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Disrupting Billions in Dormant Capital: Allison Byers Fuels Underserved Entrepreneurs

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Venture capital’s outdated funding patterns continue to shut out diverse founders, stifling innovation and economic growth. Allison Byers, founder of Scroobious, shares how her platform is reshaping investment strategies, unlocking trillions in missed opportunities, and driving a more inclusive startup ecosystem.

TAMPA BAY, Fla., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Despite ongoing discussions about funding equity, data shows that female founders continue to face significant barriers in venture capital, receiving just 1.8% of all VC funding in 2024. (1) On the latest episode of the Disruption Interruption podcast, host Karla Jo Helms speaks with Allison Byers, founder of Scroobious, —a platform that connects founders with investors and service providers to create a more inclusive startup ecosystem— about how systemic bias shuts out underrepresented entrepreneurs and why investors are missing trillion-dollar opportunities. “Almost 100% of Black founders and 98% of women aren’t being funded by venture capital. Everyone who funds them is in for a fortune. It’s a unique business opportunity,” Byers explains.

“Almost 100% of Black founders and 98% of women aren’t being funded by venture capital. Everyone who funds them is in for a fortune. It’s a unique business opportunity” — Allison Byers, founder of Scroobious

The Everybody Problem: Unlocking Innovation for All
Byers claims that undoing disparities in venture capital holds back progress. When the same group controls investment decisions, the market misses out on solutions that could improve lives on a massive scale. “We’re not only solving problems for ourselves; we’re solving problems and innovating for things that everybody needs,” she states.

The economic consequences of this phenomenon are massive. “Morgan Stanley estimated that our economy in the U.S. is missing out on $4 trillion by not putting money behind other types of entrepreneurs,” points out Byers. “If we’re not allowed to participate in the innovation economy, then the world is missing out on solutions that could change lives.”

Nowhere is this more evident than in healthcare, where underfunding female-led startups means fewer solutions for issues affecting millions. “If women working in these spaces aren’t funded, their ideas don’t make it to market. And that means misdiagnoses, lack of access, and real harm,” explains Byers.

Rewriting the Playbook: The Need for New Investment Signals
Venture capital’s biggest flaw isn’t just who gets funded—it’s how funding decisions are made. “VCs rely on signal processing to assess risk,” Byers explains. “But because past investments have overwhelmingly gone to white male founders, the signals investors trust are already biased.” This makes it nearly impossible for women and minority entrepreneurs to break through.

Fixing this problem requires more than good intentions—it demands an entirely new way of evaluating startups. Investors must rethink risk, expand their frameworks, and actively seek out underrepresented founders. “They’re missing the signals from anyone who isn’t a white male, and that means billions in potential innovation are being left on the table,” Byers says.

How Scroobious Brings Founders and Investors Together
Access remains as the biggest challenge for many startups. Without strong investor networks, underrepresented founders face steep hurdles in securing the funding and resources they need to grow. Scroobious is tackling this problem head-on, creating a platform that connects entrepreneurs with investors and service providers seamlessly and efficiently.

“With Scroobious, we are helping entrepreneurs and investors and service providers find each other in a very efficient and fun way so that we can open access to resources and capital,” says Byers. “If you’re a founder, and you join our platform, you get immediate access to a ton of critical resources and education and community,” Byers explains. “Founders and the providers need each other, now they can work together.”

Links
Disrupting Billions in Dormant Capital: Allison Byers Fuels Underserved Entrepreneurs
https://omny.fm/shows/disruption-interruption/disrupting-billions-in-dormant-capital-allison-bye

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-byers/
Company Website: https://www.scroobious.com/

Disruption Interruption is the podcast where you will hear from today’s biggest Industry Disruptors. Learn what motivated them to bring about innovation and how they overcame opposition to adoption.

Disruption Interruption can be listened to in Apple’s App Store and Spotify.

About Disruption Interruption™
Disruption is happening on an unprecedented scale, impacting all manner of industries— MedTech, Finance, IT, eCommerce, shipping, logistics, and more—and COVID has moved their timelines up a full decade or more. But WHO are these disruptors and when did they say, “THAT’S IT! I’VE HAD IT!”? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo “KJ” Helms, veteran communications disruptor. KJ interviews badasses who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have become antiquated with an establishment resistant to progress. She delves into uncovering secrets from industry rebels and quiet revolutionaries that uncover common traits—and not-so-common—that are changing our economic markets… and lives. Visit the world’s key pioneers that persist to success, despite arrows in their backs at http://www.disruption-interruption.com.

About Allison Byers
Allison Byers is a trailblazer in the realm of equitable capital distribution. As the founder of Scroobious, her tech company is quickly driving innovation by removing barriers to partnership among diverse founders, investors, and service providers through scalable online education, community, and data-driven curation.

Before founding Scroobious, she spearheaded a medical device startup, securing nearly $10M in funding before its acquisition, and encountered firsthand the gender bias prevalent in fundraising. With over 20 years of experience in startup and tech roles, Allison stands as a seasoned entrepreneur and a catalyst for change having co-authored California Senate Bill 54, signed into law, which requires venture funds to report diversity metrics.

She is actively championing initiatives in other states including MA Senate Bill 978 and NY Senate Bill A09786. Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, she serves as an angel investor, Boston Co-Chair of the national non-profit All Raise, Executive in Residence at Merck Digital Sciences Studio, DEI task force member of the Angel Capital Association, and is a sought-after startup mentor and dynamic speaker.

About Karla Jo Helms
Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR® Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors™. Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the line — and how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumnus of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators, and the media to help restore companies of goodwill into the good graces of public opinion — Karla Jo operates on the ethic of getting it right the first time, not relying on second chances and doing what it takes to excel. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way, and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception.

References
1.    Masterson, Victoria. “Women Founders and Venture Capital – Some 2023 Snapshots.” World Economic Forum, 28 Mar. 2024, weforum.org/stories/2024/03/women-startups-vc-funding/.

Media Inquiries:
Karla Jo Helms
JOTO PR™
727-777-4629

Media Contact

Karla Jo Helms, JOTO PR™, 727-777-4629, khelms@jotopr.com, jotopr.com

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Solid Joins Snowflake and Industry Leaders to Advance Open Standards for AI-Ready Semantic Context

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The Open Semantic Interchange (OSI) creates a universal semantic framework that enables AI agents, analytics platforms, and data systems to share trusted business context across the modern data ecosystem.

NEW YORK, July 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Solid today announced it is joining the Open Semantic Interchange (OSI), an open source initiative that creates a universal specification for all companies to standardize their fragmented data definitions with an open, vendor-neutral semantic model specification. OSI aims to enhance interoperability across various tools and platforms, offering enterprises a vendor-neutral specification that provides consistent metrics and definitions across dashboards, notebooks, and machine learning models.

OSI is an open source initiative led by Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, and ecosystem partners across multiple domains and industries including business intelligence (BI), data governance, data engineering, AI, financial services, and manufacturing. Its goal is to create a common, vendor-agnostic specification that defines semantic metadata in a standard, open format. By facilitating seamless semantic metadata exchange, the initiative will accelerate the adoption of AI and BI tools to streamline operations and reduce complexity. This in turn allows organizations to unify their data definitions, leading to more comprehensive and accurate data analysis and data product sharing to fuel AI innovation.

By joining the Open Semantic Interchange, Solid is committed to the creation of a universal standard that simplifies data operations and accelerates innovation for the broader ecosystem,” said Yoni Leitersdorf, CEO & Co-Founder, Solid. “Our participation ensures that semantic context can automatically move seamlessly across AI agents, data warehouses, BI tools, and analytics platforms – enabling organizations to build reliable AI systems on top of a shared, interoperable understanding of their business, without vendor lock-in.”

As a member of OSI, Solid is helping to build a transparent and community-driven standard for semantic model sharing, ensuring that business metrics and definitions remain consistent and interoperable.

“Unlocking the full potential of data and AI requires a common foundation, and the Open Semantic Interchange is the critical step in building that bedrock,” said Josh Klahr, Director of Analytics Product Management at Snowflake. “Our collaboration with partners like Solid establishes a unified, vendor-neutral standard for semantic data, ensuring clarity and consistency across the entire ecosystem. This initiative is essential for simplifying data operations, fostering innovation, and preparing organizations to build the next generation of AI applications.”

OSI is poised to revolutionize interoperability within the data and AI ecosystem by providing a transparent, community-driven standard. This collaborative effort simplifies data operations, unlocks new possibilities for innovation, and gives organizations the flexibility and efficiency they need to build a future-ready data infrastructure.

To learn more about the Open Semantic Interchange visit Snowflake’s blog here.

About Solid

Solid is the AI-native context layer for enterprise AI, automatically creating, evaluating, and maintaining the semantic context AI agents need to understand and act on business data reliably. Unlike legacy semantic layers built for dashboards and manual modeling, Solid continuously benchmarks accuracy, detects data changes, and keeps AI systems aligned as the business evolves. The result is faster deployment of trusted AI agents, workflows, and analytics across any data warehouse or AI platform.

To learn more about Solid, visit getsolid.ai

Media Contact: Blair Bader, blairb@getsolid.ai

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SOURCE Solid Data, Inc

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Orbis Marks 30 Years of Advancing Eye Health in Vietnam Through Long-Term Partnership and Training

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Flying Eye Hospital project in Da Nang, supported by FedEx, advances locally led eye care and expands access across Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands.

DA NANG, Vietnam, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global eye care nonprofit Orbis International is marking three decades of collaboration with Vietnam’s eye health community, a long-term partnership that has helped build local expertise, strengthen institutions, expand access to care, and support Vietnam’s growing leadership in eye health across the Asia-Pacific region.

The arrival of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital in Da Nang represents the next chapter in that partnership. At the invitation of Da Nang Eye Hospital and with approval from the People’s Committee of Da Nang City, and support from Da Nang Department of Health, and other relevant departments and local authorities, the project will serve as a platform for hands-on training, innovation, and knowledge exchange. Through clinical training and mentorship across key specialties, the project will help approximately 230 eye care professionals build skills that will benefit communities for years to come, while supporting access to specialized services for nearly 9 million people in Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands.

Cybersight, Orbis’s telemedicine and e-learning platform, is an integral part of every Flying Eye Hospital project—connecting in-person training with continuous learning before and after the aircraft is on site. Through Cybersight, participants can prepare in advance, consult with global experts, access ongoing education, and continue building skills long after the project concludes, extending the impact of the Flying Eye Hospital far beyond the aircraft itself.

“This project is not a standalone intervention; it is the latest chapter in a long-term partnership to advance Vietnam’s eye health system,” said Ngoc Pham, Orbis Vietnam Country Director. “The most important outcome is not what Orbis has done in Vietnam, but what Vietnamese institutions and eye care professionals now lead themselves. Our role at Orbis is increasingly to support, convene, innovate, and accelerate that local leadership so progress continues long after the Flying Eye Hospital departs.”

“Around the world, Orbis is focused on creating lasting change by investing in people, institutions, technology, and local leadership,” said Kathleen Sherwin, President and CEO of Orbis International. “The Flying Eye Hospital is one part of that larger model—bringing intensive, hands-on training together with tools like Cybersight, artificial intelligence (AI), and research so local teams can continue improving care long after a project ends. Vietnam shows what is possible when long-term partnership helps proven solutions take root and scale.”

Building on decades of progress, Vietnam is emerging as a regional leader in eye health, with particular strengths in pediatric care, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, workforce development, and technology-enabled care. Its growing experience in AI-supported screening, implementation, research, and evidence generation can help inform eye health progress across the Asia-Pacific region.

FedEx, a long-time supporter of Orbis, and a title sponsor for this Flying Eye Hospital project in Vietnam, donated the MD-10 aircraft that serves as the Flying Eye Hospital and continues to provide essential logistical, financial, and operational support. Volunteer pilots from FedEx fly the aircraft to its destinations around the globe. FedEx is represented on the Orbis International Board of Directors.

“At FedEx, we believe that connecting people goes beyond delivering packages – it is about creating opportunities and helping communities thrive,” said Ee-Hui Tan, managing director of FedEx Vietnam and Cambodia. “We are proud to support the return of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital to Vietnam. Together with Orbis, we are investing in the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals, helping strengthen Vietnam’s eye care system so more patients can access quality care closer to home.”

Underscoring Orbis’s commitment to high-quality training and patient care, QUAD A, a nonprofit accreditation organization, works with Orbis to ensure that the Flying Eye Hospital meets rigorous standards that prioritize patient safety.

Over the past 30 years, Orbis has supported the training of more than 40,000 eye care professionals and helped expand access to care for millions of people across Vietnam. Today, Vietnamese institutions and professionals are increasingly leading innovation and delivering high-quality care independently, demonstrating the impact of sustained investment in local capacity, technology, and systems change.

Looking ahead, Orbis will continue working with partners across Vietnam to scale proven solutions through workforce development, technology, Cybersight, AI-supported screening, research, and stronger health systems—so that more people can receive quality eye care closer to home.

Orbis in Vietnam

Since beginning work in Vietnam in 1996, Orbis has worked alongside government partners, hospitals, and training institutions to expand access to quality eye care and build sustainable local capacity. Cumulative impact includes:

More than 40,000 eye care professionals trained.More than 5.2 million people reached with eye care services.More than 139,000 sight-saving surgeries supported.17 retinopathy of prematurity centers supported.12 vision centers strengthened to bring care closer to communities.National clinical guidelines supported across priority eye health areas.Cybersight and AI-supported screening deployed to expand training, consultation, and early detection.

This work has supported national clinical guidelines, stronger referral pathways, improved treatment outcomes, and new models of care in areas including retinopathy of prematurity, pediatric eye care, school eye health, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

As the partnership continues, Orbis and its partners are focused on scaling proven solutions through workforce development, technology, Cybersight, AI, research, and stronger health systems—so that everyone can access quality eye care closer to home.

About Orbis International

Orbis International works around the world to prevent blindness and restore sight for children and adults in places where eye care is out of reach—so vision problems don’t make it harder to learn, earn a living, or enjoy life. Around 1.1 billion people live with vision loss, but with the right care, 90% of it is completely avoidable. That is why Orbis trains doctors, nurses, and other eye care professionals to provide care in their own communities—and works to make sure people of all ages can access the eye exams, glasses, medicine, and surgeries they need to protect and restore their sight. Orbis began this work more than 40 years ago with the Flying Eye Hospital, a teaching hospital on a plane that brings expert training and care where they’re needed most. Today, we also work with local hospitals and clinics across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to make eye care available to more people, and we use and develop technology—like our award-winning Cybersight e-learning and telehealth platform, artificial intelligence screening, and virtual reality training—to help eye care teams treat patients more effectively. Orbis ranks in the top 3% of U.S. charities, having earned top marks for transparency and accountability from Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Better Business Bureau. To learn more, please visit orbis.org

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. With annual revenue of $92 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions utilizing its flexible, efficient, and intelligent global network. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 500,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards, and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about.

Media Contacts

Orbis Vietnam
Nhung Nguyen
Communications Officer
Nhung.nguyen@orbis.org
+84 0904562983

Orbis International
Jenna Montgomery
Interim Lead, Global Communications and Marketing
Jenna.montgomery@orbis.org

FedEx
Heather Harshbarger
Communications Advisor
+1 901-690-9869

 

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In HelloNation, Property Management Expert Karen Nolan Explains What Property Managers Do for Landlords

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The article outlines how property management services support landlords through tenant screening, maintenance, and lease enforcement.

MENIFEE, Calif., July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What do property managers actually do for landlords in Menifee, CA? HelloNation has published an article that provides clear answers and practical insight into the full scope of property management services.

 

The HelloNation article explains that a property manager handles far more than rent collection. Property management services begin with marketing vacancies and attracting qualified renters in Menifee, CA. The article explains how tenant screening plays a central role in protecting landlords by carefully evaluating applicants and reducing the risk of future issues.

According to the article, tenant screening helps ensure that each tenant meets financial and behavioral expectations. This step supports stable occupancy and reduces turnover, which is critical for any landlord managing property in Menifee, CA. Property Management Experts note that consistent tenant screening also helps maintain the long-term value of rental properties.

Once tenants are placed, the article outlines how a property manager becomes the main point of contact. Property management services include responding to tenant concerns, handling communication, and enforcing leases. By managing these responsibilities, the property manager allows the landlord to avoid direct disputes and maintain professional distance.

The article emphasizes that lease enforcement is essential to protecting both the property and the agreement. Property managers monitor compliance with lease terms and address violations when necessary. This structured approach helps landlords in Menifee, CA, maintain order and consistency across their rental properties.

Maintenance is another major focus of property management services. The article explains that property managers coordinate maintenance and oversee property repairs to keep homes safe and functional. While they may not perform repairs themselves, they manage vendors, schedule work, and respond to urgent issues quickly.

The article notes that timely maintenance and property repairs prevent small issues from becoming larger and more expensive problems. This proactive approach supports tenant satisfaction while preserving the property’s condition. Property Management Experts highlight that consistent maintenance planning is a key benefit for any landlord.

Beyond daily operations, the HelloNation article describes the administrative side of property management services. A property manager prepares leases, maintains records, and ensures compliance with local and state regulations in Menifee, CA. This includes staying informed about legal requirements that affect landlords and rental properties.

Financial oversight is also part of the role. The article explains that property managers handle rent collection, manage deposits, and provide regular financial reporting. These services give landlords a clear understanding of property performance without requiring constant involvement.

For landlords who own multiple properties or live outside Menifee, CA, the article highlights the value of professional property management services. A property manager helps streamline operations, coordinate maintenance, and ensure that lease enforcement and tenant screening are handled consistently. This reduces stress while improving efficiency.

The article concludes that understanding the full role of a property manager helps landlords make informed decisions about their level of involvement. With responsibilities that include tenant screening, maintenance, lease enforcement, and property repairs, property management services offer a comprehensive solution for effectively managing rental properties.

What Do Property Managers Actually Do for Landlords in Menifee features insights from Karen Nolan, Property Management Experts of Menifee, California, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative “edvertising” approach that blends educational content with storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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