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The Summer Travel Rebound is Here: How Airbnb Is Making Travel Easier

YourUpdateTV

As pandemic restrictions gradually lift, travel is looking different. A recent report by Airbnb indicates this travel rebound is not a temporary reaction to these many months of restrictions and isolation. Recently, Communications Leads for North America at Airbnb, Liz DeBold Fusco, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss major shifts in how people are traveling and how Airbnb is meeting travelers’ new needs. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/aR4n93mrwzk “We believe this will be the biggest travel rebound in a century,” said Brian Chesky, Co-Founder and CEO of Airbnb. According to Airbnb’s recent Report on Travel & Living, the lines between traveling, living and working are blurring in three key ways: first, people are more flexible over when they can travel, especially as remote working upends traditional seasonality. Second, they are traveling to much more diverse destinations, including small towns and rural areas. And third, they are staying longer in places, if they can work anywhere. Airbnb has introduced more than 100 upgrades across every aspect of their service to meet the coming demand and the fundamental shift in travel. It is one of the biggest top-to-bottom upgrades of the Airbnb service in years. Users will have a better guest experience built around Flexibility. The new Flexible Matching feature will show guests listings that lie outside a specified search, so that they don’t miss out on homes just outside their price range or missing an amenity. These new product upgrades also cater to Hosts. Airbnb is launching a brand new, simplified onboarding process where users can become hosts in just 10 easy steps. Aspiring hosts can even sign up for an “Intro to Hosting” online class or directly message an experienced Host with onboarding questions. Airbnb also redesigned the Welcome to Hosting page for new Hosts to make it easier for new and existing Hosts to manage their listings. If you are looking to share your space this summer and want to learn how to become an Airbnb host yourself, check out Airbnb.com/host About Liz DeBold Fusco: Liz DeBold Fusco is a Communications Leads for North America for Airbnb. Prior to that, she was a Vice President at SKDKnickerbocker, a national public affairs firm, where she provided strategic communications guidance to organizations ranging from the NAACP and Demos to The Rockefeller Foundation and AT&T. Liz has also worked for Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray as well as the New York State Attorney General. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 07, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Haystack Analytics attracts investment, powering tech teams globally and addresses developer burnout

Stockwood Strategy

Engineering insights tool Haystack Analytics, backed by Y Combinator, today announced it has secured a US$1.2m funding round which included participation from Founders Club, Y Combinator, Soma Capital, Entrepreneur First and investors Dan Siroker and Blaine Vess. Founded in 2020 by Julian Colina and Kan Yilmaz, Haystack helps build elite developer teams by providing engineering metrics and alerts proven to drive performance. Haystack improves developer productivity and software quality. Through their integration with GitHub, Haystack is able to provide live data insights that illustrate the entire delivery process from commit to deploy, being able to highlight bottlenecks like code review and team productivity. Using this feedback loop, Haystack users have increased production deployments by 58% and achieved 70% faster cycle times on average. In less than 12 months since launch, Haystack is being used by more than 7,000 developers at tech teams in GoDaddy, Microsoft, The Economist, Indiegogo and Truebill among others as revenues have increased by an average of 36% month on month. Julian Colina, CEO and co-founder of Haystack Analytics commented: “Tech teams and engineers around the world are key assets to any company and shipping software is the heartbeat and competitive advantage they seek. The efforts of developers are at the heart of processes, products and, effectively, the bottom line. Until now, it was difficult for CTOs and engineering managers to objectively know what their roadblocks are or have insights into resourcing levels. Haystack gives visibility by providing metrics and alerts to make sure nothing continues to be stuck. We are helping developers to ship faster and improve their satisfaction”. Research 1 has shown that elite performing engineering organisations are twice as likely to achieve their organisational goals and achieve a 50% higher growth rate over 3 years. It isn't just business objectives that do better, employees of elite performers are almost twice as likely to recommend their team as a great place to work. “Companies with strong technology teams are outperforming those which don't. Technology teams which follow DevOps best practice are less likely to see developers being burnt out, whilst allowing new product ideas to be experimented faster and shipping business value more reliably” added Julian Colina. The funding advances Haystack’s commitment to building intuitive one-click dashboards and alerts using GitHub data. Haystack plans to expand its offering to a greater range of data sources whilst providing an ever greater variety of user-friendly alerts and insights. As companies move to hybrid office/home working environments, Haystack provides insights that teams need to experiment with their workflows to prevent developer burnout whilst shipping faster. “Our mission is to bring the competitive advantage data-driven engineering teams like Google have to everyone. We help teams track their delivery process and optimization opportunities instead of relying solely on gut feelings - resulting in 70% faster delivery on average. It’s been an incredible 12 months and we are well set to achieve much more in the next year” concluded Julian Colina. Ends 1 DevOps Research and Assessment, State of DevOps report About Haystack Analytics Haystack was founded in 2020 by Julian Colin and Kan Yilmaz for tech teams to learn more about roadblocks to their work, improve productivity and importantly identify burnout issues with developers. Haystack helps build elite developer teams by providing engineering metrics and alerts proven to drive performance, improve developer productivity and software quality. Through their integration with GitHub, Haystack is able to provide live data insights that illustrate the entire delivery process from commit to deploy, being able to highlight bottlenecks like code review and team productivity. Using this feedback loop, Haystack users have increased production deployments by 58% and achieved 70% faster cycle times on average. Contact Details Haystack Analytics Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 bilal@usehaystack.io Company Website https://www.usehaystack.io/

June 07, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NORTH SIXTH GROUP ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN NEWS DIRECT CORP.

North Sixth Group

North Sixth Group, a family office operating company with a vision to invest in Passion, Purpose and Progress, today announced a strategic investment in News Direct, the future of news distribution. Founded by former Business Wire President, Gregg Castano, News Direct is the first SaaS-based content and news distribution platform purpose-built for modern media outreach. News Direct was created to address the $1.5 billion dollar opportunity in the newswire technology sector. While traditional wire services have become antiquated and lack the efficiency, control, security and transparency that comms professionals today require, News Direct has addressed each of these through its game-changing offering. News Direct provides a suite of industry-first, proprietary solutions, including a self-guided platform for optimal efficiency and control; standalone multimedia distribution capabilities; a collaborative content studio with task automation, AI-assisted editing and secure sharing; meaningful measurement; and unparalleled security protocols. Castano previously led Business Wire as President and was part of the leadership team that took the company through its historic acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway in 2006. “We are thrilled to welcome North Sixth Group as an investment partner in News Direct,” said Gregg Castano, CEO of News Direct. “Through its holdings, North Sixth Group has a unique understanding of the media and content landscape. This investment is further validation of our vision and the market opportunity that exists within the news distribution category.” North Sixth Group is a family office operating company with wholly owned and minority interests in a variety of investments across multiple sectors all sharing a common vision of Passion, Purpose and Progress. Among the holdings in North Sixth Group’s portfolio of companies are businesses across media, marketing, technology, sports and entertainment. “The news distribution landscape is changing drastically, and News Direct is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology, content and analytics,” said Matt Rizzetta, Chairman of North Sixth Group. “I have had the privilege of getting to know Gregg and the leadership team at News Direct, and it is clear that they have the combination of products, people and market knowledge to change the future of news distribution as we know it.” ABOUT NEWS DIRECT: News Direct provides news and content distribution for PR, IR, Corporate Communications and Marketing professionals. Our platform delivers a completely reimagined, intuitive workflow, industry-leading security, transparent, flat-rate pricing and actionable analytics. Further, News Direct has deployed an array of innovations including advanced automation, isolation cloud technology and custom software for the most dynamic, efficient and flexible platform available today. To learn more visit newsdirect.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. ABOUT NORTH SIXTH GROUP: North Sixth Group LLC is a family office operating company. The company has wholly owned and minority interests in a variety of investments across multiple sectors all sharing a common vision of Passion, Purpose and Progress. Included in the North Sixth Group family of companies are leading public relations firm N6A; modern marketing and content house Studios; professional European football club SS Campobasso; and other holdings across media, marketing, technology, sports and entertainment, and emerging markets. Additionally, North Sixth Group dedicates financial, networking and human capital resources to community-based and philanthropic initiatives geared toward Passion, Purpose and Progress. Contact Details North 6th Agency Carrie Booze +1 619-450-3743 cbooze@n6a.com Company Website https://northsixthgroup.com/

June 07, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Global investors back fintech KTrade - the ‘Robinhood’ of Pakistan

Stockwood Strategy

Leading Pakistani fintech stock trading app KTrade today announced it has raised $4.5m in a funding round from a range of global investors and institutions led by Hong Kong-based TTB Partners, and HOF Capital from New York. German fintech investor Christian Angermayer, the Managing Partner of German bank Berenberg David Mortlock, and leading Pakistani business families also participated in the round. KTrade is the fintech retail trading app created by KASB Securities, the leading stock brokerage in Pakistan. KTrade provides easy access to financial markets for retail investors much like its global peers such as XP in Brazil, Zerodha and Groww in India, Tiger in China, Flatex in Germany and Robinhood in the US. Since launching in 2019, KTrade has over 200,000 users and aims to reach 10 million Pakistani’s at home and abroad by 2023 to invest in stocks, bonds, commodities and mutual funds through its mobile platform. The Karachi Stock Exchange Index (KSE100) has rallied by 19% per annum over the past 20 years despite regular market cycles. The volumes have increased by 7x over the last 18 months driven by regulatory reforms and increase in retail investor participation. Retail investors now account for over 65% of overall trading volume compared to around 45% 24 months ago. KTrade aims to provide users quick and easy accessibility to this investment opportunity. Ali Farid led the creation of KTrade. He was previously the CFO of UK listed fintech company SafeCharge (acquired by Nuvei) and a Partner at Autonomous Research (acquired by Alliance Bernstein) in London. Ali is a Rhodes Scholar and has been a top ranked Technology Analyst in Europe since 2013. Ali Farid, Co-founder of KTrade commented: “People in Pakistan have traditionally turned to gold or real estate when they consider investment options. However, as the regulatory approach, authority and credibility of the Karachi Stock Exchange has grown, more people are getting comfortable with stock market investing. This is an exciting trend but accessibility to these markets remains a hurdle for millions. KTrade will enable this mobile-first population to participate in the investment opportunity. By connecting these people to companies we can drive capital trapped in unproductive assets into the formal economy which would eventually drive a virtuous cycle of economic growth and higher investments”. Pakistan is emerging on the radar of global investors as the next Indonesia. A large, young and growing middle class and high smartphone penetration have created ideal conditions for technology led disruption. KASB’s aim is to provide retail savers access to financial education, information and financial products and to help them make better financial decisions. “Most people in Pakistan lack access to formal financial products and their savings in real estate or gold offer inferior returns, are inefficient and have high transactional costs. We aim to democratise access to the capital markets and enable them to make stock market investments. The strong demand for KTrade shows that the market is ready for this transformation. Other regional and emerging markets have seen similar evolution led by successful fintech companies” added Ali Farid. “Pakistan and South Asia have some of the most exciting market dynamics and demographics globally, and KTrade is well positioned to take advantage of the democratisation of finance in the region” said Jonathan Bond, Managing Partner TTB Partners who were lead investors in the funding round. “We are delighted to be investing in the latest round of funding for KASB, and to support Ali and his first-class team on their continued journey. We have been extremely impressed by what KASB has built over the past few years, both from a tech perspective and from the educational overlay to investing, which the company has embraced. In particular, we believe that in KTrade, the company has a stellar solution to expanding stock market participation across Pakistan” added Jonathan Bond. About KASB Securities KASB is the leading stock brokerage in Pakistan. It is a member of the Pakistan Stock Exchange and Pakistan Mercantile Exchange and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. KASB’s mission is to democratise investments by giving people in Pakistan easy access to financial information, education and products. It operates KASB Varsity, an online MOOC, and KTrade, the leading stock trading application in Pakistan. KASB’s goal is to channel capital to financial markets by broadening the breadth of the capital markets. Further information visit: https://kasb.com or follow the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and through YouTube. Contact Details Stockwood Strategy Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://kasb.com/ktrade/

June 07, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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SIGMA America Announces Focused on the Fight 2021 Charitable Giving Campaign

SIGMA CORPORATION OF AMERICA

SIGMA Corporation of America, a leading camera and lens manufacturer for both photography and cinema applications, is pleased to announce Focused on the Fight 2021. From May 31 through June 30, 2021, 5% of all sales at twenty-four participating retail partners will be donated to four charitable organizations, selected for their ongoing commitment to aiding communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Focused on the Fight raised over $93,000 for charitable organizations across the United States in partnership with eighteen participating retail partners, and this year, the campaign continues its mission to help provide aid to the communities that need it most. Focused on the Fight 2021 continues the commitment on SIGMA America’s part to community well-being, and funds raised during the campaign will be divided equally among the following charities: Feeding America, Mental Health America, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Donors Choose. Each of these charities was selected based on their missions of community well-being. "Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, photography has been an outlet for people to express themselves, and to celebrate the strength of humanity in our communities," says Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of SIGMA America. "Our nationwide network of retailers are strong members of their local communities, and with their help – and the support of SIGMA fans – we can offer some measure of relief to their neighbors, and to people across the nation who need a helping hand." The participating dealers include: Arlington Camera B&C Camera Bedford Camera & Video Camera Casino Dodd Camera Glazer's Camera Hot Rod Cameras Hunt's Photo & Video Kenmore Camera Midwest Camera Milford Camera Murphy's Camera Pixel Connection Precision Camera PROCAM Pro Photo Supply Roberts Camera Rockbrook Camera Samy's Camera Schiller's Camera The Camera Company The Camera Exchange The Camera Mall The Camera Shop of Muskegon For the most up-to-date information on Focused on the Fight 2021, please visit: https://www.sigmaphoto.com/focused-on-the-fight-2021 Media Inquiries: Jack Howard / SIGMA.PR@sigmaphoto.com / 631 585 1144 ext. 1015 For information about SIGMA America, please visit sigmaphoto.com and SIGMA Blog for helpful information about our products. Follow SIGMA America on social media: SIGMA Photo: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SIGMA Cine: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. About SIGMA Corporation Craftsmanship. Precision. Dedication. Since 1961, SIGMA has been devoted to the pursuit of advancing photographic technology. Unique to the industry, the family-owned business produces its high-quality, award-winning still photo and cinema camera lenses, DSLR and mirrorless cameras, flashes, filters and accessories from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Aizu, Japan. In 2012, the company introduced SIGMA Global Vision with three distinct lens lines: Art, Contemporary and Sports. Designed for industry camera mount systems including Canon, Leica, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and Sigma, each lens is handcrafted and tested in Japan to ensure a high-performance, premium product that is purpose-built to last. In 2016, the SIGMA Cine lens lineup was launched, further cementing SIGMA as an innovator in imaging engineering. Embodying the core optical DNA that has defined the SIGMA benchmark of excellence, SIGMA cine lenses meet the needs of advanced 6k and 8k cinema production. Forming the landmark L-Mount alliance alongside Leica and Panasonic in 2018, SIGMA continues its storied tradition of imaging excellence through groundbreaking innovations such as the native L-mount SIGMA fp full-frame mirrorless digital camera, announced in July 2019. The introduction of the fp along with the availability of 20 award-winning SIGMA Global Vision lenses in native L-Mount format demonstrates SIGMA's continued commitment to the creative community through expanded product offerings. With the fp and these lenses, even more shooters can now leverage SIGMA's renowned optical formula to achieve their creative vision with ease. Contact Details SIGMA Corporation of America Jack Howard +1 631-585-1144 SIGMA.PR@sigmaphoto.com

June 03, 2021 12:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Dyscommunication Crisis

Post Hill Press

We've only scratched the surface of the more profound impact of digital communication. I'll Get Back to You: the Dyscommunication Crisis, Sam George's new book explains what's causing the connectivity problems and offers concrete remedies for emails and texts. The issue isn't technology. Sam George says the true communication revolution is the end of an immediate feedback loop. Humans have used direct feedback to communicate for millennia. It is necessary for comprehension and understanding others. Everything can be understood and clarified on the spot. It provides a solid foundation for communication critical to relationships. The broken feedback loop causes the Dyscommunication Crisis. Anxiety, uncertainty, and misunderstanding replace the reassuring backbone of direct feedback. We are never sure if our message is read, fully understood, and whether it will be returned. You're waiting for a response from your boyfriend. Your supervisor is taking a long time to respond. You've texted your son all day and received no response. You revert to a worst-case scenario for them. The psychological impact is severe. According to polls, over 66% of people regularly experience anxiety, agitation, worst-case scenarios, and negative loops of thinking because of an unreturned email or text. Even if your message is returned, it is not always a complete loop. The message might be vague, or you may misinterpret it, resulting in similar issues. Unlike in the past, there's no quick input to clear things up. We are not wired for digital communication. Cognitive science supports this. The brain seeks immediate feedback so it can complete the patterns it uses to process information. When it cannot finish the loop, it forces us to resort to the worst-case scenario. It is conclusive and satisfies the mind’s need to complete a pattern. Much of the misunderstandings caused by emails and texts are in relationships. Examples and tips are addressed in chapters, which include dating, couples, family, jobs, and friends. I'll Get Back to you is a digital communication master plan that includes: 1) Tactics to ensure your messages are returned promptly. 2) Examples and tips to prevent miscommunication with partners, family, friends. 3) Tested methods to ensure your email will be read and completely understood. 4) Strategies for following up on unclear and unanswered messages. 5) Proven techniques to quickly stop the anxiety. www.dyscommunication.com If you would like to talk to Sam, or need information, please contact Lori Ames. Lori Ames President ThePRFreelancer, Inc. lori@theprfreelancer.com 631-539-4558 www.ThePRFreelancer.com I’ll Get Back to You: The Dyscommunication Crisis: Why Unreturned Messages Drive Us Crazy and What to Do About It by Sam George Post Hill Press Trade Paperback On-Sale: April 27 th, 2021 ISBN: 9781642937190 $18.00 US / $25.00 CAD Sam George is a writer and media consultant who specializes in digital marketing. He is co-author of the nationally acclaimed, The Great Divide: Retro vs Metro America, which defined the cultural divide between Red and Blue states. And envisioned the culture war of today. The book earned reviews in the New York Times, Newsweek, and the L.A. times. Contact Details President ThePRFreelancer, Inc. Lori Ames +1 631-539-4558 lori@theprfreelancer.com

June 03, 2021 08:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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CSG to Drive New Growth and Innovation for Vietnamobile

CSG

CSG to Drive New Growth and Innovation for Vietnamobile BRISBANE, June 3, 2021 – CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS) today announced a multi-year contract/relationship extension with Vietnamobile, one of Asia Pacific’s leading mobile operators. As Vietnamobile’s technology provider of choice, CSG will drive their customer billing, mediation and settlement operations to support the company’s accelerated growth and the introduction of new products and services. “Our rapid transition to digital mobile services across Vietnam is fueling an explosive wave of customer growth and demand,” said Christina Hui, CEO, Vietnamobile. “CSG has been our trusted technology provider for many years. We are excited to grow this relationship and leverage their leadership to help position us as the leading wireless services provider across Vietnam.” Since its inception more than a decade ago, Vietnamobile has become one of the fastest growing B2C mobile communications operators in the country. The company is fueling new growth by introducing innovative products to market faster and focusing on best-in-class customer experiences. “Vietnamobile continues to lead the Vietnam market by selecting the best-in-class technology that allows it to innovate and offer superior customer experiences,” said Ian Watterson, head of CSG’s Asia-Pacific business. “We are proud to be Vietnamobile’s strategic technology provider and stand ready to support their growth and demand for innovative digital services.” Leading telecommunications companies across Asia-Pacific and the world rely on CSG to monetise new offerings and protect and maintain existing revenue streams. The company’s broad portfolio of revenue management and digital wholesale solutions allows companies to efficiently shorten their time to market and reduce operational costs while delivering innovative services and extraordinary customer experiences. # # # About CSG For more than 35 years, CSG has simplified the complexity of business, delivering innovative customer engagement solutions that help companies acquire, monetize, engage and retain customers. Operating across more than 120 countries worldwide, CSG manages billions of critical customer interactions annually, and its award-winning suite of software and services allow companies across dozens of industries to tackle their biggest business challenges and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace. CSG is the trusted provider for driving digital innovation for hundreds of leading global brands, including Airtel Africa, América Móvil, AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, DISH, Formula 1, Hutchison 3 Indonesia, Inmarsat, Mastercard, Maximus, Microsoft, Mobily, MTN, New Leaf Service Contracts, State of California DMV, TalkTalk and Telstra. To learn more, visit our website at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Copyright © 2021 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names which are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. Contacts: Tammy Hovey Global / North America / Asia-Pacific Public Relations +1 (917) 520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Kristine Østergaard Europe / Middle East / Africa Public Relations +44 (0)79 2047 7204 kristine.ostergaard@csgi.com John Rea Investor Relations +1 (210) 687 4409 john.rea@csgi.com Contact Details CSG Tammy Hovey +1 917-520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

June 02, 2021 03:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time

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Exclusive “Awesome” First Look at THE LEGO® MOVIE™ WORLD

YourUpdateTV

YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology – Now that LEGOLAND ® California Resort is back open after being closed for 13 months, the family theme park in Carlsbad, CA, is excited to announce the opening of THE LEGO ® MOVIE™ WORLD. Recently, LEGOLAND ® California Senior Media Relations Manager, Jake Gonzales, and Head of Public Relations at Merlin Entertainment, Julie Estrada, teamed up to share an exclusive first look at the new attraction and provide tips on what to know before planning your next trip. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/etg50475M_s THE LEGO ® MOVIE™ WORLD will drop visitors into the quirky, frenetic and manic world of Emmet Brickowski, Wyldstyle, UniKitty and Benny the Spaceman from “THE LEGO® Movie™” film franchise. Attractions include: Emmet’s Flying Adventure - This new flying theater ride is the biggest new attraction in THE LEGO ® MOVIE™ WORLD! Join Master Builders on a triple decker flying couch, as cutting-edge technology transports you all over THE LEGO ® MOVIE™ universe. Surrounded by a full-dome virtual screen, you'll feel like you're flying through a world created completely from LEGO bricks! UniKitty’s Disco Drop - This all-new drop tower ride will take you through a rainbow-filled journey based on Unikitty and her many moods. Swoop to the tiptop of Cloud Cuckoo Land, then drop, spin and bounce back down to earth in sync with Unikitty’s wide range of emotions! Benny’s Play-Ship - Benny’s spaceship has landed right in the middle of Bricksburg! Play on this space-themed playground structure and get ready for takeoff! In addition to the new rides and attractions, guests can choose from a host of food and beverage options in THE LEGO® MOVIE™ WORLD. Enjoy delicious homemade ramen, rice bowls and salads in the land's premiere restaurant, Everything is Ramen! After something sweet? You're sure to be satisfied by Cloud Cuckoo Crepes. Finally, Benny’s Rocket Fuel offers a selection of drinks and snacks, including ice cream, popcorn, and slushies. To learn more and to book your next visit, check out Legoland.com About Jake Gonzales: As a father of two girls and an avid traveler, Jake Gonzales is always looking for the best family travel tips to save money and make the most memorable experiences possible for his family. Gonzales is a Carlsbad native who represents LEGOLAND ® California Resort as an on-camera spokesperson providing his expertise on all the interactive activities, services and events the 22-year-old Resort has to offer. About Julie Estrada: Julie Estrada came to LEGOLAND ® California in 2003 after more than 13 years in broadcast news. A mom of two and world traveler, she currently is Head of Public Relations North America, Merlin Entertainments which owns more than 130 attractions globally and is the second largest attractions operator in the world. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 02, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Agora Data Closes Its Second Crowdsourced Securitization

Agora

Agora Data, Inc., today announced the successful closing of its second crowdsourced securitization, ACAST 2021-1, on May 27, 2021. With the closing of this second transaction, the AgoraCapital program has provided 40 Buy Here Pay Here auto dealers and finance companies with nearly $200 million in subprime auto loans access to efficient, capital markets financing. The ACAST 2021-1 closing marks an important continuation of Agora’s revolutionary developments in the world of structured finance. “Our AgoraCapital program helps subprime originators proactively plan for the future. It levels the playing field by enabling dealers to borrow more money at a lower cost without the restrictions of other lending sources,” said Steve Burke, CEO of Agora Data. Burke continued, “There is simply no other affordable and abundant capital for a dealer to safely triple in size without giving up control or equity in its business.” By participating in an Agora crowdsourced securitization, subprime auto entrepreneurs can now gain access to the capital markets like the large dealer groups and institutions have with low-cost capital to maximize their financial leverage and significantly grow their businesses. Unlike traditional lending sources, not only does Agora provide the needed capital for growth but also helps dealers grow safely. Before Agora’s proprietary data-driven technology and innovative approach, BHPH dealers and small finance companies were unable to access the capital markets and abundant low-cost capital as only senior lenders and larger institutions received the more favorable lending terms. “Our first transaction in December 2020 was groundbreaking. However, in many ways, this second deal is even more significant as it solidifies that AgoraCapital and our ability to deliver for the dealer community is here to stay. Agora is well into its mission to revolutionize how dealers borrow money,” said Chris Hawke, Agora Data’s Chief Revenue Officer. Agora is passionate about revolutionizing the auto industry with innovative financial solutions. The company closed its first-ever crowdsourced auto securitization on December 29, 2020. The second transaction, ACAST 2021-1 is further proof of concept with each planned securitization becoming routine for the dealers. Buy Here Pay Here dealers and subprime originators of all sizes are gaining unprecedented access to the capital markets with a lower cost of funds along with other positive business transformation benefits. About Agora Data, Inc: Founded in 2017, Agora Data’s mission is to provide access to capital for Buy Here Pay Here dealers and small to mid-sized finance companies. Pioneered by Agora Data, AgoraCapital and AgoraCredit provide a new funding channel so small to mid-sized dealers can obtain all the cash they need to fuel growth. Agora’s proprietary, radical, AI-infused technology connects dealers and finance companies with the capital markets. For capital market stakeholders, AgoraTrade and AgoraCapital provide an opportunity to participate in a time-tested asset class previously not available. Agora Data made history by closing the first-ever Crowdsourced Subprime Auto Securitization on December 29, 2020. For more information, visit agoradata.com or contact us at 877-592-4672. Contact Details Shelly Vandeven +1 682-282-4130 media@agoradata.com Company Website https://agoradata.com/

June 02, 2021 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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