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Comcast RISE Awards An Additional 19 BIPOC-Owned, Small Businesses in Twin Cities with Marketing and Technology Resources and Makeovers

Comcast West Division

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) today announced the second round of Comcast RISE award recipients in the Twin Cities—19 businesses will receive consulting, media and creative production services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or technology upgrades from Comcast Business, based on the specific needs. To date, the Twin Cities has announced 32 recipients including a diverse roster of small business, from Duck Donuts in Woodbury, The Zen Bin in Minneapolis, and The Creative Studio in St. Paul. The new Comcast RISE recipients in the Twin Cities include: AG on the Cut, St. Paul Alma Flor Ada Spanish Immersion Early Learning Academy, Woodbury Atrebla Early Learning Center, Minneapolis Big Cutz Barbershop, Columbia Heights Center for Communication & Development – KMOJ-FM, Minneapolis Cilantro Restaurant, Woodbury Cravings Wine Bar & Grille, Woodbury DFS Consultants LLC, St. Paul H & S Booking LLC, New Hope HercLÃ©on, St. Paul K & M Construction of MN LLC, Lake Elmo Lions Gym and Wellness Center, Robbinsdale Morris Services LLC, Minneapolis Premiere Staffing Group, St. Paul Queen Anna House of Fashion, Minneapolis The Black Threadist, Brooklyn Park The Pole Barn Studio LLC, Stillwater Urban Mass Media Group/BMA, Minneapolis Work of Art Barbershop & Shave, Robbinsdale Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” focuses on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned, small businesses in the U.S., those hit hardest by the pandemic according to a recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research. New applications are now open to eligible BIPOC-owned, small businesses through May 7, 2021 at www.ComcastRISE.com. “At a time when so many in our small business communities are struggling, it’s incredibly humbling to be able to give back and share our knowledge and resources with those hit hardest by the pandemic. We want to help our partners and communities rise,” said J.D. Keller, regional senior vice president, Comcast Twin Cities. “I could not be more pleased to be supporting the BIPOC community and continue this positive momentum.” “The past year has seen unprecedented challenges for our business community, especially for those small-to-medium size operations owned by BIPOC entrepreneurs,” said B Kyle, president and CEO, St. Paul Area Chamber. “That’s why we’re so pleased that Comcast is offering valuable support through Comcast RISE with marketing, advertising and technical expertise. We stand behind their efforts and encourage our local businesses to apply for this important program.” Comcast RISE provides the opportunity for BIPOC-owned, small businesses nationwide to apply for one or more of the following support focus areas: Marketing Services: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including: Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period. Creative Production: Turnkey:30 TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and 90-day media placement schedule. Consulting: Advertising and marketing consultations with local Effectv marketing, research and creative teams to gain insights on how to drive business. Technology Makeovers: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as Internet, Voice and Cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for technology makeover services.) Comcast RISE is part of a larger $100 million Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative that Comcast launched in 2020. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. Contact Details Comcast Jill Hornbacher +1 651-425-1695 Jill_Hornbacher@comcast.com Comcast Dave Nyberg 651-341-6401 Dave_Nyberg@comcast.com Company Website https://twincities.comcast.com

April 08, 2021 10:00 AM Central Daylight Time

Boston Biotech, Anodyne Nanotech Advances the Hero Patch Platform by Securing $4.2M in Seed Financing

Anodyne Nanotech, Inc.

Anodyne Nanotech, Inc., a Boston-based biotechnology company developing differentiated, transdermal forms of high-value drugs, announced today that it has raised $4,200,000 to expand its Hero Patch™ platform. Lead investors were Velocity Partners, Relativity Healthcare Fund, and Big Pi Ventures. “For many years the pharmaceutical industry has envisioned, but never achieved, a transdermal patch to replace subcutaneous administration of high-value biologics,” said Lampros Kourtis, Ph.D., a Partner at Velocity. “With its solid-state porous microneedles, Anodyne looks poised to succeed where others have failed.” This new class of microneedles was invented at Tufts University and is now the core technology of the Hero Patch™ platform at Anodyne, founded by Hojat Rezaei Nejad, Konstantinos Tzortzakis, and Jake Lombardo. By incorporating solvent-free bulk drug substance directly into microscopic porosities, Anodyne can load unprecedented amounts of the drug onto each microneedle. When the microneedle penetrates into the skin, the drug dissolves in the patient’s interstitial fluid and is systemically absorbed. “With the ability to load up to 5 mg of drug per square centimeter, we can administer pharmacologically relevant doses of high-value biologic drugs like peptides and monoclonal antibodies,” said Anodyne CEO Jake Lombardo. “Our in vivo studies also show that we can achieve desired pharmacodynamic effects.” Not only does Anodyne’s technique allow for unprecedented drug loading, but also using the solid-state form of the drug substance can lead to improved stability. This promise would circumvent the need for cold-chain distribution, a critically important challenge for developing countries, with cost-saving advantages for the global biopharmaceutical industry. Mr. Lombardo added that he and others have found the Hero Patch—in placebo form—to be painless and non-irritating. Anodyne has started collaborations with pharmaceutical companies to test particular biologics on the Hero Patch platform. The company plans to conduct clinical trials to characterize the bioequivalence, safety, and tolerability of several Hero Patch products. “Modern R&D is yielding dozens of miraculous biologic drugs, but our means of administering them has scarcely improved since the 19th century,” said Michael Singer, MD, Ph.D., a director at Anodyne. “Patients don’t like getting shots. Our healthcare system would save time and money if we didn’t have to give so many shots.” “We believe we have something to offer to all who work with biologics: patients, providers, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies,” said Mr. Lombardo. “We would be particularly gratified if Hero Patch could be used for needle-free delivery of biologics to children.” About Anodyne Nanotech: Anodyne is a Boston-based, preclinical-stage biotech company developing differentiated, transdermal forms of high-value drugs. The company’s patent-pending porous microneedle technology provides the first practical and cost-effective platform, Hero Patch™, to deliver clinically meaningful doses of macromolecules and small molecules. For further information: www.TheHeroPatch.com Contact Details Anodyne Nanotech Jake Lombardo +1 732-503-3865 jake.lombardo@theheropatch.com Company Website https://www.theheropatch.com

April 08, 2021 05:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

COMCAST ANNOUNCES RURAL BROADBAND EXPANSION IN WHATCOM COUNTY

Comcast West Division

Comcast today announced it will expand service to 815 homes in the City of Sumas, a rural community of Whatcom County. Over the next two years, Comcast will invest $4.2 million, to bring the entire suite of Xfinity and Comcast Business services to the citizens and businesses of Sumas. The planned network expansion is the latest example of the company’s investment made in Washington state. Comcast has invested over $990 million in capital expenditures in Washington over the past three years, including investments in the company's network. “This is welcome news for Sumas residents, especially in a world where we are increasingly reliant on a broadband connection to work, learn, and teach. Washington has some of the world’s largest technology companies but too many residents still don’t have affordable and reliable internet access,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “Bold investments like these will help families during this difficult time and beyond.” “Thank you to Mayor Christensen and to the City Council in Sumas for working with Comcast to bring high speed internet infrastructure to the people of Sumas,” said Senator Doug Ericksen, 42nd Legislative District. “America was built by private sector innovation and private sector innovation will continue to lead in building a better Washington State for all of us." “We are very excited to have Comcast coming to Sumas. They provide quality services and have a solid infrastructure,” said Kyle Christensen, Mayor, City of Sumas. “This will be a big benefit to our residents and businesses.” Sumas residents will have access to the entire Xfinity product suite, including Xfinity Internet, Xfinity Mobile, Xfinity X1, Xfinity Home and Internet Essentials, the largest and most comprehensive low-cost Internet adoption program for low-income Americans. Since 2011, Comcast has connected 560,000 low-income individuals statewide to broadband internet over the last decade, including 15,200 residents in Whatcom County. The Sumas businesses community will have access to the full suite of Comcast Business Internet, voice, and video services, including WiFi, Voice, TV and managed enterprise solutions for businesses of all sizes. We’re pleased to invest in our infrastructure in Whatcom County and excited to expand our network to the City of Sumas,” said Rodrigo Lopez, Region Senior Vice President, Comcast Washington. “As connectivity becomes ever more important, we’re working hard to expand our smart, reliable network that delivers fast Internet speeds for customers to browse, videoconference, stream and game.” Comcast serves more than 1.6 million residential and business customers throughout Washington state. Comcast is Washington’s leading provider of Xfinity video, high-speed Internet, smart home and phone services. To learn more about Comcast in Washington, visit: https://washington.comcast.com/ About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Andy Colley +1 425-248-5438 Andy_Colley@Comcast.com Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

April 07, 2021 08:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time

WitFoo Announces Partnership with CyberOpz

WitFoo

WitFoo, the world’s most intelligent SECOPS platform fueled by big data analytics, announced today a partnership with CyberOpz, a cybersecurity solutions provider, to offer Precinct as a service to its customers. “In addition to delivering a robust SECOPS platform, Precinct provides a key component to affordable Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance, making it an ideal solution to offer our customers,” said Pete Clay, managing partner of CyberOpz. “We’re excited to partner with WitFoo and build on our momentum as we exit the stealth mode of our business.” “From the 2013 Target breach to the 2020 SolarWinds supply chain compromise, the importance of holding vendors responsible for their cybersecurity hygiene has been repeatedly reinforced,” said Charles Herring, CTO of WitFoo. “The launch of CMMC by the US Department of Defense is the most aggressive step in delivering sustainable supply chain cybersecurity to date. CMMC is making cybersecurity health a core requirement of business, and partners like CyberOpz are making the transformation painless so organizations can focus on their core business.” As a result of this partnership, CyberOpz will utilize Precinct, in concert with other security services, to offer customers a 24-hour guarantee to recover from any ransomware attack. “CyberOpz’s ransomware resilience guarantee is uniquely impressive, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the solution that delivers upon that promise,” said Tim Bradford, CEO of WitFoo. “Protecting against extortion via ransomware requires a multi-pronged approach of disaster recovery, sophisticated detection and timely response. The products, services, and knowledge of CyberOpz empower their customers to rest easy as cybercriminals do their worst. We couldn’t be more excited to be working with CyberOpz, and we’re glad to see the continued success of our growing channel program.” WitFoo is committed to a 100% channel sales model which is supported by a global distribution agreement with SYNNEX. For more information about partnering with WitFoo, visit: https://www.witfoo.com/partners/ About CYBEROPZ Our team of experienced security engineers and CISO’s takes the complexity out of cybersecurity. We work with companies across a range of industries to meet cybersecurity compliance requirements and improve companies' cybersecurity programs. For more information, visit https://www.cyberopz.com/ About WitFoo Built by veterans of the military, law enforcement and cyber security, WitFoo Precinct is the world’s most intelligent SECOPS platform fueled by big data analytics. By crowdsourcing intelligence from a global community of cybersecurity experts, applying time-tested methodologies from law enforcement and leveraging intelligent data and analytics, Precinct’s Investigative Engine results in a greater than 90% reduction in time and labor spent performing security investigations. The platform produces metrics on risk, tool effectiveness, operational efficiency and security gaps to fuel transformational business conversations. Infinite scalability, cost-contained licensing and flexible deployment options make Precinct an effective and economic solution for any organization looking to improve their security operations. For more information, visit www.witfoo.com Contact Details Merritt Group for WitFoo Mia Wilcox +1 610-564-6773 wilcox@merrittgrp.com Company Website https://www.witfoo.com/

April 07, 2021 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NEXT Trucking Launches New Customer Portal Giving Shippers Full Control Over Their Freight

Next Trucking

NEXT Trucking, a FreightTech pioneer that connects shippers and carriers, announced the launch of its new Shipper Portal today. The robust online portal streamlines and expedites communications between NEXT Trucking and its shipper customers, reduces manual processes, and provides real-time visibility into the status of containers. Amidst the global pandemic, supply chains are facing mounting challenges, driving shippers to consider emerging technologies to remain competitive. The NEXT Shipper Portal offers shippers an easy-to-use freight management platform to monitor, gather data, download reports, and take action on every phase of a container's journey. “NEXT remains committed to staying at the forefront of innovation in the freight technology space as we continue to provide our customers with easy-to-use technologies to optimize their distribution chains,” said Lidia Yan, CEO and Co-Founder of NEXT Trucking. “We are proud to offer shippers, freight forwarders, and ocean carriers a more holistic, data-driven experience via our new Shipper Portal, which will help them solve key pain points in their daily operations and present them with data to better understand and manage their businesses.” Giving shippers full control over their freight, the new platform provides automated real-time shipment track and trace from vessel to termination, customizable reporting, scheduling capabilities, automated leveraging of at-risk containers, and a comprehensive dashboard with container ETAs, last free day, per diem, demurrage, and more. “NEXT’s Shipper Portal is extremely user friendly and is a game-changer for anyone involved in the drayage industry,” said a senior executive from a top ocean carrier. “Previously, I was manually tracking 200+ containers for one customer alone to check if containers were on a vessel, unloaded in the port, outgated, or returned empty.” Advanced reporting features allow shippers to configure personalized trends and insights, view risk-ranked containers for action, and automate container status reports. “Businesses have long asked for more data about their shipments, as understanding key business metrics like on-time delivery and facility wait times is imperative,” added Yan. “Our Shipper Portal offers a robust, intuitive dashboard and data experience for shippers, who would otherwise spend hours manually assembling reports themselves. Additionally, it helps shippers identify priority containers that need attention, such as containers with an upcoming appointment time, past appointment time, soon to incur demurrage/per diem, and more.” Future versions of the Shipper Portal will include an automated delivery order submission process using artificial intelligence and machine learning, real-time notifications about important changes/events to containers, and the ability to manage all invoices. For more, please visit www.nexttrucking.com. About NEXT Trucking NEXT Trucking, a FreightTech pioneer and drayage leader, offers premium shipping experiences to many of the world’s best-known companies. NEXT’s platform connects shippers with freight capacity across drayage, transload, and OTR. Headquartered in El Segundo, CA, NEXT is venture-backed by leaders such as Brookfield Ventures, GLP, and Sequoia Capital. For more information, visit www.nexttrucking.com. Contact Details Trust Relations Veronica Yip +1 347-870-9402 nexttrucking@trustrelations.agency Company Website https://www.nexttrucking.com/

April 07, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

R2 Technologies Disrupts the Aesthetics Industry with Its Groundbreaking Glacial Rx™ Treatment

R2 Technologies

R2 Technologies Inc. ("R2") the leader in CryoAesthetic™ medical devices, launches Glacial Rx™, the first revolutionary in-office CryoAesthetic™ age spot removal treatment, FDA-cleared to remove benign lesions and temporarily reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. Developed by the pioneers of CoolSculpting and Fraxel, Glacial Rx is the first and only technology that uses Cryomodulation™ to improve skin appearance and freeze melanin at the source. The treatment harnesses the power of cold, using patented cooling technology, to suppress melanin production and remove unwanted dark spots. It also brightens, soothes, and renews skin for peak results and no downtime. “I am excited to partner with Glacial Rx to be among the first to offer this novel treatment in my practice,” says Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Gregory Nikolaidis. “I believe it will be a game-changer in the category of cryoaesthetics, offering the opportunity to treat new patients who are looking for a comfortable solution to remove benign lesions.” The Glacial Rx System is an FDA Class II Device administered by trained healthcare professionals. Effective on most skin types, Glacial Rx delivers the best possible outcomes to remove age spots without the contraindications, risks, side effects or limitations associated with heat modalities. In partnership with one of the world’s fastest growing cosmeceutical skincare brands, Allies of Skin, Glacial Rx offers a curated topical regimen made with optimal active ingredient concentrations that can be provided alongside the treatment at the healthcare professional's discretion. The treatment consists of: Cool: The cold plate is applied to a spot for 15-20 seconds; no topical anesthetics or numbing agents needed. Calm: The cooling handpiece is gently moved across the face to reduce redness and puffiness, clearing the way for skin to better absorb potent topicals. Protect: Serums containing protective antioxidants and brightening agents can be applied, shielding the skin from environmental aggressors. Post-treatment take-home topical offerings, formulated with skin-beneficial plant derived actives, aid in skin recovery, accelerate skin’s desquamation process and re-epithelialization, and dramatically boost antioxidant activity to fight free radical damage. “It took us a long time to ensure that we were creating a best-in-class treatment, giving unparalleled results and superior experiences to our patients, and we are thrilled to finally bring this matchless innovation to market,” says Tim Holt, R2 Chief Executive Officer. According to a recent clinical study, 93% of spots improved at 2 months [1]; and another showed that 90% of patients said their skin was rejuvenated, brighter or more even at 1 month [2]. Launching this month in dermatology offices and med spas nationwide, Glacial Rx was named among ‘2021 Launches Doctors are Buzzing About’ by RealSelf, the leading and most trusted source to educate on cosmetic procedures. R2 is continuing to facilitate Glacial Rx system orders for practices to offer the treatment. Learn more about R2 Technologies and Glacial Rx at glacialskin.com and follow the company on LinkedIn. About R2 Technologies: Headquartered in Silicon Valley, R2 Technologies is a world leader in CryoAesthetic™ medical devices. In 2014, Pansend Life Sciences, LLC and Blossom Innovations, LLC founded R2 Technologies and licensed exclusive intellectual property from Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2019, R2 brought on another strategic partner, Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd. In close collaboration with these partners and the brand’s scientiﬁc founders and world-famous luminaries in aesthetic medicine, Drs. Rox Anderson, Dieter Manstein, and Henry Chan, R2 focuses on the development, engineering, clinical research, and commercialization of groundbreaking technologies for aesthetic providers and consumers. Since inception, R2 has raised $62 million in ﬁnancing led by a world-class team of experts within the aesthetics industry and was named winner of the 2nd Annual Aesthetics Tech Summit LaunchPad SBDC, hosted by Octane, a company committed to making resources, capital and mentorship available to tech and medtech startups. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ [1] Evaluation of the Dermal Cooling System for the Enhanced Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions and Common Skin Conditions - Interim Analysis - Nov 2020 - TD-0993 [2] Evaluation of a New Dermal Cryotherapy System for the Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions - Interim report - May 2018 - TD-0992 Contact Details Linsey Tilbor Rubin +1 732-991-5294 ltilbor@rellmc.com Company Website https://glacialskin.com/

April 07, 2021 08:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Focused Image President Toby Eckhardt Appointed to Forbes Council

Focused Image

Toby Eckhardt, founder and president of Focused Image, Inc., one of the top communications firms in the D.C. area, has been appointed to the Forbes Agency Council, an exclusive group of thought leaders from successful advertising, public relations and digital marketing agencies across the nation who publish insights and articles on the prestigious Forbes business news platform. “I am honored to have been welcomed into the Forbes Agency Council,” said Toby Eckhardt, CEO of Focused Image. “I applaud Forbes’ mission to bring together successful and knowledgeable industry leaders and create this community of collaboration and expertise sharing to benefit others across our industry. I look forward to being a part of the national conversations that shape our industry, and to sharing insights from our work and experiences over the past 35 years with leading brands in aerospace, defense, consumer and emerging technology.” Eckhardt had more than 40 years’ experience in communications and founded Focused Image in 1985. Since then, the firm has become and remained a top agency in the greater Washington Metropolitan area, playing a key role in major campaigns over the years, including supporting AOL’s rapid growth and success, launching XM Satellite Radio, and helping many GovCon brands catapult to the top of the government services market. As a member of the Forbes Agency Council, Eckhardt will share insights through original business articles on Forbes.com and contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other industry experts. “We are honored to welcome Toby into the community,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Agency Council. “Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.” Eckhardt was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance into the council include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. Eckhardt’s latest article, “ 5 Ways To Encourage Creativity And Productivity Within Remote Teams,” provides ideas for leaders across any type of organization about ways to encourage productivity and creativity as many continue to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift to remote work has made it increasingly difficult for creative collaboration among teams, which is why companies must create new strategic processes and steps to engage their team virtually and boost company productivity. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/39FPmtr. About Focused Image, Inc. Focused Image Inc. is an award-winning marketing communications agency that specializes in branding, advertising, public relations and digital marketing. Based in Falls Church, Va., the agency is a recognized leader in the greater Washington Metropolitan area communications industry. Focused Image was founded more than 35 years ago by Toby Eckhardt, a leading national authority on strategic marketing and branding. Since then, it has been helping clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing technology startups build brands and launch new products with strategies and creative communications concepts and programs that deliver results. More information about the agency is available at www.focusedimage.com. About Forbes Council Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Agency Council, visit forbesagencycouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. Contact Details Focused Image Kristina Messner +1 703-678-6023 kmessner@focusedimage.com Company Website https://www.focusedimage.com/

April 06, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Velocity Global acquires iWorkGlobal to accelerate remote work and global expansion platform; receives $100M growth investment from FFL Partners

Velocity Global

Velocity Global, the leading provider of global expansion solutions, today announced its acquisition of iWorkGlobal, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gary D. Nelson and Associates, and a $100 million growth investment from private equity firm FFL Partners. The combined company, under the Velocity Global name, creates the largest U.S. domestic and global Employer of Record (EoR) and accelerates the future of remote work for companies around the world. The investment from FFL Partners, a firm focused on growth investments in middle market companies, will also be deployed by Velocity Global to support additional strategic acquisitions, technology development, and to further expand the company’s global footprint. “This strategic acquisition combines scale and expertise in a single platform for companies to employ top talent in another state or another country, quickly and compliantly,” said Ben Wright, Velocity Global founder and CEO. “We welcome the iWorkGlobal team, its clients, supported employees, and partners to the Velocity Global family at an inflection point for companies as we exit a pandemic that fundamentally removed the worker from the workplace.” “At iWorkGlobal, we viewed ourselves as a strategic partner to our clients and this outlook aligns with the ‘People First’ brand of Velocity Global,” said Jeff Phelps, iWorkGlobal co-founder and CEO. “Combining our strengths allows us to deliver complementary expertise, capabilities, and new geographies to clients and their supported employees in the U.S. and around the globe.” “As workforces have become more distributed, iWorkGlobal positioned itself as a leader in talent engagement solutions,” said Craig Nelson, Board Chairman of Gary D. Nelson and Associates. “It’s a testament to Jeff's leadership and the hard work and dedication of the iWorkGlobal team that Velocity Global proactively sought out this combination of market leaders." Expanded Services in Domestic U.S. and Globally Brands rely on Velocity Global’s expertise and global infrastructure to hire compliantly without the cost or complexity of setting up their own foreign legal entities or state registrations. As the Employer of Record, Velocity Global manages in-country and in-state compliance, payroll, and benefits for its clients’ supported employees. As a result of this transaction, Velocity Global expands its offering to include EoR services in all 50 United States in addition to its industry-leading EoR capabilities in more than 185 countries. The combined company also offers Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors globally. Velocity Global’s platform combines these elements with a personalized customer experience, best-in-breed technology, and increased scale for companies to grow their remote workforce. Velocity Global now guides, counsels, and serves more than 700 brands and their 4,000 supported employees. Clients include small start-ups to enterprise businesses. The combined company has supported remote teams for hundreds of public companies with an aggregated market capitalization of more than $2 trillion, and private companies funded by more than $60 billion. “We serve as a single partner for a business to scale its remote workforce from one employee to multinational teams,” said Wright. “We have a global footprint that will grow to nearly 50 wholly-owned foreign legal entities in the most desired international markets by year’s end, and now in all 50 states, to enable companies to compliantly employ top remote talent across a state line or country border.” Market Growth The rapidly maturing global EoR and AoR industries are key drivers of the “future of work” or gig economy worth $4.5 trillion according to a 2020 report from Staffing Industry Analysts. The investment from FFL Partners will help ensure Velocity Global is able to not just meet demand, but extend its market leadership position. “We have all seen the nature of work evolve drastically over the past 12 months, and we are very excited to make this investment in Velocity Global, a pioneer in this space fast-tracking the future of work,” said Cas Schneller, FFL Managing Partner. “Velocity Global achieved a 400% organic growth rate over the past three years while maintaining disciplined financials and delivering an exceptional customer experience. We are confident FFL’s deep business services experience can help accelerate this remarkable success.” Combined Company Velocity Global welcomes 40 iWorkGlobal employees as part of the transaction, growing its team to approximately 300 employees worldwide. Ben Wright leads the company headquartered in Denver with regional headquarters in Amsterdam, Bogotá, and Singapore. The combined company operates additional regional offices in Bangalore, Dubai, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, and Toronto. Local Velocity Global employees in 16 countries contribute cultural and market knowledge for clients and a personalized supported employee experience. Maria Goyer joins the Velocity Global executive team as Chief Innovation Officer, reporting to Wright, after serving as senior vice president of Strategy for iWorkGlobal. She will drive strategic initiatives and innovative best practices across the organization to serve the growing global customer base. Goyer applies more than 20 years of industry and strategic expertise in the development of all aspects of Business Process Outsourcing, including pioneering work in the Managed Service Providers (MSP), Vendor Management Systems (VMS), payroll, and compliance industries through Software as a service (SaaS) applications for global contingent workforce programs. View Velocity Global leadership here. ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its platform enables businesses to employ remote teams and expand internationally through global expertise, best-in-breed technology, and scale. More than 700 brands rely on its Employer of Record model and infrastructure in 185 countries and all 50 United States to compliantly employ thousands of supported employees, access global talent, and grow revenue. Named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall, Velocity Global is a strategic partner to its clients through additional comprehensive services including Immigration, Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors globally. Founded in 2014, the company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with regional headquarters in Amsterdam, Bogotá, and Singapore, with local employees in 16 countries. ABOUT FFL PARTNERS Founded in 1997, FFL Partners is a San Francisco-based private equity firm with over $4.5 billion under management. FFL pursues thematic investments in business services and healthcare services partnering with exceptional management teams where the firm's high engagement operating model and extensive network can help accelerate growth and unlock value. Growing our businesses has provided over 75% of the value created by FFL for its investors. For additional information please visit  www.fflpartners.com. Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 johnhall@velocityglobal.com For FFL Partners Kelly Holman +1 (646) 502-3509 KHolman@Stantonprm.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

April 06, 2021 05:30 AM Mountain Daylight Time

Video

The Beer Store Chooses Comodo’s Industry-Leading “Auto-Containment” Technology to Protect Against Both Known and Unknown Zero-Day Threats

Comodo

The Beer Store, a California-based distribution and retail chain with over 450 locations and 10 distribution centers, chose to implement Comodo’s Advanced Endpoint Protection (AEP) based on its industry-leading Auto-Containment technology. Using Comodo AEP they are now able to handle modern threats with less effort and more confidence to detect and protect against unknown zero-day threats. Comodo was the Beer Store’s first choice after a robust evaluation process. They chose Comodo primarily due to the platform methodology and also found Comodo’s competitive price point to be attractive. The main feature that attracted their attention was the Auto-Containment. “The Auto-Containment… It brings peace of mind knowing that unknown viruses and payloads will be contained and prevent wide-spread damage to the organization.” Said Fabrizio Isabello, Senior IT Manager at the Beer Store. While the Beer Store customers do not necessarily understand the “in’s and out’s” of what the solution brings to the table, they do understand is that steps are being taken to ensure a more secure environment. “The investment into a new modern age end-point protection tool demonstrates to the organization that cybersecurity is a top priority. Adopting Comodo demonstrates a commitment to that priority,“ Fabrizio continues. The biggest change the Beer Store noticed since starting to work with the Comodo AEP solution is that they now have a centralized console where they have insight into all of their end-points. This has been incredibly valuable to our organization. “While this wasn’t the catalyst to deploying Comodo it has certainly been a nice find for us. We also have been able to leverage some of the other IT tools within the console, “ said Fabrizio. The Dragon platform with Advanced Endpoint Protection, is a complete cloud-native framework that delivers a zero-trust architecture to protect and defend endpoints. Its patent-pending auto containment technology has active breach protection that neutralizes ransomware, malware, and cyber-attacks. The auto containment runs an unknown executable in a kernel API virtualized mode, thereby offering attack surface reduction (ASR) which neutralizes ransomware attacks. The Dragon Platform also utilizes a Default Deny security posture with Default Allow usability to provide the most comprehensive protection against zero-day threats while having no impact on end-user experience or workflows. About the Beer Store The Beer Store was established in 1927. The Beer Store is a pop culture icon! They operate over 450 retail stores, serve 20,723 licensed customers, 650 government-owned LCBO retail locations, 141 retail partners, and 71 Northern Agents. Customers can choose from more than 800 beer brands, in over 445 retail stores, from 190 brewers around the world. About Comodo Comodo is the world’s leader of next-generation open source cybersecurity, with the industry’s most disruptive innovations. We help customers stop breaches with groundbreaking auto containment technology that neutralizes ransomware, malware and cyber-attacks. Our complete cloud-native framework delivers a zero-trust architecture with active breach protection for the most comprehensive defense against zero-day threats. Comodo’s cybersecurity products maximize intelligent sharing between every component of the platform, therefore providing superior security. We are the only company that analyzes and gives a trusted verdict for 100% of files on a network. Comodo leverages innovation to celebrate and support the cybersecurity community by offering the very first open source endpoint detection and response (EDR). We believe that an open source model using community-powered collaboration will ensure that every organization has access to the industry’s most sophisticated EDR. Headquartered in Clifton NJ, Comodo’s global development team and threat intelligence laboratories deliver innovative, category leading, security solutions for thousands of companies’ endpoints, network boundaries, and internal networks. For more information visit https://www.comodo.com/ Contact Details Carolyn Muzyka +1 973-859-4000 carolyn.muzyka@comodo.com Company Website http://www.comodo.com

April 05, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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