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Conservation X Labs announces 24 technical semi-finalists for its Fire Grand Challenge

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Twenty-four innovations in fire management have been selected as semi-finalists with a chance of winning a share of over $1,000,000 as part of the Conservation X Labs (CXL) Fire Grand Challenge for Western North America.

The semi-finalists were selected by an external panel of experts in fire management, forestry, and technological development, who evaluated the solutions on technological feasibility, growth potential, environmental and social impact, and novelty.

The solutions seek to transform many different aspects of how we live with fire in Western North America. Plumas Wood Fiber, a semi-finalist from California, has generated a new method to utilize woody biomass from forest thinnings to create a replacement to unsustainable products used by the horticultural industry. The Sierra Fund, another semi-finalist from Nevada City, CA, has developed new tools to help Tribal Nations incorporate place-based knowledge into their land management, carry out cultural burns, and increase traditional ecological stewardship.

“When we think about the long-term impact, of course I think the biggest goal is really for communities and ecosystems to be able to thrive and flourish. More beneficial fire, and less destructive fire.” – Genevieve Biggs, Program Director, Wildfire Resilience Initiative and Special Projects, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

In the coming weeks, CXL will announce the partner community semi-finalists, who represent communities from across the region who are prepared to co-develop and field-test new solutions. One such community is the San Juan Islands Conservation District who has engaged to find innovative approaches to support their management of the mosaic of forest, woodland, prairie, and savannah ecosystems spread across the Washington peninsula.

Partner communities and technical applicants will then take part in a matchmaking process to meet each other and form teams that have technological expertise and deep local knowledge, as part of the Challenge design to encourage unique, powerful partnerships.

In March 2025, CXL will announce the technical and partner community finalists, who will each be awarded $50,000 to validate their innovation through the Challenge’s field-testing and acceleration phase. The Grand Prize winner will be announced this coming December.

In collaboration with the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, Esri, and Planet Labs, the Challenge called on innovators from around the world to submit solutions to transform how we manage and live with fire; ultimately the Challenge received 92 technical applications and over 50 partner community applications from 20 countries.

The technical applicant semi-finalist teams are:

Biome Logs Team (California, USA) – A method to restore soils post-burn with bio-compost inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi.Blaze Barrier (California, USA) – A scalable, biodegradable wildfire defense system that forms firebreaks by releasing non-toxic extinguishing powder when exposed to flames, empowering communities and land managers to safely implement sustainable fire stewardship practices.Bullfinch Earth (British Columbia, Canada) – AI-powered wearable technology for biodiversity monitoring and fire risk assessment.BurnBot, Inc. (California, USA) – Advanced robotic solutions for wildfire prevention, featuring a masticator for dense vegetation removal and the BurnBot RX, a precise, low-emission prescribed burning robot capable of operating in sensitive areas and under varied conditions, significantly expanding wildfire risk mitigation opportunities.Circular Industries of Canada Ltd. (British Columbia, Canada) – Fleet of autonomous fire suppressing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for suppressing early fires both day and night, in poor conditions, and in difficult terrain.Coalitions and Collaboratives (Colorado, USA) – A novel method using native fungi to break down biomass and wood chip piles created by restorative forest thinning.Deploy Tech Ltd (Wales, United Kingdom) – A flat-packed, air-deployable, eco-friendly concrete water tank with a 14,000-liter capacity, designed for rapid assembly and durable wildfire mitigation, empowering rural and Indigenous communities with reliable water storage for proactive fire prevention and emergency response.Envisioning Labs (British Columbia, Canada) – A wildfire detection and suppression system designed specifically for ground fires in peat and duff soils. Detects fires with carbon monoxide and light sensors, then suppresses fires with liquid carbon dioxide injections.FireSwarm Solutions (British Columbia, Canada) – Autonomous fleet of drones to carry out cultural and prescribed burns in order to increase ecosystem resilience and health.Flame Carbonization for Forest Health (California, USA) – Management technique and kiln to produce biochar – reducing wildfire risk, enhancing soil health, and sequestering carbon.Flash Forest Inc. (Ontario, Canada) – Forest regeneration technology, guided by AI software, that utilizes drones to distribute seed pods for replanting and is being implemented with First Nations.International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI) (Australia and Mexico) – A new strategy to implement early dry season burns through a process called Emissions Reduction Traditional Fire Management (ERTFM). The process utilizes geospatial information systems (GIS) and local knowledge to prevent destructive burns in the late dry season.Mayday.ai (Guardian Space) (Henssen, Germany) – A comprehensive wildfire management system integrating AI, satellite risk mapping, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, aerial surveillance, and Indigenous ecological knowledge to deliver ultra-early detection, real-time monitoring, and community empowerment.Plumas Wood Fiber (California, USA) – A process for converting forest residual biomass from thinnings into sustainable, locally-sourced wood fiber potting substrates. Creates a replacement for unsustainably harvested peat moss for the horticultural industry, reduces fire hazards, and creates jobs in disadvantaged communities.Qualcomm Institute at University of California San Diego (California, USA) – Tool to protect cultural resources, with immersive virtual tours of landscapes/sites that may be damaged by suppression efforts.Skyward Wildfire (British Columbia, Canada) – Seeks to suppress lightning by cloud seeding with safe, non-toxic materials to neutralize storm charges, offering a scalable, localized solution for protecting forests at risk from lightning-ignited wildfires globally.SIG-NAL, Watershed Progressive, and Cabin31 (California, USA) – A geospatial conservation technology workflow process for landscape wildfire resilience projects to strengthen work crews, local community participation, and feedback in project implementation.Takachar (Canada, India, USA) – Biomass pre-processing technology for biochar that is small-scale, portable, low-cost and low energy designed to increase the scale of forest thinnings in the region.TetonTopo (Idaho, USA) – FireBridge Portal is a user-friendly web-based platform designed to make wildfire data accessible and actionable for Tribal Nations and Organizations.The Sierra Fund (California, USA) – Fire Stewardship Support Tool to support Tribal Nations and Organizations with cultural fire stewardship and restoration, utilizing GIS and storytelling tools.Vibrant Planet Data Commons (Colorado, USA) – AI decision support tool to assist community planning for fire mitigation and restoration.WeavAir (Ontario, Canada) – Fire forecasting/risk mapping system that uses a network of multi-sensor IoT devices, satellite hyperspectral imagery, drone-based sensors, and predictive AI.WildFire Robotics (Alberta, Canada) – Robotic fire containment system with advanced locomotion, intelligent fluid distribution, and semi-autonomous control systems, that self-deploys long-distance fluid in distribution lines across challenging terrain.Witching Hour (Tennessee, USA) – A robotic system that rapidly and cost-effectively installs insulation over live power lines, reducing wildfire risk, lowering electricity costs, and improving quality of life in vulnerable, wildfire-prone communities without disrupting power service.

The Fire Grand Challenge aims to transform how we manage and live with fire by catalyzing scalable solutions that braid together Indigenous, rural, and place-based knowledge with cutting-edge technology and innovation.

About Conservation X Labs

Conservation X Labs creates solutions to prevent the sixth mass extinction by developing transformative technologies, harnessing innovation through competitions, and building a community of innovators across disciplines. With the belief that humans have the power to solve the problems they’ve created, CXL stands at the forefront of conservation technology. Learn more at www.conservationxlabs.com.

Media Contact

Lindsey Garrison, Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing

Conservation X Labs

lindsey@conservationxlabs.org
press@conservationxlabs.org

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Notari launches Founder Edition N1 Pro AI Notetaker, an AI notetaking system that makes the transcript a starting point for deeper thinking

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October 27, 2026

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Founded by Keychron Co-Founder Paul Tan, Notari pairs a sleek recording device with an AI workspace that helps users question, develop and act on what they capture

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Today, Notari launched direct-to-consumer sales for N1 Pro AI Notetaker, an AI notetaking system designed to function as a thinking partner for conversations, meetings and personal ideas. The system consists of two components: a credit-card-sized recorder and an AI-powered app. The Founder Edition is available through an early-access program at notarilabs.com for a limited-time introductory price of $129.99 USD (MSRP $189 USD) in the United States and U.S. territories, with additional countries planned.

Our goal at Notari is to bring transcription capabilities to more people and organizations, giving them an easier, more customizable way to connect real-world information with their own AI.

At just 0.17″ (4.4 mm) thick, the N1 Pro AI Notetaker recorder is a device that attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone and captures conversations, meetings, lectures and thoughts at the press of a button. Recordings are stored locally, and a built-in contact microphone can capture the other side of phone calls without requiring speaker mode. The Notari AI Notetaker software turns recordings into searchable transcripts and structured summaries, then provides an AI workspace where users can question the material, develop ideas and decide what comes next.

How N1 Pro AI Notetaker extends beyond the transcript

While many AI notetakers can reduce the work involved in recording, transcribing and summarizing conversations, N1 Pro AI Notetaker is designed to help users continue working with that information.

Key capabilities of the system include:

Record locally before deciding what to process: The recorder includes 32GB of local storage and does not require an internet connection while recording. Users always choose which files to transfer for transcription and AI processing in the app.Capture virtual meetings without a bot: Desktop recording captures system audio and in-person sound without requiring a bot to join the call.Move from recording to structured information: The app distinguishes between different speakers and turns recordings into searchable transcripts and structured summaries that users can correct and edit.Ask questions and develop ideas: Users can query captured material to retrieve details, identify unresolved issues and examine alternative perspectives, then use AI to develop what they learn further.Choose between multiple AI models: Users can select ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok through integrations managed by Notari.Option to use the software without the hardware: Notari AI Notetaker can be used independently of the recording device, with recording handled in-app.

“Our goal at Notari is to bring transcription capabilities to more people and organizations, giving them an easier, more customizable way to connect real-world information with their own AI,” said Paul Tan, Founder and CEO of Notari, Co-Founder and former COO of Keychron. “That connection gives AI the context it needs to better support us.”

A personal knowledge system built around user-controlled information

The recording device measures 3.58″ × 2.32″ × 0.17″ and weighs just 54.8g. Four MEMS microphones capture ambient audio, with best recording performance within five metres and recording at distances of up to nine metres under suitable indoor conditions. A 660 mAh battery supports up to 40 hours of continuous recording and up to 60 days of standby time, with approximately two hours required for USB-C charging. Available in Space Black and Silver, the device includes a magnetic adapter ring, USB-C charging cable and one-year limited warranty. A built-in screen indicates when recording is active.

Notari AI Notetaker is available via iOS mobile app (Android coming in November) and web browser, with dedicated desktop apps planned.

The Founder Edition N1 Pro AI Notetaker recorder includes unlimited free standard-model transcription for life on recordings made directly with the device, one complimentary month of the Pro Plan, and access to the Founder Community, where early customers can suggest ideas, provide feedback and vote on future features. With its core features in place at launch, N1 Pro AI Notetaker will continue to evolve through additional features and improvements planned for upcoming releases.

Free and paid subscription plans are also available, including the Plus Plan ($14.99 USD per month) with 2,000 credits for advanced transcription models, and the Pro Plan ($29.99 USD per month), which includes unlimited standard-model transcription and 4,000 advanced-model credits. Files selected for transcription and AI processing are uploaded to Notari’s AWS cloud infrastructure, where data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Users can delete individual recordings and other content from Notari’s servers, and user data is not used to train AI models.

“Too many products are built around restrictions,” continued Tan. “We created Notari to give users the most freedom in how they record, transcribe and work with AI so they can spend less time navigating limitations and more time making better decisions and doing better work.”

Media wishing to interview Notari personnel should contact PR agent Borjana Slipicevic at Proper Propaganda.

About Notari

Notari builds connected hardware and software tools that help people capture information, think clearly and develop ideas over time. Founded by Paul Tan, Co-Founder and former COO of Keychron, where he led product design and innovation, Notari brings together a multidisciplinary team of engineers, designers, writers, developers and thinkers. With backgrounds spanning product design, filmmaking and software development, the team draws on its own experience creating and building products to develop the next generation of notetaking and document tools for capturing information, developing ideas and supporting creative work.

Media Contact

Borjana Slipicevic, Proper Propaganda, 1 7788582595, borjana@properpropaganda.net, properpropaganda.net

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Regional Center of Orange County Honors Business Champions for Employees with Developmental Disabilities

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October 27, 2026

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SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) has honored the following seven Orange County businesses as champions for employees with developmental disabilities.

Discovery Cube (Santa Ana)
Grocery Outlet (Anaheim and Long Beach)
Lamppost Pizza (Orange)
Oakley (Irvine)
Heroes Hall – OC Fairgrounds & Event Center (Costa Mesa)
Provider Contract Food Services (Fullerton)
Walgreens (Anaheim)

Decades ago, few people with developmental disabilities were able to get paying work. Many who had jobs were employed in what were sometimes called “sheltered workshops.” These types of workplace settings (which are no longer eligible for Regional Center funding) included only adults with disabilities and were isolated from the broader community.

“Now we take for granted that people with disabilities can and should be able to work alongside coworkers without disabilities,” said RCOC Executive Director Larry Landauer. “But individuals we serve continue to face challenges, so it’s important for us to recognize role-model employers like our honorees who know the benefits of including people with developmental disabilities in their workforces.”

Several years ago, the RCOC Board of Directors adopted an Employment First policy that makes competitive integrated employment the first option for the working-age adults RCOC serves. This aligns with the state policy that also favors inclusive employment. Toward that end, RCOC and its network of service providers partner with businesses of all sizes, community organizations and government agencies throughout Orange County to identify job opportunities and then match individuals’ skills, talents, abilities and interests with the right job and the right employer.

The businesses honored at this event received certificates from the offices of Assemblymember Diane Dixon, Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris and Assemblymember Avelino Valencia.

For more information on the advantages of hiring adults with disabilities, visit RCOC’s Employment First and RCOC’s Employment for People with Developmental Disabilities web pages.

About Regional Center of Orange County: Regional Center of Orange County is the private, nonprofit organization contracted by the State of California to coordinate lifelong services and supports for more than 29,000 Orange County residents with developmental disabilities and their families. The Regional Center is the first stop for those seeking to obtain local services and supports to help them live safely and with dignity in the community. Developmental disabilities include intellectual disabilities, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Learn more at www.rcocdd.com.

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Dotwork Acquires Arcario Group to Accelerate Adoption of Its AI-Native Enterprise Operating Platform

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October 27, 2026

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Acquisition adds forward-deployed expertise to connect strategy, capital, AI execution and measurable business outcomes.

GEORGETOWN, Texas, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dotwork, an AI-native enterprise operating platform, today announced its acquisition of Arcario Group, a consultancy specializing in enterprise operating models and transformation. The transaction closed October 23. Financial terms were not disclosed.

AI is accelerating execution, but most enterprises still manage strategy, funding and work across disconnected systems. Leaders struggle to see what investments actually cost, whether they produce results and where resources should move next.

Dotwork is building the enterprise steering layer for the AI era. Its graph-based Enterprise Operating Model connects existing systems rather than replacing them, linking strategy, capital, business capabilities, work, decisions and outcomes. Unlike tools centered on projects or workflows, Dotwork focuses on the decisions that drive performance, connecting plans to actual spending, preserving decision context and giving leaders and AI agents a shared understanding of the enterprise.

Arcario brings the expertise to activate that model. Its Connected Enterprise approach aligns people, processes, data and technology, while forward-deployed enterprise value architects work alongside customers to solve targeted problems and measure results.

Together, the companies help enterprises:

Design: Identify gaps between strategic priorities, investments, business capabilities and execution.Activate: Connect existing financial and operational systems, then deploy targeted workflows and AI capabilities without replacing core technology.Steer: Track decisions, actual costs and outcomes, then adapt investments and execution as priorities change.

“The enterprise software industry has spent decades helping companies manage work, automate processes and analyze data. But who’s helping the CEO, COO, CFO and CIO actually steer the business?” said Steve Elliott, founder and CEO of Dotwork. “AI makes deciding where to invest and how to measure results more important than ever. We’re building Dotwork around those decisions—not another workflow or dashboard. Arcario brings the expertise to make that operating model real.”

Rather than requiring lengthy transformation programs or bespoke platforms, the combined teams can start with a high-value business problem, establish a reusable operating model and expand as results are demonstrated. Lessons from deployments will also inform repeatable Dotwork platform capabilities.

“Connecting enterprise strategy to what teams actually do has always been the hard part,” said Konstantin Popov, founder and CEO of Arcario Group. “With Dotwork, we can move beyond recommendations to connect decisions, investments and execution—and show customers the value they’re creating.”

Arcario’s leadership previously built an enterprise operating-model practice acquired by Cprime, where it scaled to support major enterprise transformations. Arcario becomes the foundation of Dotwork’s services and forward-deployed engineering organization. Existing client engagements continue with their current teams. Konstantin joins Dotwork as Head of Transformation Services.

Learn more at dotwork.com/post/welcome-arcario.

About Dotwork

Dotwork is an AI-native enterprise operating platform connecting strategy, capital, work and outcomes through a living, graph-based Enterprise Operating Model. Founded by Steve Elliott, former founder and CEO of AgileCraft (acquired by Atlassian), Dotwork is headquartered in Georgetown, Texas. Learn more at dotwork.com.

About Arcario Group

Arcario Group helps enterprises build the Connected Enterprise, aligning people, processes, data and technology to improve execution and business outcomes. Learn more at arcariogroup.com.

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