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Venture Capital and Technology-Focused Equity Investments Will Define 2023 Fiscal Year Ivy League Endowment Results, According to MPI

Markov Processes Inc.

Ivy League university endowments rebounded from their losses in FY2022, but their significant exposure to venture capital meant that every major endowment likely underperformed traditional 60/40 and 70/30 global equity/bond portfolios, according to projections from Markov Processes International, Inc. (“MPI”), a leading independent FinTech provider of software and services for analyzing investment performance and risk. The projections come from MPI’s Transparency Lab, which tracks the performance of opaque pensions and endowments. For fiscal year 2023, MPI projects that the Ivy League endowments tracked by the Transparency Lab had an average return of 7.13%, a reversal from the negative return of -2.39% for the group in fiscal year 2022. But that performance is expected to lag both traditional portfolios of global stocks and bonds: 9.36% for the 60-40, and 12.9% for the 70-30 over the same 12-month period ending June 2023. Endowments with the highest exposure to global equities (19.4% S&P 500 Index and 19.6% MSCI EAFE returns for the period) are expected to outperform, especially the ones that are known to make technology-focused investments – both in public equity and alternatives, as the S&P 500 Information Technology index returned 40% for the period. However, endowments with significant venture capital (VC) investments are expected to lag, with a -10% return for the period based on second-quarter preliminary results from Cambridge Associates. VC is the only major asset class with significant negative impact on FY2023 results. MPI Transparency Lab estimates that the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth University, Brown University and Columbia University endowments will have higher-than-average returns. Meanwhile, Harvard University and Princeton University are projected to be at the lower end of the Ivies. “Large university endowments are notoriously opaque, providing little indication of what results to expect until they officially release their results, making it a regular autumn spectacle,” said Michael Markov, MPI’s co-founder and CEO. “But even then, after the annual returns are published, there’s little indication of both sources of returns and the risks that were taken to achieve them. We apply our most advanced techniques to publicly sourced data to shed light on this important segment.” MPI utilizes proprietary technology and public data sources to peek, quantitatively, behind the curtain of a wide range of investments, providing information that is often impossible to obtain otherwise. With the Transparency Lab, all that data and analysis is contained in one place and publicly available, allowing investors, beneficiaries, regulators, researchers, journalists, and other stakeholders to garner unique insight into some of the largest and most opaque investors. With the MPI Transparency Lab, registered users can view analytics and download “MPI-360” reports that help them uncover trends in asset exposures, explain drivers of both recent and historical results, obtain estimates of risks, drawdowns and efficiency, perform historical stress tests, and evaluate various hypothetical scenarios. MPI uses its proprietary Dynamic Style Analysis (DSA) and public annual returns to reverse-engineer asset exposure dynamics of large investor portfolios. When endowments report only annual performance figures, a decade’s worth of performance is represented by only 10 data points. Traditional static and rolling-window methods of regression analysis struggle to find credible insights from such infrequent data. MPI’s DSA, however, is uniquely adapted to work with such limited data. For additional information on MPI’s proprietary data, visit the Transparency Lab. For further information, contact MPI at +1 (908) 608-1558 or info@markovprocesses.com. About MPI Markov Processes International Inc. (MPI) is a leading provider of solutions for investment research, analysis and reporting to the global wealth and investment management industry. MPI works with more than 200 client organizations, including pensions and endowments, sovereign wealth funds, global wealth management firms, institutional consultants, regulators, investment advisors and asset managers. Rooted in the principles of transparency, objectivity, and efficiency, MPI takes an innovative approach to problem solving in the areas of fund analysis, risk management, asset allocation, and reporting to ensure that its clients have the tools to succeed in ever-more-crowded markets. Follow us on Twitter @MarkovMPI and connect with us on LinkedIn. Contact Details For MPI info@markovprocesses.com Company Website https://www.markovprocesses.com/

October 03, 2023 01:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Unwiring.org Takes Bold Steps to Reform Social Media For a Healthier, More Connected Future

Unwiring

Unwiring officially launches to empower individuals in the fight against social media's negative impacts and unethical practices. The organization is led by Saahil Mishra and a diverse team of passionate teens who’ve developed several initiatives to catalyze positive change within social media. “I worry about the impact of social media on my generation. A surge in social isolation, mental health issues, disinformation, and political polarization has challenged our connection on both an interpersonal and societal level,” said Saahil Mishra, founder and social media activist. Mishra also serves as a research assistant at Stanford Social Media Lab and writer for the Poynter Institute’s Media Wise. Earlier this year, Mishra participated in his first TEDx Talk event in San Francisco. Unwiring is educating and empowering young people to drive real, representative change within social media. The team curates timely educational resources including a series of self-produced online videos, curriculum on social media’s inner workings and impacts, and editorial pieces centered around the youth perspective on social media’s harms and possible solutions. Unwiring also is hosting a ReDesign challenge for youth to pose ideas for social media reformation this fall and a youth summit in 2024. United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a call for urgent action by policymakers, technology companies, researchers, families, and young people alike to gain a better understanding of the full impact of social media use. Recent research shows that adolescents who spent more than three hours daily on social media faced double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety. “When we advocate for internal platform changes, business model regulations, major culture and paradigm shifts, we can together build a healthier more connected future,” adds Mishra. “We invite teens to join us in this important movement by sharing their stories with us.” Visit unwiring.org and engage on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X formerly known as Twitter: @unwiring_org. Contact Details Unwiring Anne Shanahan, Community Relations Liaison +1 562-810-3016 ashanahan@unwiring.org

October 03, 2023 08:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Bidscale Becomes the First Software Adopter of the NCMA Contract Management Standard™

National Contract Management Association

Bidscale, a software solution for modernizing and accelerating government contracting, has become the first software company to adopt the National Contract Management Association’s (NCMA) Contract Management Standard™ (CMS). Bidscale's dedication to addressing the pressing needs of government contracting with digital solutions aligns with the profession's shift towards more efficient and transparent contract management practices, solidifying their position as a software leader. As the global language for contract management professionals, the NCMA CMS offers companies a cohesive and standardized framework. By seamlessly integrating the CMS into its core processes, including pre-award, award, and post-award, users can anticipate heightened operational efficiency and clarity. This strategic integration also reinforces Bidscale’s dedication to excellence in contract management practices. Tony Kwag, Chief Executive Officer of Bidscale, states, "We are proud to lead the way in modernizing government contracting with our adoption of the National Contract Management Association's CMS. This milestone reinforces Bidscale's commitment to revolutionizing contract management, aligning with industry trends towards greater efficiency and transparency. We can't wait to showcase this as GCMS 2023." Kraig Conrad, Chief Executive Officer of NCMA, commends Bidscale for their forward-thinking approach to the contract management profession, stating, "It's impressive to see Bidscale incorporating the Contract Management Standard™ (CMS) into their software. This proactive step demonstrates their commitment to setting global standards and their foresight in enhancing their services for professionals and organizations within the contract management field." The U.S. Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) has officially recognized the CMS as the foundation of a new contracting training system for all government agencies, effective February 1, 2023, ensuring that CMS adoption is in harmony with government practices. For more information about Bidscale and its commitment to contract management excellence, please visit https://www.bidscale.com/. For more information on NCMA's Common Language Adoption, please visit: www.ncmahq.org/adopters The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which was founded in 1959 and is the world’s leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To find out more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. Born out of an OT contract, Bidscale is a software-as-a-service platform that provides AI-powered contracting across the full federal contracting lifecycle, from requirements to award and beyond. Bidscale’s mission is to revolutionize how government and industry streamline decision-making and consolidate knowledge. Request a demo today at https://www.bidscale.com/demo. Contact Details National Contract Management Association Holly Dehesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

October 03, 2023 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Learning Technologies Group "much more comfortable about the second half"

Learning Technologies Group PLC

Learning Technologies Group PLC (AIM:LTG, OTC:LTTHF) chief executive Jonathan Satchell speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive after the workplace talent development company released its interim results for the six months to 31 June 2023 Satchel provides an overview of the company's performance over the period as well as its future outlook. The firm reported £285 million in revenue for the first half, a 2.5% increase from the previous year. However, challenges arose from integrating their LEO business into the GP Strategies content business, which Satchell suggests may ultimately have cost an estimated $80 million of EBIT. Despite these challenges, Satchell expresses confidence in the company's resilience. He says the company's performance during the second half was always going to hinge on the GPLX turnaround, adding that August's figures show a strong recovery and he feels "much more comfortable about the second half." While facing softness in markets like China and Japan, the company remains optimistic about meeting analyst expectations for the full year. He also says that as they approach their 10th anniversary, the firm is being selective about acquisitions and has announced a voluntary debt repayment of $25 million. Satchell also highlighted their focus on integrating AI thoughtfully, ensuring they don't merely follow trends but leverage technology effectively. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

September 29, 2023 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Federal Publications Seminars (FPS) Embraces Industry Standardization with Adoption of CMS™ and CMBOK®

National Contract Management Association

Federal Publications Seminars (FPS), a leading government contract training provider, has announced a significant milestone in its commitment to advancing the contract management profession. FPS proudly embraces the National Contract Management Association's (NCMA) ANSI Approved Contract Management Standard™ (CMS™) and the Contract Management Body of Knowledge (CMBOK®) as the cornerstone for hiring, career development, and training of contract management professionals. The CMS™, recognized as the standard global language of government contracting, and the comprehensive CMBOK® collectively offer a unified framework to define, discuss, and advance contract management phases, domains, competencies, and skills. “Our adoption of these standards reaffirms FPS’s support of NCMA and dedication to cultivating excellence and promoting a common language within the contract management community,” said Andy King, President of FPS. Mr. King stated, "By aligning our training courses with the adoption of CMS™ and CMBOK®, we are poised to provide even greater support to our thriving FPS education community. Our partnership and collaboration with the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) reinforces our commitment to cultivating a more robust, knowledgeable, and ethical federal government contracting industry." “Through this collaboration, FPS aims to empower its clients to not only meet compliance requirements but also gain a competitive edge by harnessing their newfound expertise. The synergy between FPS and NCMA promises a brighter future for professionals in the federal contracting arena,” Mr. King concluded. "We appreciate Federal Publications Seminar's commitment to advancing the contract management profession through the adoption of the CMS™ and CMBOK®. they join leading organizations on our journey toward common language to foster global excellence," stated Kraig Conrad, Chief Executive Officer of NCMA. This move aligns FPS with the Department of Defense, civilian agencies of the U.S. government, industry leaders, and higher education institutions that have also embraced the CMS™ for their hiring, training, and educational programs. FPS's commitment to these standards is not only a testament to its leadership in the profession, but also an expression of support for NCMA's pivotal role in advancing the profession. For more information on NCMA's Common Language Adoption, please visit: www.ncmahq.org/adopters The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which was founded in 1959 and is the world’s leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To find out more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. About Federal Publication Seminars: Federal Publications Seminars (FPS) has been the leading provider of government contracts training and education for more than 60 years. FPS offers hundreds of in-person and online courses designed to provide in-house counsel, procurement officers, contract administrators, and accounting professionals and firms with solid, comprehensive opportunities to stay current on critical issues throughout the government contracting market. FPS instructors are nationally recognized leaders in the government contracting industry. For more information or to subscribe, visit fedpubseminars.com or call 888.494.3696. Follow FPS on social channels for the latest updates, class notifications and promotions @fedpubseminars. Contact Details National Contract Management Association Holly Dehesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

September 28, 2023 06:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Classiq to Host Quantum Software Hackathon and Bootcamp on October 1

Classiq Technologies

Classiq Technologies, a leading quantum computing software company, today announced its annual quantum computing software bootcamp and hackathon, the Classiq Quest. There is no cost to participate in either event. First up is the bootcamp, October 1-5, during which participants will learn how to fully exploit Classiq’s software to design, optimize and execute quantum algorithms. One to two hours of work per day over the five days will provide students, professors and others in academia focused on electrical engineering, computer science and other related fields an excellent opportunity to learn how to develop quantum algorithms. The quantum computing bootcamp is also a resource for those in industries such as DevOps, finance, chemistry, pharma, automotive and supply chain who want to learn how to harness the power of quantum computing. With a daily challenge on each day, participants will emerge from the bootcamp as experts on Classiq’s platform and fully prepared to tackle the Quest Hackathon challenges. Next up is the Classiq Quest Hackathon, which runs from October 8-11. The hackathon is an online programming competition open to individual as well as group participants. It is designed to reward those that can create efficient and elegant quantum circuits for a variety of important problems. Over the four days, participants receive a series of challenges for which they must design, optimize, and execute quantum algorithms. The challenges are a combination of open and well-defined problems that fall under three quantum computing themes – applications, utility, and education – and for each theme, there are two challenges. The application challenges focus on the use of quantum algorithms for addressing real-life problems in industries such as chemistry, finance, material science, and cyber security. Quantum utility concentrates on quantum algorithms that fully exploit the capabilities of available quantum computers. The quantum education theme is targeted at quantum algorithms for educational purposes with intuitive graphics and visualizations. “We often hear from professors that they have difficulty finding ways to teach students about quantum computing,” said Amir Naveh, chief product officer and co-founder at Classiq. “Our bootcamp offers a great way for students to get up to speed quickly on quantum computing and then test their skills with the challenges in the hackathon. It’s equally relevant and useful for people on the corporate side, who are quantum curious and need an easy entry point. We’re all about democratizing quantum computing.” Last year, nearly 300 participants from 51 countries registered for the Classiq coding competition and Classiq received more than 150 solutions. Participants must register by Sunday, October 1. Details on events, challenges and ways to participate are available at https://go.classiq.io/classiq-quest-hackathon#Bootcamp. The prize pool is $15,000. For each challenge, the first, second and third place winners will be rewarded with $1,500, $700, and $300, respectively. About Classiq Classiq Technologies, the leading quantum software company, provides an all-encompassing software platform with a single point of entry into quantum computing, from algorithm design to execution. Tailored to all levels of developer proficiency, Classiq aims to democratize access to quantum computing with software that equips customers to take full advantage of the quantum computing revolution. A low-code development environment ensures that a broader range of talents, including those with backgrounds in AI, ML and linear algebra, can harness quantum computing without requiring deep, specialized knowledge of how to program quantum computer hardware. Backed by powerful investors such as HPE, HSBC, Samsung, Intesa Sanpaolo and NTT, Classiq’s world-class team of scientists and engineers has distilled decades of quantum expertise into its groundbreaking software development platform. Follow Classiq on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), or YouTube, or visit www.classiq.io to learn more. Contact Details Michelle Allard McMahon/Jenna Beaucage classiqPR@rainierco.com Company Website http://www.classiq.io/

September 27, 2023 01:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Minuteman Press Franchise in Westlake, Ohio Moves to New Location, Expands Business

Minuteman Press International Inc

Jennet and Dan Foster are the owners of the Minuteman Press franchise in Westlake, Ohio. The family business first opened in 2004 and 19 years later, Jennet and Dan celebrated their relocation from North Olmsted to Westlake with a grand opening event on June 15, 2023. Minuteman Press in Westlake is located at 26145 Center Ridge Road, Unit A, Westlake, OH 44145. Expanding & Relocating the Business On the relocation, Jennet shares, “We acquired some new machines (Xante envelope press and Duplo cut, score, perf machine) and we were looking to expand. We first thought about expanding into the empty space next door and continuing to lease but then we decided to invest in ourselves instead and bought a commercial property. With room for the new equipment, we can offer in-house services that were previously vendor jobs, so the turnaround times on certain products is now even quicker for our clients.” Jennet continues, “Now, we have the space to expand even more. We just purchased a used booklet maker and will eventually add another color digital press. We also now have double doors, so we don't have to have pallets dropped on the sidewalk and disassemble them to bring them in. Our new facility also has more desk space for our staff. There are currently 5 people on our team and it’s been a great move! It was a little sad to leave North Olmsted but Westlake has welcomed us with open arms and we're happy to be here.” Reflecting on the grand opening, Jennet says, “The grand opening was held on June 15. We couldn't believe the number of people that attended. We had over 100 people and our giant parking lot was overflowing. It was packed inside and outside at the cornhole boards. The Chambers of Commerce that I'm involved with were fantastic in getting the word out. It was a great party that really came together nicely.” Growth & Getting Involved in the Community One key to growth has been Jennet’s community involvement. She shares, “I'm super involved with many organizations. I'm in four Chambers of Commerce including being on the board of one and different committee roles on the others. I am also a member of BNI as well as the National Association of Women Business Owners. In 2019, I did the 10,000 Small Businesses Program and that was really helpful in understanding different aspects of business. As a member of NAWBO, I do outreach to graduates of the program.” Jennet continues, “I am not just in these organizations, I am personally involved, which helps me get to know so many people. And it’s so true that people want to do business with people they know, like, and trust. We also advertise as a sponsor within these organizations and we advertise with direct mail to our customers and potential customers. You have to let people know about all of the products and services that you provide. Otherwise, how will they know that they need them?” She also credits the Minuteman Press support team for helping her business stay on track. Jennet says, “Last year, we were understaffed and had a family emergency. Both our RVP Rich DeRosa & field rep Ryan McIntyre were there for us to help out at the shop to keep things moving. It was a real lifesaver and very much appreciated. They have also helped with hiring and are also good to bounce ideas off of when you're considering new equipment, and they offer assistance when we need help with vendors. The FLEX software is great, too.” Minuteman Press Reflections As they approach 20 years in business as Minuteman Press owners, Jennet shares, “When we started Minuteman Press with my dad, Dan and I were just newlyweds. One of the things that has been wonderful for us about owning the business is that we can be there for our 3 kids. When they were younger, we were able to pop out in the middle of the day to help with a class party or read the class a story or whatever they needed. Today, they're now 13, 15, and 17. Having Minuteman Press as our business allows us to have that freedom to be there for our family.” It’s also clear that Jennet and Dan simply love what they do. She says, “What we love about this industry is helping our customers. They will come in with just an idea. We will then give a little guidance, design it, produce it, and wow them with the finished product, which they use to achieve their purposes.” She adds, “We love to watch our customers grow and succeed and we appreciate them letting us help them with that!” Minuteman Press in Westlake is located at 26145 Center Ridge Road, Unit A, Westlake, OH 44145. For more information, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/oh/westlake/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

September 26, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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MultiversX Rivals the World’s Largest Hackathon Prize Fund of $1M to Expand the Blockchain Ecosystem at xDay 2023

STORM Partners

Sep 22nd, 2023 - MultiversX has announced the launch of its global development event, the xDay Hackathon, to further expand the Web3 ecosystem for new and emerging projects. Organized alongside Encode and Dora Hacks, the event is powered by its esteemed partners, including Google Cloud, Tencent Cloud and Deutsche Telekom, offering prizes and funding of up to $1M. MultiversX is offering one of the largest hackathon prize funds in history. Beyond cash and seed funding rewards, the grand prize offers the winning project an exclusive spot on the xLaunchpad platform. This grants them access to an incubation platform that provides emerging projects with assistance in multiple areas including: funding, legal & compliance, marketing and developer support amongst other services, while also giving access to a community of over 100,000 users. The xDay Hackathon has already garnered impressive interest, with over 500 participants registered. The event has been designed to offer invaluable learning opportunities, including 19 workshops and 4 AMA sessions. Developers can build tools, scripts or smart contracts in languages like Rust, C/C++, Python, and TypeScript, making the xDay Hackathon a global call for coders of all skill levels. " The xDay Hackathon is the very best time to build. Builders, tools, prizes, funding. Everything is ready for the global builder community. Time for builders to explore new ways of utilizing the unique capabilities of the MultiversX network. " says Beniamin Mincu, CEO of MultiversX. Registrations for the xDay Hackathon are still open at xday.com/hackathon until October 16th. The event spans across six tracks: AI, DeFi, Payments, Infrastructure & Dev Tooling, Mobile Apps, Gaming & Metaverse, running from September 21st to October 20th. While the event is hosted online, the grand finale will be held at the xDay conference, in Bucharest, Romania, with optional in-person attendance. The MultiversX ecosystem has rapidly grown to become a leading force in the blockchain space, boasting an impressive 2.3 million wallets, over 345 million processed transactions, and a thriving community of builders with 2,500+ tokens, 6,500+ applications and over 2 million NFTs created. About MultiversX MultiversX is a highly scalable, secure and decentralized blockchain network created to enable radically new applications, for users, businesses, society, and the new metaverse frontier. About Encode Encode Club is a leading web3 education community. Its mission is to help ambitious, talented people achieve personal and professional goals together in web3. Encode does this through organising high-quality programmes including hackathons, coding bootcamps, educational workshops, and accelerators in partnership with the leading blockchain protocols. Once participating in the programming, they help people get hired through the dedicated recruitment arm or receive investment through the investment fund. About DoraHacks DoraHacks is a global hackathon organizer and one of the world's most active developer incentive platforms. It creates a global hacker movement in blockchain, quantum computing and space tech, and provides a wide range of toolkits to help developers around the world team up and fund their ideas and BUIDLs via hackathons, bounties, grants and more. Distributed by STORM Partners. Contact Adrian Bono for interviews and quotes - adrian.bono@storm.partners or telegram @STORMPartners Contact Details Media Contact: Dan Voicu, Head of Communications dan.voicu@multiversx.com

September 22, 2023 10:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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TECH SOLUTIONS FOR BUSY FAMILIES & CONNECTED PARENTS

News Media Group, Inc.

Contact Details Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/

September 22, 2023 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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