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Cyvatar Launches First-Ever Cybersecurity Side Hustle

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced the release of the CydeHustle, a customer referral program that helps everyday people earn extra money on the side by referring organizations in their network to Cyvatar. The CydeHustle is easy work you can do in your spare time. In just a few minutes, you can not only bring in more money for yourself, but you can also enable people from all walks of life to help tip the cyber scales in favor of the good guys by stopping threat actors from breaching the brands and businesses we love. Organizations face more than 100,000 malicious websites and 10,000 malicious files every single day. Last year, malware increased by 358% and ransomware by 435% -- in fact, ransomware alone is now a multibillion-dollar industry staffed with expert researchers, strategists, technologists, and front-line hackers. Cyvatar’s ground-breaking cybersecurity as a service (CSaaS) levels the playing field so that any organization regardless of size or budget can combat threat actors. Joining the CydeHustle means you can enjoy the rewarding experience of keeping the businesses in your network safe... and get paid for it. "The Cyvatar CydeHustle program is a no-brainer, and the corresponding partner portal makes it easy to earn money on the side,” said CydeHustler Chris W. “Just as much as Cyvatar simplifies cybersecurity management for customers, it’s absolute simplicity to earn easy commissions with Cyvatar, even while juggling a full-time position and family responsibilities. Now anyone can be a deal-making machine!" Every CydeHustle referral that becomes a sale earns money for the person who introduces them: 20% of the sale price when the contract is signed, 10% of any upgrades purchased in the first year, and an additional 5% each year the referral renews. It’s easy money. Everybody needs better security, and Cyvatar’s CSaaS enables organizations to get better security outcomes fast. “The CydeHustle is so easy and so lucrative that we’ve already paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to CydeHustlers,” said Edward Preston, vice president of sales at Cyvatar. "Partners get paid for referring companies in their networks, those businesses get a game-changing cybersecurity program, and our world becomes safer from the onslaught of cyber threats.” Importantly, Cyvatar CSaaS is both accessible and affordable: For as little as $20 a month, customers receive out-of-the-box cybersecurity that includes products and services, a platform to manage them, and an expert team to support them -- all for one fixed monthly price. What’s more, Cyvatar sells itself -- it’s one of the 50 Most Trustworthy Companies recognized by the Silicon Review and has won 20 awards for cybersecurity innovation and excellence. CydeHustlers can keep their day jobs or Hustle between classes, after work, or from the far reaches of the world, because the Hustle is real -- and risk-free. Cyvatar keeps individual participation completely private unless participants explicitly choose to share their activity publicly. So what are you waiting for? Make a difference. Make an introduction. Make the world a safer place by keeping threat actors away from the businesses you know and love. All you have to do is sign up. Share the Cyvatar story. And get paid. Sign up and start earning today! About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to effortless cybersecurity for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at cyvatar.ai and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

August 03, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Pedro Mona Joins ForwardPMX as Global Director of Martech and Data to Lead Proposition and Product Service

ForwardPMX

Global data and technology-driven marketing services company, ForwardPMX, today announced that Pedro Mona is joining the agency as its new Global Director of Martech and Data. This global role will be based in London and will see Pedro lead ForwardPMX’s Martech and Data proposition globally, further strengthening the agency’s capabilities across each region and solving challenges for its extensive global client base. With a strong background in consulting spanning over 15 years, Pedro brings with him an extensive wealth of experience from similar senior leadership roles in global companies such as Publicis, Mediacom, Somo, and most recently at iProspect, where Pedro was Managing Director of Platforms and Engineering. Within this role, Pedro he commercial opportunities, and lead tech partnerships, as well as the data insights and advanced activation channels teams for the agency. With client relations at the heart of the agency’s offerings, Pedro has the vision to join the business and influence this area with his extensive knowledge, particularly surrounding the legal aspects of extremely complex data practices that many clients sometimes struggle to articulate. Tom Manning, Global Head of Consultancy, commented, “Pedro’s experience in supporting the delivery of scaled data-driven solutions will be crucial in helping to further develop ForwardPMX’s Consultancy and media capabilities, and help us solve the complex challenges our clients are increasingly faced with.” Manning added, “Pedro’s hiring is a sign of our continued investment in the ad tech and media landscape, and to becoming the leading global data and tech marketing services business across the globe.” On the new role, Pedro commented, “I am extremely thrilled to be joining ForwardPMX, in this new role particularly at this time of change within the data landscape. It is an honour to be part of a forward-thinking senior management team and an agency that is very passionate about keeping ahead of the changes that occur in the data world whilst keeping their clients front and center.” About ForwardPMX: ForwardPMX is a global data and technology-driven marketing services company, designed to help brands find the change that delivers meaningful growth to their businesses. With over 20 offices worldwide and 1,000 of the industry’s most distinguished talent, ForwardPMX brings a unified global vision, with local depth and expertise across a comprehensive set of data, technology, consultancy, and performance solutions that reach people all over the world. By pairing people with data-led processes and powerful technology capabilities, ForwardPMX is uniquely positioned to deliver scale and accelerate problem-solving. ForwardPMX is a proud member of Stagwell, a challenger holding company built to transform marketing. For more information, go to: www.forwardpmx.com About Stagwell Inc. Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 30+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. For more information, go to: www.stagwellglobal.com Contact Details ForwardPMX Dammi Afolabi +44 7958 069108 dammi.afolabi@forwardpmx.com ForwardPMX Sara Pollack +1 917-438-4923 Company Website https://www.forwardpmx.com/

August 03, 2021 05:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Akeneo Once More Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape on PIM

Akeneo

Akeneo, a global leader in Product Experience Management (PXM) solutions, today announced that it has once more been ​named a Leader in this year’s ​IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Product Information Management Applications for Commerce 2021 Vendor Assessment (Doc # #US47482521, July 2021). The recognition follows Akeneo being named a Strong Performer as a new entrant in the Forrester Wave™ for Product Information Management (Q2 2021), and an Overall Value Index Leader and Exemplary Vendor by Ventana Research in their Value Index on Product Information Management (2021). The IDC MarketScape evaluated 16 companies for the report, but only positioned five in the Leaders category, where Akeneo was recognized for both its current product capabilities, as well as its go-to-market strategy that aligns with customer's growth ambitions. Akeneo is trusted by over 500 PIM enterprise customers in 39 countries worldwide, some of which use Akeneo’s solutions to manage PIM across tens of millions of products and to manage terabytes of digital assets. IDC expects technology buyers will increasingly prioritize PIM applications that readily integrate with adjacent technologies such as digital commerce and content management. With 130 implementation partners and 90 technology partners for its PIM solution, Akeneo enables online merchants to deliver modern digital experiences that enable them to tell richer stories about their products across the end-to-end customer journey. IDC offers special praise for Akeneo’s ease of use, noting that Akeneo clients and partner organizations consistently score Akeneo highly for its UI and overall usability. Akeneo’s users also gave the company an above-average rating for customer support, with customers reporting that Akeneo was very quick to respond to and resolve support requests. The report also notes Akeneo’s commitment to open-source development, which enables customers to try its product without financial commitment, while benefiting from a well-established global PXM community. “IDC believes the importance of PIM systems will only grow as a larger share of all transactions occur online, prompting organizations to seek out stronger customer relationships via engaging product stories,” Jordan Jewell, IDC's research director for digital commerce, writes in the report. “Consider Akeneo if you are a B2C or B2B organization with a wide range of business models and if you need a tightly integrated system for high-quality product information across all owned and unowned digital channels, as well as offline channels including in-store and print.” “At Akeneo, we’re always striving to build the best solution for our customers, and earning this recognition from IDC, Forrester, and Ventana is a testament to the strength of our vision,” said Akeneo CEO Fred de Gombert. “These organizations’ analysts understand that Akeneo is fusing best-of-breed technology and a true commitment to customer experience to deliver the powerful and streamlined solutions needed by today’s eCommerce and omnichannel merchants.” An excerpt of the full report can be downloaded here: https://www.akeneo.com/white-paper/idc-marketscape-pim-applications/ About Akeneo Akeneo is a global leader in Product Experience Management (PXM) helping businesses with products to unlock growth opportunities by delivering a consistent and compelling product experience across all channels, including eCommerce, mobile, print, points of sale and beyond. With its open platform, leading PIM, add-ons, connectors and marketplace, Akeneo PXM Studio dramatically improves product data quality and accuracy, simplifies catalog management, and accelerates the sharing of product information across channels and locales. Leading global brands, manufacturers, distributors and retailers, including Staples Canada, Fossil, Air Liquide and Myer, trust Akeneo to scale and customize their omnichannel commerce initiatives. Using Akeneo, brands and retailers can improve customer experience, increase sales, reduce time to market, go global, and boost team productivity. More information at https://www.akeneo.com About IDC MarketScape: The IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors. Contact Details Ran Xu +1 213-309-2373 ran@rosebudpr.io

July 28, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nearly 70,000 Hispanics Have Died by Gunfire in U.S. Since 1999, Nearly Two-Thirds of the Deaths are Homicides, Study Finds

Violence Policy Center

Nearly 70,000 Hispanics were killed with guns in the United States from 1999 through 2019, with an average of more than 3,300 gun deaths per year, according to a new study by the Violence Policy Center (VPC), a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury. In 2019, 74 percent of Hispanic homicide victims died by gunfire. Looking at type of firearm, 66 percent of Hispanic gun homicide victims were killed with a handgun — the highest percentage of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S. For Hispanics ages 15 to 24, homicide ranked as the third leading cause of death. Hispanic Victims of Lethal Firearms Violence in the United States ( http://vpc.org/studies/hispanic21.pdf ) is the fifth edition of the VPC’s comprehensive study on lethal gun violence against Hispanics in America and is available in both English and Spanish. The study utilizes data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as unpublished information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Supplementary Homicide Report. The study found that of the 69,519 Hispanics killed with firearms from 1999 through 2019, nearly two thirds of these gun deaths were homicides (44,614, or 64 percent), while 21,466 were suicides (31 percent). An additional 1,182 of these gun deaths were unintentional (two percent) and 2,257 (three percent) were the result of undetermined intent or legal intervention. VPC Executive Director and study co-author Josh Sugarmann states, “Year after year, guns exact a lethal toll on Hispanics in the U.S., especially among the young. Yet because of vast gaps in the way data on Hispanic ethnicity is collected in our nation, the full scope of this ongoing crisis remains unknown. What we do know is that all too many Hispanic lives are lost to lethal violence each year, and that guns, especially handguns, play a deciding role.” KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY INCLUDE: — The homicide rate for Hispanics in the United States is nearly twice as high as the homicide rate for whites. The Hispanic homicide victimization rate in 2019 was 5.15 per 100,000. In comparison, the homicide victimization rate for whites was 2.62 per 100,000. — Homicide is the third leading cause of death for Hispanics ages 15 to 24. Of these deaths, 87 percent involved a firearm. — Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Hispanics ages 15 to 24. Of these deaths, 37 percent involved a firearm. — In 2019, 4,058 Hispanics were killed with guns. That year, 2,301 Hispanics died in gun homicides, 1,534 died in gun suicides, 60 died in unintentional shootings, and 163 died of undetermined intent or legal intervention. — Of the 2,301 Hispanic firearm homicide victims in 2019, 1,955 (85 percent) were male and 346 (15 percent) were female. — In 2019, guns were used in 74 percent of the homicides where the victims were Hispanic. Looking at type of firearm, 66 percent of Hispanic gun homicide victims were killed with a handgun, the highest percentage of any racial/ethnic group in U.S. — A large percentage of Hispanic homicide victims are young. Thirty-three percent of Hispanic victims in 2019 were age 24 and younger. In comparison, 34 percent of Black homicide victims and 19 percent of white homicide victims were age 24 and younger that year. For all victims, 29 percent of homicide victims were age 24 or younger. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STUDY INCLUDE: — Government agencies should improve the methods used to collect and report data on Hispanic victims of gun violence and other lethal violence. Because of major limitations in the way public agencies collect information on Hispanic ethnicity, the total number of Hispanic victims of lethal violence is almost certainly higher than what this study reports. — Additional efforts should be undertaken to support current violence reduction programs and activities as well as to identify new violence-reduction strategies, including: support for community-based violence intervention programs that are holistic and encourage participation by all stakeholders; educational efforts to better inform Hispanics of the risks associated with bringing a firearm into the home including the increased risk for homicide, suicide, and unintentional firearm deaths compared to how rarely guns are used in justifiable homicides by private citizens (especially important in the face of current coordinated efforts by the gun industry targeting Hispanics as potential first-time gun buyers); improved access to resources for victims and survivors of domestic violence; and, identification of anti-trafficking measures to help interrupt the flow of illegal firearms to impacted communities. The homicide victimization rate for Hispanics is calculated by dividing the total number of homicides with Hispanic victims by the total Hispanic population and multiplying the result by 100,000. The study does not include Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories. The complete report in English can be found here. The complete report in Spanish can be found here. Prior editions of the report in both English and Spanish, as well as VPC research focusing on lethal Hispanic victimization in California, can be found at www.vpc.org/hispanic.htm. For more information on how the firearms industry, looking to expand beyond its shrinking base of white male gun owners, has launched an organized marketing campaign focusing on Hispanic and Black Americans, please see the January 2021 Violence Policy Center study How the Firearms Industry and NRA Market Guns to Communities of Color ( https://vpc.org/how-the-firearms-industry-and-nra-market-guns-to-communities-of-color/ ). The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury. Follow the VPC on Twitter and Facebook. Contact Details Violence Policy Center Josh Sugarmann +1 202-822-8200 jsugarmann@vpc.org Company Website https://vpc.org/

July 28, 2021 10:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NCMA Announced Program Year 2022 Award Recipients

National Contract Management Association

The National Contract Management Association announced recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Innovation in Contracting Award, Outstanding Fellow Award, Fellow Award, Best Contract Management Magazine Article Award, and the Elmer B. Staats Contracting Professional Excellence Award. These outstanding achievements were honored at World Congress 2021. “Congratulations to this year’s award winners,” said Kraig Conrad, NCMA Chief Executive Officer. “Each of these individuals has contributed to the advancement of the contract management and acquisition profession and I’m delighted we were able to celebrate these exceptional individuals at World Congress.” This year’s winners are: Lifetime Achievement Award Terry Raney, PhD, CACI International Innovation in Contracting Award Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Procurement Innovation Lab Polly Hall Sandra Oliver Schmidt Trevor Wagner Scott E. Simpson Nicolette Viering Outstanding Fellow Award Po Powell Collins, CPCM, C.P.M., Fellow Donald E. Shannon, CPCM, CFCM, Fellow Dr. Janice Smets, CPCM, CFCM, Fellow Fellow Award Clara A. Anderson, CPCM, CFCM, CCCM Joann Campbell-Maher, CPCM, CFCM, CCCM Sheralyn Fallon, CPCM, CFCM David P. Gragan Demetrius D. Kittrell Marcus H. Mattingly, CPCM, CFCM Sherrie N. Randall, CFCM Albert A. Rinaldi, CFCM Allison R. Robertson, CFCM Susan B. Thibodeaux, CFCM Amanda S. Thompson, CFCM Colleen Timmer, CFCM Best Contract Management Magazine Article Award Dennis P. Longo; "Protest Prevention: Four Factors of Effective Market Research" Elmer B. Staats Contracting Professional Excellence Award Michelle Rand The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which was founded in 1959 and is the world’s leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To find out more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. Contact Details Jennifer Knowlton +1 571-382-1127 jennifer.knowlton@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

July 28, 2021 08:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Distinguished Cannabis Industry Expert Joins Phase 4 Services as VP of Business Development

Phase 4 Services

Hemp and cannabis testing laboratory management and consulting firm Phase 4 Services has tapped Jonathan Wani of MCR Labs as their latest VP addition and leader of the group’s business development consulting team. As VP of Business Development, Wani will draw on his 7 years of experience in the cannabis testing space as well as more than a decade’s worth of knowledge and connections gathered advocating for medical marijuana and fighting against cannabis prohibition. He will assist Phase 4 clients with establishing footholds in new and expanding markets. “We knew how to figure out the science and chemistry we needed to start MCR Labs, but Jon was the x-factor that got us real traction in the industry,” said Michael Kahn, founder and CEO of MCR Labs, a cannabis testing lab operating in several legal cannabis markets. “He knew about the products we’d be testing, and he could talk the talk with all the growers we needed to be testing for.” Wani is known in the cannabis space for his awareness of industry shifts and knowledge of production processes and product lineages. His connections with influencers, cannabis cup organizers, and prominent growers and extractors have enabled him to establish strong relationships with some of the largest multistate operators in the expanding cannabis industry. He is also a sought-after speaker for educational and industry-focused events. Adding Wani to the team allows Phase 4 Services to offer their clients valuable industry insights and networking opportunities that guide strategy implementation and facilitate expansion initiatives. About Phase 4 Services: Phase 4 Services is a scientific consulting and laboratory management firm dedicated to growing, supporting, and enhancing hemp and cannabis testing laboratories. Founded by experts in analytical testing, pharmaceutical chemistry, business administration, and development strategy, our team is equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to ensure partner laboratories are successful in their pursuit of advancing public health and safety for cannabis patients and consumers. For more information visit http://phase4services.com. Contact Details Phase 4 Services Joe Crinkley +1 857-230-0839 PR@phase4services.com Company Website https://phase4services.com/

July 27, 2021 10:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Provana Partners with REPAY for Integrated Payment Processing

Provana

Provana, the unified platform for credit and collections process management, today announced a technology partnership with REPAY, a leading provider of vertically integrated payment solutions. Provana customers can now leverage REPAY’s processing solution within IConnect247 ®. Provana’s all-in-one debt repayment and customer service application – the first of its kind within the industry. The integration helps lenders and agencies automate previously time consuming and tedious processes while supporting compliant electronic payment standards, including Regulation E. As the one-stop-shop for lenders and agencies looking to digitally transform their operations, Provana is continually adding new features and capabilities to support automation. The news was announced from the ACA International Convention & Expo in Las Vegas. “Unifying disconnected processes and disparate data sources provides huge value to our clients in accounts receivable management,” said Sean Clark, Senior Vice President of Platforms at Provana. “This integration between REPAY and Provana gives users even more control over workstreams and customer success management.” In addition to partnering with REPAY, Provana added new clients in the first half of 2021 that have already seen tangible benefits from gaining a holistic view into their ARM operations and controls. With Provana’s one-stop-shop for digital transformation, including IConnect247 and ICAP Analytics, credit and collections companies can actively monitor for compliance while boosting productivity. “With Provana, we have streamlined the electronic payment authorization process, enabling our agents and consumers to communicate with the technology already in the palm of their hands,” said Nikki Noyes, Director of Compliance at Logicoll, LLC. “Provana stitches together the delicate balance of compliance with operation efficiency to help us better serve both consumers and our clients.” As Vice President of master servicer, The Bureaus, Inc., Marian Sangalang has also seen the value of Provana’s unified platform first-hand. “Because our network of collections agencies is broad and dispersed, having the ability to dynamically share and track large volumes of documents with efficiency is essential to our core business. Working with Provana enables us to work at speed, while providing a secure and compliant platform for our ARM operations.” To learn more about the benefits of IConnect247 and ICAP, see our infographic, Use Data Analytics to Improve Your Call Center Performance. 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. About REPAY REPAY provides integrated payment processing solutions to verticals that have specific transaction processing needs. REPAY’s proprietary, integrated payment technology platform reduces the complexity of electronic payments for merchants, while enhancing the overall experience for consumers and businesses. Contact Details Provana Britney Schaeffer britney.schaeffer@provana.com REPAY Kristen Hoyman khoyman@repay.com Company Website https://www.provana.com/

July 27, 2021 08:05 AM Central Daylight Time

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Rebecca and Kirk Treece Open Minuteman Press Franchise in Missoula, Montana

Minuteman Press International Inc

Rebecca and Kirk Treece are the new owners of Minuteman Press in Missoula located at 2100 South Avenue West. They bought the long-running independent printing business Advertiser Montana Printing, which has a 40-year history in Missoula, and are now operating as a Minuteman Press franchise. Rebecca says, “It is a real honor to become part of Missoula’s thriving business community. The Palmers (former owners) had a 40-year long relationship with this community and their loyal customers have welcomed us and trusted us with their service, which has given us a great start here in Missoula.” She continues, “We are enjoying the opportunity to help others promote and grow their business. Getting the word out to the community that we are so much more than just a copy center has been key! We have been out meeting new people, marketing, and making connections through the Missoula Chamber of Commerce and BNI groups. Over the course of these six months, people have been welcoming and genuinely happy for us when we tell them about our new venture. Many have stopped by for a tour and have been responsive to learning more about the services we provide.” One of the ways Rebecca is looking to stand out as a new business owner is by expanding on the products and services offered by Minuteman Press and educating clients on what is in high demand right now. She explains, “Our high-demand products are business cards, menus, point of sale products like invoices and forms, and medical facility materials. As businesses open up, the demand for envelopes, letterhead, and other consumables has grown. Being part of Minuteman Press family has given us a huge opportunity to share with customers our expanded line of products like mailing, signage, apparel, and promotional items. It has really given us the ability to help people promote their business.” “Missoula is a growing, vibrant, and diverse community that includes the University of Montana. We are sitting on the confluence of three beautiful rivers, between two amazing national parks. Owning a business for me is all about making connections. My goal is to help people market their business so they can use their unique skills to serve their clients. These growing businesses make our community stronger and I am proud to be part of that.” -Rebecca Treece, owner, Minuteman Press Missoula (formerly Advertiser Montana Printing) Career Transition Prior to Minuteman Press, Rebecca and Kirk had varying careers. Rebecca shares, “Before owning my own business, I was utilizing my teaching degree as a vision therapist at an optometry office in Missoula, working with children and adults to improve their visual skills. My husband Kirk was previously a financial and operational manager for a large company. He and I also own a franchise of Fish Window Cleaning and Sunbelt Business Brokerage. We are familiar with business and the franchise concept, but were really drawn to the Minuteman Press structure, training, support and record of success.” While Rebecca and Kirk have experience owning a business, they had never been involved in the printing industry before. Minuteman Press really helped them fill those knowledge gaps and was crucial in finding the right business for them to buy through their special conversion program that connects sellers of independent print shops with qualified buyers. Rebecca says, “Advertiser Montana Printing was an independent print shop that had been in business for 40 years and they had a very loyal base of long-standing customers. An established customer base was the opportunity we were looking for when buying a new business. Our goal is 100% retention and we have worked diligently to meet and develop relationships with each customer. We hit the ground running and it gave us an opportunity to get experience across the board. Our local Minuteman Press field representatives were able to train us on every aspect of the business, which gave us the confidence to meet the demands of our customers.” “The support from Minuteman Press has been exceptional. The training was very comprehensive, and we felt like we were well-prepared for starting up and getting straight to work. We also know exactly who to call when we have a question or issue to manage. The network of Minuteman Press is amazing in the way that everyone is there for you at any time and in any capacity that you need. The expertise of the training and the continual mentoring are the powerful tools we need to succeed.” Owning a Business vs. Having a Job Reflecting on her experiences as an employee and as a business owner, Rebecca shares her insights on the key differences between the two. “As an employee, you work hard and serve the customer. However, you have very little control over the direction of the business. As business owners, we have the power to create the type of business we want and control its presence in the community.” As for Minuteman Press in Missoula, Rebecca and Kirk know exactly where they want to go. She says, “Our goal is to become the premier printing and advertising design company in Missoula and the Greater Northwestern Montana area. We want to develop the reputation for supplying the highest quality products and having superior customer service. We strive to make Minuteman Press in Missoula the place to go for all advice and services. The main lesson Minuteman Press impressed upon me is that if you do not like the current state of your business, change it! Get up, get out there, market, make connections, and grow your business. We have been given the tools and the support to create something great and that is extremely exciting for us.” When asked about the rewards of owning her own business, Rebecca answers, “We are truly fortunate to have a highly skilled and dedicated staff and I love coming in every day to work side-by-side with these incredible people. It is personally rewarding to create a workplace that fosters teamwork and allows employees to create and take pride in their work. It is also very satisfying to develop quality relationships with customers and members of the community.” She continues, “Professionally, our goals are to grow this business significantly over the next year and become more involved members of the community. Business ownership has many challenges but the rewards are well worth it. Owning our own business allows us to balance our work and home lives and gives us the power to make the right decisions for our future.” Minuteman Press in Missoula is located at 2100 South Avenue West, Missoula, MT 59801. For more information, call (406) 728-5200 or visit their website: https://missoula-mt.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Independent printers looking to sell their printing business can learn more about Minuteman Press International's conversion program at http://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 26, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Mailmodo raises US $2M in funding as it makes email interactive - the future of email marketing

Mailmodo

Mailmodo, a no-code email marketing platform helping marketers create app-like experiences within emails, today announced US $2M in funding led by Sequoia Capital India’s Surge, Y Combinator and existing investors. The start-up’s mission is to help businesses get better conversion rates and ROI from email marketing, by building an ecosystem of apps and widgets that marketers can incorporate straight into their messages and simplify their email campaign management. According to Statista, over 300 billion emails are sent every day. Most of these emails, however, are either ignored or deleted, or opened and then forgotten – making it a struggle for businesses looking to drive results from their email marketing campaigns. Long user journeys from inboxes to websites or landing pages result in low conversions. Mailmodo cuts the user journey by using AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) emails, allowing these emails to get higher engagement and conversion rates. Recipients of these AMP emails can take actions requested in the message through forms, checkout flows, calendar appointments, surveys, and more – all without having to leave their inbox. By reducing the number of steps a user has to take, Mailmodo leads to a conversion rate that’s three times higher compared to regular email campaigns. On top of bulk email campaigns, Mailmodo also enables businesses to send automated, trigger-based emails. “Emails got some much needed innovation when Google released AMP for email and announced that all Gmail clients will support AMP emails. We saw this as an opportunity to create app-like experiences inside emails, making it seamless and frictionless for a user to take a desired action.” said, Aquibur Rahman, Co-founder, Mailmodo “In day-to-day life, people check their emails when they’re traveling, watching TV, or in an elevator. They don't have time or the attention span to open an email, click on a link, go to a website, and take several other steps in between to complete a task. Therefore, interactive app-like emails help marketers to get much better conversion rates by reaching customers where they are at that moment.” he added. Mailmodo is currently used by clients from diverse industry verticals including edtech, fintech, ecommerce and SaaS companies. Some of Mailmodo's customers stated that they received upto 3x higher conversions from their Mailmodo email campaigns compared to their older emails. “We saw a massive 250% increase in responses to our NPS survey emails. Our merchants loved the email as it enabled them to share their thoughts with us without even getting redirected once.” Says customer, Subhash Dash, Associate Product Manager, Razorpay Mailmodo was founded in 2020 by Aquibur Rahman, Apurv Gupta and Devyesh Tandon. Aquibur has six years of digital marketing experience with high-growth startups, and was previously the Head of Marketing at ClearTax. Apurv was the co-founder and CTO at SaaS startup FieldAssist, while Devyesh was an engineer with Qualcomm and General Motors. All three are IIT graduates. About Mailmodo Mailmodo is an email marketing platform that helps marketers create app-like experiences within emails and increase conversions. Businesses can use emails created with Mailmodo to collect feedback from users, book meetings with prospects, recover abandoned shopping carts, generate leads, and more. The startup’s mission is to help businesses get better conversion rates from email marketing, by building an ecosystem of apps and widgets that marketers can incorporate straight into their messages and by simplifying email campaign management. About Surge Surge is Sequoia Capital India’s rapid scale-up program for startups in India and Southeast Asia. Surge combines $1 million to $2 million of seed capital with company-building workshops, a global curriculum and support from a community of exceptional mentors and founders. The program’s goal is to supercharge early-stage startups and give founders an unfair advantage, right out of the gate. About Y Combinator Y Combinator is a startup fund based in Mountain View, CA. In 2005, Y Combinator developed a new model of startup funding. Twice a year they invest a small amount of money in a large number of startups. The startups move to Silicon Valley for 3 months, and the YC partners work closely with each company to get them into the best possible shape and refine their pitch to investors. Each batch culminates in Demo Day, when the startups present their companies to a carefully selected audience of investors. Y Combinator has invested in over 3,000 companies including Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, Reddit, Instacart, Docker and Gusto. The combined valuation of YC companies is over $300B. Contact Details Mailmodo Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com

July 22, 2021 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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