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Raise Secures $63 Million to Transform the Payments and Loyalty Industry with Blockchain-Powered Gift Cards

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Strategic Funding Round Was Led by Haun Ventures as the Company Seeks to Revolutionize Consumer Engagement and Drive Innovation in the Multi-Trillion Dollar Gift Card Industry

MIAMI, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Raise, a leader in the global gift market and pioneer in blockchain-powered payments and loyalty, today announced the successful close of a $63 million funding round. Led by Haun Ventures, the round included participation from Amber Group, Anagram, Blackpine, Borderless Capital, GSR, Karatage, Paper Ventures, Pharsalus Capital, Selini Capital, Sonic Boom Ventures, the Web3 Foundation, and notable angels Tekin Salimi, Raj Gokal, Teddy Gorisse among others. This latest round brings Raise’s total funding to over $220 million, building on prior investments from Accel, Paypal, and New Enterprise Associates (NEA). 

“Raise has redefined how consumers interact with and value gift cards – it’s about loyalty and share of wallet, not just gift-giving,” said George Bousis, Founder and CEO of Raise. “For over a decade, we’ve invested tens of millions of dollars in bringing gift cards and loyalty programs on-chain. Now, we’re making a nin-figure commitment over the next several years to fully realize this vision. Having been involved in blockchain and crypto since its early days, we waited for the right regulatory framework and the technological maturity to support a fully reconfigured, on-chain gift card industry. That time is now – the barriers that once existed are no longer obstacles.”

Raise will use the funding to further develop its proprietary blockchain-backed gift card program, Smart Cards, and expand the Retail Alliance Foundation, its non-profit coalition dedicated to uniting global retailers and brands to create a more secure, interoperable, and fraud-resistant gift card network. Raise has seeded the Alliance and the Raise blockchain network with its intellectual property in partnership with BFG Labs, a wholly owned subsidiary of Raise Holdings Ltd. Raise’s mission is to redefine gift cards as a secure, fully programable retail currency that strengthen trust and fosters deeper engagement between brands and their customers.

Diogo Monica, General Partner at Haun Ventures, commented, “Raise is seizing a massive, outdated market with the right mix of experience, infrastructure, and blockchain expertise. With deep industry ties and a real plan for adoption, this isn’t just a bet on the future of gift cards—it’s an investment in a proven team solving a trillion-dollar problem.”

Raise’s blockchain initiatives kicked off earlier this year with the upcoming integration of DOT Wallet through a partnership with the Polkadot Community Foundation, enabling seamless transactions within their application. Additionally, Raise partnered with WalletConnect to integrate the Raise app with leading digital wallets like Coinbase, MetaMask, Phantom, Trust, and other prominent ecosystems, which will be announced soon. Raise is rapidly expanding its B2B partnerships, engaging with major financial institutions and loyalty programs, including  Citi Bank and BILT Rewards.

In conjunction with the funding round, Raise has also announced the appointment of a new Board of Directors featuring former CLO at Kraken and former President of Blockchain.com, Marco Santori, former co-founder and CEO of Honey, George Ruan, former founder and CEO of GrubHub, Matt Maloney, and Bjorn Wagner, CEO of Parity Technologies. With their expertise and support, Raise is well-positioned to execute its mission to redefine the future of gift cards and drive innovation in consumer loyalty.

With global sales projected to exceed $2.3 trillion by 2030, gift cards have evolved beyond simple transactional tools to become an integral component of the modern retail ecosystem. Since its founding, Raise has facilitated over $5 billion in transactions for its nearly 7 million users and 1,000+ retail partnerships, consistently driving innovation in the industry. The introduction of blockchain-powered gift cards marks the culmination of over a decade of work to reshape how consumers value, use and trust gift cards. 

For more information, please visit: https://www.raise.com/

About Raise
Raise, a renowned pioneer in the gift card industry, has been at the forefront of innovation since its inception in 2013. The company has facilitated over $5 billion in transactions through its Raise consumer app, exchange (GCX), and B2B (Raise for Business) operations. With over 1,000+ brand partnerships, Raise offers activation and real-time redemption capabilities across a network of over one million stores, websites, and applications. For more information, please visit https://www.raise.com/.

About the Retail Alliance Foundation
The Retail Alliance Foundation is a non-profit coalition committed to revolutionizing the global loyalty economy. The Retail Alliance Foundation strives to create a secure, innovative, and inclusive gift card ecosystem by promoting transparency, advancing technology, and uniting industry stakeholders. Guided by industry leaders, we provide critical funding and resources to initiatives that empower stakeholders and ensure the long-term sustainability of the global gift card industry. Through collaboration and community-driven governance, we’re setting new standards for loyalty while promoting happiness and trust.

For media inquiries, please contact:

raisepr@mgroupsc.com

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Hexagon Interim Report 1 January – 31 March 2026

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25 minutes ago

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April 23, 2026

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STOCKHOLM, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —

First quarter 2026

Continuing operations

Operating net sales of 963.8 (961.5) resulting in organic growth of 8%Net sales including acquired deferred revenue amounted to 963.6 MEUR (961.5)Adjusted gross earnings of 606.3 (619.1) resulting in a 62.9% (64.4) gross marginAdjusted operating earnings (EBIT1) of 251.3 MEUR (248.7) resulting in a 26.1% (25.9) EBIT1 marginAdjusted earnings per share of 6.7 Euro cent (6.5)Earnings per share of 58.4 Euro cent (5.0)Cash conversion of 77% (60)Recurring revenue of 289.9 MEUR (308.0), 6% organic growthOctave reported operating net sales of 327.2 MEUR (361.3) and adjusted operating margin of 25.2% (26.6)Adjusted earnings per share including discontinued operations of 9.1 (9.4)Earnings per share including discontinued operations of 59.9 Euro cent (7.0)

For further information, please contact:
Tom Hull, Head of Investor Relations, +44 (0) 7442 678 437, ir@hexagon.com
Anton Heikenström, Investor Relations Manager, +46 8 601 26 26, ir@hexagon.com

This is information that Hexagon AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 08:00 CET on 23 April 2026.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/hexagon/r/hexagon-interim-report-1-january—31-march-2026,c4338783

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Dragonpass Empowers Financial Institutions with End-to-End Loyalty Solutions at Money20/20 Asia

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25 minutes ago

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April 23, 2026

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BANGKOK, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dragonpass, a leading global travel and lifestyle platform, participated in Money20/20 Asia, showcasing its customer loyalty solutions for banks, payment providers, credit card issuers, and fintech companies across APAC and globally.

As one of the most influential fintech events worldwide, Money20/20 Asia gathers decision-makers across the financial ecosystem. At the event, Dragonpass demonstrated how financial institutions can enhance customer engagement and build long-term loyalty through integrated travel and lifestyle experiences.

Established in 2005, Dragonpass has evolved from a lounge provider into a loyalty solutions partner, serving more than 800 global clients and over 40 million members worldwide.

At the core of Dragonpass is a business structure that combines global supply aggregation, a technology-enabled engagement platform, and consumer-facing lifestyle services — providing a one-stop solution across the customer lifecycle.

Leveraging data-driven insights, Dragonpass enables partners to design and optimise loyalty programs, incorporating customer segmentation and tiered incentive structures, alongside curated campaigns and entitlement configuration — driving more effective customer activation, engagement, and retention.

Its offering includes a broad portfolio of travel and lifestyle benefits such as airport lounge access, fast-track, dining, airport transfers, and lifestyle experiences. These are supported by flexible delivery models, including API integration, white-label solutions, and ready-to-deploy digital platforms, enabling seamless integration into clients’ customer journeys.

As customer expectations evolve, the industry is shifting from standardized benefits to more personalized, experience-led loyalty models. Insights from Dragonpass’s Loyalty Index show that customers increasingly value trust, rewards, simplicity, recognition, and exclusivity, with preferences varying across markets.

“Financial institutions today are looking for more effective ways to engage customers beyond traditional rewards,” said Jane Zhu, Co-founder and CEO of Dragonpass. “User engagement is at the core of loyalty, and technology — especially AI — plays a key role in enabling deeper and more relevant customer connections.”

Dragonpass works with leading global brands including Mastercard, Visa, HSBC, and Revolut, supporting them deliver differentiated value propositions and enhance customer engagement through scalable, customizable solutions.

Through its participation at Money20/20 Asia, Dragonpass aims to strengthen its presence in the APAC market and build strategic partnerships with organizations seeking to elevate their customer engagement strategies.

About Dragonpass

Dragonpass is a global travel and lifestyle platform providing premium airport and travel experiences across 140+ countries. By integrating global supply and technology, Dragonpass enables partners to deliver seamless, personalized experiences and drive customer loyalty.

Media Contact

Dragonpass PR
Email: brandmarketing@dragonpass.com
Website: www.dragonpass.com

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SBI Life Insurance registers New Business Premium of ₹42,551 crores for the year ended on 31st March, 2026

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April 23, 2026

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MUMBAI, India, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SBI Life Insurance, one of the leading life insurers in the country registered a New Business Premium of ₹42,551 crores for the year ended on 31st March, 2026 vis-a-vis ₹35,577 crores for the year ended 31st March, 2025. Single premium has increased by 28% over the year ended on 31st March, 2025.

Establishing a clear focus on protection, SBI Life’s protection new business premium stood at ₹4,622 crores for the year ended 31st March, 2026, marking a growth of 13%. Protection Individual new business premium registered a growth of 23% and stood at ₹973 crores for the year ended 31st March, 2026. Individual New Business Premium stands at ₹29,783 crores with 13% growth over the year ended on 31st March, 2025.

SBI Life’s profit after tax stands at ₹2,470 crores for the year ended 31st March, 2026 with a growth of 2% over the year ended on 31st March, 2025.

The company’s solvency ratio continues to remain robust at 1.90 as on 31st March, 2026 as against the regulatory requirement of 1.50.

SBI Life’s AUM also continued to grow at 9% to ₹4,87,163 crores as on 31st March, 2026 from ₹4,48,039 crores as on 31st March, 2025, with the debt-equity mix of 62:38. 94% of the debt investments are in AAA and Sovereign instruments.

The company has a diversified distribution network of 3,58,506 trained insurance professionals and wide presence with 1,230 offices across the country, comprising of strong bancassurance channel, agency channel and others comprising of corporate agents, brokers, Point of Sale Persons (POS), insurance marketing firms, web aggregators and direct business.

Performance for the year ended March 31, 2026

Private Market leadership in Individual New Business Premium and Individual Rated Premium with market share of 25.5% & 22.9% respectively.Annualized Premium Equivalent (APE) stands at ₹ 24,266 crores with growth of 13%Individual New Business Sum Assured stands at ₹ 4,46,337 crores with 61% growthImprovement in 13M & 49M persistency by 53 bps & 107 bps respectivelyValue of New Business (VoNB) stands at ₹ 6,667 crores with growth of 12%VoNB Margin stands at 27.5%Indian Embedded value (IEV) stands at ₹ 80,791 crores with 15% growthProfit After Tax (PAT) stands at ₹ 2,470 crores with 2% growthOperating Return on Embedded Value stands at 19.7% Assets under Management stands at ₹ 4,87,163 crores with 9% growthRobust Solvency ratio of 1.90

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