FEATURED NEWS
- May 20, 2026Business
NEVERLAB × STAREEP: Bringing “Healing Lifestyle” to Silicon Valley
On May 18, the “BEYOND SLEEP: THE STAREEP PREMIERE” Global launch event was officially held in Silicon Valley, bringing together leading voices from technology, wellness, and lifestyle industries to explore the future of intelligent sleep and recovery-driven living. As the official lifestyle partner of Stareep , NEVERLAB appeared alongside global guests and industry leaders, they discussed how technology is reshaping healthy sleep, wellness, and future lifestyles. During the event, Stareep showcased its vision of “intelligent sleep” and “recovery-focused living” through immersive product demonstrations powered by smart algorithms, ergonomic engineering, and interactive experiences. Guests were invited to experience how technology can redefine sleep quality and personal recovery in everyday life. Alongside the technology-driven atmosphere, NEVERLAB introduced a different kind of presence — a “healing lifestyle corner” centered around emotional connection, warmth, and playful experiences. Through its signature “trendy healing lifestyle” approach, the brand created a softer emotional layer within the highly futuristic Silicon Valley setting. For top tech professionals, investors, and innovators attending the event, NEVERLAB represented a reminder that beyond efficiency, algorithms, and technological acceleration, there is still a growing need for emotional comfort, human warmth, and meaningful lifestyle experiences. This also reflects NEVERLAB’s vision for the future: in an era driven by rapid technological advancement, emotional healing and human-centered experiences deserve equal attention. From Emotional Healing to Global Expression As a trendy lifestyle brand focused on emotional companionship and healing experiences, NEVERLAB continues to explore how young consumers seek emotional balance in today’s fast-paced world. Built around the concept of “Healing + Trend Culture,” the brand combines AI toys, fragrances, plush products, lifestyle retail, and immersive offline experiences to create new-generation consumer spaces with both emotional value and strong social engagement. In recent years, NEVERLAB has also been actively expanding its global presence, gradually building connections across markets including the United States, Malaysia, Thailand, and Poland. Through international launch events, landmark city collaborations, and cross-industry partnerships, the brand continues to strengthen its cultural influence and lifestyle storytelling on a global scale. From China’s core commercial districts to Silicon Valley, NEVERLAB is steadily building emotional lifestyle connections with young consumers around the world. From Urban Spaces to Global Presence: NEVERLAB’s Offline Expansion Accelerates Alongside its growing international exposure, NEVERLAB is also rapidly expanding its offline retail footprint. Unlike traditional retail brands, NEVERLAB focuses on the connection between “urban emotional spaces” and young consumer lifestyles. The brand prioritizes locations with strong cultural identity, social engagement, and content-sharing potential, turning physical stores into immersive lifestyle destinations rather than standard retail spaces. In May, NEVERLAB officially opened its new store at ZHIYIN 1953 Soulmate in Shijiazhuang — a rising cultural and social landmark popular among younger audiences. The project further validated the brand’s differentiated location strategy by combining emotional healing experiences with trend-driven urban culture. Meanwhile, NEVERLAB’s second Guangzhou store is set to officially open in June at Fashion Tianhe, one of the city’s most influential youth and trend culture destinations. Known for its dense young consumer traffic and strong social media influence, the location represents another important step in the brand’s South China expansion strategy. Beyond physical expansion, NEVERLAB is also continuously strengthening its global lifestyle expression. From Chinese urban commercial hubs to Silicon Valley’s international technology stage, the brand continues to connect technology, cities, and young consumers through its unique “Trendy × Healing × Lifestyle” narrative. Looking ahead, NEVERLAB will continue exploring the integration of emotional companionship and technology-driven lifestyles, while building a globally recognized long-term value system for the next generation of Chinese lifestyle brands.
- May 20, 2026Technology
Cyber Threats Are Rising — Trainocate Malaysia Offers Free Monthly Cybersecurity Training to Help Malaysians Stay Protected
With cyber threats escalating across the country, Trainocate Malaysia is urging Malaysian businesses to strengthen their digital defenses through its monthly free cybersecurity training session. The upcoming ninth session will be held on 23 May 2026, under the APAC Cybersecurity Fund Malaysia by The Asia Foundation. Offered at no cost, the monthly program is designed to help SMEs, non-profit organizations, social enterprises, and individuals who want to strengthen their online safety practices of everyday cyber risks. Cybercrime continues to affect organizations of all sizes in Malaysia, while many smaller entities still lack sufficient awareness and resources. This initiative aims to bridge that gap by delivering practical and easy-to-understand cybersecurity knowledge that can be applied immediately. The upcoming session will take place: Date: 23 May 2026 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Mode: Virtual Instructor-Led and self-pace learning Fee: Free of Charge Participants will learn to identify common cyber threats, secure accounts and devices, prevent phishing attacks, and implement basic data protection practices. The training is beginner-friendly and does not require any technical background, making it accessible for all participants. Learning Recognition and Participation Benefits To encourage continued learning and engagement, participants who complete the program will receive: A Certificate of Completion, recognizing their participation in cybersecurity training. Access to a Learning Management System (LMS) for self-paced learning. A RM10 TNG eWallet voucher as a participation incentive upon meeting program completion requirements. As part of Trainocate Malaysia’s ongoing monthly cybersecurity awareness initiative, organizations and individuals across Malaysia are encouraged to participate in strengthening their digital readiness and cybersecurity awareness. Registration is now open at: [ Link ] About Trainocate Malaysia With over 30 years of experience, Trainocate is a trusted provider of IT and professional training across the Asia-Pacific region, empowering individuals and organizations to build critical digital skills for a rapidly evolving workforce. In Malaysia, Trainocate supports workforce transformation through industry-recognized certifications and practical, outcome-based learning, contributing to the development of future-ready talent.
- May 20, 2026Business
Numero AI and Royu Unite to Reshape the Future of Finance Teams
Numero AI today announced the acquisition of Royu in an undisclosed cash-and-stock transaction, bringing together two AI-first companies with a shared vision to help controllers and finance teams build leaner, more efficient operations. The acquisition reflects the accelerating market demand for agentic platforms purpose-built for enterprise finance workflows and marks one of the fastest early-stage acquisitions in the AI-driven finance operations category. As part of the transaction, Royu co-founders Viswajith and Sathya will join Numero's leadership team. Viswajith will join as Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, while Sathya will join as Chief Technology Officer. The broader Royu team will also join Numero as part of the acquisition. For decades, finance organizations have relied on fragmented systems, manual processes, and people-intensive operations to manage increasingly complex workflows across close, reconciliation, audit, reporting, and order-to-cash processes. Together, Numero and Royu are building an agentic system of work for the Office of the CFO — a platform where AI workers execute core finance workflows with accuracy, auditability, and enterprise control, enabling teams to shift from manually performing work to reviewing, governing, and scaling it. "This acquisition represents more than bringing two teams together — it brings together deep finance domain expertise, enterprise-grade engineering, and a shared conviction that the future of finance operations will be AI-native," said Karthik Ramamoorthy, Co-Founder and CEO of Numero AI. "Finance teams today are under increasing pressure to do more with leaner organizations while maintaining accuracy, auditability, and control. Together with Royu, we are accelerating our vision of building an agentic system of work for the Office of the CFO." "The momentum we're seeing across enterprise customers made it clear that bringing the Royu team into Numero would significantly accelerate our ability to scale deployments and deliver measurable outcomes for finance organizations," Ramamoorthy continued. "Together, we're building the next generation of accounting and finance agents designed for accuracy, efficiency, and auditability." "As we worked closely with the Numero team, it became clear that we shared the same long-term vision for the future of finance operations," said Viswajith, Co-Founder of Royu and incoming Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Numero. "Finance teams are looking for more than productivity tools — they need intelligent systems that can operate across complex workflows with context, control, and reliability. We're excited to combine Royu's engineering capabilities with Numero's finance domain expertise to build AI infrastructure purpose-built for the Office of the CFO." The acquisition is technology-driven, with Viswajith and Sathya leading the expansion of Numero's agentic platform across accounting operations, close, reconciliation, reporting, order-to-cash, SEC filings, technical accounting, and broader finance workflows. "Enterprise finance workflows demand systems that are scalable, reliable, and deeply integrated into existing operations," said Sathya, Co-Founder of Royu and incoming CTO of Numero. "Having built large-scale platforms at Meta and Google, I've learned that reliability, performance, and trust are what separate good systems from mission-critical ones. Finance teams operate in that same environment. Their workflows are complex, the stakes are high, and every output needs to be easy to verify. With AI, we have a real opportunity to help finance teams move faster while keeping that trust intact." Numero already works with leading global enterprises and maintains active partnerships with major accounting advisory firms including Connor Group and Uniqus. With Royu joining Numero, the company plans to accelerate its roadmap for AI workers purpose-built for finance and accounting teams. The combined team brings together deep expertise across accounting operations, revenue automation, order-to-cash, enterprise finance systems, and large-scale AI platform engineering. Together, Numero and Royu are helping finance organizations transition from manual, process-heavy operations to AI-enabled systems designed for scale, control, and strategic decision-making. Enterprise finance and accounting teams interested in deploying agentic AI for close, reconciliation, reporting, order-to-cash, SEC filings, or technical accounting workflows can request access through Numero's website. The platform integrates with leading ERPs, cloud drives, and collaboration tools, enabling teams to begin realizing value from day one with humans in the loop for oversight and governance. Visit the Numero website at https://numero.io to learn more about the acquisition and the company's agentic platform for the Office of the CFO. About Numero Numero (numero.io) is an AI agent platform purpose-built for the Office of the CFO. Engineered for accuracy, completeness, and auditability with humans in the loop, Numero delivers accounting agents that work alongside finance teams — accelerating workflows across contract review, accounting research, SEC filings analysis, document intelligence, and technical memo drafting. The platform integrates seamlessly with ERPs, cloud drives, and collaboration tools, enabling finance teams to unlock value from day one. Numero works with leading global companies and partners with two of the largest accounting advisory firms in the world: Connor Group and Uniqus.
- May 20, 2026Business
Anthony Joseph Amaradio - Faithful with Finances - Discusses Educational Curriculum for Financial Stewardship
Strategic financial planner Anthony Joseph Amaradio and his wife, Carin Amaradio, believe that spiritual fulfillment and responsible resource management are deeply interconnected. As co-authors of the inspirational book Faithful With Much, the couple developed the innovative Faithful with Finances online workshops to offer Christians of all ages a Biblically based approach to budgeting, charitable giving, and faithful stewardship. Through practical lessons, engaging hands-on activities, Scriptural examples, and real-world applications, participants gain valuable financial skills that can positively impact both their personal and professional lives. Money Management Training classes, one of the many services offered by Faithful With Finances , are available for kids, teens, adults, and families. The youth course, Getting a Handle on Finances, is led by a relatable avatar, the Faithful Farmer, who guides the children through fun, interesting, and insightful themes that connect Biblical truths and realities of managing funds. In-house child budgeting expert and creator of the Budgeting Project for Children, Cheryl Russell, believes that by introducing these concepts early, parents encourage a healthy relationship with money and an understanding of how to handle God’s entrusted resources. Through practical applications and relatable circumstances, adolescents and young adults are taught techniques to form healthy spending and saving habits. The adult class concentrates on four main ideas: God owns everything, God will provide, the difference between serving and managing, and stewardship of His treasure. Each inclusive training module lasts seven days and features an engaging mini-series that walks the viewers through a modern interpretation of financial rules established in the Bible. The Amaradios also offer a Debt Killer guide, free budgeting system, and an intuitive scholarship program for those who cannot afford the program. While Carin acknowledges that not everyone can be reached, she is adamant that Faithful with Finances fulfills a necessary service: “ At the very least, if our workshops cause you to pause and reflect on what God wants done with your resources, then we will have made a difference .” Anthony Joseph Amaradio , in agreement with his wife, included that, “our goal is to inspire people to give, and not miss out on the opportunities God has blessed them with.” Anthony Joseph Amaradio is a financial expert, strategic philanthropist, and the head of two major companies, Select Portfolio Management, Inc. and Select Money Management, Inc. A graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Detroit, Amaradio achieved an impeccable reputation for establishing, planning, and managing assets early in his career that allowed him to found and become the Chief Strategist of two sizeable firms. In Southern California, where he was the host of the radio talk show, “ Market Talk ,” for over two decades, Amaradio enjoys a large, loyal fan base and is an often sought-after guest speaker nationally. Anthony Joseph Amaradio - Visionary & Strategic Philanthropist: http://anthonyamaradionews.com Tony Joseph Amaradio - The Best Thing You've Ever Done! on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/313895972 Anthony Joseph Amaradio - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anthony-Amaradio-580623782054204/
- May 20, 2026Education
International Association of Online Business Managers Announces Amanda Hyde-Pierce as New CEO
The International Association of Online Business Managers has officially announced Amanda Hyde-Pierce as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2026. The appointment marks a significant leadership transition for the organisation founded in 2009 by Tina Forsyth, who spent nearly two decades establishing the IAOBM as the world’s longest standing professional body dedicated to the training and certification of Online Business Managers around the world. The announcement represents both a milestone for the Association and a personal full circle moment for Hyde-Pierce, whose own journey through the Certified OBM® programme transformed her professional and personal life. Based in the United Kingdom, Hyde-Pierce originally entered the online business industry during one of the most difficult periods of her life. Following the breakdown of her marriage, she found herself navigating financial hardship while taking on Virtual Assistant work to support herself. During that period, she relied on food bank assistance and remortgaged her home while searching for a more sustainable path forward. It was during that time she discovered the IAOBM and its Certified OBM® programme. “Something about the programme stayed with me,” Hyde-Pierce said. “Even though financially it felt impossible, I knew I needed to take the chance and invest in rebuilding my future.” According to Hyde-Pierce, she ultimately enrolled in the certification programme despite significant financial uncertainty, a decision she now describes as life changing. From Certified OBM® Graduate to Global CEO In less than two years after completing the programme, Hyde-Pierce built a fully booked business supporting entrepreneurs, authors, TEDx speakers, psychotherapists, and charitable organisations internationally as a Certified OBM®. Her work focused on operational leadership, systems management, strategic support, and business growth. She later became the first UK based trainer in IAOBM history, helping other professionals develop careers as Online Business Managers through the Association’s certification pathways. On May 1, 2026, IAOBM founder Tina Forsyth officially passed leadership of the organisation to Hyde-Pierce after leading the Association for 17 years. “In the 17 years since founding, over a thousand OBMs have been certified,” said Tina Forsyth. “They in turn have served tens of thousands of business owners. Certified OBMs have become the operational foundation for countless businesses.” Forsyth also highlighted the importance of the timing surrounding the leadership transition as businesses increasingly adapt to AI driven operational changes. “In the new AI era, where tools, leadership, and the way businesses operate are evolving rapidly, the need for strategic human led operations has never been greater,” Forsyth said. “Amanda understands this and has a clear vision for the opportunity it represents for Certified OBMs® and the businesses they support.” The Growing Demand for Operational Leadership and AI Strategy The IAOBM has spent nearly two decades helping shape the Online Business Manager profession globally by training professionals in operational leadership, systems oversight, strategic planning, and business management support. Under Hyde-Pierce’s leadership, the Association is now expanding its focus to include AI powered operational support and future focused business strategy. The organisation currently offers advanced certification pathways including the AI-Empowered, Certified OBM® and Certified AI Strategist programmes. According to the IAOBM, these programmes are designed to help businesses access operational professionals capable of integrating strategic oversight with evolving AI technologies and workflow systems. The expansion reflects increasing demand among business owners seeking operational support professionals who can manage both human leadership and AI enabled business processes. Hyde-Pierce believes this evolution represents a major opportunity for both business owners and operational professionals. “The future of business support is not about replacing people with technology,” Hyde-Pierce said. “It is about combining strategic human leadership with intelligent systems that allow businesses to operate more effectively and sustainably.” A Mission Built on Transformation and Opportunity While Hyde-Pierce’s appointment represents a leadership milestone for the IAOBM, she says the broader mission remains focused on transformation and opportunity for both business owners and professionals entering the Online Business Manager industry. Throughout her career, Hyde-Pierce has spoken openly about how operational leadership careers can create meaningful life changes for professionals seeking flexible, high impact work aligned with personal goals and family life. She also emphasizes the impact Certified OBMs® can have on overwhelmed entrepreneurs and growing businesses seeking strategic operational support. According to Hyde-Pierce, many business owners struggle with operational overload, inconsistent systems, and unsustainable growth demands before working with an Online Business Manager. “The work Certified OBMs® do changes businesses and lives,” Hyde-Pierce said. “I have lived the transformation personally, and I have witnessed it repeatedly through the professionals trained by this Association.” The IAOBM reports that Certified OBMs® have supported businesses across industries ranging from coaching and education to healthcare, publishing, nonprofit organisations, and professional services. Award Recognizes Excellence in AI Operational Leadership Amanda Hyde-Pierce, CEO of the International Association of Online Business Managers, has been awarded the Best Operational Leadership & AI Strategy Trainer of 2026 by Best of Best Review. The recognition honors Hyde-Pierce’s leadership in transforming operational strategy education through innovative AI empowered training and professional certification programs. About the International Association of Online Business Managers The International Association of Online Business Managers is the world’s longest standing professional association dedicated to the training, certification, and advancement of Online Business Managers. Established in 2009 by founder Tina Forsyth, the IAOBM provides professional certification programmes focused on operational leadership, strategic business support, systems management, and AI empowered operational strategy. Today, the organisation supports its members, and by extension, business owners globally through programmes including the Certified OBM, AI-Empowered, Certified OBM®, and Certified AI Strategist pathways. Additional information is available at Online Business Managers website and Amanda Hyde-Pierce can be followed on LinkedIn at LinkedIn . Media inquiries can be directed to support@onlinebusinessmanager.com.
- May 20, 2026Business
REAP Pro Launches to Support Modern Financial Advisors Through AI Powered Real Estate Intelligence
REAP Pro has launched its AI-powered real estate intelligence platform designed for financial advisors seeking a more connected view of their clients’ financial lives. Built to integrate property data, mortgage information, valuation metrics, and planning insights into a single environment, the platform introduces a streamlined approach to incorporating real estate into wealth management conversations. Founder Sean Krejci says, “We want to give advisors access to a broader financial picture that includes one of the largest asset categories many households hold today.” REAP Pro The launch arrives during a period in which advisors continue expanding beyond traditional portfolio management into more comprehensive planning relationships. While investments and retirement planning software have evolved rapidly over the years, real estate data has often remained fragmented, manually gathered, or dependent on estimates that lose relevance over time. REAP Pro was created to address that disconnect by helping advisors access current property information, debt balances, equity insights, and performance metrics through a unified platform built specifically for advisory firms. Krejci’s experience inside the financial services industry revealed how frequently real estate conversations unfolded outside the advisor relationship, even though those decisions carried long-term implications for household wealth. “For many families, real estate represents years of work, planning, and financial commitment,” Krejci states. “Advisors deserve technology that helps them participate in those conversations with clarity, context, and confidence.” Sean Krejci The idea for REAP Pro emerged from years of hands-on advisory and mortgage industry experience, where Krejci and his team regularly performed detailed property analysis through manual spreadsheets and research. Those workflows often required several hours for a single household review and depended heavily on static information. As advisors attempted to deliver more comprehensive planning, many found themselves working with incomplete property data, outdated estimates, or disconnected systems that offered limited visibility into a client’s full financial position. “We designed REAP Pro to simplify that process through automated data collection and continuously refreshed property intelligence,” Krejci says. Advisors can access household dashboards that display primary residences, vacation homes, and investment properties alongside mortgage balances, equity positions, net worth data, and investment-related metrics. Interactive visualizations allow users to explore property trends, valuation changes, and projected scenarios while keeping information accessible during client meetings and prospect conversations. The platform also introduces analytical tools intended to support more informed planning discussions. Advisors can evaluate the internal rate of return for properties, review net operating income figures for investment real estate, and compare real estate performance alongside broader financial goals. Property-specific reports include historical growth patterns, market activity trends, and forecasting insights intended to support strategic decision-making over time. According to Krejci, the platform was built with a larger purpose than simply consolidating information. “Clients often make major real estate decisions during meaningful moments in their lives,” he says. “An advisor who understands those decisions in context can provide guidance that feels more connected to the client’s long-term vision.” REAP Pro also incorporates a consent-based workflow that allows clients to authorize access to relevant data sources with minimal friction. Once integrated, advisors receive a continuously updated view of household real estate activity, helping reduce reliance on manually entered figures that may quickly lose accuracy. The company believes this approach creates a more informed advisory experience while helping firms identify planning opportunities that previously remained difficult to measure or track. As the platform enters the market, the company plans to continue expanding its technology capabilities with additional tools and AI-driven functionality already in development. Upcoming initiatives include an AI overlay trained to assist advisors with lending guidelines, property analysis, and planning support, along with expanded automation designed to further streamline household insights and advisor workflows. Krejci notes that the launch represents the beginning of a broader long-term vision for REAP Pro . “Technology has the ability to deepen understanding between advisors and the families they serve,” he remarks. “Our goal is to continue building systems that help advisors approach every conversation with thoughtful analysis and a more complete perspective on wealth.”
- May 20, 2026Health
Synera Advisory to Present at Venture Summit West on De-Risking MedTech and HealthTech Investments
Synera Advisory, a physician-backed commercialization and strategic advisory firm focused on MedTech, digital health, and healthcare innovation, today announced that founder and strategic partnerships leader Jordan Morrison will present at the Life Sciences & Healthcare Track during Venture Summit West, addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing investors and early-stage healthcare companies: systematically de-risking MedTech and HealthTech innovation while increasing enterprise value and investor confidence. Featured Session “From Concept to Commercialization: De-Risking MedTech & HealthTech to Accelerate Valuation and Investment Readiness” The presentation will equip founders, venture capital firms, strategic investors, and healthcare innovators with practical frameworks for identifying and mitigating the most common commercialization risks that delay adoption, reduce valuation, or impede successful fundraising. Key Discussion Areas The presentation will equip founders, venture capital firms, strategic investors, and healthcare innovators with practical frameworks for identifying and mitigating the most common commercialization risks that delay adoption, reduce valuation, or impede successful fundraising. The session will focus on operational, regulatory, and market adoption strategies that can strengthen investor confidence while improving long term scalability and commercialization readiness for emerging healthcare companies. Regulatory and reimbursement strategy as valuation drivers FDA pathway readiness and commercialization alignment Market validation through physician and stakeholder engagement Health economic modeling and VAC preparedness Go-to-market infrastructure for scalable growth Clinical adoption strategy and KOL ecosystem development Common diligence gaps that increase investor risk exposure Building investor-ready healthcare companies before Series A “Many healthcare startups focus almost exclusively on product innovation while underestimating commercialization risk. Our mission is to help founders and investors build companies that are not only innovative, but operationally credible, clinically validated, reimbursement-aware, and positioned for scalable adoption. De-risking is what ultimately drives stronger valuations and sustainable growth.” Jordan Morrison, Founder & Strategic Partnerships Lead, Synera Advisory Event Details Venture Summit West will take place on June 16 and 17, 2026, in Silicon Valley, California. The event’s Life Sciences & Healthcare Track is expected to host more than 140 venture capital firms and institutional investors focused on healthcare innovation, MedTech, digital health, and emerging healthcare technologies. About Synera Advisory Synera Advisory is a physician-backed healthcare commercialization and strategic advisory firm specializing in MedTech, digital health, healthcare SaaS, and clinical innovation. The firm partners with founders, investors, and healthcare organizations to accelerate commercialization, reduce operational and regulatory risk, improve investor readiness, and support scalable growth strategies across the healthcare ecosystem. The firm’s ecosystem includes experienced physicians, commercialization leaders, reimbursement strategists, regulatory consultants, healthcare operators, and investor-facing advisors who collectively support companies from concept through post-commercialization scaling. Additional information is available at the website Synera Advisory and on LinkedIn . Media inquiries may be directed to j.morrison@syneraadvisory.org .
- May 20, 2026Technology
New Media Film Festival returns June 3–4 with 80 projects from 20 countries
The New Media Film Festival will take place June 3–4, 2026, presenting 80 projects including 58 premieres from 20 countries. Now in its 17th year, the festival highlights the intersection of storytelling and technology, showcasing works in film, art, music, and immersive media. Background and History Founded and directed by Susan Johnston, who was knighted in Rome in 2017 for contributions to arts and humanities, the festival has developed a reputation for recognizing innovation across media and technology. The judging panel includes representatives from Marvel, HBO, EMMYS, PBS, BBC, Rolling Stone, and Simon & Schuster. The festival continues to support creators working with emerging formats and new approaches to storytelling. Innovation Milestones The festival has presented a range of early examples of emerging formats and technologies, including: AI‑generated film Touch rotation Holographic digital comic Immersive distribution experience Micro‑content distribution (10 seconds) AI‑platform‑built romantic comedy Augmented reality international art exhibit Festival in story and technology Screen collaborative virtual reality EMMYS® consulting with broadcasting Funding VR from panelist to audience Funding a feature from a 30‑second pitch NFT integration These milestones reflect the festival’s role as a launchpad for innovation, where creators, technologists, and audiences experience emerging developments in storytelling. Participants and Projects The innovators and creators of the 17th New Media Film Festival represent work in AI‑generated music, immersive installations, digital fashion, conceptual art, experimental film, virtual reality, animation, AI‑assisted production, hybrid media, and award‑winning storytelling. Their collective achievements include EMMY wins, Venice and Sundance selections, major studio credits, global exhibitions, and contributions to emerging technologies. Participants include, but are not limited to: DADABOTS, heeey, OONA, remnynt, Luke Shannon, Ivo Entchev, Bernar Venet, A.A. Murakami, Mitchell F. Chan, Daniella Loftus, Anna Carreras, PhD, James Merrill, Atsushi Wada — Venice/Sundance, Eric Shaw — SpongeBob SquarePants, WordGirl, Richard T. Wilson — multiple EMMY Award winner, Kc Wayland — We’re Alive, mathery, Gjert Rognli, Eyal Padan, Thomas Schmitt, Andrea Gatopoulos, Ernesto Paglia, Luca di Alessandro, Luis Carlos Barragán Castro, Zhetao Huang, TzuJung Lin, Kenji Ishimaru, Andrey Rasputin, Jonathan Thunder — EMMY Award winner, David Byrne, Dustin Yellin, Rob Swire — Pendulum/Knife Party, Milkie Way & Sam Matlock — WARGASM, Nash Overstreet — Hot Chelle Rae, Shane Stevens — Grammy nominated, Ava Della Pietra — Broadway alumna Event Details June 3 will be held online with global screenings, panels, and creator Q&As. June 4 will take place in person at The Culver Theater in Los Angeles, featuring a VIP soirée, international art exhibition, immersive experiences, screenings, panels, and creator Q&As. Each day presents different content and creators. Tickets and information are available at www.NewMediaFilmFestival.com/events . Awards and Recognition The festival includes a curated awards program recognizing achievements in categories spanning film, technology, and creative innovation. Selected works are evaluated for originality, technical approach, and contributions to emerging storytelling formats. Mission and Focus The New Media Film Festival was established to support creators working at the intersection of story and technology. Its mission is to identify new formats, platforms, and tools shaping the future of media, while providing opportunities for creators, technologists, and audiences to engage with emerging trends. About the New Media Film Festival The New Media Film Festival is a story and technology company that has presented innovative work for 17 years. The festival highlights developments in creative technology and provides a platform for global creators exploring new forms of storytelling.
- May 20, 2026Business
CoinP Applies for Malaysian Financial License, Aiming to Build ASEAN's Core Digital Asset Infrastructure
As the digital asset industry pivots from rapid expansion to deep compliance, global exchange CoinP is placing a strategic piece in Southeast Asia. CoinP has formally advanced its application for a Malaysian digital asset license authorized by Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance and the Labuan Financial Services Authority. Once approved, CoinP is expected to become a sovereign‑backed digital asset trading platform in the ASEAN region, opening a national‑level compliant corridor for its global issuance and trading of real‑world assets (RWA). This move is not an isolated event but an acceleration of CoinP’s global strategy: “compliance as the prerequisite, technology as the foundation, localization as the lever.” To date, CoinP has secured compliance licenses in five countries or regions, including the U.S. MSB license, supports 18 languages, covers over 50 countries and regions, and serves more than 1.7 million registered users. Malaysia is now emerging as a pivotal hub for linking the ten ASEAN nations and reshaping regional digital asset standards and liquidity. CoinP prioritizes Malaysia because of the country’s clear digital economy roadmap. The Malaysian and Singaporean governments are jointly developing Johor into an “ASEAN Digital Economy Special Zone,” backed by tax incentives, cross‑border financial pilots, and digital asset legalization. CoinP’s license application is far‑sighted: it aims to become one of the zone’s core financial infrastructures, helping align digital asset standards and unify liquidity across ASEAN. If realized, this vision would not merely expand a single enterprise but could drive deep integration of the region’s digital financial infrastructure. At the 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Carnival that concluded in late April, CoinP co‑founder Joe told Ta Kung Pao that Hong Kong acts as a bridge in the global Web3 landscape and that the platform hopes to use international stages to signal long‑termism, security governance, and compliance. “The globalization we pursue is not about chasing hotspots,” he stressed, “but about adhering to the same long‑term principles across different regulatory environments.” This philosophy is directly reflected in the Southeast Asia layout—the objective is not short‑term traffic, but a sustainable, replicable, and auditable operational system within local jurisdictions. From a macro perspective, the Malaysian sovereign license application, combined with CoinP’s infrastructure plan in the Johor Special Zone, superimposes the twin forces of sovereign endorsement and special economic zone to create a full‑pathway for RWA assets—from compliant issuance and on‑chain title confirmation to cross‑border transactions. Industry insiders note that while the crypto market is in a contraction cycle, institutional capital is returning to genuinely compliant infrastructure. CoinP’s early positioning in Southeast Asia is expected to secure a significant first‑mover advantage in the next wave of digital asset compliance. Join CoinP today: https://www.coinp.com
- May 20, 2026Business
Taiwan and UK Strengthen AI and Innovation Ties at ETCC 32nd Annual Conference
The 32nd Annual Conference of the European Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce (ETCC) concluded in London on Saturday 16th May, bringing together Taiwanese business leaders, UK investors, AI startups, policymakers, and cross-border innovators to explore deeper collaboration between Taiwan and the United Kingdom in artificial intelligence, technology, trade, and investment. Held under the theme “Taiwan Power, Shine in the World,” the event highlighted Taiwan’s growing global role in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. The event aimed to position London as a gateway for Taiwanese companies entering European markets while also creating opportunities for British firms and investors seeking access to Taiwan’s technology ecosystem. The conference was opened by Evelyn Lee, Chairlady of ETCC, and honored by the presence of high-level dignitaries, including Kuo-Yu Han, President of the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and Representative Vincent Chin-Hsiang Yao of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK. Both will deliver opening speeches to inaugurate the day's proceedings. Daniel Rossell-Evans, Head of Northeast Asia at the Office for Investment, who leads the UK Government’s concierge service for investors across Japan, Korea and Taiwan, will be representing the UK government to attend the event. Other prestigious guests include Chia-Ching Hsu, Minister of Overseas Community Affairs Council of Taiwan (OCAC), Dr. James Chih-Fang Huang, Chairman of TAITRA, H.E. Jhy-Wey Shieh, Taiwanese Representative to the EU and Belgium, and Chiang-Sheng Hsiung, Chairman of World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce (WTCC), will also present at the event. The conference comes amid growing momentum in UK–Taiwan cooperation on AI and emerging technologies. Recent discussions between UK and Taiwanese officials have emphasised future collaboration in AI, semiconductors, digital trade, energy transition, and innovation ecosystems. It featured an AI Innovation Forum, where Dr. James Chih-Fang Huang, Chairman of TAITRA, gave an insightful speech focusing on Taiwan’s strategic role in trading with Europe. Dr. James Chih-Fang Huang firstly praised Taiwanese business leaders for earning the trust of highly competitive European markets through quality and reliability. Their achievements serve as a vital extension of Taiwan's economic strength on the global stage. He then highlighted that the global trade environment is shifting rapidly, driven by supply chain restructuring, geopolitical dynamics, and accelerating innovation. Concurrently, Europe is transitioning into an industrial ecosystem focused on resilience, security, and sustainability. As a market of nearly 450 million people, Europe has become a crucial strategic partner for Taiwan, evidenced by bilateral trade reaching $74.8 billion last year, which is a 9% increase. He emphasised that Taiwanese expatriate business leaders act as invaluable bridges to these markets due to their local expertise. To support them, TAITRA will host the Taiwan Expo in Europe in Warsaw, Poland, this June. The expo will focus on resilient supply chains, trusted technology, and the reconstruction of Ukraine, showcasing Taiwan's strengths in digital innovation and green energy to foster deeper global collaboration. The forum also reflected broader international interest in Taiwan’s role in the AI supply chain and democratic technology partnerships. Recent UK-Taiwan initiatives have included cooperation in AI governance, semiconductor talent exchange, and space technology partnerships. Following the AI Innovation Forum, was the Taiwan-Europe business networking sessions, with participation from entrepreneurs, investors, technology leaders, and representatives from both Taiwan and the UK. Discussions focused on trusted AI, resilient supply chains, smart healthcare, cross-border investment, and opportunities for UK-Taiwan partnerships. Evelyn Lee, President of the European Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, said the event was designed not only as a community gathering, but as a practical platform for business matching, investment dialogue, and long-term UK-Taiwan collaboration. “Taiwan has world-class innovation capabilities, while the UK offers exceptional strengths in finance, research, startups, and global connectivity. We believe stronger collaboration between Taiwan and the UK can create meaningful opportunities in AI, healthcare, sustainability, and future technologies.” The event welcomed around 200 participants from across Europe, Taiwan, and the UK, including business associations, startups, investors, and representatives from the public and private sectors. About the European Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce (ETCC) The ETCC is a non-profit organisation representing Taiwanese business communities across Europe. Serving as a vital bridge between Taiwan and Europe, the ETCC fosters economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and professional development through a network spanning major European capitals. For media inquiries or more information, please contact Moja Reader: moja@mandarinresource.co.uk
- May 20, 2026Legal & Law
OpenSpecter Launches For Free, Self Hosted, Open Source Legal AI Platform
Last year, a small law firm posted to Reddit that Harvey AI had declined to schedule them a product demo. The reason, as reported publicly, was that their firm was too small. The post gathered hundreds of upvotes from lawyers sharing nearly identical experiences: per-user pricing that runs to $1,200 a month, minimum contract commitments that rule out boutique practices entirely, and in one widely circulated case, a $25,000 quote for four Legora licenses that went without a follow-up call. Today, Quantera.ai releases OpenSpecter : a free, open-source legal AI platform covering the same category of capabilities, built specifically for every firm those conversations excluded. OpenSpecter is self-hosted, and available now at github.com/QuanteraAI/OpenSpecter. A Shifting Legal Technology Landscape Legal AI has moved from an emerging category to an established market in a short span of time. Platforms such as Harvey AI and Legora have secured significant funding, signed enterprise contracts with major law firms, and positioned AI-assisted document review, legal research, and contract analysis as the new baseline for competitive legal practice. The market validation is real. The access problem is equally real. Harvey has been reported to decline product demos to firms below a certain size threshold. Legora has quoted individual small practices at prices that exceed the annual technology budget of many boutique teams. The legal professionals locked out of these tools are not fringe cases. They are solo practitioners, regional firms, and in-house teams at growth-stage companies: a substantial portion of the profession, practicing the same law, with none of the same tools. "Harvey is quoting $1,200 per user per month, and in documented cases is declining to demo to small firms at all," said Akash Shrivastava, founder of Quantera.ai. "Legora is selling four licenses for $25,000 and not following up. Those prices do not reflect what it costs to build legal AI. They reflect a deliberate decision about who gets access to it. We made a different decision." said Akash. An Infrastructure-First Approach to Legal AI OpenSpecter is structured as a free, open-source, self-hosted platform. Rather than a subscription service with a vendor-managed backend, it provides legal teams with full control over deployment, data handling, and model selection. The platform covers the core workflows that define enterprise legal AI: document analysis and contract review, legal research with inline citation verification, tabular extraction across large document sets, and reusable workflow templates for tasks such as conditions precedent checklists, NDA summaries, SPA reviews, and change-of-control analyses. A matter-scoped project structure allows teams to organize documents, conversations, and review outputs by client or case, maintaining full context across every session. The legal research layer cross-references more than 31 million legal documents across 178 jurisdictions, spanning common law systems including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore alongside civil law jurisdictions across Europe and Latin America, and international bodies including the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Every citation is verified before it surfaces in a workflow output. The platform is built on a modern technical stack: Next.js 16, React 19, TypeScript, and Supabase, with Cloudflare R2-compatible object storage and a database schema that enforces Row Level Security across all content tables from the ground up. Addressing Barriers to Adoption The deployment model is built around user control. OpenSpecter runs within the user's own infrastructure. Documents and data stay inside the firm's environment. The platform connects to AI providers of the user's choosing, including Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and any OpenRouter-compatible model, using the firm's own API credentials. There is no platform subscription, no per-seat fee, and no vendor data pipeline. By removing licensing costs and per-seat pricing entirely, OpenSpecter makes the category accessible to firms that enterprise contracts have consistently excluded. A solo practitioner, a three-person criminal defense firm, and a mid-size regional practice all deploy the same system under the same terms as a large commercial team. This model also eliminates vendor lock-in. Because the platform is open source and self-hosted, legal teams are not dependent on a single provider's pricing decisions, product roadmap, or data policies. The system adapts to the firm, not the other way around. Cultural and Market Context The pricing debate in legal AI is well documented and increasingly public. Reddit threads on r/legaltech have accumulated thousands of comments from practitioners describing quotes they received, demos they were refused, and minimum commitments that put leading platforms out of reach. The frustration is not with the technology itself. It is with the decision to build that technology exclusively for the segment of the profession that needs it least. OpenSpecter takes a different position. Its development prioritizes accessibility and transparency over growth metrics or enterprise positioning. The codebase is publicly auditable. Firms can inspect how documents are processed, which models handle sensitive client data, and how outputs are generated. That level of visibility is not available in any closed legal AI system currently on the market. "We are not releasing this to start a conversation about access to legal AI," said Shrivastava. "That conversation has been happening for years, in public, on forums, inside firms that know exactly what these tools can do and cannot get near them. We are releasing this because the conversation deserves an answer." Open Collaboration and Future Development OpenSpecter's invites participation from a global community of developers and legal professionals. The project is available at github.com/QuanteraAI/OpenSpecter, where the full codebase, issue tracker, and pull request process are publicly accessible. This collaborative model reflects a broader shift across professional software toward open, auditable systems that prioritize user control over centralized ownership. Legal AI is a category with significant implications for client confidentiality, data sovereignty, and professional responsibility. The argument for transparency in how these systems are built and operated is not merely philosophical. It is practical. OpenSpecter is in active development. Contributions from both developers and legal practitioners are welcome, and the project will continue to evolve in response to real-world use. ABOUT QUANTERA.AI AND OPENSPECTER Quantera.ai deploys agents in financial workflows, building applied AI systems and infrastructure for professional environments. OpenSpecter, Quantera's open-source legal AI platform, provides law firms, in-house legal teams, and independent practitioners with tools for document analysis, contract review, legal research, tabular review, and workflow automation. The platform is self-hosted, and free to deploy. Firms supply their own AI provider credentials (BYOK) and run the system within their own infrastructure. Additional information is available at openspecter.com. The project codebase is publicly accessible on Github . For inquiries, contact Akash Shrivastava at akash@quantera.ai or on his LinkedIn .
- May 20, 2026Business
Fueling Family Business Growth, New Research Findings Top Agenda for June 9 Congressional Family Business Caucus
This year’s second of three bipartisan Congressional Family Business Caucus meetings will focus on “Fuel for Growth: Capital Solutions for Family Business.” The June 9 meeting inside the Capitol Building’s Visitor Center will feature presentations from family businesses, legislative and tax experts, and members of Congress. The Capitol Hill meeting begins with formal introductions and presentations at 8AM and ends with meetings with House Members and staff from 2PM - 5PM. Attendees will hear from Members of the Congressional Family Business Caucus , policy experts, and family-owned business leaders in a panel discussion providing insights to the challenges accessing capital to fuel family-owned business growth. In addition, Caucus hosts Pat Soldano, President, and John Gugliada, Director of Engagement, of Family Enterprise USA, will unveil new national survey findings from family-owned business leaders on their economic and policy priorities. The Family Enterprise USA Annual Family-Owned Business Survey is conducted in the first quarter of every year. Soldano will also present new findings from Luntz Research, which offers recent insights into voter attitudes on wealth, savings penalty taxes, and waste in government spending. Capital to Fuel Tomorrow The Caucus meeting features talks from members of Congress and political and policy “state of play” insights from the experts at the government affairs and law firm, Brownstein. The panel discussion on growth strategies consists of a wide array of family-owned business leaders. The panelists are David Kelly, Director, Kelly Benefits; Frank Foster, Chairman Emeritus, Hixon Family Companies; Paige Kavooras, Executive Vice President, Global, A 1st Flagship Company; Nate Hamilton, Executive Chairman, FOX Office Exchange; and Bart Lamont, Operating Partner, Hallador Investment Advisors, Inc. “This Congressional Family Business Caucus meeting is important because it focuses on what’s happening right now, and in the future, specifically how family-owned businesses are finding ways to fuel their growth for tomorrow,” said Soldano about meeting. “Family businesses must be more creative than ever in finding capital solutions that work for them today and for the next generation,” she said. For more information on the meeting with Members of the Congressional Family Business Caucus, contact: jgugliada@family-enterpriseusa.com. About Family Enterprise USA Family Enterprise USA promotes multi-generational family business creation, growth, viability, and sustainability by advocating for family businesses and their lifetime of savings with Congress in Washington, D.C. FEUSA represents and celebrates all sizes, professions and industries of family-owned enterprises and multi-generational employers. FEUSA is a 501.C3 organization FAMILY ENTERPRISE USA ACTION Family Enterprise USA Action (formerly Policy and Taxation Group) engages with legislators on Capitol Hill on behalf of family-owned businesses, family offices, and successful families. It is focused exclusively on the critical tax and economic policies that impact them. FEUSA Action is the leading advocacy group working daily in Washington, D.C., to reduce and eliminate estate tax, gift tax, and generation skipping transfer tax while blocking increased income and capital gains taxes, the creation of a wealth tax, and other hostile policies that punish hardworking taxpayers and success in the U.S. It is a bipartisan 501.c4 organization.
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