News Hub | News Direct

Dukkantek seals $10m funding round as it scales digital ecosystem for SMB retail sector in MENA

Dukkantek

Store management platform Dukkantek has quickly scaled across the MENA region as SMB retailers adopted their tech for customer services, business processes and faster growth. In supporting this growth, Dukkantek is today announcing an oversubscribed $10m pre-series A funding round as it powers the digital ecosystem for 13 million SMB retailers across the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Turkey and Saudi Arabia as it looks for more opportunities in North Africa. The funding round was led by BECO with significant participation from Rocketship and Colle Capital. Other strategic investors in the round included Comma Capital, AMK Investment Office, Chaos Ventures, and Wamda Capital. The funding round follows their $5.2m seed round in October 2021, taking their total funds raised to $15.2m. Dukkantek was founded in January 2021 by Ali Al Sayegh, Sanad Yaghi and Shadi Joulani. Originally conceived as a service aimed at retailers in the grocery sector, the merchants on the platform now span 70 different verticals, with clothing and electricals particularly prominent alongside food and drink. It has already attracted more than thousands of customers for its suite of services empowering traditional merchants with end-to-end digital technology that improves all business processes. It enables these retailers to run their bricks and mortar stores more efficiently and productively and to make the leap into ecommerce. Dukkantek co-founder Sanad Yaghi commented: “For too long, the owners of small and medium-sized businesses have been left on the margins of the technology shift; now we are serving their unmet needs. We bring a technology platform consisting of three different value propositions that enable these merchants to compete in a digital world” “This includes a set of tools that enables merchants to run their businesses more effectively. Payments options ensure merchants can offer customers more choice about how to settle their bills. And an e-commerce offering which gives merchants everything they need to start selling online for the first time and to manage that operation in tandem with the brick-and-mortar business. Many merchants struggle to keep track of inventory when selling both online and in physical stores, so having one system that incorporates both parts of the business is very important”. The coronavirus pandemic hastened digital adoption in the MENA region, leading to an increase in online shopping, in particular. The region's e-commerce market is expected to reach $49 billion in 2025, up almost 55 per cent from 2021, a report by EZDubai, an e-commerce zone in Dubai, and Euromonitor International showed earlier this year. The UAE’s e-commerce market alone is forecast to grow 60 per cent to more than $8bn by 2025 from 2021. Community retailers in the UAE without a digital presence, who were unable to accept online payments during the pandemic, were severely affected due to the drop in customer footfall. Dukkantek believes that traditional merchants and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) remain the backbone of the global economy, and their transactions should be digitized to keep pace with market developments. And to this end they platform provides: Cloud POS: The Cloud POS is a Point-of-Sales system that can be accessed online, from anywhere. It allows businesses to keep track of transactions & sales, calculate VAT, generate reports and calculate profit margin. Inventory Management: The Cloud IM is an online software that helps businesses track, manage & organize the inventory. It allows users to keep track of stock, measure stock value, manage fast-moving products and generate reports for analysis. Payment Options: The platform offers a variety of payment options including cash, card payments or credit payments. Reports can be generated to track payments. E-Commerce: The e-commerce functionality allows stores to sell their goods online or through an app. One of its features includes live inventory, as it’s linked to the IM & POS software. Another feature is that stores can choose what items to put online and their corresponding prices. Moreover, it sends push notifications to customers. Companion App: The companion app is a mobile application that helps manage the store online. Its features include: Automated Inventory Reconciliation, live store data, linked to IM & POS, ability to track daily sales on the dashboard, ability to review all transactions, and track cash movements and payment methods. "It's very rare to come across a business and team that have been able to execute the way in which Dukkantek has done so far. Launching 7 countries in 18 short months since founding is no easy feat, yet the Dukkantek team has managed to do it in such a seamless and capital efficient manner. We are very excited to partner with Sanad, Ali and the wider team as they look to build on their exciting traction and overall vision of digitizing merchants." said Abdulaziz Shikh Al Sagha from BECO Capital Having met its geographical expansion goals, Dukkantek’s focus will now turn to adding new services. In particular, exploring working capital solutions and building its data analytics capabilities for users. “We have seen an increase in users accessing analytics tools on the platform which, for example, help them understand which products will sell best. Three-quarters of the businesses on the platform are now trading in this way. Also, many merchants are keen to expand the number of stores they operate, but are held back by the lack of finance available in the region which we can look to explore” added Sanad Yaghi. About Dukkantek Founded in January 2021, Dukkantek is the UAE’s first and only revolutionary store management platform that enables traditional merchants to compete equally in an evolving digital world, and further empower their retail capacity. Redefining the conventional way of managing tasks and sales, the innovative platform aims to strengthen local community stores and power digital transformations with end-to-end technology that enhances and streamlines all business processes, enabling them to compete with dark stores and delivery players. Dukkantek is the technology partner for all local community stores in the region. For more information please visit https://www.dukkantek.com Contact Details Dukkantek Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.dukkantek.com/

August 19, 2022 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Urban Health creates world’s smartest wellness assistant as it secures $3.4m funding round

Urban Health

Digital wellness company Urban Health which helps people sleep better, relax and de-stress is today announcing a $3.4m seed funding round as they scale operations globally. Having grown quickly in the US with wide acclaim (4.8 star app rating) they will launch a more personalized service for users. The funding round was led by 3one4 Capital with participation from Venture Highway, Founder Bank Capital and Disney’s Ajay Arora. The Urban Health app smart wellness assistant tracks sleep, steps and mindful minutes while using psychology, personal text-based health coaching and premium recorded audio sessions, to create personalized wellness plans for users to de-stress, relax, improve sleep quality and overall well-being. Meditation and sleep sessions offer guided mindfulness, daily motivation, guided sleep meditations and coaching by world-renowned experts, personalized for the way users live their life. In 2020, Urban raised a $400K pre-seed led by Venture Highway, taking their total funds raised to $3.8M. Co-founders Kshitij Jaggi, Rishabh Sahu and Shivang were IIT Kanpur class fellows and established Urban in 2018 upon graduating. Kshitij was a keen user of fitness and wellness apps on his way to losing 20 kgs and Rishabh had been meditating since his teenage years. While Shivang was already coding tech for consumer products in less than a day, at record speeds. Their personal experiences led them to the problem of plenty: screen time, stress, information overdose, sugar, food, weight gain. The pandemic and customer feedback made them focus on stress, sleep and insomnia use cases and landed on wellness as a broader addressable market because it linked all the problems to each other. Urban operates in an estimated $1.5 Trillion wellness market. Addressing burning consumer wellness issues of anxiety, sleep and lack of mental health infrastructure. National Institutes of Health says nearly 1 in 3 of all adolescents ages 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder. Nearly half of the world’s population does not get enough sleep. In addition to the detrimental effect on health, sleep deprivation carries high economic costs, estimated at $680 billion a year in five OECD countries including $400 billion for the United States and $60 billion for Germany. Moreover, to better understand US mental health infrastructure: 40% of the US population live in a limited access area to such services and 60% of US counties have no psychiatrist. Demand outstrips supply by 25 times. Kshitij Jaggi, co-founder at Urban commented: “We made a deep dive into this space and realized every customer's journey is different and everyone needs different kinds of assistance. This is at the heart of what we’ve built until now and where we will continue to innovate. Addressing different customer wellness needs and assisting members based on goals is key to what we do. We assist with deep insights, nudging our members to take the right actions at the right time.” Urban Health analyzed user outcomes over a 4-week usage period and found 85% reported improvement in over well-being. Outcomes included better sleep, less stress and more relaxed state of mind in members. The company plans to further invest in efficacy and support clinical studies in this direction. “Just five minutes of mindfulness and meditation per day can improve your life through stress relief and improved sleep. By helping users stay calm and relaxed, it has increased self-awareness and their sense of perspective. Urban Health brings wellness to your pocket and on the go” added Kshitij Jaggi. Company became revenue generating in January 2021 having launched an annual membership service. Demand surged in the US and revenues have grown 20x since then. Urban will use the funds raised to scale its member base and to provide one-to-one professional help via audio and video calls from health coaches. In addition to this, the company plans to provide health and wellness plans for larger communities through partnerships with schools and companies globally. Anurag Ramdasan, Partner at 3one4 capital commented: “Urban health's adoption has taken off. Downloads are up and consumer spend is taking off. We're seeing a sentiment shift: globally people are prioritising their health and are open to invest in their personal wellness needs. Urban health has successfully scaled their reach globally and we are delighted to support the next phase of growth.” Neeraj Arora, Founding Partner at Venture Highway commented: “Proud to be associated with the team since day zero, true product builders at heart. We’re committed to solving the most urgent global health problem of our times with Urban Health.” About Urban Health Urban Health is the world's smartest wellness assistant. Members globally use it to stress less, relax more and sleep better. Platform offers personalized wellness plans for mind, body and sleep. It uses wellness tacking, psychology, personal text based health coaching and premium recorded sessions to help people lead a healthy life.For more information please visit https://urban.health/ Contact Details Urban Health Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://urban.health/

August 17, 2022 11:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

USA Bitcoin Casino 2022 Betbeard

BetBeard

Betbeard is the best bitcoin casino in the USA. It offers a great selection of slots and casino games, as well as superb customer service and fast payouts. In this article, you will take a closer look at what makes Betbeard such a great choice for US players and explain how to deposit and withdraw from bitcoin casinos in the USA. You will also find some of the best crypto wallets for gambling and offer tips on how to win in bitcoin casinos. Best Bitcoin Casinos Rank 1) Betbeard Online Casino Betbeard is an online bitcoin casino with huge bonuses and thousands of slot games. There are free spins for every deposit, like their Summer 2022 promotion giving away 100 000 free spins. They accept bitcoin and other crypto, their customer support is great and welcome bonuses are generous. Overall Betbeard is the best bitcoin gambling site for online slots, table games, and live games. Betbeard offers great sports betting section as well, for the fans of the crypto bets. 2) Bitstarz Crypto Casino Bitstarz is a popular bitcoin casino with huge crypto bonuses, you can purchase bitcoin with fiat currency on Bitstarz, so even if you haven't adopted crypto yet, you can still play jackpot slots. Bitsarz offers smooth bitcoin transactions as the balance is loaded before all 6 confirmations are done, which speeds the process and improves the customer experience. 3) Betheat Bitcoin Casino Bitcoin online casino accepts bitcoin cash and offers the best crypto sports betting in the US. Betheat Casino specializes in poker games, especially bitcoin poker, other strengths include their dice jackpot game and low minimum deposit requirements. As one of the best crypto casinos, Betheat distinguishes itself from other gambling sites with its minimalistic design and stylish look. How to Play in USA Bitcoin Casinos As the world of online gambling continues to evolve, so too do the options for US players. While there are still many casinos that only accept traditional fiat currencies, an increasing number are now offering cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals. Bitcoin casinos are particularly popular, as they offer a high degree of anonymity and security. However, it is important to choose a reputable and trustworthy casino, such as Betbeard, that has a good selection of games and offers fast payouts. How to Deposit and Withdraw from a Bitcoin Casino When it comes to depositing and withdrawing from bitcoin casinos in the USA, there are a few things to bear in mind. Firstly, you will need to have a bitcoin wallet set up to store your coins. There are many different wallets available, but we recommend choosing one that is easy to use and offers good security features. Once you have a wallet set up, you can then purchase bitcoins from a reputable exchange. Once you have your coins, simply send them to your casino account and start playing! Withdrawing your winnings from a bitcoin casino is just as easy as making a deposit. Simply select the withdrawal option on the casino website and enter your bitcoin wallet address. The funds will then be sent to your wallet within a few minutes. If you are looking for a great way to win big in online casinos, then bitcoin casino gambling is worth considering. With its many benefits, including anonymity, security, and fast payouts, it is no wonder that more and more players are turning to bitcoin casinos. What is a USA Bitcoin casino Bitcoin casino is an online casino that accepts cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals. Bitcoin casinos are very popular because the speed of withdrawals is high, players remain anonymous and can play bitcoin slots easily. There are various crypto casino games offered by the best bitcoin casinos such as slot games, live casino games, and sports betting. How to find a Good Bitcoin Casino Finding a trustworthy bitcoin casino is the most important task before starting to play slots. First, check if the bitcoin casino offers welcome bonuses, so you can get the maximum of your game time. Check out the customer support and ask them if they accept players from the USA, and whether they accept bitcoin. Most bitcoin gambling sites offer provably fair games and have low minimum deposit requirements. Look for a casino that offers fiat currencies as well, as you may decide to switch to traditional casino games. Is Bitcoin casino legit Although most crypto gambling sites are legit, you must be careful as some scam online bitcoin casinos are falsely advertising as trustworthy sites. Top bitcoin casinos offer thousands of slots, live dealer games, and sports betting markets, and allow deposits with various cryptocurrencies including bitcoin cash and Ethereum. In Betbeard you can play live games, jackpot games, and table games in a safe and relaxing atmosphere. If you believe that an unknown bitcoin casino site is risky for you, then step away and find something more suitable. Bitcoin Casino Free Spins Betbeard offers monthly promotions where each deposit brings you free spins gift. Most casinos offer free spins so don't be shy to ask live chat for yours. Traditional online casinos prefer to give out reload bonuses whereas online crypto casinos pay out no wagering free spins. Look for deposit bonuses as most crypto gambling sites offer lucrative gifts for their players. USA Online Casinos vs Bitcoin Casinos There are a few fundamental differences between online casinos and bitcoin casinos, the first being the payment methods, acceptance, and licensing of the casino. Crypto casinos are licensed mostly in Curacao, whereas local online casinos are licensed locally. Bitcoin online casinos, therefore, are following more relaxed laws and can offer a higher number of live dealer games, slots, and better sports betting odds for sports bettors. Provably fair online casino Betbeard focuses on video poker, and jackpot slots, and unlike many online casinos in the gambling industry, it allows fiat currency deposits. What are the Best Crypto Wallets for Gambling There are many different crypto wallets available, but we recommend choosing one that is easy to use and offers good security features. Some of the best wallets for gambling include Coinbase, Blockchain.com, and Trezor. With these simple tips, you can start playing bitcoin poker and winning on popular bitcoin casino sites in no time. Bitcoin Gambling Site with Progressive Jackpots Although the best bitcoin casino sites offer huge crypto bonuses, for poker games, and live dealer games, they focus predominantly on jackpot slots as players are interested in the big wins offered by them. You can find list of bitcoin sites where you can get other opinions about what are the best crypto casinos. The best bitcoin slots are Netent, Pragmatic Play, and Belatra which all offer a wide variety of games with different themes. Bitcoin Casino Bonuses What are your favorite casino games without good crypto bonuses? Most bitcoin casinos have bonus cash offers, including a first deposit bonus on bitcoin transactions and reload bonuses for return customers. Instead of reload bonuses, Betbeard offers no wagering free spins for every crypto deposit. Playing classic casino games in betbeard is fun with the massive welcome bonus available for slots. Crypto Sports Betting Sites If you're looking for a crypto sportsbook, then there are a few things to look out for. The first is that the site should be licensed and regulated by a reputable authority. This will ensure that the site is safe and secure to use. You don't want your winnings to be voided, or to be losing on low odds and high spreads. The second is to look for a site that offers a wide range of markets. This will ensure that you can bet on the sports and events that you're interested in. Bitcoin bookies vary in size so you have to be vigilant when choosing a betting site. To find good crypto betting sites, first, compare the odds, if the odds are low, then don't bother. Next look at the crypto gambling platform the site is based on, if it's easy to navigate and play then you may try it. Some of the best crypto casino sites offer fiat currencies as well so be sure to check that. Online Gambling Sites Customer Support Customer support is very important for any online casino, bitcoin or not. If you have a problem with a deposit or withdrawal, then you want to be able to contact the casino and have your issue resolved as quickly as possible. The best bitcoin casinos will have a live chat support team available 24/ hours a day. When choosing a bitcoin casino site, be sure to check the customer support options available. Live chat is the best option as you can get a quick response to your query. Email and telephone support are also available, but live chat is the quickest way to get a response. Crypto Gambling Site with Provably Fair Games Provably fair casinos use cryptographic algorithms to generate random numbers, which means that the results of each game can be verified by the player. This provides a level of fairness and transparency that is not possible with traditional online casinos. If you're looking for a USA bitcoin casino with provably fair games, then Betbeard is a good option. Provably fair gaming means that the casino can't cheat you out of your winnings. The games are fair and square, and you can check the results to see for yourself. RTP stands for return to player and is a percentage that shows how much of your money you can expect to win back from a game. For example, a game with an RTP of 96% will return $96 for every $100 you bet. The higher the RTP, the better the chances of winning. When choosing a provably fair game, look for one with a high RTP. This will give you the best chance of winning. Betbeard offers a range of provably fair games with high RTPs, so you're sure to find a game you'll enjoy. How to Play Online Casino in the USA So, you want to know how to play online casinos in the USA? There are a few things you need to know before you start playing. The first thing you need to do is choose a reputable and licensed casino site. This will ensure that your personal and financial information is safe and secure. You also want to make sure that the site offers a wide range of games and bonuses. Once you've found a casino site you're happy with, you need to create an account. This is usually a quick and easy process, and you'll be asked to provide some personal information. Once your account is created, you can deposit funds and start playing. When playing online casino games, it's important to remember to gamble responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits on how much you're willing to spend. Remember that bitcoin casino games are fun and they might lead to addiction, therefore always plan your gambling sessions and don't play more than you can afford. If you follow these simple tips, you'll be sure to have a safe and enjoyable experience when playing online casino games in the USA. Bitcoin casinos are a relatively new phenomenon, but they are growing in popularity. If you want to try one, be sure to do your research and choose a reputable site. And remember, always gamble responsibly! Online Gambling Sites with Fiat Currency Traditional gambling sites that offer only fiat currencies are still popular as they offer similar games, bonuses, free spins, and promotions as bitcoin casinos. You don't need crypto to win progressive jackpots or to take advantage of the first deposit bonus some casinos offer. So how do online casinos differ from bitcoin casinos? The main difference is the payment methods, which allow greater flexibility and anonymity in crypto casinos. Some of the best crypto casino sites offer an anonymous gambling experience, with no need for verification and submitting documents. Although US bitcoin gambling sites are growing in popularity, some people find cryptocurrencies hard to adopt, and hence prefer to play at traditional online casino sites, with fiat currency deposits. What is an MGA casino MGA stands for Malta Gaming Authority. The MGA is a regulatory body that licenses and regulates online casinos. MGA casinos are some of the safest and most reputable casinos in the industry. This is because they are subject to strict regulation, which ensures that they operate fair games and protect their players' money. MGA forbids bitcoin gambling sites, hence all online casinos registered in Malta are offering only fiat currencies. There is no way for a bitcoin casino site to obtain a Maltese license. If you want to play crypto casino games, you will have to find a Curacao online gambling site with bitcoin slots. What is a Curacao Casino A Curacao casino is an online casino that is licensed by the Curacao Gaming Authority. The CGA is a regulatory body that licenses and regulates online casinos. Curacao casinos are considered to be safe and reputable and offer a fair gambling experience. Curacao is the only reliable jurisdiction allowing casinos to accept crypto as a payment method. All the best crypto casino sites hold a Curacao license, and as expected all 3 sites in the above comparison are licensed by the Curacao gambling authorities. Best Crypto Slots As crypto becomes more popular, more crypto casinos are emerging. These casinos offer a wide range of casino slot games, including Gonzo's Quest, Africa Gold 2, Mega Moolah, and Starburst. If you're looking for the best crypto slots, then have a look at Belatra, Netent, Microgaming, Platipus, Spinomenal, Mascot, and No Limit. These are just a few of the best crypto slots providers, and they all offer a great selection of slots games. When choosing a crypto casino, it's important to make sure that it offers a good selection of games from different providers. This will ensure that you have plenty of choices when it comes to the type of slots you want to play. It's also worth checking out the bonuses and promotions offered by the casino, as this can give you a good way to boost your bankroll. Betbeard crypto gambling site offers various slots available for BTC, BCH, ETH, LTC, and USDt. When playing crypto slots, it's important to remember that the odds of winning are usually quite low. However, the potential payout is usually worth the risk, making crypto slots an exciting option for bitcoin casino players. Betbeard is a great bitcoin casino, striving to satisfy its players by offering thousands of slot games, and massive bonuses. Contact Details Betbeard Michael +44 7828 710102 affiliate@betbeard.com Company Website https://betbeard.com/en/sport

August 17, 2022 09:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Spiceology Named Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Spice Company for Fourth Year in a Row

Spiceology

This week, Inc. Magazine announced that Spiceology was named to its Inc. 5000 list for the fourth year in a row; the list recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in America. Since first being recognized by Inc. 5000 in 2018, the company has grown annually by an average of 72 percent. The chef-owned and -operated spice and flavor company provides ground fresh ingredients and innovative spice blends to make it easier for chefs and home cooks to experiment with flavor. “Being recognized by the Inc. 5000 list for the fourth year in a row is a true testament to the innovation we bring to the spice category,” said Darby McLean, President of Spiceology. “From professional chefs to home cooks, we’re changing the way people cook and the way they think about the role of spice blends in their cooking.” In the past year, Spiceology has grown through a relentless focus on raising awareness of its signature spice blends while also launching collaborations with chefs Alvin Cailan, Jet Tila and Kwame Onwuachi and global brands Maker’s Mark 46, Marley Kitchen and Hell’s Kitchen. In addition to new spice lines, Spiceology launched its second e-commerce website dedicated to chefs and foodservice customers: chefs.spiceology.com. The site also announced the creation of Spiceology’s “Fresh Network” of distribution partners, providing more ways for chefs to order its grind-fresh, ship-fresh products.. “The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor in chief of Inc. “Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today.” To learn more about Spiceology, visit spiceology.com, chefs.spiceology.com, and connect on social at @spiceology. ABOUT SPICEOLOGY Founded in 2013, Spiceology is the fastest-growing spice company in America and is on a mission to bring the magic back to spices, the world’s first currency. The chef-owned and operated, one-stop spice shop develops innovative blends and offers over 300 ingredients that are ground fresh in small-batches and shipped fresh to consumers and chefs. Spiceology’s “experiment with flavor” ethos is not only embraced through excellent ingredients and unique combinations, but also through responsible business practices designed to create a better world with diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of the workforce. Spiceology products can be found on spiceology.com, chef.spiceology.com, in specialty retailers and grocers, in restaurants around the US, and as far away as Australia and Dubai. Visit spiceology.com for more information or to place an order, or follow Spiceology on Facebook and Instagram. For recipe inspiration, visit here. ABOUT INC. The world’s most trusted business media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, visit http://conference.inc.com/ Methodology Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S. based, privately held, for profit, and independent not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 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. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine’s September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. Contact Details Spiceology Cassidy Levine +1 908-770-7880 cassidy@spiceology.com Company Website https://spiceology.com/

August 17, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Is BioLife Sciences (OTCPK: BLFE) An OTC Company Primed For Growth?

BioLife Sciences Inc

BioLife Sciences Inc. (BioLife), a commercialization accelerator, licensor and developer of technologies, has reportedly provided investors with a significant company update throughout the course of a two-year transformation. Over the course of the last two years, BioLife has gone through a number of changes evolving into a revamped corporate entity focused on disrupting various consumer verticals, with a specific focus on health and wellness. Let’s take a look at some of what the company has been up to over the last two years. BioLife Sciences is Born: In June of 2020, the OTC Markets public entity formerly known as Rhino Novi Inc. (RNOV) underwent a reverse merger transaction – changing its name and ticker symbol to BioLife Sciences Inc. (BLFE). While Rhino Novi originally focused on VOIP products, the newly formed BioLife would focus on developing and marketing disruptive technologies to a variety of consumer verticals. Harnessing the Antimicrobial Power of Copper? BioLife has reported it focused on the utilization of the natural antimicrobial power of copper and harnessing its innate benefits into everyday textiles. This dynamic elemental metal has a wide variety of beneficial traits, including being required by all plants and animals as a key mineral and nutrient necessary for survival. In the case of humans specifically, copper reportedly helps to boost red blood cell production, provides support to the immune system, and helps to keep nerve cells healthy. For plants, copper is a fundamental micronutrient that is a critical element of plant enzymes, it is essential for plants’ respiration, plays a key role in plant cell wall strength and contributes to the overall strength of the plant. More recently, copper has been shown to provide antimicrobial efficacy associated with copper alloy touch surfaces. Some hospital studies have shown copper’s effectiveness in lowering E.coli counts on brass doorknobs, as well as SARS-CoV-2, Rhinovirus Type 37, Rotavirus Strain WA, and Human Coronavirus 229E. BioLife says it has focused its attention on incorporating the power of copper into everyday products which are fabric-based and disruptive, in contrast to the market’s current offering. Some of these products in development include copper-infused fabric gardening pots, copper-infused gardening gloves, copper-infused microfiber towels and copper-infused air filters. What is MFusion? The company states that traditional copper-infused products that consumers will find on the market today provide limited-to-partial copper coverage. This means that there could are often gaps in the copper coverage, resulting in less-than-optimal results. BioLife addresses this problem with the introduction of their unique copper infusion process: MFusion. MFusion infuses copper into every sub-bundle of the fabric, providing more complete coverage. When copper is infused into textiles via MFusion, the resulting fabrics benefit from 100% evenly distributed copper coverage. MFusion can be applied to any textile – from t-shirts to air filters – with the result being total copper infusion. The 2022 Acquisition of Health Box LLC – What’s Next? In February of 2022, BioLife completed the acquisition of Health Box LLC – an Arizona-based orthomolecular medicine and natural health products company. By completing this acquisition - and appointing Nika Jaksic, Health Box’s founder, as the new COO, the company believes it has positioned itself to enter the orthomolecular and natural health products space. In order to facilitate the Company’s aggressive expansion plans, the Company filed for a Regulation A+ Tier 1 Offering. The SEC qualified BioLife and the Company is eligible to raise up to $20 million. If successful in its capital raise, BioLife states that they intend to pursue rapid expansion of its existing and contemplated product offerings, audits, and the potential of filling towards uplisting to the OTC Venture Market (OTCQB). This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. BioLife Sciences Inc. specializes in moving innovative products from the lab or small-scale production into wider market adoption. Its core business develops, licenses and distributes antimicrobial products and disruptive technology. One of BioLife Sciences’ core building block strategies is to develop, partner and assist innovative companies with the commercialization of leading-edge technologies. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. © 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Contact Details BioLife Sciences ir@biolifesciences.com Company Website https://www.biolifesciences.com

August 16, 2022 01:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time

NextFerm Technologies announces a $3 million Supply agreement for its vegan protein: ProteVin™

NextFerm Technologies Ltd.

A 4.5 years supply agreement with Spacemilk, an American health and sports nutrition brand Currently, the company has a base of potential customers, including global food, dietary supplement companies and international brands, who are examining the integration of ProteVin™ in a variety of alternative products (Yokneam Illit, August 8, 2022) – NextFerm Technologies Ltd. (TASE:NXFR), a food-tech company developing ProteVin™, a vegan, fermentation-based, non-GMO protein alternative and other innovative yeast-based nutrients, announced today that it has entered into a 4.5 years supply agreement totaling approximately $3 million with Spacemilk., an American vegan health and sports nutrition brand. This agreement includes the initial supply of protein in the amount of few tons carried out in June 2022. As reported to the company, Spacemilk is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2022 and for the first time in the U.S., a vegan sports nutrition protein powder based on ProteVin™. The agreement stipulates that Spacemilk will promote the ProteVin™ brand on the product packaging, as it is the dominant nutritional component underlying the product. The agreement includes a mutual commitment to purchase and supply ProteVin™ totaling approximately $1.6 million from July 2022 until the end of June 2025, and an estimation of an additional purchases of $1.4 million by the end of 2026. It should be noted that until the expected operation of the expanded production facility in 2023, the Company will supply protein in the amount of few tons.The company is making progress in its strategic plan and in achieving the other goals it set for itself for 2022, including: Generating demands and receiving additional purchase orders. The company presents the product at exhibitions of raw materials for food and dietary supplements in the US, Europe and Asia and accelerates launching efforts. Currently, the company has a base of potential customers, including global food, dietary supplement companies that are in various stages of evaluating ProteVin™ and integrating it into a variety of vegan products. Expanding ProteVin's production capacity from an initial capacity of tens of tons per year, to a scale of hundreds of tons per year in 2023 which expected to begin during the second half of 2022. Boaz Noy, Chief Executive Officer of NextFerm, said: "We are pleased to announce the first multi-year supply agreement for ProteVin™. This is an important step towards realizing the company's vision of positioning ProteVin™ as a leading vegan protein in the thriving global alternative protein industry. ProteVin™ is gaining a lot of interest from global food and dietary supplement companies and is currently being tested by dozens of potential customers. This customer base continues to grow and is expected to yield the company the following agreements. At the same time, we are preparing to increase production capacity to a scale of hundreds of tons in 2023, to meet the demand." Walter Ross, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Spacemilk, said: "Based on my background and experience in sports nutrition - as a business owner, personal trainer, and consumer in the industry, I can say that ProteVin™ is everyone’s perfect protein. ProteVin’s unique qualities provide amino acid content like whey, ethics and sustainability superior to plant proteins, and a flavor profile that’s better than both. My company, Spacemilk, only sources the highest quality, cleanest, and most sustainable and effective ingredients, which made developing our flagship product with ProteVin™ an easy choice. We’re excited to take ProteVin™ and be first to market with a new category of protein powder, which we believe will replace large sections of the plant and animal nutrition industry today." About NextFerm Technologies NextFerm Technologies, traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE:NXFR) is a food-tech company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative, functional and vegan yeast-derived, non-GMO protein alternatives for various applications in the food and food supplement markets and the growing market for animal-derived protein alternatives. NextFerm's flagship product is ProteVin™, a vegan, yeast-derived protein with animal-like nutritional value (Amino acid profile BCAA=21%, Leucine=9%, EAA=53% and high digestibility PDCAAS=1) and a neutral flavor. ProteVin™ is designed for a variety of categories in the alternative protein market, which is estimated at USD 20 billion in terms of final products and at USD 3.5 billion in terms of raw materials with an annual growth rate of above 20%, including milk and dairy substitutes, meat substitutes and additional categories such as infant nutrition, adult nutrition, and sports nutrition. Another product currently being sold is Astaferm®, an innovative astaxanthin-based antioxidant derived from yeast that has been sold in the US since the end of 2020 through well-established and leading brands in the food supplement market in the US. In July 2021, the Company received Regulatory marketing approval in Canada. The company has additional products which have been licensed to Lallemand, a global giant focused on yeast. For more information, visit the NextFerm website at: www.nextferm.com Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This announcement also includes forecasts, projections, assessments, estimates and other information which refer to future events and matters, the realization of which is uncertain and not exclusively under the Company’s control (forward-looking information). The main facts and data used to support this information are facts and data regarding the current position of the Company and its businesses (including the scope of sales and levels of profitability, manpower, commercial engagements and more), facts and data regarding the current global position of the Company’s operating segments (including industry-specific financial developments, environmental regulatory developments, the competitive environment, technological developments, the reinsurance market and more), and macro-economic facts and data (including the economic situation both in Israel and around the world, yields in the capital markets, social and state developments and more), all as known by the Company when publishing this announcement. The forward-looking information included above in this announcement is significantly based upon, in addition to the existing information held by the Company, on the Company’s current assessments and expectations of future developments vis-a-vis each one of the aforementioned parameters, and the interconnectedness of each one of these developments. The Company has no certainty that its forecasts and assessments will indeed eventuate, and the Company’s operating results may be materially different than the results assessed or implicit based on that set forth above, inter alia, as a result of a change in any of the aforementioned factors. Contact Details Investor and Media Contact Meirav Gomeh-Bauer +972 54-476-4979 meirav@bauerg.com Company Website https://www.nextferm.com/

August 16, 2022 11:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time

FREE BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRCUTS AT HIBBETT & CITY GEAR CUTZ FOR KIDS EVENTS IN HOUSTON

Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett | City Gear and Born Fly host Cutz for Kids Back to School events at two Hibbett & City Gear stores in Houston. The public is welcome to stop by on Sunday, August 21, 2022, between 12 pm and 5 pm to join the festivities. Kids of all ages will be able to get free haircuts on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Houston Hibbett | City Gear Cutz For Kids events are two of 19 being held across the country to get kids excited about the new school year and going back to campus in style. There will be free children’s haircuts from local barbers, music, refreshments and fun for the whole family. “The Houston community is very special to us and we are grateful to host this event with our generous partners from Born Fly to do something special for local youth, as they start the new semester,” said Ben Knighten, Senior VP Operations, Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett | City Gear is known for newly released, exclusive and hard-to-find footwear and apparel. Stores are filled with stylist curated toe-to-head outfits to inspire customers while they shop. There are upscale amenities like phone charging stations, exceptional customer service and convenient shopping options such as; Buy Online Pick Up In Store, Reserve Online Pick Up In Store, Curbside Pick Up and Ship to Store. Customers can also take advantage of a generous customer loyalty program called Hibbett Rewards, Klarna split payment options, text communication updates and much more. About Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1105 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 35 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact Details Wendy Yellin pr@hibbett.com Company Website https://www.Hibbett.com

August 16, 2022 10:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

FREE BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRCUTS AT ST LOUIS CITY GEAR CUTZ FOR KIDS EVENT

Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett | City Gear and Nike host Cutz for Kids Back to School event at City Gear located at 8005 W. Florissant Ave. in Jennings, Missouri. The public is welcome to stop by on Sunday, August 21, 2022, between 12 noon and 4pm to join the festivities. Kids of all ages will be able to get free haircuts on a first-come, first-serve basis. The St. Louis Cutz For Kids event is one of 19 being held across the country to get kids excited about the new school year and going back to campus in style. There will be free children’s haircuts from local barbers, music, refreshments and fun for the whole family. “We are proudly hosting the Cutz For Kids event with our generous partners from Nike to give back to the local community and get local kids energized about starting the new school year,” said Ben Knighten, Senior VP Operations, Hibbett, Inc. "One of our Associates came up with this concept about four years ago and it has been a great success.” Hibbett | City Gear is known for newly released, exclusive and hard-to-find footwear and apparel. Stores are filled with stylist curated toe-to-head outfits to inspire customers while they shop. There are upscale amenities like phone charging stations, exceptional customer service and convenient shopping options such as; Buy Online Pick Up In Store, Reserve Online Pick Up In Store, Curbside Pick Up and Ship to Store. Customers can also take advantage of a generous customer loyalty program called Hibbett Rewards, Klarna split payment options, text communication updates and much more. About Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1105 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 35 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact Details Wendy Yellin pr@hibbett.com Company Website https://www.Hibbett.com

August 16, 2022 10:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time

FREE BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRCUTS AT HIBBETT & CITY GEAR CUTZ FOR KIDS EVENTS IN KANSAS CITY

Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett | City Gear and adidas host Cutz for Kids Back to School events at two Hibbett & City Gear stores in Kansas City. The public is welcome to stop by on Sunday, August 21, 2022, between 10 am and 3 pm to join the festivities. Kids of all ages will be able to get free haircuts on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Kansas City Hibbett | City Gear Cutz For Kids events are two of 19 being held across the country to get kids excited about the new school year. There will be free children’s haircuts from local barbers, music, refreshments and fun for the whole family. “We love giving back to the Kansas City community with our generous partners from adidas and hope the Cutz For Kids events will help local youth look forward to heading back to campus in style,” said Ben Knighten, Senior VP Operations, Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett | City Gear is known for newly released, exclusive and hard-to-find footwear and apparel. Stores are filled with stylist curated toe-to-head outfits to inspire customers while they shop. There are upscale amenities like phone charging stations, exceptional customer service and convenient shopping options such as; Buy Online Pick Up In Store, Reserve Online Pick Up In Store, Curbside Pick Up and Ship to Store. Customers can also take advantage of a generous customer loyalty program called Hibbett Rewards, Klarna split payment options, text communication updates and much more. About Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1105 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 35 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact Details Wendy Yellin pr@hibbett.com Company Website https://www.Hibbett.com

August 16, 2022 10:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Lifestyle

Dukkantek seals $10m funding round as it scales digital ecosystem for SMB retail sector in MENA

Urban Health creates world’s smartest wellness assistant as it secures $3.4m funding round

USA Bitcoin Casino 2022 Betbeard

Spiceology Named Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Spice Company for Fourth Year in a Row

Is BioLife Sciences (OTCPK: BLFE) An OTC Company Primed For Growth?

NextFerm Technologies announces a $3 million Supply agreement for its vegan protein: ProteVin™

FREE BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRCUTS AT HIBBETT & CITY GEAR CUTZ FOR KIDS EVENTS IN HOUSTON

FREE BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRCUTS AT ST LOUIS CITY GEAR CUTZ FOR KIDS EVENT

FREE BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRCUTS AT HIBBETT & CITY GEAR CUTZ FOR KIDS EVENTS IN KANSAS CITY