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WeTV Continues the Phenomenon with CHUANG Asia Season 2

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International Idol Survival Show Launches with 5 Top Artists “THE 8 – BamBam – Jeff SaturTia Ray – Yaya Urassaya” Set to Mentor the Next International Boy Group Sensation

BANGKOK, Feb. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — WeTV is back to ignite the entertainment scene across Asia with the launch of its mega international project, CHUANG Asia Season 2. The idol survival show aims to discover talented trainees from around the globe to become international stars. This season highlights a stellar lineup of five renowned artists as the mentors: Xu Minghao (THE 8), BamBam Kunpimook Bhuwakul, Jeff Satur, Tia Ray, and Yaya Urassaya Sperbund. They will guide the trainees across singing, rapping, dancing, and acting to discover the stars of tomorrow and prepare them for debut as an international boy group destined to shine on the Asian entertainment stage.

Jeff Han, Vice President of Tencent Video and Director of WeTV, remarked: “Following the success of CHUANG Asia Season 1, which was one of our flagship shows last year, we received overwhelming support from fans across Thailand and Asia. The show’s format, quality, entertaining moments, and the charisma of the mentors and trainees became a major draw. The final night, Grand Debut Night, set new milestones, garnering over 2.5 billion views and more than 500 million votes through the WeTV app. #CHUANGAsia topped Thailand’s trending hashtags on X and #CHUANGAsiaGrandDebutNight mentions exceeded 1 million. This led to the successful debut of Gen1es’, the girl group from the first season whose popularity continues to go from strength to strength. With this foundation, we are confident that CHUANG Asia Season 2 will garner immense support from fans and partners alike. This season opens doors for young and passionate talented males from all over the world to train and prepare for their debut as the next international boy group.”

Juan Xiang, Director of International Business at Tencent Video and Head of Management of WeTV, added: “One of the key highlights of CHUANG Asia Season 2 is the team of mentors, which has drawn significant attention. This year, we’ve assembled top-tier global artists, including Xu Minghao (THE 8), BamBam Kunpimook Bhuwakul, Jeff Satur, Tia Ray, and Yaya Urassaya Sperbund to guide the trainees in every aspect of the entertainment industry. The mentors have become a signature element of the CHUANG Asia franchise, as their chemistry and expertise deeply resonate with both trainees and audiences. This year’s production builds upon the feedback from Season 1 and is enhanced with strong support from partners and sponsors, ensuring that CHUANG Asia Season 2 will captivate and win the hearts of the audiences.”

Star-Studded Team of Producers and Mentors Bringing Together 5 Big Names in Thailand’s and Asia’s Entertainment

Xu Minghao (THE 8), a Chinese multi- trend artist, and a member of SEVENTEEN, expressed: “As a producer of CHUANG Asia Season 2, I’m delighted to be part of such an important opportunity. I hope the trainees can discover their unique strengths during the show’s team-building process. I look forward to seeing them grow into better versions of themselves and prepare to debut as a new boy group that will succeed in the global music industry.”

BamBam Kunpimook Bhuwakul, a Thai artist, K-POP star, and member of GOT7, shared his thoughts on his first full-fledged producer role: “I think the journey of being an idol isn’t all glamorous. It requires enduring pressure and perseverance, but it also comes with immense love. My role in this show is both exciting and challenging. I’ll do my best to guide all 60 trainees. Most importantly, I encourage them to stay determined, sincere, and true to themselves. I also hope fans will join us in sending love and support to all the trainees.”

Jeff Satur, the only returning mentor from Season 1 to provide his vocal mentorship once again, said: “I’m thrilled to return to CHUANG Asia for its second season. This time, I’ve thoroughly prepared and done my homework to help discover the next boy group. I hope to pass on my experience to the trainees and that they enjoy being part of this journey in CHUANG Asia Season 2.”

Tia Ray, a renowned Chinese singer and songwriter, concluded: “I’m truly honored to be one of the mentors on the show this year. To all the trainees who have been selected, I encourage you to embrace your individuality, accept differences, and strive to showcase your true potential to make your dreams come true.”

Yaya Urassaya Sperbund, a beloved and experienced Thai actress taking on the role of a mentor for the first time, shared:  “I feel deeply honored and very excited to be a mentor for the first time on CHUANG Asia Season 2. It’s also an amazing opportunity to work alongside four incredibly talented mentors. I truly believe that every effort has its own significance. I’d like to invite all the fans to follow and support the trainees and witness their growth together with me.”

CHUANG Asia Season 2 will air every Sunday at 4.50 PM, starting February 2, 2025. Viewers can watch the TV version on Channel 3 and the full version via the WeTV app [https://bit.ly/CHUANGAsiaS2]. Fans can support and vote for their favorite trainees throughout the season and follow highlights and updates via all social media channels of CHUANG Asia and WeTV Thailand.

About WeTV

WeTV is positioned as the video streaming platform for the best Asian entertainment. It is Thailand’s leading provider of web- and application-based video streaming service under Tencent Thailand, a leading provider of internet-based content platforms and technologies in Thailand. WeTV originated from expansion of Tencent Video, China’s No. 1 video streaming platform, to overseas markets and regions. Thailand was the first that Tencent Video entered with official launch of WeTV video streaming service in 2019. WeTV is operated by Tencent Thailand. In addition to bringing world-class content to Thais, WeTV brings quality content from Thailand to international viewers, including those in China (through Tencent Video) and other service areas (through WeTV application), making them viewable to billions of people across Asia. WeTV is today accessible worldwide and currently supports more than ten languages of subtitle translation to provide an enriched viewing experience to local users.

For more information, please contact:
Porrapa Sombatpium 082-442-6955 email: p_porrapa@global.tencent.com
Sutthirak Tangjintaaksorn 089-968-8119 email:  p_sutthirak@global.tencent.com

For press information, please contact: Verve PR
Pannarai Jumpee (Gift) 081-974-7613 email: pannarai.jumpee@vervethailand.com
Hongsucha Leenatam (Off) 086-909-1239 email: hongsucha.leenatam@vervethailand.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/wetv-continues-the-phenomenon-with-chuang-asia-season-2-302366078.html

SOURCE WeTV

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Light Raises $46 Million to Scale the Power Company for Embedded Electricity

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Founded by former Head of Product at Plaid, Light is expanding beyond Texas as businesses increasingly embed electricity into their products and services

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Light, the power company enabling embedded electricity products for businesses, today announced $46 million in Series A funding led by Matrix and joined by Activate Capital and existing investors including Spark Capital, Mischief, Gigascale Capital, MCJ and BoxGroup. The round brings Light’s total funding to approximately $60 million, with the company’s capital base exceeding $100 million, including its credit facility, as it scales its rapidly growing partner ecosystem.

U.S. power demand is hitting record highs, AI infrastructure growth is accelerating, and residential electricity prices have climbed nearly 40% in five years. As energy moves to the center of household and enterprise budgets, owning the electricity relationship has become essential to driving core product sales, deepening customer engagement, and unlocking new revenue for expansive categories of companies.

Yet, becoming an electricity provider requires navigating state-by-state licensing, wholesale power procurement, commodity risk management, billing, customer support and grid integration – a process that can take years. Meanwhile, working with standalone electricity providers limits companies to referring customers to one-size-fits-all electricity plans.

Light was founded to unleash innovation in power. Through its API platform, companies can launch embedded electricity plans tailored to their customers and integrated into their existing offerings in as little as two weeks. As the regulated electricity provider, Light manages the energy stack behind the scenes – from compliance and customer support to Virtual Power Plant operations – so partners can offer electricity without building from scratch. Light already supports partners across:
 

Real estate and proptech: embedding electricity plans directly into resident onboarding to streamline move-ins and generate revenueBattery and solar: combining behind-the-meter systems, grid electricity service and VPP benefits in one place to simplify sales and eliminate customer confusionMobility: offering subscription EV charging plans that make energy costs predictable and help sell more EVs and chargersFintech: lowering customers’ electricity bills to deliver savings and increase engagement

“Every decade has produced a new infrastructure layer that changed how companies build products and serve customers, from software to embedded financial services. Electricity is the next frontier,” said Baker Shogry, co-founder and CEO of Light. “Light removes the barriers, enabling any company to offer tailored electricity services as seamlessly as they offer payments, financing or other products today.”

“At Plaid, Baker saw how the right infrastructure layer can create entirely new categories of companies and products,” said Matt Brown, Partner at Matrix. “Energy has reached a similar inflection point. The underlying infrastructure and operations have been too complex for enterprises to build themselves, so Baker, Adam and the team built Light to make embedded electricity possible.”

Alongside the financing, Light continues expanding its platform and geographic reach, including:

Membership with PJM, the nation’s largest wholesale electricity market, paving the way for expansion beyond Texas, beginning in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and IllinoisA broadened battery offering, enabling partners to bundle home battery systems with electricity plans that provide backup power and support a more resilient gridIts first EV-centric product, allowing partners to offer subscription charging plans alongside solar buyback and traditional electricity plans on one platform

Today, Light’s partner network reaches more than 30% of all U.S. residential solar sales, over 500,000 homeowners, and more than 1 million multi-family units, with partners including Palmetto, GoodLeap, Emporia, Public Grid, Lunar Energy, and Moved. In the first half of 2026, 100% of new electricity brands entering the Texas market launched on Light’s platform, up from over 70% in 2025, while Light increased run-rate revenue 10x over 12 months.

Headquartered in Austin, Light has grown to over 35 employees and expects to more than double its headcount over the next 12 months while investing in product innovation and geographic expansion.

About Light
Light is a power company enabling businesses to offer branded electricity products through a modern API platform. As the regulated electricity provider, Light manages the complexity of providing electricity – including licensing, wholesale procurement, billing, customer support, and VPP participation – allowing businesses to embed customized electricity offerings directly into their products and services.

matrix@bambybig.agency

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/light-raises-46-million-to-scale-the-power-company-for-embedded-electricity-302864996.html

SOURCE Light

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Women’s Capital Summit Announces Women in Sports Programming Focused on Investment, Ownership and Entrepreneurship

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Sophia Bush to spotlight the growing opportunity to invest in women’s sports and women entrepreneurs

NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Women’s Capital Summit will bring together leading voices from sports, investing, business and media for a timely conversation on the rapidly expanding economic opportunity surrounding women’s sports and women entrepreneurs.

As investment in women’s sports continues to accelerate, the Summit will examine what comes next: how investors, leagues, founders and business leaders can build on that momentum to create lasting value, expand ownership opportunities and ensure women entrepreneurs benefit from the growth of the sports economy.

Actor, activist, entrepreneur and investor Sophia Bush will participate in the Summit to speak about the importance of investing in women’s sports and backing women entrepreneurs. Bush has been an outspoken advocate for women’s leadership and economic opportunity and has invested in businesses and initiatives advancing women.

A featured session, “Beyond the Game: Investing in the Future of Sports,” will explore where capital is moving across the sports ecosystem and the opportunities emerging for investors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

The panel will feature:

Dr. Jan Adams, Founder and CEO, JMA Solutions & Co-Owner, DC Power FCAli Curtis, Executive Vice President, Major League Soccer & President, MLS NEXT ProLorine Pendleton, Founder & Managing Partner, 125 VenturesModerator: Julie Donaldson, news anchor and reporter, WTTG FOX5 DC

The discussion will examine the expanding sports investment landscape, including team and league growth, technology and innovation, athlete entrepreneurship, new business models and the role of private capital in shaping the future of the industry.

“Women’s sports is no longer an emerging opportunity—it is a growing and increasingly sophisticated investment market,” said Gwen Young, CEO of Women Business Collaborative. “The opportunity extends well beyond teams and leagues. Women athletes are becoming investors, founders and business leaders, while entrepreneurs are building companies across media, technology, health, consumer products and the broader sports ecosystem. The Women’s Capital Summit is designed to bring those entrepreneurs together with the capital and relationships needed to grow.”

The Women’s Capital Summit brings together investors, founders, corporate leaders and ecosystem partners with a focus on moving capital to women entrepreneurs. Through panels, investor conversations, matchmaking and relationship-building, the Summit creates opportunities for women founders to connect directly with the people and institutions capable of funding and scaling their businesses.

The sports programming reflects the Summit’s broader mission: moving beyond conversations about representation toward meaningful investment, ownership and economic participation.

About the Women’s Capital Summit

The Women’s Capital Summit convenes women entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders and ecosystem partners to accelerate the flow of capital to women-founded businesses. The Summit focuses on creating actionable connections between founders and capital providers while highlighting emerging investment opportunities across industries.

About Women Business Collaborative

Women Business Collaborative is an alliance of organizations and leaders working together to accelerate the advancement of women in business. Through collaboration, research, convenings and strategic initiatives, WBC works to advance women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and economic opportunity.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/womens-capital-summit-announces-women-in-sports-programming-focused-on-investment-ownership-and-entrepreneurship-302866363.html

SOURCE Women Business Collaborative

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SprintRay Introduces Midas Restore™, a New Definitive Restorative Material Engineered for Midas Digital Press

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Glass ceramic and zirconia-filled restorative material combines advanced material science with SprintRay’s Midas Digital Press technology for same-visit crowns, inlays, onlays and veneers

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SprintRay, a dental technology company advancing dental 3D printing and digital manufacturing, today announced the commercial launch of SprintRay Midas Restore™, a new FDA-cleared ceramic and zirconia-filled definitive restorative resin engineered specifically for the Midas Digital Press.

With over 75% filler by weight, Midas Restore brings glass ceramic and zirconia together in a formulation designed around what matters in definitive restorative dentistry: strength where it counts, resistance to occlusal wear, lasting polish and natural aesthetics. The material enables dentists to produce definitive crowns, inlays, onlays and veneers through a streamlined same-visit digital workflow.

Unlike restorative materials engineered primarily around maximum strength, Midas Restore was designed around how a definitive restoration polishes, wears, flexes and functions once adhesively bonded to remaining tooth structure, while maintaining the required clinical strength.

“If we could 3D print enamel, this is it.”

The statement captures the design philosophy behind Midas Restore: creating a restorative material that balances polish retention, wear resistance, strength, surface hardness, stiffness, and optical performance while working in concert with the natural tooth.

“Traditional dental 3D printing forces a compromise: the material has to be fluid enough to print, which limits how highly filled it can be,” said Amir Mansouri, CEO and Founder of SprintRay. “Midas Restore was designed in our material science lab to address that limitation. By pairing a highly filled glass ceramic and zirconia formulation with Midas Digital Press, we can give clinicians access to a new class of definitive restorative materials and bring them into an efficient same-visit workflow.”

Designed Around the Bonded Tooth

For decades, restorative materials have been engineered around bulk strength. Glass ceramics and zirconia are brittle, so their primary defense against crack propagation is shear strength — which in turn means more tooth reduction and stiffness well beyond what function requires.

Midas Restore takes a different approach. Its resin matrix is designed to arrest cracks rather than simply resist them, and its flexural modulus sits closer to dentin than to a glass ceramic. Once adhesively bonded to remaining tooth structure, the restoration becomes part of a system in which material and tooth distribute function together, rather than concentrating stress at the interface.

SprintRay laboratory testing demonstrated that Midas Restore retained 98% of its initial gloss after 5,000 simulated toothbrush abrasion cycles, and delivered five times the wear resistance of SprintRay Ceramic Crown over 200,000 cycles — wear performance comparable to a milled hybrid ceramic. In biaxial flexural testing, Midas Restore reached a maximum strength of 215 MPa, the highest of any SprintRay definitive restorative material.¹ The surface hardness was measured to be greater than 80 HV, statistically equivalent to a leading nanofilled direct composite and roughly double that of previous-generation printed restorative resins. Its translucency parameter of 13.5 places it in the same range as milled lithium disilicate HT.²

“We engineered Midas Restore around how a restoration actually behaves once it is bonded to a tooth, not around a single strength number,” said Hossein Bassir, Chief Product Officer at SprintRay. “Filler content, polish retention, wear resistance, modulus and optics are not separate features. They are one system, and the tooth is part of it.”

Made to Be Pressed

Achieving this combination of properties requires a filler loading that conventional dental 3D printing cannot process. Highly filled formulations are highly viscous, and viscous material does not flow into a print zone on its own.

SprintRay’s Digital Press Stereolithography (DPS) technology actively pushes highly viscous material into the print zone from sealed capsules. That is what allows Midas to work with filler loads over 75% by weight — and it is why Midas Restore is engineered exclusively for the Midas Digital Press.

Built for Same-Visit Dentistry

Midas Restore brings definitive restorative material into a streamlined digital workflow spanning scanning and design through pressing, post-curing, polishing and bonding.

Clinicians can press multiple units from a single capsule, post-cure in four minutes, and polish restorations to final with two wheels in under two minutes — with no glaze or oven required. Midas Restore can also be adjusted, added to and repaired intraorally before adhesive cementation, supporting definitive delivery without a provisional, second appointment or lab bill.

Midas Restore builds on the Midas Digital Press platform, introduced in 2024. Since its launch, clinicians across 33 countries have produced more than 100,000 restorations with Midas. Early clinical evaluation of Midas Restore has also demonstrated straightforward finishing and polishability.

“With Midas Restore, I can achieve a beautiful, lasting surface gloss in just two or three quick polishing steps with a standard polishing system,” said Andrew C. Johnson, DDS, MDS, CDT, FACP, Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and prosthodontist at OmniSmile Digital Dental Solutions, who participated in the early clinical evaluation of Midas Restore. “That combination of durability, aesthetics and straightforward finishing is what I expect as a clinician from a definitive restorative material. This is an exciting time for digital dentistry.”

Availability

Midas Restore will be available beginning September 1, 2026, in the United States in shades A1, A2, A3, B1 and C2. A three-pack of Single-Unit Capsules is $135 and will be available through the SprintRay Store and authorized SprintRay distribution partners.

Midas Restore is validated for use with the SprintRay Midas Digital Press and SprintRay NanoCure. In the United States, it is FDA 510(k) cleared (K260661), Class II, Rx only.

¹ Maximum value. ISO 6872, piston-on-three-balls. Mean 180 MPa. ² Shade A1; other shades may vary.

About SprintRay

SprintRay is a dental technology company specializing in dental 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions for dental professionals. The SprintRay ecosystem combines dental 3D printers, Digital Press technology, biocompatible dental materials, AI-powered design software and post-processing solutions to help clinicians deliver restorative, prosthetic and appliance-based care in the dental practice.

By developing hardware, software and materials as connected systems, SprintRay is working to make advanced digital dentistry and chairside manufacturing more accessible, efficient and clinically practical at the point of care. For more information, please visit www.SprintRay.com.

Media Contact

Press@sprintray.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sprintray-introduces-midas-restore-a-new-definitive-restorative-material-engineered-for-midas-digital-press-302865937.html

SOURCE SprintRay, Inc.

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