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Christmas Has Come Early For BONK, Pepe and Meme Moguls Holders

Total Media

BONK hit a new all-time high this week after a new announcement from Coinbase. The leading exchange announced it will soon list BONK, generating an upsurge in the project's value and trading volume. Meanwhile, Pepe is recovering after a slight dip, and Meme Mogul's holders are profiting after stage one of its presale quickly sold out. >> Can You Predict The Next 1000x Meme Coin? Become A Meme Mogul Today << BONK Hits New All-Time High BONK continues to remain in the spotlight after a series of consecutive price increases in Q4. The Solana-based memecoin recently hit a new all-time high of $0.00001532 after Coinbase announced it plans to list the token on its exchange. This new price takes BONK's annual returns to 13,600%, with a 718% price increase over the last month. Having announced that BONK will soon be available on Coinbase, BONK’s daily trading volume has increased by 81% to $280 million. However, Coinbase announced that BONK may not be available in every location, which has reduced the overall excitement surrounding the BONK announcement. Pepe Recovers After Market Correction After surging to a quarterly high in December, Pepe’s value faced a minor correction. This dip took Pepe’s monthly returns down to 1.43%, and the memecoins daily trading volume also fell to $120 million. Initially, investors believed this could be the end of the Pepe bull run. However, the project is now recovering and has increased in value by 8.58% in the last 24 hours, triggering a surge in trading activity. With Pepe regaining its momentum, experts predict that Pepe could push through another resistance level by the end of 2023, offering strong returns to Pepe investors who remain bullish. Meme Moguls Sells Out Stage One Of Its Presale Meme Moguls is innovating the play-to-earn market by combining financial education and memes. Its game lets players learn about investing, earn unique rewards, and network with like minded investors with a passion for memes. The game actively promotes its community and competition throughout the community. Players can take part in free or paid tournaments, set up events with friends, or play games such as “Beat the Market” where they need to outperform index funds. For players with a more competitive spirit, winner-takes-all competitors are available, where players can win tokens and unique rewards such as NFTs. Additionally, players will also be ranked in a “Wealth Leaderboard” where the top 20 Moguls will be able to generate a passive income. As well as investing opportunities, Meme Moguls introduces an in-game marketplace powered by its native token, $MGLS. Here, investors will have the chance to buy and sell game items, trade NFTs for profit, and more. But that's not all. As part of the wider “Moguls World” ecosystem, investors will be able to join liquidity pools and stake tokens to generate a passive income stream. Besides its fun features, Meme Moguls also offers a safe environment for players to invest. The project has been fully audited by Solid Proof, and the $MGLS liquidity pool will be locked for five years. $MGLS tokens were originally selling for just $0.0021 during phase one of its presale, though have now hit a new all-time high after stage one sold out. Tokens are now selling for $0.0023, and one lucky community member will win $10,000 once stage two is sold out. Visit Meme Moguls Contact Details Total Media Solutions media@Totalsolutionspr.io

December 16, 2023 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Candy.AI: The Fastest-Growing AI Girlfriend App with NSFW Chat

EverAI Limited

AI has revolutionized everything from medicine to manufacturing, and now Candy.ai is bringing it to relationships. Its innovative NSFW AI chatbots combine personalization, multimedia capability, and diverse options to create a rich and immersion-oriented AI girlfriend simulator. Users can enjoy exciting, unfiltered chats, images, and video content with virtual companions that learn, act spontaneously, and possess unique personalities. Candy.ai Takes AI Girlfriends to the Next Level The basic concept of an AI girlfriend isn't new; dating sims have been popular for decades, and many influencers have reached fame through the personal connection they offer viewers. But Candy.ai is showing how a virtual girlfriend AI can sidestep the limited content and restricted availability of these experiences and offer thrilling, intimate experiences on-demand. You can have a realistic AI girlfriend if you'd like, or maybe you'd prefer an anime chat; AI waifu chatbots are available, too. What Makes Candy.ai the Best AI Girlfriend App AI girlfriend apps like Candy.ai are on the rise, but none of them offer the same combination of features and depth that Candy.ai does. Some key advantages the site has include: Unfiltered chats: You're not restricted to mild, SFW experiences with your Candy.ai virtual girlfriend. Explore any subject and any fantasy with your beautiful companion. Rich personalization for models and art creation: There are dozens of handcrafted models on Candy.ai that you can use right away. However, you can also use the art generator to make custom photos or a new model. Just offer a simple prompt of your favorite features, and Candy.ai will bring your dream girl to life. High-quality AI personalities: One of the biggest areas where Candy.ai stands apart is attention to detail; when you move from one AI to the next, you can really feel the difference in personality and the way it changes your relationship. An immersive experience: Candy.ai's NSFW AI girlfriend chatbots focus on text, but that's not all they can do. You can ask for images or audio messages in the chat and receive them in no time at all. A commitment to excellence and development: The developers constantly work on adding new content and features to Candy.ai. Between enhancements to the basic experience and new models to flirt with, users always have something to look forward to. Getting Started with Candy.ai Using Candy.ai couldn't be simpler. Just take these easy steps to get started: Sign up on the website and choose your favorite model, or make your own If you decided to make your own, just choose your favorite features and quirks from a quick list of prompts Select “generate” and create your custom virtual AI girlfriend Start chatting and asking for photos from your NSFW AI chat bot Candy.ai: The Best Girlfriend AI Candy.ai is taking leaps and bounds in the world of virtual AI girlfriends. Not only does it have some of the best NSFW AI chatbots in the industry, but it seamlessly combines that with impressive image generation and audio capabilities. It's an intuitive, immersive experience that few competitors can hold a candle too, and new features are always in development. Try Candy.ai and discover how satisfying and exciting an AI girlfriend can be. FAQs Is Candy.ai a secure AI girlfriend app? Candy.ai combines secure data storage with a strong privacy policy to protect your intimate experiences from prying eyes. Can I have an anime chat AI waifu chatbot on Candy.ai? Candy.ai supports realistic and anime-style girlfriends. Just choose the right model for your preferences, or specify your preference when you create a new model. Are my chats with my AI chatbot girlfriend private? Candy.ai is fully committed to user privacy. It will never share your conversations, the photos and audio messages you get from your AI girlfriend, or any other content in your chats. How can I interact with my Candy.ai girlfriend? You can discuss any topic on Candy.ai, from casual flirting to intense fantasies and deep conversations. Besides texting, you can ask for audio and video content too. What makes Candy.ai the best NSFW AI chat bot? Attention to detail, an emphasis on freedom and customization, and diverse, dynamic experiences separate Candy.ai from the competition, according to alucare.fr. What is Candy.ai's main purpose? Candy.ai 's purpose is to use AI and machine learning to make accessible, virtual companionship available to anyone. It's an outlet for personal desire, creativity, and exploring private feelings in a safe and consensual way. Contact Details EverAI Limited +44 7458 107874 pr@everai.ai Company Website https://candy.ai

December 15, 2023 03:30 PM Eastern Standard Time

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HTX Ventures 2023 Year-In-Review

HTX Ventures

Our Journey: 2023 marks a transformative era for the company, as we rebrand from the well-known 'Huobi' to 'HTX', celebrating our 10th Anniversary. Our evolution from Huobi to HTX signifies more than a name change; it's a recommitment to our core values - 'H' for our Huobi heritage, 'T' for our dedication to TRON, and 'X' for the dynamic nature of our exchange. For HTX Ventures, 2023 also marked several structural enhancements, including the integration of the incubation and research departments, to further refine resource allocation and strengthen support systems for our investment and ecosystem partners. HTX Ventures started its journey in 2018 and is dedicated to empowering a wide array of projects that leverage the cutting-edge potential of Web 3.0 and crypto technologies. Our focus spans a diverse range of sectors including DeFi, Real World Assets (RWAs), ZK roll-ups, Infrastructure, NFTs, Digital Identity (DID), SocialFi, Education, GameFi, AI, Layer 1 and Layer 2 projects. This diverse investment approach reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancement and innovation. At the core of HTX Ventures' philosophy lie three pivotal pillars: business innovation, robust business models, and operational excellence. These guiding principles are crucial in shaping our investment strategy, ensuring that we not only support ventures at the vanguard of technological innovation but also those demonstrating sustainable and scalable business models. It is this combination of foresight in technology and acumen in business strategy that enables us to identify and nurture ventures with the potential for lasting impact and growth. Our comprehensive investment strategy, which incorporates both direct and fund investing, has led to a significant expansion of our portfolio, now encompassing over 200 ventures. This approach has not only diversified our investment landscape but also enriched our capacity to drive meaningful change across various sectors. Each investment is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering innovation, sustainability, and excellence in the dynamic world of Web 3.0 and beyond. 2023 Market Overview and Market Outlook As we reflect on the year 2023, the landscape of the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors has unfolded a tapestry of significant developments, challenges, and innovations. Infrastructure The year 2023 has been a breakthrough year for infrastructure in the blockchain space. Observing the entire infrastructure ecosystem, we see a multitude of solutions and technological approaches emerging to cater to the ever-increasing variety of Web3 use cases and users. These solutions and approaches, intertwining and overlapping, await market validation. Regardless, they consistently revolve around three key focuses: faster transaction speeds, more decentralized structures, and more secure architectures. The ultimate goal is to create a more user-friendly blockchain network. There's much to discuss regarding infrastructure, and here we select a few noteworthy topics from 2023 for review. Five Notable Infrastructure Topics of 2023 1. Ethereum’s Development Roadmap: As the most expansive public blockchain, Ethereum is a crucial component of blockchain infrastructure, supporting various technologies including Rollup Layer 2 networks and account abstraction. Despite Ethereum's current dominance in Total Value Locked (TVL) and user base, it, along with its associated Layer 2 solutions, still faces challenges like insufficient throughput and transaction costs unsuitable for small, frequent trades. Therefore, Ethereum has continually enhanced its performance through upgrades and forks. In mid-2022, Ethereum achieved its first expansion milestone with 'The Merge', transitioning from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus, importantly, marking the shift towards a Rollup-centric expansion path. In 2023, Ethereum underwent a significant execution layer upgrade with the Shanghai upgrade, primarily allowing stakers to withdraw their staked ETH and rewards. Contrary to popular predictions that Ethereum's price might suffer due to the large amount of staking withdrawal, the network exhibited robust growth post-upgrade, maintaining stable operations with staking amounts rebounding after a slight drop – a sign of returning confidence among validators. Ethereum's next significant milestone is the anticipated 'Cancun Upgrade' in Q1 2024, which marks a step towards its next major goal: sharding. A key proposal, Pro-Danksharding (EIP-4844), introduces Blob data blocks, offering cheaper data availability for Rollup and Layer 1 interactions, thus reducing Layer 2 transaction costs. In the latter half of the year, Vitalik, co-founder of Ethereum, also raised the topic of "Exit games for EVM validiums: the return of Plasma," calling for a reevaluation of this overlooked expansion technology. While this sparked lively community discussions, Rollup expansion remains Ethereum's mainstream trajectory. In the future, we might see an Ethereum world where Layer 2s primarily execute, with Ethereum's main chain serving more as a consensus layer and data availability layer, providing foundational support for numerous Layer 2 networks. 2. Layer 2 Summer: Layer 2 was a rapidly developing and highly watched sector in 2023. As of now, there are 32 active Layer 2 networks on the market, with Optimistic Rollup and ZK Rollup being the main types, according to L2Beat data. In terms of TVL, Layer 2's overall volume grew nearly threefold in 2023. From a TVL distribution perspective, Arbitrum One and OP Mainnet, both using Optimistic Rollup solutions, occupy the majority of the market share, with Arbitrum ONE accounting for 52% and Op Mainnet for 26.5%. The reasons include Arbitrum's early achievement of EVM compatibility, enabling seamless deployment of Ethereum and other Layer 1 projects. Additionally, the early coin issuance by Arbitrum and OP spurred significant ecosystem growth. In March, following Arbitrum's token airdrop, its ecosystem TVL saw a near twofold increase. However, ZK Rollup public chains lagged in terms of coin issuance and EVM compatibility, leading to slower ecosystem growth compared to Optimistic Rollup Layer 2s. In the flourishing year of Layer 2 networks, we also observed some issues. A primary concern is whether the data growth truly reflects network prosperity or a mere illusion. Many projects incentivize user interaction with the network through airdrop expectations, leading to more projects focusing on designing rules against Sybil attacks and attracting high-standard users. However, we believe that airdrops and token incentives, while effective during their application, quickly lose effect if the project fails to genuinely earn user trust on the product level. Additionally, current Web3 users are far from the general user standard, as mainstream users are relatively passive and less willing to shift between ecosystems. In contrast, current users willing to interact on Layer 2 networks tend to have some knowledge and operational skills. Therefore, this leads to increased customer acquisition and retention costs for the ecosystems, or what can be called ‘involution'. User loyalty to a public chain can easily diminish due to competitors' airdrop expectations and liquidity mining incentives. A prime example is the Blast network, launched in Q4 by Paradigm and Blur founder Pacman, as a Layer 2 network integrating native yield concepts. Blast extended Layer 2’s popularity to year-end, achieving a TVL of $300 million within just a few weeks of its launch. As a project backed by star developers and institutions, Blast distinguished itself in the competitive landscape by focusing on community-driven approaches, maximizing Product-Market Fit with simple yet effective features. This strategic move caught the market’s attention and capital, offering a unique contrast to other Layer 2s still vying for technical superiority and user quality. Overall, we remain optimistic about the future development of Layer 2. With the further completion of EIP-4844 enhancing Layer 2 performance, we anticipate seeing innovative products in DeFi and other non-financial Dapps on Layer 2 in 2024. 3. Modular Blockchain Breaks Through Bottlenecks While most public blockchains continue to evolve towards faster, cheaper solutions in pursuit of becoming the “mainstream” blockchain, a different solution often mentioned in 2023 is modular blockchain. Strictly speaking, rollups are also a form of modular technology, focusing on the blockchain's execution layer. This year, we observed increased attention towards the Data Availability (DA) layer in modular blockchains, such as Mantle and Celestia. Mantle, as a modular Rollup, uses its built-in data availability layer to free Layer 2 from Ethereum's data availability constraints. Celestia, on the other hand, is building a universal modular blockchain, allowing blockchains built on Celestia to use it as their data availability layer. We believe modular technology brings greater freedom; applications or Layer 2s are not bound by the main chain's performance and can gain greater autonomy and customizability. Although practical use cases for modular blockchains like Celestia are still few, we see promising growth in this direction. However, we cannot ignore the complexities and security challenges accompanying the advancement of modular technology. This complexity is not only from a user perspective, as understanding a single blockchain's performance is relatively easy compared to comprehending the interactions with other modular layers. For developers, the interaction between multiple chains in modular blockchains exposes more security risks. 4. The Current State of Application Chains: After the previous DeFi Summer, application chains emerged as a new approach to address network congestion and lack of autonomy. A pioneering example is the decentralized perpetual contract dYdX, initially deployed on Starkware. In October this year, we witnessed the mainnet launch of dYdX V4, marking its transition from an application to an application chain. Architecturally, dYdX chose Cosmos SDK, a popular application chain framework that allows application chains to customize consensus mechanisms based on real needs and interact with other chains in the Cosmos network through the IBC protocol. Currently, over 70 application chains have been deployed on the mainnet on Cosmos, becoming a mainstream implementation solution for application chains. The primary advantages of applications developing their own chains include: Performance Improvement: Application chains on the Cosmos network can leverage Cosmos' 10,000 TPS speed advantage. As they do not compete for block space with other applications, the environmental impact on the application itself is minimized. Cost Reduction: In terms of transaction costs, application chains have significant advantages. For example, dYdX V4 redesigned gas fees, allowing users to pay fees proportional to their transaction volume instead of a fixed gas fee, offering an experience akin to centralized exchanges. Increased Autonomy: Application chains can tailor solutions in various aspects, such as smart contract upgrades, data availability, and sequencer settings, according to the application's needs. However, the transition to application chains also poses challenges, such as: Liquidity Isolation: Independent application chains increase the difficulty for external protocols to interact with them. On Ethereum or other monolithic blockchains, the cost and barriers to interaction between applications are low. In contrast, application chains, being separate from other ecosystems, make cross-chain interactions the only way to engage with other ecosystems. Security: The consensus security of smart contract applications is directly influenced by the security of the blockchain they are deployed on. The so-called security essentially depends on the public chain's market value. For application chains, their own market value determines their ability to sustain the assets on their protocols. This can be unfriendly for projects with smaller market values. Therefore, we believe that application chains are not suitable for all applications. For example, projects that frequently interact with other contracts and have smaller market values are better off staying on a secure, thriving public chain. On the other hand, for projects requiring fast, low-cost transaction experiences, unsatisfied with the constraints of the public chain, and having a substantial user base, application chains can be an optimal way to maximize their protocol's value. 5. Account Abstraction Opens the Door to Hundreds of Millions of Web 3.0 Users: The concept of account abstraction first emerged in 2022, and with the update of EIP-4337 - an account abstraction proposal which completely avoids consensus-layer protocol changes, instead relying on higher-layer infrastructure - numerous teams began developing products around it. In terms of end-user products, the focus has mainly been on smart contract wallets integrating account abstraction, offering features like social login, social recovery, gas fee delegation, and batch transaction processing. Many teams have delivered products in this space in 2023, such as Argent, Avocado, and Unipass, each innovating significantly in user experience. According to Dune Analytics, there are nearly 1.4 million accounts created based on EIP-4337, generating close to 7 million transactions (UserOps). As of the time of this article, there are over 400,000 active smart contract accounts monthly. Looking forward, we believe account abstraction has the potential to unlock the door to mass Web3 adoption. However, it still faces challenges, including increased security risks due to more complex technology stacks and rising gas fees. Therefore, we see Layer 2s, with their lower fee structures, as the ideal platform for developing account abstraction technology. DeFi Compared to the multiple significant incidents in 2022, the year 2023 was a period of stable development for DeFi (Decentralized Finance). In terms of protocol variety, there are now over 30 types of DeFi protocols, indicating a market that is more segmented and specialized than last year. Narratives around LSD (Liquid Staking Derivatives) and RWA (Real-World Assets) have brought new users and attention to DeFi. Below, we highlight some of the DeFi topics we believe are worth noting from 2023. Three Noteworthy DeFi Trends in 2023: 1. Current State of DeFi Protocols: In 2023, DeFi maintained a stable Total Value Locked, with $47 billion locked in DeFi contracts as of the time of writing, a 23.6% increase from $38 billion on December 31, 2022. In terms of public chain dominance, Ethereum holds a 56% share, maintaining a clear lead, followed by Tron with a 16% share. Among projects, Lido, Maker, and Justlend rank in the top three in TVL, with Lido alone accounting for 41% of the entire chain's TVL. Revenue-wise, Maker leads with daily earnings of $500,000. Among the top twenty revenue-generating projects, eight are exchanges or derivatives exchanges, and three are lending protocols. Exchange and lending remain the top protocol types for generating value in DeFi, albeit in a highly competitive environment. Currently, there are over 1000+ decentralized exchange protocols spread across 234 public chains. 2. Real-World Assets (RWA): RWA is a new DeFi theme that cannot be overlooked in 2023. It has drawn significant attention in a relatively subdued market. Typically, RWAs focus on off-chain rights confirmation and transferring off-chain assets and their associated returns to the blockchain. Legal tender stablecoins, as a form of RWA, have already demonstrated their critical use case in the cryptocurrency market. Other real-world assets linked to RWA saw a surge in 2023, with MakerDAO’s U.S. Treasury Bonds RWA reaching a scale of $2.8 billion, marking the first step towards large-scale RWA application. Avalanche has also developed its RWA ecosystem, aiming to provide a suitable on-chain platform for traditional institutional capital. The macro background here is the Federal Reserve's interest rate hike, which led to U.S. Treasury yields rising to 5%. In 2023, when overall DeFi market returns were low, transferring real-world returns to the blockchain was a natural progression. However, future advancement in RWAs will require extensive off-chain infrastructure, improved regulation, and advancements in on-chain oracles, wallets, and cross-chain technology. Nevertheless, the door to on-chain real assets has been opened, and we anticipate seeing more potential in RWA assets in 2024. 3. Decentralized Stablecoins: For mainstream stablecoins like USDT and USDC, there has always been criticism about their centralized risks. Currently, USDT and USDC command over 90% of the market share. The depegging incident of USDC in March heightened discussions about the risks of centralized stablecoins. The crypto market has continually experimented with creating a crypto-native stablecoin as detached as possible from traditional world risks. As of November 29th, there are over 120 stablecoins issued through over-collateralization (CDP), and we've seen a trend in 2023 where major DeFi protocols are developing their native decentralized stablecoins. Examples include Curve's crvUSD and AAVE's GHO, with crvUSD reaching a circulation of 140 million and AAVE minting 3.48 million GHO on Ethereum. Although there are many challenges yet to be resolved in the development of decentralized stablecoins, such as GHO's price not consistently pegging to $1 since its launch, we expect to see more native crypto stablecoins in the future, reducing reliance on USDT and USDC. Bitcoin As we approach the end of 2023, Bitcoin has regained robust momentum, notably breaking the $40K barrier for the first time in a year since October. Market has shown a significantly bullish indicator over Bitcoin and its related assets. However, questions arise: Will this trend sustain into the coming year, or is it merely a short-term hype driven by expectations of ETF approval? Today we will delve into the underlying fundamental drivers and discuss our view towards the future outlook on the bitcoin ecosystem. Key Catalysts Fueling Bitcoin's Growth: 1. Favorable Macro Environment Bitcoin has shown an outperformance trend in late 2023 compared to traditional TMT equities. With that being said, the market has already priced in the factors of interest rate decline in the upcoming months, while the investors expect that economic recovery may take a longer period of time to be reflected on the corporate balance sheet. Meanwhile, investors have been on an active outlook to hedge against the unstable geo-political and economical crisis upon 2023. Granted by the inherent store-of-value attributes, Bitcoin evolves as “digital gold” and has been considered to be a new type of alternative assets for investors. 2. Anticipated Money Inflow from Institutions One of the key market sentiment drivers among Bitcoin trading is the active Spot ETF application from various traditional Asset Managers. This indicates the embracement and recognition of investment values on Bitcoins from the traditional markets. On another hand, approval on spot ETFs is anticipated to bring in new money inflow and liquidity from the institutional markets, with the participation from Authorized Participants and Market Makers, pushing further trading activities and capital efficiency on Bitcoin markets. Aside from this, traditional financial institutions have also spearheaded efforts on Web3 adoption by setting up web3 strategy and investment arms. For example, Standard Chartered Bank, Nomura (Laser Digital), UOB, JP Morgan, etc. This has further strengthened the bullish sentiment and potential new money inflow from traditional finance on Bitcoin or even the broader crypto ecosystem. 3. Bitcoin Halving Bitcoin’s next halving will take place in Q2 2024. Halving events occur every four years, where the block reward for Bitcoin mining is shrinked half. This process will significantly reduce the inflation rate of Bitcoin. Based on historical trajectory, the market in general anticipates that Bitcoin prices will reach All-Time-High upon half year post-halving. Further fueled by the capital inflow anticipation from traditional institutions, the demand has largely outstripped supply for Bitcoin market, pushing further surge on Bitcoin prices. 4. Innovations from Bitcoin Ecosystem The POW blockchain of Bitcoin was designed mainly for transfer of value initially with lack of composability. The recent breakthrough on technical architecture brought by taproot, ordinals and other emerging standards have brought in further composability, programmability and transaction efficiency on Bitcoin. These further unlock the potential on Bitcoin for trustless staking, complex Defi strategies, or even gaming. Bitcoin as a bluechip cryptocurrency with an existing huge penetration rate, under such technical advancement, is anticipated to achieve further adoption in the near future. With these factors in play, we maintain a bullish stance on Bitcoin's growth in the upcoming year. Active product development initiatives observed over the past year indicate several key areas to watch within the Bitcoin ecosystem: Developer SDKs and Marketplaces: Oyl, Unisat ZK Rollups: Bison, Chainway, Alpen Labs EVM L2s/ Scaling Solutions: Botanix Labs, B2 Networks, Bitcoin Wizard Side Chains: Liquid Network, Threshold Network Staking: Babylon In conclusion, these developments and initiatives suggest a vibrant and evolving landscape for Bitcoin, positioning it for continued growth and innovation in the foreseeable future. SocialFi Since 2021, the SocialFi track has gradually entered the crypto community's radar. Similar to the social and entertainment attributes of blockchain games, it is considered a phenomenon-level track capable of attracting a significant influx of new Web3 users. Compared to the relatively lukewarm situation of the entire track in 2021-2022, some innovations in gameplay and design in the SocialFi track gained notable traction in 2023. As shown in the following figure, the entire SocialFi track has experienced favorable development over the past year, with mainstream projects accumulating nearly 4 million+ wallet interactions, and new projects like Galxe, Friend.Tech, and Sismo gaining substantial traffic. From the perspective of specific blockchains, current major SocialFi project interactions are concentrated on Polygon and Base chains, with other chains receiving less traffic in the social domain. In addition to providing stable networks, fast processing speeds, and low interaction costs, Polygon has actively developed various gaming, NFT, and application projects within its ecosystem over the past 1-2 years. Collaborating with Web2's major IPs has garnered significant traffic from both within and outside the crypto domain, showing a consistent and stable traffic growth in the SocialFi track. Base, benefiting from the substantial traffic brought by Friend.Tech, currently occupies half of the SocialFi track's traffic. Other chains, like Ethereum and BNB, are experiencing comparatively slower community-related traffic growth. Currently, SocialFi track projects are mainly divided into three mainstream development directions: 1. Social Infrastructure: Social infrastructure forms the foundational building blocks and universal tools for the entire SocialFi track. Unified, simple, and convenient infrastructure helps lower user barriers, reducing usage hurdles between different Dapps while accumulating more users and data. Projects like Galxe, Lens, and CyberConnect have entered from various dimensions, connecting users and Dapps, becoming the traffic portals and interfaces for the Web3 SocialFi track. This track is expected to experience phased traffic growth opportunities with the further maturity and explosion of ecosystem projects. 2. Social Dapps: Social Dapps represent the largest project category within the SocialFi ecosystem, showing a vibrant development trend. These include forums, fan platforms, streaming media, social games, social identity, etc. Dapps are the most direct point of contact and binding with users. In 2023, some projects achieved good development results, with Friend.Tech's ecosystem being particularly prominent due to its clever economic design and capital amplification factors, providing a valuable reference for subsequent social project development and design. The main development direction of Social Dapps is focused on decentralized resistance to censorship and engaging gameplay for traffic growth, satisfying the needs for social privacy and social gaming attributes. This track currently hosts a plethora of project developers and active players, nurturing potential Alpha projects for the next bull market in the SocialFi track. Other projects like Facaster, Nostr, and RepubliK also have considerable discussion in the market. Generally, most Social Dapps are in the mid-development stage, either operational or in test runs, with potential project launches or token issuances following the launch of infrastructure projects. 3. Social Bots: Social bots have been another type of project attracting market traffic in the SocialFi track in 2023, primarily built on Telegram. These include trading bots, farming bots, and Q&A bots, with representative projects like Unibot, Banana Bot, Wagie Bot, and LootBot. These projects are mainly created on Telegram, a social network platform with 800 million monthly active users, implementing encrypted transaction applications. Strictly speaking, social bots are Web3 projects derived from Web2 social interactions, whose convenience greatly lowers the entry barrier for users, effectively utilizing platform advantages to expand a significant number of new crypto users. These Web2-friendly projects have broad market demand and development prospects. Similar to games and Social Dapps, social bots are also one of the incremental tracks for the next bull market. In summary, the Web3 SocialFi track is in the early-to-mid stages of development, relying on the maturity of other infrastructure constructions, including but not limited to cross-chain information transmission, data storage, transaction cost reduction, and compliance issues. Current SocialFi track project types mainly include social infrastructure, Social Dapps, social bots, and other social tools. Among them, Social Dapps have the most diverse categories and are most likely to nurture Alpha products for the next bull market. A large number of developers are currently developing Web3 social products, and capital is gradually paying attention to and investing in this track. With the launch and token issuance of some popular projects, the market heat of the SocialFi track is gradually climbing. While the SocialFi track presents opportunities, it's also important to be aware of the challenges it faces, including the need for more robust infrastructure, bottlenecks in new user growth, and potential regulatory issues. Overall, the crypto social track is expected to see a concentration of project maturity, launches, and token issuances in 2024, holding promising investment potential and growth prospects. GameFi The gaming sector in 2021 witnessed a significant influx of traffic and capital, followed by a cooling off in 2022. The reduction in the 'wealth effect' led to a steep decline in games reliant on 'play-to-earn' models for user growth. In 2023, the gaming sector exhibited a more stable performance. Originating in the bull market as a traffic-driven sector, already-tokenized blockchain games went through prolonged consolidation during the bear market. Many projects financed towards the end of the bull market have nearly completed their development, suggesting a continued positive impact on traffic and project performance in this cycle.As per data shown below, gaming projects continued to show a steady growth trend in 2023. According to Footprint Analytics (data as of December 1, 2023), there are over 2,600 blockchain game contracts in the current market, with a circulating market value exceeding $6.5 billion, daily transaction volumes surpassing $6 million, and daily active addresses exceeding 1 million. Despite the bear market, the sector maintained a certain level of activity. From an ecosystem perspective, daily active addresses in the market exceed one million, with the bulk of absolute traffic concentrated on the Wax chain. Benefiting from its low interaction costs and swift settlement experience, Wax has maintained its leading market share through both bull and bear markets. Other public chains like Near, Celo, and Polygon also hold significant market shares. In terms of GameFi project development, overall, the growth in gaming projects in 2023 exceeded that of 2022, thanks to the development and maturation of startups from the last bull market. The BNB chain continues to host the most gaming projects, followed closely by Polygon, Ethereum, and Wax, each holding a significant share in game ecosystem deployments. The blockchain gaming ecosystem in 2023 demonstrated steady development, and this track is expected to perform well in the next bull market. Unlike the previous bull market, driven by tokenomics, the next cycle may shift focus from play-to-earn to entertainment value, with the long-term entertainment attributes of games being re-evaluated. As one of the most anticipated user traffic tracks in Web3, the next bull market is expected to break new ground in user accessibility, facilitating a seamless transition for Web2 users to blockchain games. Additionally, in terms of game types, alongside traditional blockchain games, the development of high-quality 3A games and full-chain games has become a key focus during this bear market. 3A games, with their high production values and playability, are poised to attract a phenomenal increase in users. Meanwhile, exploration in full-chain games is expected to bring about new types of asset interactions and gameplay upgrades, enriching game design and experiences. Summary Outlook for 2024 As we advance into 2024, HTX Ventures stands at the forefront of a transformative phase in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors, buoyed by optimism and a clear vision. Key trends and developments that are poised to shape the crypto landscape in the coming year include: - Trading Innovation: The rise of sophisticated trading bots and novel trading infrastructures is a testament to the ongoing innovation in trading mechanisms, hinting at more dynamic and efficient market interactions. - Layer 2 Evolution: With the eagerly anticipated Cancun upgrade, the intensifying competition among Layer 2 solutions will likely catalyze significant advancements in scalability and efficiency, further solidifying this sector's critical role. - Web3 and X-Fi Dynamics: A notable shift toward authentic Web3 projects, such as the success of platforms like Friend.tech, signals an evolution towards a more integrated approach, blending social and gaming elements within the crypto realm. - Convergence with Traditional Finance: The discourse around Bitcoin ETFs and Real-World Assets (RWAs), particularly with the potential for a Bitcoin spot ETF breakthrough, underscores a growing convergence between traditional finance and the crypto industry, potentially marking a new era of market growth and mainstream acceptance. In 2024, HTX Ventures remains committed to navigating these developments, leveraging our expertise and insights to support and enhance projects that are not only at the forefront of technological innovation but also strategically positioned for long-term impact and success. Our optimism for the coming year is rooted in the potential of these trends to catalyze meaningful advancements and create new opportunities in the ever-evolving crypto landscape. About HTX Ventures: HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice. HTX Ventures presently backs over 200 projects spanning multiple blockchain sectors, with select high-quality initiatives already trading on the HTX exchange. Furthermore, as one of the most vigorous Fund of Funds (FOF) investors, HTX Ventures collaboratively forges the blockchain ecosystem alongside premier global blockchain funds, including IVC, Shima, and Animoca. Written by: Haiyi, Juliet, Gigi, Jenny Reference: https://www.eip4844.com/ https://www.erc4337.io/ https://vitalik.ca/general/2023/11/14/neoplasma.html https://dune.com/niftytable/account-abstraction https://defillama.com/ https://defillama.com/stablecoins https://gho.xyz/ https://crvusd.curve.fi/ https://www.demandsage.com/telegram-statistics/#:~:text=How%20Many%20People%20Use%20Telegram,800%20million%20monthly%20active%20users. https://www.footprint.network/research/gamefi/game-overview/chain-stats?series_date-79658=past90days~ About HTX Ventures HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide.With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice. Contact Details Michael Wang glo-media@htx-inc.com

December 15, 2023 01:11 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Massive Ripple (XRP) Projection by Van Winkle – Everlodge (ELDG) to Solve Key Issues in the $280T Real Estate Sector

Total Media

Crypto analyst that goes by Ripple Van Winkle on YouTube noted that the Ripple (XRP) crypto will see an influx of institutional money, and this, coupled with its deflationary properties could exponentially increase its price. Everlodge (ELDG) is also making significant waves among Web3 circles with its presale, as it solves key issues found in the $280 trillion real estate market that can make it a dominant force upon release. Today, we will dive into both projects to see how far they can rise, and will see what is the best cryptocurrency to invest in. Ripple (XRP) Nearly Breaks Past $0.70 – Can It Spike Above $1? XRP Right Now, the YouTube channel run by Ripple Van Winkle, recently uploaded a video going over how Ripple (XRP) can climb in value soon. Regulatory developments that will come in 2024 are seen as catalysts for this growth, as the Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) will pave the way for significant institutional investments. The analyst also cited comments made by Congressman Patrick McHenry predicting crypto regulations early next year. Throughout the past week, Ripple moved up in value from a low point of $0.60 to $0.69 and now needs to break past the $0.70 price barrier to reach new heights. In the past year, Ripple was up in value by a total of 58.4%. According to the Ripple price prediction, it can surge to $1.18 in 2024. Everlodge (ELDG) to Solve Key Issues in the Real Estate Sector Everlodge (ELDG) can disrupt the $280 trillion real estate market through solving key issues that have been a part of the industry for decades. Historically, most properties would cost millions of dollars in upfront capital, making them out of reach for most people. The market also lacks liquidity and transparency due to this. Everlodge will solve this by introducing blockchain technology that will lower the barrier of entry significantly. Properties will get minted as NFTs and will then be fractionalized into smaller pieces worth just $100 each. This way, anyone will be able to afford them, adding much-needed accessibility and liquidity to the market, as they can be resold at any time. Alongside this, the smart contract's metadata will store the ownership details, leading to higher transparency. The platform will even introduce a dedicated Launchpad, where builders can get funding from the community to build properties. Those who jump into these early can get access to high ROI opportunities. A Rewards Club will also be implemented, providing token holders with access to free nightly stays. Summary While Ripple will need some time to recover its value, analysts are still bullish on its future. Despite this, most traders are diversifying their holdings with Everlodge. Throughout its crypto ICO period, the ELDG token has reached Stage 8. Here, it is offered at $0.027. By solving issues such as liquidity, transparency, and accessibility, it will open up the real estate market to millions of people and can become a dominant force in the Web3 space, which could result in a major increase in the value of its native crypto. Visit Everlodge Contact Details Total Media Solutions media@Totalsolutionspr.io

December 15, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Ultimate NSFW Character AI Alternative Ranking (No Filter category) December 2023.

Muah AI

In the dynamic landscape of AI-powered content generation, Character AI stands out for its remarkable skill in mimicking human-like text interactions. However, its limitations on not-safe-for-work (NSFW) content have resulted in a growing popularity of other platforms that permit unrestricted NSFW conversations. Understanding the NSFW Filter of Character AI Character AI has recently implemented a robust NSFW (Not Safe For Work) filter, marking a significant step in creating safer, more inclusive digital spaces. This filter is designed to identify and restrict content that is sexually explicit, offensive, or inappropriate for general audiences. While this move is applauded for promoting a respectful and safe online environment, it does raise questions about creative freedom and limitations. For users seeking a platform with fewer restrictions for more varied content, exploring NSFW AI alternatives might be a viable option. These alternatives offer a more open environment where adult content is permissible under regulated conditions. This freedom can be essential for artists, writers, and creators who deal with mature themes and require a space where their creative expression isn’t hindered by stringent filters. However, it’s crucial to recognize that these NSFW AI platforms come with their own set of responsibilities. Users must be aware of the legal and ethical implications of the content they create and share. These platforms often have their guidelines and rules to ensure that while freedom of expression is upheld, it does not cross into the realm of illegal or harmful content. The Top NSFW Character AI Alternatives: 1. Muah AI Muah AI, a remarkable leap forward in AI technology. Muah AI distinguishes itself with its advanced AI capabilities, including long-term memory and deep contextual understanding. This chatbot has set a new standard by offering real-time photo generation and exchange, a feature that has revolutionised user interactions. Furthermore, Muah AI's capabilities extend to real-time phone calls, X-ray photo analysis, and 4K photo enhancements, making it a leader in its field. Special mentions: Not just Chat! Exchange photos with your AI companion. Human realistic voice interaction and even real time phone calls. Photo X Ray, 4K photo enhance, and custom characters that you can write yourself. Call your AI companion the same way as you would with a real friend/girlfriend! Simply dial her number and start talking! Powered by bleeding edge GPT4 - Smartest AI in the world as of today (2023 December)! Just like a real girlfriend, there is no limitation on conversation and interactions! Community Character Gallery - Browse community character cards, and 1-click import into your Muah AI account. Customise, edit, and interact with new characters with just one click away! Industry leading AI character creation community, with active community on both discord and reddit. 2. Character AI Character AI is renowned for its versatile character simulation capabilities. This AI platform allows users to interact with a wide range of fictional characters, offering a unique and entertaining experience. Character AI's ability to create immersive and dynamic conversations with various personalities has earned it a strong following. 3. POE AI POE AI is recognized for its customizable AI experience. POE AI offers a tailored approach to user interactions, adapting its responses and functionalities to meet individual needs and preferences. 4. NSFW GF NSFW GF has made a name for itself with support for many of the romantic companion bots out there. This AI chatbot excels in helping users to try out many different types of AI models to their liking. 5. Janitor AI Janitor AI with its unique focus on providing a personalised and engaging conversational experience. This AI chatbot has been celebrated for its ability to simulate realistic and emotionally responsive interactions, making it a favourite among users seeking a more personal connection with AI technology. Conclusion Different platforms cater to a variety of user preferences, ranging from unrestricted NSFW conversations and personalised character creation to emotional support. Their fundamental goal is to create a secure and welcoming environment where users are free to explore their desires and imaginations. Each platform has its unique advantages and disadvantages, making it crucial to select one that aligns with your personal preferences and comfort level. It's crucial to remember that while these platforms act as a stage for unimpeded expression, they ought to be used in a conscientious and moral manner. Conformity to the terms of service and community norms of the selected platform is non-negotiable. Bypassing Character AI NSFW filters should be done in accordance with these rules, and only to promote open and respectful discourse. Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is an alternative to Character AI for NSFW content? A: Muah AI is an alternative for those seeking a platform that permits NSFW content. This platform offers diverse features and enables interactions that might be restricted on Character AI due to its NSFW limitations. Q: How do you bypass the NSFW filter on Character AI? A: Bypassing NSFW filters on Character AI or other platforms is not advisable and can lead to serious consequences, like account suspension. Users should consider alternatives like Muah AI, which doesn't have an NSFW filter, for more open interactions, while ensuring responsible and ethical use. Q: Is it legal to use NSFW AI chat platforms? A: Yes. Utilizing these platforms is legal as long as you comply with their terms of service and community guidelines. These regulations are designed to foster a safe and respectful environment. Misusing these platforms for harassment, bullying, or illegal activities is strictly prohibited and may have legal repercussions. Q: How does Muah AI ensure user privacy and data security? A: Muah AI employs advanced security measures to protect user data and ensure privacy. This includes encryption of conversations and adherence to stringent data protection regulations. The platform is committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of its users' information. Q: Can I report inappropriate behaviour on Muah AI? A: Absolutely. Muah AI provides mechanisms for users to report any inappropriate behavior or content. This is part of the platform's commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment. Reports are taken seriously and investigated promptly to ensure community guidelines are upheld. Q: Can I develop emotional connections with AI characters on Muah AI? A: Yes, Muah AI allows users to develop emotional connections with AI characters. These interactions are designed to be immersive and engaging, offering a unique experience. However, it’s important to maintain a healthy perspective and understand the nature of AI interactions. Business Contact Information: Muah AI +1 626-677-6013 Company Website: https://muah.ai Company email: love@muah.ai Contact Details Muah AI Harvard Han +1 626-677-6013 love@muah.ai Company Website https://muah.ai/

December 15, 2023 05:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

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PathAI Introduces TumorDetect, an AI Solution to Automate Tumor Assessment and Case Prioritization for Anatomic Pathology Laboratories

PathAI

PathAI, a global leader in AI-powered pathology, today announced TumorDetect on AISight™, PathAI’s digital pathology image management system. TumorDetect is an AI-powered feature of AISight which automates the assessment and quantification of tumor across diverse tissue types. This product transforms pathology workflows by enabling case prioritization based on tumor content, helping pathologists to expedite case review, accelerate ordering of additional tests, and improving overall case turnaround time. As cancer incidence and corresponding cancer biopsy volumes continue to rise year-over-year, TumorDetect is designed to ensure that pathologists’ focus is guided to cases with highest likelihood of cancer with the goal of more rapid confirmation of tumor presence (for example, through downstream IHC assessment). In addition to identifying cases and slides likely to contain tumor, the product generates overlay visualizations and slide-level quantifications to facilitate pathologist review. PathAI will be expanding this pilot across its network of 50+ laboratory and early access partners across diverse tumor types globally. "Pathologists are facing increasing demands for faster case turnaround time, against a backdrop of increasing workload. TumorDetect is a game-changer in the field of pathology, empowering pathologists to efficiently prioritize cases based on tumor content," said Andy Beck, MD, PhD, Cofounder & CEO, PathAI. "Our AI-powered solution is designed to expedite the case review process but also facilitates faster turnaround times for labs." “AI-enabled assist tools such as TumorDetect can help pathologists perform important daily tasks – tumor detection and cellularity assessment, which are crucial for biomarker testing and precision medicine,” said Marilyn Bui, MD, PhD, Senior Member in the Departments of Pathology and Machine Learning at Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. “I am excited about the potential for AI-assisted tumor assessment to augment pathologists’ effectiveness in delivering quality results and streamlining pathology workflows.” TumorDetect’s assessment and prioritization criteria are customizable, allowing pathologists to set personalized tumor content thresholds in line with their unique preferences and requirements. In addition to tumor cell quantification, TumorDetect also generates overlay visualizations highlighting hotspots of possible tumor on whole slide images (WSI). TumorDetect was developed on a dataset comprised of over 100,000 WSIs with over 6 million hand-drawn annotations from expert board-certified subspecialist pathologists, capturing the diversity of ways in which cancers appear in pathology WSIs. This feature, delivered through AISight, significantly aids pathologists during hotspot reviews, allowing for a more focused and targeted analysis of potentially cancerous regions. This announcement follows the launch of several AI algorithm products including AIM-PD-L1™ and AIM-HER2™ for reproducible biomarker and disease severity assessment, ArtifactDetect™ for automated quality control, and AIM-TumorCellularity™ (AIM-TC) for whole-slide level assessment of tumor cellularity. PathAI’s comprehensive suite of eight AI product offerings is designed to power pathologist decision making while optimizing laboratory efficiency. To learn more about AISight, PathAI’s image management system, or TumorDetect and its capabilities, please contact digitaldx@pathai.com About PathAI PathAI is the only AI-focused technology company to provide comprehensive precision pathology solutions from wet lab services to algorithm deployment for clinical trials and laboratory use. Rigorously trained and validated with data from more than 15 million annotations, its AI-powered models can be leveraged to optimize the analysis of pathology samples to improve efficiency and accuracy of pathology interpretation, as well as to better gauge therapeutic efficacy and accelerate drug development for complex diseases. About AISight AISight, introduced earlier this year by PathAI, is a comprehensive digital pathology image management system, currently offered for Research Use Only. AISight provides best-in-class image and case management, ingestion, and viewing while seamlessly enabling access and deployment of AI applications. AISight can also be integrated bidirectionally with laboratory information systems for streamlined workflow adoption. Anatomic pathology laboratories of all sizes and specialties – including health systems, reference laboratories, independent pathology labs, and academic medical centers – may utilize AISight. TumorDetect, AISight, AIM-PD-L1, AIM-HER2, ArtifactDetect, and AIM-TumorCellularity are For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Contact Details SVM Public Relations and Marketing Communications Maggie Naples +1 401-490-9700 pathai@svmpr.com Company Website https://www.pathai.com/

December 14, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Haystack Introduces Solution to End Chronic Software Delays Worrying 89% of US Business Leaders

Haystack

Research has found that 70% of software projects fail to be delivered on-time, despite 83% of software engineers rating the importance of on-time completion as high or very high*. Haystack today announces the launch of its Software Delivery Ops Platform, to help deliver high-quality software, on-time. New research has also found the vast majority of business leaders consider on-time delivery of software as essential, but are concerned about it at work. Research conducted by Dr Junade Ali CEng FIET and J.L. Partners on behalf of Haystack has also found that 77% of business decision-makers in the UK and 90% in the USA report on-time delivery as the main way they measure the performance of software engineering teams. Despite this, 81% of business decision-makers in the UK and 89% in the USA are concerned about the on-time delivery of software projects in their organisations**. Through analysing millions of data points, Haystack has identified the most critical risks impacting on-time delivery. This allows any software team to identify early signs of delay before they impact on-time delivery. Julian Colina, CEO of Haystack commented: “Most software projects miss their deadlines, stalling growth and eroding trust. Haystack tackles this widespread issue. Our Software Delivery Ops platform transforms data into decisive actions, turning the tide on the 70% project delay rate. With Haystack, teams consistently meet deadlines, fuel business success, and redefine the standards of software delivery.” Haystack ’s Software Delivery Ops Platform provides a suite of tools designed to keep software delivery on-track. Haystack identifies early warning signs of delay at any point in the delivery process while alerting teams to risks or bottlenecks that appear along the way. Despite on-time delivery being so important, recent industry solutions have focussed on using surveys to measure developer experience and “productivity”. However, November 2023 research by Dr Junade Ali CEng FIET has found a variety of failures in such approaches. Quarterly surveys are not only too slow to address early signs of delay but research indicates software engineers are concerned to voice their true opinions and research shows “those with the lowest programming skill” are most likely to be most over-optimistic at evaluating software delivery performance in large projects. 1 Instead, Haystack ’s Software Delivery Ops platform integrates directly into developer tools like Git and Jira - highlighting signs of delay in real-time without needing to wait for the results of time-consuming surveys and without the biases that subjective surveys suffer from. Kan Yilmaz, CTO of Haystack added: “Haystack is transforming the way software is delivered. We use powerful insights to shatter the chronic cycle of delayed software delivery. Our platform is not just a product, it's a manifesto for change, ensuring engineering teams can commit with confidence and deliver with dignity. It's time we change the narrative from why projects are late to how they're launched successfully - on time, every time.” * Research summarised in a letter by Dr Junade Ali CEng FIET, “ R.e. Predictability in Software Engineering ”. ** Research of 500 US and UK business decision makers conducted by J.L. Partners, commissioned by Dr Junade Ali CEng FIET for Haystack. Fieldwork was conducted from 28 th to 29 th November 2023. J.L. Partners is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Research reported in a letter by Dr Junade Ali CEng FIET, “ R.e. Predictability in Software Engineering ”. About Haystack Haystack, the world’s first Software Delivery Ops Platform, helps software teams deliver high-quality software, on-time. Haystack was founded in 2020 by Julian Colina and Kan Yilmaz and helps to identify early signs of delay in software teams. Haystack is backed by Founders Club, Y Combinator, Soma Capital, Entrepreneur First and investors Dan Siroker and Blaine Vess. To explore Haystack, please visit: www.usehaystack.io Contact Details Haystack Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.usehaystack.io/

December 14, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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RESO Announces 2024 Board of Directors Election Winners

RESO

The results of the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) 2024 Board of Directors election have been announced for nine open seats, director appointments and the board’s Executive Committee for the next year. “The real estate industry is constantly changing and growing, and we need strong leaders to help navigate the wealth of technology at our disposal,” said Rebecca Jensen, President and CEO of Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), who was re-elected as a director and chosen to return as 2024 Chair of the RESO board. “RESO's membership elects an amazing group each year, and I am honored to be given the opportunity to continue to help create and enhance standards for an increasingly global housing market.” Election winners representing Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) and REALTOR® associations: Katy Davenport, Director of Product Management, First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) Shayne Fairley, COO, Stellar MLS (Incumbent) Rebecca Jensen, CEO, Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) (Incumbent) Melissa King, COO, OneKey® MLS Winners of open board seats representing technology companies, developers, partners and consultants: Kristen Carr, VP of Strategic Integrations, Realtors Property Resource (RPR) Matt Cohen, Principal, Advisory Services, CoreLogic (Incumbent) Bob Evans, SVP Industry Relations, Move (Incumbent) Joseph Szurgyi, CEO, MLS Grid Michael Wurzer, President and CEO, FBS (Incumbent) The following at-large appointments were made by the board: Matt Hendricks, Senior Director, Broker Operations, Zillow Thomas Morgan, Chief Data Officer, Bright MLS Ross Buck, CEO, Omni MLS (Advisor) The following board members will continue in their leadership positions on the Executive Committee through 2024: Chair: Rebecca Jensen, President and CEO, MRED Vice-Chair: Michael Wurzer, President and CEO, FBS Secretary: John Breault, VP, MLS, State-Wide MLS Treasurer: Richard Renton, CEO, Triad MLS Closing out their terms this year are Mark Lesswing from Lesswing, Marty Reed from California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS), Vandana Vohra from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and Jeff Young from RPR. The following RESO board members will continue to serve their terms in 2024: Dave Conroy, Director of Emerging Technology, National Association of REALTORS® Alex Lange, Head of Strategy and Innovation, National Association of REALTORS® Caitlin McCrory, VP, Industry Relations, Anywhere Greg Moore, CTO, Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) Patrick Pichette, VP, REALTOR.ca, Strategic Business and Innovation at The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) Dan Troup, Director of Data Operations & Strategy, RE/MAX Shaun York, Executive Director of Technology, Homes.com “As a former broker, I’ve seen the vast improvements that our industry’s professionals and consumers experience through standards-driven technology,” said Sam DeBord, CEO of RESO. “Working alongside this group of the industry’s most brilliant technologists and business leaders to accelerate these efficiencies for our real estate marketplaces is a privilege.” ### RESO provides the foundation for streamlined real estate technology through the creation and certification of standards. Our member organizations include MLSs, brokerages, REALTOR® associations and technology partners serving more than one million real estate professionals. | reso.org RESO was incorporated in November 2011 as an independent, not-for-profit trade organization. Contact Details Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) Greg Sax +1 612-860-2668 gsax@reso.org Company Website https://www.reso.org/

December 14, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Stairs Financial raises $3.5M to help next generation of home buyers make moves

Stairs Financial

The number of first time home buyers in the US is shrinking and is at an all-time low. They accounted for just 26% of all home purchases last year, the lowest level in 41 years. Helping these first time home buyers achieve their American Dream, mortgage marketplace Stairs Financial has launched today with a $3.5M funding round. The seed funding round was led by Zigg Capital with participation from Y Combinator, its initial investor Antler, Exceptional Capital and others. This investment will empower Stairs to help millions of young Americans defy economic headwinds like interest rates and high prices to become homeowners. Stair Financial was founded by Malcolm-Wiley Floyd and Scott Fritz, who met as roommates at Harvard. The mortgage marketplace helps connect first time buyers with local lenders as well as detailed down payment assistance. Stairs’ free mortgage comparison product is powered by their database of home buyer programs and mortgage products. It leverages automation and computer vision technology to track changes to assistance programs, like fluctuating rates, updated eligibility requirements, and new program launches. Stairs also provides first time buyers with a growing library of resources and guides to take the uncertainty and unexpected challenges out of buying a home. In addition to their Home Buying Guide, which holds first time buyers’ hands through the basics of interest rates, credit and more, Stairs has also built a specific guide to down payment assistance, focused on how it works and how it can help buyers buy homes with less savings than their parents had. Stairs is now live in Texas with licenses across 40 states. They plan to expand nationwide in early 2024. Stairs is hosting home buyer events in Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, in collaboration with local real estate experts. Malcolm-Wiley Floyd, CEO and co-founder of Stairs Financial commented: “High interest rates, low inventory and high prices have combined to make it really hard for young Americans to buy homes. Our generation has had to deal with two recessions and a global pandemic during our peak earning and home buying years. Many young Americans won’t be able to afford to buy a home with a conventional 20% down mortgage.” “Thousands of down payment assistance and credit programs have sprung up to help first-time homebuyers overcome the challenges, but these home buying options are hard for home buyers to find and evaluate. Furthermore, home buyers have to find a lender who can underwrite the specific loan program they want to apply for. Stairs helps home buyers find the right mortgage for them, with lower down payments, grants, and flexible underwriting.” Ryan Orley, Managing Partner at Zigg Capital added: "Zigg has studied a number of approaches to expand home affordability. The concept of leveraging technology to navigate the complicated system of incentive programs available to eligible homebuyers is particularly impactful and aligned. We are proud to partner with Malcolm-Wiley and Scott Fritz - they are talented entrepreneurs who deeply understand the problem they are solving at Stairs Financial." Stairs is also committed to addressing the systemic racial injustice in home buying. Black homeownership, at 43.4%, remains lower than it was a decade ago. And it is nearly 30 percentage points behind the White homeownership rate of 72.1%. Meanwhile, the Hispanic homeownership rate is at an all-time high, reaching over 50% for the first time, and the Asian homeownership rate is 61.7%. “The Black-White homeownership gap is larger today than it was ten years ago. As banks and lenders create new programs to address this gap, Stairs plans to incorporate them into their platform and help educate homebuyers on their advantages. As a Black founder, it is important to me that our work at Stairs improves equity and access to home ownership for traditionally disadvantaged communities,” added Malcolm-Wiley Floyd. Ryan Sommerville, General Partner at Antler commented: "Malcolm-Wiley embodies an unwavering commitment to tackling society's real challenges, navigating through the toughest solutions with unyielding focus and an indomitable work ethic. Stairs Financial stands as a testament to his dedication, making it one of my most fulfilling investments to date. We’re incredibly proud to be the first investor in Stairs and looking forward to continuing to back Malcolm-Wiley and the top tier team he’s built.” About Zigg Capital Zigg Capital is a venture capital firm based in New York City that invests globally in technology companies touching the real estate, construction, and retail industries. Over the past decade, Zigg's partners have made early-stage investments in leading companies such as Procore, Matterport, OpenSpace, VTS, Kasa, and Tend. For more information, please visit www.ziggcap.com About Antler Antler is the investor backing the world’s most driven founders, from day zero to greatness. Founded on the belief that people innovating is the key to building a better future, we partner with people across six continents to launch and scale high-potential startups that address meaningful opportunities and challenges. Knowing that exceptional founders can come from anywhere with any background, we have offices in 27 cities, including Austin, New York, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Bangalore, Jakarta, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and Sydney. Our global community backs people from the beginning with co-founder matching, deep business model validation, initial capital, expansion support, and follow-on funding. Fueled by a personal passion that goes beyond traditional investing, we have helped create and invested in more than 900 startups across a wide range of industries and technologies, with the goal of backing more than 6,000 by 2030. About Exceptional Capital Exceptional Capital is a pre-seed and seed-stage venture firm.. We focus on being the first investor for B2B software startups. We invest in the US and Latin America, partnering with the most exceptional entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, bringing a strong combination of qualitative and quantitative skills. Contact Details Stairs Financial Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://stairsfinancial.com/

December 14, 2023 10:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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