SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025 — SureCo, an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) administrator focused on companies with at least 200 employees, today announced the completion of a $23 million Series A funding round led by Health Velocity Capital, with participation from Kaiser Permanente Ventures. The investment will enable SureCo to scale its technology and team, making it easier for large groups to contribute pre-tax dollars to employees to purchase the individual health plan of their choice from all major carriers available in their area.

Signaling confidence in ICHRA’s ability to provide access to affordable coverage for American workers, the funding round was driven by thought-leading organizations in the health insurance industry. Health Velocity Capital’s limited partners include a multitude of insurance carriers providing coverage to over 175 million Americans, and Kaiser Permanente Ventures is the venture capital arm of one of the nation’s largest integrated healthcare organizations. They’ve tracked the evolution of ICHRA since it went into effect in 2020 and recognize it as a strategic opportunity for growth and market expansion.

“ICHRAs provide individual choice and foster competition in the market that benefits employers and employees alike. The construct represents an innovative, flexible option for large-group health benefits,” said Matthew Kim, Co-founder and CEO of SureCo.

As businesses face the steepest health insurance cost increases they’ve seen in 15 years, the ICHRA market is experiencing accelerating momentum. More than 44% of large employers say they’re considering the model for 2026. Adoption is being driven by large employers and their benefits consultants who are looking for predictable, cost-effective, and administratively efficient solutions that will satisfy their employees’ needs.

“The market dynamics have shifted dramatically,” said Saurabh Bhansali, Managing Partner at Health Velocity Capital. ” When we initially evaluated the market a few years ago, carriers acknowledged that ICHRA was not a priority, and benefits consultants had limited awareness of its flexibility and advantages. This time, nearly every carrier we engaged had a dedicated point person and an emerging ICHRA strategy, while consultants consistently described ICHRA as a key tool in their arsenal.”

Kaiser Permanente Ventures’ investment reflects this evolution. “We see ICHRA as empowering employees with choice, enabling them to select the best health plans for their needs,” said Daniel van den Bergh, Senior Investment Director at Kaiser Permanente Ventures. “SureCo guides employees through this process via an intuitive and high-quality end-to-end experience.” 

SureCo will use the funding to accelerate its growth trajectory and continue innovating in the large-group ICHRA space. The company plans to expand its technology platform capabilities, including further integration with carriers, and growth of its award-winning service team to support increasing customer demand.

“This funding comes at a pivotal moment for both SureCo and ICHRA,” added Kim. “We’re seeing unprecedented interest from large employers who are looking to offer their employees more choice and gain visibility into their healthcare costs, while lifting the administrative burden of traditional benefits administration. With the backing of Health Velocity Capital and Kaiser Permanente Ventures, we’re positioned to meet this demand and help more organizations transition to this consumer-driven benefits model.”

About SureCo
SureCo is a leading health benefits technology company specializing in Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA) for large employers. The company’s enrollment platform enables large employers to offer their employees access to hundreds of individual health insurance plans from all major carriers while maintaining predictable costs and comprehensive compliance support. 

About Health Velocity Capital
Health Velocity Capital invests exclusively in innovative healthcare software and services companies. The firm’s partners have more than 90 collective years as investors, entrepreneurs, and executives helping to finance and build innovative companies that created important new healthcare markets and that became market leaders, including successful companies such as Teladoc, Livongo, Change Healthcare, MDLive, Contessa Health, Headspace Health, Aspire Health, Zipari, IVX Health, Artera (fka Well Health), Compassus, Aperio, The Advisory Board Company, Healthways (Tivity Health), US Renal Care, Spero Health, OnShift, and many others. The firm counts among its limited partners many of the largest and most influential healthcare organizations in the country and current and former senior healthcare executives who collectively represent organizations that insure more than 175 million Americans, operate more than 700 hospitals, provide pharmacy and PBM services to everyone in the United States, and sell software to every major US health system.

Media Contact
Lindsey Unterberger
VP of Marketing, SureCo
[email protected]
573.424.9692 

Karen Sorenson
Account Director, Global Results Communications for SureCo
[email protected]
949.537.8789

SOURCE SureCo

Novo Holdings, SR One and Catalys Pacific co-led the financing

Company emerges from stealth to advance lead asset, dotinurad, through global Phase 3 clinical trials

Dotinurad is a next-generation, once daily oral, URAT1 inhibitor with  potential for best-in-class safety and efficacy, as supported by extensive clinical data from Japan, China and other Asian markets where the drug is approved

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 30, 2025 — Crystalys Therapeutics Inc., (‘Crystalys’ or ‘the Company’), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is announcing its launch with a $205 million Series A financing to support its mission of addressing the significant unmet medical needs of people living with gout. The financing round was co-led by Novo Holdings, SR One and Catalys Pacific with participation from a broad syndicate of investors, including Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Funds, Lightstone Ventures, AN Venture Partners, funds managed by abrdn Inc., KB Investments, Pontifax, Longwood Fund, Alexandria Venture Investments, Wedbush Healthcare Partners and Prebys Ventures Fund. 

The financing round will support the advancement of global Phase 3 clinical studies evaluating the company’s lead asset, dotinurad, a next-generation, once daily oral, URAT1 inhibitor with potential best-in-class safety and efficacy for the treatment of gout. Dotinurad has already demonstrated robust efficacy and a well-defined safety profile across multiple clinical studies, supporting its approval in Japan, China, Philippines and Thailand.

“Crystalys was built to bring forward a new therapeutic option for the millions of people struggling with gout,” said James Mackay, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Crystalys Therapeutics. “Our lead asset, with its proven efficacy and well-defined safety profile, has already demonstrated its ability to provide meaningful relief for people living with gout. Thanks to the support of our investors, our experienced team is now well-positioned to accelerate dotinurad’s development in the US and Europe as a much needed second-line therapy for patients who do not respond adequately to first-line treatments.”

Led and co-founded by James Mackay, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, a veteran biotech leader with over 40 years of drug development experience, six drug approvals, and a history of founding and leading innovative companies while contributing to San Diego’s life sciences ecosystem, Crystalys brings together a world-class team with a proven record in gout drug development and deep regulatory success with URAT1 inhibitors. Fellow co-founders of Crystalys include Dr. Nihar Bhakta, Dr. Ashwin Ram and Ms. DeAnne Reid. Dr. Bhakta, Chief Medical Officer at Crystalys, has extensive clinical and regulatory experience in immunology and inflammation, having led the team that secured the most recent small molecule FDA and EU approvals for hyperuricemia associated with gout. Dr. Ram, Chief Operating Officer, has extensive experience as an investor and operator, having managed multiple new company creations as a Partner at Catalys Pacific. Ms. Reid, Executive Director of Operations and Business Development, has significant biotech and gout drug development experience from her roles at Ardea Biosciences and Aristea Therapeutics.

“Since its inception, Crystalys has been guided by a singular vision: uniting a world-class gout drug development team with Japan’s excellence in pharmaceutical innovation to deliver transformative therapies for patients with gout,” said BT Slingsby, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Crystalys Therapeutics. “We are proud to continue to support Crystalys as it advances dotinurad into two global Phase 3 trials.”

“The clinical effectiveness of dotinurad for treating hyperuricemia associated with gout has already been well validated across 22 trials involving 1,300 subjects, and since its approval in Japan in 2020, more than 1.2 million patients have been treated with dotinurad, consistently achieving target serum uric acid levels linked to meaningful clinical benefits,” said Nihar Bhakta, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Crystalys Therapeutics. “Our upcoming Phase 3 trials are designed to highlight the superior efficacy of dotinurad in reducing serum uric acid levels, gout flares and tophus area.”

About Gout

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. It is a condition which is very debilitating for patients and characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in one or more joints. This disease arises from excess uric acid in the body, known as ‘hyperuricemia,’ which causes buildup of uric acid crystals and inflammation, leading to tophaceous gout in people with chronic or undertreated disease. Despite available therapies that aim to reduce uric acid levels below the target 6 mg/dL, a major treatment gap remains between first-line xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs) and last-line uricase therapy. Currently, no suitable second-line options exist in the U.S. or E.U., leaving a critical unmet need for patients who fail to respond to first-line treatments.

About Crystalys Therapeutics

Crystalys Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company transforming the treatment of gout. Headquartered in San Diego, California, and co-founded by Catalys Pacific and Novo Holdings, Crystalys brings together a world-class team with deep expertise in gout drug development, dedicated to delivering more effective options for people living with gout. The company’s lead candidate, dotinurad, is a next-generation, once daily oral, URAT1 inhibitor in clinical development as a second-line therapy aimed to reduce uric acid, gout flares and tophi. Dotinurad was invented by Fuji Yakuhin and has obtained regulatory approval in Japan, China, Philippines and Thailand. With best-in-class potential for both safety and efficacy, dotinurad is supported by clinical data from multiple Asian markets where it is approved. Crystalys is advancing dotinurad in global Phase 3 trials toward regulatory approval and commercial launch.

For more information, visit www.crystalystx.com/ and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Crystalys Therapeutics

Total Round Reaches 17.8 Million USD to Accelerate R&D and Global Expansion

OKINAWA, Japan, Sept. 30, 2025 — Japan-based deep tech startup EF Polymer K.K. (Founder & CEO: Narayan Lal Gurjar, “EF Polymer”), developer of 100% bio-based super absorbent polymers, today announced that it has completed the second close of its Series B financing round through a third-party allotment. In this second close, investors from diverse industries participated, bringing the total amount raised to 17.8 million USD  combined with the first close. This underscores the strong support for EF Polymer’s mission to scale sustainable solutions worldwide.

Business Progress

Sales Milestone:

• EF Polymer has achieved cumulative global sales of 500 tons, upcycling more than 5,000 tons of agricultural residues into sustainable products. Demonstration projects are actively underway in drought-affected regions such as France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

Diversification Beyond Agriculture:

• In addition to agricultural use, EF Polymer’s bio-based polymers are being applied in cosmetics, personal care, cooling packs (“Cy-Cool”), and absorbent sheets.

Certifications & Recognition:

• EF Polymer’s India plant (Rajasthan) has obtained ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certifications.
• Organic certification “OMRI” obtained for the U.S. market.
• CEO Narayan Lal Gurjar selected for Forbes Japan 30 Under 30.
• Named a “THRIVE Rising Star” and listed in the 2025 Top 50 AgTech by THRIVE.

R&D Focus Areas

• Diversification of raw materials beyond orange and banana peels
• Establishing sustainable and circular production processes
• Development of new agricultural products by combining EF Polymer with other solutions
• Strengthening multi-site global production capabilities
• Expanding applications beyond agriculture

Series B Round Investors
Through this financing, EF Polymer aims to further accelerate and deepen its research and development (R&D), while strengthening our global business development capabilities to drive the next stage of growth.

Participating Investors (in no particular order):
Impact Capital I Limited Partnership / AgVenture Lab / Amami Okinawa Investment Limited Partnership (Kagoshima Development Co., Ltd.) / EMA Enterprise Co., Ltd. / Hokuyo SDGs Promotion No. 3 Investment Limited Partnership (Hokkaido Kyoso Partners Co., Ltd.) / Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality / Kyoritsu Holdings Corporation / Melissa Estate International Co., Ltd. / OLtV Opportunity Fund / Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd. / SVG Ventures Sunrise Agri Fund GP, LLC / Okinawa Development Finance Corporation / TOPPAN Holdings Inc. / Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Narayan Lal Gurjar, Founder & CEO of EF Polymer, commented:
“Our mission is to tackle water scarcity and environmental challenges while improving the livelihoods of farmers and communities. With the support of partners who share our vision, this Series B financing will further accelerate our efforts toward building a sustainable future.”

Business Synergies with Investors

EF Polymer will also collaborate with corporate investors to create business synergies:

• SVG Ventures: Supporting global tomato production with Kagome through stable supply of processing tomatoes.
• Soken Chemical: Co-developing absorbent sheets and launching applications in cosmetics and agriculture.
• TOPPAN Holdings: Developing soil regeneration technologies and collaborating on next-generation manufacturing.

About EF Polymer
EF Polymer is a deep-tech startup born in India and nurtured in Japan. By upcycling agricultural residues such as orange and banana peels into 100% bio-based super absorbent polymers, EF Polymer provides sustainable solutions for agriculture and beyond. The company also promotes applications in cosmetics, personal care products, and ice-packs, helping industries achieve green transformation (GX). Through its technology, EF Polymer strives to solve global environmental challenges, particularly water scarcity.
https://efpolymer.com/

CONTACT:
Nakao: [email protected] / +81(0)50-3628-8676
Maekawa: [email protected] / +81(0)70-2210-5880 

SOURCE EF Polymer K.K.

• Series C led by Junson Capital along with new investor syndicate and existing shareholders
• Funding will further advance Full-Life’s global radiopharmaceutical pipeline and manufacturing capabilities in Belgium
• Additional debt financing provides an alternative financing solution for Full-Life’s future development

CHENGDU, China and GEMBLOUX, Belgium, Sept. 29, 2025 — Full-Life Technologies (“Full-Life”, the “Company”), a fully-integrated global radiotherapeutics company, today announced the completion of US$77 million financing, comprised of close to US$50 million Series C equity and US$27 million debt financing. This financing will advance development of the Company’s radiopharmaceutical pipeline worldwide and manufacturing capabilities in Belgium. With completion of this round, Full-Life has secured nearly US$200 million funding since its inception in 2021, including equity financing, debt financing, business development payments and others.  

Junson Capital led the Series C equity financing along with new investors Lapam Capital, Plaisance, TruMed Investment and other prestigious investors, as well as existing shareholders Chengwei Capital, Gordian Ventures, HSG, Prosperity7, Summer Capital and other renowned shareholders. The US$27 million debt financing, secured in conjunction with the Series C equity financing, provides Full-Life with a flexible financing solution for the Company’s clinical pipeline development and early preclinical program exploration globally, while ensuring the smooth completion of its manufacturing facility in Belgium.

“Radionuclide Drug Conjugates (“RDC”) is a promising new modality for oncology treatments, especially alpha emitters such as ²²⁵Ac–based therapies, where global supply shortage is a current bottleneck,” said Wei Shen, Head of Principal Investment at Junson Capital. “We have invested in Full-Life in each financing round since its Series A in 2022. We continue to be impressed by the company’s strategic vision for a fully-integrated radiopharmaceutical company, its progress in establishing an innovative pipeline and manufacturing capacity to address this key bottleneck, and the outstanding team it has assembled. We are happy to lead Full-Life’s Series C equity financing to drive the growth of such a high-potential biotech at this key stage of its development.”

“The financing reflects strong confidence from our new and existing investors in our strategy and the remarkable achievements we have made under four years,” said Julie Wu, President and Chief Financial Officer of Full-Life. “The funding will support completion of the global Phase I clinical trial of our lead asset, [225AC]AC-FL-020, and initiation of further clinical studies, upcoming new IND filings worldwide, as well as the completion of construction of a Good Manufacturing Practices (“GMP”) manufacturing facility in Belgium.”

About Junson Capital

Junson Capital is a prominent global investment management company, anchored by permanent capital. Junson manages a diversified global portfolio that covers real estate, fixed income, alternative, private equity and venture capital investments. Junson currently has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, Palo Alto and Frankfurt.

 About Full-Life Technologies

Full-Life Technologies (“Full-Life”) is a fully-integrated clinical-stage global radiotherapeutics company with operations in Belgium, Germany, and China. We aim to own the entire value chain for radiopharmaceutical research & development, production & commercialization to deliver clinical impact for patients. The Company endeavors to tackle fundamental challenges affecting radiopharmaceuticals today by pioneering innovative research that will shape the treatments of tomorrow. We are comprised of a team of fast-moving entrepreneurs and seasoned scientists with a proven history of success in the life sciences, alongside radioisotope research and clinical development.

SOURCE Full-Life Technologies

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29, 2025 — Alex, the AI recruiting partner transforming how companies discover and hire talent, today announced it has raised $20 million in funding, including a $17 million Series A round led by Peak XV Partners with participation from CHROs at Fortune 500 companies, Y Combinator, Uncorrelated Ventures, and other investors including Tim Sackett, Kris Fredrickson, and Dalton Caldwell. The funding also includes a $3 million Seed round led by 1984 Ventures. This investment will enable Alex to deepen its AI capabilities, expand its team, and further its mission to match every open job with the right candidate.

In today’s competitive landscape, companies often struggle to efficiently sift through vast talent pools, leading to missed opportunities for both candidates and recruiters. Traditional hiring processes can be slow, inconsistent, and reliant on gut instinct, preventing deserving candidates from shining.

Alex leverages AI agents to solve these challenges by conducting video and phone interviews, running resume screens, scheduling follow-ups, detecting fraudulent candidates, capturing structured notes, and syncing seamlessly with applicant tracking systems (ATS). With over 20 autonomous workflows, Alex empowers recruiting teams to look beyond the obvious candidates, evaluate more people more fairly, and uncover hidden gems who might otherwise be overlooked.

“In my 20 years in talent acquisition, I’ve worked with a ton of recruiting software and Alex is a game-changer,” said Tim Sackett, General Partner at HR Tech 100 Fund and a leading voice in talent acquisition. “Adopting the newest and best AI technologies isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity for top talent organizations, and Alex is leading the charge.”

Alex frees recruiters to focus on what they do best: building relationships with pre-qualified candidates, advising hiring managers, and guiding individuals towards successful careers. This not only accelerates the hiring process but also significantly improves the quality of hires, ensuring that every candidate gets their chance to shine.

In just 18 months, Alex has powered hiring for hundreds of companies across tens of thousands of jobs at some of the world’s largest employers — including Fortune 100s, major financial institutions, nationwide restaurant chains, and Big 4 accounting firms.

“In the future, AI agents will run the entire recruiting process autonomously. It’s inevitable. Alex.com has incredible customer love and usage curves,” said Arnav Sahu, Partner at Peak XV Partners. “In the end-state, Alex could redefine how hiring is done across the entire labor market. We are excited to be a part of this journey with Aaron and John as they build a category-defining company.”

Alex’s core mission is to ensure that no great candidate is lost in the talent pool. By enabling recruiters to widen their search and delve deeper, Alex provides every candidate the opportunity to be discovered, effectively closing the gap between a promising role and a deserving candidate.

About Alex
Alex is an AI recruiting partner that automates recruiter busywork. By automating and streamlining workflows in areas including phone screens, video interviews, fraud detection, and notetaking, Alex empowers companies to find the best talent faster and more fairly, while ensuring every candidate has the opportunity to be discovered. Backed by world-class investors including Y Combinator and Peak XV Partners, Alex is used by global employers and Fortune 500 enterprises around the world.

Media contact:
Michelle Faulkner
Big Swing
617-510-6998
[email protected]

SOURCE Alex

Funding to Launch new CPG Sustainable Consumer Brand

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 29, 2025 — Aspyr Living, a natural lifestyle company, announced today a $250,000 lead investment from RJD Green (OTCPK: RJDG) as part of a $3.0 million seed funding round. RJD Green will provide both capital and growth expertise to support the launch of Aspyr Living’s innovative new consumer brand, Ascend®.

Aspyr Living helps people live healthier lives with a new generation of safe, high performance home, laundry and personal care products that outperform toxic chemical-based national brands.

Its flagship brand, Ascend®, features proprietary, patent-pending botanical technologies preferred by consumers over toxic national brands after a single use. The funding will be instrumental in bringing these products to market and solidifying Aspyr Living as an emerging leader in the home, health, and wellness space.

“We’ve cracked the code to delivering superior performance for naturally derived household cleaning and laundry products using botanicals, instead of petrochemicals. The results are household cleaning & laundry products that are safer, stronger, and preferred by consumers,” said Benjamin Shell, CEO of Aspyr Living.

“We’re thrilled to have RJD Green as our lead investor for this funding round,” said Shell.  “Their track record of building companies is precisely the kind of expertise we need as we scale operations and introduce our industry-first products to North America.”

RJD Green’s investment builds on a successful 3,000-store Walmart private label test, which demonstrated significant consumer demand for products based on Aspyr Living-derived technologies. The pilot generated over $5 million in sales from 2 million units, with over 98% of consumers preferring the products over top chemical brands. The test also showed a strong 70%+ repurchase rate, proving mass market appeal and a loyal customer base.

Aspyr Living is expected to hit retail shelves with its Ascend® Home Essentials line in early 2026, followed by the launch of its groundbreaking Ascend® Sanitizing Laundry Detergent in Summer 2026. It’s the first consumer detergent to kill 99.9% of bacteria in a home washing machine and represents the most significant advance in home laundry care in 70 years.

About Aspyr Living

Aspyr Living is a natural lifestyle company helping people live healthier lives industry-first safe, natural, and effective home, laundry and personal care products that outperform toxic chemical-based national brands.

Aspyr Living is a natural lifestyle company transforming the $32 billion home and laundry care products market. The company’s vision is to help families live healthier lives by providing safe, effective, and science-backed products and removing toxic chemicals from U.S. homes. Visit www.aspyr-living.com.

About RJD Green, Inc.
RJD Green, Inc. (OTCPK: RJDG) is a publicly traded holding company focused on acquiring and managing assets and companies in the construction, green environmental, and healthcare service sectors. RJD Green is dedicated to providing shareholders with access to small and medium businesses with significant growth opportunities. Visit www.rjdgreen.com.

SOURCE Aspyr Living Inc.

BTCS pioneering an ‘Active Treasury’ model coupling BTC exposure with emerging ecosystems.

WARSAW, Poland, Sept. 29, 2025 — BTCS, the largest European Digital Asset Treasury Company (DATCO), today announced plans to raise an additional $100 million through a Series G fundraise, coming immediately on the heels of its recently closed Series F. This rapid succession of capital formation highlights strong market confidence in the model of institutional-scale digital asset treasuries.

Proceeds from the Series G will be deployed to expand BTCS’ diversified treasury strategy. With 60% exposure to $BTC, 30% with $ZIG, and 10% to $CORE. This active treasury model combines BTC exposure with emerging ecosystems. By operating the core infrastructure of blockchain networks and adding assets like CORE DAO and ZIGChain, it generates operational revenue, with the goal of delivering yield even in flat markets.

Most public companies follow MicroStrategy’s passive ‘buy-and-hold’ crypto strategy. But with BTCS’ revolutionary Active Treasury Strategy, proceeds won’t sit idle. Instead, they’ll be deployed into staking, DeFi, and validator operations to generate sustainable yield. Thanks to ZIGChain and CORE DAO‘s native yields, BTCS will no longer have to leverage its BTC holdings to earn competitive yields. BTCS continues to assess other ecosystems for validator participation.

“This next phase builds on the momentum of our Series F and underscores our conviction that the future of digital asset treasuries lies in productive deployment, not passive storage,” said Marlena Lipińska, CEO of BTCS S.A.”The inclusion of ZIGChain in BTCS’s treasury strategy highlights a broader shift toward productive digital asset treasuries,” said Abdul Rafay Gadit, Co-founder of ZIGChain and member of BTCS’s Supervisory Board. “Unlike passive holdings, validators and staking rewards create recurring revenue streams while directly strengthening the networks themselves. We see this model as a sustainable path forward for listed companies seeking transparent and resilient exposure to digital assets.”

BTCS innovates with its corporate treasury by strategically acquiring and holding digital assets to build long-term shareholder value through both its infrastructure operations and direct exposure to the top digital currency.

Its primary focus is to generate consistent revenue by providing the critical infrastructure that underpins global blockchain networks, which involves running validator nodes and offering staking-as-a-service. But BTCS stands apart from other publicly traded companies that invest in crypto by actively participating in the consensus mechanisms of various blockchains. 

This means BTCS not only earns rewards and fees, but also directly contributes to the security and stability of the entire digital asset ecosystem.

With the Series G raise announcement, Europe’s largest DATCO continues to set benchmarks for institutional blockchain adoption, combining diversification, compliance, and yield-generation into a model built for long-term success.

About BTCS SA

Part of Warsaw’s NewConnect market, BTCS has the distinction of being the first publicly-traded, pure-play blockchain infrastructure company, offering investors a unique vehicle to participate in the growth of the decentralized market. The company’s core business focuses on operating validator nodes and offering staking services, generating revenue by actively participating in and strengthening blockchain ecosystems. Its leadership team combines decades of experience from the traditional finance and crypto worlds, including seasoned veterans in capital markets, asset management, and blockchain technology.

About ZIGChain

ZIGChain is a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain designed to democratize access to investment opportunities, facilitate financial inclusion regardless of income level, technical skill, or geographic location. ZIGChain enables developers and institutions to launch scalable, compliant protocols for profit-sharing, fund tokenization, and real-world asset management.

Its ecosystem includes Zignaly, a licensed social investment platform connecting over 600,000 users with more than 150 professional portfolio managers. ZIGChain also supports Zamanat, the world’s first Shariah-compliant real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform, combining ethical finance with programmable blockchain infrastructure.

For more information about ZIGChain, users can visit zigchain.com

Contact:
Media Team
[email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2784590/BTCS_Logo.jpg

SOURCE BTCS

The three-year partnership aims to raise $1.17 million through corporate donations, matched funding, product contributions, and fundraising to accelerate access to safe, sustainable energy.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 29, 2025 — RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, today announces a new three-year partnership with international development charity SolarAid. Together, RS Group and SolarAid aim to raise $1.17 million (£1 million) to deliver clean, safe solar lighting to 150,000 people living in rural communities across Africa without access to electricity.

The partnership forms a central part of RS Group’s 2030 ESG action plan and champions the shared ambition to “make amazing happen for a brighter world.” By combining corporate donations, matched funding, RS PRO product contributions, employee fundraising, and gifts in kind, RS Group will help accelerate SolarAid’s mission to create thriving solar businesses that tackle poverty and climate change.

Just one solar light benefits every member of the household, leading to a 90% reduction in kerosene, candles, and torches and a 95% reduction in energy costs, and enabling children to study safely after sunset. It also reduces carbon emissions, supporting the transition to renewable energy. A paraffin candle emits three times its weight in CO₂, and a kerosene lamp emits over a ton of carbon every three years.

Employee engagement at the heart of the partnership
RS and SolarAid are closely aligned as providers of products and solutions that support the low-carbon transition with a focus on renewables. As a leader in industrial MRO services, the RS team’s expertise will directly support SolarAid’s global and local repair programs, helping to create a circular solar economy in off-grid communities. RS employees worldwide will be encouraged to get involved through skills-based volunteering, fundraising challenges, and awareness-raising activities. Planned initiatives include:

• Skills-based volunteering: RS experts will seek to support SolarAid projects, such as improving its Repair App, which helps communities extend the life of solar lights and reduce waste through simple repairs.
• On-the-ground engagement: Opportunities to visit SolarAid-supported communities in Malawi and Zambia, as well as welcoming SolarAid representatives to RS markets for live demonstrations.
• Night Without Light: An awareness initiative where employees spend a night without electricity, experiencing the challenges faced by off-grid communities.
• Active for Change: A global fundraising challenge where employees raise money by logging physical activity in teams.

RS employees are entitled to two annual volunteering days, and the company aims to inspire 50% of colleagues to use this time to support their communities and the SolarAid partnership.

Bridging ambition with proven impact
SolarAid’s recent, remarkable achievement in Kasakula, Malawi, underscores the partnership’s potential. On August 26, 2025, 100% of households, all local schools, and the health clinic in Kasakula gained solar access through the Light a Village initiative — highlighting what’s possible when communities, charities, and partners align around a bold, shared goal.

A brighter future through collaboration
“We are proud to partner with SolarAid on this important mission,” said Andrea Barrett, Chief Sustainability Officer at RS Group. “Access to clean, safe solar lighting is a powerful catalyst for education, safety, and opportunity. By combining the passion of our people with the innovation of our customers and suppliers, we can make amazing happen for communities that need it most. The success in Kasakula is a living proof point. Achieving 100% access in one of the world’s poorest and most remote regions shows that universal energy access is not just achievable, but scalable.”

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with RS Group,” said John Keane, CEO of SolarAid. “From the very start, our shared purpose and alignment have been clear. Like RS Group, we strive to innovate the best solutions for our customers so that we can deliver sustainable energy access. We are incredibly excited by the huge opportunity we have together, to progress our mission and to bring clean, safe lighting and power to those living in the most remote, hardest to reach communities. Together, we really will make amazing happen for a brighter world.”

Driving long-term impact
The partnership builds on RS Group’s track record of impactful collaborations, including raising nearly $1.17 million (£1 million) for The Washing Machine Project since 2020. By focusing on engagement opportunities for employees, customers, and suppliers, RS Group and SolarAid aim to create a movement of shared purpose and innovation. To amplify the collective impact, RS Group will match donations and funds raised by employees, further reinforcing its commitment to empowering communities.

About RS Group
RS is a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, enabling them to operate efficiently and sustainably.

We operate in 36 markets, stock over 830,000 industrial and specialist products, and list an additional five million relevant for our industrial customers, sourced from over 2,500 suppliers. This extensive range supports our customers across the industrial lifecycle of designing, building, and maintaining equipment and operations. We enhance their experience through a tailored service model, leveraging our efficient physical, digital, and process infrastructure sustainably. We combine a technically led and digitally enabled approach with an exceptional team of experts; ultimately, it’s our people that make the difference.

Our purpose, making amazing happen for a better world, reflects our focus on delivering results for people, planet and profit.

RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2025 reported revenue of £2,904 million.

For more information, please visit https://www.rsgroup.com or connect with us on LinkedIn or X (Twitter).

About SolarAid
Established in 2006, SolarAid is a UK-based international charity dedicated to bringing solar power to rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Together with its social enterprise, SunnyMoney, SolarAid is pioneering innovative enterprise programs that tackle poverty and climate change by providing access to clean, safe solar lighting to homes, clinics, and schools. To date, SolarAid has distributed 2.3 million lights across sub-Saharan Africa.

For more information, please visit http://solar-aid.org or connect with SolarAid on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.

Editorial Contact & Media Inquiries:
[email protected]

Image Download:
RS Group Solar Aid PR.jpg

SOURCE RS Group plc

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 29, 2025 — Southeast Asia’s digital bank Yup has recently secured $32 million in their latest equity funding through its C-1 round, backed by US investment firms including Moore Strategic Ventures, Spice Expeditions and Platanus, with participation from other institutional investors and existing shareholders. The raise marks a pivotal moment for the company as it accelerates efforts to expand its customer base and edge closer to profitability.

Since founded in 2021, Yup has demonstrated robust financial performance and consistent growth, cementing its position as one of Southeast Asia’s most promising platforms in Fintech space. The company now serves millions of credit card holders and expects to reach break-even by the end of 2025—an achievement that reflects both operational discipline and strong market demand.

Beyond financial performance, Yup is advancing financial inclusion by expanding access to affordable, technology-driven financial services for underbanked and underserved populations in Southeast Asia. By providing working- and middle-class consumers with reliable credit and digital banking solutions, the company is unlocking new economic opportunities while reinforcing the region’s financial resilience.

“We have a very clear vision since our Day 1, which is to be the principal payment tool for the working-class / middle-class customers in Southeast Asia. We have seen our revenue approximately double each year for the past three years, and we expect that momentum to accelerate even further in 2026 and 2027.” said Donny Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO of Yup. “This round gives us the firepower to scale our reach and deepen engagement with our users. We’re thrilled to have Moore Strategic Ventures, Spice and Platanus onboard as strategic partners in our next phase.”

The C-1 round brings Yup’s total equity funding to over $100 million, positioning the company for further expansion and potential strategic moves in 2026. “Over the past 4 years, we have successfully closed 6 rounds of equity fundraising, even during periods of capital market volatility. The continued support from global investors speaks volumes about their confidence in our long-term vision and execution.” added by Gavin Guo, CFO of Yup. ” This funding will be used to take our customer base to the next level and further refine our product experience.”

Yup’s fundraising comes as global investors increasingly look to Southeast Asia for resilient, tech-enabled growth stories in the Payment industry. Investors cited that the great market potential from Indonesia, which is one of the most promising emerging markets, and the company’s disciplined execution are the key reasons for them to bet on Yup. With macroeconomic tailwinds continuing and digital adoption surging, companies like Yup are drawing renewed attention from capital markets.

SOURCE Yup