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Pontera Raises $60 Million to Help US Workers Retire Better

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ICONIQ Growth backs fintech’s efforts to expand access to comprehensive wealth management services for 401(k) participants

NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Pontera, the fintech company enabling 401(k) participants to receive comprehensive wealth management services by personal financial advisors, has secured $60 million in a funding round led by ICONIQ Growth. This investment raises Pontera’s total funding to $160 million, reinforcing its commitment to address the widespread neglect of workplace retirement accounts held by 85 million Americans—a critical element of the U.S. retirement crisis.

Pontera welcomed ICONIQ Growth as a new investor in an up round with additional participation from prior investors.

After more than quadrupling revenue since its last fundraise announced in February 2022, Pontera welcomed ICONIQ Growth as a new investor in an up round with additional participation from prior investors Blumberg Capital, Collaborative Fund, Hanaco Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners and The Founders Kitchen.

“We are proud to support the Pontera team as they empower advisors to help their clients feel more financially secure and retire with greater wealth,” said Yoonkee Sull, General Partner at ICONIQ Growth. “Pontera is addressing a growing market need with a solution that benefits the entire retirement ecosystem through a proven approach for financial advisors to compliantly and more effectively manage workplace retirement assets.” 

Thousands of financial advisors are now leveraging Pontera’s platform to overcome operational hurdles to securely and compliantly manage 401(k), 403(b) and other retirement plan assets as a critical part of their clients’ wealth.

Jeremy Abfalter, an Arizona resident, describes his challenges before his financial advisor at Ironwood Wealth Management invited him to the Pontera platform: “I would sign up for a 401(k) through my company… I just didn’t feel as comfortable trying to pick [plan] options by myself without having any knowledge or experience in doing it.”

Now receiving professional help by his advisor, facilitated via Pontera, he reports: “Having the peace of mind knowing that there are experts at Ironwood who are managing our 401(k) makes it a lot easier for me and stress free.”

Studies have consistently shown that the majority of 401(k) plan participants desire more comprehensive assistance with retirement planning, and that a professionally-managed portfolio can generate up to 4% additional annual net returns. However, as over one third of workers seek professional help, financial advisors have historically struggled to manage the entirety of clients’ retirement assets.

The operational challenges begin with the workplace retirement account’s location; as plans are selected by employers, it is often the case that a financial advisor has no affiliation with the financial institution holding their client’s 401(k). To manage these outside assets, financial advisors have for years logged into accounts using their client’s credentials—a practice that requires substantial investments in cybersecurity and compliance. Alternatively, advisors have provided rebalancing guidance to clients, assuming the risks of lacking full plan information and implementation oversight.

Pontera alleviates these challenges through its client-permissioned platform, which empowers advisors to analyze, rebalance and monitor 401(k), 403(b) and other held-away accounts across hundreds of financial institutions in a single, unified view. The platform is SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified and integrates with leading portfolio management software to provide clients with a 360° view of their finances. Clients benefit from enhanced transparency, peace of mind and retirement outcomes. 

“It’s one of those rare moments in time where if you implement a new capability everyone wins, from the client to the advisor,” said Shirl Penney, President and CEO of Dynasty Financial Partners, a leading provider of wealth management and technology platforms to over 300 financial advisors. Penney recently announced that Dynasty is on track to oversee $100 billion in client assets by July 2024.

As the future of social security is uncertain, the U.S. government is working to expand and preserve the 401(k), as indicated by the SECURE 2.0 Act and the proposed Retirement Security Rule. The latter targets $779 billion lost by plan participants during inadequate account rollovers. Earlier this year, Pontera evidenced its solution helps advisors and their clients keep assets in 401(k) plans and minimize suboptimal rollovers.

“This funding is not just an investment in Pontera; it’s an investment in the future of every U.S. worker striving for a secure and fulfilling retirement,” said Yoav Zurel, CEO of Pontera. “We are proud to partner with investors who recognize the nation’s looming retirement crisis and Pontera’s role in helping everyday families.”

Pontera’s collaboration with Dynasty represents a significant achievement in the company’s journey since the last funding round; other notable new relationships include Benjamin Edwards, OneDigital, Savant and Wealthspire. In that time, Pontera has also launched new platform integrations with wealth management platforms Addepar, Envestnet and Morningstar.

To learn more about Pontera, visit pontera.com.

About Pontera

Pontera is a fintech company on a mission to help millions of Americans retire better by enabling financial advisors to analyze, rebalance, and report on workplace retirement account assets, including 401(k)s, 403(b)s and more. The platform is designed to work across the vast majority of retirement plans and seamlessly integrate with existing portfolio management tools to help advisors improve their clients’ financial outcomes. Founded in 2012, Pontera is headquartered in New York City. Learn more at pontera.com.

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SOURCE Pontera

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TECNO Wins Two IFA Global Product Technology Innovation Awards for Modular Phone and Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS

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September 7, 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TECNO, a global AI-driven innovative technology brand, achieved two IFA Global Product Technology Innovation Awards at IFA 2026 for its products: the revolutionary TECNO Modular Phone and the ultra-compact Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS (MEGA MINI G1 Pro).

Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS (MEGA MINI G1 Pro) took the Miniaturized Gaming PC Technology Innovation Gold Award, standing out with its Italian aesthetics and the exceptional performance in the compact body. Meanwhile, the TECNO Modular Phone was honored with the Ultra-Slim Magnetic Modular Technology Innovation Gold Award, praised for its ultra-slim craftsmanship and unique modular magnetic technology.

These awards once again demonstrate TECNO’s sustained breakthroughs in product innovation and industry-leading craftsmanship in design excellence. The Global Product Technology Innovation Awards were established in 2014 by IDG, IFA, and DIHK to celebrate excellence across the global consumer electronics industry. The awards honor products that set new industry benchmarks and drive innovation through intelligent technology and user-centric design.

TECNO Modular Phone: The World’s Thinnest Modular Smartphone

At just 4.9mm, the TECNO Modular Phone is the world’s slimmest modular smartphone. Powered by proprietary Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology—combining a precision magnetic array with pogo-pin connectors—it offers a flexible ecosystem of ten high-performance modules that respond dynamically to changing user needs. The host retains a 3000–4000mAh battery, while modules draw power directly for a snap-and-go experience. The portless unibody achieves an IP-rating for dust and water resistance. The TECNO Modular Phone is also set to enter mass production soon.

Engineered to be the ultimate physical gateway for personal AI assistants, it also resolves the inherent conflict between rising AI computing demands and limited device space. The technology has earned over 20 accolades from leading media including CNET, Android Authority, Yanko Design, and The Verge — with CNET and Yanko Design naming it among the Best of MWC 2026, and The Verge recognizing it as the Best Mobile Tech at MWC 2026.

Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS: One of the World’s Smallest Water-Cooling Gaming Mini-PCs

Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS (MEGA MINI G1 Pro) is one of the world’s smallest water-cooling gaming PCs at around 6.36 liters. Its vertical chassis with a panoramic transparent window fuses iconic Italian design with raw engineering, transcending traditional hardware to bring a luxury lifestyle into the gaming tech arena. Powered by the Intel® Core™ i9-13900HK and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5060 (614 AI TOPS, 145W TGP, DLSS 4), it achieves the absolute pinnacle of performance, empowering gamers with high-fidelity play and users with a high-efficiency AI workstation. The water-cooling system sustains peak frequencies under load, while 15 ports including OCuLink, USB4, and WiFi 6E deliver expandability and connectivity. The design was recognized with Yanko Design’s Best of MWC award.

In addition to these two award-winning products delivering powerful, stylish, and AI-driven solutions, TECNO made waves at IFA with the Next-Gen Bezelless Concept Phone featuring a revolutionary 0mm screen bezel, and the convertible laptop MEGABOOK T15 360 Pro. Relentlessly pushing the boundaries of design, performance, and AI innovation, TECNO is pioneering limitless possibilities for futuristic technology and trailblazing experiences.

About TECNO

TECNO is an innovative, AI-driven technology brand with a presence in over 70 markets across five continents. Committed to transforming the digital experience in global emerging markets, TECNO relentlessly pursues the perfect integration of contemporary aesthetic design with the latest technologies and artificial intelligence. Today, TECNO offers a comprehensive ecosystem of AI-powered products, including smartphones, smart wearables, laptops, tablets, smart gaming devices, the HiOS operating system, and smart home products.

Guided by its brand essence of “Stop At Nothing,” TECNO continues to pioneer the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and AI-driven experiences for forward-looking individuals, inspiring them to never stop pursuing their best selves and brightest futures. For more information, please visit TECNO’s official site: www.tecno-mobile.com.

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SOURCE TECNO MOBILE LIMITED

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LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University Open the Door to Commercializing Next-Generation LMR Batteries

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September 7, 2026

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Joint research team suppresses gas evolution, one of the biggest challenges to commercializing lithium manganese-rich (LMR) batteriesThe technology was applied to and optimized for 40 Ah-class large-format cells, which retained 92.2 percent of initial energy after 883 cyclesResearch published in prestigious international journal Nature Communications

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University have secured a key technology that can significantly improve the stability of next-generation lithium manganese-rich (LMR) batteries. On September 7 Seoul time, LG Energy Solution announced the results of a joint study with Professor Jongwoo Lim and his research team in Seoul National University’s Department of Chemistry.

The findings were published in Nature Communications, a prestigious international academic journal, and support the feasibility of applying LMR batteries to large-format cells for electric vehicles (EVs).

Controlling oxygen reaction reversibility suppresses gas evolution, a key challenge to commercialization, laying the foundation for large-cell commercialization

The joint research team identified factors contributing to gas generation and capacity degradation during LMR battery charging and discharging and developed optimal operating conditions for large-format cells to control these issues.

LMR is a next-generation cathode material that can lower material costs by using lower-cost manganese as a primary material without using cobalt. It can achieve high energy density by storing energy through both transition metals, such as nickel and manganese, and oxygen in the cathode material.

However, if oxygen oxidized during charging does not fully return to its original state during discharge, it can damage the battery’s internal structure and generate gas. In large-format cells for EVs, where available internal space is limited, this can increase internal pressure and degrade performance. As a result, gas generation has been a key challenge in commercializing LMR batteries.

The joint research team analyzed oxygen redox under different charging and discharging conditions and found that oxygen recovery depends on both the upper cutoff voltage during charging and the discharge cutoff voltage during discharge.

In testing, lowering the upper charging voltage from 4.6 V to 4.3 V increased the reduction of oxidized oxygen from 86 percent to 97 percent. The team also confirmed that lowering the discharge cutoff voltage from the conventional 3.0 V to 2.0 V enabled oxygen to recover to nearly its original state.

Based on these findings, LG Energy Solution researchers redesigned the operating voltage range and formation process conditions for 40Ah-class large-format LMR cells. They applied a lower-temperature formation process to effectively suppress gas generation associated with large-format cells.

As a result, the optimized 40 Ah-class large-format LMR cells retained 92.2 percent of their initial energy even after 883 charge and discharge cycles. This outstanding cycle-life stability opens the path for the commercialization of LMR materials in large-format cells for EVs, expanding their potential beyond small-format applications.

“This study identified the causes of degradation in LMR batteries from the perspective of oxygen reversibility and demonstrated that cell stability can be improved through electrochemical protocol design alone,” said Professor Jongwoo Lim of Seoul National University. “We confirmed that achieving long-term stability in LMR batteries requires comprehensive consideration of not only charging conditions but also discharge conditions.”

“This research addresses one of the key challenges facing LMR batteries,” said an LG Energy Solution spokesperson. “It demonstrates that stable battery life can be secured even in large-format cells by effectively suppressing gas generation, providing an important foundation for growth in the next-generation LMR battery market.”

About LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220) is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With more than 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 100,000 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, and Asia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers. Committed to building sustainable battery ecosystem, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution’s ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com.

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SOURCE LG Energy Solution

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Park Systems Expands North American Footprint with New Regional Office in Hillsboro, Oregon

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September 7, 2026

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SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Park Systems, a leading global manufacturer of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanoscale metrology systems, today announced the opening of its newest regional office in Hillsboro, Oregon. The strategic addition enhances the company’s ability to provide localized technical support, rapid-response customer engineering, and direct account management to key semiconductor and high-technology partners across the Pacific Northwest.

The Hillsboro facility complements Park Systems’ existing North American operations network, which includes the U.S. Headquarters in Santa Clara, California, the Latin America Office in Mexico City, and the Advanced Applications Office in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Our mission at Park Systems has always been centered on enabling nanoscience and semiconductor innovation through high-precision metrology,” said Dr. Sang-il Park, Founder and CEO of Park Systems. “Establishing our presence in Hillsboro marks an important milestone in our global growth strategy. By embedding our operations directly within key technology hubs like the Silicon Forest, we deepen our ability to collaborate closely with industry pioneers and drive next-generation semiconductor advancements.”

“Adding a physical presence in Hillsboro directly answers the needs of our regional semiconductor and microelectronics customers,” added Dr. Stefan Kaemmer, President of Park Systems, Inc. “With dedicated application engineers and technical service teams on the ground, we can deliver faster response times, tailored technical partnerships, and hands-on support as our customers scale their advanced manufacturing capabilities.”

The new Hillsboro location will focus on field service engineering, application support, and regional account coordination, reinforcing Park Systems’ commitment to empowering semiconductor and scientific progress across North America.

For more information about Park Systems locations and services, visit www.parksystems.com.

About Park Systems

Park Systems is a global leader in nanometrology, providing advanced measurement solutions for research and industrial applications. Founded by Dr. Sang-il Park, a contributor to the invention of atomic force microscopy (AFM) at Stanford University, the company has grown through continuous innovation and strategic acquisitions. Its technology portfolio includes AFM, white light interferometry (WLI), digital holographic microscopy (DHM), imaging spectroscopic ellipsometry (ISE), active vibration isolation systems, and solid metal probes.

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SOURCE Park Systems, Inc.

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