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APPLIED VENTURES INVESTS IN VVDN TECHNOLOGIES

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The investment signifies Applied Ventures’ commitment to foster innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship in the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing ecosystems.

BANGALORE, India, Feb. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Applied Ventures, LLC, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials, Inc., today announced a growth equity investment in VVDN Technologies, one of the leading India-based electronics product design, software, and manufacturing companies. The strategic growth funding from Applied Ventures can enable VVDN to expand the R&D of next-generation semiconductor technologies as well as electronic products and solutions.

Commenting on the investment, Dr. Omkaram Nalamasu, Senior Vice President and CTO, Applied Materials, Inc., and President of Applied Ventures, LLC, said, “The vibrant technology ecosystem in India presents an excellent opportunity for Applied Ventures to invest in and collaborate with innovative deep-tech companies. Our investment and collaboration with VVDN align with Applied Ventures’ commitment to advancing India’s electronic product engineering and design capabilities and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship to create a thriving semiconductor ecosystem.”

Anand Kamannavar, Vice President and Global Head, Applied Ventures, LLC, said, “Applied Ventures looks to invest in companies with the potential for significant growth. VVDN’s strong combination of design and manufacturing capabilities puts the company in a great position to become a major player not only in India but also in the global electronics design and manufacturing industry. The investment is another step from Applied Ventures in enabling and developing the global semiconductor and electronics manufacturing ecosystem.”  

Puneet Agarwal, CEO, VVDN Technologies Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are delighted with the strategic investment from Applied Ventures, LLC. The collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation and driving growth in transformative industries. With Applied Ventures’ support, VVDN is poised to expand its design and manufacturing capabilities to serve global semiconductor and systems companies.

Vivek Bansal, President, VVDN Technologies Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are thrilled with this infusion of capital as it will fuel our mission to deliver cutting-edge solutions and grow VVDN to new heights. The raised funds will additionally facilitate our exploration of strategic investments into several technologies. This forward-looking approach positions us to leverage opportunities that align with our growth trajectory, further enhancing our competitive edge and market presence.”

The Indian electronics market has exhibited robust growth in recent years as the country looks to expand its role in the global semiconductor ecosystem. VVDN has a unique combination of design, manufacturing, and test capabilities which can allow it to play a pivotal role as engineering, software, and manufacturing partner for companies across automotive, datacenter, telecom, IoT, security surveillance, industrial, medtech, and other markets. 

About Applied Ventures, LLC

Applied Ventures, LLC, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials, invests in innovative technology companies globally that are poised to deliver high growth and exceptional strategic and financial returns. For more than a decade, Applied Ventures has invested in startups globally, including India, that are pioneering innovations in semiconductor and display technologies, high-performance computing, smartphones, augmented and virtual reality, AI/ML, autonomous cars, big data, life sciences, fab automation software, robotics, sensors, advanced materials, and ESG. Learn more at www.appliedventures.com or follow @Applied_VC. 

About VVDN: 

VVDN is a Product Engineering and Manufacturing company focused on designing & manufacturing end-to-end products across several technology vertical markets (5G, Datacenter, Networking, and Wi-Fi, Vision, Automotive, IoT, Cloud & Apps). VVDN’s India HQ is located at Gurgaon, India, and its North America HQ is located in Fremont, CA, USA. VVDN serves global customers across several regions including the US, Canada, Europe, India, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. VVDN has 11 advanced product engineering centres in India, which are fully equipped to design & test the complete hardware & software required to develop a complete product or solution. VVDN’s 7 Manufacturing facilities are located at Manesar, Gurgaon, and Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, India, which includes in-house best-in-class SMT Factory, Molding & Tooling Factory, Die Casting, Antenna Assembly, Product Assembly Factory, and Product Certification labs. VVDN’s Engineering & Manufacturing facilities are fully compiled to develop & manufacture Enterprise, Consumer, Industrial, and Automotive-grade products.

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

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SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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