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Cyvatar Named Finalist in Computing Security Excellence Awards 2021

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced that it has been chosen as a finalist in Computing’s Security Excellence Awards 2021 for the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Security Solution Award. Computing celebrates the achievements of the IT industry's leading security companies, solutions, products, and personalities that keep every other part of the industry operating. Award categories include product- and project-related recognition, organizational achievements, and accolades for outstanding individual success. Computing selected Cyvatar for its cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) platform, designed with SMEs in mind. SMEs are increasingly at the mercy of ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and other cyber threats, but unlike larger orgs, most SMEs don’t have the budget or expertise to invest in comprehensive in-house security programs. Moreover, they struggle to show value from the security tools they do buy. Cyvatar CSaaS democratizes cybersecurity, making the best protection accessible and affordable for any SME regardless of budget, even if they have no cybersecurity expertise in-house. Customers can select the membership and pricing that meet their desired business outcomes in seconds; a freemium model ensures they can achieve tangible results fast with no out-of-pocket costs--an industry first. And they can cancel anytime--another industry first. “We don’t throw technology over the wall and expect our customers to figure it out themselves the way many product companies do,” said Corey White, Cyvatar co-founder and chief executive. “We deliver all three pillars of cybersecurity—the teams, technology solutions, and best practices—to SMEs that would not otherwise be able to implement them. Our subscription model ensures they don’t end up buying solutions they can’t use or don’t need, and our platform lets them see at a glance what’s going on in their environment to give them the best cyber prevention available.” Cyvatar offers its proprietary ICARM™ (install, configure, assess, remediate, maintain) methodology to deliver smarter, more efficient solutions, allowing SMEs to achieve security compliance and cyber-attack prevention faster and more effectively. ICARM ensures SMEs won’t get crushed under the weight of too many products, and guaranteed outcomes mean they get maximum value from their technology spend. Choose the Cyvatar membership with the best outcomes for your business today. About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to effortless cybersecurity for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert practitioners, market-leading technologies, and proven best practices to guarantee business results. Our approach is rooted in a proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack prevention, all bundled into a fixed monthly subscription that members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California, with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at cyvatar.ai and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar Dan Chmielewski +1 949-231-2963 dchm@madisonalexanderpr.com Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

October 28, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Mirriad Taps Music Industry Veterans to Diversify Music Alliance Brand Partnerships

Mirriad

Mirriad, the leading in-content advertising company that uses AI-powered technology for brands including Conde Nast, Universal and Johnson & Johnson, today announced two new strategic hires: Martin Moor as Vice President and Head of Music & Brand Partnerships and James Goodhall as Head of Music Sales EMEA. Moor and Goodhall join Mirriad following the 2020 launch of Mirriad’s Music Alliance, a coalition dedicated to merging the marketing and music industries to offer brands, artists, and fans creative and financial opportunities through seamlessly placing brands’ content into music videos and media. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have such creative and forward-thinking minds such as Martin and James to join us as we expand our Music Alliance initiatives,” said Stephan Beringer, Chief Executive Officer, Mirriad. “As the advertising industry continues to evolve with brands looking for authentic ways to engage with their consumers, we at Mirriad are continually working to present impactful and non-disruptive in-content advertising opportunities that drive brand recognition. These additions to our team will have a tremendous impact on our future success as a company.” As the new Vice President and Head of Music & Brand Partnerships at Mirriad, Moor is responsible for music brand partnership growth within the Americas. Moor began his career at Penalty Records and served as the label’s first Director of Artists and Repertoire (A&R), launching the careers of N.O.R.E, David Banner and to working with multi-platinum artists and Grammy award-winning producers such as Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beats and Kanye West. Moor also led teams at Sony Music Entertainment, serving as Senior Director of A&R Executive for Epic Records. He has worked with leading global brands such as Adidas, Coca-Cola, Visa, Red Bull, Airbnb and Microsoft. Based in New York City, Moor will report to Mark Melvin, EVP, Sales & Brand Partnerships, US, Mirriad. Goodhall joins Mirriad as Head of Music Sales in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and is responsible for building out Mirriad’s recently developed Music Alliance program and revenue stream across the region - primarily for the UK, France and Germany. Goodhall brings 20 years of music industry experience in streaming, VOD, marketing, brand partnerships, distribution, A&R and live events to his new role. As Head of Music Sales, Goodhall will closely work with the insights and marketing teams to use evidence-based research to demonstrate the power of in-video advertising to brands. Goodhall’s career began at Amato Distribution where he ran the UK Sales division, moving on to work in successful A&R roles at Sony Music UK and Universal Music. He then worked in commercial positions at EMI Music UK and Warner Music UK, where he managed high-profile music clients Spotify, Deezer, Napster, YouTube and Vevo during his time and launched artist campaigns for the likes of Coldplay, Tinie Tempah, Dua Lipa, Jason Derulo, Gorillaz, David Guetta, Annie-Marie, and helped deliver UK chart history for Ed Sheeran, Jess Glynne, Stormzy and Emeli Sande. Goodhall has also worked with leading brands Google Play, Microsoft, Vodafone and O2. Based in London, he will report to Miles Lewis, CRO, Mirriad. “I’m especially excited to join forces with Mirriad because of the company’s focus on technology innovation and amplifying the multicultural marketplace through the Music Alliance,” said Goodhall. “I’m looking forward to working alongside empowered minority-owned music labels and artists and offering an entirely new way for brands to authentically connect with audiences in a very natural way.” “Mirriad’s exceptional work speaks for itself and I can’t wait to begin my journey centered on music and creativity,” said Moor. “The unique approach of Mirriad's tech-powered fusion of data, AI, cultural reach and limitless creativity opens up a world of possibilities for brands and musicians.” Mirriad’s new Music Alliance program partners with global leading music labels and artists to connect the creatives to Mirriad’s AI-powered tech to find the most relevant context for brands and seamlessly integrate advertisements in relevant content like music videos, which reaches audiences without disrupting or bombarding. Mirriad’s Music Alliance program already worked with placing Tecate (Heineken) in Giovanny Ayala’s music videos and Bushmills into Viceland web series content. For more information about Mirriad, please visit https://www.mirriad.com/ About Mirriad Mirriad's award-winning solution unleashes new revenue for content producers and distributors by creating new advertising inventory in content. Our patented, AI and computer vision technology dynamically inserts products and innovative signage formats after content is produced. Mirriad's market-first solution seamlessly integrates with existing subscription and advertising models, and dramatically improves the viewer experience by limiting commercial interruptions. Mirriad currently operates in the US, Europe and China. Contact Details Kite Hill Shania Roper +1 843-693-7161 shania@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.mirriad.com/

October 27, 2021 09:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Velocity Global adds DJ Matt Cassidy as Dance Floor Director

Velocity Global

Cassidy responsible for vibe creation for growing global team Cassidy to play company’s annual party this week in his hometown of Denver Cassidy featured in lineup for Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks in January Velocity Global officially named DJ Matt Cassidy as Dance Floor Director as the company makes final preparations for its annual party this week. Cassidy is responsible for vibe creation for the company’s growing global team of more than 400 people across six continents. He reports to Sam Warren, recently promoted to Chief Fun Officer, or CFUNO. “We’re thrilled to officially welcome Matt to the Velocity Global family. Matt’s contributions to Velocity Global’s Fun department over the past three years established him as an instrumental member of the team,” said Warren. “Matt embodies what the company does every day — serves up smiles and delivers unforgettable experiences.” Cassidy is a native of Denver which also serves as corporate headquarters for Velocity Global, a remote-first company. Cassidy shares the company’s passion for global influence, often mixing international beats into his repertoire. This week, Velocity Global welcomes team members from around the globe to Denver for an event to celebrate its employees and their contributions to the company's growth, including two acquisitions this year. The event will follow strict protocols including vaccination requirements and COVID-19 testing. “The dance floor has grown immensely over the past three years as the company takes off,” said Cassidy. “I’m honored to officially be part of the family and to continue to focus on how to have fun amidst hard work and tremendous success.” DJ Matt Cassidy will open for global DJ and record producer, Diplo, at the 10th annual Icelantic's Winter on the Rocks on January 28, 2022, at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Velocity Global is a presenting sponsor of the upcoming event that Cassidy has played for the last seven years. Stream music from DJ Matt Cassidy here. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its global work platform simplifies the employer and employee experience to employ any talent anywhere with just a click through its proprietary cloud-based workforce management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. The company offers additional services including Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details John Hall +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

October 27, 2021 07:01 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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STATHERO LAUNCHES THE ABILITY TO PARLAY DAILY FANTASY SPORTS AND MULTIPLY WINNINGS FOR HEAD-TO-HEAD CONTESTS ACROSS ALL MAJOR SPORTS

StatHero

StatHero, the quickly-growing Daily Fantasy Sports app with unprecedented winning percentages and an emphasis on skill over luck, has added a PARLAYS component to their flagship head-to-head DFS game. StatHero is the ONLY independent fantasy sports company playable in 34 states and lets DFS players go H2H against house lineups instead of in short-odds contests with unknown users. It’s a never-before-seen innovation for the fantasy sports and sports betting hybrid. StatHero players clock a well over 50% winning percentage and it has led to a 400% month-over-month growth in deposits. Players are betting an average of $1,700 a year, which is THREE TIMES the average spend of industry leading apps DraftKings and FanDuel. PARLAYS allows players to choose two or three H2H lineups with a handful of players and multiply their payouts. Win a 2-team parlay? Double your money. Win a 3-team parlay? Win 5X your money! PARLAYS can be played in MLB, NFL, NBA, PGA Tour, NHL, and NCAA Football and is available on iOS and Android. Jason Jaramillo, Founder of StatHero: “With StatHero’s PARLAYS gameplay, daily fantasy players have larger odds to double down on their fantasy skill. Our team has worked tirelessly to provide players with something that has never been seen before in the fantasy space. When people take a look at what we’re doing, they’re going to really notice how different we are.” StatHero house lineups are displayed ahead of time, so players have the ability to study the lineups they’ll be going against, or even buy insurance against potential injuries before gametime. This gives players a greater opportunity to flex their skills. But the gaming app’s design is simple enough for a casual player to jump right in and take advantage of StatHero’s unique gameplay and unheard of payouts in this industry. The low barrier to entry is a defining feature of StatHero and the contest gameplay mirrors the spirit of traditional fantasy sports, so players get deeper into the games. This is a function of StatHero’s commitment to innovation and development and PARLAYS are just the next of many steps for the platform. About STATHERO Combining the best of fantasy sports and sports gaming, StatHero is a first of its kind daily fantasy sports platform. The company has exploded in growth since founded in 2019 in large part due it’s simple gameplay, low commitment and instant gratification. Stathero uses the familiar fantasy sports based format to allow players to compete against posted lineups across a variety of professional sports and game types including Survivor Pools, Head-to-Head and Fantasy Parlays. Their patent pending gameplay gives players an advantage unlike any other in fantasy sports. It’s truly daily fantasy the way it was meant to be played - one-on-one. For more information, visit: www.stathero.com and follow us on Twitter @StatHeroHq. Contact Details Dianne Quirante +1 323-654-0001 dianne@emcbowery.com Company Website https://stathero.com/

October 26, 2021 02:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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SUPERDRAFT FANTASY SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES NEW SUPER 15 GAME

SuperDraft

SuperDraft Fantasy launched its new game mode, Super 15, at the end of September, kicking off a new fan-friendly era in daily fantasy sports. From the moment NFL cornerback Richard Sherman drafted the first-ever lineup on the premiere of PFF’s The Richard Sherman Podcast, Super 15 became open to the public. SuperDraft is the first-to-market with this game mode aimed at casual sports fans rather than hardcore daily fantasy players. Since its launch, over 60 percent of active SuperDraft players have played Super 15, with over 55 percent of those players winning cash. Super 15 is modeled after a popular meme and gives fans the opportunity to draft a lineup in seconds by selecting from a 5x5 player grid. Players have $15 in salary to select 5 players, valued between $1 and $5 each by simply tapping each player’s picture in the app. The limited player pool and easy selection grid makes it a more winnable game for casual fans with a more social and shareable design. “Super 15 is the latest example of SuperDraft’s fan-friendly product innovations. It gets rid of the spreadsheet look and feel and replaces it with something that actually looks like a game. We’re proud to create a fantasy game designed for real sports fans, not algorithms,” said Steve Wang, Founder and CEO of SuperDraft. “It’s extra special to have a legend like Richard Sherman debut Super 15 on his PFF podcast to show his fans how fun and easy it is to play.” SuperDraft launched Super 15 on mobile devices on September 28th and the company plans to make the game available on desktop in November. About SuperDraft, Inc. SuperDraft, Inc. is based in New Hampshire and is focused on paid entry and free to play daily fantasy in the U.S. via its SuperDraft DFS app available on iOS and Android, as well as desktop and mobile web. The company has developed several unique game modes and features that appeal to both casual and hardcore sports fans and fantasy players. With unique game modes like Super 15 and Multiplier, SuperDraft levels the playing field and provides new ways to play and win. The result is a game that is easier to play and quicker to understand. These daily fantasy sports contests are legal in more than 35 states with its free contests available in all 48 states. For more information, please visit www.superdraft.io About Pro Football Focus PFF leverages exclusive advanced stats and 0-100 player grades to create premium NFL, NCAA, fantasy and betting content & tools. All 32 NFL teams and over 100 CFB teams subscribe to PFF. Prepare for all of your fantasy football drafts and make every in-season roster decision with PFF's rankings, projections & more. Bet with PFF's NFL Player Props Tool & NFL/NCAA Betting Dashboards every weekend on PFF.com Contact Details Kristin Conte +1 917-699-1941 kconte@superdraft.io Company Website https://superdraft.io/

October 26, 2021 10:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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APGA Champ Kevin Hall partners with Velocity Global

Velocity Global

Velocity Global today announced a partnership with 4-time Advocates Pro Golf Association (APGA) Tour champion Kevin Hall. Hall competes on the APGA Tour in addition to Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR appearances. He joins 6-time PGA TOUR champion and recent European Tour BMW PGA Champion Billy Horschel as a brand ambassador for Velocity Global. “I met Kevin at Billy’s APGA tournament this summer and knew immediately that we had to work together,” said Ben Wright, Velocity Global founder and CEO. “He embodies our values in everything he does and his personal story of breaking down walls to access opportunity is an inspiration to all of us. I am honored that he will share these stories, along with his electric smile and contagious laugh, while wearing our brand on the front of his hat.” Hall plays each round in silence. He lost his hearing at the age of two due to a life-threatening illness, H-flu meningitis. Determined, he committed himself to the game of golf and earned a full academic and athletic scholarship to The Ohio State University - the first African-American player to receive a golf scholarship at Ohio State - and went on to win the Big Ten Championship by 11 shots. He most recently added his fourth APGA victory at TPC Deere Run in July, shooting an 8-under par 63. “Hard work earns your next opportunity, but it takes partners to open doors for our chosen path in life,” said Hall. “When I learned about Velocity Global’s platform to make work available to anyone, anywhere, I knew they understood the idea of partnership. Opening doors to people everywhere is something I can get behind. I am proud to represent them on and off the course.” The APGA is a non-profit organization with the mission to bring greater diversity to the game of golf through hosted tournaments, player development, and mentoring programs. Billy Horschel hosted his inaugural AGPA Tour Billy Horschel Invitational at TPC Sawgrass this summer. “Kevin is a fantastic guy and heck of a golfer,” said Horschel. “I’ve worked with Velocity Global for a couple of years and Kevin is a perfect fit for their people-first approach to the world. Kevin and Velocity Global’s values align as they both understand that hard work is just as important as being successful.” Hall will join the Velocity Global team this week at the company’s annual party in Denver, Colorado. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its global work platform simplifies the employer and employee experience to employ any talent anywhere with just a click through its proprietary cloud-based workforce management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. The company offers additional services including Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

October 26, 2021 09:01 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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CENTRAL NEW YORK TAKES ON “SEASON OF GIVING WELLNESS CHALLENGE” WITH THE KILTER APP

Kilter

People and business throughout New York will take part in the CNY Season of Giving Wellness Challenge this November, it was announced by Syracuse-native Seth Braddock, founder and CEO of Kilter, the breakthrough social engagement app that connects active lifestyles with important causes. The CNY Season of Giving Wellness Challenge is a fun and healthy way to support the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Anyone can register and track their daily activities, such as running, walking, biking, or over 50 other healthy options using the Kilter app. It’s easy to participate and with live leaderboards and engaging push notifications, it’s fun to follow along. “The Kilter app is a gateway for people who care about staying healthy and helping others,” said Braddock. “For the Central New York Community that I grew up in to come together like this is amazing. And with Pinnacle stepping up to the plate, our goal of raising $50,000 to support Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital is within reach.” The Pinnacle Family of Companies is leading the way in the challenge with a $16,000 matching donation designed to jumpstart healthy activity and donations from individuals and businesses alike. A key member of the CNY community, Pinnacle provides comprehensive solutions to meet the financial needs of individual and commercial investors. “We are always looking for new and exciting ways to give back to the Syracuse community that has done so much to support us over our 25 years in business,” said Elizabeth Bartlett, chief business development officer at Pinnacle. “Our goal was to create a fundraising event that anyone could join, from anywhere, and have fun doing it. When the opportunity came to partner with Kilter, we chose to support Golisano Children’s Hospital in hopes that the money we raised would provide the children in their care with a memorable holiday season.” Everyone participating in the CNY Season of Giving Wellness Challenge will have the opportunity to win valuable prizes, from Syracuse University basketball game tickets (including a chance to sit courtside) to cool Kilter swag bags. The CNY Season of giving Wellness Challenge will be open November 1 through November 30. For more information and to sign up to participate, visit Kilter online or download the Kilter app. ABOUT KILTER Kilter is the world's most inclusive supporter engagement platform that turns everyday health, wellness and lifestyle activities into opportunities for people to drive charitable dollars to their favorite causes, all while building culture and community to make a global impact. With 50+ trackable activities from running to yoga to pickleball to volunteering, plus our best-in-class user experience, functionality and customer support, employers, nonprofits and event producers will meet their supporters where they are today (on their phones) and easily exceed engagement and impact goals. Learn more at www.kilterapp.com. ABOUT PINNACLE The Pinnacle Family of Companies provides comprehensive solutions to meet the financial needs of individual and commercial investors. Whether saving for the future or seeking income today, they provide the services needed to help you reach your financial goals: investments, estate planning, tax planning, services for businesses, trusts and turnkey retirement plans. Their family of companies offer an unbeatable combination of synergistic services that can support individuals, business, and other organizations. From wealth management to human resources management, no other firm has the resources or provides the one-on-one connection that our advisors and consultants deliver. Contact Details Julian Lavelle +1 315-708-3494 julian@kilterapp.com Company Website https://www.kilterapp.com

October 26, 2021 10:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ElementalTV Debuts Newest CTV Tech Innovation, ELM iQ

ElementalTV

ElementalTV, an emerging media technology company and a division of Adoppler, today debuts its newest connected TV (CTV) tech solution, ELM iQ. The breakthrough CTV technology solution addresses the “last mile” creative problem, which is a major bottleneck for the CTV industry creative development and delivery. It accomplishes this by providing brands, publishers, and agencies to leverage real-time data to create new, compelling, customized creative ad content on the fly, and at scale. Current creative updating processes are manual and time consuming, with constant re-edits proving costly. ELM iQ leverages ElementalTV’s proprietary AI creative composer technology to address this massive slowdown in ad deployment. By pairing ELM iQ’s machine learning with real-time information from a partner’s database, CMS, or API, advertisers can now create and deliver dynamic CTV advertising content with near real-time speed and accuracy. ELM iQ creates new opportunities for brands to generate dynamic ad creative, by rapidly connecting data to develop immersive CTV ad creatives that are highly personalized and localized. The result is faster, near real-time ad executions and creates significant cost savings for brands, publishers, and agencies. “ELM iQ is an advanced technological solution that, we believe, has the power to propel CTV ad innovation to the next level,” says Sergey Lobko-Lobanovsky, Chief Technology Officer of ElementalTV. “Historically, video ad creatives for TV were not updated or refreshed very often, and when they were, it was usually seasonally or monthly. Advertisers today are looking for flexibility and speed to keep up with rapidly shifting consumer sentiments and buying behaviors. With ELM iQ and its smart machine learning technology, we now have the capability to do this in near real time, thus solving for advertisers the challenge of remaining agile and relevant in today’s competitive markets.” With ELM iQ, content creators can now focus squarely on conceptualizing and developing creative, relevant and hyper localized ad content that will resonate with its intended audiences, ensuring a better and more effective overall ad experience. “We see ELM iQ as a win for all stakeholders,” says Shafi Mustafa, VP Product Marketing for ElementalTV. “Viewers will see more dynamic and relevant ads with much fewer duplicate advertiser messages; publishers will benefit from increased bid density as more advertisers are now able to participate in CTV advertising; and advertisers will have the ability to create, update, and personalize creative messages in a highly scalable, low cost manner. This solution is a game changer.” ELM iQ is ElementalTV’s latest next-generation innovation, following the recent expansion of the company’s ELM product suite earlier this month. With the release of ELM, the company announced it surpassed one billion CTV advanced ad impressions in its first year of business. ELM iQ, a product of the company’s focus on rapid innovation, has been in beta with a select number of advertisers and is now available at scale. To learn more about ElementalTV and its solutions, visit www.elementaltv.com. About ElementalTV Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Pasadena, CA, ElementalTV is pioneering the next generation of CTV ad innovation. ElementalTV pushes the boundaries of how technology can immerse an audience’s advertisement experience. Its proprietary vertically integrated platform, ELM, combines a wide range of capabilities including advanced ad decisioning, demand-side platform (DSP), creative optimization, transcoding, and stitching to allow for seamless, next generation ad experience. To learn more, visit elementaltv.com. Contact Details Angelina Kaliszak angelina@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.elementaltv.com/

October 26, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena makes history

Amazon

For B-roll assets: https://vimeo.com/638111701/a12df2c060 Climate Pledge Arena officially opens its doors on Friday, October 22 with a performance by Coldplay, appearances by special guests, and a series of special events throughout the weekend. In June 2020, when Amazon announced that the company secured the naming rights to the iconic Seattle arena—home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and WNBA's Seattle Storm. Amazon decided to name it Climate Pledge Arena, in honor of The Climate Pledge, a commitment co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019. The Pledge is a rallying call for action—for companies and other organizations to commit to net-zero carbon by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement. The opening is historic, as Climate Pledge Arena aims to set a new sustainability bar for the sports and events industry, and we hope others are inspired to join us in the ongoing fight against climate change. Building a net-zero carbon certified stadium The project began in early 2017, when the City of Seattle issued a request for proposal to redevelop the historic arena at Seattle Center and entered into an agreement with Oak View Group. Over the past three years, designed by Populous and Rockwell Group and under the guidance of Mortenson, engineering and construction firsts have been achieved. The 44 million pound roof was held up by temporary steel columns while the brand new arena was constructed underneath, doubling the square footage. With a significant investment from Amazon and Oak View Group, Climate Pledge Arena is expected to be the first net-zero carbon certified arena in the world and set a new sustainability bar for the sports and events industry. The all-electric operations will be powered by 100% renewable electricity—from on-site solar panels and off-site renewable energy. The stadium will use reclaimed rainwater stored in the ice system, a concept called “Rain to Rink,” to create the greenest ice in the NHL. The original 44-million-pound roof from the previous KeyArena was reused in the construction—to significantly reduce the embodied carbon of the building. The arena’s food program will be led by executive chef Molly DeMers and will be sourced locally and seasonally to support regional farmers and producers; all viable unused food from events will be donated to local community food programs. Using technology to create a fast, convenient and contactless experience for guests In four stores throughout Climate Pledge Arena, Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology and Amazon One will be used to make the in-arena food and beverage experience more efficient and cut wait times, so guests can get back to the game or performance faster. Amazon One is a fast, convenient, contactless way for people to use their palm to make everyday activities more effortless. The service is designed to be highly secure and uses custom-built algorithms and hardware to create a person’s unique palm signature. Guests will be able to visit four Just Walk Out-enabled stores inside Climate Pledge Arena to purchase food and drinks without stopping to checkout. All they need to do is insert their credit card at the location’s entry gates to shop, or hover their palm over an Amazon One device to enter. Once inside, guests can take what they want and then just leave after they’re done shopping. As they shop, Just Walk Out technology determines what they take from—or return to—the shelves, and the credit card they inserted or linked to their Amazon One ID will be charged for items they took after they leave the store. If a guest is new to using the Amazon One palm recognition service, they can enroll in less than a minute at any of the Amazon One enrollment kiosks located near the Just Walk Out technology-enabled stores on the arena’s main and upper concourses. Supporting local residents and organizations Seattle Kraken and Storm tickets will also double as free public transit passes to promote public transportation use for attendees, including the use of the refurbished Seattle Monorail. One Roof Foundation and Climate Pledge Arena—in collaboration with Amazon—are providing $500,000 in funding to nonprofits in the Seattle area to advance environmental justice and positive social change. The nonprofits largely represent Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities and underserved areas. In recognition of their incredible work, the 2021 grant award winners include: Bike Works, a South Seattle-based nonprofit that makes bicycling accessible and affordable to help empower youth and address climate change. Earthlab, a University of Washington initiative pushing boundaries and developing innovative, just, and equitable solutions to environmental challenges. Chief Seattle Club’s Sovereignty Farm project, a seed-to-table social enterprise that provides ways for Indigenous elders, apprentices, artisans, and farmers to grow Native foods and focus on land stewardship and food sovereignty. Duwamish River Clean Up Coalition, a community-based nonprofit representing the residents of the Duwamish Valley region of South Seattle. The group is focused on increasing youth engagement and education, supporting placemaking and placekeeping, improving air quality and respiratory health, and combatting the hyper-local impacts of climate change. Lake City Collective, a grassroots, volunteer-run nonprofit advocating for a clean and safe environment for the families and youth from diverse communities in Seattle’s Lake City neighborhood. Seattle Parks Foundation, a nonprofit partner to Seattle Parks and Recreation that brings people together to create a thriving, accessible, and connected system of public space for all people. Spark Northwest, which partners with communities to build an equitable clean-energy future for all. Transportation Choices, a policy and advocacy nonprofit dedicated to making transportation accessible to all in Washington state. Celebrate live, with Coldplay Coldplay will play its first arena show in nearly five years to mark the grand opening of the Climate Pledge Arena, and to celebrate the launch of the band’s new album, Music of the Spheres. Amazon Music is making the concert available as it happens, worldwide, beginning at 7 p.m. PDT on Friday, October 22. Fans can watch the show at home or on their mobile devices, from the Amazon Music app, the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, and on Prime Video for all customers with or without a Prime Membership. In addition to the livestream concert, Amazon Music has teamed up with Coldplay to create an exclusive line of sustainable merchandise available now at www.Amazon.com/Coldplay. Customers will have the opportunity to purchase the collection before, during, and after the show—from the Coldplay artist page in the Amazon Music app, from www.Amazon.com/Coldplay, and for the first time, Amazon Music will power the artist merch booth at the show, making the exclusive line of Amazon Music merchandise available for fans to purchase while at the concert. The collection features apparel that is locally sourced, produced, and GOTS-certified, and made from 100% organic cotton. Customers can also shop the collection from the livestream event page during Coldplay’s performance on October 22. A weekend of free events for Seattle locals A harvest market will pop up for Seattle locals on Sunday, October 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with more than 20 purveyors of local food and beverages, and will be open to the public in the surrounding Seattle Center. Live music will take place on the Community Stage presented by KEXP, with performances by Terror/Cactus at 11:00 a.m., Chong the Nomad at 12:00 p.m., Shaina Shepherd at 1:00 p.m., and Hollis at 2:10 p.m. The Climate Pledge Arena will host a Community Open House on Sunday, October 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Seattle-area residents can experience Climate Pledge Arena, preview the concourses and seating bowl, and explore the many new features of this transformative project. In accordance with Washington State, all guests will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and wear a mask. RSVP for free Open House tickets by visiting Ticketmaster.com or learn more about Climate Pledge Arena. Contact Details Luis Davila luidavl@amazon.com

October 23, 2021 06:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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