Technology

LoanPro Bolsters Executive Team with Former Bank President to Lead Credit Sponsorship

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2024

Jer Wood, former President of Hatch Bank, has joined the LoanPro executive team as the President of Credit Sponsorship, using his background in bank sponsorship to help reimagine how sponsor banks, fintechs, and credit platforms can work together.

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LoanPro, the API-first, modern lending and credit platform, announced today that Jer Wood has joined their executive team as the President of Credit Sponsorship, launching an initiative to reinvent direct credit sponsorship partnerships for banks and their fintech partners.

Jer Wood will help transform bank-fintech partnerships with LoanPro’s credit sponsorship platform.

Jer brings twenty years of experience in banking, most recently as the President of Hatch Bank for six years, where he directed the transformation of the bank to a digital-first fintech sponsor bank. Jer has also held foundational leadership positions with several other sponsor banks, including Celtic Bank, Axos Bank, and others. In addition to fintech sponsorship, Jer has deep experience in the banking industry, including portfolio management, pricing, compliance, and wide-scale digital banking and digital transformation projects.

In 2024, sponsor banks are reevaluating the way in which they partner with fintechs. Early “connector” offerings promised a win-win for sponsor banks, fintechs, and end customers, but concerns have skyrocketed over compliance and visibility of data for sponsor banks. In 2023, there was a 139% increase in sponsor banks receiving formal enforcement actions. Furthermore, both the FDIC and CFPB have suggested increased focus on compliance for bank-fintech partnerships.

Over the past several months, industry experts such as Simon Taylor, Ron Shevlin, Jason Mikula, and others have emphasized a need to reinvent the sponsor bank and banking as a service model. We believe the future involves a much closer relationship and alignment between sponsor banks and fintechs. That way, sponsor banks can more closely monitor and ensure compliance. However, sponsor banks need to provide fintechs with a technology platform that also enables their fintech partners to be nimble and drive innovation. Jer has joined LoanPro to provide sponsor banks with this technology platform to balance compliance with innovation for credit programs that they launch with fintech partners.

LoanPro’s Co-Founder and CEO, Rhett Roberts, explained further how LoanPro provides the platform for sponsor banks and fintechs to succeed. “As we look at the financial industry, margins are decreasing substantially as the cost of capital continues to rise. This drives a stronger need for financial institutions to grow their non-interest income and many banks have entered the sponsor banking or banking as a service industry to do so. We’re confident that LoanPro’s modern credit platform provides both sponsor banks and fintechs with the platform to drive innovation while still maintaining full data visibility, compliance oversight, enterprise risk management, and more.”

“LoanPro’s credit sponsorship platform is focused on driving value for both sponsor banks and fintech partners,” Jer Wood stated. “For sponsor banks, the concerns with existing connector models are always the same: visibility, control, and compliance oversight. LoanPro’s platform addresses those concerns for sponsor banks while simultaneously providing fintech partners a bullet-proof, fully-customizable platform for servicing, collections, and payments of virtually any class of loans, lines of credit, and credit cards. And the real winners are the end customers, who are delighted with the user experience.”

For more information, visit Loanpro.io.

About LoanPro

LoanPro is the market-leading modern lending and credit platform enabling lenders to innovate quicker, driving account growth while optimizing operational efficiency. Today, 600+ lenders use LoanPro to holistically upgrade their borrower, agent, and back-office experiences. LoanPro’s mission of providing the platform to innovate the future of finance currently is enabled through its composable architecture, allowing lenders to enhance their origination, servicing, payments, collections, all built on the foundation of a modern lending core.

Media Contact: Spencer McWilliams, spencer.mcwilliams@loanpro.io, (918) 809-2208

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SOURCE LoanPro

Technology

Mago Maga to Launch Roma-X AI Home Coffee Roaster on Kickstarter July 23

Published

42 minutes ago

July 21, 2026

NEW YORK and HONG KONG and LONDON, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For coffee enthusiasts, a great cup begins with freshly roasted beans. Following the widespread adoption of home espresso machines and grinders, coffee roasters are emerging as the next major category in home coffee equipment.

On July 23, 2026, Mago Maga will launch Roma-X, its third-generation AI home coffee roaster, on Kickstarter. The campaign offers users worldwide an opportunity to participate in product discovery, share roast profiles, and help build a connected home-roasting community.

Roma-X is not a minor update to the Roma Pro series. It has been representing a comprehensive redesign across physical structure, control systems, mobile app, and user experience. The compact appliance combines near-commercial-grade roasting control with intelligent automation and kitchen-friendly operation.

Key Features:

Large Capacity
Roasts up to 300g of green coffee beans per batch.

Easy & Flexible Roasting
Features 6 preset roast levels, 266 built-in roast profiles for different origins, and a manual mode for creating customized roast profiles.

Smart Touchscreen Control
Equipped with a 5-inch full-color touchscreen supporting English, Spanish, and Chinese, with Bluetooth connectivity.

Mobile App Control
iOS and Android apps enable real-time roasting monitoring and control.

Coffee Community & Cloud Platform
Users can upload, download, and share roast profiles, exchange roasting experiences, and access new content through the app community.

OTA Updates
Receive new features and additional roast profiles through wireless updates.

Indoor-Friendly Smoke Filtration
Integrated filtration system reduces up to 90% of smoke and airborne particles, making home roasting easier.

Visible Roasting Experience
Dual-layer borosilicate glass chamber provides a clear view of the entire roasting process.

AI-Powered Roasting
AI roasting algorithms enable precise control, while cloud-based machine learning continuously optimizes roast profiles.

Roma-X debuted at World of Coffee San Diego 2026 as one of eight Best New Product finalists. Mago Maga’s Roma Pro V1.0 previously won the Best New Product People’s Choice Award at the 2024 SCA Coffee Expo in Houston.

“Fresh roasting is becoming a new trend in the home coffee experience. The launch of Roma-X will bring home coffee users an entirely new social sharing experience and the magical fun of AI machine learning,” said Mago Maga CEO Chifeng Lei.

The Kickstarter campaign opens July 23 with early-bird pricing exceeding 50% off the planned US$1,598 retail price. Shipping begins in fall 2026.

Kick Starter Campaign:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/magomaga/mago-maga-smart-roaster-pro?ref=1xyojm

Follow Mago Maga
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magomaga.coffeeroaster
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magomagaroast/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35H_yhVlbaY

pr@magomaga.net

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SOURCE Mago Maga

Technology

Interblock Appoints Kay Oswald as Chief Executive Officer

Published

42 minutes ago

July 21, 2026

Proven global operator with 25+ years scaling international technology and consumer businesses to drive Company’s next phase of growth

LAS VEGAS, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Interblock, the global leader in electronic table gaming products, today announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Kay Oswald (pronounced “Kai”) as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Oswald’s appointment concludes the comprehensive search announced in February 2026 and follows the interim leadership of Bala Ganesan, Managing Director at Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (“Oaktree”). Mr. Ganesan will return to his full-time role at Oaktree, where he will work closely with Interblock and ensure a seamless leadership transition. Oaktree-advised investment funds own a majority of the equity interests in Interblock.

David Quick, Oaktree Managing Director and Interblock Board member, said, “Kay is a proven global operator with a track record of building disciplined, scalable businesses across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Following a rigorous search, the Board is confident Kay is the right leader to build on the world-class operating platform established over the past year and to capitalize on Interblock’s global growth opportunities including expanding our footprint across key regions and accelerating innovation in our product portfolio.”

Oswald brings more than 25 years of international leadership experience across consumer, hardware, and industrial technology businesses. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of KOHPA Technologies, a venture-backed industrial technology company, and previously as CEO and Board Member, North America, of Technogym USA Corp., the global leader in luxury fitness equipment. Originally from Germany and having built his career largely in the United States, Oswald has lived and led teams in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Australia, with deep experience in global manufacturing, supply chain, and premium hardware businesses.

“Interblock is an exceptional company, which is the product of a talented global team, industry-leading innovation, and the disciplined operating platform Bala and the leadership team have been building over the last several months,” said Oswald. “This is a new Interblock, and I am honored to lead the company into its next phase of global growth. I look forward to delivering operational excellence and strengthening our relationship with our customers and partners in every market we serve.”

Mr. Quick continued, “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Bala for his outstanding leadership as interim CEO. He strengthened Interblock’s operating disciplines, leadership bench, and execution across the business, and the Company Kay inherits is stronger than at any point in its history. We are pleased that Bala will remain closely involved with Interblock in his role at Oaktree.”

“It has been a privilege to lead Interblock during this important period,” said Mr. Ganesan. “Kay’s global experience and operational rigor make him the ideal leader for the Company’s next chapter. I look forward to continuing to support Kay, the leadership team, and our people around the world in my role at Oaktree.”

About Interblock®

Interblock stands as the world’s leading developer and supplier of award-winning electronic table gaming products. With a commitment to quality, innovation, and service, Interblock delivers high-performance solutions and memorable gaming experiences across the globe. Today, Interblock holds 247 licenses, operates in 371 jurisdictions, and has products installed in 113 countries and 44 U.S. states and territories.

For more information, visit www.interblockgaming.com and follow Interblock on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Suzanne Byowitz / Miranda Dunne
Suzanne.Byowitz@fgsglobal.com / Miranda.Dunne@FGSGlobal.com

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SOURCE Interblock Gaming

Technology

CoVet Partners with Rewilding Britain to Support Nature Recovery Across the UK

Published

42 minutes ago

July 21, 2026

New partnership directs funds from UK subscriptions to locally led rewilding projects across Britain’s land and seas.

TORONTO, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CoVet, the veterinary industry’s leading AI copilot platform, today announced its first environmental partnership with Rewilding Britain.

Rewilding Britain works to create a wilder Britain for nature, climate, and people. Rewilding is the large-scale restoration of nature until it can take care of itself.

Through the partnership, CoVet will redirect a percentage of individual subscription revenue to Rewilding Britain, helping fund locally led nature recovery across England, Scotland, and Wales. The contributions will support the charity’s Rewilding Innovation Fund and Rewilding Challenge Fund, which back locally-led rewilding projects across habitat restoration, species recovery, community initiatives, and marine projects.

“CoVet has a responsibility to reflect the values of the people we serve,” said Yannick Bloem, CEO and Co-Founder of CoVet. “Rewilding Britain is doing measurable, science-based work to help nature recover across Britain. Every new UK individual subscription will help support that work.”

“We’re delighted to welcome CoVet as a corporate partner,” said Kate Barclay, Director of Fundraising at Rewilding Britain. “Support like this helps us fund crucial rewilding projects, enabling large-scale restoration of ecosystems. It’s encouraging to see a technology company consider its footprint and choose to invest in nature restoration.”

The partnership reflects CoVet’s commitment to supporting the animals, communities, and natural places connected to veterinary care.

CoVet is a remote-first company, which reduces the impacts associated with office operations. Its AI is used only when needed, models are not trained on customer data, and the platform runs on Google Cloud’s energy-efficient infrastructure.

Through Rewilding Britain, CoVet can support nature recovery across Britain while continuing to reduce avoidable impact in its own operations.

About CoVet
CoVet is an AI-powered clinical copilot built by veterinary professionals, for veterinary professionals. Designed to reduce administrative burden and prevent burnout, CoVet automates SOAP notes, transcribes consultations, and streamlines client communication, saving clinics over two hours per veterinarian, per day. Trusted by tens of thousands of users across six continents, CoVet helps veterinary teams reclaim their time and refocus on what matters most: exceptional patient care.

Learn more at co.vet

About Rewilding Britain
Rewilding Britain is Britain’s leading rewilding charity, working to create a wilder Britain for nature, climate and people. Rewilding Britain influences policy, removes barriers, and inspires positive, practical action to help rewilding – the large-scale restoration of nature and its remarkable web of life – flourish across at least 30% of Britain’s land and seas by 2030. Rewilding offers hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies, while creating a cascade of benefits for people and local communities.

Learn more at rewildingbritain.org.uk

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