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SXSW EDU® Announces Winners of the 2025 Launch Startup Competition and Student Impact Challenge

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AUSTIN, Texas, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — South by Southwest EDU® Conference & Festival is thrilled to announce the winners of its 2025 Launch Startup Competition and Student Impact Challenge. They were announced at the Launch Spotlight and the Student Impact Ice Cream Social, respectively. Constant Contact was presented with the Launch Startup Competition Grand Prize Award, and Spark was named the Student Impact Challenge winner.

For 14 years, the Launch Startup Competition has provided a forum for early-stage startups to pitch emerging ideas, products, and services to a cohort of industry leaders, early adopters, investors, and educators. During this year’s event, presented by the Walton Family Foundation, participants were given the chance to showcase their ideas in front of a panel of distinguished judges, including Amelia Kelly, CTO of SoapBox Labs, John Gamba, Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, Katie Fang, CEO of SchooLinks, and Missy Testerman, 2024 National Teacher of the Year.

After hearing from the 7 finalists, the judges awarded Constant Contact, based in Austin, TX with the Grand-Prize Launch Award for its focus on helping students become college and career-ready through their near-peer mentorship model. The following awards were also announced as part of the Launch Startup Competition:

Impact Award: This honor, recognizing the potential to impact student learning based on the science of learning, was given to Making Space, based in Los Angeles, CA for its work to create new and improved pathways to employment and career advancement, ensuring Disabled professionals have equitable access to meaningful careers.Community Choice Award: This award, which acknowledges the finalist that received the most votes from the audience during SXSW EDU, was presented to Bili, based in Houston, TX, which empowers families and educators with tools that make bilingualism a natural and exciting part of kids’ lives and help them maintain a strong connection to their heritage languages and cultures.

“This award is a powerful recognition of the impact we’re making—connecting hundreds of thousands of students with mentors who help them see and shape their futures,” said Sophie Smith and Leah Guesman, co-founders of Constant Contact. “What excites us most is the hope and ambition we see in our high school and undergraduate students every day. Winning this competition validates that same hope among educators, investors, and the broader community, reinforcing the bright future ahead.”

“This is a pivotal moment in education where we must do good while doing well. Supporting entrepreneurs in building strong business fundamentals—from early stage to sustainability, scalability, and ultimately exit—is critical,” said John Gamba, Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, who served as a judge in the competition.

In addition, SXSW EDU proudly awarded the Student Impact Challenge, presented by The Allstate Foundation, to Spark, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as this year’s winner. Spark promises to revolutionize support for autistic children by offering personalized therapy supplements, a wealth of resources, and interactive tools designed to empower caregivers. In addition Swype AI and Household Appliances Innovation Powered by Solar were recognized as the first and second runner-ups respectively.

This year, the Student Impact Challenge expands from its previous year to focus on how students can solve pressing social, economic, and environmental problems facing the world today. The winner was chosen by judges Kate Nack, Vice President, The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact, Juanita Soranno, Head of Impact at Cengage Group, Rohit Srinivasan, Founder of Trashbots and former winner of the Student Startup Competition, and Tiana Day, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Advocates for Change.

“I’m so excited and honored to receive this incredible award,” said Nandana Menon, founder of Spark. “Winning the Student Impact Challenge will lead me to so many more opportunities to help children all along the way. This is really going to set up Spark for more success.”

To learn more about the competition programming at SXSW EDU, visit https://www.sxswedu.com/competitions/.

About SXSW EDU:

The SXSW EDU® Conference & Festival is a reflection of the world’s most critical social issues as seen through the lens of education. This year’s event will bring together the learner, the practitioner, the entrepreneur, and the visionary to share their groundbreaking stories, tackle complex issues, and build reimagined paths forward. As a community of diverse people who are united around a like-minded vision for the future, SXSW EDU serves as a place for attendees to renew their purpose in practice from both a personal and professional perspective. It is a place to reinforce the core principles of teaching and learning as well as an opportunity to express your creativity and passion for education. Join the passionate and innovative community at SXSW EDU, March 3-6, 2025.

For more information, please visit sxswedu.com. 

Contact:
Liz Stein
SXSW EDU Press & Publicity
press@sxswedu.com

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Raytron Industrial Launches TN660 and TN463 Thermal Cameras for Dynamic Testing and Continuous Condition Monitoring

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YANTAI, China, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Raytron Industrial today announced the launch of two new products: the TN660 High Frame Rate Fixed-Mount Thermal Camera and the TN463 Fixed-Mount Thermal Camera. Both offer 640 × 512 imaging with synchronized image and temperature data. The TN660 delivers full-frame 120 Hz acquisition for moving targets and transient thermal processes, while the TN463 provides 60 Hz imaging for routine inline inspection and continuous equipment monitoring.

Full-Resolution Imaging for Different Process Speeds

Featuring a 12 μm uncooled VOx detector, the TN660 achieves 120 Hz at its native resolution without windowing, preserving spatial detail and scene coverage. Frames are approximately 8.33 ms apart, helping engineers examine rapid heating, cooling, and short-duration thermal events in research, industrial automation, and transportation applications.

The TN463 uses the same detector resolution and pixel pitch. Its 60 Hz output supports routine production cycles and long-term temperature trend analysis. To accommodate different installation requirements, the TN463 offers 6.9 mm, 9.1 mm, 19 mm, and 25 mm lenses, while the TN660 is available with 9.1 mm and 25 mm lenses.

From Event-Triggered Capture to Synchronized Analysis

Both cameras support hardware and software triggering to coordinate acquisition with equipment actions. An external signal through the I/O (input/output) interface can initiate capture at a defined process stage. For example, a heat-press start signal can trigger the TN660 to record the thermal sequence, reducing unnecessary recording and review work.

Synchronized output pairs temperature readings with corresponding thermal images. Raytron Industrial’s TI Studio software supports simultaneous preview and analysis of up to four cameras, with temperature and temperature-rise alarms to flag abnormal conditions. Engineers can review recordings, examine and export historical temperature curves, and generate reports, linking equipment events with thermal data for further analysis.

Temperature Measurement and System Integration

Both models measure temperatures from −20°C to 150°C and 100°C to 650°C, with an accuracy of ±2°C or ±2% of the reading, whichever is greater. Ethernet and USB connectivity support data acquisition, while compatibility with industrial protocols such as Modbus TCP allows temperature data to be incorporated into existing control and monitoring systems.

With a choice of 60 Hz and 120 Hz imaging, the TN463 and TN660 allow users to match thermal acquisition to their process requirements, from continuous equipment monitoring to dynamic testing.

For Further Information

Email: sales@raythink-tech.com
Website: https://www.raythink-tech.com/

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4SiGHT Supply Chain Group Welcomes Joanne Strong as Senior Vice President, Delivery Excellence and Innovation

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Industry-recognized WMS leader and AI-driven delivery innovator joins 4SiGHT to lead delivery as one of North America’s largest dedicated Manhattan Active® implementation partners accelerates its growth

WAYNE, N.J., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — 4SiGHT Supply Chain Group, one of North America’s largest dedicated Manhattan Associates implementation partners, today announced the appointment of Joanne Strong as Senior Vice President of Delivery Excellence and Innovation. Strong joins the executive leadership team and will lead all client delivery across the firm.

4SiGHT has built something rare in its 18 years of operations: deep Manhattan expertise, exceptional talent, industry reputation, singular focus on Manhattan Associates, and a culture that puts client success at the center of everything it does.

The appointment comes during a year of rapid growth for 4SiGHT. Now in its 18th year, the firm has grown to more than 70 full-time associates in 2026 and continues to add Manhattan Active® talent across its warehouse, labor, transportation, and organizational change management practices. Strong’s newly created role is dedicated to ensuring that this growth is matched by an uncompromising standard of quality across every engagement.

“Delivery is our product. Every go-live, every client reference, and every renewal comes down to how well we execute,” said Frank Camean, President and CEO of 4SiGHT. “As 4SiGHT scales, we made a deliberate decision to put a senior executive in charge of one thing: the quality, consistency, and continuous improvement of how we deliver for our clients. Joanne has built and led delivery organizations at real scale, she knows the Manhattan Associates platform from the inside, and she has a proven record of innovation to make implementations faster and more predictable. Joanne is exactly the leader our clients deserve as we enter our next chapter. We are all honored and excited to have her join the team and can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

Strong brings more than a decade of experience with Manhattan Associates and enterprise warehouse management. She most recently served as WMS Practice Lead, directing a multimillion-dollar WMS practice that delivered supply chain transformation programs for Fortune 500 companies in retail, consumer products, and life sciences.

A recognized voice in the supply chain industry, Strong delivered keynote addresses at the 2025 Stratify Executive Forum and at Parcel Forum 2026, has been a featured panelist at MODEX, and has appeared on The New Warehouse and Bloomberg’s Talking Transports podcasts. She holds a B.B.A. in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.

“4SiGHT has built something rare in its 18 years of operations: deep Manhattan expertise, exceptional talent, industry reputation, singular focus on Manhattan Associates, and a culture that puts client success at the center of everything it does,” said Strong. “The depth of Manhattan knowledge and real-world implementation experience across the organization is truly unique in the industry. My focus is on elevating an already outstanding client experience by combining that expertise with proven delivery practices, innovative methodologies, implementation accelerators, AI-enabled tools and capabilities. We have an incredible opportunity to help clients achieve faster outcomes, greater confidence in execution, and long-term business value. I’m honored to join the team at such a pivotal moment in its growth and excited for what we will accomplish together.”

About 4SiGHT Supply Chain Group

4SiGHT specializes in supply chain software implementations, with a primary focus on the Manhattan Associates product suite of applications. Our seasoned professionals average more than 19 years of experience helping companies across all industries solve their distribution, fulfillment, and transportation challenges. Together with our strategic partners, our collective team includes more than 100 associates. No other firm in North America brings this depth of Manhattan Active® expertise, and we look forward to expanding our team with additional talent in the months ahead. As a testament to the value our clients place on our expertise, experience, and integrity, 4SiGHT has received multiple industry awards. For more information, please visit 4sight.com or email us at in4mation@4sight.com.

Media Contact

Jenae Cahanes, 4SiGHT Supply Chain Group, 1 9734350025, jenae.cahanes@4sight.com, 4sight.com

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UL Research Institutes Releases New Report Defining Roadmap for Next-Generation Wildfire Risk Intelligence

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New findings identify critical gaps and opportunities in wildfire risk modeling to strengthen community protection

COLUMBIA, Md., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As destructive wildfires increasingly threaten communities across the globe, a new report from UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute examines the strengths and limitations of current wildfire risk models and provides a roadmap for more comprehensive wildfire risk intelligence.

“Wildfire Risk Modeling Evaluation Findings and Community Perspectives” details findings from the 2026 Wildfire Risk Modeling Exercise, a first-of-its-kind collaborative effort that evaluated a diverse set of wildfire risk models using common scenarios and datasets. The exercise included approximately 20 organizations across academia, government, national laboratories, nonprofits, and the private sector.

For fire service leaders, emergency managers, and public safety officials, the report provides a practical framework for evaluating which modeling capabilities are best suited to specific community needs and decisions. Applied effectively, these tools can help practitioners identify where risk is greatest, prioritize mitigation investments, strengthen evacuation and preparedness planning, and make more informed decisions before, during, and after a wildfire.

“The Wildfire Risk Modeling Exercise was a convergent test and evaluation of the diverse models available to characterize wildfire risk today. These results revealed broader insights about the state of the science, prioritized gaps, and the investments needed to advance wildfire risk intelligence,” said Rebecca Harned, principal research scientist for Fire Safety Research Institute and the report’s lead author. “The findings provide a critical foundation for shaping the next decade of research, innovation, and operational capability. This report also serves as an important resource for local and state fire service and public safety agencies, providing an evidence-based framework for selecting wildfire risk modeling capabilities and applying them effectively to assess and manage community risk.”

Key Findings From the Wildfire Risk Modeling Exercise

The results from the exercise demonstrate that no single model can capture the full complexity of wildfire risk, nor should one be expected to. Instead, the report identifies an opportunity to build a new generation of wildfire risk intelligence by connecting complementary models, datasets, and scientific approaches. Doing so can help close critical gaps between modeling wildfire hazard and understanding what ultimately matters to communities — which people, property, and assets are at risk, why they are vulnerable, what the consequences could be, and which actions can most effectively reduce those risks.

To realize that vision, the report recommends building an interoperable modeling ecosystem spanning the full wildfire risk assessment pathway, from ignition and landscape fire spread through structure exposure, community impacts, and economic consequences. It also calls for stronger shared core data and standards, improved transparency and explainability, expanded decision-support tools, and greater use of ensemble modeling. Together, these advances could transform wildfire modeling from a collection of specialized capabilities into an integrated risk intelligence framework that better supports decisions before, during, and after wildfire events.

About the Fire Safety Research Institute

UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute advances fire science and fire safety knowledge to reduce risk, save lives, and protect property. We conduct rigorous research, outreach, and education in collaboration with the fire service, fire safety professionals, policymakers, communities, and an international network of partners. Together, we develop tools, resources, and strategies that improve fire safety outcomes worldwide. To learn more, visit fsri.org. Follow Fire Safety Research Institute on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About UL Research Institutes

UL Research Institutes is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing public safety through scientific discovery. Since 1894, our research has advanced our mission toward a safer, more secure, and sustainable future. Focused on global risks from fire mitigation and air quality to safe energy storage and digital privacy, we conduct rigorous independent research, analyze safety data, and partner with experts to uncover and act on existing and emerging risks to human safety. Discover more at UL.org.

About the Exercise

The 2026 Wildfire Risk Modeling Exercise was designed as an open, collaborative and non-competitive effort. Each model submission was evaluated by multiple reviewers through two complementary evaluation streams: science and technical evaluation and user and practitioner evaluation. Participating organizations applied their models to standardized scenarios representing wildland, wildland-urban interface, and urban environments, with results evaluated by scientific experts and operational practitioners. The exercise was designed not to rank models, but to identify their strengths, limitations, and opportunities for integration.

For more information and to read the full report, visit FSRI.org.

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