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Equity Market Gains Offset Weakness in Private Markets for the Largest U.S. Pensions in the Latest Fiscal Year, According to Projections from MPI

Markov Processes Inc.

Pensions with higher private-market exposure lagged those with higher allocations to the public markets in the 2023 fiscal year, a sharp reversal from performance trends in 2022, according to proprietary projections from Markov Processes International, Inc. (“MPI”), a leading independent FinTech provider of software and services for analyzing investment performance and risk. The projections are generated by the MPI Transparency Lab, a one-of-a-kind data hub for endowment and pension performance. The Lab provides a wealth of information on performance and risk of the largest U.S. endowments and public pensions. “This year’s performance of pensions marks a 180-degree turn from our experience just a year ago,” said Michael Markov, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MPI. “We know that the dynamics of performance attribution are important, yet most stakeholders lack visibility into these important institutional investors. The rebound in the public markets has certainly helped balance a lack of gains from areas like private equity and venture capital.” MPI’s estimates are based on the 2022 fiscal year asset class exposures, which were derived from annual pension returns, and asset class returns for four quarters of the 2023 fiscal year (ending June 2023). The full report and projections are available here. The median FY2023 projected return for the group of 40 state pensions MPI tracks is 9.0%, which is lower than the 9.4% return of the Global 60-40 benchmark. Gains in the benchmark were driven primarily by U.S. and ex-U.S. equities (19.6% and 18.8%, respectively) with bonds returning -0.9%. Private equity, real estate, and commodities all had negative returns for the fiscal year leading to underperformance of pensions with significant allocations in private equity. Contributions from private equity and bonds were negligible to pension performance, according to the data, while pensions with the highest exposures to global equity came out at the top. Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, with a 74% exposure to global equities, is estimated to have the highest return for the fiscal year in the group. The lowest estimated FY2023 performers in the group were state employees’ pensions of Oregon (1.8%) and Pennsylvania (2.9%). Interestingly, last fiscal year these pensions reported some the highest performance in the group as shown in chart below. Thus, Oregon PERS reported a 6.3% gain in FY2022 while most peers lost more than 5% and some lost even more than 10% over the same period. MPI launched its Transparency Lab to shed light on opaque pension and endowment performance. MPI’s software utilizes proprietary technology and public data sources to peek, quantitatively, behind the curtain of a wide range of investments, providing information that is often impossible to obtain otherwise. With the Transparency Lab, all that data and analysis is contained in one place and publicly available, allowing investors, beneficiaries, regulators, researchers, journalists, and other stakeholders to garner unique insight into some of the largest and most opaque investors. With the MPI Transparency Lab, registered users can view analytics and download “MPI-360” reports that help them uncover trends in asset allocation and exposures, explain drivers of both recent and historical results, obtain estimates of risks, drawdowns, and efficiency, perform historical stress tests, and evaluate various hypothetical scenarios. MPI uses its proprietary Dynamic Style Analysis (DSA) and public annual returns to reverse-engineer asset exposure dynamics of large investor portfolios. When pensions report only annual performance figures, a decade’s worth of performance is represented by only 10 data points. Traditional static and rolling-window methods of regression analysis struggle to find credible insights from such infrequent data. MPI’s DSA, however, is uniquely adapted to work with such limited data. “Knowing how your pension is doing quarter by quarter not only serves to satisfy one’s curiosity,” Markov said. “Rather it prepares beneficiaries so that they are not caught by surprise at the year-end by the results of their pension. However, we see the main value of this feature in providing pension CIOs valuable datapoints about their narrow set of close peers.” For additional information on MPI’s proprietary data, visit the Transparency Lab. For further information, contact MPI at +1 (908) 608-1558 or info@markovprocesses.com. About MPI Markov Processes International Inc. (MPI) is a leading provider of solutions for investment research, analysis and reporting to the global wealth and investment management industry. MPI works with more than 200 client organizations, including pensions and endowments, sovereign wealth funds, global wealth management firms, institutional consultants, regulators, investment advisors and asset managers. Rooted in the principles of transparency, objectivity, and efficiency, MPI takes an innovative approach to problem solving in the areas of fund analysis, risk management, asset allocation, and reporting to ensure that its clients have the tools to succeed in ever-more-crowded markets. Follow us on Twitter @MarkovMPI and connect with us on LinkedIn. Contact Details For MPI info@markovprocesses.com Company Website https://www.markovprocesses.com/

July 13, 2023 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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As IMF Deputy Director Issues AI Warning, Workers Are Unprepared For Disruptions Caused By Advent Of AI – Amesite Is Looking To Change That

Amesite Inc.

By David Willey, Benzinga Click here to download the latest research report on Amesite. The technology of tomorrow is rapidly becoming the economy of today, and governments and workers are unprepared for the changes, said Gita Gopinath, Deputy Director of the International Monitory Fund (IMF), in a recent interview with the Financial Times. Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay, and it is already changing how people live and work. As technology reshapes the marketplace, governments and institutions need to act fast, both in terms of implementing regulations but also “also in terms of preparing for probable substantial disruptions in labor markets,” said Gopinath. She highlighted the potential for particularly extreme changes – that will include both benefits and disruptions – coming from large-language models like ChatGPT. In previous decades, the assumption has been that individuals and economies would adjust to new technologies. “The lesson we have learned is that it was a very bad assumption to make,” concluded Gopinath. That is why online platform and course developer Amesite (NASDAQ: AMST) has made it its mission to help institutions upskill both students and workforces. It is rejecting the complacency model that has failed workers in the past and is working with businesses, universities, government agencies and others to help prepare them to thrive in a changing economic and technological environment. Amesite Works With Business And Schools Amesite has always had a technology-first approach, and to support its eLearning offerings, the company recently launched Version 6.0 (V6) of its platform website. Amesite’s white-label, scalable platform is designed to host courses from businesses and learning institutions that help them upskill and reskill their employees. As part of its commitment to helping the transition to an AI-powered economy, it launched a free course on the fundamentals of ChatGPT and has integrated several AI capabilities into V6. Amesite is positioning itself as a leader in adopting AI in the educational sector, which it believes places it at the vanguard of AI development and integration. An Ipsos survey from late 2021 found that education was the sector people thought most likely to be impacted by AI. Bill Gates has also recently commented on the transformation that AI could bring to education, saying AI has the potential to take learning to a “whole new level.” One way Amesite is helping change education is through its partnership with the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). Amesite is working with NAFEO-affiliated colleges and universities to deliver upskilling content through NAFEO’s Center for Opportunity, Excellence and Equity (COEE) learning management system. Amesite also recently partnered with Michigan Works! Southeast (MWSE) to provide training materials through MWSE’s Learning Community Environment system. Other companies looking to adapt in the eLearning sector include Coursera Inc. (NYSE: COUR), 2U (NASDAQ: TWOU) and Powerschool Holdings Inc. (NYSE: PWSC). However, Amesite cites data from a third-party source indicating it has both a higher positive consumer sentiment score and a lower negative sentiment score than any of its competitors. This puts it in a strong leadership position in the AI-powered learning sector, according to Amesite. Learn more about how Amesite is disrupting education with AI. Amesite Inc., an artificial intelligence driven platform and course designer, provides online products in the United States. The company uses machine learning to offer a mass customized experience to learners. Its customers include businesses, universities and colleges, K-12 schools, and non-profit organizations. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Amesite, Inc. +1 734-876-8141 info@amesite.com Company Website http://www.amesite.io

July 06, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Fun learning platform Kidovo raises $1.2M funding round to provide personalised interactive learning to every child

Kidovo

The next generation of children are growing up with digital devices all around them. As a result, they’re spending increasing amounts of time on these devices in passive consumption of content which is leading to a range of development issues. In addressing this pressing concern, fun learning platform Kidovo is today launching with a $1.2 million seed funding round to provide every child (2-8 years old) with personalised interactive learning. The funding round saw participation from Venture Highway, Amplify PCC, Good Capital, & prominent angels including Ashish Singhal from Coinswitch among others. Using interactivity, Kidovo is aiming to turn passive consumption into active participation from kids, which helps avoid many of the problems prevalent today with kids’ screen time. Kidovo was founded by Sameer Goyal, ex Amazon & AWS engineer, and Rahul Bhatnagar, ex Uber, Cubical Labs, Amazon. They met while beginning their careers at Amazon over a decade ago. Together, they have a combined experience of over 20 years in the tech industry. “When Rahul reached out to me, about building an interactive learning platform for kids, I was sure something like this must exist. But I was surprised to see very few options for such content. Further, we both realised the massive size of this problem. This affects most of the kids on the entire planet. We started researching the space and found that there is a massive opportunity to build better learning experiences for kids using the latest technology.” said Sameer Goyal, co-founder of Kidovo. “We’ve been testing the early versions of the product with a small group of about 60 families as part of our co-builder program since December 2022. While we have been constantly improving the product based on feedback from that program, the platform has already grown to serve 4000 registered families. Further, as a testament to our team’s commitment to improving kids’ learning experience and safety, we have already received kidSAFE COPPA+ certification as well as a 5 star certification from educational app store in just 6 months since our platform accepted its first external user. We are now confident in serving more users on our platform and have begun rolling out our paid subscription plans.” Recent studies have suggested that kids spend about an hour everyday on Youtube. With shortage of workers in the childcare industry, increasingly these devices are the child’s nanny ( Source ). Further, since generation alpha is the first generation to grow up around digital devices, parents are increasingly finding it difficult to limit screen time without access to other sources of more meaningful & productive entertainment for children. The American academy of Pediatrics recommends for children 2 to 5 years of age to limit use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programming, while parents co-view & help children understand the content and help them apply what they learn ( Source ). Kidovo is designed to provide children with a digital playmate, who would fulfil the above responsibilities when a parent is unavailable to do so. “We found that existing interactive solutions were too focussed on academic outcomes & hence were unable to engage the child over a long period of time. Further, they lacked the variety of content that would support children as they explore different areas of interest. Therefore, we decided to work together with the best kids content creators and empower them with interactive tools to make more engaging content.” said Rahul Bhatnagar, co-founder of Kidovo. Since children are spending increasing amounts of time on digital devices, the time they spend practising speaking has gone down leading to speech delay problems. The team has devised an innovative approach to get kids to speak while learning on their platform. One of the forms of interactivity on the platform is where kids are asked questions from the content and they need to speak to answer and get real time feedback almost as if there’s a real life tutor with them. The owl mascot, Ovo, also involves kids in casual conversation to help them build confidence to express themselves. Kidovo not only helps children with healthier screen time options, but also helps parents participate in their children’s learning journeys. The platform offers parents key moments they might have missed from their kids’ activity on the platform, they can hear their kids speak, see what they drew. Further, parents are offered tips on activities & discussions that they can engage in with their kids based on their activity on the platform. Kidovo plans to use this investment to move closer to their vision of empowering every child worldwide to reach their full potential through personalised, immersive, and engaging experiences that make learning fun and accessible. About Kidovo Kidovo is a fun learning app providing personalised, interactive learning for kids between 2-8 years of age. Kidovo curates content from the best kids' content creators like SciShow Kids, Kiboomers, Learning Mole and many more and adds fun educational activities where children tap on the screen, respond with their voice, and even colour on the screen. Kidovo's mascot, Ovo, the owl will be kids’ digital buddy, and engage and talk with them. Kidovo shows parents what their kids are learning using their child's audio, coloring sheets and much more. Contact Details Kidovo Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.kidovo.com/

June 29, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Philadelphia’s Future Female Leaders Attend Free Construction Camp for Girls throughout Summer of 2023

NEST

Local Philadelphia-area girls entering 7 th through 12 th grade will attend a free construction camp this summer to provide real-world experience, mentorship, and education about the opportunities that exist in the construction industry, regardless of gender. The camp is called MyWIC, which stands for Mentoring young Women In Construction, and will take place in Philadelphia between Thursday, July 6 through Friday, Aug. 11. MyWIC is run by the NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation, which partnered with companies like NEST, a leading national facilities management company, and Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern Jersey to make it a reality. The camp strives to create a sustainable labor pool in the construction industry while exposing young women to careers they may not have previously considered. The Philadelphia Youth Network Work Ready also provides funding to cover a portion of the cost. “MyWIC is developing America’s next generation of female leaders by teaching them about the construction and skilled trades industry,” said Mary Gaffney, NAWIC Phila. Foundation President. “Females make up only about 10% of the construction industry, and there are incredible opportunities to build a career in the skilled trades. By the end of the camp, we see a tangible increase in the girls’ self-confidence, self-esteem, and overall self-image.” “The construction industry and the skilled trades offer so many opportunities for future careers that are in high demand, not only in Philadelphia but across the country,” said Rob Almond, CEO of NEST, which is based in South Jersey. “The MyWIC camp is a summer-long tradition that shows the girls the incredible career opportunities in our industries. The girls learn that construction is so much more than swinging a hammer.” The construction camp will take place at several trade locations throughout the Philadelphia area during July and August. Each day, the girls will learn about a specialty within the trades, including carpentry, sheet metal, safety training, electricians, finishing trades, steamfitters, plumbers, and retail construction. The attendees of the camp are coordinated by Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern Jersey. About Mentoring Young Women In Construction Mentoring young Women In Construction (MyWIC) is a free, construction industry, day camp for 7 th through 12 th -grade girls in the Philadelphia region. MyWIC is organized and run by the NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, and sponsored by various organizations throughout the Philadelphia region. About National Association of Women in Construction With more than 115 chapters across the country, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) offers its members education, support, and networking to help advance women’s careers in construction, build their technical skills, and become leaders. NAWIC’s core purpose is to strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry from tradeswomen to business owners. The Philadelphia Chapter of NAWIC and the NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation are volunteer organizations. About Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey has been serving girls and young women in the Greater Philadelphia region since 1961, originally as Teen Aid. In collaboration with schools, community partners, the juvenile justice system, shelters, corporations, and approximately 300 volunteers, we provide programs for thousands of girls and young women in the Philadelphia region’s most under-resourced communities each year. Our holistic approach recognizes that empowering girls to be successful, independent women requires that they have the tools to make healthy decisions about their bodies, receive academic enrichment, are exposed to mentors who work in a broad range of careers, have strategies to deal with bullying and violence, and parents/caregivers engaged in their success. About NEST NEST is the pioneer of the Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) industry in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1994, NEST delivers day-to-day tactical management of facilities, financial consulting, analytics, project management, and construction for major multi-site brands across North America. NEST provides 360° support 24 hours a day through one comprehensive facilities management solution that drives cost savings while maintaining an exceptional customer experience. To learn more about NEST, visit enterNEST.com or follow NEST on LinkedIn. Contact Details Eric PR & Marketing, LLC Eric Nemeth +1 602-502-2793 nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website http://www.enternest.com

June 27, 2023 12:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Introducing Borderless: The New Way to Build and Share VR Experiences

Borderless

Today, Borderless announces that its free, no-code, virtual reality (VR) experience creation platform will soon be available to the public. Previously for enterprise use only, the platform will now make VR more accessible, scalable, and adaptable for organizations, brands and creators worldwide. It is currently compatible with leading VR headsets like Meta Quest and Pico Neo, with plans to include the Apple Vision Pro. “VR is a powerful technological asset, and Borderless aims to make it approachable and powerful, to the technical and non-technical alike,” says Matt Robison, founder and CEO of Borderless. “We’re knocking down barriers to entry and aim to become the platform for creating and sharing immersive experiences; ones that have the potential for lasting positive impact.” Borderless is already trusted by enterprise clients including a major consumer electronics brand, a top retail training provider, and educational nonprofit, Act One. It simplifies the creation and delivery of VR experiences for a wide range of use. With the platform open and available to anyone, organizations can design and update learning and development programs to train employees, brand marketers can build and share immersive activations, educators can transport students to new places, and artists can bring their work to audiences in new ways. Borderless allows individuals and organizations to build immersive experiences in minutes with no headset required. Users can upload 180° or 360° video and images, and create interactive quizzes or surveys all in a simple, web-based tool, previewing their work as they go. A Unity uploader will also allow 3D creators to bring their work, including games, into the platform. Customizable environments tie a complete experience together. Once an experience is created, users can deploy to their compatible devices, from headsets to tablets, simultaneously. Borderless makes it easy for users to keep up with managing their content—from creating and deploying to collecting analytics. “With the Borderless platform, we’ve been able to transport thousands of students in Arizona to places they would never get to see,” said Rachel Yanof, Executive Director, Act One. “Our first VR field trip featured Chicago-based artist Sentrock, a Mexican-American muralist originally from Arizona. We wanted to create inspiring trips grounded in relatable stories that showed students a broader world where people just like them went on to express themselves through art. While there are similar learning opportunities between a traditional arts field trip and VR, we could go even deeper into storytelling with the virtual experience content we created using Borderless.” Starting today, you can check out the official sizzle reel here and sign up at borderlessvr.com to be the first notified about its official debut in the fall with your first look at the no-code platform demo here. ABOUT BORDERLESS Borderless is a company founded on the belief that extended reality experiences have the ability to change the world. Its product is designed to increase accessibility to VR experience creation, and simplify the delivery of content from corporate training to brand experiences to school field trips and beyond. The company's no-code platform is a powerful tool in bringing experiences and products to life for some of the biggest brands in the world today. For more information, visit borderlessvr.com. Contact Details Kite Hill PR for Borderless Geanna Diaz geanna@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://borderlessvr.com/

June 27, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

New Convention Wins and Strong Line-up Reaffirms Hong Kong’s Leading Edges Across Multiple Sectors

Hong Kong Tourism Board

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 26 June 2023 - The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has applauded the city's convention business following a raft of new convention wins in 2023. I&T, medical, financial services, and education planning professionals have all chosen Hong Kong, solidifying the city's position as a preferred destination for academic exchanges and industry advancement. Mr Kenneth Wong, General Manager, MICE & Cruise of HKTB, said, "The growing demand is providing a welcome stimulus for Hong Kong's economy. Thanks to Hong Kong's leading status across various industries and tremendous opportunities brought by the Greater Bay Area (GBA), we are delighted that Hong Kong further strengthens its status as the World's Meeting Place and remains a top choice among convention organisers." Convention wins reinforce Hong Kong as I&T hub One of this year's major wins is the EDGE Global AI & Web3 Investment Summit 2023 under the I&T sector. The inaugural edition of this event will be hosted in September 2023 in Hong Kong, and is expected to bring in 10,000 visitors. This major win followed the city's recent hosting of a number of Web3 events, including FOMO Asia Genesis Conference and WOW Summit 2023, which marked its entry to Asia Pacific. Mr Ander Tsui, organiser of EDGE Global AI & Web3 Investment Summit 2023, Co-Chairman of Hong Kong Blockchain Association, Chairman of EDGE Summit Committee and Founder of VertexLabs said, "Hong Kong is simply a world-class stage for Web3 and artificial intelligence events and beyond. Not only does it draw global venture capitals, investment institutions, and enthusiasts from across the globe, but it also serves as the perfect gateway to the dynamic GBA. We look forward to seeing our high-octane event debut in Hong Kong." Another major win – the Insurtech Insights Asia 2023 Conference, which will take place in December 2023 with an expected attendance of 3,000 – highlights the city's strong fundamentals, international business connections, as well as government support in the insurance, insurtech and I&T sectors. Mr Kristoffer Lundberg, CEO Insurtech Insights and Mr Hung W. Wong, President Asia, Insurtech Insights said, "We are thrilled to be building the largest pan-Asia insurance and insurtech conference in Hong Kong to gather insurance executives, entrepreneurs, and investors by providing knowledge, inspiration and network. We are extremely grateful for the tremendous support from the Hong Kong governmental organisations." Strong convention line-up in 2023 This year, the city is already recording an exciting calendar of conventions, in which the medical sector has taken the lion's share, including the 44th Asia Pacific Dental Congress 2023 in June and t he 16th Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Session, in conjunction with CardioRhythm, in September 2023. Dr Nelson Wong, Hong Kong Convention Ambassador, President of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation and President of the Hong Kong Dental Association said, "The 44th Asia Pacific Dental Congress 2023 was a great success with the dedicated support from the HKTB. We are proud to play a part and strive for excellence in making Hong Kong a premier destination for international dental congresses." The 44th Asia Pacific Dental Congress 2023 successfully attracted over 5,000 dentists and dental industry related participants from local and around the world. Hong Kong Convention Ambassador programme expands to Mainland China Leveraging the extensive network and influential power of the business leaders in Hong Kong, the HKTB introduced the Hong Kong Convention Ambassador (HKCA) programme back in 2020. Since then, industry leaders have led some 40 events to Hong Kong. This year the HKTB appointed 140 industry leaders from Hong Kong and Mainland China, which marks the HKCA programme expansion to Mainland China for the very first time. Mr Kenneth Wong said "The formulation of the ambassador programme gives Hong Kong an edge in securing world-class conventions. We are very grateful for the support from local leaders, as well as our mainland counterparts. With close collaboration, we can showcase Hong Kong's unique role as a super-connector and a MICE hub of the GBA to capture boundless opportunities for business events." With HKTB's continuous strategic bidding efforts and the well-developed and growing alliance of HKCA, Hong Kong is set to attract more world-class conventions, making it the first choice as the place to meet. Contact Details Ms Ivy Chung +852 2807 6255 ivy.chung@hktb.com Ms Candice Leung +852 2807 6578 candice.leung@hktb.com

June 26, 2023 09:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Pioneering History Education Providers Announce New Collaboration with Global EdTech Leader

In the Footsteps of History

Pioneering educational providers In the Footsteps of History, creators of a tech-forward social studies enrichment program that brings world history to life through the excitement of adventure and exploration, have partnered with Lumio, the digital learning tool used by millions around the world and created by global EdTech leader SMART. Through this new collaboration, more than 20 free In the Footsteps of History lessons, including Marco Polo and the Silk Road, the travels of Ibn Battuta and the legendary city of Timbuktu, and more will be available in Lumio, making the most of its interactive and engaging resources for exciting history education. In the Footsteps of History’s immersive lessons, presented by world-famous explorers, fill a much-needed role in an often challenging subject to teach. The program’s unique mix of documentary-quality videos https://inthefootsteps.org/the-ibn-battuta/, 3D games https://3dmap-itf.pages.dev/, https://patterns-itf.pages.dev/ and cutting-edge, web-based simulations powered by Ultisim provide a valuable teaching tool for building knowledge, expanding world views, and fostering respect for other cultures. With outstanding reviews for higher engagement, improved visualization, and elevated critical thinking, In the Footsteps of History ushers in a whole new era for the social studies classroom. “The power of technology to provide students with opportunities to visit places that they would not otherwise be able to is truly impressive,” says explorer Denis Belliveau, CEO, and Founder of In the Footsteps of History. “Our hope is that this will encourage more and more youth to go out and discover the world around them.” For middle and high school social studies educators who are looking to engage students with unique and immersive lessons, Lumio and In the Footsteps of History have teamed up to create a new resource category of original content https://suite.smarttech-prod.com/lumio-library/category/i1Iqf2, utilizing Lumio’s collaborative and interactive game-based learning tools. “We are thrilled to work with the team at In the Footsteps of History to bring unique, immersive history learning into Lumio, supporting teachers and students with great content.” Says Dan McMahon, Lumio Vice President of Software. “Together, we have even more opportunities to bring learning to life and connect more students with engaging experiences.” In the Footsteps of History is presenting at ISTELive June 26-28 at booth #1466 and Lumio is presenting at booth #2718 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. New In the Footsteps of History 'Journeys' will be rolling out over the coming months. ABOUT IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HISTORY: In the Footsteps of History is a tech-forward social studies enrichment program of multimedia units that bring history to life through the excitement of adventure and exploration. Offered as complete units called Journeys with videos, web-based 3D games, and standards-aligned lesson plans, and augmented by additional immersive virtual reality (VR) Walkabouts, In the Footsteps of History promotes higher engagement, improved visualization, stronger comprehension, increased retention, and elevated critical thinking. For more information and free trials visit www.inthefootsteps.org or contact Lisa Taylor at 718-986-5104 or by email at lisa@inthefootsteps. About Lumio Lumio is a free, easy-to-use, digital learning tool that lets teachers transform lessons into active, collaborative learning experiences to engage students on their devices, wherever they are. With countless ways for students to engage and drive their own learning, Lumio is a perfect fit for educators who are looking for ways to increase interactivity, collaboration, and game-based learning. To learn more, visit www.golumio.com. Contact Details In the Footsteps of History Lisa Taylor lisa@inthefootsteps.org Company Website https://inthefootsteps.org/

June 25, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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From Integrating AI To Strictly Protecting Client Data, How Online Education Company Amesite Inc Is Doing Things Differently To Disrupt Learning

Amesite Inc.

Click here to download the latest research report on Amesite Amesite Inc. (NASDAQ: AMST) CEO Dr. Ann Marie Sastry recently delivered a presentation at a leading Micro-Cap conference hosted by Sidoti & Company LLC. As an online platform and product developer powered by artificial intelligence (AI), Amesite is positioning itself to disrupt the current educational model. It plans to accomplish this with its robust, technology-first approach. In her presentation, Sastry set out how Detroit-based Amesite has the goal of becoming a leading education specialist for delivering improved e-learning experiences and outcomes. In 2022 Amesite started a collaboration with Microsoft for the use of its Azure cloud, and it was featured in a story on Microsoft’s website. In February of 2023, it officially adopted GPT-3, the technology behind ChatGPT, onto its learning management system (LMS). In April, it launched the anticipated Version 6.0 (V6) of its platform. V6 is integrated with GPT-4, the AI system powering Bing and ChatGPT Plus. Amesite’s platform now includes AI capabilities such as learning and creative assistants, as well as a free course on GPT fundamentals. Its generative AI capabilities mean that the platform now allows customers to create features like educational games, interactive learning experiences, leaderboards and other learning incentives. A Strong Position In A Growing Market Amesite’s vision for education and upskilling is for learners not to be educated in silos but instead, be brought into a larger learning community. The company provides a top-tier learning management system (LMS) that sits at the intersection of several industries, including AI, online education and software-as-a-service (SaaS). Amesite believes it can harness the growth of each of these markets to scale its customer base and grow revenue. Each market is poised for significant growth in the next decade. The AI market was worth $136 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.3% between 2023 and 2030. Meanwhile, the SaaS market is expected to grow from $167 billion in 2022 to $462 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 18.5% during the forecast period, and online education is projected to reach a value of $602 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 17.2% over 2023-2030. Amesite already works with numerous universities, museums, government agencies and businesses to deliver its suite of online products. Its LMS delivers a 99% retention rate across its paid products, compared with a 60% industry average retention rate. How Amesite Is Doing Education Differently Something that differentiates Amesite’s position in the market is its approach to client data. While it uses analytics to improve customer experience, the company has a strict approach of never selling data to third parties or using data for exploitative purposes. Amesite also delivers what Sastry described as the best-in-class code and architecture in its LMS. Its V6 platform tools enable the integration of thousands of application programming interfaces (APIs). These APIs, along with Amesite’s collaboration with Microsoft, mean that Amesite’s offerings are easily scalable, and are capable of fast and efficient product delivery. Its robust architecture allows the company to continuously integrate improvements into the system. In a case study released earlier this year, Amesite revealed it was able to onboard 50 courses in four days for its client, the leading commodity management company EWIE Group of Companies (EGC). On average, Amesite is able to provide a custom-branded, enterprise-scale system for clients within just 24 hours, and its easy-to-use platform means custom-developed content is fully accessible within only one month. Other companies in the space include Coursera Inc. (NYSE: COUR), 2U (NASDAQ: TWOU) and Powerschool Holdings Inc. (NYSE: PWSC). According to Amesite – citing data from a third-party source – Amesite has a higher positive consumer sentiment score and a lower negative sentiment score than any of its competitors. Learn more about how Amesite is disrupting education with AI. Amesite Inc., an artificial intelligence driven platform and course designer, provides online products in the United States. The company uses machine learning to offer a mass customized experience to learners. Its customers include businesses, universities and colleges, K-12 schools, and non-profit organizations. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Amesite, Inc. +1 734-876-8141 info@amesite.com Company Website http://www.amesite.io

June 08, 2023 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Enhancing School Safety with Siyata Mobile's (NASDAQ: SYTA) SD7 Handheld Device and CrisisGo Integration

Siyata Mobile

Over recent years, the sanctity and safety of American schools have increasingly been threatened by a growing wave of violence. Despite the assumption that these institutions should be havens of learning and personal growth, stark realities of active shooter incidents, student violence against teachers, and escalating student-on-student altercations have disrupted this perception. A trend that goes beyond mere numbers and statistics, it represents a significant shift in the climate of schools across the country, leading to profound and pressing concerns over safety and security. In the wake of increasing safety concerns in K-12 schools across the United States, Siyata Mobile (NASDAQ: SYTA) and CrisisGo have partnered to provide a cutting-edge solution that enhances communication and safety preparedness. The integration of Siyata Mobile's SD7 handheld device with CrisisGo's safety platform offers a comprehensive solution to help schools stay connected and prepared for incidents, including active shooter situations. Siyata Mobile and CrisisGo Siyata Mobile is a developer and provider of communication solutions for enterprise customers, first responders, security guards, delivery/logistics companies, construction workers, and government agencies. Its products include a portfolio of push-to-talk/PTT over cellular (PoC) devices, such as rugged handsets and in-vehicle communication devices. Siyata Mobile also sells a family of cellular boosters for use in vehicles, homes, and large venues with weak signals. The company’s SD7 handset is designed for instant communication with an SOS panic button, providing a simple, easy-to-use solution for immediate communication. The SD7 is a versatile Push-to-Talk (PTT) device that can handle everyday incidents like fights or medical emergencies, to contacting first responders. The SD7 can also initiate a lockdown of the building, meeting Alyssa's Law requirements. On the other hand, CrisisGo is the leading safety platform & emergency solution trusted by over 16,000 schools. With CrisisGo, schools can cover the entire process and workflow required for safety and emergency response, integrate the technology needed to streamline safety and connect the people who make safety happen. Integration Capabilities of the SD7 and CrisisGo’s Platform The integration of the SD7 with CrisisGo's platform allows users to instantly trigger a CrisisGo panic alarm and receive mass notifications without requiring an app or login. With simple clicks of the SD7 SOS button, users can trigger a Staff Assist alert or a Lockdown alert. After triggering an alert, users can record voice information (up to 20 seconds upon configuration) to send with the alert. Alert announcements and voice information will be automatically played in SD7 when an alert is sent to the device. The SD7 handset also supports two-way communication, allowing for more effective communication between dispatch and users. It provides an immediate, two-way connection with first responders, ensuring they have all the information needed to aid in the current crisis. This feature is particularly crucial in active shooter situations where immediate communication with first responders can save lives. Furthermore, the SD7 handset can be used in a vehicle kit on school buses, providing precise location data and PTT abilities. This feature can be particularly useful during emergencies, allowing school dispatch to monitor the bus’s location and ensure that it stays on its designated route. The integration allows for the following specific functionalities: Send Alert: Upon CrisisGo integration, users can use the Siyata SD7 SOS button to trigger alerts. Three clicks of the SOS button trigger a Staff Assist alert, while seven clicks trigger a Lockdown alert. After triggering an alert, users will hear a notification sound from the SD7 device, and they may record voice information (up to 20 seconds upon configuration) to send with the alert. Receive Alert: Alert announcements and voice information will be automatically played in SD7 when an alert is sent to the device. This feature ensures that all users are immediately aware of any emergencies and can respond accordingly. Check In: When a Check In is sent to a device, the SD7 plays a notification tone and vibrates for 10 seconds, displaying the Check In question and one of the options on OLED. Users can turn the SD7 knob to switch to show other options for check-in questions and press down on the knob to select the option shown on OLED for submission. Receive Messages: When a text or audio message is sent to a device, the SD7 plays a notification tone, vibrates for 10 seconds, and displays the message content or notification on OLED. Users can press down on the knob to play audio, stop playing, or remove the audio message from the SD7. Safety iControl Access: Users can access Safety iControl, the smart command center for school administrators to initiate, manage, and monitor safety activities. This feature allows users to send alerts, check-ins, and text messages, escalate and share with external first responders or communities, manage school maps and resources, and view real-time situations on GIS. Advantages of the SD7 + CrisisGo Compared to the Old LMR System The advantages of the SD7 integrated with CrisisGo are numerous, and it represents a significant improvement over the traditional Land Mobile Radio (LMR) system. Firstly, the SD7 provides an intuitive, straightforward interface that simplifies the process of communication during emergencies. Unlike the LMR system, which can be susceptible to signal interference, the SD7's digital interface is seamless and offers a clear, uninterrupted connection. Additionally, the SD7's integration with CrisisGo enhances its functionality by allowing for the instant triggering of panic alarms and mass notifications, a capability that the LMR system lacks. Furthermore, the SD7's Push-to-Talk (PTT) capability allows for instant communication, a feature that is critical during emergencies. This instant communication capability far surpasses the LMR system, which often requires several steps to establish a communication channel. The SD7's two-way communication feature also enhances the flow of information between the users and first responders, ensuring they have all the necessary details in real time. Unlike the LMR system, the SD7 uses cellular networks that allow the user access to nation-wide coverage compared to limited-ranged radio networks. This means the SD7 can be used in a multitude of environments and situations, such as on school premises, on field trips, at sporting events and other locations effectively without worry of radio connectivity. Lastly, the SD7 offers the potential for integration with vehicle systems, providing precise location data and enhancing the safety of school buses, a feature that the LMR system cannot match. Through these advancements, the SD7 and CrisisGo integration offers a modern, comprehensive solution that greatly surpasses the capabilities of the traditional LMR system in ensuring the safety of K-12 schools. Siyata Has Secured Large Purchase Orders Recently, While Continuing to Expand its Distribution Footprint Siyata Mobile has recently received multiple significant orders for its products and has continued to expand its distribution network. In total, Siyata has recently received orders with a combined value of $3.85 million: In terms of recent orders, the company has announced a $1.2 million order for its UV350 In-Vehicle Devices and “Siyata Real-Time View,” from a repeat customer adding more devices to their fleet of ambulances. The 'Siyata Real-Time View' product provides in-fleet video monitoring, offering high-resolution video that can be accessed in real-time or retrieved later via cloud storage. The video software creates a recurring revenue stream for Siyata from a license fee. Siyata also received a $750,000 order for its next-generation MCPTT (mission-critical push-to-talk) solution from an independent emergency management service (EMS) provider. This order includes the company's SD7 devices and related accessories, which will be used in a variety of mission-critical situations, including in ambulances and other emergency vehicles. The SD7 device operates over the high bandwidth 4G LTE network and is IP68 rated, making it resistant to water, dust, and drops, perfect for use in harsh environments. The company also secured a $900,000 order to supply a U.S. public school district with its SD7 handsets and accessories. This order represents the company's largest in the education market to date. The SD7 handset will provide teachers and school staff with a reliable means of communication and the ability to notify first responders in case of an emergency. Furthermore, a school district in the Southwest U.S. placed a $600,000 purchase order with Siyata to equip teachers with SD7 handsets and associated accessories, which will enable direct communication capabilities with first responders and other school officials. On June 5 th, Siyata received an additional purchase order of $400,000 for its SD7 handsets and their associated VK7 vehicle kits. The order effectively expands the company’s SD7 footprint into the education, healthcare and construction sectors. On the distribution front, Siyata announced a distribution reseller agreement with Two Way Direct, Inc. in April 2023 to offer the SD7 device nationally. In addition, Siyata has announced a global expansion into the Netherlands through a distribution deal with KPN Royal Dutch Telecom, a leading telecommunications and IT service provider in the region. As a part of the deal, KPN will now offer the SD7 device and associated accessories through its KPN PTT service. This offering is primarily targeted at medium and large-scale government and corporate entities. In addition to KPN, Siyata’s distribution features wireless carrier partners include AT&T, FirstNet, Verizon, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Bell Mobility (Canada), and Telstra (Australia). Fundamental Research Corp. Issues Updated Research Report Giving Siyata a Fair Value of $0.46; Zacks Investment Research Issues Price Target of $0.75 Equity research company, Fundamental Research Corp., issued an updated report on Siyata dated May 30, 2023. In the report, the firm highlighted the strong growth that is being driven by the SD7 handheld devices. As a result, the firm reiterated its “buy” rating for Siyata and issued a fair value price of $0.46. On an estimated basis for full-year 2023, Fundamental Research Corp. believes Siyata could generate total revenue of $10.38 million while maintaining a strong financial footing with cash estimates of $489,521, total assets of $15.01 million and working capital of $1.35 million. For the full-year 2024, the equity research firm estimates revenues growing to $14.81 million and the company's financial position further improving: estimated cash holdings of $1.03 million, total assets of $15.69 million, and working capital of $1.86 million. “We believe SYTA should be able to maintain its growth momentum in the coming quarters, driven by new distribution partners,” noted the equity research report. On June 5, 2023, Zacks Investment Research also issued an updated equity research report, after the company’s strong Q1 2023 and recent updated on new sales and distribution opportunities. As a result of the equity research firm’s discounted cash flow (DCF) model, the company has issued a new price target of $0.75 for Siyata Mobile. “We believe Siyata Mobile is on track to generate strong double-digit revenue growth rates going forward. We expect overall gross margins to increase steadily from current levels as volume levels increase,” according to the Zacks report. “Based on our 2023 revenue estimates of $12.2 million, SYTA is selling at a Price/Sales ratio of approximately 0.65x. The peer group average Price/Sales ratio is 2.35x and the sector median is 2.73x. These relative valuations support a significantly higher stock price for SYTA,” Zacks analysts concluded. Conclusion In the face of burgeoning school safety concerns, the partnership between Siyata Mobile and CrisisGo, fusing the SD7 handheld device and CrisisGo's safety platform, presents a groundbreaking solution designed to reinforce preparedness and communication during emergencies. The integration capitalizes on the strengths of each technology, creating an intuitive and effective tool that streamlines the process of initiating a response, managing safety workflows, and enabling immediate, two-way communication with first responders. Far superior to traditional Land Mobile Radio systems, the SD7-CrisisGo integration allows for a real-time panic alarm activation, mass notifications, and immediate communication, both in daily scenarios and critical incidents. An invaluable feature is the device's adaptability for use in school buses, augmenting safety through precise location data and push-to-talk capabilities. Siyata Mobile's recent success in securing significant purchase orders and expanding its distribution network underscores the market's recognition of the potential these innovations carry. Notably, the $900,000 order from a U.S. public school district represents a landmark in the education sector, signifying the industry's trust in Siyata Mobile's ability to deliver reliable and efficient solutions. Furthermore, Siyata's global expansion strategy, as demonstrated by its partnership with Two Way Direct, Inc. and KPN Royal Dutch Telecom, widens the reach of these transformative solutions. Finally, Fundamental Research Corp's "buy" rating for Siyata, along with an encouraging revenue growth projection, reflects the industry's optimism about the company's growth trajectory, largely driven by the SD7 handheld devices. Therefore, Siyata Mobile's concerted efforts towards innovative solutions for school safety represent a game-changing approach to meet the urgent needs of today's educational institutions. Disclaimer: Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement. All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. 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June 08, 2023 05:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time