Technology

Chaos Agents Private Alpha launches along with crowdfunding campaign on Republic, oversubscribed within 6 hours

Published

1 year ago

December 26, 2024

Popularium’s first game sees more than 20,000 players applying for 1,000 Alpha spots, closes $50,000 equity crowdfunding target in less than 6 hours

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Chaos Agents, the world’s first autobattler-royale, designed by Richard Garfield and the first game developed by Popularium, launched its private Alpha today. Since the announcement of the private Alpha at Gen Con 2024 in Indianapolis, more than 20,000 players have signed up for 1,000 seats. To meet the demand, Popularium will increase the number of Alpha seats to 5,000 for the initial launch of the Alpha, and plans to expand the Alpha beyond 10,000 players in early 2025.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response to the Alpha announcement,” said Arka Ray, President and CTO at Popularium. “The number of players who want to join the Alpha and experience Richard’s vision has been over 20 times more than we anticipated. And we continue to get hundreds of new applications each week. We’re expecting more than 30 thousand applicants by year end. The team is working through the holidays to accommodate as many players as possible at this early stage of the Alpha. We want every applicant to have an opportunity to experience Chaos Agents as soon as possible.”

To prepare for this rapid expansion, Popularium launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on the Republic platform. The campaign was fully committed and then oversubscribed within six hours of launching publicly. The Popularium campaign on Republic enables members of the public to invest in Popularium. Ray attributed the rapid close of the campaign to players and fans of Popularium co-founders Richard Garfield (Magic: the Gathering) and Jonathan Bankard (Hearthstone, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Command and Conquer) wanting to directly support the development of their next original game.

“This is an exciting time for Chaos Agents,” said Garfield in a community Q&A on the occasion of launch of the Chaos Agents Alpha and crowdfunding campaign on Republic. “The game is being really well received by players, much more so than I expected at this early stage. There are so many different types of play modes that we want to build into Chaos Agents, and thanks to the community and the technology we have built, it’s becoming clear what we can and should be building. There’s no more exciting time for a game’s development when players are clearly enjoying it, but at the same time the opportunities for improvements seem endless.”

The Alpha Launch follows the announcement that Popularium has committed to the “forever multiplayer game” model for Chaos Agents. Through the use of dedicated servers and its proprietary Chaos Cloud Gaming Engine, Popularium plans to ensure that Chaos Agents will be a multiplayer game that “can’t be killed” or taken offline. Players are expected to always have a way to play the game with the globally unique superheroes they have recruited to their team. Garfield and Ray attributed the positive response from this announcement as having helped generate additional interest in the Chaos Agents Alpha and crowdfunding campaign.

In Chaos Agents, the first game of the “autobattler-royale” genre, players coach and guide a globally unique superhero – their Chaos Agent – to victory in a grand battle royale against dozens of other Agents. The player coaches and powers their hero up through deep, strategic card play similar to Garfield’s legendary games, such as Magic and Keyforge, and then sits back and watches as their Agent goes to battle, preparing for the next round of upgrades. Each Agent is globally unique – which means that only one player in the world will be able to play with an Agent at a time and become the global expert on that Agent.

“Evolving and creating new genres is just so much fun,” said Jonathan Bankard, Game Director for Chaos Agents. “All of us at Popularium have worked on projects like Magic and Hearthstone that started as small dreams that ended up impacting many more players than we initially hoped. We are trying something similar with Chaos Agents–to bring the autobattler genre of games to many more people through the proven format of battle royales. The advantage we now have is the early involvement of our community in helping us polish this uncut gem into a brilliant, shining diamond through their play and now investments that let them own a piece of Popularium.”

Chaos Agents plans to expand its Alpha in late January together with the Second Chaos World Championship, and plans to expand the Alpha capacity each month before entering Early Access in late 2025. Players can sign up for the Alpha at popularium.com and request priority access by joining the Chaos Agents Discord server.

About Popularium: Popularium was founded by an all-star team of gaming industry veterans behind the largest multiplayer games and platforms in history, such as Magic: The Gathering, Hearthstone, World of Warcraft, and Xbox Live, to innovate and create gaming experiences. Popularium started from a simple idea: What would games look like if they involved the community from an early stage? What if this community had the tools to impact the narrative and economy by playing games the way they want to, rather than the way games wanted them to play? Chaos Agents, designed by Popularium co-founder Richard Garfield, is Popularium’s first effort to bring this vision to life.

Press Contact: Chris Gale, Chris@GaleStrategies.com

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SOURCE Popularium

Technology

BrightParent Introduces Personalized Parenting App for Parents of Kids Ages 5 to 17

Published

14 minutes ago

April 19, 2026

BrightParent gives parents personalized support, in-the-moment guidance, and 7-day programs for everyday challenges like bedtime battles, homework conflict, big emotions, and sibling tension.

MONTREAL, April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — BrightParent, a new parenting app for iPhone and iPad, is now available on the App Store.

“BrightParent was created as a parenting tool that can not only help in the moment, but also support families as they work through patterns that come up again and again.”

Designed for parents of children ages 5 to 17, BrightParent was created to address a gap many families run into every day: parenting advice often sounds good in theory but can feel too generic, too idealized, or too hard to use when real situations are unfolding at home.

“Parents are often trying to respond well in moments that are messy, emotional, and moving fast,” said Claire Bennett, media contact for BrightParent. “What is missing in a lot of existing advice is something that feels calm, practical, and specific enough to help with the child and situation right in front of you.”

BrightParent focuses on common parenting situations such as bedtime resistance, homework struggles, emotional outbursts, sibling conflict, screen time transitions, difficult mornings, and everyday boundary issues.

The app begins with a detailed onboarding process that helps parents build a fuller picture of their child and family context. That information helps shape the support BrightParent provides, so the guidance reflects the child’s age, the situation the parent describes, and the broader family context.

Parents can type in what is happening and receive practical guidance along with simple, natural scripts they can use with their child. For families working through recurring challenges, BrightParent also offers structured 7-day programs, including custom programs parents can create around the specific issues they want help addressing over time.

“The goal was not to build another general-purpose chatbot,” Bennett said. “BrightParent was created as a parenting tool that can not only help in the moment, but also support families as they work through patterns that come up again and again.”

BrightParent is built specifically for everyday parenting support. It is not a general purpose chatbot and does not provide medical, clinical, therapeutic, diagnostic, or crisis services.

BrightParent is available now on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

Website: https://www.brightparent.app/

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6759067566

Media page: https://www.brightparent.app/media /

About BrightParent

BrightParent is a parenting app for iPhone and iPad designed for parents of children ages 5 to 17. It offers age-appropriate guidance, practical scripts, and structured support for everyday parenting situations, with personalization informed by the child and family context shared during setup.

Media Contact

Claire Bennett, BrightParent, 1 514-558-4664, media@brightparent.app, https://www.brightparent.app/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/brightparent-introduces-personalized-parenting-app-for-parents-of-kids-ages-5-to-17-302746332.html

SOURCE BrightParent

Technology

Cloverleaf Analytics Unveils 2026 Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform

Published

14 minutes ago

April 19, 2026

Pearl Holding Group Goes Live, and Company and CEO Earn Industry Accolades

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Cloverleaf Analytics, a leader in insurance intelligence decisioning, today proudly announces the launch of its 2026 Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform. This purpose-built solution is designed to optimize data processing and analytics operations for the insurance industry, delivering an end-to-end automated data pipeline from source ingestion to Snowflake, powered by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

“Its implementation will free up our team to focus on strategic initiatives and better customer interactions rather than antiquated technology and business operations,” said Mike Mobley, VP of Operations at Pearl Holding Group.

This product announcement represents a significant advancement in insurance technology, transforming processes that previously took days to generate meaningful insights into mere minutes.

In addition to the platform launch, Cloverleaf Analytics has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Insurtech Providers by Everest Group, solidifying its position as an industry leader. Furthermore, Cloverleaf’s Founder and CEO, Robert Clark, has been named a finalist for Thought Leader of the Year in the PropertyCasualty360 Insurance Luminaries awards in the vendor category, highlighting his contributions to advancing the insurance industry.

“Cloverleaf Analytics has been listed in Everest Group’s Top 50™ Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Technology Providers 2026 research. This recognition is attributed to its coverage across major P&C lines of business and key value-chain functions, along with its continued growth in North America,” says Aurindum Mukherjee, Practice Director at Everest Group. “Its strategic investments in GenBI, conversational analytics, and AI-driven data integration within its Intelligent Insurance Platform, supported by an expanding partner ecosystem, underscore its focus on AI-led decision intelligence for P&C insurers.”

After recently announcing Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance as its newest customer, Cloverleaf continues to build momentum with Pearl Holding Group now live on Cloverleaf Analytics for Guidewire InsuranceNow claims. Cloverleaf is also supporting Pearl’s transition from legacy systems, with Policy operations currently being implemented.

This phased approach enables Pearl Holding Group to modernize its data infrastructure while laying the foundation for broader adoption of Cloverleaf’s Insurance Decision Intelligence capabilities.

“We are excited to benefit from the streamlined claims operations and enhanced data integrity that Cloverleaf Analytics provides,” said Mike Mobley, VP of Operations at Pearl Holding Group. “Its implementation will free up our team to focus on strategic initiatives and better customer interactions rather than antiquated technology and business operations.”

More About the 2026 Platform Launch

The Cloverleaf Analytics Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform is designed to transform how insurance organizations handle data and decision-making processes. With built-in features such as intelligent field matching, a visual rule builder, and automated ETL script generation, the platform allows companies to reduce mapping time from hours to minutes, reducing human error and standardizing transformation logic across operations.

Benefits for Customers:

Reduced Time and Resources: Transforms data processing tasks that previously took days into minutes.Enhanced Data Quality: Built-in business rules and validation mechanisms protect data integrity from the start.Increased Autonomy: Business users can manage validation logic without relying solely on IT.

Additional Key Features of the Cloverleaf Analytics Platform:

AI-Powered Transformation Suggestions: Automatically generates SQL expressions for improved data manipulation.Visual Canvas for Multi-Source Joins: Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for merging various data sources.Automated Glue Script Generation: Seamlessly create production-ready ETL scripts, removing the burden from data engineers.

“The 2026 edition of our Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a paradigm shift for how the insurance industry leverages data,” said Michael Schwabrow, EVP of Sales and Marketing of Cloverleaf Analytics. “We’re moving beyond basic analytics to empower carriers with real-time, actionable intelligence that transforms decision-making, significantly reduces operational burden, and ultimately builds greater trust and efficiency across the ecosystem. This is about delivering unprecedented clarity and agility to our customers.”

Cloverleaf Analytics is proud to be a Gold and Wi-Fi sponsor at the AAIS Main Event conference taking place from April 19-21 at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. Insurers interested in seeing how they can make better, faster decisions using Cloverleaf’s Insurance Decision Intelligence platform can sign up for a 10-minute demo in advance of the event here. Cloverleaf Founder and CEO Robert Clark will also speak on April 21 in a session titled “Advancing the Industry Through Data Contribution and openIDS,” alongside Josh Hershman of the Connecticut Insurance Department and Michael Payne of AAIS.

About Cloverleaf Analytics

Cloverleaf Analytics is a leader in Insurance Decision Intelligence for P&C insurers, helping mid-to-large carriers turn complex insurance data into faster, better underwriting, claims, and operational decisions. The Cloverleaf Insurance Decision Intelligence platform is purpose-built to help carriers easily migrate disparate data from legacy, multi-core, Guidewire and other sources into an Insurance Decisioning Intelligence data lake, regardless of where the data lives. All insurance data in Cloverleaf supports the openIDS standard format. Learn more at www.cloverleafanalytics.com.

Media Contact

Michael Schwabrow, Cloverleaf Analytics, 1 (512) 361-7173 2121, mschwabrow@cloverleafanalytics.com, www.cloverleafanalytics.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/cloverleaf-analytics-unveils-2026-insurance-decision-intelligence-platform-302740205.html

SOURCE Cloverleaf Analytics

Technology

SIRUI Wins “Best of Show”, Unveils New Cine Lenses at NAB Show 2026

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2026

LAS VEGAS, April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SIRUI today received a “Best of Show” award for its Vision Prime T1.4 Full-Frame Cine Lens Series, while also introducing new focal lengths for both the Vision Prime and IronStar lens families at the 2026 NAB Show. The expanded lineups give filmmakers a more complete range of creative options, from ultra-wide to telephoto, backed by flexible mount systems.

“Winning the ‘Best of Show’ award is a strong recognition of our commitment to optical innovation,” said Lijie, CEO of SIRUI. The Vision Prime Series is SIRUI’s first cine lens lineup featuring an interchangeable mount system. This design delivers outstanding compatibility, allowing users to effortlessly switch between different camera mounts as needed and seamlessly adapt to various systems.

Enhancing cost-effectiveness and shooting flexibility

Vision Prime Series – 15mm, 75mm, and 150mm

The Vision Prime Series is a full-frame, large-aperture, compact cine lens lineup. Following the existing 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm focal lengths, the series now adds a 15mm wide-angle, along with 75mm and 150mm medium-telephoto lenses, delivering a more complete focal range. With exceptional bokeh, outstanding low-light performance, and superior optical quality, the Vision Prime Series is ideal for both content creation and professional cinematography.

The Vision Prime Series come with a variety of interchangeable mount modules, allowing one lens to work across multiple camera systems — significantly enhancing cost-effectiveness and operational flexibility.

15mm – Optimized for wide-angle imaging, perfect for landscape photography.75mm – Delivers natural compression and pleasing subject‑background separation, perfect for portraits and medium telephoto shots.150mm – Designed for close-up and telephoto shooting, ideal for detailed and macro-style photography.

Cinematic widescreen, made simple.

IronStar Series – 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm

The IronStar series delivers widescreen imagery with vintage characters and modern optical performance. With a constant 1.5X squeeze ratio, it offers filmmakers consistent, high-value tools for films, ads, documentaries, and more.

The initial set includes three lenses—35mm, 45mm, and 60mm—covering wide-angle to medium focal lengths to meet essential framing needs. The introduction of 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm lenses completes the system, forming a fully expanded ecosystem that provides comprehensive support for both commercial and artistic cinematography.

75mm – Suitable for dialogue scenes and storytelling shots, offering a natural and balanced perspective. Ideal for portraits and close-ups with pleasing compression100mm – Ideal for macro and close-up shots, capturing fine details, textures, and product features with strong subject isolation. Suited for food, jewelry and product commercials, combining close-focus capability with a cinematic perspective.135mm – Ideal for tight portraits and close-ups, delivering strong compression and excellent subject separation. Suited for isolating details and subjects from busy backgrounds in narrative films.

The new Vision Prime and IronStar focal length lenses are expected to be officially available in the second half of 2026. For further details, please stay tuned to SIRUI’s official store.

Capture Your Imagination

The NAB Show runs through April 22. SIRUI will host a series of speeches and live social media streams with filmmaking experts and talented content creators at booth C4539. The new Vision Prime and IronStar focal lengths empower filmmakers with greater creative freedom — and SIRUI continues to drive professional lens innovation for creators worldwide.

About SIRUI

SIRUI, the world’s leading anamorphic lens, lighting equipment, and camera support brand, has long been dedicated to providing filmmakers with the ultimate shooting experience. SIRUI products, known for their high performance at an affordable price, have been widely recognized and highly commended by budding filmmakers and professionals worldwide. So far, SIRUI has established an impressive customer service network around the world, as well as over 300 sales outlets and terminal showrooms.

For more information, please visit:
Official Website: store.sirui.com
Instagram: @siruiimaging
YouTube: @SIRUIImaging
TikTok: @sirui.optical
Facebook: SIRUIImaging

Contacts:
marketing@sirui.com

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SOURCE SIRUI