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Zoom for Government Platform Expands With Zoom AI Companion, Receives FedRAMP® JAB Authorization

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Zoom announced that The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP®) Joint Authorization Board (JAB) authorized Zoom AI Companion as a JAB Moderate system, adding to Zoom for Government’s growing list of authorized products, solidifying the company’s commitment to the U.S. government space. Most recently, Zoom Contact Center also received FedRAMP® JAB certification as part of the Zoom for Government platform, in June of 2024.

Now, U.S. federal agencies, state and local municipalities, and approved businesses and organizations that support U.S. government missions with paid Zoom accounts will have a FedRAMP–authorized, secure AI offering available to them, all within the familiar Zoom experience. Zoom for Government was initially FedRAMP authorized in March of 2019 and received collective JAB approval in July of 2023.

Zoom AI Companion is built on a foundation of trust, security, and responsible AI, which is of the utmost importance to government agencies. AI Companion integrates into the work day seamlessly, enabling users to simplify their day by streamlining tasks through information synthesis, enhancing and optimizing capabilities, and improving team effectiveness and efficiency.

“At Zoom, we are dedicated to bringing quick availability to Zoom products to market by first and foremost understanding our customers' needs for specific industry solutions,” said Matt Mandrgoc, head of U.S. public sector at Zoom. “We received this certification on an expeditious timeframe, which further demonstrates our continued commitment to our U.S. government customers and we look forward to continuing to add new customer–focused solutions to the Zoom for Government platform in the future.”

What is FedRAMP?
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP®) provides a standardized approach to security authorizations for Cloud Service Offerings. FedRAMP establishes a public–private partnership to promote innovation and advance more secure information technologies.

What is JAB?
JAB is composed of CIOs and Authorizing Officials from the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and General Services Administration (GSA). The JAB selects approximately 12 cloud products a year to work with for a JAB Provisional Authority to Operate (P–ATO). A JAB P–ATO represents a “high water mark” from the assessment perspective. Zoom for Government received its JAB accreditation on July 28, 2023.

Zoom for Government
The JAB P–ATO certification extends beyond Zoom AI Companion and covers the entire Zoom for Government platform, providing limitless human connection for government agencies and contractors. The secure all–in–one Zoom for Government platform helps customers save time, reduce costs, increase productivity, and make teamwork more meaningful. With solutions like Zoom Rooms, organizations can turn offices into modern, easy–to–use, and powerful collaborative workspaces. The Zoom API enables the integration of agency–specific applications with the Zoom for Government platform, supporting seamless workflows. And, with Zoom’s feature–rich cloud Zoom Phone system, agencies have the opportunity to consolidate their communications infrastructure right in the Zoom for Government platform.

Currently, FedRAMP JAB–authorized Zoom for Government products include:

  • Zoom AI Companion
  • Zoom Contact Center
  • Zoom Meetings
  • Zoom Phone
  • Zoom Team Chat
  • Zoom Rooms
  • Zoom Room Connector
  • Zoom API
  • Zoom Whiteboard
  • Zoom Events
  • Zoom Notes
  • Zoom Workspace Reservations
  • Zoom Mesh
  • Zoom SDKs
  • Zoom App Marketplace
  • Zoom Client

Coming soon to Zoom for Government:

  • Zoom Node
  • Zoom Clips

Simple, Scalable & Secure
Zoom for Government was designed to comply with the stringent requirements of the U.S. federal government. Zoom for Government runs on AWS GovCloud, a secure network that enables customers to deploy applications and data. It is managed by U.S. persons and leverages co–located data centers within the United States. Zoom for Government has received FedRAMP Moderate, DoD IL4, and StateRAMP authorizations, as well as HIPAA and CJIS attestations. For more information, please visit: https://www.zoom.com/en/industry/government/ or reach out to fedramp@zoom.us.

About Zoom
Zoom’s mission is to provide one platform that delivers limitless human connection. Reimagine teamwork with Zoom Workplace — Zoom’s open collaboration platform with AI Companion empowers teams to be more productive. Together with Zoom Workplace, Zoom’s Business Services for sales, marketing, and customer care teams, including Zoom Contact Center, strengthen customer relationships throughout the customer lifecycle. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded (NASDAQ:ZM) and headquartered in San Jose, California. Get more information at zoom.com.

Contact
Zoom PR
press@zoom.us


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9231404)

EB5 Capital Investor Obtains First Permanent Green Card Approval in 1900 Half Street (JF24) Project

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EB5 Capital is happy to report the first I–829 petition approval in its 1900 Half Street (JF24) project, a multifamily development in Washington, DC. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues approval of the removal of conditions of residency for EB–5 investors who have completed their conditional residency period and have demonstrated that their investment has resulted in the creation of at least ten full–time jobs for qualified workers. I–829 approvals permit EB–5 investors to be lawful permanent residents of the United States.

“We’re thrilled for all the EB–5 investors involved in this project,” said Natalia Pronina, Vice President of Investor Relations at EB5 Capital. “Securing an I–829 approval is a major milestone in the EB–5 immigration process and is a true testament to a Regional Center’s experience in selecting opportunities for investors that satisfy the EB–5 program.”

Situated directly on the riverfront, JF24 was one of the first multifamily developments in Washington, DC’s Buzzard Point neighborhood. The property consists of 453 luxury apartment units, with 17,000 square feet of commercial retail space. EB5 Capital funded $44.5 million from investors representing 16 different countries. The project was completed in 2020 and generated over 1,100 EB–5 qualifying jobs for the local economy.

To date, EB5 Capital has raised foreign investor funds across over 40 EB–5 projects throughout the United States, including 18 in Washington, DC. JF24 is EB5 Capital’s 18th project to receive I–829 approval. Now that the first petitions have been approved, additional I–829 petition adjudications for this project are expected in the coming months.

About EB5 Capital

EB5 Capital provides qualified foreign investors with opportunities to invest in job–creating commercial real estate projects under the United States Immigrant Investor Program (EB–5 Visa Program). Headquartered in Washington, DC, EB5 Capital’s distinguished track record and leadership in the industry has attracted investors from over 75 countries. As one of the oldest and most active Regional Center operators in the country, the firm has raised over $1 billion of foreign capital across approximately 40 EB–5 projects. 100% of our investors’ funds are protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance prior to their deployment into our projects. Please visit www.eb5capital.com for more information.  

Contact:
Katherine Willis
Director, Marketing & Communications
media@eb5capital.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9231399)

11x Secures $24 Million Series A Funding Led by Benchmark to Create the Future of Digital Work

Investment to Accelerate the Development of AI–Powered Digital Workers and Expand Global Footprint

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 11x, a pioneering AI startup transforming the modern workforce with autonomous digital workers, announced closing a $24 million Series A funding round today. The round was led by Benchmark, with participation from Quiet Capital, SV Angel, Abstract Ventures, Lux Capital, Operator Partners, Visionaries, Activant, HubSpot Ventures, Project A, 20VC, 20Growth, and 20Sales.

Founded in 2022 by CEO Hasan Sukkar, 11x simplifies Go–to–Market (GTM) operations with AI–powered digital workers, allowing teams to focus on strategic work.

“We don’t target SaaS spend; we target hiring budgets. We’re in the business of selling work,” said Guillaume Roux–Romestaing, Head of Partnerships at 11x.

Addressing the GTM Challenge

Over the past two decades, the landscape of GTM tools has become increasingly fragmented. The proliferation of specialized software—from CRMs and marketing automation platforms to sales engagement tools and data enrichment services—has burdened revenue teams.

“Since Salesforce was invented in 1999, the accumulation of specialized GTM software in teams has led to fragmented systems and bloated operational costs. Each new tool often requires its own integrations, maintenance, and training, ultimately eliminating any efficiency gains these tools were supposed to provide,” explained Keith Fearon, Head of Growth at 11x.

The 11x Solution

11x is redefining the workforce by developing AI–powered digital workers that autonomously execute workflows in revenue teams. By automating roles traditionally performed by employees, these digital workers can be “hired” to handle tasks efficiently and at scale.

“The key is to unbundle specific tasks traditionally performed by employees and to re–sell them,” noted Sarah Tavel, General Partner at Benchmark.

Earlier this year, 11x launched “Alice,” an AI–powered Sales Development Representative. Alice has gained significant traction by helping companies grow on autopilot by automating prospecting, multi–channel engagement, and personalization at scale. The recent launch of “Jordan,” an AI phone rep focused on inbound lead qualification, has already received interest from businesses aiming to streamline their “speed to lead” processes.

Investment Impact and Growth Plans

The Series A funding will accelerate 11x’s product development pipeline, expand its team, and enhance its global market presence, particularly in the US market, where the company has recently relocated its headquarters. The team continues to grow there, attracting key hires from leading tech companies such as CTO Prabhav Jain (former Head of Financial Services Engineering at Brex).

“In two years, we believe that digital workers will be a regular part of how companies around the world operate,” said Hasan Sukkar.

About 11x

11x is an AI startup founded in 2022 by Hasan Sukkar. The company specializes in developing autonomous digital workers that automate Go–to–Market (GTM) workflows, enabling organizations to increase efficiency and reduce costs. 11x focuses on automating roles in GTM teams such as Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Operations.

For more information, visit 11x.ai.

Contacts:
Keith Fearon – Head of Growth @ 11x
Email: keith@11x.ai

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/611dfd4d–804c–49a2–83fe–94fbdcdbff65

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/52cc596e–a9c8–4d71–b427–dbfa36170db5


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9231325)

Cellebrite Enhances Investigative Analytics Solution with Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Pathfinder’s capabilities are now available via the cloud, giving law enforcement new deployment options to accelerate justice

TYSONS CORNER, Va. and PETAH TIKVA, Israel, Sept. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cellebrite (Nasdaq: CLBT), a global leader in premier Digital Investigative solutions for the public and private sectors, announced today Pathfinder in the Cloud with Amazon Web Services (AWS) (Nasdaq: AMZN), allowing customers to access Cellebrite’s industry–leading investigative analytics solution, Pathfinder, through the secure Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).

Now available for on–premises and cloud use, Pathfinder drastically reduces the hours investigators and analysts spend on cases because its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities help to swiftly identify meaningful data and connections across multiple devices. It identifies slang and terms associated with criminal activity and allows investigators to search for and categorize explicit images – lessening the volume of exposure to disturbing imagery and audio. With Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Pathfinder also makes data easily searchable as it scans and converts text from images and devices. Additionally, with Cellebrite Pathfinder's Automated Translation Services, law enforcement agencies can quickly overcome language barriers, gaining rapid access to critical data and insights from digital evidence in multiple languages.

Pathfinder in the Cloud with AWS, part of Cellebrite’s Case–to–Closure (C2C) platform, helps agencies of all sizes eliminate both the need to purchase and maintain physical servers as well as the common reliance on dedicated server rooms and sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) secure rooms. With this update, customers can now quickly scale storage and resources based on demand, while preserving resources as they only pay for what is needed.

Other key capabilities of Pathfinder in the AWS cloud include:

  • Rapid Resource Commissioning: With the cloud, organizations can rapidly commission and decommission resources as needed, compared to the longer lead times for resource provisioning that traditional on–premises setups require.
  • High Availability and Redundancy: Amazon VPC provides customers with high availability, uptime redundancy and failover capabilities with robust data security and business continuity, eliminating the need to invest in high–availability infrastructure.
  • Flexible Infrastructure and Security and Compliance: Customers can tailor their infrastructure, security and compliance controls to align with their organization’s requirements, all without the use of physical hardware.

“Law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations stand to gain significantly from using investigative analytics solutions in the cloud,” stated Cam Cowdery, Detective at the Nampa, Idaho Police Department and Member of the Treasure Valley Digital Forensic Task Force. “Merging the adaptability of a secure virtual private cloud with Pathfinder’s AI–driven analytical capabilities allows examiners, investigators and detectives to access evidence more swiftly and resolve cases more rapidly.”

“As digital evidence continues to increase in volume and complexity, it’s critical that investigators have access to a secure and AI–powered cloud solution that meets their organization’s requirements,” said Ronnen Armon, Chief Products and Technologies Officer, Cellebrite. “Pathfinder leverages Amazon VPC to empower agencies to quickly and cost–effectively scale their resources and infrastructure to meet evolving needs and accelerate digital evidence analysis.”

To learn more about Cellebrite Pathfinder, visit https://cellebrite.com/en/pathfinder/.

###

About Cellebrite 

Cellebrite’s (Nasdaq: CLBT) mission is to enable its customers to protect and save lives, accelerate justice and preserve privacy in communities around the world. We are a global leader in Digital Investigative solutions for the public and private sectors, empowering organizations in mastering the complexities of legally sanctioned digital investigations by streamlining intelligence processes. Trusted by thousands of leading agencies and companies worldwide, Cellebrite’s Digital Investigative platform and solutions transform how customers collect, review, analyze and manage data in legally sanctioned investigations. To learn more visit us at www.cellebrite.com, https://investors.cellebrite.com, or follow us on X at @Cellebrite.

Media 
Victor Ryan Cooper 
Sr. Director of Corporate Communications + Content Operations 
Victor.cooper@cellebrite.com 
+1 404.804.5910 

Investor Relations 
Andrew Kramer 
Vice President, Investor Relations 
investors@cellebrite.com 
+1 973.206.7760 


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9229179)

15 Years After the Civil War Ended, Sri Lanka Faces Another Crucial Election

Thousands of Tamils are heading to Mullivaikal on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka, many of whom were here 15 years ago and still live in the region. They are there, May 18, to commemorate the massacre of civilians in a ‘no fire zone’ during the final stages of the civil war. This was the last day of the […]

Building Inclusive Smart Cities: Bridging the Gender Gap

A woman is working on her tablet while commuting to her office. ICT Connectivity in cities is essential to ensure that people can work anywhere. Credit: Pexels/ Ketut Subiyanto

By Sanjeevani Singh and Fabia Sauter
BANGKOK, Thailand, Sep 16 2024 – When the Beijing Declaration was adopted in 1995, it called for the removal of systematic and structure barriers that prevent women and girls from enjoying their human rights across social, economic, political and environmental domains. Over the last decade, the proportion of population with access to the internet has increased from 36 per cent in in 2013 to 67 percent today.

Despite this progress, a significant digital gender gap in internet access and utilization persists. In 2023, only 54 per cent of women in Asia and the Pacific had digital access. Specifically, women in South Asia are 36 per cent less likely to use the internet than men.

Closing this digital gender gap is essential for advancing the goals of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, achieving gender equality and building inclusive and sustainable smart cities and communities.

With Asia-Pacific’s growing urban population and digital market, smart cities are an enticing development strategy many countries are adopting to leverage data, communications, technology and artificial intelligence for improved governance, enhanced service delivery and commerce.

Smart solutions are driving improved outcomes including quality of life, low-carbon growth, and environmental stewardship and sustainability. However, the digital gender gap remains a key challenge to leveraging the benefits of smart cities for all.

The disparity between men and women in terms of access to, usage of, and benefits derived from digital technologies creates significant barriers to sustainable development and inclusive growth.

This gap is influenced by various factors, including socio-cultural norms, affordability and digital literacy. Often, disparities are compounded further for women and girls with disabilities, those from underprivileged socioeconomic backgrounds, or ethnic minorities.

A young girl greeting a robot in Osaka, Japan. Digital technology has become an integral part in service industry. Credit: Unsplash/ Andy Kelly

In an increasingly digital world, women’s lack of digital literacy and access to the internet and mobile devices translates into missed opportunities for e-government, health and financial services, as well as online learning, employment and e-commerce.

For example, limited digital access can prevent women from utilizing telehealth services, accessing health information and managing their health through digital tools, accessing information about government services and social welfare programmes and participating in governance through online voting, public consultations and feedback mechanisms.

Efforts that increase women’s digital literacy and access and as well as the development of people-centred smart city policies and initiatives are needed to increase inclusion and equity. This requires collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including women themselves, to create inclusive, equitable and effective solutions that bridge the digital gap.

The benefits of closing the digital gender gap are immense. Beyond the intrinsic value of the promotion of SDG 5 (Gender Equality) for human rights, gender equality is linked to peace and prosperity and the achievement of inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities as highlighted in SDG 11.

Improving digital access can lead to more inclusive and equitable societies, and allow women to contribute diverse perspectives, ideas, and innovations that could enrich societies worldwide. The Alliance for Affordable Internet estimates that closing the gap in 32 low-income countries could generate up to USD 524 billion in economic activity by 2025.

Empowering women digitally is not just about fairness, it is about harnessing the full potential of human talent and creativity for a more prosperous and inclusive region.

Governments, international organizations, and civil society across the region are actively addressing the root causes of the digital gender gap. In this context, smart city initiatives have the potential to drive significant progress toward gender equality by addressing the digital gender gap.

For example, Seoul has implemented various gender-inclusive smart city initiatives, including safety apps, enhanced surveillance, women-only parking spaces, digital inclusion policies, and gender equality programs. Additionally, several digital inclusion policies and gender equality programmes focus on increasing women’s literacy and supporting their economic empowerment.

UNICEF’s Digital Literacy Equity Outcomes Fund, ESCAP’s Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme, and the International Telecommunication Union’s ‘Girls in ICT’ days help advance girls’ and women’s education and digital literacy. Public-private partnerships, like the Thailand Safe Internet Coalition are improving internet safety. Initiatives such as the Alliance for Affordable Internet advocate for affordable and accessible digital infrastructure to foster participatory societies.

By embedding gendered perspectives and applying gender mainstreaming in the planning and implementation, they ensure that smart cities serve gender-specific needs and concerns. Moreover, addressing intersecting forms of inequality, such as those based on race, socioeconomic status, and disability, is essential to creating truly inclusive smart cities.

Improving digital literacy, gender-sensitive policies and plans, and people-centred smart cities that leverage digital technologies to bridge the gender gap are crucial for realizing the Beijing Declaration’s goals in the 21st century and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The upcoming Beijing+30 review offers an opportunity to assess progress and galvanize efforts towards achieving gender equality through digital empowerment.

Sanjeevani Singh is Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP; Fabia Sauter is an Intern, ESCAP.

ESCAP will convene the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review in collaboration with UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, in Bangkok, from 19-21 November 2024.

IPS UN Bureau

 


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Leaders Can Rise to the Summit, Together

AIDS March, Durban, South Africa, 2016. Credit: UNAIDS

By Winnie Byanyima and Martin Kimani
NEW YORK, Sep 16 2024 – As heads of state and government fly into New York for the United Nations General Assembly and the Summit of the Future (September 22-30), 2.3 billion mothers, fathers, and children are unsure where their next meal will come from. Millions face the terror of brutal, protracted armed conflicts that make no distinction between civilians and soldiers.

The internet, once a shining promise of connection, is a battleground of hateful echo chambers, amplified by warring states, political factions, and extremists tearing apart our bonds of trust. Meanwhile, the wealthiest 1% controls nearly half of all financial assets, and a handful of corporations are valued higher than the combined economies of Africa and Latin America. It is little surprise that hope is hard to come by.

We have experienced this dread of despondency before. For over a decade after the AIDS pandemic hit the world, millions were dying in silence—ignored by leaders, abandoned by systems—while the virus ravaged entire communities. At last, driven by waves of public pressure, came a massive multilateral mobilization of political will, resources, and science that turned the tide.

The world united, invested, broke the silence, dropped the debt, smashed stigmas, changed rules, and saved millions from the brink. As a result, three-quarters of people living with HIV are on lifesaving medicine, and the end of AIDS is an achievable goal this decade. The transformation of the AIDS response shows what happens when leaders work boldly and together.

The contrast between the advances that leaders have secured in the HIV response, and the paralysis in addressing many global challenges today, demonstrates that effective leadership depends on inclusive partnership. Short-term, zero-sum, go-it-alone approaches bring victory to no one. We win by working together.

The African principle of Ubuntu—“I am because you are”—is a profound ethical insight steeped in real-world practicality, recognizing that solidarity is, ultimately, smart self-interest. As the COVID-19 pandemic reminded us, the suffering of a distant stranger can, in the time it takes a flight to land in our city, become our own.

Likewise, peaceful communities cannot endure as inequality widens: people seeking a decent life, finding themselves trapped by inequity, exclusion, and abuse, are swept into conflict, with effects that spill across borders. This reality —that global cooperation is essential for global security— must guide how we emerge from crisis.

Governments can steer the world back on track and reignite hope, by rediscovering the political will that once fueled global progress against AIDS, inspiring a wave of transformative action. To do so, they must embody the best of international cooperation that gave rise to UNAIDS, the Global Fund and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), delivered comprehensive debt cancellation, enabled generic medicines, advanced human rights, and embraced the power of community leadership.

The work that leaders must undertake is not easy, but the stakes are too high for failure, the path to success is known, and the moment of decision is now.

If leaders act boldly in uniting their response, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will still be achieved. If they don’t, the SDGs will fail, and even the hard-won progress against AIDS will be undermined, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Leaders will need to protect public goods. The delay in ensuring access to COVID-19 vaccines for people in the Global South exposed the consequences of ceding medicines to private monopolies. Leaders need to ensure that medical technologies are produced and distributed widely.

Today, a game-changing medicine exists that protects people from HIV with just two injections a year, but it costs $40,000. Generic manufacturers could produce it for as little as $40 per person annually. Widescale generic production, facilitated by the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool, is what is required so that this and other lifesaving, life-changing technologies can reach everyone who needs them and protect the world.

Leaders will need to overhaul global finance and relieve crushing debt to free up funds for investment in healthcare, education, and development. Four out of every 10 people worldwide live in countries where governments spend more on debt interest payments than education or health.

Coordinated significant debt restructuring and relief by leading creditor countries and investment firms based in those countries is essential. The costs of inaction on debt would be much higher than the costs of action. Tax cooperation is essential too. Collaboration in instituting wealth taxes, as proposed by Brazil and Spain, would unlock trillions of dollars to build a better world.

The breakthroughs that the world has secured by working together in the fight against AIDS remind us that walls that seem to be closing in on us can still be shattered by human action. Governments must once again heed activists’ demands for justice and remember what collective determination can achieve.

We cannot pull ourselves out from the crises of our time if we are pulled apart. World leaders’ legacy can be that they fulfilled the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals and secured a safer, fairer world for all. But they can only rise to the summit together.

Winnie Byanyima is UNAIDS Executive Director and UN Under-Secretary-General. Martin Kimani is the Executive Director of the Center on International Cooperation (CIC) at New York University (NYU) and former Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN.

IPS UN Bureau

 


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Akur8 sichert sich $120 Millionen in Series-C Finanzierungsrunde, um die Expansion seiner aktuariellen Plattform der nächsten Generation zu beschleunigen

PARIS und LONDON und NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Akur8, die auf Machine Learning basierende Plattform für Versicherungspricing und –reservierung, gab heute bekannt, dass das Unternehmen eine Series–C Finanzierung in Höhe von 120 Millionen US–Dollar erhalten hat, womit sich das Gesamtinvestitment auf 180 Millionen US–Dollar ansteigt. Diese jüngste Finanzierungsrunde wurde angeführt von One Peak, einem führenden Growth Equity Unternehmen, zusammen mit einer Beteiligung der Partners Group, einem der größten Unternehmen in der globalen Private Market Industrie, und dem bereits bestehenden Investor Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE). Mit dieser neuen Finanzierung kann Akur8 sein Produktportfolio ausbauen und das Wachstum in wichtigen globalen Märkten beschleunigen.

Akur8 wurde speziell für Versicherer entwickelt und revolutioniert seit 2019 das Versicherungspricing mit transparenter KI. Seine Cloud–basierte, vollständig integrierte Plattform ermöglicht es Versicherern, Tarife in nie dagewesener Geschwindigkeit zu erstellen, finanzielle Ergebnisse direkt zu beeinflussen und Risikobewertungen zu verbessern. Durch die Übernahme der Arius–Reservierungsplattform (siehe PR) erweitert Akur8 sein Produktportfolio, vergrößert seinen Kundenstamm und unterstützt Versicherungsunternehmen weltweit, ihre Prozesse zu optimieren und fundiertere Entscheidungen zu treffen.

Die neuen Mittel werden in folgende Bereiche investiert:

  • Produktinnovation: Akur8 wird in Forschung und Entwicklung investieren, um seine Pricing–Plattform um zwei neue Module zu erweitern:
    (1) Optim, das Versicherern ermöglicht, die für ihre Ziele optimale Tarifierungsstrategie zu finden, und
    (2) Deploy, Akur8s Rating–Engine, die es den Pricing–Teams ermöglicht, ihre Tarife nahtlos in Produktion zu bringen.
  • Beschleunigung des Wachstums der kürzlich akquirierten Arius–Reservierungsplattform: Mit dem Eintritt ins Reserving wird Akur8 strategisch neue Marktsegmente anvisieren und die Lücke zwischen Pricing und Reserving schließen. Die umfassende Erfahrung im Bereich SaaS und KI wird Akur8 in die Produktentwicklung der Akur8 Reserving Plattform einfließen lassen.
  • Globale Expansion: Neben Forschung und Entwicklung wird diese Finanzierungrunde entscheidend zu Akur8s strategischen Expansion in wichtigen Wachstumsmärkten, insbesondere in Nordamerika, voranzutreiben. Mit der stärkeren Präsenz in dieser Region wird Akur8 neue Kundensegmente erschließen und seine Angebote gezielt an die spezifischen Bedürfnisse dieser Märkte anpassen.

“Wir freuen uns auf die enge Zusammenarbeit mit unseren neuen Investoren One Peak und Partners Group, zwei führenden Investmentfirmen, die unsere Vision von Innovation und Exzellenz teilen. Mit ihrer Unterstützung wollen wir unsere Produktentwicklung beschleunigen und den Branchentrends voraus sein, um Versicherern weltweit eine unvergleichliche, integrierte, aktuarielle Plattform zu bieten“, so Samuel Falmagne, CEO und Co–Founder von Akur8.

Brune de Linares, Chief Client Officer und Co–Founder von Akur8, fügte hinzu: „Diese Finanzierungsrunde wird uns es ermöglichen, die sich entwickelnden Bedürfnisse unserer Kunden besser zu erfüllen, ihre Effizienz zu steigern und sie mit innovativen Tools auszustatten, um in einer zunehmend wettbewerbsorientierten Versicherungslandschaft erfolgreich zu sein. Wir freuen uns über die Wachstumsmöglichkeiten und Fortschritte, die diese Investition bedeutet.“

Humbert de Liedekerke Beaufort, Mitbegründer und Managing Partner von One Peak, sagte: „Akur8 bietet eine wirklich einzigartige cloudbasierte End–to–End–Plattform für Aktuare, die proprietäre Algorithmen des Machine Learnings nutzt, um den Pricingprozess der Versicherer zu beschleunigen und zu präzisieren, während gleichzeitig volle Transparenz, Überprüfbarkeit und Kontrolle über die erstellten Modelle gewährleistet wird. Wir sind besonders beeindruckt von der benutzerfreundlichen Oberfläche von Akur8, der einfachen Bereitstellung und dem guten Ruf, den das Unternehmen bei den weltweit führenden Versicherern für seinen hervorragenden Kundenservice genießt. Wir freuen uns auf eine enge Zusammenarbeit mit dem erfahrenen Führungsteam von Akur8, um das nächste Kapitel der globalen Expansion, der Marktführerschaft und der Innovation des Unternehmens zu gestalten.

Pierre Curis, Private Equity Technology, Partners Group, kommentiert: „Akur8 hat eine herausragende Pricing–Plattform der nächsten Generation entwickelt, die von der zunehmenden Komplexität der Versicherer und der wachsenden Akzeptanz neuer Technologien profitiert. Wir freuen uns, Akur8s ehrgeiziges Managementteam, das sich der Innovation und der Kundenzufriedenheit verschrieben hat, beim Eintritt in die nächste spannende Wachstumsphase zu unterstützen.“

Walter Billet Avocats fungierte bei dieser Transaktion als Rechtsberater für Akur8 und berät das Unternehmen seit seiner Gründung. Perella Weinberg Partners agierte in dieser Finanzierungsrunde als Finanzberater für Akur8.

Über Akur8
Akur8 revolutioniert die Versicherungsbranche mit seiner innovativen Pricing– und Reservierungssuite.
Unsere Next–Gen Pricing– und Reservierungsplattform kombiniert moderne Technologie mit aktuarieller Exzellenz, um Versicherern aus allen Sparten Geschwindigkeit, Performance, Transparenz und Zuverlässigkeit zu bieten.
Akur8 unterstützt mehr als 250 Kunden in mehr als 40 Ländern, darunter AXA, Generali, Munich Re, MAPFRE, HDI, Tokio Marine und MS&AD. Mehr als 3000 Aktuare nutzen Akur8 täglich, um ihre Pricing– und Reservierungsmodelle zu erstellen.

Über One Peak
One Peak ist eine führende, auf Wachstumskapital spezialisierte Beteiligungsgesellschaft mit einem verwalteten Vermögen von 2 Milliarden US–Dollar, die in Technologieunternehmen in der Aufbauphase investiert. One Peak stellt außergewöhnlichen Unternehmern Wachstumskapital, operatives Fachwissen und Zugang zu seinem umfangreichen Netzwerk zur Verfügung, um innovative und schnell wachsende Unternehmen in nachhaltige und richtungsweisende Marktführer zu verwandeln. Zu den Investitionen von One Peak gehören neben Akur8 auch Ardoq, Coro, Cymulate, Deepki, Docplanner, Keepit, Lucca, Neo4J, Pandadoc, Spryker und viele andere. Um mehr zu erfahren, besuchen Sie www.onepeak.tech.

Über Partners Group
Partners Group ist eines der größten Unternehmen in der globalen Private–Markets–Branche mit rund 1.800 Fachleuten und einem verwalteten Vermögen von etwa 150 Mrd. USD. Das Unternehmen verfügt über Investitionsprogramme in den Bereichen Private Equity, Private Credit, Infrastruktur, Immobilien und Royalties. Partners Group hat seine Wurzeln in der Schweiz und ist in Colorado, dem Hauptstandort in Nord– und Südamerika, angesiedelt und unterscheidet sich damit vom Rest der Branche. Das Unternehmen nutzt seine Kultur und seinen operativ orientierten Ansatz, um attraktive Anlagethemen zu identifizieren und Unternehmen und Vermögenswerte zu Marktführern aufzubauen. Für weitere Informationen besuchen Sie bitte www.partnersgroup.com oder folgen Sie uns auf LinkedIn.

Pressekontakte:
Akur8
Vera Buttinger
Marketing Director
vera.buttinger@akur8.com
+33 7 66 31 47 58

One Peak
Lauren Sharman
Head of Platform
lauren@onepeak.tech
+44 7393 569004

Partners Group
Henry Weston
Communications Manager
henry.weston@partnersgroup.com
+44 77 4876 0944

Fotos zu dieser Ankündigung sind verfügbar unter:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74999edf–41b0–4b6b–8dcf–799caaa22aac/de

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1938a004–3cd3–4e5e–8426–95eae0d432f4/de

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b992f447–2289–4df6–88f9–a21bb20e9d1e/de


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9230614)

Akur8 capta 120 milhões de dólares em Série C para acelerar o crescimento da sua plataforma atuarial de ponta

PARIS e LONDRES e NOVA YORK, Sept. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Akur8, plataforma de precificação e provisões técnicas de seguros baseada em aprendizado de máquina, anunciou hoje que garantiu US$ 120 milhões em financiamento Série C, elevando seu investimento total para US$ 180 milhões. Essa última rodada de financiamento foi liderada pela One Peak, uma das principais empresas de venture capital que investe em scale–ups de tecnologia, com a participação da Partners Group, uma das maiores empresas do setor de private equity, e do investidor histórico Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE). O novo financiamento reforça significativamente a capacidade da Akur8 de expandir seu portfólio de produtos e impulsionar seu crescimento nos principais mercados globais.

Desenvolvida explicitamente para seguradoras, a Akur8 vem revolucionando a precificação de seguros não vida com IA transparente desde 2019. Sua plataforma totalmente integrada e baseada em nuvem permite que as seguradoras definam preços a uma velocidade sem precedentes, influenciando diretamente os resultados financeiros e aprimorando as avaliações de risco. Com a recente aquisição da plataforma de reservas Arius (leia comunicado de imprensa), a Akur8 expande ainda mais seu portfólio de produtos e base de clientes, ampliando o valor entregue às operadoras de seguros em todo o mundo.

O novo financiamento será utilizado para:

  • Incentivar a inovação dos produtos: A Akur8 investirá em P&D para enriquecer a sua plataforma de precificação de seguros com dois novos módulos:
    (1) Optim, que permite às seguradoras determinar a melhor estratégia de preços de seguros para atingir o seu objetivo comercial, e
    (2) Deploy, O novo motor de cálculo da Akur8, que permite aos times de pricing colocar os seus modelos em produção sem problemas.
  • Impulsionar o crescimento aproveitando a recente aquisição da Arius: Ao entrar no setor de provisões técnicas atuariais, a Akur8 visa estrategicamente novos segmentos de mercado e preenche a lacuna entre provisões e preços. Com a sua profunda experiência em SaaS e IA, a Akur8 irá acelerar o desenvolvimento do produto da Plataforma de reserving Akur8.
  • Acelerar a expansão global: Além de P&D, este financiamento será fundamental para impulsionar a expansão estratégica da Akur8 nos principais mercados em crescimento, particularmente nas Américas. Ao reforçar a sua posição nesta região, a Akur8 penetrará em novos segmentos de clientes e adaptará as suas ofertas para responder às exigências únicas destes mercados.

“Estamos ansiosos por colaborar estreitamente com os nossos novos investidores One Peak e Partners Group, duas empresas de investimento líderes que compartilham a nossa visão de inovação e excelência. Com o seu apoio, estamos empenhados em acelerar os nossos esforços de desenvolvimento de produtos e em mantermo–nos à frente das tendências do setor para oferecer uma plataforma atuarial integrada e sem paralelo às seguradoras a nível mundial”, declarou Samuel Falmagne, CEO e cofundador da Akur8.

Brune de Linares, Chief Client Officer e cofundadora da Akur8, acrescentou: “Com esta última captação, responderemos melhor às necessidades em evolução dos nossos clientes, melhorando a eficiência operacional e equipando seguradoras com ferramentas inovadoras para prosperar em um cenário de seguros cada vez mais competitivo. Estamos entusiasmados com as oportunidades de crescimento e os avanços que este investimento irá desbloquear para o nosso sucesso contínuo.”

Humbert de Liedekerke Beaufort, cofundador e Managing Partner da One Peak, disse: “A Akur8 oferece uma plataforma atuarial verdadeiramente única, baseada na nuvem e end–to–end, que utiliza algoritmos proprietários de machine learning para injetar velocidade e precisão no processo de precificação de seguros, ao mesmo tempo que garante total transparência, auditabilidade e controlo sobre os modelos criados. Ficamos particularmente impressionados com a interface amigável da Akur8, a facilidade de implementação e a reputação entre as principais seguradoras do mundo pelo seu excelente serviço ao cliente. Estamos ansiosos por trabalhar em estreita colaboração com o time executivo experiente da Akur8 à medida que traçam o próximo capítulo da expansão global da empresa, da liderança de mercado e da jornada de inovação.”

Pierre Curis, responsável por Tech Growth Equity na Partners Group, comenta: “A Akur8 desenvolveu uma plataforma de pricing diferenciada e de ponta que beneficia do crescente impulso para a sofisticação entre as seguradoras e da crescente adoção de novas tecnologias. Estamos entusiasmados por apoiar uma liderança ambiciosa, empenhada na inovação e na satisfação do cliente, à medida que embarcam nesta nova e excitante fase de crescimento.”

Walter Billet Avocats atuou como consultor jurídico da Akur8 nesta transação e tem acompanhado a empresa desde a sua criação. A Perella Weinberg Partners atuou como consultor financeiro da Akur8 nesta transação.

Sobre a  Akur8
A Akur8 está transformando o setor dos seguros patrimoniais com o seu conjunto inovador de soluções de precificação e provisões técnicas.
A nossa plataforma Next Gen Pricing and Reserving combina tecnologia de ponta com excelência atuarial para gerar valor ao negócio, proporcionando velocidade, desempenho, transparência e fiabilidade a seguradoras de todas as dimensões. 
A Akur8 atende a mais de 250 clientes em mais de 40 países, incluindo AXA, Generali, Munich Re, MAPFRE, HDI, Tokio Marine e MS&AD. Mais de 3000 atuários usam a plataforma da Akur8 diariamente para criar os seus modelos de preços e projeções de provisões em todos os tipos de produto.

Sobre a One Peak
A One Peak é uma empresa líder em capital de crescimento especializado, com 2 mil milhões de dólares em ativos sob gestão, que investe em empresas tecnológicas em fase de expansão. A One Peak fornece capital de crescimento, experiência operacional e acesso à sua extensa rede a empresários excepcionais, com o objetivo de ajudar a transformar empresas inovadoras e de crescimento rápido em líderes duradouros e definidores de categorias. Para além da Akur8, os investimentos da One Peak incluem a Ardoq, Coro, Cymulate, Deepki, Docplanner, Keepit, Lucca, Neo4J, Pandadoc, Spryker e muitas outras. Para saber mais, visite www.onepeak.tech.

Sobre a Partners Group
O Partners Group é uma das maiores empresas da indústria global de mercados privados, com cerca de 1.800 profissionais e aproximadamente 150 mil milhões de dólares em ativos sob gestão. A empresa tem programas de investimento e mandatos personalizados que abrangem private equity, crédito privado, infraestrutura, imóveis e royalties. Com sua herança na Suíça e sua principal presença nas Américas, no Colorado, o Partners Group é construído de forma diferente do resto da indústria. A empresa aproveita sua cultura diferenciada e sua abordagem operacionalmente orientada para identificar temas de investimento atraentes e para transformar empresas e ativos em líderes de mercado. Para mais informações, por favor visite www.partnersgroup.com ou siga–nos no LinkedIn.

Contatos para a imprensa

Akur8
Vera Buttinger
Marketing Director
vera.buttinger@akur8.com
+33 7 66 31 47 58

One Peak
Lauren Sharman
Head of Platform
lauren@onepeak.tech
+44 7393 569004

Partners Group
Henry Weston
Communications Manager
henry.weston@partnersgroup.com
+44 77 4876 0944

Fotos deste comunicado podem ser encontradas em:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74999edf–41b0–4b6b–8dcf–799caaa22aac/pt
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1938a004–3cd3–4e5e–8426–95eae0d432f4/pt
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b992f447–2289–4df6–88f9–a21bb20e9d1e/pt


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9230614)

Akur8 Secures $120 Million in Series C Round to Accelerate Growth of its Next Generation Actuarial Platform

PARIS and LONDON and NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Akur8, the machine learning–powered insurance pricing and reserving platform, announced today that it has secured $120 million in series C funding, bringing its total raised investment to $180 million. This latest funding round was led by One Peak, a leading growth equity firm investing in software scale–ups, with participation from Partners Group, one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry acting on behalf of its clients, and historical investor Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE). The new funding will significantly bolster Akur8’s ability to expand its product portfolio and fuel its growth in key global markets.

Developed explicitly for insurers, Akur8 has been revolutionizing non–life insurance pricing with transparent AI since 2019. Its cloud–based, fully integrated platform empowers insurers to price at unprecedented speed, directly influencing financial outcomes and enhancing risk assessments. With the recent acquisition of the Arius reserving platform (read PR), Akur8 further expands its product portfolio and customer base, amplifying the value delivered to insurance carriers worldwide.

The new funding will be used to:

  • Fuel product innovation: Akur8 will invest in R&D to enrich its insurance pricing platform with two new modules:
    (1) Optim, which enables insurers to determine the optimal insurance pricing strategy to meet their business objective, and
    (2) Deploy, Akur8’s new rating engine, enabling pricing teams to seamlessly bring their rates into production.
  • Drive growth by leveraging Akur8’s recent acquisition of Arius: As Akur8 enters the insurance reserving sector, it will strategically target new market segments and bridge the gap between reserving and pricing. With its deep expertise in SaaS and AI, Akur8 will fast–track the product development of the Akur8 Reserving platform.
  • Accelerate global expansion: In addition to R&D, this funding will be instrumental in driving Akur8’s strategic expansion into key growth markets, particularly in North America. By strengthening its foothold in this region, Akur8 will penetrate new customer segments and tailor its offerings to address the unique demands of these markets.

“We look forward to collaborating closely with our new investors One Peak and Partners Group, two leading investment firms that share our vision for innovation and excellence. With their support, we are committed to accelerating our product development efforts and staying ahead of industry trends to offer an unparalleled, integrated actuarial platform for insurers globally,” stated Samuel Falmagne, CEO and Co–Founder of Akur8.

Brune de Linares, Chief Client Officer and Co–Founder of Akur8, added: “This latest round of funding will empower us to better meet our customers' evolving needs, enhance their operational efficiency, and equip them with innovative tools to thrive in an increasingly competitive insurance landscape. We are excited about the growth opportunities and advancements this investment will unlock for our continued success.”

Humbert de Liedekerke Beaufort, Co–Founder and Managing Partner of One Peak, said: “Akur8 offers a truly unique cloud–based end–to–end actuarial platform, which leverages proprietary machine learning algorithms to inject speed and accuracy to insurers’ pricing process, whilst ensuring full transparency, auditability and control over the models created. We have been particularly impressed by Akur8’s user–friendly interface, ease of deployment, and reputation among the world’s leading insurers for its outstanding customer service. We look forward to working closely with Akur8’s seasoned executive team as they chart the next chapter of the company's global expansion, market leadership, and innovation journey.”

Pierre Curis, Private Equity Technology, Partners Group, comments: “Akur8 has developed a differentiated, next–generation pricing platform that benefits from the increasing push for sophistication among insurers and from the growing adoption of new technologies. We are excited to support an ambitious management team committed to innovation and customer satisfaction as they embark on this next exciting phase of growth.”

Walter Billet Avocats acted as legal advisor for Akur8 in this transaction and has been advising the company since its creation. Perella Weinberg Partners served as financial advisor for Akur8 in this transaction.

About Akur8
Akur8 is transforming the non–life insurance industry with its innovative suite of pricing and reserving solutions.
Our Next Gen Pricing and Reserving Platform combines cutting–edge technology with actuarial excellence to drive business value, bringing speed, performance, transparency, and reliability to insurers of all sizes.
Akur8 serves 250+ customers across 40+ countries, including AXA, Generali, Munich Re, MAPFRE, HDI, Tokio Marine, and MS&AD. Over 3000 actuaries use Akur8 daily to build their pricing models and reserving projections across all lines of business.

About One Peak
One Peak is a leading specialist growth equity firm with $2.0 billion in assets under management that invests in technology companies in the scale–up phase. One Peak provides growth capital, operating expertise, and access to its extensive network to exceptional entrepreneurs, with a view to help transform innovative and rapidly growing businesses into lasting, category–defining leaders. In addition to Akur8, One Peak’s investments include Ardoq, Coro, Cymulate, Deepki, Docplanner, Keepit, Lucca, Neo4J, Pandadoc, Spryker, and many more. To learn more, visit www.onepeak.tech.

About Partners Group
Partners Group is one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, with around 1,800 professionals and approximately USD 150 billion in assets under management. The firm has investment programs and custom mandates spanning private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate, and royalties. With its heritage in Switzerland and its primary presence in the Americas in Colorado, Partners Group is built differently from the rest of the industry. The firm leverages its differentiated culture and its operationally oriented approach to identify attractive investment themes and to build businesses and assets into market leaders. For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Media Contacts:
Akur8
Vera Buttinger
Marketing Director
vera.buttinger@akur8.com
+33 7 66 31 47 58

One Peak
Lauren Sharman
Head of Platform
lauren@onepeak.tech
+44 7393 569004

Partners Group
Henry Weston
Communications Manager
henry.weston@partnersgroup.com
+44 77 4876 0944

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74999edf–41b0–4b6b–8dcf–799caaa22aac

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1938a004–3cd3–4e5e–8426–95eae0d432f4

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b992f447–2289–4df6–88f9–a21bb20e9d1e


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9230614)