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VINCUE Secures Series B Funding to Scale and Advance Innovative Technology

DealerCue Automotive Corp.

For Immediate Release – DealerCue Automotive Corp. (“VINCUE”), maker of VINCUE, the revolutionary end-to-end inventory lifecycle solution for retail automotive dealerships, today announced the completion of its Series B investment round led by Holman, a global automotive services organization, and followed by Autotech Ventures (“Autotech”) and Automotive Ventures, a pair of venture capital firms with portfolios spanning automotive, transportation, and technology. The investments are the first major institutional investments for VINCUE and enables the company to scale operations, advance its product roadmap, and meet increasing market demand. “Holman is a remarkable organization with an unsurpassed collection of automotive competencies and is held in extremely high regard across the entire industry. We’re thrilled Holman believes in the significant potential of our technology and is at the forefront of this investment in our company,” said Chris Hoke, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technology Officer of VINCUE. “Holman is an innovator in our industry and the organization’s forward-thinking mindset along with its strategic capital investment will help to fuel our company’s continued growth.” Holman delivers a unique range of automotive-centric services and operates one of the largest privately owned dealership groups in the United States with more than 30 franchise dealerships across eight states from coast-to-coast. Danny Zaslavsky, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of VINCUE says that the collaboration started as a simple customer/vendor relationship, but both companies realized there were a number of natural synergies. “As Holman piloted our platform in several of their dealership locations, it quickly became apparent that our technology would help them further optimize operations while also enhancing our own capabilities,” said Zaslavsky, “we’re proud that Holman shares our vision for the future of automotive retailing and we’re honored they’ve invested in our innovative inventory management solution.” Through its unified platform, VINCUE offers a comprehensive suite of solutions and capabilities to manage every step of the inventory lifecycle including buying plans, multi-channel acquisition sourcing, market pricing and appraisal, merchandising and syndication, and digital marketing. The goal of a unified platform is to help dealers unlock prevailing strategies that increase gross and turn through providing real-time market and competitor data to make better buying and merchandising decisions - and outperform the market. "The mission of our growth ventures team is to align with early-stage businesses who are driving innovation in the industry and complement Holman’s collective automotive competencies. VINCUE certainly fits that profile and we’re excited to invest in their next phase of growth,” said Bill Cariss, President and CEO, Growth Ventures, Holman. “The VINCUE team is extremely talented and continues to think differently about inventory lifecycle management. Their intuitive platform is poised to disrupt the status quo of the retail automotive sector and offers dealerships a solution that empowers insightful decision making.” As part of its investment in VINCUE, Holman is also poised to integrate the technology at additional locations across its family of dealerships. By leveraging VINCUE's platform, Holman is able to further enhance its market intelligence to introduce new operational processes and procedures that it hopes will set the standard for the future of automotive retailing. “Through our initial use of VINCUE’s technology, we believe it provides the data intelligence and tools necessary to make impactful decisions, measure success, and ultimately, outperform the rest of the market in real-time,” says Chris Morgan, Vice President, Retail Operations, Holman. Following Holman, both Autotech and Automotive Ventures will also be providing capital as part of the Series B investment. Autotech Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm with more than $500M under management and a mission to solve the world’s ground transport challenges with technology. Its investment team includes: Quin Garcia, Managing Director; Alexei Andreev, Managing Director; Maurice Gunderson, Managing Director Emeritus; Burak Cendek, Partner; Daniel Hoffer, Venture Partner; Tony Rimas, Venture Partner; and Esat Canli, Analyst. "Automotive as a whole has largely been left out of the digital transformation happening in other retail industries, often relying on lagging indicators for buying and selling decisions from legacy software tools built decades ago.” said Rimas. “VINCUE offers modern solutions built on real-time data and intelligence to help dealers outperform the market instead of race to the bottom of it.” Led by Steve Greenfield, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Ventures promotes itself as funding the next wave of innovation in transportation technology. Its leadership team includes: Justin Charbonneau, Venture Principal; Andrew Gordon, Head of Value Creation; Adam Lafferty, VP of Operations; Brian Reed, Operating Partner; and industry veteran Chip Perry, Operating Partner. “VINCUE fits our mission perfectly,” says Greenfield, “they are looking into the future of technology and automotive and building solutions for today and beyond.” Greenfield says their decision to invest was as much about product as it was about the vision. “We know the industry and the market is changing, VINCUE is doing something about it,” he said. “We have a team here in Kansas City that truly believes in our vision, our mission, and most importantly the success of the entire dealer body,” said Hoke. “To have these institutions, true industry leaders, share our vision and put their belief in us is humbling.” Hoke says that VINCUE’s top priorities are now growing its Performance Management and Development teams, and investing in operational improvements that will allow them to get more done, faster. “We have the benefit now of dealerships seeking us out in the industry, wanting to understand how we can help them win,” he said, “so right now it’s about how we scale, grow, and meet their expectations.” # # # About VINCUE VINCUE is transforming the retail automotive software industry by providing dealers with new, innovative end-to-end inventory lifecycle management and market pricing solutions. This gives dealers access to real-time data and tools in a single system to stock smarter, increase turn, compete effectively, and above all else â maximize profits. For additional information, please visit www.VINCUE.com. Contact Details Angela Rizzo +1 913-200-3301 angelarizzo@dealercue.com Company Website https://vincue.com/

August 15, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Trust & Will Named One of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000 List

Trust & Will

Trust & Will, the leading digital estate planning and settlement platform, proudly announces its placement as No. 363 on the 2023 Inc. 5000 list. This recognition by Inc. reaffirms Trust & Will's position as one of America's fastest-growing private companies. This is the first time Trust & Will is included in the Inc. 500 list, ranked as No. 21 in Financial Services and No. 59 in California. “We’ve always strived to be a high-growth company while continuing to commit to a best-in-class culture. Being named as an Inc. 500 company proves that it’s not a balance of both, but a commitment to both,” said Cody Barbo, Founder & CEO of Trust & Will. “This ranking is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of our team to revolutionize an antiquated industry and make estate planning accessible and affordable for everyone. This recognition further validates our mission to help families leave a legacy.” Trust & Will offers legally-valid and state-specific estate planning documents, including wills and trusts, that can be customized for an individual’s needs. In addition, the company launched Trust & Will Probate, which streamlines the often expensive and time-consuming process of settling a loved one’s estate. The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. Among this year’s top 500 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate ticked up an astonishing 2,238 percent. This year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 1,187,266 jobs to the economy over the past three years. Notable household names like Facebook, Chobani, and Microsoft have previously debuted on the Inc. 5000, gaining national prominence through this recognition. For complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, location, and other criteria, go to www.inc.com/inc5000. Methodology Companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2019 to 2022. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2022. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2019 is $100,000; the minimum for 2022 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. ABOUT TRUST & WILL Trust & Will is simplifying estate planning and settlement with attorney-approved, legally valid documents and processes designed to adhere to individual state guidelines. Since 2017, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of Trust & Will members leave their legacy with an affordable way to create an estate plan or settle the estate of a loved one. Our platform uses bank-level encryption that protects customer data and complies with the highest security standards, including SOC 2 and HIPAA. Trust & Will is the official estate planning benefit provider for AARP members, along with several leading financial institutions, who all believe in our mission of helping every family leave their legacy. Contact Details Danielle Nuzzo +1 631-807-7772 danielle@trustandwill.com Company Website https://trustandwill.com

August 15, 2023 07:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Dino the Diamond to Debut as the First of Three NFT Series from the Diamond City

Dino the Diamond

SOCH business mentors LLP is a company in India that helps family businesses. The latest news is that they have a new project called Dino the Diamond (DTD). This exciting venture is part of a three-series NFT collection that aims to change this industry. This project aims to create a presence in the blockchain for real diamond manufacturers to bring their products to Web3. This new NFT series will begin with the character Dino, crafted from the imagination of this young girl. Each piece of this collection will feature different diamond heads. Overall, the project aims to represent the essence of Surat's Diamond City. A Project Coming Directly from the Diamond City The young daughter of the project's founder has a strong passion for storytelling. This particular talent led to the creation of Dino the Diamond. Inspired by her short story titled "What if I Met an Alien?" the project relies on the idea that love and friendship have the power to transcend all boundaries. This ideology served as the foundation for the entire Dino The Diamond series. The story centers around Dino the Diamond, a character created by the founder’s daughter. This project exemplifies how one innocent idea can lead to something bigger and more meaningful. The idea behind this project is based on this story and the unique environment of Surat's diamond industry. Surat, also known as "Diamond City," is the right place for Dino The Diamond to take place. Surat's diamond business is worth more than $38 billion a year and cuts and polishes more than 95% of all diamonds cut and polished around the world. Surat has a booming diamond business that makes people's lives better. The Project's Declared Goals Dino The Diamond is a project with a purpose. It wants to make a digital world where people can show love and kindness to everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from. Dino The Diamond will facilitate direct connections between NFT holders and diamond manufacturers. The strategy intends to bring diamonds into the web3 world, positively impacting the diamond industry. Dino The Diamond wants people to think of diamonds as symbols of love and something that never gets old. The team's whitepaper clarifies multiple goals for this new project, such as: Engagement and Inclusiveness: creating a community that is highly engaged and supportive Innovative NFT Projects: providing a shared ecosystem for innovative NFT projects Successful NFT Projects: delivering successful NFT projects with great creativity and utility Empowerment of Newcomers: supporting and empowering those new to NFTs Becoming an Icon: becoming a kids/pop culture icon and brand in the digital world The emotion of Friendship: all Dino emotions are unique expressions of friendship, meeting love, and kindness Prosperity, Meaning, and Love: making all owners part of an unending journey of prosperity, meaning, and love. Additionally, it is relevant to understand this team's business view and value proposition. With $1.2 million invested in the development of Dino The Diamond, this project is a significant one for the industry. In terms of business value proposition, NFT holders can enjoy exclusive privileges. Connections to diamond producers and access to upcoming collections are among these benefits. Holders will also receive creative and commercial rights associated with their Dino. Moreover, this project works towards reducing carbon emissions by up to 92%, thus supporting ESG targets. The First Part of a New NFT Initiative Dino The Diamond uses advanced technology to create near-real Dino heads with unique diamond patterns. Diamond-cutting and polishing masters created these works of art. DTD has a lot of cool features. There are over 160 to 180 hand-drawn characters inspired by popular culture and 50 special Dino. dinosaurs. By offering this wide variety of distinct characters, there is something for everyone in the collection. The team at DTD is committed to creating something truly special by combining art and technology. An Innovative Focus on NFT Utility In terms of NFT utility, the team mentioned the following use cases: Connecting holders to diamond manufacturers in Surat, India - the "Diamond City" Offering creative and commercial rights for each NFT Granting access to the upcoming projects launching in the DTD ecosystem Inviting holders to exclusive events A staking system granting holders the chance to lock up NFTs and obtain privileges and rewards Membership benefits with entry into private forums and priority consideration for limited editions. The team chose 12 different diamond shapes like cushion, radiant, princess, and others to make their NFTs stand out. These features help to bring the collection of Dino The Diamonds to life and provide their holders with unique experiences. About Dino the Diamond Dino The Diamond is an NFT project that combines the enduring symbol of love with dazzling diamonds. It originated from SOCH Business Mentors LLP, a company based in Surat, India. The city is extremely famous for its ethical diamond manufacture. Dinos are special gifts that give access to exclusive things like new collections, special events, and other cool stuff. Additionally, it also includes all commercial and creative rights of Dino. This initiative represents a chance to buy real diamonds directly from one of the top 10 manufacturers in the world. The merge of luxury and Web3 intends to appeal to a large group of investors. The project will launch soon, and its unique NFTs will become available to the public. Anyone wishing to keep up to speed with the latest news can follow their official social media accounts below. Twitter | Discord Contact Details Chetan Raisa dtd.theonepercent@gmail.com

August 15, 2023 01:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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A Leap in Ionization Prediction: ACD/Labs Unveils Groundbreaking Version of Modeling Software at ACS Fall 2023

ACD/Labs

Version 2023 of the Classic pK a calculator in Percepta® includes a significantly expanded training set for improved prediction accuracy, broader chemical applicability; and algorithmic changes that deliver impressive speed enhancements to this industry-leading software. 26 years after the release of their first ionization predictor, ACD/Labs, an informatics company that develops and commercializes software in support of R&D, today announces the release of their latest version of molecular property calculators on the Percepta Platform. Andrew Anderson, Vice President of Innovation and Informatics Strategy at ACD/Labs says, “Metaphorically speaking, data is the 'heartbeat' of chemistry R&D, generated during either physical experimentation or in silico calculation. In an age where research groups are looking to harness the power of data in artificial intelligence and machine learning frameworks, prediction reliability is one of the most important success determinants. Our new version of Percepta pK a exemplifies our commitment to enabling reliable, data-driven R&D. Many molecules under investigation in R&D labs are susceptible to ionization. Knowing 'when and where' is of paramount importance since the same chemical might behave differently under different conditions. Reliable and accurate predictions not only help computational scientists develop accurate SAR models; these predictions also help scientists account for the ionization properties of molecules during their 'design, make, test' cycles. Finally, accurate descriptor prediction will empower data scientists with reliable insights for the 'next crop' of ground-breaking innovation activity. We're proud to support our large user community with this important new release.” Ionization—frequently expressed as the acid dissociation constant for molecules with ionizable centers, or pK a —is a fundamental property that affects the behavior of chemical compounds in environmental, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and other fields. It plays a crucial role in defining other properties like lipophilicity (log D ), aqueous solubility, toxicity (hERG), and helps with understanding the chemical reactivity of molecular entities. In biopharma, it is used to model more complex ADME behaviors such as absorption, bioavailability, and clearance, and to develop delivery systems and formulations for new drug entities. pK a values are used by researchers to understand and modulate the behavior of molecules in biological and environmental systems, and to successfully apply separation technology such as chromatography. Furthermore, predictive software is an integral part of green chemistry initiatives and sustainable practices, providing a reliable alternative to physical experiments. “This new release is a shining example of our continued commitment to excellence,” said Andrius Sazonovas, Head of Percepta Software Development at ACD/Labs. “Since the introduction of our first ionization predictor in 1997; my colleagues and I have overseen the improvements to our computational software and have worked on numerous customer projects to apply our modeling methodology to proprietary datasets at innovative chemistry-driven organizations. In our tests of Percepta version 2023, we saw a 5–10 fold increase in the speed of calculation of pK a for various datasets. Significant improvement was also observed for prediction accuracy. While this varies for different datasets, 120% improvement was noted for a set of ~370 novel pharmaceutical compounds with ~600 pK a values in a recent collaborative project. This release truly represents the next generation of pK a prediction from ACD/Labs, with respect to performance, reliability, and speed.” For more information about in silico predictions available from ACD/Labs, meet our team at Booth 933 in the ACS exhibition hall or visit acdlabs.com/percepta. ACD/Labs is a leading provider of scientific software for R&D. We help customers in >94 countries around the world assemble digitized analytical, structural, and molecular information for effective decision-making, problem solving, and product lifecycle control. Our enterprise technologies enable automation of molecular characterization and facilitate chemically intelligent knowledge management. ACD/Labs provides worldwide sales and support and brings decades of experience and success helping organizations innovate and create efficiencies in their workflows. For more information, please visit www.acdlabs.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact Details ACD/Labs Sanji Bhal +1 416-368-3435 media@acdlabs.com Racepoint Global Allison Matthews +1 617-624-3248 amatthews@racepointglobal.com Company Website https://www.acdlabs.com/

August 14, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

RPC nodes and Solo Staking on GCP: Launchnodes Releases Pre-synced Beacon Node with Geth

Launchnodes

Launchnodes announces the launch of a Pre-synced Beacon Node with Geth for Solo staking ETH and for running RPC nodes. The company’s latest solo staking product goes live shortly after the rollout of its highly sought-after Teku validator node on AWS, which sets out to further improve decentralisation of the Ethereum network. Using Launchnodes’ Pre-synced Beacon Node with Geth is an efficient solo staking method that offers higher levels of security, reliability, and affordability when it comes to running independent solo staking infrastructures at scale with multiple validator nodes. Developers can use this product to run RPC nodes to natively access data on the Ethereum network and to power dApp solutions. Execution layer nodes can take 1-2 days to sync and Beacon nodes 4-5 days. Launchnodes’ product brings this down to 3-5hrs. Pre-synced Beacon Node on GCP Now, users can opt for the Pre-Synced Beacon node with Geth to connect to the Ethereum beacon chain more quickly, eliminating long wait times and boosting flexibility of their operations. Running a beacon node on your own infrastructure plane in GCP or AWS without Launchnodes can take 4-5 days to synchronise, whilst Geth nodes can take 1-2 days. Pre-synced Beacon Node with Geth for Solo Staking reduces the sync time to 3-5 hours. The Pre-synced Beacon Node with Geth for Solo Staking is now available on the Launchnodes’ GCP Marketplace at a low hourly cost, allowing you to solo-stake Ethereum using your GCP infrastructure and cloud plane, leveraging all of the tooling of Google Cloud Platform. Solo Staking and RPC gateways Solo Staking is the foundational method to earn rewards on ETH holdings. It involves locking up 32 ETH as collateral and running Validator client software like Teku or Prysm on the infrastructure you own. The validator node does the work of processing network transactions and securing the network. For doing this work the Ethereum network pays the validator node. The net effect is that a validator node represents a fixed pool of capital earning a return in perpetuity for supporting a growing network, Ethereum. This financial outcome is akin to operating a fixed-deposit account at a traditional financial institution. Pre-synced Beacon and Geth nodes can also be used as a Remote Procedure Call (RPC) node. Ethereum RPC nodes act as a gateway between applications (like wallets, dApps, or other services) and the Ethereum blockchain itself, enabling these apps to read from and write to the network. Use cases for RPC nodes include but are not limited to network propagation, submitting transactions, reading blockchain data and interacting with deployed smart contracts. Unlike using third-party-provided validator nodes with no clarity on how much of your execution and consensus earnings you keep, solo staking involves active participation in the validation process required to reach network consensus. Outside of public cloud infrastructure, users must own and maintain the hardware required to run the EL and CL clients, and have valid signing keys before they can verify transactions or propose blocks. Launchnodes’ Pre-synced Beacon Node with Geth for Solo Staking on Google Cloud, eliminates the need to purchase and maintain hardware by allowing users to pay a fee to run both layers remotely while retaining all of the benefits of solo staking or having your own RPC nodes. Benefits of Pre-synced Beacon Node with Geth: Full control over infrastructure, keys, secrets or assets through GCP account Always-on staking eliminates the risk of missing a transaction because of downtime Launchnodes charges zero commission, letting users earn maximum execution and consensus layer rewards Solo staking boosts the safety, reliability, and decentralisation of the Ethereum network Easy setup process with access to expert setup support The Pre-synced Beacon Node with Geth is the best option for solo staking and native connection to the Ethereum blockchain for both experienced and inexperienced users who are looking to run a scalable infrastructure. It allows anyone to keep 100% of their solo staking returns and allows faster syncing without taking on the additional costs of paying for hardware upfront and maintaining it. What is a Geth Node? Geth is the execution layer (EL) client for Ethereum. It is one of the most extensively used clients and has a highly knowledgeable developer community that can help with any issue that can’t be resolved through excellent documentation. Anyone wanting to stake ETH on any consensus layer client must also operate an execution layer client, which is where Geth comes in. Launchnodes’ listed validator, beacon and geth nodes on AWS and GCP offer an incredibly adaptive and more straightforward alternative to owning and maintaining the hardware required to run the execution layer (EL) client and consensus layer (CL) client. These two layers are what allow companies and individuals to solo stake ETH on Ethereum’s proof of stake beacon chain. Pre-synced Geth nodes simplify the process of solo staking on the beacon chain using any of the available CL clients. Paired with a Pre-Synced Beacon node, the bundle serves as an integral part of a fully independent, enterprise-grade solo staking architecture. Same bundle can be used as an RPC node, giving direct access to blockchain data to dApps and multiple use case scenarios. About Launchnodes Launchnodes was founded in 2020 to provide non-custodial, enterprise-grade Ethereum staking services on AWS, Azure, GCP, and clients’ bare metal hardware. The company’s products and services act as an orchestration layer, bringing Ethereum staking to the masses through a ‘Lego brick’ approach. Launchnodes customers have access to a variety of staking options that allow them to build dedicated and custom Ethereum staking solutions via fully managed or self-managed service and level 3 technical support. The company is also a Lido and SSV verified node operator. Website Twiiter LinkedIn Discord Contact Details Launchnodes lTD Peter Patsalides support@launchnodes.com Company Website https://www.launchnodes.com/

August 14, 2023 11:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Can AI Play Nice With M&A?

Benchmark International

Everyone seems to be talking about artificial intelligence (AI) these days, whether the context is positive or negative. But what about AI’s role in the financial space and the world of M&A? According to Forbes, 65% of senior financial management believe that there will be positive impacts from the use of AI in financial services. But how is the technology actually changing the game? Below is one of the insightful articles from the latest edition of The Mark publication. Explore more trending M&A topics in the latest issue of The Mark CAN AI PLAY NICE WITH M&A? Author: Matthew Kekelis, Senior Transaction Director, Benchmark International In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been transforming various industries by automating processes, improving decision-making, and enhancing efficiency. The mergers and acquisitions (M&A) industry is no exception, as AI is beginning to play a significant role in the deal-making process. The M&A industry is a multi-trillion-dollar industry that involves the buying and selling of companies. It is a complex and time-consuming process that requires a great deal of expertise and resources. AI has the potential to revolutionize the M&A industry by automating tasks, improving decision-making, and reducing costs. Here are some of the ways that AI can be used in the M&A industry: Sourcing and evaluating potential acquisition targets: AI can be used to analyze vast amounts of data to identify potential acquisition targets. AI can also be used to evaluate the financial performance and future growth prospects of potential targets. Due diligence: AI can be used to automate tasks such as document review, flagging potential risks, and highlighting relevant information. This can help to streamline the due diligence process and reduce costs. Post-merger integration: AI can be used to automate tasks such as integrating the operations, culture, and systems of the two companies. This can help to facilitate the integration process and reduce costs. In addition to these benefits, AI can also help to: Increase speed and efficiency: AI can automate many of the manual tasks involved in the M&A process, such as data analysis, document review, and due diligence. This can help to speed up the process and free up M&A professionals to focus on more strategic tasks. Improve accuracy and decision-making: AI can use data to identify patterns and trends that would be difficult for humans to see. This can help M&A professionals make more accurate and informed decisions. Reduce costs: AI can automate many of the tasks that are currently done manually, which can help to reduce costs. Increase transparency: AI can provide M&A professionals with a more comprehensive view of the market, which can help them to make more informed decisions. Enhanced risk management: AI can be used to identify and assess risks, which can help M&A professionals to mitigate risk and make more informed decisions. Overall, AI has the potential to significantly improve the M&A process by increasing speed and efficiency, improving accuracy and decision-making, reducing costs, increasing transparency, and enhancing risk management. Discover additional popular M&A trends within the latest issue of The Mark ABOUT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL: Benchmark International is a global M&A firm that provides business owners with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. Benchmark International has handled over $10 billion in transaction value across various industries from offices across the world. With decades of M&A experience, Benchmark International’s transaction teams have assisted business owners with achieving their objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses. The firm has also been named the Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor and the Global M&A Network as well as the #1 Sell-side Exclusive M&A Advisor in the World by Pitchbook’s Global League Tables. Contact Details Brittney Zoeller +1 813-898-2350 zoeller@benchmarkintl.com Company Website https://www.benchmarkintl.com/

August 14, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Fintech MoneyLion (NYSE: ML) Reports Growth In Q2 2023 Earnings, Surpasses Guidance Fueled By Combined Consumer & Enterprise Ecosystem

Benzinga

By James Wells, Benzinga MoneyLion (NYSE: ML) is a leader in financial technology and embedded finance that has received multiple awards for its services, including the 2019 Fintech Award For Innovation In Personal Finance from Benzinga. The company offers multiple AI-powered consumer services including digital banking, cash advances, automated investing, credit-building loans, budgeting and financial tracking and rewards. It also offers enterprise marketplace solutions and boasts a network of more than 1,000 enterprise partners. The company recently announced its Q2 financial results for 2023, showcasing robust performance across both enterprise and consumer segments. Below are the essential details. Financial Performance MoneyLion reported record revenue of $107m, a significant increase of 22% year-over-year. The revenue exceeded guidance of $95m -$100m, reflecting strong growth in its core business segments. The second quarter gross profit margin was 59%, surpassing the expected range of 54-58%. Additionally, the company posted an adjusted EBITDA of $9 million, marking the second consecutive quarter of positive performance and exceeding the projected guidance of $1 million to $8 million. Both achievements reflect advantages in the consumer and enterprise ecosystems. “Revenue, gross profit margin, and Adjusted EBITDA all exceeded the high end of our guidance. For the third quarter of 2023, we expect revenue of $110 to $115 million, gross profit margin of 55% to 60% and Adjusted EBITDA of $6 to $10 million,” said Rick Correia, MoneyLion’s Chief Financial Officer. Customer and Product Growth The company reported 10 million total customers, with a record addition of two million in the second quarter, reflecting 114% growth year-over-year. Alongside this, the company's total products expanded by 71% year-over-year, showcasing MoneyLion's capacity to connect more customers with suitable financial solutions. Future Outlook MoneyLion's co-founder and CEO, Dee Choubey, emphasized the solid diversification of products and anticipates continued growth throughout the year. He stated, “Performance in the second quarter was driven by product diversification and margin expansion in our Enterprise marketplace business and continued momentum and robust credit performance in our Consumer business. With this platform strength, a robust balance sheet and our pipeline of innovative product releases and features, MoneyLion is poised to build on its momentum of scaling profitably.” MoneyLion: Growing Revenues In A Fast-Growing Market MoneyLion operates in a growth market – according to Allied Market Research, the global embedded finance market was worth $66.8 billion in 2022, and it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.4% between 2023 and 2032 to reach a value of $622.9 billion in 2032. The rising trend of digital transformation in several sectors including finance is a key factor driving the market’s growth. Embedded finance is revolutionizing the way financial services are delivered and consumed, and MoneyLion seems well-placed to continue to be a part of the growth of this sector. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 14, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Be Ready for Back to School

News Media Group, Inc.

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

August 14, 2023 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Appier surpasses projections to report further accelerated revenue growth for the second quarter

Appier

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 14 August 2023 - Highlights and achievements of Q2 FY23 Revenue increased by 42% YoY to reach a historically high quarterly revenue of JPY 6.2 billion Highest QoQ revenue growth rate (11.1%) for the second quarter since its IPO in 2021, driven by stronger market expansion and deeper vertical penetration Gross profit reached a historical high of JPY 3.2 billion with a 45% YoY growth rate, while gross margin improved to 51.3% Operating income and net income surpass projections to turn positive with an operating margin of 1.3% and net profit achieved 1.9% EBITDA increased by 158% YoY with an 8.9% margin Exceeding forecast in first-half revenue performance, charting the course to fulfill year-end guidance Appier Group Inc (TSE: 4180), henceforth referred to as Appier, today announced its earnings results for the second quarter of the fiscal year 2023. This quarter, Appier accomplished its best-performing Q2 in terms of QoQ growth versus Q1. This achievement positions the company firmly on a trajectory to achieve its full-year 2023 guidance. The company's headway in the E-commerce and Digital Content verticals, as well as its strong customer traction in the US, EMEA, and Northeast Asia Markets, stand as a testament to its exceptional performance in the first half of 2023. Appier reported an accelerated revenue YoY growth of 42% to reach a historical high of JPY 6.2 billion. This figure was paralleled by a YoY gross profit growth of 45%, reaching a historical high of JPY 3.2 billion. Appier’s operating income and net income surpassed projections to turn positive from last quarter, reflecting a notable operating margin of 1.3% and a net profit margin of 1.9%. The company's financial health was underscored by the 158% YoY growth in EBITDA, achieving a record-high JPY 550 million with an 8.9% margin. These achievements underscore Appier's steadfast commitment to sustainable and profitable growth, underpinned by its core principles of transforming AI into predictable returns. The rising demand for ROI-driven solutions, coupled with the growing acceptance of AI trends, has played a pivotal role in enhancing customer adoption and embracing key differentiators, culminating in its accelerated second-quarter results that have surpassed initial budget projections. Embracing diverse verticals and strengthening relationships for AI-driven customer growth Appier achieved a 22% YoY growth in its overall customer base, with the majority of new customers originating from the Digital Content (39%), E-commerce (22%), and Consumer Brands & BFSI (22%) verticals. This expansion has also spurred a 16.5% YoY increase in the Average Revenue per Customer (ARPC), driven by the expansion of existing customer relationships and heightened activity within the Digital Content vertical, boosted by seasonal factors. This aligns with the company's ongoing strategic focus on large enterprise customer acquisition, driven by growing confidence in AI-powered solutions among major brands. Appier also maintained a low overall customer churn rate of 0.619% this quarter, underscoring its success in nurturing lasting customer partnerships. The company's financial strength and growth trajectory are further accentuated by the fact that its annual recurring revenue is showcasing a YoY expansion of 35%. Strong growth momentum fueled by expanding market reach The vertical expansion and the deeper engagement of existing customers, especially in the E-commerce vertical, fueled impressive growth in Northeast Asia (66%). Meanwhile, the US and EMEA markets (15%) displayed robust revenue growth of 78% YoY, with an overall contribution up 15% from 12% a year ago. "Our first-half revenue performance has surpassed our projections, laying a strong foundation for our growth trajectory in the coming quarters. Our strength in cutting-edge AI capabilities helps us push the boundaries of businesses and establishes new benchmarks within the realm of digital marketing. Our years of R&D in both predictive AI and generative AI allow us to provide differentiated products to boost our customers’ ROI,” said Dr. Chih-Han Yu, CEO and Co-Founder, Appier. “Our ongoing pursuit of vertical expansion, combined with heightened vertical awareness and strategic market penetration, fuels our confidence in achieving our year-end guidance and sustaining strong growth well into the future." Pioneering Generative AI synergy to transform business-customer dynamics Leveraging Appier’s core essence of AI, combined with the augmented capabilities of predictive AI and generative AI synergy, Appier is poised to revolutionize business-customer interactions and bring fresh ideas for industry-leading applications. These insights derived from predictive AI act as a guiding compass for generative AI, facilitating the creation of content that yields exceptional outcomes. Simultaneously, the influx of data from generative AI empowers predictive AI to continuously refine its model training, thus enhancing campaign performance. One accelerates output generation, while the other ensures heightened efficacy. This initiative epitomizes Appier's commitment to delivering personalized marketing experiences and positions itself at the forefront of the generative AI era. Looking ahead, Appier remains poised for continued success in the latter half of the fiscal year. The momentum generated by exceptional performance is anticipated to propel even more substantial growth in the Digital Content and E-commerce verticals. Bolstered by these prospects and the ongoing alignment with its core values, Appier is well-positioned to not only sustain its trajectory of remarkable financial growth but to also elevate its impact further in the dynamic landscape of AI-driven business solutions. About Appier Appier (TSE: 4180) is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that uses artificial intelligence to power business decision-making. Founded in 2012 with a vision of democratizing AI, Appier now has 17 offices across APAC, Europe and US, and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Visit www.appier.com for more company information and visit ir.appier.com/en/ for more IR information. Contact Details Senior PR Manager Lara Sampara +65 8789 9271 lara.sampara@appier.com

August 14, 2023 02:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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