CLEVELAND, Tenn., Dec. 5, 2023 — The video game buy/sell/trade market is about to become much more convenient and value-add for gamers across the country. GameChanger^® Systems, the first and only fully automated “Instant Video Game Buyback” kiosk, will expand its consumer reach in major markets across the U.S. where consumers already shop.

GameChanger Systems recently completed a Series A Preferred growth-capital financing round which paves the way for significant expansion. GameChanger Systems’ seed round funding provided for the development of disruptive technology, covered by five U.S. patents, and the successful initial deployment of kiosks in test markets across the U.S. With the addition of an experienced family office investor with an extraordinary track record of success in consumer financial transaction operations, GameChanger Systems is now well positioned for an aggressive kiosk fleet expansion.

“This Series A round will allow us the opportunity to expand into many new markets through our enterprise agreements with big box grocers and retailers,” said Brent Hall, GameChanger’s chief operating officer. “Our goal is to become the buy/sell/trade brand of choice for all things entertainment media, without the expense of brick-and-mortar stores. By using disruptive point of sale and DOOH technology, we can create more spending power for gaming and non-gaming consumers alike. The expansion will give more shoppers easy access to trade their video game discs, converting ‘Discs to Dollars’ at GameChanger kiosks. Our kiosks create convenient, additional consumer buying power. By using digital egifts as payment, when customers leave our kiosks, they can have instant spendable dollars for their favorite grocer or video game retailer – or even a Visa egift, spendable anywhere.” 

“Our collaboration with exceptional grocers and retailers all over the U.S. is a key milestone,” added Jerry Stout, the company’s chief executive officer. “Our GameChanger kiosks bring unprecedented value to both the video gamer and parents trying to stretch their budgets by using a multifaceted approach that includes the convenience of kiosks, the ease of ecommerce and the speed of mobile ordering capability. This retail combination will provide customers with more money on the spot than they had when they first walked in the grocer or retailer’s door, which will increase the spending opportunity for gaming customers in our retail partners as well as increase customer foot traffic.” 

GameChanger Systems is now poised for aggressive growth and ready to bring… Value to the Player!

Frost & Co., a boutique investment banking firm headquartered in Nashville, TN represented GameChanger Systems and arranged the financing. www.frostcollc.com 

SOURCE GameChanger Systems

Synthesizing Data to Drive Actionable Insights and Personalization

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2023 — ForwardLane, the AI-powered Decision Intelligence platform for asset and wealth management, today announced it has attained Microsoft IP Co-sell Ready status, allowing joint go-to-market activities with Microsoft sales teams worldwide. The partnership provides ForwardLane access to Microsoft’s 600+ fields sales teams in financial services, technical resources, support, and global customer base to advance AI software helping asset managers and other financial services firms simplify their data landscapes to enable actionable, personalized insights and next best actions.

Achieving IP Co-sell Ready status highlights ForwardLane’s ability to deliver joint solutions for fund managers built on Microsoft Azure, AI, and machine learning capabilities. Use cases in development include synthesizing disparate data sources into simplified insights for: 

• Asset management wholesalers leveraging AI-recommended next best actions on client engagement, product positioning, and driving financial advisor success. 
• Wealth managers accessing personalized insights on managing client relationships and investment accounts.
• Other examples like automated compliant communications, 24/7 chatbots, and targeted relationship nurturing campaigns.

Additionally, by reaching IP Co-sell Ready status, ForwardLane solutions now enable customers to tap into unused budget from Microsoft Azure monetary commitment agreements. Qualifying Microsoft customers can apply funds committed through Azure consumption plans to obtain ForwardLane’s AI platform focused on simplifying data landscapes to drive actionable personalization.

Commenting on the Microsoft partnership, ForwardLane CEO Nathan Stevenson said: “Attaining Microsoft IP Co-sell Ready partner status will accelerate our mission to bring intelligent personalization through AI to financial services firms. With access to Microsoft’s cloud capabilities and resources, we look forward to collaborating on the next generation of AI applications powering actionable insights for automated advisory experiences.”

Media Contact:
Simona Cotta-Ramusino
+44 7771 863 660
[email protected]

SOURCE ForwardLane

ChopraX Ventures Signs Multi-Year Agreement and Product Partnership to Drive Metabolic Health Awareness and Product Innovation

President and CMO Darren Contardo Appointed to CEO

BURLINGTON, ON, Dec. 5, 2023 — Today, SP Nutraceuticals announced a strategic partnership and equity agreement with ChopraX Ventures, led by its renowned clinician and Chairman Dr. Deepak Chopra, a pioneer at the forefront of medicine for the past 50 years. Simultaneously, SP Nutraceuticals announced a new slate of senior leadership and advisory members, including the appointment of Darren Contardo, current President of the company, as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective as of November 6, 2024. Darren will retain the President title. SP Nutraceuticals’ flagship brand Metavo offers a suite of metabolism products which aim to support metabolic health.

SP Nutraceuticals’ multi-year agreement with ChopraX Ventures, co-founded by Dr. Deepak Chopra, David Lubotta, and Poonacha Machaiah, named SP Nutraceuticals the exclusive metabolic health company of ChopraX, including access to global wellness events and corporate finance activities, with the joint goal of enhancing global awareness of metabolic health.

“We are excited to collaborate with SP Nutraceuticals and actively pursue breakthrough innovations in metabolic health,” said David Lubotta, Managing Partner of ChopraX Ventures. “Together, we are actively pursuing breakthrough innovation to reimagine the future of human wellness.”

SP Nutraceuticals also announced the appointment of Darren Contardo as the new Chief Executive Officer. Contardo currently serves as President and Chief Marketing Officer of SP Nutraceuticals and brings over 20 years of experience, including executive positions at multiple leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) health and wellness companies with successful exits and acquisitions.

“I am honored to step into the position of CEO of SP Nutraceuticals in this exciting phase of growth,” said Darren Contardo, CEO of SP Nutraceuticals. “Furthermore, the partnership with ChopraX Ventures aligns with our mission to transform metabolic health and I look forward to this next chapter for our brand Metavo.”

Rounding out the next chapter of SP Nutraceuticals’ development and growth, the company appointed a new Board of Directors to drive forward commercial success, further innovation and fortify its position as a leader in the metabolic health industry. New board members include:

• Trevor Clarke, former CEO of SP Nutraceuticals, will now serve as the Executive Director and Corporate Secretary. Clarke is a successful founding entrepreneur and proven operator at Ethoca, and angel investor in SP Nutraceuticals. He brings more than 20 years of experience helping innovative startups scale and succeed in the global marketplace.
• Dr. Paul Spagnuolo remains a co-founder of SP Nutraceuticals and remains a board member. Spagnuolo is an Associate Professor of Food Science at the University of Guelph and one of Canada’s foremost experts in nutraceuticals. His lab continues to research and prove the human health benefits of natural food molecules.
• Andre Edelbrock will assume the role of Chairman of the Board and is an accomplished innovative, entrepreneurial leader in online payment systems, risk, fraud and product management. Edelbrock recently served as founder and Chief Executive Officer at Ethoca, since 2005 before it was acquired by Mastercard in 2019.
• Peter Sharpe is a new board member of SP Nutraceuticals. Peter retired from the Cadillac Fairview Corporation (CF) after a 26-year career, including 11 years as President and CEO, during which time he expanded the real estate investment platform beyond North America into the United Kingdom and South America. Under his leadership, CF’s assets under management grew from $6 billion to over $20 billion. Peter also served as the Global Chairman of the International Council of Shopping Centers. In 2010, he was the recipient of the Building Owners and Managers Association Canada Chairman’s Award and, in 2014, was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by NAIOP. Peter is now Chairman of Clifton Blake, a fully integrated real estate private equity and asset management firm.
• Dave Fielding is a new board member of SP Nutraceuticals. Fielding runs the Family Office for the Fielding Family and is a current director of Array Marketing.

Learn more about SP Nutraceuticals and the flagship brand Metavo at www.metavo.com.

About SP Nutraceuticals 
SP Nutraceuticals is committed to creating scientifically-tested plant-based, health products. Our goal is to help others achieve their healthiest future by providing plant-based bioactives that support metabolic health. We start with rigorous science and focus on the discovery of new and novel plant-based bioactives that unleash the powerful, natural benefits of plants and nutrition. Our mission is to build healthy communities through plant-based nutrition backed by rigorous clinical science.

About Chopra X 
Chopra X is a global wellness accelerator and venture platform. We invest human and financial capital as true partners to incubate, accelerate and acquire innovations and invest in growth opportunities in the well-being industry. We are led by our Chairman and Co-Founder Dr. Deepak Chopra as well as leading experts and advisors with decades of experience in health & well-being, finance, marketing, branding, distribution and other valuable disciplines. For more information about Chopra X, visit www.choprax.com.

Press Contacts:
Marisa Wayne
[email protected]

SOURCE Metavo

Asato’s copilot combines the power of knowledge graphs, and generative AI to empower CIO with unprecedented visibility and control

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 5, 2023 — Asato.ai, the AI-powered enterprise Copilot platform, is excited to announce the closing of its oversubscribed $7.5 million seed financing round, co-led by Intel Capital and Lip-Bu Tan, with participation from Shah Capital Partners, and several prominent angel investors including Amarjit Gill, serial entrepreneur and investor at Nepenthe Capital, Ash Bhardwaj, entrepreneur and investor, Charlie Giancarlo, CEO and Chairman of Pure Storage, and Sanjay Mehrotra, President and CEO of Micron Technologies, Inc. Backed by this investment, Asato is poised to bring to market the industry’s  first AI-powered enterprise CIO Copilot.

Managing the intricate web of IT, cyber and talent assets in large enterprises has become increasingly complex. As digital transformation accelerates, the need for comprehensive solutions that offer real-time visibility, control, and decision orchestration has never been greater. Asato is addressing this challenge by developing a cutting-edge enterprise Copilot platform that harnesses the power of AI and knowledge graph technologies.

“We founded Asato with a clear vision to empower enterprise CIOs with unprecedented visibility and the strength of AI to provide actionable insights, ultimately transforming how CIOs manage the business of IT,” said Sundari Mitra, CEO and co-founder of Asato. “This seed funding not only validates our vision but also provides the resources needed to accelerate the development of our Copilot platform.”

Asato is led by an accomplished team of seasoned entrepreneurs with a proven track record of leading successful ventures. Led by CEO and co-founder Sundari Mitra, a three-time CEO and technology executive, the founding team brings extensive leadership experience in delivering transformative technologies in small and large companies. Notably, at NetSpeed Systems, Sundari and Anush Mohandass (co-founder, COO) leveraged knowledge graph technologies to develop virtual twins of silicon chips, which forms the core of Asato’s enterprise Copilot platform.

“We are witnessing a transformative era where AI is reshaping every facet of enterprise operations. Asato’s approach uses AI to go beyond spending optimization by bringing new insights on the impact of IT decisions on operations and the business itself,” said Anthony Lin, Managing Partner and Head of Intel Capital. “We’ve had the pleasure of working with Asato cofounders Sundari and Anush over the years; their track record of innovation instills confidence in Asato’s vision and promise.”

“Having closely worked with the founding team over the past 10 years, I have witnessed their remarkable dedication and innovation in action. My continued support for this exceptional team and their vision for Asato is not just an investment; it’s a reflection of my confidence in their ability to reshape the enterprise IT management landscape”, said Lip-Bu Tan, Chairman of Walden International and Intel Board Member.

About Asato.ai

Asato is an enterprise copilot platform powered by AI designed for CIOs. The platform discovers, connects, and contextualizes IT and Talent assets to equip CIOs with insights to make informed decisions about resource allocation, identify alternative solutions, and optimize investments. The mission of Asato is to empower CIOs with unprecedented visibility and control to optimize IT spend and drive decisive actions.  For more information, please visit: www.asato.ai 

SOURCE Asato

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2023 — sipMARGS, the award-winning canned Margarita company, is proud to announce a significant milestone in its journey to redefine the ready-to-drink cocktail market. sipMARGS has successfully raised $2 million in funding led by Lab Capital Advisors to fuel its continued growth and innovation.

sipMARGS, which launched in the spring of 2021, has quickly gained recognition for its commitment to quality and authenticity. Made with top-quality tequila from the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, and available in five authentic flavors, sipMARGS is a low-sugar, low-calorie, and low-carb option with an alcohol level of 5% ABV.

The brand’s dedication to delivering a full-bodied, crisp flavor experience in every 12oz can has set them apart as a game-changer in the industry, and this significant investment comes at a time when sipMARGS is experiencing unprecedented demand for its exceptional products.

sipMARGS is on a mission to become the go-to choice for premium canned margaritas, and with the support of this recent funding, will continue their expansion with making its products available in Michigan, Ohio and Connecticut – with more states to follow, including VA and CA in 2024.

“We’re extremely grateful for the support of our investors and are excited about the opportunities ahead. sipMARGS has come a long way since our launch in 2021, and we look forward to growing our brand in the ready-to-drink cocktail market,” said Justin Nabozna, CEO of sipMARGS. Justin was previously the Global Partner Program Head for Google for Startups at Google where he helped shepherd dozens of Google supported start-up businesses to success.

For more on sipMARGS, visit sipmargs.com or follow along on Instagram, @sipmargs.

SOURCE sipMARGS

Funding co-led by Battery Ventures and PayPal Ventures with participation from Nationwide Ventures

BOSTON and TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 5, 2023 — Mine, a pioneering company disrupting the data privacy market, announced today that it has raised $30 million in Series B funding, co-led by Battery Ventures and PayPal Ventures, with significant investments from Nationwide Ventures and with the participation of all existing investors including Saban Ventures, Gradient Ventures (Google’s AI), MassMutual Ventures and Headline Ventures. This substantial investment will propel Mine’s mission to redefine data privacy and governance management for companies globally, enabling them to gain better control over their data and simplify regulatory compliance processes to get peace of mind.

With this investment, the company will scale its B2B enterprise-grade product, MineOS. MineOS distinguishes itself with its intuitive, no-code experience, seamlessly integrated with advanced AI technology. This integration not only sets a new industry benchmark in automation and accuracy but also revolutionizes the data discovery process, making it more accessible and efficient for businesses of all sizes to automatically discern the apps and infrastructure they employ, identify personal data within these systems, and grant individuals control over their data usage. Mine has seen remarkable customer growth across diverse segments and industries, reflecting the universal demand for robust data privacy and governance solutions. This surge underscores the versatility and effectiveness of MineOS, with rapid adoption observed among businesses ranging from burgeoning startups to well-established enterprises.

“Unlike other solutions that merely report data findings, MineOS enables us to automate assessments and fulfill regulatory obligations, transforming our approach to data privacy and governance,” said Jutta Williams, Head of Privacy & Assurance at Reddit. “MineOS stands out in the data governance market by not only providing accurate insights but also empowering effective management of our data governance operations.”

Rooted in its B2C origins, Mine prioritizes the customer experience, including a streamlined and continuous data discovery, inventory and classification system, unveiling near total coverage of any type of data, structured or unstructured, cloud or on-premise utilized by the company, complemented by the most comprehensive cloud scan to identify all assets. This evolution encompasses AI Risk Assessments, Shadow IT Management, Compliance, and Privacy requirements such as RoPA and DSR Handling, in addition to other Security measures. The ultimate objective for MineOS is to emerge as the singular source of truth for Data Lifecycle Management. Mine currently serves over 2,000 customers through its unique free tier offering and over 150 mid-size and enterprise customers including Reddit, HelloFresh SE, FIFA, and Data.ai. Their customers are based across North America, Europe, Israel, Canada and more. This diverse customer base is a testament to our platform’s versatility and effectiveness.

“In the ever-evolving landscape of regulations and groundbreaking initiatives like AI, organizations now demand comprehensive visibility for effective data governance, and our solutions have never been more essential for enterprises of all sizes,” expressed Gal Ringel, co-founder and CEO of Mine. “We’ve engineered a completely differentiated customer experience that has proven itself in the marketplace. Our pragmatic approach, coupled with an unwavering emphasis on ease of use, has deeply resonated with our users. This funding positions us to deliver an even more seamless and differentiated experience, ushering in a more efficient and streamlined approach to addressing data privacy concerns in the B2B market. This further solidifies our commitment to making the digital world safer and more transparent.”

Mine tackles crucial issues in data privacy and governance, specifically navigating complex data regulations and the escalating demand for transparency. Acknowledging the challenges faced by industries in data inventory discovery and classification, Mine seeks to ease customer frustrations by prioritizing a more efficient and seamless process through an automated data privacy program. This shift aims to address the drawbacks of lengthy, inefficient processes and high costs, with the expected return on investment often realized after a 12-month period.

Recognizing the impending surge in state-level data regulations and the ongoing data explosion from massive data generation, collection, and management, Mine is poised to lead the market in the upcoming years of heightened data privacy focus in the US, projected for 2024 and 2025. As the privacy landscape continues to evolve, Mine is actively developing solutions for emerging AI regulations, including AI Governance and Risk Assessment functionality.

“We have been steadfast supporters of Mine from the very beginning, and we are thrilled to be part of this pivotal moment in the evolution of data privacy solutions for enterprises,” said Scott Tobin, Senior Partner at Battery Ventures. “Our investment with Mine underscores our confidence in the team’s innovative approach to empowering B2B enterprises in their privacy endeavors. We look forward to witnessing their continued growth and impact in the market.”

“The rapid growth in popularity of Generative AI has underscored the critical importance of data privacy and makes this an exciting time to invest in Mine,” said Alan Du, Partner at PayPal Ventures. “It has never been more important for organizations to address the privacy concerns of their customers, understand relevant and emerging laws, and teach their employees how to handle personal data responsibly. With Mine, enterprises of all sizes can compliantly harness the power of Generative AI and safeguard the privacy and data of their customers.”

Resources

• The company will host a webinar to give further insights into its product roadmap and more detailed information on how companies can engage with MineOS on December 19th at 9:00 AM EST. Please register here to participate.

For more information on MineOS products and services, please visit https://www.mineos.ai/

About Mine
Mine stands as a beacon in the realm of digital privacy, dedicated to reshaping how both individuals and businesses approach data protection. With the consumer-centric SayMine app, individuals reclaim their data, gaining insights into their digital footprint. On the B2B front, MineOS emerges as a transformative solution, addressing multifaceted challenges businesses face today. From ensuring compliance with global regulations to providing continuous data source discovery and seamless integrations, Mine is at the forefront of making data privacy intuitive, automated, and scalable. As we venture into a new digital era, Mine is committed to fostering a world anchored in trust and transparency. The company was established in 2018 by CEO Gal Ringel, CPO Kobi Nissan, and CTO Gal Golan, a trio of experts in the fields of cybersecurity and privacy technology, with the goal of developing a comprehensive privacy platform. For more information, visit https://www.mineos.ai/

Media Contacts:
Danielle Scotto/ Michael Gallo
ICR-Lumina
[email protected]

SOURCE Mine

The company’s 4th grade math offering will be augmented with 3rd and 5th grade content, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

LOS ALTOS, Calif., Dec. 5, 2023 — Kyron Learning, a startup focused on providing learners equitable access to great instructors, today announced that it will use its recent Series A funding to make its AI-based learning platform available to all learning solution providers. The platform uses interactive video in its lessons, powered by AI, to turn what has traditionally been a one-way monologue into a vibrant two-way conversation– just like a live tutoring session. In addition, Kyron Learning announces that it has received a $850,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to further build out its K-12 math curriculum and to study the efficacy of interactive video as a mechanism in learning environments– all in support of both organizations’ goals of bringing quality educational opportunities to underserved learner populations.

“We’ve learned so much developing our 4th grade math offering, which is now deployed in over 35 schools for the 2023-24 school year. 95% of the teachers using it in their classrooms would recommend it to their fellow teachers. But we’ve always known that the key piece of that solution is the powerful AI-based learning platform underneath it, which could easily be used in other learning domains that we ourselves had no intention of building content for,” says Rajen Sheth, CEO of Kyron Learning. “With this announcement, we’re opening the Kyron Learning platform up to other learning solution providers so that they can leverage the same cutting-edge AI technology that we’ve developed for ourselves. We have been working with early customers in the K-12, Higher Ed, Tutoring, and Professional Skilling spaces, and are excited how they are leveraging the Kyron Learning platform to augment their offerings.”

Bringing Great Instructors To Everyone
Having individual attention from great instructors is often a luxury that many learners don’t have access to. One-to-one live tutoring with top-notch teachers can cost up to $100 an hour, and is often challenging to facilitate. Traditional training videos, where the instructor is only talking at the learner, can be less than engaging, with half-watched videos and less-than-ideal comprehension. Lastly, most traditional solutions don’t have mechanisms to detect or address learner misconceptions that may arise, and no way to surface this information to the instructors or institutions so that they can clear up any misunderstandings.

The Kyron Learning platform solves these problems in the following ways:

• Value: Delivers a tutoring experience at less than 1/10 of the cost of live tutor
• Accessibility: Available online and on-demand, 24/7
• Engagement: Uses interactive video, with instructor/learner exchanges every few seconds, resulting in 10x the learner engagement over traditional video
• Instructor-Guided AI: The AI-facilitated conversation between the instructor and learner is guided by the instructors’ own pedagogy and guardrails, resulting in a safer learning environment
• In-The-Moment Feedback: Detects and corrects any learner misconceptions on-the-spot as they happen, ensuring efficient learning and helping the learner stay on track
• Conversation-Based Assessment: Provides instructors and institutions with data on what each learner knows and where they are struggling– all without having to do formal assessments

“Kyron is an excellent partner to provide math resources for teachers and students,” says John Davis, Chief of Schools at Baltimore City Public Schools. “Their lessons utilize excellent teachers aligned with state standards in an AI environment. They consistently want and act on feedback, strive to make their lessons teacher and student friendly, and are open and thoughtful with how AI is being implemented in a classroom environment.”

Securing Series A for Scaling
The company also recently closed on its Series A funding, raising $14.6 million led by Global Silicon Valley (GSV) Ventures with participation from Owl Ventures, ECMC Group Education Impact Fund, Common Sense Growth Fund, Charter School Growth Fund, Cambiar Education, LearnerStudio, Imagine Learning, and Array Education. The funding will be used to build out the Kyron Learning platform business, as well as to further develop the platform’s generative AI capabilities.

“We are excited to once again be partnering with Kyron Learning and see a great opportunity to put AI-based learning capabilities into the hands of great instructors and learning solution providers,” says Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner at GSV Ventures. “Kyron has assembled a great team, and their approach of utilizing real instructors in combination with AI is unique. We’re bullish on what they and their customers are doing with the Kyron Learning platform, and can’t wait to see these learning solutions in the market.”

Opening Up To All Learning Solution Providers
The Kyron Learning platform is available immediately to learning solution providers and educational institutions. To explore leveraging the Kyron Learning platform for your own use case, go to http://www.kyronlearning.com. To enroll your school in Kyron’s 4th grade math program, visit http://www.kyronlearning.com/k12pilot.

ABOUT KYRON LEARNING
Founded in September 2022, Kyron Learning is a startup that is focused on providing equitable access to great instructors for all learners. Kyron Learning provides a platform that uses “interactive video” to deliver learning content, with AI that guides the conversation between the instructor and learner. Kyron is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Boston and Seattle. The team is comprised of prominent educators, and veteran leaders from Google and Amazon.

SOURCE Kyron Learning

DUST Identity’s new mobile solution is driving the company’s expansion to new industries, including sports, luxury goods, and art, as it helps redefine product authenticity and what it means for something to be “genuine.”

BOSTON, Dec. 5, 2023 — DUST Identity, Inc., whose technology enables product authentication by linking physical items to their digital records, announced today the launch of its mobile solution, which is fueling its growth into new industries. Initially designed for high-security applications, the company is now expanding its offerings to include the authentication of luxury goods, artwork, game-used apparel and memorabilia, and other one-of-a-kind items. This expansion comes as DUST signs a partnership with Oxygen Esports and raises $40M in Series B funding. 

DUST Identity’s new product line for mobile is an on-demand solution that reinforces authenticity for any physical object of value by enhancing the traceability and visibility of the object’s origin. Oxygen Esports, one of North America’s largest multi-title esports organizations, will leverage this new solution through a recently signed partnership agreement with DUST. This partnership comes as DUST sees keen interest from the sports and entertainment space. It also signals DUST’s growing commitment to enabling organizations to build meaningful and long-lasting relationships with fans through the activation of authentic, game-used merchandise.

“The merchandise we sell reinforces our brand reputation and DUST’s solution is helping us protect our brand, athletes, and fans from counterfeit memorabilia,” shares Dani Marks, CMO at OXG. “We’re looking forward to working with DUST to unlock rich omnichannel experiences for fans, as we leverage their technology.”

The partnership with Oxygen Esports and launch of the company’s mobile solution follows a $40 million Series B round led by Castle Island Ventures, with participation from Amex Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Airbus Ventures, 8VC, and others.

For new investor Amex Ventures, this round signifies an opportunity to invest in an innovative solution that can help brands enhance trust with their customers and unlock new growth opportunities. “We all interact with many physical items daily, but largely have no proof of these items’ origin. By linking a physical item to its digital record, DUST’s technology provides new capabilities to track and trace an item across its lifecycle. In doing so, DUST helps unlock new customer engagement opportunities and loyalty concepts for brands across a wide range of industries,” says Margaret Lim, Managing Director of Amex Ventures.

Of the milestones announced today, Ophir Gaathon, CEO and Co-Founder of DUST Identity, says, “People want to trust that the products they are spending their time and money on are genuine, and the foundation of that trust comes from being able to validate an item’s authenticity. Our technology provides that validation.” He continues, “DUST Identity has broadened its mission of protecting and connecting everything that matters by introducing our new mobile solution. We’re excited to utilize our funding to deliver on this mission as we bring our technology to many new industries.”

Contact DUST Identity to be part of its beta program for developers and learn more about enterprise integrations and partnership opportunities.

ABOUT DUST IDENTITY, INC.:
DUST Identity is a leading authentication and anchored digital thread solution for real-world objects that connects data to physical things. DUST Identity’s award-winning anchored digital thread solution delivers the ability to track and trace an object’s pedigree and provenance throughout its lifecycle – providing access to the right information at the right place and time. The MIT startup emerged from stealth in 2018 with support from Kleiner Perkins, Lockheed Martin, Airbus Ventures, and several other world-renowned companies and investors. The company is headquartered near Boston, MA, and has an R&D facility in Princeton, New Jersey.

Media Contact: 
Scott Ludwig
sludwig@dustidentity.com

SOURCE DUST Identity

First-of-its-kind venture studio to commercialize deep technology in New Mexico with all-star roster of technologists and entrepreneurs.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Dec. 5, 2023 — Roadrunner Venture Studios today launched in Albuquerque, New Mexico backed by America’s Frontier Fund (AFF) and the New Mexico State Investment Council. Roadrunner works to commercialize American science and technology, especially ideas coming out of New Mexico’s world-class national labs and innovation ecosystem. The studio is focused primarily on building companies in critical technology fields including AI, quantum, energy, space, clean tech, and advanced manufacturing.

Roadrunner is led by industry heavyweights. AFF president and COO Jordan Blashek, AFF GP and veteran entrepreneur Steve Weinstein, and ICON co-founder Evan Loomis sit on the board of directors. Technologist Amotz Maimon is the studio’s Head of Technology and Product. The leadership is rounded out by Mike Chieco, Head of Business and Strategy, and Ashley Hudson, Head of Talent. The studio also boasts a strong local team who ensure close collaboration with New Mexico stakeholders.

“Roadrunner’s mission is to bring national resources to bear on places teeming with scientific talent and untapped innovation like New Mexico. We’re thrilled to anchor our work in this community,” said Roadrunner Head of Studio Adam Hammer. “Out of this new headquarters in downtown Albuquerque will spring our team’s work to build the nation’s premier platform for new deep tech ventures in America, for America.”

“Roadrunner’s model is unique. It’s exactly what the country needs to kickstart a new era of innovation,” said Roadrunner Chairman of the Board Steve Weinstein. “Roadrunner is pushing outside the box into territories beyond New York and Silicon Valley and into technologies beyond our imaginations.”

“AFF is proud that Roadrunner Venture Studios was our first investment,” said AFF CEO Gilman Louie. “By creating companies in critical technologies, Roadrunner is ushering in a new wave of American innovation and ecosystem building that will benefit not only New Mexico, but also the greater U.S. economy.”

Roadrunner will announce its first portfolio companies at today’s launch event. The launch will also feature a ribbon-cutting for the downtown Albuquerque headquarters, a fireside chat with Evan Loomis and Gilman Louie, two panel discussions featuring leaders from Playground Global, Khosla Ventures, and Prelude Ventures, studio portfolio company leadership, and a celebratory reception.

About Roadrunner Venture Studios:
Roadrunner Venture Studios is a company creation factory. We co-found breakthrough deep-tech ventures with the nation’s most brilliant scientists, engineers, and innovators. Our team gets involved at the earliest possible moment — often when a company is just a whiteboard scribble, a concept modeled in wire-frame, or as founders are puzzling through how to design a pitch deck or process payroll — and rapidly accelerates product development, commercialization, and recruitment. We are the ultimate company “starter-kit,” equipping our portfolio companies with everything they need to go from the kernel of an idea to a venture-backed growth engine. Our promise is clear: our founders leave our studio with a company, a check, a customer, and a team.

Media Contact: John Rich, 631-335-3530, [email protected]

SOURCE Roadrunner Venture Studios