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Beta Boom Closes $14.5 Million Fund II to Invest in Software Solutions for Fastest-growing, Yet Least Served Populations

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Pre-seed and seed stage VC firm Beta Boom has closed a $14.5 million Fund II with limited partners including Ally Bank, Pivotal Ventures, Bank of America, and Atento Capital. This fund will support early-stage startups that address the most critical needs of the fastest-growing, yet least-served populations.

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Beta Boom, a pre-seed and seed stage venture capital firm committed to achieving impact at scale, has closed a $14.5 million Fund II raised by Managing Partners Kimmy and Sergio Paluch. With Limited Partners that include Ally Bank, Pivotal Ventures (A Melinda French Gates Company), Bank of America, and Atento Capital, the fund will support early-stage startups that address the most critical needs of the fastest-growing, yet least-served populations.

“The closing of this fund allows us to continue investing in software startups that not only solve real and meaningful problems, but that also have strong market potential,” said Kimmy Paluch, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Beta Boom.

“The closing of this fund allows us to continue investing in software startups that not only solve real and meaningful problems, but that also have strong market potential. We see the greatest needs and opportunities in fintech, digital health, and the future of work, and that’s where Beta Boom’s focus remains,” said Kimmy Paluch, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Beta Boom. “We’ve always seen ourselves as somewhat of outliers in the VC space, and we have so much conviction in that. Not only have we created a sourcing strategy that’s purpose-built to identify incredible founders outside major tech hubs like Silicon Valley, but we are also ludicrously hands-on in the way we support our founders – because our investment in their success is driven by purpose.”

“Beta Boom is doing something different. We’ve been impressed by Kimmy’s deep experience and relationships, allowing the team to have steady, individualized support for their founders. Their unmatched growth mindset gives them the flexibility to learn, absorb, and adjust in an unpredictable ecosystem,” Erin Harkless Moore, Senior Director of Investments at Pivotal Ventures.

Priding themselves on a fiercely untraditional approach to evaluating founders, Beta Boom looks beyond referral networks and major tech hubs, consciously focusing across America’s Heartland. Prospective investments are evaluated on more than 30 dimensions across 5 categories – nearly 50 percent of which is attributed to the team execution and founder qualities such as grit. Attributes related to pedigree, like having attended an Ivy League school, results in detracted points to adjust for bias.

In hopes of taking a closer look at pedigree bias, Beta Boom recently conducted an analysis of the top 10 venture capital firms. After analyzing more than 800 seed investments made throughout the last five years, they found that 69 percent of investments were linked to pedigree.

“Many of our founders tell us that Beta Boom is the first time they feel like they’ve been taken seriously – which is both encouraging and disconcerting at the same time. We don’t care about a founder’s professional background or location; what we’re truly looking for is someone who has persevered in the face of adversity,” said Sergio Paluch, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Beta Boom. “Founders who are intimately connected to the problem they are trying to solve not only have a proven track record, but also have the power to become the next generation of unicorn founders – if given the opportunity.”

“Beta Boom’s approach is truly unique and special. Time and time again Kimmy and Sergio demonstrate their roles as true partners and champions, and not only because they provide critical, actionable support, but also because they see the potential and greatness in founders when they often struggle to see it themselves. Simply put, Beta Boom sets a new standard for the relationship investors need to have with their portfolio companies,” said Emily Brown, Co-founder and CEO of Attane Health.

Through a self-funded Fund I and its current Fund II, Beta Boom has already invested in 20 companies alongside leading investors like Union Square Ventures, Acumen America, SoGal Ventures, Serena Ventures, BBG Ventures, Alumni Ventures Group and others; supporting impact-driven companies like:

Bolder Money, an online money coaching program, that has increased the wealth of members by an average of $12KCanopie, addressing the maternal mental health crisis with accessible, evidence-based care, and has helped 80% of its mothers achieve clinically significant improvements in depression scoreAttane Health, providing healthy food access for those living with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which affect one-third of all Americans

Beta Boom’s General Partners have led innovation and growth projects for some of the world’s leading brands, companies like Google and TiVo. Individually, and as a firm, they have been awarded for their commitment to changing both the business and venture capital landscape through recognition from Utah Business, Kem C. Gardner Institute, Silicon Slopes, Living Color, and other highly-respected accolades and organizations.

About Beta Boom

Since 2018, Beta Boom has invested in early-stage software companies solving the most critical needs of the fastest-growing, yet least-served, populations. Committed to investment principles that are fiercely untraditional, Beta Boom values grit and perseverance over pedigree and looks beyond Silicon Valley for founders who are intimately connected to the problems they’re trying to solve. The firm invests primarily in fintech, digital health, and the future of work, areas where the greatest opportunities lie in addressing unmet needs, at scale. Co-founded by Kimmy and Sergio Paluch, who have led product innovation projects for companies like Google and TiVo, Beta Boom is backed by Limited Partners that include Ally Bank, Pivotal Ventures (A Melinda French Gates Company), Bank of America, and Atento Capital. For more information about Beta Boom visit https://betaboom.com/.

Media Contact

Liza Vilnits, Beyond Trending PR, 1 508-333-8548, liza@beyondtrendingpr.com

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Tencent Launches Immersive Digital Experience of Newest World Heritage Site with Gametech

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The Beijing Central Axis is now ready for digital visitors from around the world

SHENZHEN, China , July 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent (0700.HK) today launched the largest virtual urban historical landscape created to date called Microcosm, an immersive experience that brings Beijing’s Central Axis to life online. The project launch coincides with the addition of the Central Axis to the World Heritage List by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Microcosm, which can be accessed via the Digital Central Axis Weixin Mini Program (云上中轴), offers users an immersive guided tour of the landmark that they can enjoy at their own pace. Guided by avatars, anyone with a smartphone can explore the 3D virtual replica of the heritage site in the Chinese capital in breathtaking detail. Users can explore the Digital Central Axis throughout its history, even areas and scenes that may have been damaged or are no longer visible in real life.

The Mini Program also provides a platform for the Digital Watchman project, an innovative crowdsourced conservation initiative launched in December 2023. By simply scanning QR codes, taking photos and uploading inspection reports through the Mini Program, locals and visitors can become citizen stewards, logging signs of deterioration or damage. Citizen conservation reports make it easier to maintain a large heritage site like the Central Axis.

“Through our digital capabilities and gametech, and with our partners, we are exploring a creative path to bring cultural heritage to life in the digital era. The Digital Central Axis Project exemplifies how digital innovation can be used not only to conserve, but also to revitalize these important cultural monuments,” said Zhan Shu, Head of Digital Culture Lab, Tencent’s Sustainable Social Value Organization.

The Axis is well known inside China but may be less familiar in other parts of the world. It stretches approximately 7.8 kilometers from north to south in the capital city, reflecting Chinese imperial design and urban planning that began in the 13th century. The site includes 15 heritage landmarks such as the Forbidden City, the Bell and Drum Towers, Jingshan Hill, and the Temple of Heaven. Its symmetry and layout reflect a traditional system of order and harmony between humans and nature that has prevailed from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties all the way through to the China of today.

Microcosm took three years to create, using high-definition scanning, modeling, PCG auto-generation, and other game technologies. A sophisticated five-level map mode covers 200km x 200km and includes 300,000 plants and 2.2 million buildings, as well as hills and water features. In all, the virtual space contains over 15 terabytes of 3D data and a total of 10.4 billion facets.

As part of the Digital Central Axis Project, Tencent has also woven the elements of the cultural wonders into many scenarios — including music, videos, animations and even mobile games — for conservation and research purposes. For example, millions of young people have found creative and innovative ways to take part in games licensed with the Beijing Central Axis intellectual property, which in turn has created favorable public sentiment for cultural preservation.

To date, the Digital Central Axis Weixin Mini Program has logged more than 4.5 million visits, 800,000 registered users, and 17,000 Digital Watchman volunteers contributing more than 70,000 inspection photos leading to proactive conservation.

The Digital Central Axis project shows the power of big data, cloud computing, gametech, AI, and knowledge maps in conservation and heritage projects. The technologies can create meaningful experiences, help engage the public, and protect more of the world’s cultural treasures in the digital era.

For media inquiries, please contact us at gc@tencent.com

About Tencent

Tencent is a world-leading internet and technology company that develops innovative products and services to improve the quality of life of people around the world.

Founded in 1998 with its headquarters in Shenzhen, China, Tencent’s guiding principle is to use technology for good. Our communication and social services connect more than one billion people around the world, helping them to keep in touch with friends and family, access transportation, pay for daily necessities, and even have fun.

Tencent publishes some of the world’s most popular video games and other high-quality digital content, enriching interactive entertainment experiences for people around the globe.

Tencent also offers a range of services such as cloud computing, advertising, FinTech, and other enterprise services to support our clients’ digital transformation and business growth.

Tencent has been listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong since 2004.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tencent-launches-immersive-digital-experience-of-newest-world-heritage-site-with-gametech-302208076.html

SOURCE Tencent

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OKX and Manchester City Launch ‘Unseen City Collectibles Quest’: A Digital Treasure Hunt during City’s USA Tour

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Fans in New York City, Orlando, and Columbus challenged to find digital collectibles hidden at landmarks around their cities with chances to win exclusive prizes including match tickets and merchandise

NEW YORK, July 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — OKX, a leading global crypto exchange and Web3 technology company, and Manchester City today launched the ‘Unseen City Collectibles Quest’, an augmented reality (AR) powered treasure hunt that challenges and rewards fans for finding hidden digital collectibles in host cities during Manchester City’s pre-season USA tour.

The ‘Unseen City Collectibles Quest’ will take place at three separate locations – New York City on July 27, Orlando on July 30 and Columbus on August 3 – as Manchester City return to the USA for their 2024/25 pre-season tour.

In each city there will be four digital collectibles hidden in key landmark locations for fans to find and redeem. Fans who collect all the digital collectibles in a city will have the chance to instantly win exciting prizes including tickets to the corresponding pre-season matches and vouchers for Official Manchester City merchandise.

Building on the success of the previous ‘Unseen City Shirts Digital Collectible’ campaign fans will also get the chance to win physical versions of the ‘Unseen City Shirts’. 

Additional prizes will be announced throughout the duration of the campaign and fans can join the ‘Unseen City Collectibles Quest’ Experience in New York City, Orlando and Columbus through visiting this website from the 27 July.

OKX CMO Haider Rafique said: “We partner with Manchester City to bring innovative and engaging Web3 experiences to new audiences around the world. The ‘Unseen City Collectibles Quest’ combines the excitement of AR and on-chain technology with the passion of football, creating a memorable adventure for everyone involved and bringing fans closer to the value of Web3.”

VP, Global Partnerships Marketing and Operations at Manchester City, Tom Boyle said: “Our pre-season tour is always a special time for connecting with our fans and collaborating with our partners across the globe. This year, in conjunction with our partner OKX, the ‘Unseen City’ campaign takes it to the next level by blending physical landmarks with digital engagement, providing a truly unique way for our supporters in the USA to get involved.”

To join the ‘Unseen City Collectibles Quest’ visit the web platform starting July 27 and embark on an exciting journey to discover digital treasures and win amazing prizes. The ‘Unseen City’ online platform will feature an interactive map guiding fans to the locations of the collectibles.

For more information and updates, please visit the official Manchester City website and follow OKX and Manchester City on social media.

Participants must be aged 18+.

Learn more at okx.com

About OKX

OKX is a leading global crypto exchange and innovative Web3 company. Trusted by more than 50 million global users, OKX is known for being one of the fastest, most secure and reliable crypto apps in the world and is a top partner of Manchester City FC, McLaren Racing and the Tribeca Film Festival.

OKX is committed to transparency and security and publishes its Proof of Reserves on a monthly basis.

To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com

Disclaimer
This announcement is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide (i) investment advice or an investment recommendation, (ii) an offer, solicitation, or inducement to buy, sell or hold digital assets, or (iii) financial, accounting, legal or tax advice. Digital assets, including stablecoins and NFTs, are subject to market volatility, involve a high degree of risk, and can lose value. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition and risk tolerance. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances. Not all products are offered in all regions. For more details, please refer to the OKX Terms of Service and Risk & Compliance Disclosure. OKX Web3 Wallet and its ancillary services are subject to separate terms of service.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/okx-and-manchester-city-launch-unseen-city-collectibles-quest-a-digital-treasure-hunt-during-citys-usa-tour-302207670.html

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MadApes Expands into Solana, Base, Blast, Polygon, Avax, and Matic to Boost Crypto Project Visibility and Engagement

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MadApes Announces Strategic Expansion into Leading Blockchain Ecosystems

SAN DIEGO, July 27, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — MadApes, a prominent player in the blockchain industry, has unveiled its expansion into several key blockchain ecosystems including Solana, Base, Blast, Polygon, Avax, and Matic. This strategic move aims to significantly enhance visibility and engagement for cryptocurrency projects, solidifying MadApes’ presence across multiple platforms and offering robust support for diverse blockchain innovations.

Broadened Focus
MadApes has built a reputation for effective marketing campaigns and active community engagement. Recognizing the increasing significance of alternative blockchain platforms, the company aims to leverage its growing user base. By expanding its focus to multiple chains, MadApes intends to offer customized marketing solutions that enhance project visibility and foster community interaction across these newer ecosystems.

Leadership Statement
CEO of MadApes @theT1T4N highlighted the importance of innovation and responsiveness to market changes. @theT1T4N stated, “Our expansion into multiple blockchain ecosystems reflects our dedication to staying ahead in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency marketing. By extending our services to projects on Solana, Base, Blast, Polygon, Avax, and Matic, we aim to provide comprehensive marketing solutions that support visibility and growth on diverse platforms.”

Industry Trends and Alignment
This strategic move aligns with broader industry trends toward blockchain interoperability and cross-chain compatibility. As projects increasingly seek to utilize the unique features of various networks, MadApes’ expansion positions it as a versatile partner capable of meeting these diverse needs. The company’s strategy not only addresses current market demands but also anticipates future developments in the multi-chain ecosystem.

Community and Philanthropy
MadApes has generously contributed to Emanem’s food donation drive, making it possible to reach more people in need. Through this joint effort, MadApes helps Emanem and aims to provide essential food supplies to individuals and families struggling with food insecurity.

Reception from the Community and Projects
The announcement has garnered positive responses from both existing and prospective projects. Many within the Solana, Base, Blast, Polygon, Avax, and Matic ecosystems have shown interest in leveraging MadApes’ expertise to boost their marketing efforts. This reception underscores the company’s reputation for adaptability and forward-thinking strategies.

Commitment to Excellence
As MadApes ventures into new blockchain ecosystems, it remains committed to maintaining the high standards of excellence and innovation that have characterized its marketing services. The company’s expanded focus is expected to have a significant influence in shaping the success of projects across diverse platforms.

Engage with MadApes
Crypto enthusiasts and project teams can stay informed and engaged through MadApes’ various channels:

Call Channel – https://t.me/mad_apes_callGambles Channel – https://t.me/mad_apes_gamblesCommunity Lounge – https://t.me/mad_apesTwitter – https://x.com/madapescall

Visit their website at http://www.madapes.net for more information.

MadApes’ expansion marks a significant development in the cryptocurrency marketing landscape, offering broader opportunities for project visibility and community engagement.

Media Contact

Rachel Harris, Rachel Harris Pulse Media, 949-749-5349, info@pulsemediapr.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/madapes-expands-into-solana-base-blast-polygon-avax-and-matic-to-boost-crypto-project-visibility-and-engagement-302207527.html

SOURCE MadApes

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