News Hub | News Direct

Professional Services

Architecture CRM/Customer Service Consulting Government & Policy Human Resources Intellectual Property/Trademark/Patent Law Legal
Article thumbnail News Release

Pinpoint: UK startup Naurt unveils first-of-its-kind location hyper-precise tracking software that improves GPS

Naurt

Geo-location startup, Naurt, has today announced full public access to a game-changing software set to unlock the future of hyper-precise location tracking. Following a year of beta testing with a pilot group of high-profile local and international businesses and governments, Naurt has now made their first-of-its-kind software accessible to any and all businesses around the globe. The startup’s plug-and-play toolkit currently has no direct competitors and promises to deliver 45 times more accurate location data when used indoors or outdoors and across borders. Current Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology – what most people think of as GPS or SatNav – simply cannot ensure accuracy in built-up areas where even a reasonably large tree can make pinpointing an exact location impossible. Even in open spaces, industries that rely on knowing where something is in relation to something else are still using outdated technology that is good enough at best. Naurt’s software does not replace the satellite location services businesses currently use. Instead, it simply integrates seamlessly with it and fixes the problems that cause the location data to be inaccurate. Where businesses might currently be able to pinpoint a location to within around 20 metres, integrating Naurt could improve accuracy to within centimetres. Jack Maddalena, Co-founder and CEO of Naurt commented: “Naurt is making geo-location ultra precise. Standard satellite location services are no longer fit for purpose and are costing businesses and people time, money and safety. We have created the world’s first platform that is able to improve on this without the need for extra hardware. The work we are doing will be transformational for people and businesses around the world”. In a recent pilot for a large micro-mobility company, Naurt corrected location fixes by an average of 14.6 metres with a maximum correction of as much as 78 metres. Enabling their fleet with Naurt software made it possible for the company to expand into extremely built-up cities that would have previously been out of the question. There will soon be a scooter on every street corner as the micro-mobility trend builds momentum globally. However, many cities will refuse to invite these companies onto their streets if they cannot guarantee the level of safety only Naurt enablement can ensure. In practical terms, Naurt has already improved one of the largest food delivery companies in the world by 40%. Despite unprecedented growth in the last mile delivery market recently, major players still rely on location data that is miles away from accurate. Innovation has halted in similar areas such as micro-mobility, autonomous construction, drone delivery and smart city design as a result of inadequate tracking capabilities. Naurt is making waves in the micro-mobility sector, helping companies win bids through passing safety legislation and enabling them to expand into previously untouchable places. A Naurt-enabled fleet can enforce parking zones (no more scooter litter), throttle speeds in no-go zones and offer smart lane detection. Naurt has helped micro-mobility companies improve their location fixes by an average of 40% during beta testing, eliminating what is known as GNSS drift, so customers and charge teams can track scooters down to the lamp post they are leaning against. “Put simply, your on-demand food delivery service cannot accurately estimate when your pizza will arrive or guarantee that it will be hot when it does. The restaurant cannot tell how far away your driver is or whether to wait before firing up the oven. That means your driver will wait longer when they arrive at the restaurant and fit in less deliveries that evening as a result. Once your pizza is en route, you can only track its progress through vague updates like “on it’s way”, “around the corner” or “nearby” leaving you hanging out the window or loitering by the door waiting for them to get your location wrong – just like last time. But all that is about to change” added J ack Maddalena. Naurt’s mission is to unlock innovation by providing an essential enabler without which rapid progress in sectors that rely on GNSS would simply not be possible. The startup will remove a significant barrier to breakthroughs in emerging technologies and industries such as self-driving cars, automated construction, drone deliveries, last mile logistics, micro-mobility and more. Jack Maddalena said: “Naurt’s innovation enables a diverse sphere of enterprises to improve their solutions, unlock opportunities and break into new markets. We have seen the impact of our work with our customers who, through intelligent location data, are identifying revenues in ways once thought impossible. Here at Naurt, we can imagine a future where there is a new technological revolution based on location hyper-precision and we believe strongly that Naurt is the company to make this happen.” About Naurt Naurt is a location intelligence platform creating the future of geolocation mapping and tracking. Because GNSS technologies have too many limitations, Naurt's world-class team is tackling the core issue by solving problems once thought impossible. The team aspires to make the new standard tool for tracking for everyone. Naurt was founded in April 2020 in Brighton, England, by Jack Maddalena and Nicolas Slack. Jack is an entrepreneur and commercial specialist as well as the former sales director and cofounder of VRCraftworks, a company known for making one of the “10 top VR apps to download” according to The Guardian and many others publications. Nicolas Slack, Naurt CTO, is a published researcher and programmer whose vision catalysed modern acoustic-levitation, and pivoted his attention to geo-location. Under his watchful eye, geo-location technology has entered a new era of innovation! Contact Details Naurt Bilal Mahmoood +44 7714 007257 press@naurt.com Company Website https://www.naurt.com

October 19, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Great Place to Work® Announces the World’s Best Workplaces™ 2021

Great Place to Work®

Great Place to Work® and Fortune today announced the Fortune World’s Best Workplaces™ 2021, a massive, data-led analysis of company culture around the globe. These 25 global leaders were selected from 10,000 companies, representing the voices of 19.8 million employees in 106 countries. This is the largest annual global survey of employee opinions ever. The 25 World’s Best Workplaces stood out for creating globally exceptional employee experiences. These companies outperformed the competition with their unique and special benefits, robust training opportunities for professional development, and commitment to employee recognition and appreciation. To be considered, companies must be identified as outstanding global employers by appearing on at least five Best Workplaces™ lists in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa, North America or Australia. “The World’s Best Workplaces are the most sweeping and consistent examples of inclusive company cultures we’ve ever known,” said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. “In a global workforce, alignment is everything, and these companies are fortifying their culture around the world — a nearly impossible feat. Even when tested by the pandemic, these companies recognize sub-communities in each region and their leaders carry an equitable employee experience across cultures. A huge congratulations to the World’s Best in 2021.” Topping this year’s ranking of the World’s Best was transportation and logistics giant DHL Express, which secured 47 national list awards spanning five continents. Technology firm Cisco ranked second on the 2021 list with 22 national list awards, and hotelier Hilton placed third with 21 national list awards. The World’s Best Workplaces range across industries, with information technology, professional services, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals making up nearly half of the winners. New to the list this year are biotech firm Amgen and software company Atlassian. There are ten re-entries in the top 25 companies — workplaces that appeared on past lists but didn’t make it in 2020, including pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which was last named to the list in 2015. This year proved to be enormously competitive; compared to 2020’s results, employees scored their workplaces higher on all 60 survey statements in 2021 — a notable achievement after a year of workplace challenges amid the pandemic. Compared to other workplaces, employees at the World’s Best are 17% more likely to say they have unique benefits. Employees at the World's Best are also 16% percent are more likely to believe pay is fair and 14% more likely to say they have training and professional development opportunities. Employees at the World’s Best are also more likely to be involved in company innovation, as calculated through Great Place to Work's Innovation Velocity Ration (IVR). IVR describes an organization’s ability to quickly harness, mobilize and respond to new information and ideas. IVR is the ratio of employees working in conditions which enable innovation versus the number of employees who are not. At the World’s Best Workplaces, the IVR is 7.2, meaning for every seven employees able to innovate, only two are experiencing friction. At other organizations, that drops to 5.2. Globally, over 90% of employees at the World’s Best say they have a sense of pride in their work, that management is honest and ethical, and that they feel good about the ways the company contributes to the local community. Slight regional variations could be seen, highlighting differences in company culture around the world. In Asia, the Best Workplaces demonstrated an outstanding commitment to honesty and transparency from management, as well as warm, welcoming work environments. Latin America’s Best Workplaces scored high on opportunities for professional development and trust in leadership. And in the U.S., employees at Best Workplaces versus other organizations were 15.6 times more likely to say their company was a great place to work when it showed a commitment to social responsibility during the pandemic. The top 25 World’s Best Workplaces in 2021: DHL Express Cisco Hilton AbbVie Salesforce 3M SC Johnson Amgen SAP Roche Hilti AG EY SAS AT&T Direct TV Stryker Novartis Cadence Novo Nordisk The Adecco Group Mercado Libre Adobe American Express Atlassian Santander Teleperformance View the Fortune World’s Best Workplaces 2021 list. About the World’s Best Workplaces methodology: Great Place to Work identified the World’s Best Workplaces in 2021 by analyzing surveys representing 19.8 million employee opinions worldwide. We also consider the breadth and impact of company workplace programs. Organizations are assessed on their efforts to create great workplaces and positively impact people and communities across multiple countries around the world. The World’s Best Workplaces have demonstrated their success in creating great workplaces and their impact on their people and communities by ranking on national lists around the world. To be considered, companies must be identified as outstanding global employers by appearing on at least five Best Workplaces lists in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa, North America, or Australia during 2020 or early 2021. Companies must have at least 5,000 employees worldwide with at least 40% (or 5,000) of those employees located outside the headquarters country. About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees around the world and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Great Place to Work helps organizations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. Their unparalleled benchmark data is used to recognize Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies and the Best Workplaces in the U.S. and more than 60 countries, including the 100 Best Companies to Work For® and World’s Best list published annually in Fortune. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All™. To learn more, visit greatplacetowork.com, listen to the podcast Better by Great Place to Work, and read “ A Great Place to Work For All.” Join the community on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Contact Details Kim Peters +1 415-844-2574 kpeters@greatplacetowork.com

October 19, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

The U.S. Chamber Discover & Deliver Initiative Spotlights Medical Innovation Happening across Main Street America

YourUpdateTV

You may be surprised to learn that cutting edge medical innovation is happening right now in your own community—from coronavirus to cancer, America’s innovation community is mobilized like never before. Across main street America, businesses of all sizes, the public sector, and academic institutions are making remarkable progress in developing the next generation of breakthrough treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics we need. The results are clear—working together we achieve more. That’s why the U.S. Chamber Discover & Deliver initiative is spotlighting the role of business in bringing science to life and delivering it to humanity. It’s the story of a nationwide, cross-industry effort that involves our brightest scientific minds, the most innovative companies, and the nation’s leading universities—all working together toward the common goal of making a healthier global community. The scope is as impressive as the speed. Scientists are conducting more than 140,000 clinical trials across the United States, in all 50 states, from big cities to small towns. This search for new medical solutions and cures also supports hometown economies by creating good jobs and driving growth. Discover & Deliver is conducting outreach in communities across the United States to engage local leaders, share the latest information, and provide a “peek inside the pipeline” to shed light on what science can tackle next. To help illustrate this story, the U.S. Chamber developed an interactive map, to show what’s happening across our country—in communities large and small—as innovation works to identify the solutions needed to fight disease. Visit www.USChamber.com for the latest resources and insights into how business is stepping up in extraordinary ways to solve our biggest challenges. 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 15, 2021 03:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

GRYT Health and Bristol Myers Squibb Team Up to Launch Diversity in Oncology Initiative

GRYT Health

In light of the health disparities in oncology, GRYT Health (“grit”), an oncology solutions company that was started and run by cancer survivors, and Bristol Myers Squibb, have partnered to launch Diversity in Oncology, a virtual platform available at www.diversityinoncology.com to highlight and raise awareness of the health disparities in oncology facing diverse patients in the U.S. As one example of a racial disparity that exists in oncology, according to the National Institute of Health, “The invasive breast cancer age-adjusted mortality rate for black women age <40 was twice that for white women.” The Diversity in Oncology initiative will co-create a series of live, interactive sessions that bring together a multi-stakeholder audience of local and national organizations, patients and caregivers, healthcare providers, clinical trial teams and principal investigators, schools of public health and others. The goal of the initiative is to have courageous conversations about what’s currently inequitable, so that this cross-stakeholder, cross-cultural initiative can work towards structural changes in clinical trials. By bringing together diverse patients who have experienced inequities, alongside those who run trials, we will highlight current inequities and identify ways to adapt the system. The first of four live sessions will be October 27, 2021, from 4:00 – 5:30pm ET and is titled “Experience of Diverse Patients and Families in Clinical Trials.” It will feature an opening keynote from Wendy Short Bartie, senior vice president, U.S. Oncology at Bristol Myers Squibb, followed by a panel conversation moderated by Megan-Claire Chase, partnership director at GRYT Health and equity advocate. The session will include “break-out” rooms where attendees will be able to interact with the speakers to ask questions and to share their own stories and experiences in cancer clinical trials. “This initiative is about acknowledgment of the real and current issues in cancer clinical trials that need to be fixed,” said Megan-Claire Chase, partnership director at GRYT Health and moderator of the first session on the Diversity in Oncology platform. “This initiative is being developed with the voices of the underrepresented communities living these experiences, so that resources and structural change can be co-designed together.” The panel speakers in the first session will share their own personal experiences - as patients participating in clinical trials, as well as those who chose not to participate in a clinical trial. “When I participated in a clinical trial for breast cancer, the research team never showed any care or concern to my questions,” said Venus Ginés, president and founder, Día de la Mujer Latina® Inc. and speaker on the Oct. 27 session of Diversity in Oncology. “When I shared about the side effects that I was struggling with - they would say ‘I will document it on your file,’ but there was no support or follow-up care. After three months, I left the trial and upon not getting a call-back, I felt it had been a waste of my time.” Venus founded Día de la Mujer Latina® Inc. not only to educate Latinas about breast and cervical cancer, but as a result of her experience. In her work, she teaches promotores/community health workers to be more patient-centered and respectful to their constituents and patients, providing timely responses, resources, and support. Upcoming sessions, all available on the same virtual platform, will focus on topics relevant to bringing awareness to and developing solutions for healthcare inequities, including the experience of diverse physicians, principal investigators in clinical research, improving representation of diversity in clinical trials, and new models of academia and community collaboration in terms of clinical research. The virtual platform will provide resources and access to organizations and individuals advancing health equity, as well as the opportunity to participate in the live, interactive sessions to foster discussion and collaboration. To register for free access to the platform and the series, visit www.DiversityinOncology.com. All sessions will be recorded and also available on demand. Source: Breast cancer epidemiology in blacks and whites: disparities in incidence, mortality, survival rates and histology (nih.gov) GRYT Health is a digital oncology company that empowers people to be in charge of their own health through education, engagement and support. We offer a community free from judgment that focuses on humanity and the value each person brings. Our mission is to improve quality of life and increase survival for people facing cancer through the relentless focus on patient experience. We put patients first and work with healthcare organizations that do the same. We use the patient voice to enhance drug development and access; and together, we are helping to move healthcare forward. Visit www.grythealth.com or www.solutions.grythealth.com to learn more. Contact Details Lindsay Barnes +1 215-410-9982 Lindsay.Barnes@evokegroup.com Company Website https://www.grythealth.com

October 14, 2021 11:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Global Energy Leader Chevron Shipping joins NAMEPA, Demonstrating its Dedication to Save Our Seas.

North American Marine Environment Protection Association

Carleen Lyden Walker, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), announced that Chevron Shipping has joined NAMEPA as its newest corporate member. NAMEPA is proud to be partnering with Chevron Shipping in making strides to Save Our Seas and towards a cleaner future. “We are delighted that our discussions with Chevron Shipping have resulted in their decision to join NAMEPA’s efforts towards sustainability,” stated Ms. Walker. NAMEPA’s mission of preserving the marine environment and promoting sustainable marine industry best practices is aligned with Chevron Shipping’s goals. “Protecting people and the environment has always been a core value of Chevron Shipping. We are pleased to join NAMEPA and its likeminded members striving for a safer, ever-cleaner environment and marine industry,” said Mark Ross, President of Chevron Shipping. NAMEPA proudly welcomes Chevron Shipping to its global and diverse network of individuals and companies in a new partnership that will help progress towards a greener future. About Chevron Shipping: Chevron Shipping Company LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (NYSE: CVX). Chevron’s fleet has provided a vital link between our operations and the marketplace for more than 125 years. Today, Chevron Shipping Company is an industry leader in safely and reliably transporting crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and refined products that power the world. Learn more. The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a marine industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources. Visit us at: www.namepa.net Contact Details NAMEPA Carleen Lyden Walker +1 203-255-4686 executivedirector@namepa.net Company Website https://namepa.net/

October 13, 2021 10:26 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Provana Welcomes Chief Revenue Officer

Provana

Provana, the leading provider of business and technology platforms for the credit and collections industry, today announced it has named Mike Keister as Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. As CRO, Mike will oversee the company’s sales and business development strategy and execution, with a focus on customer success. “Mike has a proven track record of building sales organizations to support both enterprise and SMB market segments,” said Sandeep Bhargava, Provana’s Co-Founder and CEO. “His authentic leadership style, drive for continuous improvement and passion for helping clients derive full value from their investment make him an excellent fit to lead our team.” Mike joins Provana from Zapproved, a legal tech company. With nearly 20 years of sales leadership experience in SaaS solutions, Mike excels at scaling sales organizations to support rapid growth. He is passionate about combining this approach with a keen attention to customer success and delivering on client expectations. “I’m thrilled to join the company at this critical time in the ARM industry, when many firms are in need of a partner in digital transformation and compliance,” said Mike. “With our long history of supporting clients throughout the entire lifecycle of accounts receivable management, Provana is uniquely positioned to deliver value that supports the latest industry standards and staffing challenges.” Based on the West Coast in Portland, Oregon, Mike enjoys hiking, golfing and attending his daughters’ sporting events. About Provana Provana is a SaaS platform that gives leaders control over process-intensive operations. We serve law firms, insurance companies, accounts receivable agencies and networked enterprises in the US market that are tightly regulated by the CFPB and other authorities. Provana is built on decades of experience in machine learning and natural language processing and helps customers manage sensitive interactions, analyze unstructured data, process personal information and ensure compliance. Provana is backed by a NYC-based Fintech PE, most recently raising funds in November 2020. Learn more at www.provana.com. Contact Details Britney Schaeffer +1 469-774-2409 britney.schaeffer@provana.com Company Website https://www.provana.com/

October 12, 2021 07:08 AM Central Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Harrods enters the limited-edition sneaker market welcoming The Edit LDN

Stockwood Strategy

The UK’s leading online store for limited edition sneakers and high-end streetwear The Edit LDN, today announced the opening of its first ever UK boutique store in Harrods, one of London’s most famous department stores. Harrods visitors will be able to see, experience and buy the latest limited-edition sneakers from The Edit LDN. Already popular with royalty, celebrities and footballers, The Edit LDN is a leading online destination that sells the hottest and hardest to get sneakers and streetwear from brands including Yeezy, Jordan, Off-White and collaborations through to Supreme, among others to a wide community of fashionistas, collectors and investors. Just as premium sites like Farfetch address the fashion world, The Edit LDN showcases the latest sneakers and high-end streetwear. They connect premium resellers with a highly engaged, price agnostic and eager audience. Moses Rashid, Founder and CEO of The Edit LDN commented: “We want to expand and increase accessibility for people who want to own limited edition sneakers around the world. Being the first sneaker reseller in Harrods is a proud and milestone moment for the company and its great to see such a global mega brand engaging with the sneaker market, moreover, that we're the catalyst to make that happen. Harrods offers an amazing customer journey to their global customer base and this aligns completely with our approach, to offer the best in class service. In 18 months, we have expanded our community of buyers from avid sneaker fans to TV and film celebrities as well as professional footballers and royal families around the world. Opening in Harrods is a logical next step as we bring our unique proposition to their customer base”. The Edit LDN has established itself as a trusted source of authenticated and high quality new and pre-loved streetwear and sneakers. Their unabating focus on speed (to deliver purchased goods), customer service engagement and ensuring all goods are authenticated has been testament to the growth of the platform and community. Simon Longland, Head of Menswear at Harrods commented: “Over the past three years, menswear at Harrods has undertaken a huge transformation, that has been visible through our brand curation as well as the physical shop floor. Our goal has been to transform the menswear experience at Harrods and embrace the most important and desirable trends on the market, and the launch of The Edit LDN continues that strategy. Bringing The Edit LDN’s industry expertise to Harrods ensures that our customers have access to the latest and most exclusive styles on the market through a service level which is unmistakably Harrods.” Helen David, Chief Merchant at Kurt Geiger added: “We’ve been at the forefront of embracing the latest trends serving a wide and diverse range of customers. What used to be considered sportswear is now considered luxury, and the shoes that are the most wanted and the hottest tickets are now sneakers. Without this as part of our matrix at Harrods, we wouldn’t have a proper 360 luxury offer. Hosting The Edit LDN at Harrods is testament to our commitment of meeting our customer needs with the market-leader in the premium sneaker business. Our shared objective with The Edit LDN is to ensure that Harrods’ customers have access to the latest and best on the market to meet their lifestyle needs.” Looking ahead, Moses said: “This is a marketplace worth $6b a year globally and will grow 5x by 2030. The demand for sneakers is growing every day and we are at the heart of servicing this trend. It’s been a remarkable 18 months since we launched to now opening in Harrods, the world’s most iconic department store. We are in hyper growth and headed in the right trajectory as we scale the business globally. Our on-going funding round will enable us to move faster and achieve our goals“. About The Edit LDN Founded in 2020, The Edit LDN has quickly become the UK’s leading online consignment store for limited edition sneakers and high end streetwear, both new and pre-loved items. Their innovative platform connects premium resellers to a global audience offering a deluxe experience from discovery, packaging and delivery. Brands include Jordan, Yeezy, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Off-White, Supreme, Fear of God among others. The platform is fast becoming synonymous with speed of service, authenticity, diverse selection of secure payment methods, and first class customer service. The Edit LDN is the leading destination for resellers and their premium sneakers and streetwear. Through partnerships with styling services such as Thread.com and various concierge companies, The Edit LDN has a community of buyers celebrities to professional footballers and royal families around the world. Further information visit: www.theeditldn.com. You are welcome to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram About Harrods Harrods began as a wholesale grocer and tea merchant in east London, first opening its doors in 1834. Since then, it has grown to become the world’s most famous department store, known for its unrivalled range of luxury merchandise. As well as exclusive brands and myriad departments, one of Harrods’ most renowned attributes is its unparalleled service. Harrods continues to be guided by its philosophy of “anything is possible” and, to this day, our customers remain at the heart of everything we do. Harrods.com About Kurt Geiger Kurt Geiger is a premium footwear brand operating across the UK. It first opened its doors on Bond Street in 1963. Kurt Geiger's own brands for women, men and children include Kurt Geiger London, KG, Carvela and Miss KG. Kurt Geiger has operated the Harrods and Selfridges footwear departments for the past 25 years. This unique positioning sets Kurt Geiger apart as a distinctive and unparalleled multi-channel business selling third-party and owned brands through department store concessions. The brand has over 80 stores worldwide, kurtgeiger.com, as well as e-commerce concession sites and wholesale partners. Selling over four million pairs of shoes a year this makes Kurt Geiger the largest luxury footwear retailer in Europe. Contact Details The Edit LDN Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.theeditldn.com/

October 11, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Yoodli, A Startup Backed by Madrona Venture Group and the Allen Institute for AI (AI2), Applies AI to Life's Biggest Stress: Public Speaking

Yoodli

Yoodli, a startup leveraging AI to help people develop the necessary soft skills to present and communicate confidently, opened early access to their beta product at www.yoodli.ai. The founding team of Varun Puri, Esha Joshi, and Dr. Ehsan Hoque, alumni from GoogleX, Apple and the MIT Media Lab, brings a passion to a challenge that most people experience every day. The Company is also announcing it has already raised $1M in pre-seed funding from the Allen Institute for AI and Madrona Venture Group. “Many of us have struggled with public speaking and have been on the receiving end of poorly delivered presentations,” said Varun Puri, co-founder of Yoodli. “During my time in Silicon Valley, I met countless colleagues, often fellow immigrants, who didn’t receive the recognition they deserved because they struggled to communicate effectively. Our platform will be an incredible leveler enabling people to practice and get real time feedback based on science as well as from friends and coaches.” According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the fear of public speaking affects 73% of people. However, we all need to speak in group settings — remember the awkward wedding toasts, dull classroom presentations, and never-ending team meetings? Numerous studies have suggested that oral communication is the number one skill that college students find useful post-graduation and yet is not taught in a direct way while in school. “As a female engineer in a male dominated industry, I felt like I had to try even harder for people to take me seriously,” said Esha Joshi, co-founder and CTO of Yoodli. “The nerves and doubts before a presentation can be crushing, and the feeling of successfully expressing yourself in front of an audience is a huge confidence booster. Our platform takes you from the nerves to the confident persona you need to achieve your goals.” Puri previously ran special projects for the President of Alphabet and then led Africa operations for a GoogleX initiative that is expanding internet connectivity using invisible lasers. Joshi brings her expertise as an Apple engineering lead as well as her experience speaking at large gatherings such as the Grace Hopper Conference to the mission of Yoodli. Dr. Hoque, the co-lead of the Rochester Human Computing Interaction group and MIT 35 Innovators Under 35 awardee, adds decades of research experience building AI interfaces to upskill the workforce. His work has helped people with autism practice communication skills, doctors prepare for end-of-life conversations with patients, and Parkinson’s patients detect their condition directly from their computer screens. “We see a tremendous opportunity to use AI as a way to improve human social and cognitive skills,” said Matt Mcllwain, Managing Director of Madrona. “We like to back exciting teams from Day One and this team has the passion, technical and industry experience that inspires us to come to work every day. And give presentations!” Yoodli is hiring for applied AI engineers, fullstack developers and a Head of Growth. Reach out at info@yoodli.ai if you are interested and sign up at www.yoodli.ai to join the product waitlist. About Madrona Venture Group Madrona ( www.madrona.com ) is a venture capital firm based in Seattle, WA. With more than 25 years of investing in early stage technology companies, the firm has worked with founders from Day One to help build their company for the long run. Madrona invests predominantly in seed and Series A rounds across the information technology spectrum, and in 2018 raised the first fund dedicated to initial investments in acceleration stage (Series B and C stages) companies. Madrona manages over $2 billion and was an early investor in companies such as Amazon, Smartsheet, Isilon, Redfin, and Snowflake. About the Allen Institute for AI (AI2) AI2 was founded in 2014 with the singular focus of conducting high-impact research and engineering in the field of artificial intelligence, all for the common good. AI2 is the creation of Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder, and is led by Dr. Oren Etzioni, a leading researcher in the field of AI. AI2 employs more than 100 top-notch researchers and engineers from across the globe. AI2 prides itself on the diversity and collaboration of our team and takes a results-oriented approach to complex challenges in AI. Learn more at allenai.org. Contact Details Yoodli Forrest Carman +1 206-859-3118 forrestc@owenmedia.com Company Website https://www.yoodli.ai/

October 07, 2021 09:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Zesty.ai’s Z-FIRE™ Wildfire Model Adopted for Rating by Carriers in Six US States

Zesty.ai

Zesty.ai, the leader in property risk analytics powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), today announced that its Z-FIRE™ model that provides wildfire risk scores for all properties in the 48 contiguous US states has already been implemented in six states, making it the most widely adopted AI-powered wildfire risk model in the industry. Z-FIRE™ has gained regulatory approval in filings by leading carriers in four states, including California, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah with active filings pending approval in Montana and Nevada, as well as current underwriting use in Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, Washington, Texas, and Colorado where rating use is expected to follow suit in 2022. Integrating multiple satellite and aerial imagery sources, as well as other data inputs, such as building permits and weather data that can be analyzed at scale with artificial intelligence, Z-FIRE™ has quickly become the leader in offering precise, property-specific wildfire risk analysis at 97+% coverage. It considers property-level features that influence risk, such as topography, historical climate data, and critically, factors impacting frequency and severity extracted from high-resolution imagery like, building materials and surrounding vegetation in multiple defensible spaces. This gives carriers precise risk metrics that take mitigation efforts into account, such as clearing vegetation, and in turn expands opportunities for coverage for residences located in certain high wildfire-risk areas. As mitigation efforts become a priority for regulators and government organizations, as evidenced by a recent report on the topic from the Legislative Analyst's Office, which referenced Zesty.ai and IBHS’s joint efforts to measure the impact of mitigation, there will be an increased regulatory focus on how mitigation efforts impact underwriting and rating decisions. Over the course of 2021, Zesty.ai has experienced rapid growth driven by several factors including the California Department of Insurance’s (CDI) approval of multiple filings that use Z-FIRE™ model for both underwriting and rating. Several other states have followed suit in granting approval of filings that implement Z-FIRE™. With these approvals, carriers including Farmers, MetDirect, Berkshire Hathaway, Amica, and The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, as well as the California FAIR Plan Association (FAIR Plan), among others, are confidently using Z-FIRE™ to better understand and price wildfire risk at the individual property level. “Wildfire is a problem that affects property owners, insurance carriers, regulators, and government policy. With the increase in losses from secondary perils, such as wildfires, next generation risk models like Z-FIRE™ that accurately assess risk at the individual property level have become invaluable to the insurance ecosystem,” said Attila Toth, Founder & CEO of Zesty.ai. “Feedback from customers is that the deep insights not only allow pricing commensurate with risk, but also enable data-driven conversations with property owners, agents and regulators for a transparent insurance experience.” At the recent APCIA 2021 Virtual Western Region General Counsel Conference, Ken Allen, Deputy Commissioner, Rate Regulation Branch at California Department of Insurance, was asked if the approval process for new filings would accelerate after an AI model like Z-FIRE™ had already undergone an extensive review. He confirmed, "That is the case [and] that is the expectation. If another insurer came in with that same model, same version, same everything, we wouldn't reinvent the wheel and redo everything. We would focus more on the insurer's use of that model and that would curtail such a review and it would go much quicker". For more information on Zesty.ai and its products please visit www.zesty.ai. About Zesty.ai Increasingly frequent natural disasters have impacted communities and drove $2.2 Trillion in economic losses over the past decade. Zesty.ai uses 200Bn data points, including aerial imagery, and artificial intelligence to assess the impact of climate change one building at a time. Zesty.ai has partnered with leading insurance companies and property owners to help them protect homes, businesses and support thriving communities. Zesty.ai was named Top 100 Most Innovative AI Company in the world by CB Insights in2020, and Gartner Cool Vendor in Insurance by Gartner Research in 2019. For more information visit: https://www.zesty.ai/. Contact Details Zesty.ai Abby Rieflin +1 216-870-1835 abby@clarity.pr Company Website https://www.zesty.ai

October 05, 2021 08:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Image
1 ... 9091929394 ... 129