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Saudi Arabia’s AI.M Accelerator to be Led by SparkLabs Group

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Artificial Intelligence Mission (AI.M) is a national initiative that aspires to stimulate a comprehensive system of innovation in the field of artificial intelligence

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 25, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Artificial Intelligence Mission (AI.M) is a national initiative that aspires to stimulate a comprehensive system of innovation in the field of artificial intelligence and contribute to strengthening the Kingdom’s leadership role regionally and globally in artificial intelligence within the next 5 years. The initiative was created by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s National Technology Development Program (NTDP), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA).

“We are excited to have SparkLabs leading our accelerator program for AIM. They are the ideal partner since they not only bring a solid track record as investors and the ability to help our local founders to become successful and build impactful companies,” stated Ibrahim Neyaz, CEO at NTDP

A core part of AI.M will be its startup accelerator program, AIM-X, which will be led by SparkLabs Group, an early-stage venture capital firm that has invested in over 550 startups across the globe. SparkLabs has been investing in AI since 2016, and was one of a handful of investors who directly participated in OpenAI’s recent financing round. They have invested in other AI leaders such as Vectara, Gideon Bros, Kneron, Anthropic, Aquabyte and Lucidya.

“We are excited to have SparkLabs leading our accelerator program for AIM. They are the ideal partner since they not only bring a solid track record as investors but have proven access to top AI founders and the ability to help our local founders to become successful and build impactful companies,” stated Ibrahim Neyaz, CEO at NTDP.

SparkLabs has brought on board various leaders in AI to assist in the accelerator program and other investments. Their advisors include people such as Amr Awadallah, Co-founder of Cloudera and now Co-founder and CEO at Vectara, generative AI search company for enterprise; Sang Cha, Founder of the Graduate School of Data Science at Seoul National University and Transact In Memory, which was acquired by SAP. Venture Partners include Spiros Margaris, a venture capitalist and the global No. 1 fintech and leading AI influencer, recognized for his strategic advisory and board roles in these sectors; Nathan Lands, the Founder of Lore.com, which has an AI newsletter with a readership exceeding 20,000, and Co-host at the Next Wave podcast with Hubspot; Nils Westerlund, who lead the growth team at RunwayML; Joel Pazhayampallil, Co-founder and CEO at Bluespace.ai, who previously was a co-founder of Drive.ai that was acquired by Apple; and Brian Behlendorf, CTO at the OpenWallet Foundation and Chief AI Strategist at the Linux Foundation.

“We are honored and excited to be partnering with AIM to launch the AIM-X Accelerator Program. We are eager to help develop and nurture the AI ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, and have activated our global network to source the most promising AI startups, both foreign and domestic, to join our inaugural cohort slated to begin this September. We strongly believe that KSA is poised to become a key AI hub for the region as well as globally, ” said William Chu, Managing Partner at SparkLabs AI Lab.

AIM-X powered by SparkLabs will begin accepting applications on June 14th and companies can apply to the following link. Primarily early-stage (seed & series A) AI startups are encouraged to apply, and will be receiving a $200,000 investment for up to 6% of equity. The program will begin on September 17, 2024.

About NTDP
The National Technology Development Program (NTDP) is a national program in Saudi Arabia that contributes to enhancing and ensuring the effectiveness of technology ecosystem by achieving a sustainable development using various components in collaboration with the stakeholders. Its goal is to facilitate Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a leading global Technology Hub by 2030 and to strengthen the Saudi tech-ecosystem with innovative financial solutions. For further information, you can visit here: http://www.ntdp.gov.sa

About SparkLabs Group
SparkLabs Group (http://www.sparklabsgroup.com) is a network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds that has invested in over 550 startups across 6 continents since 2013. The firm has made an impact as innovation ecosystem builders that help local startups go global and uplift the foundations of entrepreneurship in countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and Saudi Arabia.

Media Contact

Bernard Moon, SparkLabs Group, 650-454-5244, bernard@sparklabsgroup.com, www.sparklabsgroup.com 

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SOURCE SparkLabs Group

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Brightstar Lottery Receives Highest MSCI ESG Rating of AAA

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LONDON, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Brightstar Lottery PLC (NYSE: BRSL) (“Brightstar”) announced that it received the highest MSCI ESG rating of AAA. This rating exemplifies Brightstar’s commitment to global sustainability leadership in managing ESG-related risks and opportunities. Brightstar received a perfect score for carbon emissions and high scores in the product safety and quality category.

“Receiving the MSCI AAA ESG rating in Brightstar’s first year as a pure-play lottery company highlights our commitment to making sustainability practices a priority throughout our business,” said Wendy Montgomery, Brightstar SVP, Branding, Communications and Sustainability. “This rating from MSCI serves as motivation to continue our work building a sustainable future where our people, our partners, and our planet can thrive.”

MSCI ESG Ratings measure a company’s resilience to long-term, industry-specific sustainability risks using a rules-based methodology. MSCI analysts research and rate companies on a ‘AAA’ (leader) to ‘CCC’ (laggard) scale based on their exposure to and management of these risks relative to peers.

MSCI Sustainability and Climate products and services are provided by MSCI Solutions LLC and certain related entities, and are designed to provide in-depth research, ratings and analysis of environmental, social and governance related business practices to companies worldwide. ESG ratings, data and analysis from MSCI Sustainability and Climate are also used in the construction of MSCI Indexes.

Brightstar received its MSCI ESG rating on March 23, 2026.

About Brightstar Lottery PLC
Brightstar Lottery PLC (NYSE: BRSL) is a global leader in lottery focused on innovation and forward-thinking strategies and solutions, building on our renowned expertise in delivering secure technology and producing reliable, comprehensive solutions for our customers. As a premier pure play global lottery company, our best-in-class lottery operations, retail and digital solutions, and award-winning lottery games enable our customers to achieve their goals, entertain players and distribute meaningful benefits to communities. Brightstar has a well-established local presence and is a trusted partner to governments and regulators around the world, creating value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. Brightstar serves nearly 90 lottery customers and their players on six continents. It is the primary technology provider to 26 of the 46 lottery jurisdictions in the U.S. and eight of the world’s 10 largest lotteries. Brightstar has approximately 6,000 employees. For more information, please visit www.brightstarlottery.com or follow along on LinkedIn.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning Brightstar Lottery PLC and its consolidated subsidiaries and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions, and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, products and services, customer relationships, results of operations, or financial condition, or otherwise, including specific sustainability goals, based on current beliefs of the management of the Company as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, such management. Forward-looking statements may be accompanied by words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “shall,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project” or the negative or other variations of them. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company’s control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those predicted in the forward-looking statements and from past results, performance, or achievements. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to) macroeconomic, regulatory and political uncertainty, including as a result of new or increased tariffs, trade wars, and other restrictions on trade between or among countries in which the Company operates, and related changes in discretionary consumer spending and behavior, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, and the other factors and risks described in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed or furnished from time to time with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.brightstarlottery.com. Except as required under applicable law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider these factors and other risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company’s business. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company, or persons acting on its behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Contact:
Mike DeAngelis, Corporate Communications, +1 (401) 392-1000, mike.deangelis@brightstarlottery.com
Matteo Selva, Italian media inquiries, +39 366 6803635
James Hurley, Investor Relations, +1 (401) 392-7190

© 2026 Brightstar Lottery PLC

The trademarks and/or service marks used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Brightstar Lottery PLC, its affiliates or its licensors.

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SOURCE Brightstar Lottery PLC

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CNFinance Files Annual Report on Form 20-F for Fiscal Year 2025

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GUANGZHOU, China, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CNFinance Holdings Limited (NYSE: CNF) (“CNFinance” or the “Company”), a leading home equity loan service provider in China, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 30, 2026.

The annual report can be accessed on the Company’s investor relations website at http://ir.cashchina.cn as well as the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov

The Company will provide a hard copy of its annual report, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests should be directed to the Company’s IR Department at ir@cashchina.cn

About CNFinance Holdings Limited

CNFinance Holdings Limited (NYSE: CNF) (“CNFinance” or the “Company”) is a leading home equity loan service provider in China. CNFinance, through its operating subsidiaries in China, conducts business by connecting demands and supplies through collaborating with sales partners and trust companies under the trust lending model, and sales partners, local channel partners and commercial banks under the commercial bank partnership model. Sales partners and local channel partners are responsible for recommending micro- and small-enterprise (“MSE”) owners with financing needs to the Company and the Company introduces eligible borrowers to licensed financial institutions with sufficient funding sources including trust companies and commercial banks who will then conduct their own risk assessments and make credit decisions. The Company’s primary target borrower segment is MSE owners who own real properties in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities and other major cities in China. The Company’s risk mitigation mechanism is embedded in the design of its loan products, supported by an integrated online and offline process focusing on risks of both borrowers and collateral and further enhanced by effective post-loan management procedures.

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SOURCE CNFinance Holdings Limited

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Abram’s Kaizen Program Announces 10-Year Milestone in Online Health Coaching

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LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Abram’s Kaizen Program, an online health coaching program for women aged 35 and older, today announced that it has served more than 6,000 clients since its founding in 2014 and currently supports approximately 1,000 active members.

The program was founded by Abram Anderson, a nutritionist, published author and public speaker who developed the company’s methodology after investing, by his account, more than $200,000 in direct mentorship from practitioners in behaviour change, gut health and women’s hormonal health. Abram’s Kaizen Program focuses on women navigating perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause — a demographic the company says is often overlooked by mainstream weight management programs.

“A lot of women in this age group come to us after trying multiple approaches that didn’t produce the results they were looking for,” said Abram Anderson, Founder of Abram’s Kaizen Program. “Our program offers a different framework. Whether it’s the right fit depends on the individual, but the demand we’ve seen over the past decade tells us there’s a gap in the market.”

Abram’s Kaizen Program uses what the company calls a “Data-Driven Decision” methodology — an approach adapted from the Japanese manufacturing principle of kaizen, or continuous improvement. Rather than prescribing standardised meal plans, clients are guided to track how their bodies respond to specific foods. Monitoring energy levels, digestive patterns and weight fluctuations and use that information to make individualised dietary adjustments.

The program places emphasis on gut microbiome health and hormonal balance, which the company considers relevant factors in weight management for its target demographic. Research published in Frontiers in Nutrition has explored the relationship between gut microbiota composition and metabolic health, including the role of low-grade inflammation.

Program members receive access to a custom mobile application, a support chat with responses guaranteed within 24 hours, optional access to over 20 live coaching calls per week with nutritionists, a year-long curriculum, and an AI coaching assistant. “The goal is for clients to build habits they can sustain on their own,” said Abram Anderson. “We want people to eventually graduate from the program, not stay in it indefinitely.”

About Abram’s Kaizen Program

Abram’s Kaizen Program is an online health coaching program for women aged 35 and older. Founded in 2014 by nutritionist and published author Abram Anderson, the program uses a personalised, data-informed approach with a focus on gut health and hormonal balance. The program has served more than 6,000 clients and currently supports approximately 1,000 active members. For more information, visit abramskmtp.com

Media Details:

Company Name: Abram’s Kaizen Program
Founder: Abram Anderson
Email Contact: media@abramskmtp.com
Company Website: https://www.abramskmtp.com/
Location: Los Angeles, United States

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2964712/Abrams_Kaizen_Program.jpg

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