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H&M Group invests in Rondo Energy to further strengthen their climate strategy

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The global fashion retailer H&M Group is investing in Rondo and joining Rondo’s Strategic Investor Advisory Board to explore the potential for heat storage technologies to help decarbonize the textile supply chain.

ALAMEDA, Calif., June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Fashion company H&M Group is partnering with Rondo Energy, the leading provider of zero-carbon industrial heat and power, to explore the potential for heat storage technologies in its supply chain. The fashion company is also making an investment in Rondo and joining Rondo’s Strategic Investor Advisory Board (SIAB). The new collaboration will help Rondo deliver clean, affordable heat powering textile factories around the world.

Rondo Heat Batteries combine century-old materials and cutting-edge automation to turn intermittent renewable electricity into the continuous, high-temperature heat and power required by industries including textile producers. H&M Group and Rondo will explore opportunities for factories in the group’s global supply chain to replace fossil fuels with clean heat and power delivered by Rondo Heat Batteries. Rondo will use H&M Group Ventures’ investment to expand its international operations and to develop and build storage projects serving this need.

Rondo Heat Batteries deliver deep decarbonization by changing the fuel, not the factory. As a member of Rondo’s advisory board, H&M Group will join other global leaders seeking large-scale, low-cost, zero-carbon energy to power their operations, including Rio Tinto, Aramco Ventures, SABIC, SCG, TITAN, and SEEIT.

“Producing and finishing fabrics requires large amounts of low-cost energy, which makes our brick batteries a perfect fit,” said John O’Donnell, Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of Rondo Energy. “Today, coal delivers most of the heat and most of the carbon pollution making fabrics, because it’s always been cheap and simple to burn. But the world is changing. Region by region around the world, wind and solar power are becoming cheaper than fossil fuels. At Rondo, we’ve created a simple, practical tool to harness those new energy sources.”

“Rondo is thrilled to be working in partnership with H&M Group to explore how our technology can be of use in their supply chain, and to have H&M as an investor and member of our Strategic Investor Advisory Board,” said Eric Trusiewicz, CEO of Rondo Energy.

The fashion industry has been called “hard to decarbonize,” due to the structure of the industry and its needs for low-cost energy. Today, making what we wear releases some 5% of global greenhouse gases, and emissions are rising every year. Rondo Heat Batteries replace most fossil fuel use in fabric production, and could cut the carbon footprint of our clothing by nearly two-thirds.

H&M Group has been investing steadily in decarbonizing its supply chain through several initiatives to support suppliers reducing their use of energy, increasing their use of renewable electricity and replacing fossil fuels. Now H&M Group’s investment arm, H&M Group Ventures, is taking the next step with Rondo. 

“Rondo is H&M Group Venture’s first investment in decarbonisation technology. The company’s thermal battery energy storage has the potential to help factories electrify, which is key to achieving our climate targets. We look forward to working closely with Rondo and the broader ecosystem in scaling decarb tech,” said Laura Coppen, Sustainability Investments at H&M Group Ventures.

Southeast Asia is a center of the world textile industry, where companies like H&M Group are seeking to further create positive impact for people, the planet and economies.  Rondo is well suited to serve H&M Group’s work in this region, with a growing presence and experience base in the region today. In May, Rondo and SCG Cleanergy announced Southeast Asia’s first heat battery, and the world’s first heat battery powering a cement plant. Rondo and SCG have established large-scale production capacity in Thailand, and announced plans to scale production capacity to 90GWh/year.

About Rondo Energy

Rondo Energy enables industrial decarbonization—both feasible and profitable—today. The Rondo Heat Battery harnesses low-cost renewable electricity and delivers the world’s highest temperature, highest efficiency energy storage of any kind, empowering customers to operate with zero-carbon energy.

In March 2023, Rondo started the first commercially operating electric thermal energy storage system in the U.S., with the highest efficiency and temperature energy storage worldwide.

Learn more at rondo.com.

About H&M Group

H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB (publ) was founded in Sweden in 1947 and is quoted on Nasdaq Stockholm. H&M’s business idea is to offer fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way. In addition to H&M, the group includes the brands COS, Monki, Weekday, & Other Stories, H&M HOME, ARKET, Afound and Sellpy. H&M Group’s investment arm H&M Group Ventures makes long-term investments in entrepreneur-led companies working with solutions for a circular and more sustainable fashion industry. Learn more at hmgroup.com and hmgroupventures.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hm-group-invests-in-rondo-energy-to-further-strengthen-their-climate-strategy-302176944.html

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Airspace Link Launches the Operations Center in AirHub® Portal to Deliver Complete Situational Awareness for Drone Operations

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DETROIT, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Airspace Link, a leading FAA-approved UAS (Drone) Service Supplier of B4UFLY and LAANC, today announced the official launch of the Operations Center in its flagship product AirHub® Portal. Designed to give organizations real-time operational oversight, the Operations Center enables strategic insight, situational awareness, and live tracking of drone and crewed aircraft activity — all in one powerful system.

“The Operations Center transforms AirHub® Portal into a true command center for organizations managing drone operations at scale,” said Tyler Dicks, Head of Product at Airspace Link. “From public safety teams and federal agencies to state and local governments and commercial enterprises, we’re helping a wide range of users gain the operational clarity they need to deliver safer, smarter, and more coordinated drone operations.”

With the new Operate tab activated in AirHub® Portal, users can visualize:

Active and planned drone operations for the dayLive crewed aircraft traffic and uncrewed drone activity, with supporting sensor partner integrationCurrent weather conditions across mission areasB4UFLY airspace briefings[Coming Soon] Real-time telemetry from user organizations’ own connected drone flights

Airspace Link’s new Operations Center in AirHub® Portal delivers a single-pane-of-glass solution for organizations that require coordinated, real-time airspace oversight. Built for flight operations managers, public safety agencies, airfield managers, and state and local authorities, the Operations Center offers a unified, interactive map display that provides a complete common operational picture of all active and planned missions, ensuring safer, more informed, and more efficient decision-making.

Also designed to meet the needs of IT leaders and security professionals, the Operations Center includes robust post-mission analytics, audit trails, and automatic reporting to support regulatory compliance, internal governance, and continuous operational improvement. Critically, Airspace Link safeguards its technology with enterprise-grade security and privacy protocols, backed by SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications — ensuring sensitive operational data is protected by industry-leading standards and rigorous best practices.

At the core of the Operations Center is its open platform architecture, which integrates with a range of airspace awareness data sources, including crewed aircraft ADS-B detection systems from industry leader uAvionix.

“We’re proud to partner with Airspace Link in delivering high integrity live aircraft traffic data for the Operations Center,” said Cyriel Kronenburg, Vice President for UAS and Aviation Networks from uAvionix, Airspace Link’s trusted sensor partner. “This integration ensures organizations have access to a high quality and accurate view of their surrounding airspace on a single pane of glass — a critical component for safe and effective drone operations.”

Now available for AirHub® Portal organization accounts, the Operations Center joins Airspace Link’s full suite of capabilities – from preflight planning and LAANC authorization to internal operation approvals, crew and asset management, and flight logging. Together, these tools form a comprehensive Drone Operations Management System (DOMS) purpose-built for the needs of modern, connected drone programs.

“Whether you’re overseeing a city-wide drone program or scaling enterprise operations, the Operations Center delivers the situational awareness and accountability today’s teams demand,” Dicks added. “It’s about empowering diverse stakeholders with the tools to operate smarter, safer, and with total confidence.”

As both an FAA-approved UAS Service Supplier of LAANC and B4UFLY, and a provider of advanced drone operations software, Airspace Link offers one of the only fully integrated Drone Operations Management Systems in the market, eliminating the need to manage multiple systems or vendors.

See It Live at XPONENTIAL 2025

Airspace Link will be exhibiting at XPONENTIAL 2025 in Houston. Visit us at Booth #4320 for a live demonstration of the Operations Center and to explore how AirHub® Portal can elevate your organization’s drone operations.

Learn more and book your personalized demo here: https://airspacelink.com/xponential2025

About Airspace Link

Founded in Detroit in 2018, Airspace Link is a leading FAA-approved UAS Service Supplier of LAANC and B4UFLY, creating the digital infrastructure for the safe integration of drones into the national airspace and local communities. As SOC 2 compliant and ISO 27001-certified, Airspace Link’s drone operations management system, AirHub® Portal, empowers government entities, commercial fleets, certified drone pilots, and the broader drone industry with the tools needed to enable safe, compliant, and efficient drone operations. For more information about Airspace Link and AirHub® Portal, visit www.airspacelink.com

Media Contact
Rich Fahle
Rich.fahle@airspacelink.com

Sam Stewart Gacaferi
Sam.stewart@airspacelink.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/airspace-link-launches-the-operations-center-in-airhub-portal-to-deliver-complete-situational-awareness-for-drone-operations-302455539.html

SOURCE Airspace Link

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EcoFlow Expands U.S. Brick and Mortar Presence with Costco Collaboration

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New RIVER 3 Plus Wireless power station arrives at around 500 U.S. Costco locations, marking company’s largest in-store rollout

SEATTLE, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EcoFlow, a leading provider of eco-friendly portable power solutions, today announced a major in-store collaboration with Costco Whole Corporation (Costco) as part of the company’s effort to make its products available in more places its customers shop. The rollout brings the new EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Wireless, an ultra-portable, expandable power station for adventure and everyday living, to around 500 Costco stores across the U.S.

EcoFlow products will now be available in more than 90% of all Costco locations, covering around 95% of states nationwide.

Weighing just over 10lbs., the RIVER 3 Plus Wireless offers 600W of output and includes a detachable EcoFlow RAPID power bank (5000mAh) for ultimate versatility. The unit’s 286Wh storage capacity can also be more than doubled or tripled with optional expansion batteries providing premium flexibility for every power need.

Exclusive to Costco is the RIVER 3 Plus Wireless Boost Combo, a value-packed bundle with an extra RAPID power bank included, offering added convenience for seamless swapping, extended use, and easy sharing on the go.

Powering Up with Costco: A Milestone in Offline Reach

Since first teaming up in 2021, EcoFlow’s relationship with Costco U.S. has steadily expanded with the growing popularity of cutting-edge portable power solutions with Americans. EcoFlow today offers at least twice as many product offerings at Costco compared to any other portable power brands.

“Our partnership with Costco has been instrumental in expanding our reach to households across the U.S., and we’re committed to deepening that relationship,” said Brian Essenmacher, head of North American business development at EcoFlow. “We chose RIVER 3 Plus Wireless for this milestone rollout based on the incredible momentum behind the RIVER 3 series, especially among those new to portable power solutions. It embodies what our customers value most and what this partnership is all about: bringing powerful, flexible, portable energy solutions to more people, easier than ever.”

Meet the RIVER 3 Plus Wireless: A Proven Fan Favorite

RIVER 3 Plus Wireless is part of EcoFlow’s popular entry-level RIVER 3 series, known for combining pro-grade performance with grab-and-go portability. The new wireless model builds on that foundation and introduces enhanced flexibility with a top-docking RAPID power bank. Once attached, RIVER 3 Plus Wireless automatically charges the power bank via pogo pin technology — no cables required. RAPID also features Qi2 wireless charging that can charge mobile devices while docked on top.

RIVER 3 Plus’ 10ms switchover capability also allows it to be used as a UPS, ensuring a seamless experience during unexpected power outages.

By April 2025, EcoFlow RIVER 3 series is sustaining an average monthly growth rate of more than 10%, reflecting sustained demand in the compact, entry-level portable power market. With enhanced flexibility and pro-grade performance, RIVER 3 Plus Wireless is built to reinforce the lineup’s reputation as a dependable solution for versatile daily use, from critical backup to outdoor experiences.

Availability

Through August 17, the RIVER 3 Plus Wireless Boost Combo will be available in nearly 500 Costco offline stores for $279.99. To find and experience it at a Costco near you, please visit Costco’s website here.

About Costco

Costco is a membership warehouse club, dedicated to bringing members the best possible prices on quality brand-name merchandise. With hundreds of locations worldwide, Costco provides a wide selection of merchandise, plus the convenience of specialty departments and exclusive member services, all designed to make members’ shopping experience a pleasurable one.

About EcoFlow:

EcoFlow is a leading provider of eco-friendly energy solutions, committed to powering a new world. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow has aimed to be the FIRST in power solutions — Flexible, Innovative, Reliable, Simple, and Thorough — for individuals and families, whether at home, outdoors or on the go. With a smart manufacturing center in China, and headquarters in the USA, Germany and Japan, EcoFlow has empowered over 5 million users in 140 markets worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.ecoflow.com/us.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ecoflow-expands-us-brick-and-mortar-presence-with-costco-collaboration-302454879.html

SOURCE EcoFlow Technology Inc.

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Sproutr Raises Seed Round to Help MGAs/MGUs, Program Administrators, and Carriers Launch Innovative P&C Products and Programs Faster and More Efficiently

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InsurTech Startup Supports Over 35 Customers and has Successfully Launched More Than 60 Innovative Products and Programs in Just Two and a Half Years

SOLEBURY, Pa., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sproutr, a boutique insurance product design and build firm, today announced the close of its seed round led by Altai Ventures, one of the leading specialist fintech venture capital firms.

Built by insurance operators, Sproutr exists to bridge one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: the gap between innovation and execution. By helping MGAs/MGUs, program administrators, and carriers navigate complex regulatory processes and internal structures, Sproutr empowers them to launch new P&C products and programs faster, smarter, and more efficiently — seizing market opportunities before they’re lost.

“Within virtually every entity that sells insurance products lies a team that is often not spoken about – a department responsible for developing policy language, drafting endorsements, and by doing so, one that defines the very promises that insurers make to their policyholders and without which they would not be able to operate,” explained Oleg Ilichev, Managing Partner, Altai Ventures. “Developing effective product language comes from program management experience. Leading with outcome-based insurance insights, Sproutr has built a method that enhances these existing workflows and offerings by combining the best insurance product experts with modern technology to design insurance products and programs in a more efficient and strategic manner,” said Ilichev.

Sproutr addresses a critical industry challenge, which is the gap between insurance innovation and execution. For new and existing MGAs/MGUs and program administrators, translating early-stage ideas into viable, carrier-backed programs involves navigating complex regulatory processes, internal carrier structures, and uncertain timelines. All of these factors can hinder innovation.

On the carrier side, rigid workflows and siloed responsibilities can also slow down decision-making, leading to missed market opportunities by launching products too late or chasing ill-defined business cases.

Sproutr’s mission is to redefine the standards in insurance program and product design by simplifying the process of bringing regulated products to market. Sproutr achieves this through its tech-forward approach, proprietary frameworks & processes, and deep industry expertise, helping new and established MGAs/MGUs, program administrators, and others capitalize on market opportunities and avoid missteps.

Sproutr is comprised of experienced insurance operators who have successfully launched and scaled insurance programs across the P&C spectrum. The firm delivers end-to-end advisory, authoring, and execution support across all stages of development, including:

Market ValidationUnderwriting GuidelinesForm & Rate DevelopmentRegulatory FilingsCarrier Paper StrategyPost Launch Audits and More

“At Accelerant, we pride ourselves on helping our Members move with agility and purpose,” said Mike McAuliffe, President at Accelerant Underwriting Managers. “Sproutr has been instrumental in delivering on this promise, sharing our Member-centric worldview and helping them build products and programs that meet real market needs,” noted McAuliffe.

Sproutr’s team of insurance professionals (CUOs, Product Managers, Compliance Experts, etc.) has over 300 years of combined experience building products and programs. Currently, the firm supports over 35 customers and has successfully launched over 60 products and programs in just 2.5 years. Some of the customers that trust Sproutr include: Accelerant, Blitz Insurance, Boost, District Cover, Everspan, MGT Insurance Company, and Sertis, among others.

“Having built, launched, and managed programs at AIG, Hippo, Hanover, and Attune, I know firsthand how hard it is to bring new insurance products to market even when you have access to the required parts (paper, capacity, & product), ” said JoAnne Artesani, CEO & Founder, Sproutr. “I founded Sproutr to direct my experience towards building a practice dedicated to propelling founders and program writers in executing their visions using smart, cost-effective, and pragmatic approaches. At Sproutr, we call this “Seeing Beyond”. Today, we operate these principles at scale with a technology-driven, customer first approach and a growing team of incredible talent, which drove my decision to bring strategic capital into Sproutr,” explained Artesani.

Sproutr, a profitable insurtech startup with over 35 customers, plans to use its funding to create more value for its growing customer base by accelerating the firm’s execution of its technology roadmap and scaling its growing team. The firm is a proud partner program member of AAIS and an approved service provider of TMPAA. For more information about Sproutr, visit: https://www.sproutr.com/ 

About Sproutr
Sproutr is an insurance product design & build firm. Moving beyond advisory services, Sproutr exists to support start-up and legacy insurance providers in leading core insurance functions to validate, design, and author new or expanding product launch efforts. Their team has deep experience and credibility in leading underwriting, process, and product design and implementation within Fortune 500 companies and unicorn insurtechs. Choosing Sproutr means gaining the strength and credibility of a multi-disciplinary team that has navigated real industry obstacles. 

About Altai Ventures
Altai Ventures is a specialist venture capital firm with a focus on backing and incubating early-stage startups in financial services. Altai’s mission is to empower extraordinary founders to reinvent financial services by using its operating expertise, deep industry knowledge, and strategic LPs to drive immediate, meaningful value creation.

Media Contact:
JoAnne Artesani
info@sproutr.com
215-867-9277

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sproutr-raises-seed-round-to-help-mgasmgus-program-administrators-and-carriers-launch-innovative-pc-products-and-programs-faster-and-more-efficiently-302456025.html

SOURCE Sproutr Holdings LLC

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