in Current that are making their information available to us, you would gain a state like Illinois. It will have an impact not just on a broker’s potential restrictions on trading Limited versus Current, but also on the Blue Sky status of individual states.” Quote directly from OTC Markets: Rule 15c2-11 Amendments FAQs - OTC Markets Blog. This Pink Current Status for PTOP means that entire new states like Illinois (as used in the OTC Markets example above) amongst others, will now have access to buying shares of PTOP in the open market. This is an obvious benefit to shareholders and the company. If you are curious to see the balance sheet, financial disclosure documents, or other financial reports we encourage you to view them on the OTC Markets group website. “Next week I will be putting out some more exciting news as I strive diligently to knock down the strategic objectives I laid out in the Annual Letter To Shareholders. I believe this will finally be PTOP’s year. Together with the help of shareholders we can make our strategic goals a reality. I would say this is the BEST time to become a shareholder of PTOP,” concluded Chairman & CEO Joshua Sodaitis. Contact Info: Joshua Sodaitis, Chairman & CEO MobiCard, Inc. 45 Prospect Street Cambridge, MA 02139 Phone: 1-617-481-1971 Email: info@freemobicard.com ABOUT: Peer to Peer Network aka MobiCard is the 1st of its kind digital contact/business card. It will greatly facilitate the ability of individuals and businesses to share information and more effectively expand their visibility and brand awareness. MobiCard is a combination of powerful mobile apps and desktop apps with wide ranging capabilities, including linking video's, user websites, all forms of contact information, and all of each user's social media links into one consolidated source. It is more than just a digital business card; it's a "dynamic digital footprint." A subscriber can custom create their business card to include a company logo, profile photo, contact details, website, audio messaging, social media links and multi-media content. The platform sharing and alert system enables users to share their card via text/SMS, e-mail, and global social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The system provides the user instant text alerts when their card is opened or shared to third party referrals all while building an invaluable database of contact leads. Safe Harbor Statement: This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company invokes the protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategies, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, as well as statements that include words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include those set forth in our filings at www.sec.gov. The company is no longer a fully reporting SEC filing company. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact Details Joshua Sodaitis, Chairman & CEO MobiCard, Inc. +1 617-651-2460 info@freemobicard.com

February 16, 2023 10:30 AM Eastern Standard Time