Technology

BETTER ANGELS AND IMAGINE LA LAUNCH LA DISASTER RELIEF NAVIGATOR

Published

1 year ago

February 6, 2025

First-of-its-kind online tool is part of comprehensive set of initiatives designed to provide immediate support to victims of the fires

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Better Angels, whose mission is to solve the homelessness epidemic in Los Angeles by harnessing the power of the LA community, and Imagine LA, whose mission is to end family homelessness and generational poverty, have created and launched the LA Disaster Relief Navigator. The online tool helps Angelenos impacted by the wildfires effectively navigate the many resources potentially available to them. The solution was developed in collaboration with the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, the Office of Mayor Bass, the Annenberg Foundation, the R&S Kayne Foundation, NavaLabs and the Red Cross.

The Navigator is designed to help people access every aspect of fire relief, including applying for federal, state and local government assistance; making insurance claims; temporary and permanent housing solutions; income loss mitigation; and other critical services. The solution provides victims with a personalized recovery action plan based on their specific situation, making the recovery process immediately actionable and putting the community on a path to recovery. For those in severe economic hardship, the Navigator connects people needing additional help with case management personnel.

“We have mobilized our entire organization to develop and deliver wildfire relief, providing information, funding and resources for Angelenos impacted by this tragedy,” said Adam Miller, Co-Founder & CEO of Better Angels. “We are particularly concerned about individuals and families who were already vulnerable prior to the disaster, and we want to ensure that they are properly supported in the recovery process.”

“People who have lost their home or their income because of the wildfires are not only in shock, they are paralyzed by information overload,” said Jill Bauman, Founder & CEO of Imagine LA, the creators of the Benefit Navigator. “This solution is human-centered and gives them a clear, actionable plan.”

The LA Disaster Relief Navigator is one of a series of initiatives by Better Angels to support victims of the fires. Better Angels is leveraging its team and resources, while working with key partners, to help those who have been left homeless, jobless, or both as a result of the wildfires. The recovery initiatives include:

Emergency Assistance Fund: Six days after the fires began, Better Angels launched an Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF) to support economically vulnerable families impacted by the fires. For these low-income families, the fires have created a uniquely precarious situation, one which has the potential to plunge many of them into homelessness. The money provides immediate relief around critical items such as food, clothing, transportation and medicine. Applications are reviewed daily, then verified by the Better Angels team, and following an underwriting process, awards are directly deposited into individuals’ accounts daily. Better Angels received a significant grant from the LA Tech Community Cares Fund to expand the EAF program. Individuals and families can apply here: https://www.betterangels.la/emergency-assistance-fund.

Resource Days: Leveraging Better Angels’ existing Resource Day program, these events throughout LA County provide anyone who is unhoused and in crisis with food, water, hygiene supplies, mental health and medical services, housing navigation services, and other essentials. The Better Angels Services Team hosted a Resource Day in Encino while under an evacuation warning, co-hosted an event at Whittier Narrows a few days after it was evacuated for local fires, and partnered with LA Mission to host a services event near Altadena last week. Better Angels will be hosting many more of these events in the coming weeks and months at locations throughout LA County, including some of the areas most impacted by the wildfires.

HireMy: In addition to thousands of people who lost their homes, many of the most economically vulnerable Angelenos who were domestic workers in those homes are now unemployed. Better Angels has launched a referral network called HireMy to match experienced housekeepers, nannies, landscapers and other domestic workers who lost their jobs with those who need services.

Donation Center: In partnership with social influencer Kiley Coleman and girltalk, Better Angels is supporting the girltalk Donation Center, which provides long-term support to individuals and families who’ve lost everything. The Donation Center has created a retail-like experience for people who have lost their homes from the fires, providing clothes, shoes, food, home goods and other essentials free of charge. All of the items at the Donation Center have been donated by the LA community.

About Better Angels:
Better Angels is on a mission to solve LA’s homelessness epidemic by harnessing the power of the Los Angeles community. Better Angels is taking a holistic approach to solving homelessness with community engagement, advocacy, world-class technology, and a strong dose of pragmatism across five critical areas of need: Prevention, Technology, Services, Shelter and Housing.

For more information or to donate, please visit betterangels.la/wildfire-response.

About ImagineLA:
Imagine LA, founded in 2006, is a social impact organization specializing in helping individuals and families maximize public benefits and chart permanent pathways out of homelessness and poverty. In 2023, Imagine LA developed the Benefit Navigator, a one-stop-shop online tool that helps case managers and their clients to quickly navigate and access the complex arena of federal, state and local public benefits and refundable tax credits. The Benefit Navigator has helped people access over $125 million in additional benefits and feel confident to increase their earned income by an average of 25%.

About the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles:
In support of Mayor Karen Bass’ work to reduce and end homelessness in Los Angeles the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles is focused on preventing Angelenos from becoming homeless. It has brought together business, philanthropy, nonprofits, and local government to help keep Angelenos housed. Through outreach, case management and expanded legal services the Fund’s We Are LA program has connected over 53,000 Angelenos to needed services and helped stabilize housing for more than 23,000 Angelenos at risk of eviction and homelessness. The Mayor’s Fund is spearheading case management services to the Angelenos severely economically impacted by the Wildfires, particularly those at risk of homelessness.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/better-angels-and-imagine-la-launch-la-disaster-relief-navigator-302370672.html

SOURCE Better Angels

Technology

Jtibot Showcases Autonomous Outdoor Sweeping Innovation at Interclean Amsterdam 2026, Accelerating European Market Expansion

Published

35 minutes ago

April 24, 2026

AMSTERDAM, April 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Jtibot, a developer of autonomous outdoor cleaning solutions, concluded a successful showcase at Interclean Amsterdam 2026, highlighting its focus on large-scale, AI-driven sweeping for industrial, municipal, and campus environments.

At Hall 8, Booth 538, Jtibot presented its autonomous outdoor sweeper designed for environments exceeding 10,000 sqm. Positioned between traditional equipment and emerging robotics, the system addresses the growing demand for more efficient and less labor-dependent outdoor cleaning operations.

During the exhibition, Jtibot attracted strong interest from European distributors and facility management professionals seeking scalable solutions for large-area maintenance. The company was also featured in an official media interview at the event, reflecting increasing attention toward autonomous technologies in the cleaning industry.

Jtibot’s approach centers on human-machine collaboration. By reducing repetitive manual work while maintaining operational flexibility, its systems support more sustainable and efficient facility management practices. This aligns with broader ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) priorities, including improved resource efficiency and enhanced working conditions.

Building on its presence at Interclean, Jtibot is currently advancing discussions with multiple European partners for regional distribution and deployment. The company is also in the final stage of a fleet procurement agreement valued at approximately $1.4 million, signaling early commercial traction in large-scale applications scenarios.

“As outdoor environments continue to grow in scale and complexity, automation is becoming essential,” said Steven, VP at Jtibot. “Our goal is not to replace people, but to empower them—making operations more efficient and labor more sustainable.”

Following Interclean Amsterdam 2026, Jtibot is actively expanding its European partner network and preparing for broader market deployment across key regions, as it accelerates its global commercialization strategy.

About Jtibot
Jtibot specializes in autonomous outdoor sweepers designed for large-scale environments. By combining AI-driven navigation with industrial-grade hardware, the company enables efficient, scalable, and sustainable cleaning operations worldwide.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jtibot-showcases-autonomous-outdoor-sweeping-innovation-at-interclean-amsterdam-2026-accelerating-european-market-expansion-302752777.html

Technology

2U Refinances and Raises Growth Capital

Published

35 minutes ago

April 24, 2026

ARLINGTON, Va., April 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Many education technology companies spent 2024 and 2025 scaling back. New university partnerships slowed as institutions built internal capacity. Against that backdrop, 2U completed a growth recapitalization, with its existing owners putting growth capital into the business alongside a refinancing of its current credit facilities.

The question worth asking is: why now, and what did they see?

2U operates edX, a global online learning platform originally co-founded by Harvard and MIT that now reaches more than 100 million people through over 5,300 programs with 250-plus institutional and enterprise partners. Employees from more than 60% of Fortune 500 companies use edX for professional development. To date, over 76,000 people have graduated from 2U-powered degree programs from leading institutions, including UC Berkeley, Howard University, and Georgetown. The company has been privately held since completing a financial reorganization in 2024, and Kees Bol has served as CEO since January 2025.

Lincoln International, which advised 2U on the transaction exclusively, described the refinancing outcome: extended credit maturities, improved capital structure, and financial flexibility to continue executing on 2U’s long-range plan. Managing Director Alex Stevenson said the deal “reflects the confidence of 2U’s owners in the long-term value of the business.”

Confidence in what, exactly? The AI workforce training market. Skills in AI-affected roles are evolving 66% faster than average according to PwC research, and IDC has estimated that unfilled AI skills gaps could cost the global economy $5.5 trillion. Universities and enterprises are both trying to solve that problem, and both are looking for platforms with the breadth and accreditation backing to do it credibly.

2U’s partnerships are designed for exactly that. IBM’s six technical microcredentials on edX train the engineers and data scientists who build AI systems. Microsoft’s CxO Edge program, launched in late 2025, targets the C-suite executives who need to move from AI pilots to enterprise-wide adoption, part of a Microsoft presence on edX that has drawn over 40,000 learners in the past six months alone.. Oxford’s Faculty of Law program addresses governance: what board members and legal advisors need to understand about AI liability, compliance, and fiduciary responsibility. UC Berkeley’s Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) online program prepares learners to shape the future of AI and data science with human-centered values and focuses on solving the world’s most pressing data challenges. Each program exists because a specific employer community identified a specific gap.

That’s the differentiation investors are backing. Generic online courses are abundant. Programs designed in partnership with IBM, Microsoft, UC Berkeley, and Oxford’s Faculty of Law and delivered on a platform with proven Fortune 500 adoption are not.

Credentials earned on 2U’s edX platform carry the academic standing of the issuing partner institutions. Its programs span executive education, professional certificates, microcredentials, and accredited online degree programs, all powered by 2U’s infrastructure but conferred by partner universities and institutions with their own accreditation.

HolonIQ data puts the broader trend in context: microcredentials grew from 7% of global online program offerings in 2022 to 19% by 2025. The shift toward stackable, job-aligned credentials, in addition to traditional degrees, is real and accelerating. The global online education market is projected to exceed $200 billion as that trend matures. 2U’s decision to build depth in short-form, employer-designed AI training aligns directly with where learner demand is heading.

None of this is abstract for the organizations that use edX at scale. When a company needs to certify 500 engineers on AI development, or prepare its entire C-suite for a board presentation on AI governance, the platform’s reach and credential quality both matter. A certification backed by IBM and a degree from institutions such as Berkeley carries weight with hiring managers in a way a generic online course does not.

The refinancing extends 2U’s ability to keep building that catalog and the partnerships behind it. Stevenson framed it as giving the management team “the financial foundation to keep executing on its mission.” The mission, under Bol’s leadership, is straightforward: help universities and enterprises close the AI skills gap by meeting learners where they are, at the pace the market demands.

The investors who contributed growth capital made a bet that a platform that reaches 100 million people and has 250-plus partners, including IBM, Microsoft, UC Berkeley, and Oxford in its program portfolio, is better positioned to close that gap than any platform that would need to build from scratch.

Media Contact:
Kees Bol
social@2u.com

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Technology

Autonomous Resource Corporation and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Partner to Accelerate AI-Enabled Defense Manufacturing at National Scale

Published

35 minutes ago

April 24, 2026

Strategic partnership combines ORNL’s supercomputing and advanced manufacturing expertise with ARC’s autonomous production platform to address critical defense industrial base shortfalls

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. and NEW YORK, April 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Autonomous Resource Corporation (ARC), a Delaware corporation, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the U.S. Department of Energy’s largest multi-program science and energy laboratory, today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a strategic public-private partnership to accelerate the on-demand manufacture of qualified, mission-critical components for U.S. national security applications.

The partnership combines ORNL’s HPC and manufacturing capability with ARC’s ARCNet distributed AI-manufacturing platform

The partnership — known as the Exascale Foundry — will combine ORNL’s computing and manufacturing capabilities with ARC’s ARCNet distributed manufacturing platform to create a closed-loop system for AI-enabled materials and manufacturing qualification and autonomous production at defense-relevant scale.

“The United States faces an urgent need to rebuild its manufacturing capacity for critical defense components,” said Bryan Wisk, CEO of ARC. “By combining ORNL’s world-leading computational, materials science, and manufacturing capabilities with our autonomous production infrastructure, we can compress manufacturing and qualification timelines from years to months and deliver manufactured parts at the volumes the warfighter needs.”

Partnership Highlights

Under the MOU, ARC will deploy advanced manufacturing equipment organized into seven production nodes connected to ORNL via ARC’s secure ARCNet infrastructure. ARC will expand capability through ORNL’s high-performance computing (HPC) resources.

ORNL will provide access to HPC expertise for simulation-driven materials characterization and qualification, along with technologies developed at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF), the Department of Energy’s only large-scale, open-access advanced manufacturing facility. ORNL’s Peregrine AI software, which has analyzed over 1.9 million additive manufacturing layers, will be integrated into ARC’s production nodes for real-time adaptive control and quality assurance.

This partnership also supports DOE’s Genesis Mission, a national initiative to build the world’s most powerful scientific platform to accelerate discovery science, strengthen national security and drive energy innovation. ARC and ORNL’s collective capabilities will help reenvision advanced manufacturing and industrial productivity, accelerate defense production and qualification, and secure critical supply chain elements.

“ORNL’s advanced manufacturing and computing capabilities are uniquely positioned to help accelerate the transition of laboratory-proven technologies into production-scale defense manufacturing,” said Moe Khaleel, ORNL associate laboratory director for National Security Sciences. “Partnering with ARC ensures we are transitioning our research into real production outcomes.”

The initial implementation will focus on high-temperature nickel superalloy turbine components for autonomous air vehicle engines using metal binder jetting technology, directly addressing demonstrated production bottlenecks in the U.S. defense supply chain.

ORNL Chief Manufacturing Officer Craig Blue added, “This partnership exemplifies the type of relationship necessary to build and grow domestic supply chains for our national security.”

About Autonomous Resource Corporation

ARC is a New York–headquartered corporation building and operating an AI-enabled, autonomous manufacturing platform for national security and critical infrastructure applications. ARC’s Autonomous Resource Controller Network (ARCNet) connects distributed production cells into a secure, federated manufacturing grid capable of producing qualified components at scale. ARC’s leadership team brings deep experience across defense technology, capital markets, materials science, and additive manufacturing at production scale.

About Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest U.S. Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL partners with more than 300 companies, spurring over $5.5 billion in economic growth. ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

Media Contacts:

ARC: Bryan Wisk, Chief Executive Officer | bryan@autonomousresource.com | 929-523-3953

ORNL: Eric Swanson, National Security Sciences Communications Lead | swansonej@ornl.gov | 865-206-5794

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SOURCE Autonomous Resource Corporation