To comply with academic institution guidelines, the founders’ academic affiliations and roles are listed only at the end of the statement.

BOSTON, Sept. 3, 2024 — Somite Therapeutics, a fully integrated TechBio company leveraging big data and AI to introduce novel cell replacement therapies, today announced a $4.8M extension of its pre-seed round, only 6 months after the initial raise, bringing total funds raised to over $10M.

“With most of the funds still in the bank, we were not planning to fundraise until 2025,” noted Dr. Micha Breakstone, Founder and CEO of Somite Therapeutics. “However, when Astellas Venture Management and Montage Ventures approached us, it was clear that they could add significant strategic value. Astellas Pharma and Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (a wholly owned subsidiary of Astellas, “AIRM”) focus on regenerative medicine and cell therapy research in ophthalmology and other therapeutic areas that have few or no available treatment options, while Montage Ventures has built a robust thesis and has deep insights into this space, so we decided to extend the round.”

The additional funding will be used to expedite data generation to train Somite’s AI platform, AlphaStem, advance SMT-M01 toward the clinic, start a second clinical program, SMT-B01, using brown adipocytes to treat metabolic disorders, and begin research with hypoimmune cell lines.

“We are thrilled to partner with Somite and support their innovative approach to AI-driven cell therapies,” said Dr. Nagisa Sakurai, Senior Investment Manager at Astellas Venture Management, who will be joining Somite as a Board Observer. “Somite’s work in vertically integrated AI-driven cell therapy aligns perfectly with Astellas’ focus. We see great potential for impactful synergies between our companies.”

“Among numerous companies in the TechBio space, Somite stood out as the most aligned with our vision of AI-driven novel therapeutic modalities,” said Dr. Daphne Che, who will also be joining Somite as a Board Observer. “We firmly believe that Somite will emerge as a leader in fully integrated AI-driven cell therapy.”

Additional investors joining the round include Nachum Shamir, former Chairman and CEO of Luminex, and Paul and Dr. Kendra Harris, a renowned clinician with extensive experience in clinical trials, who will also be joining Somite’s Scientific Advisory Board.

About Somite

Somite.ai is a venture-backed company aiming to become the OpenAI of stem cell biology, developing AI foundation models to produce human tissue for cell therapies at scale for diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and muscular dystrophies. Somite’s AI platform, AlphaStem, fuels a virtuous cycle: It enables new cell therapies, generating massive data that further improve the platform, empowering even faster therapy creation with broader applications. The company’s pipeline includes the promising SMT-M01 program for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and the SMT-B01 program for metabolic disorders. Incorporated in Oct. 2023, Somite.ai has raised over $10m to date.

Somite Management Team:

• Micha Breakstone, PhD: CEO and Co-founder – Repeat AI entrepreneur (Chorus.ai acq. for $575m)
• Jonathan Rosenfeld, PhD: CTO and Co-founder – Head of the Fundamental AI group at MIT FutureTech
• Carl Morris, PhD: Chief Scientific Officer
• Kristy Brown, PhD: SVP Translational Development
• Shai Kivity, VP Strategy & Operations
  

Scientific Co-founders:

• Olivier Pourquie, PhD: Professor of Genetics and Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Allon Klein, PhD: Professor of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School
• Cliff Tabin, PhD: Chair of the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School
• Jay Shendure, PhD: HHMI Professor of Genome Sciences at University of Washington

Media Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.somite.ai

SOURCE Somite Therapeutics

BERLIN and BOSTON, Sept. 3, 2024 — Monda, the all-in-one data monetization platform, today announced it has raised $5 million in seed funding. The round was led by Senovo and Acrobator Ventures, with participation from Techstars. The capital will be used to expand operations in the US, grow its partner ecosystem, and enhance its platform to make data monetization easier for companies of all sizes.

Monda’s software helps companies easily start, run, and scale their data business. Seeing rapid growth in 2024, Monda’s all-in-one data monetization platform is already used by over 150 data-as-a-service (DaaS) companies creating more than 6,000 data products. Monda has built key partnerships and integrations with world-leading cloud data marketplaces from Google Cloud, Databricks, and SAP. Since the beginning of the year, the team has doubled to 32 people. Additionally, Monda is opening its first US office in Boston in Fall 2024 to better serve North American customers, which account for 50% of its customer base. Monda was founded by serial entrepreneurs and data industry veterans Thani Shamsi and Richard Hoffmann as a spin-off from Berlin-based Datarade, the largest comparison platform for data providers.

Thani Shamsi, Founder & CEO of Monda, said, “AI has created massive demand for high-quality and unique datasets for training models. Companies have realized that there’s a huge business opportunity in monetizing their proprietary data, but many are struggling to navigate an increasingly complex global data market. I’ve seen these challenges first-hand working for a data provider. We created Monda to make it extremely easy for any company to start and build a safe, fast-growing, and sustainable data business – fueling the AI revolution.”

AI companies are rushing to secure access to proprietary datasets to train and refine their models, prompting data-rich companies like Reddit, Shutterstock, and Yelp to strike multi-million dollar AI data licensing deals. Yet technical, legal, and operational challenges are keeping companies from monetizing their data assets: Building a successful data-as-a-service business involves creating data products, integrating with a multitude of data marketplaces, training a data salesforce, managing cross-cloud data sharing, and handling data subscriptions.

Mona Gindler, Partner at Senovo, said, “As buying and monetizing data is entering the mainstream, data providers need better tools to handle the increasing complexity of the data market. Monda helps them reach more customers while reducing operational efforts, putting the company in a great position to lead this emerging software category. Thani and Richard have built a fantastic team and culture in Berlin, and we are excited to support their expansion into the US with the new Boston office.”

Monda’s data monetization platform has three key differentiators: Firstly, the product is easy-to-use, enabling business users to create data products and publish them on their own data storefront or data marketplaces in clicks. Secondly, Monda’s all-in-one vertical SaaS approach enables companies to run and manage their entire data business on one platform. Thirdly, customers value Monda’s world-class service and support from an international success team and data monetization experts. Part of the seed funding will be used to further develop data integrations with cloud platforms, support unstructured data products, and release additional regulatory compliance features.

Richard Hoffmann, Founder & President of Monda, said, “Opening our first US office in Boston marks a pivotal moment for Monda, our US customers, and for me personally. I’m currently relocating with my family from Germany to the United States, in order to fully dedicate myself to the success and growth of our US customer base and our local team. The US has always been our most important market as a hotbed of innovation in data and AI.”

– Picture is available at AP (https://apmultimedianewsroom.com/multimedia-newsroom/partners/news-aktuell) –

About Monda

Monda is a leading B2B SaaS company in the data-as-a-service industry. Monda’s data all-in-one monetization platform empowers any company to share and monetize their proprietary data safely. The company was founded in 2024 by Thani Shamsi and Richard Hoffmann as a spin-off from Datarade, the largest comparison platform for data providers. With the vision of democratizing data monetization, Monda aims to create a borderless data sharing ecosystem to fuel the AI revolution and accelerate human progress.

Web: www.monda.ai 

About Senovo

Senovo is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Munich and Berlin that partners with exceptional founders building global B2B SaaS category-leaders from Europe. As a European first-mover, the fund has been investing since 2013 into a new generation of B2B software startups which enable the digitalization of medium and large enterprises. Senovo joins the journey after a company has first revenues in a late Seed or Series A round. Their team of SaaS specialists seek meaningful eye-level relationships and regularly publish their learnings and thought leadership at www.medium.com/senovovc. 

Web: www.senovo.vc 

About Acrobator Ventures

Acrobator Ventures is an operator-led VC focused on (pre-)seed founders building enabling tech and data companies. The partners bring a deep understanding of AI/ML and operational excellence with a founders first mentality.
Web: www.acrobator.vc 

Place of registration
Berlin/ Boston

Press contact
Max Krüger
[email protected]

SOURCE Datarade GmbH

LONDON, Sept. 3, 2024 — Just two weeks after its groundbreaking introduction, AISQ is thrilled to announce that over 200 small business owners have successfully implemented and experienced the full capabilities of Next Level Marketing, the world’s first fully automated, end-to-end marketing system. These businesses have now harnessed the power of AI to autonomously manage their marketing—from content creation to distribution across search engines, social media, and email newsletters—with only minor inputs required from them.

A Milestone in AI-Driven Marketing

This milestone marks a historic moment in the evolution of digital marketing. For the first time in history, small business owners have been able to set up and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy entirely driven by AI, requiring only approval on content and minimal edits. The system has demonstrated its ability to carry out all marketing tasks—research, planning, scheduling, publishing, and promotion—on behalf of the business, seamlessly integrating across all digital channels.

“We knew we were onto something revolutionary, but seeing it in action with real businesses has exceeded even our expectations,” said Florin Muresan, CEO of AISQ. “These 200 business owners are not just using an AI tool; they are pioneers in the next chapter of marketing evolution. They’ve experienced firsthand what it means to have an entire marketing department run autonomously by AI. The results have been incredible, and we’re just getting started.”

Transformative Results and Real-World Impact

The initial test group of small business owners, carefully selected based on their commitment to provide detailed feedback, has reported significant success in setting up and running the system end-to-end. The results speak for themselves:

• Automated SEO Success: Users have successfully published new content to their websites, which was automatically indexed by search engines, driving increased organic traffic.
• Social Media Engagement: AI-driven social media posts have been scheduled and published across multiple platforms, maintaining consistent engagement with followers.
• Email Marketing Efficiency: Email newsletters were generated, personalized, and sent out without manual input, saving time and ensuring timely communication with customers.

These early adopters have validated the system’s ability to handle all facets of digital marketing, allowing them to focus on running their businesses rather than managing complex marketing tasks.

The Road Ahead: Expanding Access

With the successful implementation of Next Level Marketing by this initial group, AISQ is gearing up for a broader launch (and including new languages, not just English). The company is preparing to invite more businesses to experience the system.

“This is just the beginning,” added Muresan. “Our goal is to make Next Level Marketing accessible to businesses around the world. We’re refining the system based on the valuable feedback we’ve received, and we can’t wait to roll it out to a wider audience. The potential here is enormous, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of this revolution.”

Businesses interested in being part of the next wave of users for Next Level Marketing are encouraged to visitwww.aisq.com to learn more and register their interest. As the system prepares for broader release, AISQ is committed to ensuring that every user can achieve seamless, fully automated marketing success.

About AISQ

AISQ is a leader in AI-driven marketing solutions, dedicated to making advanced technology accessible and effective for businesses of all sizes. Founded by Florin Muresan, AISQ builds on over a decade of innovation and expertise in AI and digital marketing. The company is committed to transforming the way businesses approach marketing, with a focus on automation, efficiency, and real-world results. AISQ’s products are trusted by thousands of businesses worldwide, empowering them to compete on a level playing field.

Contact Information:

Irina Pogor, Marketing Lead
AISQ Squirrly
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 7425 330730
www.aisq.com

SOURCE AISQ

SINGAPORE, Sept. 3, 2024 — Albatroz Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing novel therapies against cancer and other indications, today announced its membership of Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS Singapore.

“We are thrilled to join the vibrant life science community at JLABS,” said Dr. Frederic Bard, CEO of Albatroz Therapeutics. “This membership provides Albatroz with invaluable access to mentorship, infrastructure, and industry connections that will be instrumental in propelling our groundbreaking therapies towards the clinic.”

Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment

Albatroz Therapeutics is at the forefront of developing targeted therapies that address critical unmet needs in oncology. The company’s lead programs focus on disrupting key pathways that result in tumor growth and metastasis. By joining JLABS Singapore, Albatroz gains access to a supportive ecosystem that will expedite the translation of its scientific discoveries into life-saving treatments for patients worldwide.

Looking Ahead

“We are confident that our membership with JLABS Singapore will significantly contribute to the success of Albatroz Therapeutics,” Dr. Bard concluded. “We are committed to working diligently to bring our novel therapies to fruition and transform the landscape of cancer treatment.”

About Albatroz Therapeutics

Albatroz Therapeutics is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative treatments for cancer, arthritis and other diseases where tissue remodeling is prevalent. The company leverages its deep scientific expertise to identify and target critical pathways involved in the degradation of tissues. Albatroz is committed to translating cutting-edge research into effective therapies that improve the lives of patients.

SOURCE Albatroz Therapeutics Pte Ltd

– Las rondas finales de la Copa del Mundo de la Iniciativa Empresarial se celebran en el Biban Forum 24 y ofrecen acceso a un millón de dólares en premios en metálico

RIAD, Arabia Saudí, 2 de septiembre de 2024 — Arabia Saudí sigue aumentando su prestigio como centro de inversión de categoría mundial, atrayendo a emprendedores de todo el mundo para crear asociaciones de impacto, innovar, lanzar y ampliar sus empresas orientadas al futuro. El Reino está dispuesto a consolidar su reputación como cuna del espíritu empresarial basado en la innovación, con Riad como sede de las rondas finales de la Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC): uno de los concursos de pitch más grandes, ambiciosos y completos de su clase.

El torneo, que se celebrará durante el Biban Forum 24, el principal foro de empresas emergentes, emprendimiento y PYMEs del Reino, ofrecerá a las empresas emergentes de 151 países la oportunidad de ganar 1.000.000 de dólares en metálico en premios y acceder a capital inicial y de ampliación, nuevas conexiones, tutoría e ideas.

Con Biban Forum 24 como telón de fondo, el EWC servirá de trampolín para que la próxima generación de inversores y empresarios desarrolle todo su potencial.  En consonancia con el espíritu de la edición de este año del Biban Forum, que se celebrará en el Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center del 5 al 9 de noviembre de 2024 bajo el lema Destino Global de Oportunidades. El concurso de ideas pondrá de relieve el ingenio y la inventiva de los líderes empresariales del mañana.

Creado por primera vez en 2019 por la Global Entrepreneurship Network y la Fundación Misk de Arabia Saudí, el EWC ha acogido a más de 400.000 emprendedores que compiten por diversas recompensas económicas y oportunidades de crecimiento. Desde su creación, el concurso ha conectado a fundadores con más de 4 millones de dólares en premios en efectivo.

El año pasado, la final mundial del EWC se celebró en el Biban Forum 23, donde se enfrentaron 100 empresas innovadoras de 53 países. La competición marcó un hito importante para el espíritu empresarial saudí, ya que WhiteHelmet, una empresa nacional, fue anunciada como la primera empresa emergente saudí en ganar el gran premio de EWC, llevándose a casa 300.000 dólares.

Sami Ibrahim Alhussaini, gobernador de la Autoridad General de la Pequeña y Mediana Empresa, «Monsha’at», declaró: “Estamos encantados de acoger una vez más la Copa del Mundo de la Iniciativa Empresarial en Riad. El espíritu empresarial es la espina dorsal de nuestra economía, y nos enorgullece enormemente provocar un cambio positivo, no sólo en Arabia Saudí sino en todo el mundo, dotando a las empresas y a los empresarios del futuro de las herramientas necesarias para construir un mañana más próspero”.

Si desea conocer más acerca de la Copa del Mundo de la Iniciativa Empresarial, visite: https://bibanglobal.sa/ 

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2267129/monshaat_logo_Logo.jpg 

RIYADH, Saudi-Arabien, 2. September 2024 — Saudi-Arabien entwickelt sich immer mehr zu einem weltweit führenden Investitionszentrum, das Unternehmer aus der ganzen Welt anzieht, die hier wegweisende Partnerschaften eingehen, Innovationen entwickeln und ihre zukunftsorientierten Unternehmen gründen und ausbauen. Mit der Ausrichtung der Endrunde des Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) in Riad wird das Königreich seinen Ruf als Wiege innovativer Unternehmerschaft weiter festigen: einem der größten, ehrgeizigsten und umfassendsten Pitch-Wettbewerbe seiner Art.

Im Rahmen des Biban Forum 24 – dem führenden Forum für Start-ups, Unternehmertum und KMU im Königreich – wird das hart umkämpfte Turnier aufstrebenden Start-ups aus 151 Ländern Gelegenheit bieten, sich zu präsentieren. Sie haben die Möglichkeit, Geldpreise in Höhe von 1.000.000 Dollar zu gewinnen und den so wichtigen Zugang zu Start- und Wachstumskapital, neuen Verbindungen, Mentoren und Ideen zu erhalten.

Mit dem Biban Forum 24 als passender Kulisse wird der EWC als Sprungbrett für die nächste Generation von Investoren und Unternehmern dienen, um ihr Potenzial auszuschöpfen. Ganz im Sinne der diesjährigen Ausgabe des Biban Forum, das vom 5. November bis 9. November im Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center unter dem folgenden Motto stattfinden wird: Globaler Ort für Chancen. Bei dem Pitch-Wettbewerb werden der Einfalls- und Erfindungsreichtum der Wirtschaftsführer von morgen unter Beweis gestellt.  

Der EWC wurde 2019 vom Global Entrepreneurship Network und der saudi-arabischen Misk Foundation ins Leben gerufen und hat seither mehr als 400.000 Unternehmer begrüßt, die um verschiedene finanzielle Belohnungen und Wachstumsmöglichkeiten konkurrieren. Seit seiner Gründung hat der Wettbewerb Gründer mit Geldpreisen in Höhe von über 4 Millionen Dollar ausgezeichnet.

Letztes Jahr fanden die EWC Global Finals im Rahmen des Biban Forum 23 statt, wo 100 innovative Start-ups aus 53 Ländern gegeneinander antraten. Der Wettbewerb markierte einen bedeutenden Meilenstein für das saudische Unternehmertum, denn WhiteHelmet – ein einheimisches Unternehmen – wurde als erstes saudisches Start-up bekannt gegeben, das den EWC-Hauptpreis in Höhe von 300.000 Dollar gewonnen hat.

Sami Ibrahim Alhussaini, Direktor der Generalbehörde für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen, „Monsha’at”, sagte: „Wir freuen uns sehr, den Entrepreneurship World Cup erneut in Riad auszurichten. Das Unternehmertum ist das Rückgrat unserer Wirtschaft, und wir sind sehr stolz darauf, nicht nur in Saudi-Arabien, sondern auf der ganzen Welt einen positiven Wandel herbeizuführen, indem wir den Unternehmen und Geschäftsleuten der Zukunft die Instrumente an die Hand geben, mit denen sie eine wirtschaftlich erfolgreichere Zukunft aufbauen können.”

Um mehr über den Entrepreneurship World Cup zu erfahren, besuchen Sie bitte unsere Website: https://bibanglobal.sa/ 

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2267129/monshaat_logo_Logo.jpg 

HONG KONG, Sept. 2, 2024 — IDA, a premier Hong Kong-based digital asset company, has raised USD6 million in a seed funding round led by prominent blockchain investors CMCC Global, under its Titan Fund, and Hashed. This capital injection will enable IDA to advance the development and launch of its first fiat-referenced stablecoin, HKDA, which is designed to be regulated in Hong Kong.

Additional participants in this round also include Hack VC, Anagram, GSR, Protagonist, Brinc, Chorus One, Kenetic, SNZ, and Yolo Investments as well as notable angel investors, such as Raj Gokal, Co-founder of Solana.  Aside from providing funding, leading blockchain foundations of Solana, Polygon, Aptos, and Mantra are also IDA’s strategic blockchain partners to foster HKDA’s interoperability, accessibility, resilience, and liquidity.

“With the current total stablecoins market cap around USD170 billion, we expect stablecoins to grow over USD3 trillion in the next 5 years.  This exponential growth will underscore the increasing significance of stablecoins in the broader digital currency landscapes.  Thus, IDA’s mission is to facilitate more effective and efficient cross-border trades through the blockchain for everyone,” said Lawrence Chu, Co-founder and CEO of IDA.

Sean Lee, Co-founder and CSO of IDA added, “the first goal of IDA is to enable mass adoption and empower businesses to seamlessly integrate between Web2 and Web3. To achieve this, IDA has begun active engagements with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), as well as domestic partners in the ecosystem, to issue regulated stablecoins in Hong Kong. HKDA, our first fiat-referenced stablecoin built on public blockchains, will shortly be heading onto testnet. We intend for our mainnet launch before the end of this year and achieve regulatory clarity in early 2025.”

CMCC Global, one of Asia’s first VC funds focused purely on blockchain and cryptocurrency, is thrilled to lead this funding round and partner with IDA to push the boundaries in Web3 space. “As a Hong Kong-based company, we are excited to support innovative Web3 companies like IDA that are leveraging blockchain finance and stablecoins to create solutions addressing real-world challenges,” said Martin Baumann, Co-founder and Managing Partner of CMCC Global.

Hashed, a global early-stage venture fund focused on backing founders who are pioneering the future of blockchain and cryptocurrency, also shares the same vision as IDA. “We anticipate wider mainstream adoption of stablecoins in real-world trades and settlements. With Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s financial hub and its recent push for a stablecoin legislative framework, we expect IDA to spearhead the coming changes. Their unique blend of expertise in traditional finance and blockchain technology positions them perfectly to bridge conventional and digital financial systems, potentially reshaping finance across Asia and beyond,” said Ryan Kim, Founding Partner at Hashed.

Starting initially in Hong Kong, IDA will leverage the forefront of fintech and Web3 to reach other countries whose currency is also pegged to the USD. Over time, IDA aims to share their innovations and grow their business to other nations along the Belt and Road and Global South initiatives.  More exciting partnerships will be announced to unlock a more inclusive and connected global marketplace.

Note: The current total stablecoins market cap is based on the data provided by defillama.com at 18:00 HKT on 2024-08-26.

About IDA Finance Hong Kong Limited (IDA)

IDA is the premier digital asset technology company to spearhead the widespread adoption of blockchain finance and to empower businesses to seamlessly integrate between Web2 and Web3.   

HKDA, a fiat-referenced stablecoin built on public blockchain protocols, will be the first product launched by IDA.  HKDA is designed to drive enhanced digital connectivity for seamless commerce and payments between Hong Kong and global markets, 24/7/365.  To maintain the highest level of security and stability, all circulating HKDA will always be fully backed by at least 100% reserve assets in regulated Hong Kong based authorized institutions.   

To maximize the network effect of HKDA for domestic and cross-border usage, IDA is partnering with key industry players to facilitate the minting, redemption and widespread acceptance of HKDA as a payment and settlement digital currency.   In subsequent phases, IDA will also launch key products denominated in other US Dollar (USD) pegged currencies with ecosystem partners across regulated financial institutions and Web3 platforms. 

More information can be found at www.idafi.xyz / LinkedIn / X 

About CMCC Global & Titan Fund

CMCC Global is one of Asia’s first venture capital companies focused solely on blockchain and Web3 investments. CMCC Global has an enviable record of investing early in leading projects such as Ethereum (ETH) at USD7, Solana (SOL) at USD0.20 and Cosmos (ATOM) at USD0.10. CMCC Global has reached assets under management (AUM) of over USD500 million across its funds and is known as a high-conviction investor. Today the company has offices in Asia, North America and Europe and operates several funds with different strategies including the CMCC Global Digital Asset Fund, the Titan Fund and its two funds of quantitative trading hedge funds Crest and SYZCrest.

More information can be found at www.cmcc.vc

Titan Fund offers accredited investors exposure to attractive growth opportunities within the blockchain ecosystem through a traditional equity venture capital investment strategy focusing on seed to series A/B along the key investment verticals of Infrastructure, Fintech and Consumer Applications.  The Titan Fund is CMCC Global’s latest fund strategy and complements its Digital Asset Funds, which have been investing directly into protocols and digital assets since 2016, and its Crest family of funds that invests into crypto and quant funds.

More information can be found at www.titan.fund 

About Hashed

Founded by a team of serial entrepreneurs and engineers in 2017, Hashed is the preeminent blockchain firm in Asia with a portfolio that spans the globe. We started Hashed because we saw an opportunity for blockchain to not only reinvent the global financial system, but the very fabric of the internet itself. This is one of the most consequential moments in human history — an opportunity to overlay the power of digital networks onto human ones, and to usher in a future where technology empowers individuals, and not the other way around.

More information can be found at www.hashed.com

SOURCE IDA

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 2, 2024 — Saudi Arabia continues to grow in standing as a world-class investment hub, attracting entrepreneurs from around the world to pioneer impactful partnerships, innovate, launch, and scale their future-focused enterprises. The Kingdom is set to consolidate its reputation as the home of innovation-led entrepreneurship, with Riyadh hosting the final rounds of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC): one of the largest, most ambitious, and comprehensive pitch competitions of its kind.

Taking place during Biban Forum 24 — the Kingdom’s flagship startup, entrepreneurship, and SMEs Forum — the fiercely competitive tournament will provide up-and-coming startups from 151 countries. The opportunity to win $1,000,000 in cash prizes and gain all-important access to start- and scale-up capital, new connections, mentorship, and ideas.

With Biban Forum 24 setting a fitting backdrop, EWC will serve as a springboard for the next generation of investors and entrepreneurs to fulfill their potential.  In keeping with the spirit of this year’s edition of Biban Forum, which will be held at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center from November 5^th to 9^th, 2024 under the theme of Global Destination for Opportunities. The pitch competition will shine a light on the ingenuity and inventiveness of tomorrow’s business leaders.  

First established in 2019 by the Global Entrepreneurship Network and Saudi Arabia’s Misk Foundation, EWC has welcomed over 400,000 entrepreneurs to vie for diverse financial rewards and growth opportunities. Since its inception, the competition has connected founders with over $4 million in cash prizes.

Last year, the EWC Global Finals were held at Biban Forum 23, with 100 innovative startups from 53 countries going head-to-head. The competition marked a significant milestone for Saudi entrepreneurship, as WhiteHelmet — a homegrown company — was announced as the first-ever Saudi startup to win the EWC grand prize, taking home $300,000.

Sami Ibrahim Alhussaini, Governor, Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, “Monsha’at,” said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Entrepreneurship World Cup in Riyadh once more. Entrepreneurship is the backbone of our economy, and we take great pride in effecting positive change — not just in Saudi Arabia but around the world — by equipping the businesses and businesspeople of the future with the tools to build a more prosperous tomorrow.”

To learn more about the Entrepreneurship World Cup, please visit: https://bibanglobal.sa/  

SOURCE Monshaat

Angel Studios is Raising Funds to Expand its One-of-a-Kind Community of over 345,000 Angel Guild Members—Fundamentally Transforming Entertainment to an Audience-Driven Model Where Fans Greenlight Development and Distribution of Movies and TV Shows

PROVO, Utah, Aug. 30, 2024 — Angel Studios—the studio empowering everyday fans to greenlight development and distribution of movies and TV shows—is launching a new Regulation A+ offering (where Angel takes investments from fans) today in order to expand the growth of the Angel Guild. Guild members are the “secret sauce” behind the discovery of global hits like SOUND of FREEDOM, HIS ONLY SON, CABRINI, Tuttle Twins, Dry Bar Comedy, and other hit movies and TV shows. Angel Studios was one of the top 10 Studios in the US domestic box office in 2023, surging past Amazon’s MGM and A24.

“In the Hollywood gatekeeper system, a handful of elites in an LA boardroom make decisions on what everyone in the world watches. At Angel Studios, we don’t believe that there is a group of elites who are smarter than the viewers. That’s why as executives at Angel Studios, we can’t even consider a film unless the Guild first greenlights the movie or TV show, since that decision power is vested to the Angel Guild. The Guild is made up of over 345,000 people from over 150 countries and is in the driver’s seat. This offering will enable Angel Studios to grow the Guild to over one million members,” said Jeffrey Harmon, co-founder and Chief Content Officer at Angel Studios. “When we reach one million members, we believe our community will reach escape velocity as a movement, making the people’s studio a driving force in the entertainment landscape.”

You can invest at angel.com/invest with a minimum investment of $151.20.

Pitch video for the fundraiser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcflXNWaRXo

The launch of a new Regulation A+ (Reg A+) offering opens up the opportunity for crowd investors to join in the potential growth of Angel Studios and also support an impressive slate of upcoming movies and TV shows, offering a unique chance to be involved in the entertainment industry’s next big successes.

Angel Studios Guild-Driven Successes

• 45 million downloads worldwide of the Angel App across all platforms including AppleTV, ROKU, FireTV, XBOX, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Google TV, and more.
• Angel Studios movies and TV shows are commonly available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
• Dry Bar Comedy has over 5 billion views and over 150 million viewers.
• Over 700 filmmakers submitted over 900 projects to the Angel Guild from April 2023 to April 2024.
• Angel Studios’ films have the highest average Popcornmeter score (95%) from Rotten Tomatoes of any major studio in the industry. Ahead of second place Paramount at 84%.
• Angel Studios is behind hits such as SOUND of FREEDOM, HIS ONLY SON, CABRINI, SOUND of HOPE: The Story of Possum Trot, THE SHIFT, AFTER DEATH, and TV series such as Tuttle Twins, Wingfeather Saga, Freelancers, and Young David.
• Angel Studios is releasing SWEETWATER, The 1916 PROJECT, BONHOEFFER: Pastor, Spy, Assassin, and HOMESTEAD this year, and is expected to release at least seven movies and seven TV series in 2025.

About Angel Studios: Angel Studios is a values-based distribution company for stories that amplify light to mainstream audiences. Through the Angel Guild, 345,000 members choose which film and television projects the studio will market and distribute. 104,000 Angel Guild members in 155 countries have invested nearly $80M in projects distributed by the studio to date. Angel Studios is behind the global box office hit, SOUND OF FREEDOM, which has earned $250 million in theatrical box office. Learn more at Angel.com. Click here for important information and disclosures related to the offering. Make sure you read all documentation related to the offering before making an investment decision.

Film Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Angel Studios, Inc.