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CONNECTED Conference Unites Over 2,000 Global Innovators to Conceptualize Humanity’s Future

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Oct. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The CONNECTED-2024 conference, held on October 18-19 in Astana, brought together over 2,000 participants from 27 countries, including leading futurists and experts who shared their insights on the future of humanity. The event focused on creating a synchronized vision grounded in harmony and synergy, addressing the rapid advancement of technology.

This international conference served as a unique platform for globally recognized thought leaders to present their perspectives on contemporary challenges and opportunities. By uniting global agents of change—including individuals, social movements, and organizations—the conference aimed to foster social transformation and elevate collective consciousness.

Notable attendees hailed from various nations, including the USA, UK, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Poland, Croatia, Finland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, China, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Israel, Turkey, the UAE, South Africa, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan.

Serik Tolukpayev, entrepreneur and founder of AITAS, the event’s general sponsor, highlighted the prevailing sense of uncertainty in today’s world. “We face significant global challenges and conflicts across geopolitics, religion, and ideology. Together, we sought to explore a fundamental question: what should we do with our ego? It is vital that we pave the way for these discussions,” Tolukpayev remarked.

“Our mission is to demonstrate that a community in Kazakhstan is proactively thinking about the future—20 to 30 years ahead. Understanding what world will succeed our current one is crucial, and I believe it should be governed by human values and harmony,” he added.

Serik Zhunussov, CEO of the AITAS Foundation and founder of CONNECTED, echoed these sentiments. “We aim to approach today’s pressing world issues through a broader worldview. In this time of uncertainty, is it possible to achieve global synchronization of our shared vision for the future? Nature provides us with examples of this, such as the synchronized movements of fireflies and metronomes. They illustrate an important truth: global narratives can find harmony.”

The CONNECTED conference embraced an Open Mind format, allowing participants to explore a range of perspectives across disciplines—from science and art to philosophy and social sciences. This approach fosters creative thinking, enhances empathy, and cultivates collaboration in an increasingly complex world.

“Responsibility towards the world, respect for humanity, societal benefits, environmental stewardship, and investment in future generations are integral to our mission. These principles are part of our organizational DNA,” stated Ruslan Zhemkov, Co-founder and General Producer of the conference. “We aim to unite talented thinkers from around the globe.”

A highlight of the conference was a keynote address by Yuval Noah Harari, historian and bestselling author, who discussed the implications of technology on humanity’s future. He cautioned against the potential dangers of Artificial Intelligence developing its own values, emphasizing the need for proactive discourse on this critical issue.

“Humans have always lived in a world crafted by human consciousness. However, as AI begins to generate new values, we must grapple with the ramifications for our political and financial systems,” Harari warned.

Another prominent speaker, Gerd Leonhard, a Swiss futurist and author, presented on the dichotomy of technology’s potential. He stressed the importance of balancing technological advancement with the preservation of human values, stating, “In an era dominated by AI, our worth will be measured not by our efficiency but by our unique human qualities.”

The conference also featured other distinguished speakers, including Rae Kwon Chung, a Nobel laureate in green economy; Tanya Schindler, President of the Association of Futurists; and Peter Frankopan, Professor at the University of Oxford.

In addition to discussions, the conference hosted a Startup Battle competition for EdTech startups from Central Asia and Eastern Europe, awarding a total prize fund of $50,000 to five innovative teams.

Looking ahead, CONNECTED aims to become a permanent global platform for discourse among agents of change, addressing major global narratives and their associated challenges.

The general sponsor of CONNECTED is AITAS, Kazakhstan’s leading agro-industrial holding, with strategic partnerships from the Foundation for Sustainable Development of Education and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

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SOURCE CONNECTED 2024

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Honoring Dr. J. Craig Venter’s Legacy, Human Longevity Launches Clinical-Grade $599 Whole Genome Sequencing Report with AI-Enhanced Insights for Proactive Disease Prevention

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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Human Longevity, Inc. today announced the launch of its new Clinical-Grade $599 Whole Genome Sequencing Report, designed to bring advanced genomic medicine and AI-driven disease prevention to the general population.

Despite major advances in medicine, most diseases today are still identified only after symptoms appear — often limiting opportunities for earlier intervention and prevention. While genomic sequencing has generated vast amounts of biological data, one of healthcare’s biggest challenges has been translating that data into actionable health insights at scale.

Human Longevity’s new offering honors the legacy of Dr. J. Craig Venter, whose pioneering work helped decode the first human genome and transform modern medicine.

More than two decades ago, the Human Genome Project required over $3 billion and years of international effort to decode a single human genome. Today, Human Longevity is making a clinical grade genome sequencing broadly accessible with a comprehensive AI-enhanced genomic insight platform for just $599.

Dr. Venter long predicted that the human genome would play an increasingly important role in managing individual health and preventing disease. In recent years, a growing body of global scientific research has continued to validate this vision, demonstrating that genomics is becoming a foundational tool for predicting disease risk, guiding prevention strategies, and enabling more personalized healthcare.

“Dr. Venter believed that genomics would fundamentally transform medicine from reactive sick care to a proactive healthcare model,” said Wei-Wu He, Ph.D. Executive Chairman of Human Longevity Inc. “A decade ago, he founded Human Longevity to combine whole genome sequencing with advanced imaging, including Whole Body MRI, multi-omics data, longitudinal health data and AI, to help people live longer, healthier lives. We are proud to continue that mission by democratizing access to decades of work led by Human Longevity.”

Over the last decade, Human Longevity has invested more than $600 million building one of the world’s most comprehensive longitudinal health datasets. The company has collected and analyzed data from more than 10,000 individuals over a 10-year period, enabling the development of proprietary AI-driven insights focused on major age-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and dementia.

The new Clinical-Grade Whole Genome Sequencing Insight Report is designed to provide individuals with actionable insights into inherited disease risks, carrier status, pharmacogenomics, longevity-associated traits, and personalized disease prevention opportunities.

“Our vision is simple,” added Dr. He. “Every individual should have access to their genome and AI-powered health insights. The genome is the foundation of modern preventive medicine.”

The new service will be available nationwide immediately through Human Longevity’s website.

For more information, visit:

Human Longevity Website

About Human Longevity, Inc.

Founded in 2013, Human Longevity, Inc. is a biotechnology company at the forefront of integrating genomics, artificial intelligence, and multimodal diagnostics to extend human healthspan founded by genomics pioneer J. Craig Venter. HLI delivers comprehensive, data-driven evaluations designed to identify and mitigate disease risk long before symptoms arise. The company is committed to redefining healthcare through AI-driven proactive diagnostics and personalized preventive care.

To learn more, visit http://www.humanlongevity.com/.

Media Contact:
media@humanlongevity.com
www.humanlongevity.com

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SOURCE Human Longevity, Inc.

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DocuPet Launches AnimalsFirst Integration to Increase Pet Protection Nationwide

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SYRACUSE, N.Y., May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DocuPet is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with AnimalsFirst, marking the official launch of an integrated solution designed to connect animal welfare organizations directly with DocuPet’s National Pet Registry. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in DocuPet’s long-term vision to streamline shelter operations while expanding pet registration across North America.

For several years, DocuPet has invested in building a flexible, scalable software infrastructure capable of supporting integrations with leading shelter management systems. With the continued growth of the National Pet Registry and the National Animal Shelter Network (NASN), DocuPet is now positioned to activate these capabilities AnimalsFirst offers a highly customizable shelter management platform that supports adoptions, foster coordination, medical tracking, and field services for approximately 120 animal welfare organizations. Through this partnership, shelter partners using AnimalsFirst will be able to directly register adopters and their pets into the National Pet Registry through a streamlined backend integration.

Expanding Protection Through the National Pet Registry

At the core of this partnership is a shared commitment to increasing the number of pets enrolled in DocuPet’s National Pet Registry. Registration is a critical step in protecting pets, ensuring that accurate, up-to-date ownership information is readily accessible when a lost animal is found.

DocuPet’s HomeSafe® service plays a vital role in this effort. Each registered pet receives a free tag with a unique code linked to its secure online profile. When a lost pet is found, anyone can use the information on the tag to quickly initiate the reunification process. This immediate connection dramatically improves return-to-home rates and reduces the time pets spend in shelters.

Getting visible identification tags on pets is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to keep animals safe, and the success is multiplied when using DocuPet tags that offer superior reunification benefits. By increasing registration at the point of adoption and throughout the community, DocuPet and its partners are helping ensure more pets have the protection they need.

“We are thrilled to partner with AnimalsFirst and to be able to offer our registration program to shelters and pet owners utilizing their platform,” said Jackie Rose, CSO of DocuPet. “This enhanced and streamlined process will allow pet owners to easily register to receive the protection benefits of having a free pet identification tag, connected to our 24/7 lost pet recovery system.” 

Strengthening the Animal Welfare Ecosystem

This integration supports a broader, interconnected animal welfare ecosystem that includes pet owners, shelters, and animal control agencies. For pet owners, it provides peace of mind and an easy way to safeguard their animals. For shelters, it helps reduce overcrowding and administrative burden by increasing successful reunifications. For animal control officers, it offers a fast, reliable method to identify and return lost pets in the field.

By embedding registration opportunities directly into shelter workflows, DocuPet and AnimalsFirst are helping create a more proactive, efficient system; one that prioritizes prevention, accelerates reunification, and ultimately improves outcomes for animals and the communities that care for them.

This partnership underscores DocuPet’s commitment to leveraging technology to support animal welfare organizations, reduce administrative burden, and ensure more pets are protected through reliable identification and recovery services.

About DocuPet
DocuPet is the largest and fastest-growing pet registration and reunification platform in North America, providing official pet licensing services to more than 300 jurisdictions. DocuPet provides free lost pet services through HomeSafe®, and a unique product offering with an AI-powered pet tracker, designer pet tags, and other pet products/services. DocuPet is transforming how communities support animal welfare through inventive thinking and pioneering technology.

About AnimalsFirst
AnimalsFirst is a customizable shelter management software platform designed to support the operational needs of animal welfare organizations, including adoption management, foster coordination, medical tracking, and field services.

For more information, visit https://partnerships.docupet.com

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SOURCE DocuPet

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Boundary Labs Announces $2M Pre-Seed Led by Galaxy Ventures to Launch Verifiable Institutional Stablecoin, USBD

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The current stablecoin landscape often forces institutions to rely on trust in opaque centralized models, off-chain systems, and reserves. Boundary is solving this by introducing a protocol where verifiability is the core product feature.

NEW YORK, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Boundary today announced the closing of a $2M USD pre-seed funding round led by Galaxy Ventures. Joining the round are a cohort of leading institutional finance partners and angels, including VCs BlackWood and FirstBlock Capital. The capital will accelerate the launch of USBD, a novel stablecoin protocol engineered specifically for financial and blockchain institutions and approved participants who require a new standard of on-chain verifiability in the >$300B stablecoin market.

“Trust but verify” is a phrase core to the on-chain industry as it champions a critical principle where institutions and retail should not just trust but also verify that what a protocol says and offers is real. Without real verifiable, there is no real trust. This is paramount to the industry’s security, stability, and scalability. However, the current stablecoin landscape often forces institutions to rely on trust rather than working with immediately verifiable products and reserves.

Boundary is solving this by introducing a protocol where verifiability is the core product feature. By providing institutional counterparties with clear technical documentation and a framework for verifiability of reserves and stablecoin performance, Boundary allows institutions to move on-chain with the certainty required for large-scale institutional stablecoin use cases like treasury management, regulated wrappers, and on-chain collateral.

The Boundary Protocol introduces a sophisticated structure designed for institutional compliance and operational clarity:

On-chain Verifiability: Unlike first generation stablecoins, USBD is built for continuous auditability of financial fundamentals, providing institutions with the data-driven confidence needed for professional participation and fiduciary products.Institutional-Only Onboarding: Access will be facilitated through a dedicated dApp designed for rigorous KYC and KYB workflows, ensuring only qualifying institutional participants enter the ecosystem in the institutional growth phase.Strategic Ecosystem Support: As a participant in several institutional partnerships, soon to be announced, and having completed a security audit by Cyfrin, Boundary has quickly positioned itself as the project with the leading technology to ensure protocol integrity.

“Boundary represents a proposition that speaks the language of institutional finance,” said Matthew Mezger, Co-Founder of Boundary. “By prioritizing verifiability and partnering with Galaxy Ventures, we are providing the professional-grade infrastructure necessary to reach our initial milestone of $100M in Total Value Locked (TVL) in 2026”.

Following today’s announcement, and building on a successful proof-of-concept for the protocol’s self-funding capability through derisked decentralized market participation, Boundary will initiate a Private Placement Campaign to onboard initial institutional partners.

“Institutional adoption of stablecoins is not only well underway but already proving its value in real-world use cases. With a long runway of growth still ahead, unlocking the full potential of stablecoins requires infrastructure that is not just secure, but inherently verifiable,” said Danny Slutsky, Investor at Galaxy Ventures. “Boundary’s focus on professional participants and its goal to bridge the gap between traditional finance and blockchain makes it a promising player in growing the stablecoin market.”

About Boundary: Boundary Labs is mandated by the Boundary Foundation and Boundary OpCo to lead the design, development, and commercial representation of the Boundary project. Based in New York City, the firm provides financial institutions and professional participants with secure, verifiable access to the USBD stablecoin and the broader Boundary Protocol ecosystem. For more information, visit https://boundary.finance/.

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SOURCE Boundary Labs International, Inc.

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