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HTX Ventures Announces Investment in REPUBLIK's $6M Seed Funding Round

HTX

Singapore – October 11, 2023 – HTX Ventures announced its investment in REPUBLIK, an emerging Web3 startup within the domain of social platforms. This investment aims to support REPUBLIK in advancing its Web3 platform designed for creators and their supporters to connect and earn rewards. HTX Ventures' investment underscores its steadfast commitment to long-term industry advancement and its dedication to fueling innovation and growth within the blockchain ecosystem and the creator economy. HTX Ventures joined 13 other prominent investors in REPUBLIK's successful $6 million seed funding round, pushing its valuation to $75 million. Founded in 2022, REPUBLIK is a technology company headquartered in Singapore that provides content creators a platform to engage with their communities and reward their followers based on their interactions. This empowers creators to create, engage with, and monetize their content. As the community continues to expand rapidly, REPUBLIK is redefining the landscape of online interaction. The funds raised will be allocated to furthering the development of REPUBLIK's platform and the establishment of their state-of-the-art Web3 creator tools on the blockchain. Although REPUBLIK's app is currently in beta on Android, iOS, and the web, it has garnered significant interest. The platform provides creators with inventive methods for interaction and recognition for their contributions. A representative from HTX Ventures commented "the landscape of social platforms is undergoing a transformation with the emergence of Web3, and REPUBLIK's distinctive practice of consistently rewarding the community sets them apart within the realm of SocialFi projects. In addition to their creator-centric approach, REPUBLIK holds the potential to offer a compelling value proposition for existing Web2 users." "For too long, people have devoted their time, attention, and creativity to existing platforms, often receiving little in return. REPUBLIK is set to change this by ensuring a fair distribution of community value. We're thrilled to have investors who share our vision and partners who are assisting us in building a genuinely community-owned platform," expressed REPUBLIK's CEO Daniel He. HTX Ventures, the global investment arm of HTX, leverages an integrated approach that combines investment, incubation, and research to identify the most exceptional and promising teams around the world. As a pioneer with a decade of experience in the blockchain industry, HTX Ventures is committed to driving the development of cutting-edge technology and emerging business models within the industry, offering comprehensive support to collaborative projects, including financing, resources, and strategic consulting, to establish a long-term blockchain ecosystem. To date, HTX Ventures has supported over 200 projects spanning multiple blockchain tracks, with some high-quality projects already listed on HTX for trading. Additionally, HTX Ventures is an active participant in fund-of-funds (FOF) investment, collaborating with top global blockchain funds like IVC, Shima, Animoca, and others to collectively foster the evolution of the blockchain ecosystem. In the foreseeable future, as the Web3 ecosystem continues to evolve, social platforms are poised to emerge as the most dynamic avenues for user engagement. The expansion of REPUBLIK holds the promise of reshaping the Web3 social interaction landscape and the creator economy. HTX Ventures will closely monitor REPUBLIK's advancements. About REPUBLIK Republik is on a mission to connect creators to their communities while rewarding everyone based on their interactions. With a rapidly growing community, REPUBLIK redefines the realm of online interaction. About HTX Ventures HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice. Contact Details Michael Wang glo-media@htx-inc.com Company Website https://www.htx.com/

October 12, 2023 01:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Fall & Holiday Finds

News Media Group, Inc.

Contact Details Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/

October 12, 2023 01:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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SIGMA America Announces Results of its 4th Annual “Focused On The Fight” Charitable Giving Campaign Supporting Local Community Education

SIGMA CORPORATION OF AMERICA

SIGMA Corporation of America, a leading camera and lens manufacturer for both photography and cinema applications, announced today the results of its 4th Annual “Focused on the Fight” Charitable Giving Campaign. The initiative kicked off the new academic school year with a $50,000 contribution to schools selected by participating SIGMA dealers through DonorsChoose, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting teachers and students by funding educational projects that go beyond traditional school budgets. While this year’s charitable giving program is expected to cover 90% of U.S. states once fully funded later this month, SIGMA America’s long-term goal is to fund school projects in every state. To date, SIGMA dealers have donated to 68 schools and funded 70 school projects and will continue to grow as more projects are funded. Participating dealers are: Bedford Camera & Video, numerous locations in AK, OK, MO F32 Photo, Knoxville, TN Garland Camera Repair & Photo Imaging, Garland, TX Glazer’s, Seattle, WA Hot Rod Cameras, Burbank, CA Houston Camera Exchange, Houston, TX Nuzira, Scottsdale, AZ Pixel Connection, Avon, OH and Nashville, TN PROCAM, Detroit, MI; Chicago, IL; and Cincinnati, OH SIGMA America is grateful for and dedicated to the Long Island community which has supported its headquarters for nearly 40 years, and to the Los Angeles community that welcomed its Burbank office and showroom in 2018. As part of this charitable giving campaign, SIGMA served a total of 44 schools and funded a total of 46 projects, including the following in the Long Island and Los Angeles communities: East Islip High School, Islip, NY, “Strobe Lighting for Photography Students” project Martin Luther King Junior Elementary, Wyandanch, NY, “Strike a Pose It’s Camera Time” project Sotomayar Arts and Science Magnet School, Los Angeles, CA, “Empowering Student Filmmakers” project Logan Academy of Global Ecology, Los Angeles, CA, “Make a Statement without Saying a Word” project "We strongly believe that Sigma’s ‘picture’ – or actions – must match our words," says Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of SIGMA America. "Photography, by its creative nature, promotes awareness, compassion, and empathy; it is the heart of all we do as photographers. Nurturing and cultivating the next generation of creatives starts in the school, and it’s often the creative programs that are the first to fall victim to underfunding. We look forward to the impact this initiative will have on our communities now, and in the years to come." For the full list of funded projects and participating partners, please visit: https://www.sigmaphoto.com/focused-on-the-fight-23 SIGMA’s “Focused On the Fight” Charitable Giving Campaign was started in 2020 to assist in alleviating and eradicating Covid-19 after-effects, and in 2022 turned its focused to supporting humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Since its inception, a generous $343,000 has been donated to charities in the United States and Ukraine, including local charities selected by 53 SIGMA participating dealers. About SIGMA Corporation of America SIGMA Corporation of America, founded in 1984, is the US subsidiary of SIGMA Corporation, a family-owned manufacturer of lenses, cameras and photo accessories. Headquartered in Ronkonkoma, NY, SIGMA America expanded its US operations in 2018 with the opening of SIGMA Burbank, a multifunctional showroom, event space and repairs/distribution facility located in the heart of the Los Angeles entertainment industry. Craftsmanship. Precision. Dedication. Since 1961, SIGMA has been devoted to the pursuit of advancing photographic technology. Unique to the industry, the family-owned business produces its high-quality, award-winning still photo and cinema camera lenses, DSLR and mirrorless cameras, flashes, filters and accessories from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Aizu, Japan. In 2012, the company introduced SIGMA Global Vision with three distinct lens lines: Art, Contemporary and Sports. Designed for industry camera mount systems including Canon, Leica, Nikon, Panasonic, Sony and SIGMA, each lens is handcrafted and tested in Japan to ensure a high-performance, premium product that is purpose-built to last. In 2016, the SIGMA Cine lens lineup was launched, further cementing SIGMA as an innovator in imaging engineering. Embodying the core optical DNA that has defined the SIGMA benchmark of excellence, SIGMA Cine lenses meet the needs of advanced 6k and 8k cinema production. Forming the landmark L-Mount alliance alongside Leica and Panasonic in 2018, SIGMA continues its storied tradition of imaging excellence through groundbreaking innovations such as the native L-mount SIGMA fp and fp L full-frame mirrorless digital cameras, announced in July 2019 and March 2021 respectively. These products, along with over 35 award-winning SIGMA Global Vision lenses available in native L-Mount format, demonstrate SIGMA's continued commitment to the creative community through expanded product offerings. With the fp, fp L and these lenses, even more users can now leverage SIGMA's renowned optical formula to achieve their creative vision with ease. ### For information about SIGMA America, please visit sigmaphoto.com and SIGMA Blog for helpful information about our products. Follow SIGMA America on social media! SIGMA Photo: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram SIGMA Cine: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Contact Details SIGMA +1 631-207-7381 SIGMA.PR@sigmaphoto.com Company Website https://www.sigma-global.com/en/

October 12, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Demand for Online Writing and Content Creation Jobs Intensifies, finds Freelancer.com

FREELANCER.COM

Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN) (OTCQX: FLNCF), the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, today released its quarterly report revealing the most in-demand online jobs on the platform for Q3 2023. The Fast 50 Q3 2023 report, a quarterly dataset ranking the fastest growing and falling jobs on the platform, analyzed over 277,000 jobs posted by employers to Freelancer.com between July and September 2023. According to the data, the fastest growing freelance jobs by percentage growth in Q3 2023 were mostly writing, content creation and marketing related. As AI continues to advance, the need for human creativity remains strong. Employers are once again seeking freelancers to support with Creative Writing and Content Writing projects, which are up 22.4% and 19.4% respectively. A surge in demand for writing skills across the platform means there were more than 10,000 additional writing projects available in Q3 2023, which were already a trending skill evident in the previous quarter. The Q3 2023 data also indicates a consistent trend in businesses seeking freelance marketing support, with Search Engine Marketing (up 24.1%), Videography (up 17.4%) and Telemarketing (up 16.5%) seeing notable growth across the quarter. This aligns with the previous quarter's emphasis on business marketing activities. “Our Freelancer Fast 50 Report is a forward leading indicator of the skills and expertise businesses need today. Artificial Intelligence is powering a boom in content creation, particularly focusing on writing, marketing and video production skills” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer. “Generative AI is superskilling freelancers and their ability to produce extremely high quality content and faster than ever before. Tools like ChatGPT and Bard have changed the game when it comes to producing and refining written content, while advances in video AI such as Runway Gen-2, HeyGen and Pika Labs means that video production and editing can be done with a click of a button.” Growth in skills like User Interface / IA (up 17.4% from 3,071 to 3,607) and UX / User Experience (up 13.9% from 1,193 to 1,359) highlight the importance of user-centric design in today's digital landscape. Data Mining (up 14.9% from 2,374 to 2,728) and Data Processing (up 10% from 11,013 to 12,115) were also amongst the top growing jobs. These skills are often associated with Sales functions and Lead Generation, which are also growing in the quarter, up 13.3% and 11.4% respectively. By leveraging freelancers to research leads, businesses can operate more efficiently and focus more on relationship building in the sales process. Design, Marketing and Video Creation Jobs Lead Year-on-Year Growth Several skills have surged in demand when comparing Q3 2022 and Q3 2023. Jobs for User Interface (UI) Design have doubled, growing by 101.9% to 3,607 from 1,786 in the same period last year. Search Engine Marketing jobs grew 80.4% (from 1,597 to 2,881) and Videography jumped by 77.1% (from 2,716 to 4,809). Fastest Falling Jobs of Q3 2023 The recent data highlights a shift in the demand for specific technical skills, which saw a significant increase last year as many tech companies laid off technical staff. There's a noticeable decline in jobs for certain established programming languages and frameworks. For instance, Matlab and Mathematica saw a 25.1% decrease (from 1,349 to 1,011 jobs). Similarly, projects requiring skills in AngularJS jobs dropped by 23.5% (from 1,722 to 1,318), while those requiring Django experts experienced a decline of 23.4% (from 1,216 to 932). C Programming, C++ Programming, and Python, which were all in-demand skills in Q3 2022, also all decreased on the platform in Q3 2023. While algorithms remain integral to many processes, there's been a reduction in specialized roles in this domain. This trend is evident in the decrease in demand for Algorithm skills, which saw a decrease of 22.5% (from 1,438 to 1,114 jobs). This might be a consequence of the advent of more intuitive tools and platforms that simplify algorithmic tasks. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fast 50 Q1 2023 - Data Analysis Writing Jobs Show No Sign Of Slowing Down The introduction of highly sophisticated and powerful generative AI tools have led many experts and commentators to predict that skills such as writing will be replaced by AI. However, the latest Fast 50 Q3 data demonstrates that writing jobs are here to stay, as content writing, creative writing, copy typing and ghostwriting jobs increase by more than 20% over the last quarter. These skills continue to flourish after reporting growth in the previous quarter on Freelancer.com, with Creative Writing ranked as the fastest growing skills in Q2 2023 (up 58%, from 1,868 to 2,961). An Increase in writing skills for two quarters in a row suggest that businesses are placing more emphasis on content creation by hiring freelancers to write articles and produce creative content. Copy Typing, the fastest growing skill for Q3’23 (up 28.7% from 6,381 to 8,213) encompasses all types of jobs from data entry to helping write e-books to transcription and typist projects. While technical projects do require degrees and past experience, most copy typing jobs can be performed by freelancers with no prior knowledge, making it a lucrative side hustle for freelancers globally. AI’s Impact on Whitecollar Jobs While writing jobs continue to flourish over the past 6 months, there is a need to understand how generative AI will impact jobs and various freelancing skills. In a longform essay titled ‘ AI know what you did last summer ’, Freelancer.com CEO Matt Barrie discusses the bleeding edge of AI technology and how he predicts these will go on the shape white-collar jobs. Barrie suggests that to be competitive in a world of AI, workers will need to adapt or move up the stack: “Those in white collar jobs will need to move ‘up the stack’. Illustrators become cinematographers. Writers become editors. Software developers become product managers. Grad students now run a research group.” Barrie also highlights that there is a major opportunity for freelancers, arguing that AI-powered freelancers will ultimately be the winners as they have the ability to compete against middle class workforces all around the world. AI’s impact on work productivity is evident in a recent AI study conducted by Freelancer.com which found that in a survey of over 1,300 US workers, a majority of those US workers (75%) are using generative AI tools in their work. One in three (33%) workers are using AI tools all the time in their work, while one quarter of US workers (25%) are using these tools sometimes and one sixth (16%) admit to never using AI at work. Marketing & Video Production Sustain Growth, Growing Every Quarter in 2023 Marketing and Video Production skills are one of the most in-demand skill categories on the platform, with data showing they’ve now grown every quarter since the beginning of the year. Search Engine Marketing (up 24.1%, from 2,321 to 2,881) ranked as the third fastest growing skill on the platform. Telemarketing (up 16.5%, from 1,054 to 1,228) has grown in Q3 as businesses turn towards more traditional marketing tactics. Sustained growth in different types of marketing skills means there are many opportunities for skilled freelancers to find unique projects on the platform. As for video production, not only is the skill up quarter-on-quarter, but both Video Production and Videography have almost doubled when compared to the same time last year, up 58.1% and 77.1% respectively. The surge in freelancer video production jobs can be attributed to the booming demand for online content, especially on platforms like YouTube (up 10.3%, from 1,174 to 1,295 jobs in Q3) and TikTok. As content is a staple in many marketing strategies, businesses are turning to freelancers to help them produce content, boosting this as a potential category for workers. Businesses Delegating Sales Functions to Freelancers As found in the Freelancer.com World’s Most Boring Job research, businesses often delegate research heavy tasks to on-demand freelancers. In turn, this allows businesses the ability to operate more efficiently and focus on more impact-based tasks. A unique trend uncovered in the Fast 50 Q3 2023 shows that businesses are leaning on freelancers to help with the research portion of the sales function. Sales and Lead Generation ranked as some of the fastest growing jobs in the quarter, up 13.3% and 11.4% respectively. Interestingly, Sales and Lead Generation both featured in the top 25 fastest growing jobs in Q2 2023. Growth in sales and lead generation is an example of how businesses are employing freelancers to help them streamline the sales process. ###### Freelancer Fast 50 The Freelancer Fast 50 report is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 277,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer.com platform between July 1 to September 30 2023. Fast 50 Q3 2022 vs Q3 2023 Fast 50 Q2 2023 vs Q3 2023 Data About Freelancer Twelve-time Webby award-winning Freelancer.com is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 69 million registered users have posted over 23.1 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, astrophysics, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer owns Escrow.com, the leading provider of secure online payments and online transaction management for consumers and businesses on the Internet with over US$5 billion in transactions secured. Freelancer also owns Freightlancer & Loadshift, enterprise freight marketplaces with over 550 million kilometers of freight posted since inception. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Forward-looking statements This document contains certain "forward-looking statements". The words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "project", "forecast", "estimate", “outlook”, “upside”, "likely", "intend", "should", "could", "may", "target", "plan" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Indications of, and guidance on, future earnings and financial position and performance, including Freelancer’s FY23 outlook, are also forward-looking statements, as are statements regarding Freelancer’s plans and strategies and the development of the market. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Freelancer, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Freelancer cannot give any assurance or guarantee that the assumptions upon which management based its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct or exhaustive beyond the date of its making, or that Freelancer's business and operations will not be affected by other factors not currently foreseeable by management or beyond its control. Such forward-looking statements only speak as at the date of this announcement and Freelancer assumes no obligation to update such information. The release, publication or distribution of this document in jurisdictions outside Australia may be restricted by law. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. Contact Details Freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 mzitko@freelancer.com

October 12, 2023 07:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Grupo Mercury Adopts Digital Transformation Strategy Powered By ToolsGroup Supply Chain Solutions

ToolsGroup

ToolsGroup, a global leader in retail and supply chain planning and optimization software, is proud to announce it has been selected by Grupo Mercury, the Latin American business group dedicated to the import and marketing of wholesale electronics products, to help tailor inventory to demand for enhanced customer satisfaction, support business objectives, and accelerated business growth. Grupo Mercury has over 10 years of experience in the market, importing products associated with lighting, electronics, and Smart Home devices. The company operates out of six distribution centers, managing a portfolio of roughly 3,500 products. The complexity of handling such a wide product range, characterized by high seasonality and intermittency, was further complicated by regionally differentiated demand trends and long supply lead times. With ambitious growth objectives, the company began looking for a transformative digital solution that could increase efficiency within its complex network, while freeing up working capital and resources for their growth-associated initiatives. “We’re excited to embark on the next phase of growing our business and bringing great service and great products to even more customers across the region,” said Fabián Samaca, Managing Director. Fredy Martinez, Regional Director of Supply Chain, added, “We chose ToolsGroup to accompany us on this journey because they had the maturity to support our expansion plan, an in-depth understanding of the LATAM marketplace, and a proven track record of handling similar challenges and product types efficiently and profitably.” To achieve its growth objectives and exceed customer expectations, Grupo Mercury selected Service Optimizer 99+ (SO99+), ToolsGroup’s suite of solutions that provides a unique probabilistic planning approach. Thanks to a built-in, AI-driven probabilistic forecast, these solutions account for variability and tailor inventory to demand, mitigating risk and uncertainty in demand and supply planning. ToolsGroup has over 100 customers within distribution, giving the machine learning engine behind these capabilities ample opportunity to learn and adapt to the industry’s unique challenges. By leveraging ToolsGroup’s native AI and automation, Grupo Mercury can navigate complexity, satisfy demand, and achieve enhanced business performance amid network expansion. “As distributors ramp up growth and face increasing complexity, a robust planning engine becomes crucial for satisfying demand while maintaining forward momentum,” said ToolsGroup CEO, Inna Kuznetsova. “ToolsGroup provides the technology and expertise that power, focus, and channel that momentum to ensure increased customer satisfaction and profitability. We’re excited to embark on this journey with Grupo Mercury and together build a more resilient supply chain that will help them convert growth potential into real-world benefits.” Learn more about how probabilistic forecasting helps distributors determine the optimal inventory levels to meet customer service and business goals HERE. About Grupo Mercury Grupo Mercury is a multi-Latin company that imports and markets lighting, electrical, smart home and hardware products with more than 10 years in the market, with different lines of business, designed for each consumer need. Stay in touch with Grupo Mercury on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or visit www.grupomercury.lat. About ToolsGroup ToolsGroup’s innovative AI-powered solutions enable retailers, distributors, and manufacturers to navigate through supply chain uncertainty. Our retail and supply chain planning suites empower a new level of intelligent decision making and unlock powerful business improvements in forecast accuracy, service levels, and inventory - delighting customers and achieving financial and ESG KPIs. Stay in touch with ToolsGroup on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or visit www.toolsgroup.com. Contact Details Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.toolsgroup.com

October 12, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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COMCAST TO DELIVER MULTI-GIG SYMMETRICAL SPEEDS TO CUSTOMERS OVER EXISTING CONNECTIONS IN WORLD-FIRST DOCSIS 4.0 DEPLOYMENT

Comcast Colorado

Comcast announced that next week it will begin to introduce the first residential customers in the world to next-generation Internet powered by DOCSIS 4.0 technology. The latest version of DOCSIS technology is a giant leap forward in Internet connectivity that can deliver multi-gigabit symmetrical speeds to customers over the connections that already exist in tens of millions of homes in Comcast markets across the country. As a part of the launch, Comcast will introduce a new portfolio of symmetrical products for residential customers. Comcast will begin rolling out DOCSIS 4.0 to select neighborhoods in Colorado Springs, CO, and will launch new markets throughout the country over the next few years. Select areas of Atlanta, GA and Philadelphia, PA are expected to begin rolling out before the end of this year. “The ubiquity of our network, which is already accessible to tens of millions of homes, provides us with an incredible opportunity to bring multi-gigabit upload and download speeds to communities across the country with the scale and efficiency that no other provider can replicate,” said Dave Watson, President & CEO, Comcast Cable. “Our connectivity experience, powered by the Xfinity 10G Network, will allow us to deliver speeds up to 10 Gbps over our traditional network to virtually all our customers, plus even better reliability, lower latency, and the best in-home WiFi coverage. We’re entering the next phase of this industry leadership with DOCSIS 4.0 technology to introduce X-Class Internet products that will revolutionize the way our customers get online today and many years into the future.” Introducing X-Class Internet Symmetrical 10 Gbps service based on fiber-to-the-home technology is already available in all of Comcast’s markets, and as part of its continued network evolution and the introduction of DOCSIS 4.0, multi-gig symmetrical speeds are rolling out. New and existing residential customers connected via DOCSIS 4.0 will have access to Comcast’s newly introduced next-generation X-Class Internet portfolio. X-Class speed tiers include X-300 Mbps, X-500 Mbps, X-1 Gbps and X-2 Gbps upload and download speeds and low lag for the ultimate live sports streaming experience on Peacock, smooth connections on work calls, and ultra-responsive gaming. “The enhancements that we have been making to our network over the past few years have been foundational to creating an award-winning network architecture that is fully virtualized and capable of delivering these exciting capabilities to our customers,” said Elad Nafshi, Chief Network Officer, Comcast Cable. “This is an awesome achievement and I’m incredibly proud of the team of brilliant technologists here at Comcast who have worked relentlessly to make DOCSIS 4.0 a reality ahead of schedule.” Full Duplex DOCSIS Comcast’s path to DOCSIS 4.0 leverages breakthrough network technology known as “Full Duplex” that utilizes the same network spectrum to dramatically increase upstream speeds without sacrificing downstream speeds. Comcast 10G Innovation The DOCSIS 4.0 launch is the latest in a long line of world firsts that Comcast has spearheaded in the effort to implement DOCSIS 4.0. In April 2021, Comcast conducted the first-ever live test of full duplex DOCSIS and later that year tested the world’s first 10G connection all the way from the network to a modem. In 2022, Comcast conducted a world-first live trial and connected a business location in the Philadelphia region to its live network including a DOCSIS 4.0-enabled 10G node and multiple cable modems. In February 2023, the company marked another major milestone in the nation’s largest and fastest multi-gig deployment by announcing its latest Xfinity 10G Network upgrade launched to 10 million homes and businesses. In addition to Comcast’s efforts to deploy DOCSIS 4.0 and other 10G upgrades across its footprint, the company continually invests in delivering a superior connectivity experience that is not only fast but is also reliable with less lag. Award Winning Tech – Comcast has lead the industry in deploying technologies within its network to enhance speed, reliability and latency like distributed access architecture (DAA) and a vCMTS, which earned an Emmy® Award for Technology and Engineering. Smart Network – Comcast-developed technology like Comcast Octave and Xfinity Fiber Meter (XMF), enables optimized network performance by proactively identifying and even repairing network impairments that impact customers’ services. Storm-Ready WiFi – In August 2023, Comcast introduced Storm-Ready WiFi, the first product of its kind offered by an Internet provider designed to maintain a connection during a power or local outage. Low Latency – Deployed Active Queue Management (AQM) system nationally and currently trialing the latest CableLabs low latency DOCSIS (LLD) specification. DOCSIS Technology Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) was first introduced in 1997 as a solution for high-speed data to be transmitted over existing cable wires, replacing dial-up phone lines for an Internet connection. Comcast has been a leader in deploying DOCSIS updates to deliver faster speeds to all the homes and businesses in its service areas. In early 2016, Comcast was the first to introduce DOCSIS 3.1-powered Gigabit Internet service and rapidly expanded Gigabit speeds across the country to more locations than any other provider. Xfinity customers in Colorado Springs will be able to sign up online for the new DOCSIS 4.0-powered Internet plans. ### About Comcast Corporation Comcast is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Leslie Oliver +1 303-810-6326 leslie_oliver@comcast.com Company Website https://colorado.comcast.com/

October 12, 2023 08:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

NAVEX 2023 Regional Whistleblowing Hotline Benchmark Report Reveals Rise in Reports Across All Regions

NAVEX Global

NAVEX, the leader in integrated risk and compliance management software, today announced the publication of its 2023 Regional Whistleblowing Hotline Benchmark Report. Utilising over 1.5 million anonymised customer reports received in 2022, and with a focus on four geographic regions, NAVEX provides this annual analysis to help risk and compliance practitioners understand and benchmark their program performance against regional peers. This year, key findings include a boost in the volume of reports across all regions but with growing caution from reporters - as evidenced by an increase in anonymous reports. The study also highlights a reduction in health and safety reports, and a rise in HR-related reports. “NAVEX’s immense repository of industry data is one of a kind,” said Florian Haarhaus, International General Manager at NAVEX. “Our annual report’s data will empower Chief Compliance Officers in Europe to enhance their programs with benchmarking. This will help them continue to evolve the efficacy of their programs to drive business outcomes that matter most.” Report volumes increase; reporters become more cautious Median report volume per 100 employees rose for all regions comparing 2022 to 2021. As volumes increased, so has the share of reports submitted anonymously. Until only recently, reporters were far more likely to put their name to a report than in years past. This may reflect a greater sense of caution among workers in all regions, where generalised economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability could be contributing to an apparent retreat in named reporting. Interestingly, reports made by reporters based in Europe were the least likely to be anonymous. This suggests reporters in that region may have the least actual concern about retaliation. Organisations in the European Union faced the accelerating rollout of the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive during this period, which mandated many organisations in the bloc set up internal whistleblowing systems. The Directive explicitly protects whistleblowers from retaliation. Health & safety reports recede while HR-type reports grow; Europe retaliation holds steady As workers retrench, they are bringing workforce culture issues to the fore. This may indicate a greater focus on their current employer, versus confidence of finding a new job outside of their organisation. Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) reports were a smaller median share of total reports across all regions and measures in 2022 compared to 2021. This likely shows the decline of COVID-19’s prominence related to other issues around the world, whether viewed through the lens of where the organisation receiving the report is headquartered or where the report was submitted. The median share of HR, diversity, and workplace respect reports grew in importance across all regions and measures, likely reflecting a growing employee focus on workplace dynamics. The portion of retaliation reports made in Europe increased. This may be evidence of growing public awareness around the issue of retaliation and growing public confidence in the region to report this sensitive issue. The percentage of reports submitted about retaliation also rose slightly for reports made in all regions apart from APAC (Asia Pacific), where it held steady. Meanwhile, North America shows by far the greatest respective share of retaliation reports compared to other regions. This may be because of greater reporter awareness around the issue, or because organisations are doing an effective job inviting reports of this issue type. To read the full report, please click here. ------ About 2023 Regional Whistleblowing Hotline Benchmark Report Analysis is based on more than 1.5 million anonymised customer reports received in 2022. This regional benchmark focuses on four geographies: Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), North and South America. It is designed to help risk and compliance practitioners understand and benchmark their programs’ performance relative to regional peers. The benchmarking metrics provide a framework for organisations to speak a common language regarding types of risks, while identifying areas to enhance workplace culture across regional boundaries. New this year is a first-ever analysis of how reporting trends may differ by region of report origin compared to location of organisation headquarters. This dual analysis is particularly useful for multi-national companies with global operations and workforces. Also of note, APAC report calculations for 2021 have also been updated to include the Middle East, which resulted in some refinements to 2021 data used for comparative purposes. NAVEX is trusted by thousands of customers worldwide to help them achieve the business outcomes that matter most. As the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software and services, we deliver solutions through the NAVEX One platform, the industry’s most comprehensive governance, risk and compliance (GRC) information system. For more information, visit NAVEX.com and our blog. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact Details NAVEX Anita Lo +44 7778 754857 anita.lo@navexglobal.com Company Website https://www.navex.com

October 12, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

JustiFi Introduces: The Fintech Platform for Platforms

JustiFi

Today, Justifi is announcing the full launch of its highly anticipated fintech platform for platforms. This comprehensive stack of white-label financial tools enable software companies to monetize low-code fintech solutions like embedded payments, lending, and insurance all inside one integrated platform. Leveraging modern web components and API technologies, the JustiFi platform offers the fastest path to fully optimized fintech monetization for platform companies. “Platforms that see substantial fintech results can significantly expand their TAM (Total Addressable Market), boost revenue by 3-5 times, and command valuations 5-10 times higher than their competitors without fintech integration,” said Joe Keeley, JustiFi co-founder and CEO. The world's best platforms are winning with fintech products; however, turning this ambition into tangible results can prove to be a challenging journey, a narrative that JustiFi's founders are intimately familiar with. Before JustiFi, its leadership team had founded and led several vertical platforms, including SportsEngine, a vertical SaaS platform for youth sports organizations. In 2016, at the time of its sale to NBC Sports, SportsEngine had achieved world-class fintech results with embedded payments, insurance and lending. At the time, a staggering 85% of their revenue was coming from fintech products alone. The company was transformed, but SportsEngine's fintech journey was also complicated and expensive, involving a dedicated team of 50+ experts, intricate vendor integrations, and over a decade of work. There simply wasn’t an all-in-one fintech platform available on the market. That is until they built the JustiFi platform, a flexible plug-and-play fintech infrastructure powered by low-code APIs and web components, making fintech monetization faster and more accessible than ever before. What once took platforms tens of millions of dollars and a decade-plus to create, can now be activated in just days. With this platform launch, JustiFi has democratized access to fintech monetization and made good on its promise to accelerate the fintech potential of all platforms. Following its successful initial round of seed funding, which garnered $10.6 million from prominent investors like Crosslink Capital, Rally Ventures, and Emergence Capital in December 2021, JustiFi has welcomed a wave of enterprise clients from sports tech, rental management software, franchise operations, and various other sectors. These new partners collectively process billions of dollars in payments annually, showcasing JustiFi's rapid growth as a registered payment facilitator and an emerging fintech leader for platforms. For more information about the JustiFi platform, please visit www.justifi.tech. About JustiFi: JustiFi, the fintech platform for platforms, enables software companies to monetize white-label fintech products like embedded payments, lending, and insurance faster than ever before. As a registered payment facilitator, JustiFi provides world-class customer support and helps platforms deliver seamless fintech experiences to their end users. Contact Details JustiFi Cory Ploessl +1 612-281-8966 cory.ploessl@justifi.tech Company Website https://justifi.tech/

October 12, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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How Hedge Fund Clients Are Pioneering Sophisticated New Strategies with Automated Trading

Tradeweb

Automated trading has emerged as a strategic edge for a specific segment of the institutional marketplace, employing it effectively in their systematic trading approaches. While this may not be the use case we envisioned back in 2012 when we launched Automated Intelligent Execution (AiEX), we’re certainly energized as our hedge fund clients embrace the tool to innovate, potentially steering it in new directions. This particular story involving AiEX evolution follows a similar trajectory to what we’ve seen with tech developments in other industries. Whether it’s the explosion of AI and algorithmic models made possible by the widespread availability of cloud-based computing, or the proliferation of offshoot businesses and marketing strategies that have grown up around social media, the full power of a technology isn’t always clear until end-users start experimenting with it. It’s also a classic example of what can happen when you put a reliable, flexible tool in the hands of some of the world’s most sophisticated traders. Traditionally, systematic execution strategies were primarily associated with equities, where high-frequency trading and algorithmic strategies gained prominence. However, with the advancement of technology and sophisticated algorithms, automation has extended its reach into asset classes that were historically challenging to navigate with automated strategies. This technological leap has paved the way for systematic equity-focused firms to diversify their strategies and venture into fixed income asset classes. The surge in automation adoption in interest rate swaps is a great example of the transformative impact technology has had on financial markets, allowing for faster and adaptive trade executions. Additionally, automated systems can continuously monitor and adjust trading parameters based on changing market conditions. As more systematic funds expand their reach into fixed income, leveraging automation allows them to deploy proven strategies, optimize trading processes and capitalize on new opportunities across diverse asset classes. Since launching AiEX we’ve expanded our solution to 26 of our products to help our customers capitalize on strategic trading opportunities, increase their reactivity to market conditions and streamline and expedite their workflow. Roots In Efficiency By way of background, AiEX works by linking a client’s order management system (OMS) directly to the Tradeweb platform and fully automating the execution of a trade. At the basic level, the technology automatically applies pre-configured conditions, such as price tolerance thresholds, minimum number of quotes required to trade and client-specific compliance thresholds. The trade is then executed at the best price and sent back to the client’s system. In its earliest incarnations, AiEX was specifically marketed as a tool to free up traders’ time by automating low-touch trades of U.S. Treasuries. Trade sizes were relatively small, volumes were steady and trading workflows improved. When AiEX was first launched 11 years ago, trades were all executed using a request-for-quote (RFQ) trading protocol, whereby traders would set a predetermined number of dealers who would see the trade and provide a quote, and once all of the relevant parameters were achieved, the trade would be executed. The corresponding audit trail would come along for the ride, giving traders evidence of best execution and all of the relevant post-trade information they needed for recordkeeping compliance. The end-result was that the tool performed as advertised. Trades were executed seamlessly, compliance checks and balances were met and the so-called easy trades were able to be done without much fuss. Trading Efficiency To Trading Edge It did not take long, however, for some of our clients to start seeing a potential higher calling for AiEX. As Tradeweb continued to evolve the technology, adding asset classes and new trading protocols, such as click-to-trade and Request-for-Market (RFM) to the mix, its utility continued to grow. Meanwhile, as our hedge fund clients continued to refine their own workflows and learn from their experiences using AiEX, they started to dramatically expand the universe of applicable use cases where AiEX could unlock new value, specifically across global rates products. As these clients began to refine their use of AiEX during different market conditions, they quickly found that they could deploy different execution protocols in an automated fashion. For example, during periods of market stress they quickly found that by sending out automated trades via RFM, versus RFQ, they were able to limit their footprint in the market and execute trades far more discreetly than ever before possible. RFM allows clients to ask dealers for a two-way market, rather than a price based on direction. Unlike RFQ, whereby clients seek price quotes from dealers, RFM does not disclose the client’s trading intentions, preventing potentially sensitive or strategically valuable information from being revealed. Similarly, clients using AiEX with our click-to-trade protocol began streaming dealer liquidity directly into their internal trading systems and automating their trading strategies to execute on streams at certain price thresholds, revealing the trade only to a single dealer and reducing market footprint. Building A Positive Feedback Loop In order to continually evaluate their own process and find areas for improvement, some of our most advanced clients soon started using their AiEX post-trade data as a performance improvement tool. Over thousands of trades in different market conditions, using different trading protocols and different parameters, they were able to analyze results and start to optimize the entire process for various asset classes and trading environments. Suddenly, the tool that was originally conceived and perhaps undersold as an “integrated audit trail” became a data-driven guide to an optimal trading strategy. Continuous Innovation Ultimately, what’s happening with AiEX should not come as a huge surprise. While it was never really our initial intent to leverage the technology as a precision-tuned strategic execution engine, we did put the pieces in place for that to happen. As we’ve seen in other parts of our business, the combination of a reliable product that delivers proven performance improvement, the flexibility to continually tweak and refine that product and the close collaboration with clients to address real-world use cases creates a recipe for perpetual innovation. ------------------------------------------------- Tradeweb’s philosophy is to work closely with clients to build new and enhance existing trading technologies that deliver better price discovery and more efficient execution. We are unique among our peers in that we offer electronic marketplaces in rates, credit, equities and money markets. This means we have to cater to a variety of client requirements, and continue to develop innovative and flexible functionality that can be deployed across asset classes. The expansion of AiEX to enhance execution in the hedge fund community has opened the door to different ways of generating alpha when implementing trading strategies. About Tradeweb Markets Tradeweb Markets Inc. (Nasdaq: TW) is a leading, global operator of electronic marketplaces for rates, credit, equities and money markets. Founded in 1996, Tradeweb provides access to markets, data and analytics, electronic trading, straight-through-processing and reporting for more than 40 products to clients in the institutional, wholesale and retail markets. Advanced technologies developed by Tradeweb enhance price discovery, order execution and trade workflows while allowing for greater scale and helping to reduce risks in client trading operations. Tradeweb serves approximately 2,500 clients in more than 65 countries. On average, Tradeweb facilitated more than $1.2 trillion in notional value traded per day over the past four quarters. For more information, please go to www.tradeweb.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements related to, among other things, our outlook and future performance, the industry and markets in which we operate, our expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, prospects and assumptions and future events are forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in documents of Tradeweb Markets Inc. on file with or furnished to the SEC, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results of operations, financial condition or liquidity, and the development of the industry and markets in which we operate, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity, and events in the industry and markets in which we operate, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this release, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods. Any forward-looking statement that we make in this release speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this release. Contact Details Tradeweb Daniel Noonan +1 646-767-4677 Daniel.Noonan@Tradeweb.com Company Website http://www.tradeweb.com

October 11, 2023 05:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time