Technology

APLU Launches $1.3M MAPSS Initiative, Selects Mentor Collective to Provide Mentorship Technology at Six Universities

Published

1 year ago

November 26, 2024

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) today announced the launch of the Mentorship for Academic & Personalized Student Success (MAPSS) Initiative, an innovative program funded by a $1.3 million grant from ECMC Foundation. This groundbreaking initiative will support six APLU member universities in developing and implementing sustainable peer mentorship models using technology-enabled solutions from Mentor Collective, a leading provider of student success platforms.

“We are honored to have been selected by APLU to provide the mentorship technology and support for this transformative MAPSS Initiative,” said Mentor Collective’s CEO Erin Mayhood. “As the chosen provider, we are fully committed to empowering these six universities with our cutting-edge mentorship platform and expertise. Through this collaboration, we are not just facilitating connections but equipping these institutions with the data-driven tools and resources to significantly impact student outcomes and address systemic barriers to success. This aligns perfectly with our mission to foster student success through meaningful mentorship.”

The three-year MAPSS Initiative aims to improve peer mentoring to drive student success across APLU member institutions. Mentor Collective will play a crucial role by providing its technology platform, which offers institutions meaningful data to identify and address barriers to student success.

Karen Vignare, Vice President for Digital Transformation for Student Success and Executive Director of the Personalized Learning Consortium at APLU, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative: “We’re thrilled to announce the opportunity for institutions to pilot and refine peer mentoring programs. We know peer mentoring can be a powerful way to help students thrive, and this work will help more institutions more fully leverage peer mentoring to advance student success.”

Jacob Fraire, President of ECMC Foundation, highlighted the importance of mentorship in student success: “Well-designed mentorship programs increase student success by providing essential support, fostering a sense of belonging, and offering resources needed for student success. MAPSS has the potential to address these challenges by developing structured, high-quality mentorship programs using technology-enabled services. We are proud to support this initiative and look forward to the positive impact it may have on our students.”

The MAPSS Initiative offers APLU member institutions the chance to:

Participate in an APLU-led community of practiceBuild institutional capacity for sustainable mentorship programsAccess Mentor Collective’s cutting-edge technology and supportIntegrate data-informed decision-making into overall student success strategiesCollaborate and share best practices with fellow APLU member campuses

Call for Proposals: December 20, 2024 Deadline

APLU member institutions are invited to apply to participate in the project. Applications are due December 20, 2024. For information on how to apply, please click here.

Program Timeline
Application Deadline: December 20, 2024
Program Duration: 2025–2027

APLU members interested in participating can contact APLU staff for detailed application instructions. Join the MAPSS initiative to collaborate with leading institutions and the Mentor Collective to build sustainable peer mentorship models that address systemic student success challenges.

About Mentor Collective
Mentor Collective is a Student Success Engagement solution that partners with colleges, universities, and corporations to improve retention, foster a sense of belonging, and enhance career readiness. By connecting students and employees with mentors who share similar backgrounds, we create meaningful relationships that support academic achievement and personal growth. Our platform leverages data analytics to identify individual needs, enabling organizations to provide timely support and activate appropriate resources.

About APLU
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) is North America’s oldest higher education association, founded in 1887. APLU’s membership comprises nearly 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The association fosters collaboration among university leaders to advance the mission of public research universities, focusing on increasing access, equity, completion, and workforce readiness, promoting groundbreaking scientific research, and bolstering economic and community engagement.

About ECMC Foundation
ECMC Foundation is a national foundation committed to eliminating equity gaps in postsecondary completion by 2040. The Foundation employs strategic grantmaking and program-related investments through Education Innovation Ventures to support nonprofit and for-profit ventures. Their focus areas include removing barriers to postsecondary completion, building organizational and institutional capacity, and transforming the postsecondary ecosystem.

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SOURCE Mentor Collective

Technology

1-800Accountant Launches Tax Savings Services Designed for 1099 Workers

Published

60 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

New offering helps independent contractors structure their business to reduce their tax burden from day one

NEW YORK, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 1-800Accountant, the nation’s leading virtual accounting firm for small businesses, announced the launch of a new service offering built specifically for 1099 workers and independent contractors. The service helps freelancers and self-employed professionals work with an accountant to select the right business setup for their income, with a focus on reducing taxes from the start.

Growth Is Outpacing Tax Readiness

Independent contractor work has grown significantly in recent years. 1-800Accountant’s client data shows sharp year-over-year growth across contractor-heavy industries, with Consulting up 17%, Construction up 10%, and Service-sector clients growing more than 200% compared to 2024. Despite this growth, many contractors continue to overpay their taxes because they operate without a formal business structure in place or the right tax election.

The gap is particularly visible in industries like Healthcare, Engineering, and Legal, where LLC adoption among 1-800Accountant clients sits at 81%, 72%, and 71%, respectively, well below the 90%-plus rates seen in higher-adoption industries like Construction and Real Estate. 1-800Accountant’s new business tax optimization service closes that gap by matching contractors with the right business type while ensuring their business is set up correctly before they file their first return.

“Independent contractors continue to be one of the fastest-growing segments of the American workforce, and they are also among the most underserved when it comes to strategic tax planning,” said Mike Savage, Founder and CEO of 1-800Accountant. “That lack of planning means that most 1099 workers don’t realize how much they’re leaving on the table. This service changes that. We’re giving contractors access to the same strategic advantages that established businesses have, ensuring the right business setup from the beginning.”

Tax Strategy Built In from Day One

These services walk clients through a structured process that includes accountant-recommended business types, registering with the appropriate state agencies, and coordinating with an accountant to ensure alignment between the structure and the client’s specific tax situation. 1-800Accountant integrates business setup for 1099 earners into a broader tax strategy tailored around each contractor’s income level, filing status, and long-term goals.

“What sets us apart is the tax strategy layer,” said Ryan Teeples, Chief of Strategy at 1-800Accountant. “What contractors and gig workers actually need are professionals to help them understand which tax setup makes the most sense for their income, their industry, and where they want their business to go. Then, we do the work to save on both their business and personal taxes. That’s what we’re delivering here.”

The service is available now to new and existing 1-800Accountant clients. Pricing starts at $19 per month (plus any government filing fees) and includes business setup evaluation, tax return preparation and filing, state registration, federal registration, simple-to-use AI bookkeeping software, and a consultation with a tax expert for onboarding and explanation of their individual tax situation.

About 1-800Accountant

1-800Accountant is the nation’s leading virtual accounting firm for small businesses and independent contractors. With a team of credentialed accountants and tax professionals, 1-800Accountant provides bookkeeping, tax preparation, tax planning, and advisory services to clients across all 50 states. The firm is committed to making professional accounting accessible and affordable for business owners at every stage.

Contact: Wyatt Johnson
Content Manager, 1-800Accountant
920-807-9159 | media@1800accountant.com

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SOURCE 1-800Accountant

Technology

9fin launches in APAC to expand global credit coverage

Published

60 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

With APAC playing a bigger role in increasingly complex global credit markets, 9fin brings the news, data and AI tools professionals need to navigate volatility

HONG KONG, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 9fin, the AI-native information platform for global debt markets, has formally launched in the Asia Pacific region, giving credit professionals access to cutting-edge news, data and analysis across private and public bonds and loans.

As the 9fin team continues to grow quickly across APAC from its initial base in Hong Kong, it is supporting firms locally by providing proprietary credit intelligence, comprehensive data, and AI-powered workflow tools, all within one unified platform.

The launch comes as the tussle between public and private markets intensifies in APAC, making it more important than ever for banks, asset managers, advisors, and law firms to have visibility across the full credit landscape. While bond issuance has dropped amid geopolitical disruption, private credit activity remains robust as borrowers seek alternative financing options.

By combining deal intelligence from local sources with its extensive global credit database and AI tools, the 9fin platform gives users a comprehensive view across fragmented markets. The APAC platform includes coverage of more than 1,800 issuers and 16,000 instruments, with issuance history dating back to 2003 following 9fin’s acquisition of Bond Radar, in March 2025.

9fin is already used by more than 300 institutions globally, including KKR, Apollo, BNP Paribas, and Kirkland & Ellis. The company’s APAC buildout — supported by its $170 million Series C fundraise in March 2026 — marks the next phase of its global expansion.

Steven Hunter, CEO and co-founder at 9fin, commented: “APAC is a complex region and is becoming even more so as private markets expand and geopolitical volatility increases. The region needs a faster, smarter platform covering the full picture across bonds, loans, private credit and distressed. That’s exactly what 9fin provides. With our full platform now live in APAC, we’re giving our users the clarity to make informed decisions, faster.”

9fin’s APAC launch follows its expansion across the US, Europe, and Latin America, with CEEMEA to follow.

About 9fin

9fin is the AI-native platform for global debt markets. Founded by former J.P. Morgan banker Steven Hunter and Deutsche Bank engineer Hussam EL-Sheikh, the company combines data, analytics, and AI-powered workflows in a single platform, helping clients work smarter and faster to outperform their peers.

The company is headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Hong Kong, and Belfast and with teams across Latin America and Asia. For more information, visit 9fin.com.

Media contacts
Jessica Simpkin
jessica.simpkin@9fin.com
Shree Dhond/Katie Nerantzis
Dukas Linden Public Relations | 9fin@dlpr.com

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Technology

Trimble First Quarter Earnings Call and Webcast

Published

60 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

WESTMINSTER, Colo., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB) will hold a conference call on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 8 a.m. ET to review its first quarter 2026 results. The call will be broadcast live on the web at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/544327873. Analysts who wish to dial into the call may do so by first registering at https://events.q4inc.com/analyst/544327873?pwd=s5ilhwSm. Upon registration, dial-in details will be sent via email to the registrant.

About Trimble

Trimble is a global technology company that connects the physical and digital worlds, transforming the ways work gets done. With relentless innovation in precise positioning, modeling and data analytics, Trimble enables essential industries including construction, geospatial and transportation. Whether it is helping customers build and maintain infrastructure, design and construct buildings, optimize global supply chains or map the world, Trimble is at the forefront, driving productivity and progress. For more information about Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB), visit: www.trimble.com.

FTRMB

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SOURCE Trimble