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Shatterproof and The Hartford Release Largest and Most Expansive Addiction Stigma Survey Ever Fielded

Shatterproof

Today, Shatterproof and its collaborator The Hartford published the largest, most expansive survey ever fielded on addiction stigma of nearly 8,000 U.S. residents. The findings are striking. More than three-quarters of the American public believe that a substance use disorder (SUD) is not a chronic medical illness and over half of respondents hold the belief that SUDs are caused by bad character or lack of moral strength, according to the national research. The Shatterproof Addiction Stigma Index, a first-of-its-kind measurement tool, was designed to assess attitudes about substance use and people who use substances. It used more than 50 validated stigma measures to gauge perceptions of those with a SUD, including the degree to which they have internalized this exclusion. The Index is designed to track progress regularly and hold our nation accountable for continual improvement. The lack of understanding about addiction by the general public creates a desire for social distance. According to the survey, nearly half (45%) of the public is unwilling to live next to or be close friends with someone with a SUD. Similarly, 45.8% of respondents don't want a person in recovery marrying into their family – highlighting how these beliefs entrench deep feelings of exclusion and shame for individuals with a SUD throughout their lives, regardless of their recovery status. “What’s at stake is real. For millions of people across the country, fighting pervasive stigma is a matter of survival,” said Gary Mendell, CEO of Shatterproof. “We must change the way our institutions operate, the way we view our friends and neighbors, and how those with a SUD view themselves. We must end discrimination, strengthen the road to recovery, and offer hope of a bright future. And measuring our progress is essential.” Dr. Melissa Anderson, MD, PharmD, a Shatterproof Ambassador from Kentucky and a person in long-term recovery, has experienced stigma in both the health care and workplace settings. Following a severe dog bite incident, she found herself as a patient in the hospital system where she’d previously been employed as both a pharmacist and a resident physician. “Former co-workers greeted me with jeers, joking that the ‘doctor-turned-junkie’ was back. During my 8-hour ER stay, I did not receive the standard of care for my injuries - neither antibiotics nor analgesics were administered, after I requested non-opioid agents, despite standard facility protocols and the easily-observed severity of my injuries,” said Dr. Anderson. “It was made abundantly clear from both their actions and language team that this health care team felt the disease of addiction, even one in recovery, made me an individual less deserving of compassion and care. That was July 2015 and I have not been a formal recipient of health care since.” Nearly half (44%) of health care professionals surveyed endorsed the harmful belief that medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is substituting one drug for another. This is compared to the about 41% of the public that expressed the same belief. Moreover, one in four health care professionals do not agree that more providers should offer MOUD to increase accessibility. “The work to end addiction stigma is far from over, and we are proud to partner with Shatterproof on establishing this important research that will drive future public policies and workplace practices,” said Christopher J. Swift, chairman and CEO of The Hartford, a leading workers’ compensation and disability insurer and founding partner of Shatterproof. “We believe efforts involving all levels of government, the business community, and neighborhood organizations are necessary to end the ongoing addiction crisis, create open and inclusive cultures, and break down stigma that impedes human achievement.” Nearly a million people have been lost to addiction in the last two decades and in 2020 alone, more than 93,000 Americans died of an overdose, representing the most overdoses ever recorded. More than 20 million American adults suffer from the disease of addiction per year. Addiction is a treatable disease, but due to stigma most people do not seek the help they need and equally tragically, internalize feelings of shame and lose hope that they can recover and lead healthy, full lives. Creation of the Index was supported by Ipsos alongside Dr. Brea Perry and Dr. Anne Krendl from Indiana University. ### About Shatterproof: Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the United States. Shatterproof harnesses the models of business, the rigor of science and the power of a national movement to create change and save lives through three pillars of work: revolutionizing the addiction treatment system, breaking down addiction-related stigmas and supporting and empowering our communities. To learn more visit www.Shatterproof.org Contact Details Shatterproof Holly A Jespersen +1 646-334-1024 hjespersen@shatterproof.org Frontwood Strategies Nell Callahan +1 202-262-0721 Company Website https://www.shatterproof.org/

October 27, 2021 06:00 AM Eastern 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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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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National Guard Veteran Darin Overstreet Transitions to Owning Minuteman Press Franchise in Aurora, Colorado

Minuteman Press International Inc

Darin Overstreet, co-owner of the Minuteman Press franchise located at 14190 E. Jewell Ave., Suite 1, has retired from the Colorado National Guard where he served as Chief Public Affairs Officer for the Joint Task Force - Centennial. Today, Darin, who also served in the U.S. Air Force, runs Minuteman Press in Aurora along with his wife Anne. Together, Darin and Anne provide local businesses and non-profits with design, printing, marketing, and mailing services. During his time of service, Darin was an integral part of several missions both at home and abroad. He shares, “We (the National Guard) did both federal and state missions that could take us anywhere from The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to El Salvador to right here in Colorado. In 2013, one mission that particularly hit home was the Colorado floods. The flood ripped through a dozen counties, and I was part of the Colorado National Guard’s Joint Staff. We coordinated everything from sandbagging and evacuations to helping people in flooded areas. After the floods, our team was brought in to help rebuild the highway that leads to Estes Park, Colorado. We were able to get the roads paved and, during the rebuild, I coordinated with the media including interviews, public relations, photography, video, and writing articles.” Darin continues, “I am most proud of the fact that I was part of team that truly made a difference and helped people when they needed us most. Over 15 years, our Public Affairs team received 75 National Military awards. I really enjoyed community relations, which is something I am still doing today in a different capacity with Minuteman Press, our Veteran-owned family business in Aurora.” Applying Military Skills to Business Ownership With Minuteman Press in Aurora, Darin has found the perfect opportunity to apply the skills he acquired during his years of military service. He says, “There are so many lessons and experiences I have taken with me – community relations, messaging, public relations, photography, and building relationships with so many different types of people. As the Director of Community Outreach, I was already connecting people who may not otherwise meet and I learned the value of simply helping others by providing service.” Darin adds, “90 percent of our clients are other local business owners like me. If I see that they can benefit from one another, I make meaningful connections and I see working with my clients as a two-way street. I love working with them on all of their marketing promotions and social media, and just building relationships. I want to serve and strengthen my community just as I did when I was in the National Guard.” One other benefit that Darin sees in the transition to business ownership is his ability to endorse and promote businesses, which was not the mission of the National Guard. He says, “Now, I can promote other businesses and help them, and I love being an active part of the Aurora community in this way. For example, during the pandemic I’ve been working to promote local artists. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photo/Video, and so I’ve been art-adjacent all my life. With Minuteman Press, I am able to help these incredible artists print on demand and promote their stories.” Buying the Business During the Pandemic and Operating as an Essential Business Darin and Anne bought their business in June 2020 and have remained open and operating throughout the pandemic as an essential business. They have seen high demand for a wide variety of products as businesses continue to ramp up their marketing efforts. Darin says, “We’ve seen high demand for direct mail and Every Door Direct Mail. We help businesses reach out to targeted geographic and demographic areas so they can tell their customers about operations changes, new guidelines, and of course, special offers.” He continues, “Throughout the pandemic, popular items have included large format printing (banners, posters, and signage), updated restaurant menus, stickers, and dye sublimation (face masks and apparel). We’ve also helped clients come up with special offers for subscription boxes featuring relevant printed and promotional items that their customers will appreciate and remember.” When asked why he chose Minuteman Press, Darin answers, “I looked at other franchises but I’ve always been interested in printing. I have a passion for art, photo and video, and with this business I feel like I can help others bring their visions and branding to life. When I visited Minuteman Press at the Denver Franchise Expo, they were very professional and straightforward. They told me about how the franchise model worked including their training, ongoing support, and capped royalties. I also found the startup costs reasonable and felt they had the knowledge and resources to really help us operate this business.” Darin also credits the local support team in Colorado for being there every step of the way. “Regional Vice President Jack Panzer and Area Manager Todd Golberg are there for us whenever we need them and it is a tremendous benefit to us to have their continued guidance and reassurance.” Minuteman Press in Aurora is located at 14190 East Jewell Avenue, Unit 1, Aurora, CO 80012. Contact Darin and Anne Overstreet at 303-751-5007 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/co/aurora21 Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Franchise Business Review has also named Minuteman Press International a Top Franchise for Veterans. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

October 25, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Ensuring Community Sports Programs Survive and Keeping Your Kids Active

YourUpdateTV

Similar to so many other small business owners (restaurants, shops and other local services), the leaders running youth sports programs have faced an evolving multitude of challenges over the past 20 months as the pandemic continues to impact both the programs and the kids they serve. Recently, Olympic Gold Medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the importance of organized sports for every kid, family and community. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/3jFXybKQ8qA Latest data shows more than 25% of kids stopped playing sports & many sports programs have ceased operations or have returned in a limited fashion. The stark realities of the pandemic are that there are far too many kids that have been left without access to the physical, mental and emotional benefits sports offer and the lack of access to sports for kids in underserved communities has been exacerbated by the pandemic. For kids, spending time engaging in physical activity through organized sport, free play, at school, and with friends is vital to childhood development and society’s overall well-being. At LeagueApps, Benita leads a program called FundPlay to help address the systemic participation and accessibility gaps. Its mission is to support youth sports organizations and foster those important sports experience opportunities for young people in underserved communities. FundPlay, a National Youth Sports Strategy Champion, offers a quarterly grant program where it awards sports-based youth development organizations with FREE lifetime access to the LeagueApps youth sports technology platform, cash awards and other benefits to help youth sports leaders build organizational capacity. By the end of this year, under Mosley’s leadership, FundPlay will have awarded more than 100 grants, ensuring nearly 300,000 kids have access to sports. For more information, visit leagueapps.com/tour. About Benita Fitzgerald Mosley: Fitzgerald Mosley, an Olympic Gold Medalist, is responsible for stewarding the LeagueApps NextUp community and FundPlay program to support youth sports organizations and foster sports experience opportunities for young people from underserved communities. She also serves as the executive director of the PLAY Sports Coalition, a unique coalition of thousands of stakeholders across the national and community youth sports industry. Prior to joining LeagueApps, Fitzgerald Mosley served as Chief Operating Officer for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and Chief of Sport Performance for USA Track & Field. About LeagueApps: LeagueApps helps leading youth sports organizations operate and grow with the industry’s most comprehensive youth sports management platform. Powering thousands of leading organizations from professional leagues and teams to clubs and camps, LeagueApps is on a mission to bring the benefits of sport to kids everywhere. Through its NextUp program, LeagueApps goes beyond technology to provide industry leaders with opportunities for professional development and relationship building. LeagueApps also operates FundPlay, a program that supports sports-based youth development organizations to address issues of accessibility and equity. Learn more at leagueapps.com. 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

October 22, 2021 11:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Tykes, Inc. Selects BEASY’s NFT Management Platform to Power New Tykeland Marketplace

Beasy, LLC

Blockchain Made Easy, LLC (dba BEASY) announced today it has signed a multi-year enterprise licensing agreement with Tykes, Inc., a leading provider of digital likeness artwork to professional and college athletes as well as university sports and recruiting programs. Through the licensing agreement, Tykes will adopt Blockchain Made Easy’s private-labelable core blockchain platform called BEASY Authentication ™ to NFT-enable Tykeland, Tykes soon-to-be released online marketplace. Using BEASY’s technology, Tykeland plans to offer limited edition Tykes designs for use by Tykes customers as NFTs, including sovereign digital names and identities for use on any blockchain-based marketplace. In addition to Tykes use of BEASY’s technology, BEASY is using Tykes designs as player avatars within BEASY’s flagship sports and entertainment application called AthleteChain™. “We’re thrilled to be working with Tykes,” says Bob Kramich, Founder and CEO of BEASY. “By transforming the Tykes they already trust and love into sovereign digital identity avatars, universities and athletes can jumpstart NFT collaboration and revenue generation with trust.” Designed specifically for the sports and entertainment industry, AthleteChain ™makes it easy for players, universities, teams, and sponsors to generate NFTs directly from their own computers, then sell and track them on any website or NFT marketplace. The first of its kind in sports, BEASY AthleteChain ™ is a multi-party consensus network (MPCN), designed to verify and maintain the true state of asset ownership across all permissioned users, while also enabling users to buy, sell, trade or transfer intellectual property rights for physical and digital goods directly with one another. “Through BEASY’s solution, our customers can use their existing Tykes to jumpstart new revenue streams while also learning about blockchain, NIL, and NFTs in a way that’s already aligned with how they recruit and operate today,” says Jason Woullard, CEO and Founder of Tykes, Inc. “Offering blockchain-authenticated Tykes to our valued customers is a natural extension of the work we are already doing for them,” Jason adds. # # # About BEASY ™ Blockchain Made Easy ™, LLC is a Massachusetts-based technology and professional services company empowering retail and business customers with the ability to deploy customized blockchain-based strategies through easy-to-use blockchain software products. The company’s core product, BEASY Authentication ™, is a permissioned blockchain platform and associated wallet solution allowing users to seamlessly create, sell, and track digital goods in addition to a broad range of other applications such as digital identity management, fractional and whole digital asset ownership, royalties management, contract-to-smart contract management and more. BEASY is committed to making blockchain adoption easy. For more information, go to www.BEASY1.com. About BEASY AthleteChain ™ BEASY AthleteChain ™ is a turnkey SaaS software product enabling users in sports to create and manage NFTs directly from their personal computers and sell on any NFT marketplace or Shopify-enabled website using both credit cards as well as cryptocurrencies. A comprehensive yet extremely easy-to-use blockchain enablement platform, AthleteChain™ benefits aspiring athlete entrepreneurs with business benefits such as personal brand trademarking and proof-of-use, quality-at-the-source contract-to-smart contract creation and control, business partner and friend network administration, perpetual revenue tracking, contract compliance verification, and more. For more information go to https://beasy1.com/athletechain About Tykes, Inc. Founded in 2014, Tykes is a design-centered messaging company which creates ‘art that articulates’ for professional and college athletes, universities and global brands. Tykes digital avatars and designs enable everyone from individuals and entrepreneurs, to Fortune 500 enterprises to break through marketing clutter and connect with target audiences in relevant, intelligent and timely ways. Tykes branded designs are proven to increase customer engagement, brand loyalty and revenues. Connect with Beasy Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeasyInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beasy-blockchain-made-easy-llc/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beasy1859/ Connect with Tykes https://www.mytyke.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tykeland Twitter: https://twitter.com/tykeland Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytyke/ Contact Details Beasy, LLC. David Kaupp info@beasy1.com Tykes Jason Woullard, CEO info@mytyke.com Company Website https://www.beasy1.com

October 21, 2021 04:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Instant gifting app Prsnt goes public as demand soars

Prsnt

UK-based Prsnt, the instant gifting app, is going live today after a successful beta testing phase over the past 6 months during which the search term “online gift” increased over 80% last year 1. The app enables users to choose a gift from hundreds of the UK’s high street brands (online or in-store) and sends it directly to another person’s smartphone. Prsnt’s unique “mini-gifting” concept involves sending affordable, meaningful gifts redeemable from shops, cafés, pubs or online retailers – all for the same price as a birthday card and a stamp. It has partnered with over 100 of household brands including the likes of Amazon, Asos, All Bar One, Spotify, Deliveroo, Uber, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Nike, M&S, Sports Direct and The Body Shop among others. “What we’re trying to achieve is a modern way of gifting, removing all the bottlenecks in terms of hassle, whilst also addressing sustainability,” says Omid Moallemi, co-founder and CEO of Prsnt. “Prsnt achieves same-second delivery, so it’s perfect for when you realise that it’s a friend or a family birthday, or you don’t want the delay of sending something in the post.” The app reminds users when their friends’ birthdays are, and lets them send a gift – perhaps a coffee or glass of wine – and a personal video message straight to their phone when they can’t be there with them to celebrate. “With Prsnt, giftees receive an invite to the app, and once downloaded are able to view the personalised message from the sender, and reveal their gift by digitally “unwrapping” it with their finger on the phones touch screen – like a virtual scratch card,” says Moallemi. “Then, open it to find a voucher to buy their favourite Starbucks coffee, or a drink at their local pub to redeem from that day.” The Prsnt team formed in March 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and launched the beta version of the app in December 2020 testing it through peer-to-peer referrals. The app amassed hundreds of users in the first evening of the beta launch followed by 1000’s over the coming months. The virality of the app coupled with the use case proved the time is now for a user focused digital gifting experience. Omid Moallemi describes why mini-gifts are a natural evolution for the gifting realm that reflects the make-up of our friendship circles today, thanks to social media. “Prsnt fulfils the momentary need to celebrate somebody you don’t get to see as often as you would like,” he says. “You don’t want to just send someone a WhatsApp or a text message - it feels underwhelming. It doesn’t in any way represent or reflect the way you feel about them. With Prsnt, you can send them all a little something instead - something a bit more thoughtful.” Currently, the aim is for the app to support UK retailers as they open up again after several lockdowns – riding the greenshoots consumers return to shops, pubs and cafés. “We want to be a catalyst for growth for UK high streets as society returns to pre-pandemic habits” says Omid Moallemi. Likewise, if lockdown restrictions were to return, Prsnt has enormous potential for helping people stay connected with digital mini-gifts that can be redeemed from online retailers. “I think the pandemic showed we’re a Covid-proof business,” says Omid Moallemi. “Lockdown showed everybody what life is like if you can’t physically see your friends on their birthday. If we did have a lockdown again, we would be in a good position as a digital gifting company.” The long-term vision for Prsnt is to increase the degree of personalisation the app offers. “The eventual goal is for Prsnt is to offer a personalised set of gift options for each friend,” says Omid Moallemi. “The idea is to take that pressure off of both parties, to give in a smarter way, and use tech to bridge the gap to remove that stress – we believe this is going to be a powerful feature. Our desktop version allows for group sending and cohorts which opens an exciting B2B to B2C model.” Prsnt is set to raise £3m funding (EIS Advance Assurance) from investors as it targets deeper integrations with retailers and more personalisation for users. The Co-Founders Omid Moallemi David Parr, Daniel Hamilton, Louis Wren and Hamish Page shared a co-working space in Brighton’s North Laine before coming together and forming the Prsnt leadership team. For over 2 years they have utilised their diverse skillsets in technology, marketing, media and product design to aid them in building their vision for the future of digital gifting. About Prsnt Prsnt is set to revolutionise the UK gifting market. Prsnt has a solution for anyone looking to send a gift. The Prsnt app enables users to send and share gifts directly from their smartphones. Partnered with over 100 of the UK’s very best high street brands, Prsnt offers you the ability to send the people the things that they truly love, no matter where they are. The app has a huge range of gift options that are suitable for any budget so you can celebrate everyone’s special days. Before sending you can attach a video or text message to wish them well and let them know you’re thinking of them. Finally, all of your gifts are delivered instantly and arrive digitally wrapped for the receiver to scratch away and reveal what’s inside! Contact Details Prsnt Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://prsnt.co.uk

October 21, 2021 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hear the Sounds of the Holidays Again

YourUpdateTV

HearingLife, a national hearing care company, recently commissioned The Harris Poll to conduct a survey* and found that 44% of Americans with hearing loss feel isolated during holiday gatherings because they struggle to hear their family and loved ones. HearingLife is helping to change that this holiday season through its “ Magic of Hearing Care ” campaign, giving back six free pairs of hearing aids to people in need. Recently, licensed psychotherapist and HearingLife spokesperson, Tom Kersting, as well as Chief Audiologist at HearingLife, Dr. Leslie Soiles teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to talk about the state of hearing loss in the U.S. and the available resources to better manage it. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/NfMOcbV6nTg The holiday season is a time for friends and family. It is a time to celebrate the magic of giving, receiving and the joy of spending time with loved ones. After a year of celebrating virtually, people will be cautiously and safely gathering with those they may have not seen in a year or more. Hearing loss can put a damper on those celebrations as individuals with hearing loss may experience feelings of embarrassment or frustration when they can’t hear or participate in conversations. Often, this can cause them to stop socializing or participating in events or activities that they used to enjoy. According to the latest HearingLife survey: 72% of Americans with hearing loss wish their hearing was better so they could enjoy holiday gatherings. And 43% would rather just stay home than attend large gatherings because they feel left out of conversation due to their hearing loss! Now is the time to learn more about hearing loss, its impact, and how to communicate and participate actively in life again. HearingLife provides the necessary resources for people with hearing loss to help them gain a renewed sense of self and revive relationships, especially during holiday gatherings or if you are joining events virtually this season. The holidays are a time to celebrate the magic of giving. Through the “Magic of Hearing Care” campaign, HearingLife is giving back 6 pairs of hearing aids for people in need with hearing loss. Submit your hearing loss story or your loved ones’ story at www.HearingLife.com/Magic by November 26 to participate. The hearing solutions that HearingLife offers not only benefit their customers, but their family and friends as well. With hearing aids, most people experiencing hearing loss can hear all the special moments and joyful music that they may have missed last year, like the sounds of bells ringing, glasses clinking, laughter and carolers. To learn more about hearing loss and the “Magic of Hearing Care” campaign go to: hearinglife.com/magic About Tom Kersting: Tom Kersting is a licensed psychotherapist, retired public school counselor and the author of Disconnected: How to protect your kids from the harmful effects of device dependency. He is a regular guest expert on many television news shows, including the TODAY Show, FOX & Friends, and more. Tom has also hosted various television series for A&E Network, Food Network, and the National Geographic Channel, offering insights and advice about parenting, relationships, and wellness. Because Tom is passionate about sharing his hearing experiences, he is working with HearingLife to spread awareness about #HearingGain. He lectures throughout the country and is the founder and owner of Valley Family Counseling Center in Ridgewood, NJ. About Dr. Leslie Soiles Au.D., Doctor of Audiology, Lic. #364: Dr. Leslie Soiles founded HearingLife's Shrewsbury's office (formerly New England Hearing Instruments) in 1996. As a Doctor of Audiology, she previously worked with Ear, Nose and Throat physicians for the first 20 years of her career. Dr. Soiles earned her Doctor of Audiology degree from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in 2006; her Master of Science degree in audiology from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in 1985; and a Bachelor of Science degree in communication disorders from Worcester State University in 1982. Dr. Soiles was born with hearing loss and utilizes her first-hand experience in her practice. In 2018, Dr. Soiles received the distinguished honor with the appointed role as Chief Audiologist for both HearingLife and the National Campaign for Better Hearing program in the U.S. As Chief Audiologist, Dr. Soiles trains and mentors hearing care providers, staff and helps people with hearing loss across the United States. Survey Method: *This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of HearingLife from August 19-23, 2021 among 2,044 adults ages 18+, among whom 253 have hearing loss. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact hearinglife@kaplow.com. 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

October 20, 2021 04:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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