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BMO and 1871 Call for Applications for Sixth Annual WMNfintech Program

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Applications are open until April 10, 2025

CHICAGO, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – BMO and 1871 today announced a call for applications for WMNfintech, an annual, award-winning program that empowers startup founders as they create and scale innovative services and solutions that support the financial sector. In its sixth year, WMNfintech has become North America’s largest alumni network of women-founded and women-led startups as well as those who support women in fintech, providing entrepreneurs access to a robust support network to help them to grow their businesses and bring new technologies and products to market.

“BMO is committed to driving innovation to help our customers, clients, and the communities we serve make real financial progress,” said Andrew Harrison, Head of Emerging Partnerships and the Digital Innovation Fund at BMO. “We are excited to welcome our 2025 cohort into WMNfintech’s incredibly powerful business ecosystem and to helping them accelerate time to market for new technologies and products. Supporting the success of businesses, small, medium or large is central to BMO’s purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life.”

The five startups selected to participate will gain access to tailored resources and programming, including:

One-on-one guidance and insights from top BMO industry expertsSpecialized curriculum focused on enterprise sales cycles, vendor management, information security, and risk and regulatory requirementsSix-month membership to 1871, including its resources and a roadmap for supportOpportunities to attend industry events with various stakeholders, banking partners, regulators and trade groupsPitching feedback, mentorship, and strategic connectionsExclusive alumni networking opportunities

This year’s program runs from May to August, including four immersive weeks of curriculum where founders gather in-person and/or virtually. The 2025 WMNfintech cohort will also have the opportunity to attend exclusive events across the U.S., including locations in New York City, Chicago, Austin, Las Vegas and San Francisco. 

The WMNfintech Impact
Since launching in 2020, participating fintech startups from across the globe have created over 200 jobs and raised over $45 million in capital.

“Empowering fintech startups isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart investment in the future of financial innovation. WMNfintech has built an incredible community of founders who are redefining what’s possible in this industry,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. “At 1871, we’re committed to providing them with the resources, mentorship, and connections they need to scale. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with BMO to foster bold ideas and support the next generation of fintech leaders.”

To apply for the WMNfintech program by April 10, 2025, and learn more about the program, visit https://1871.com/membership/wmnfintech/.

About BMO:
BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of January 31, 2025. Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to 13 million customers across Canada, the United States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and inclusive society. 

About 1871:
1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage, growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~500 early-stage startups, ~250 growth and late-stage companies, and ~60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. The member experience includes virtual and in-person access to workshops, events, mentorship, and more. The nonprofit organization has 350 mentors available to its members, alongside access to more than 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 1,050+ alum companies are still active, have created over 14,700 jobs, and have raised more than $3.7 billion in follow-on capital.

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SOURCE BMO US

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QUAD GmbH Expands Its Technology Offerings and Relationship with Vuzix with Follow-on Six-figure Smart Glasses Order

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ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Vuzix® Corporation (NASDAQ: VUZI), (“Vuzix” or, the “Company”), a leading supplier of AI-powered Smart glasses, waveguides and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, today announced that the Company has received and shipped against a follow-on six-figure smart glasses order from QUAD GmbH (“QUAD”), a leading distributor and consulting company in the areas of Auto-ID, Transport, Logistics and OEM Integration. QUAD’s newly formed QUAD Advanced Systems division provides full scale services and support for Vuzix products to its customers throughout Europe, focusing on the field service, manufacturing, security, warehouse and logistics and healthcare market verticals.

QUAD Advanced Systems, which consolidates its previous auto ID, transport, logistics and OEM divisions under one roof, will provide comprehensive support throughout the product lifecycle. Their deep technical knowledge of Vuzix smart glasses extends to real-world applications, including remote monitoring and operations assistance, warehousing logistics, and medical field innovations, where AR technology enhances operational precision and efficiency. QUAD’s expertise enables tailored solutions, such as optimizing smart glasses for inventory management, remote expert collaboration, or surgical support. To accelerate decision-making, QUAD facilitates rapid online demos, allowing clients to experience Vuzix technology virtually, followed by personalized guidance to connect with the best-fit reseller for their industry-specific needs.

“QUAD prides itself in investing in the future, and partnering with Vuzix ensures that we continue that tradition of providing truly state-of-the-art solutions for our customers,” said Andreas Wey, CEO of QUAD GmbH. “Operational efficiency is a real differentiator, and nothing encapsulates that more than the use of AR technology enabled through the use of smart glasses. We are absolutely delighted to both offer and support the Vuzix product range across our core vertical markets.”

“We are excited to be expanding our relationship with QUAD, who has built a strong reputation as a premier European distributor of technology and consulting services over the past 30 years,” said Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix. “QUAD’s hands-on approach in sectors like healthcare and warehousing, combined with its ability to troubleshoot real-time challenges, underscores its role as a valued Vuzix partner.”

About Vuzix Corporation

Vuzix is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of AI-powered Smart Glasses, Waveguides and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, components and products for the enterprise, medical, defense and consumer markets. The Company’s products include head-mounted smart personal display and wearable computing devices that offer users a portable high-quality viewing experience, provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and augmented reality, as well OEM waveguide optical components and display engines. Vuzix holds more than 425 patents and patents pending and numerous IP licenses in the fields of optics, head-mounted displays, and the augmented reality wearables field. The Company has won Consumer Electronics Show (or CES) awards for innovation for the years 2005 to 2024 and several wireless technology innovation awards among others. Founded in 1997, Vuzix is a public company (NASDAQ: VUZI) with offices in: Rochester, NY; and Kyoto and Okayama, Japan. For more information, visit the Vuzix website, Twitter and Facebook pages.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

Certain statements contained in this news release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking statements contained in this release relate to Vuzix Smart Glasses, our business relationship and future opportunities with QUAD GmbH and its customers, and among other things the Company’s leadership in the Smart Glasses and AR display industry. They are generally identified by words such as “believes,” “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “should” and similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based upon the Company’s beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this release. The Company’s actual results could differ materially due to risk factors and other items described in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Reports and MD&A filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian securities regulators (copies of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

Vuzix Media and Investor Relations Contact:

Ed McGregor, Director of Investor Relations,
Vuzix Corporation
ed_mcgregor@vuzix.com  
Tel: (585) 359-5985

Vuzix Corporation, 25 Hendrix Road, West Henrietta, NY 14586 USA,
Investor Information – IR@vuzix.com  www.vuzix.com

 

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SOURCE Vuzix Corporation

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China-Austria Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum and 3rd CISCE Promotion Held in Vienna

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VIENNA, March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The China-Austria Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, in conjunction with a promotional event for the third China International Supply Chain Expo (“CISCE”), was held in Vienna, Austria. The gathering brought together over 200 representatives from trade and investment promotion agencies, business associations, and companies from both China and Austria. During the forum, China International Exhibition Center Group spotlighted the upcoming CISCE and inked cooperation agreements with key Austrian institutions and businesses.

Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (“CCPIT”), praised the recent progress in Sino-Austrian collaboration across multiple sectors. He highlighted China’s readiness to work closely with Austrian partners to leverage complementary strengths in resources and industrial frameworks. Ren also encouraged businesses from both nations to explore new opportunities for business expansion and invited Austrian businesses and institutions to participate in the 3rd CISCE.

The event was attended by Christoph Matznetter, Vice President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, and Qi Mei, the Chinese Ambassador to Austria, among other prominent guests.

Austrian representative, noted that the forum represented the first significant economic and trade event between Austria and China since the inauguration of the new Austrian government, underscoring its crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations. He affirmed China as a reliable partner and lauded the CISCE as a leading exhibition dedicated to enhancing international industrial and supply chain cooperation. He also expressed optimism about broader cooperation to address global challenges and uphold international trade norms.

The China International Supply Chain Expo, recognized as the world’s premier national-level exhibition focused on supply chains, aims to facilitate integration across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, connect businesses of all sizes, encourage collaboration between industry, academia and research institutions, while enhancing interaction between Chinese and multinational businesses. Under the theme Connecting the World for a Shared Future, it has emerged as a crucial platform for bolstering international cooperation in industrial and supply chains. The 3rd CISCE will be held from July 16th to 20th in Beijing, with exhibition zones featuring Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Smart Vehicle and more, with over 300 companies already confirming their participation.

Earlier this year, the promotional events for CISCE were held in Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, and the UK to reinforce cooperative ties between China and European nations, broadening and deepening bilateral economic and trade relations.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2645319/photo.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2427202/CISCE_Logo.jpg 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/china-austria-economic-and-trade-cooperation-forum-and-3rd-cisce-promotion-held-in-vienna-302405881.html

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Alamar Biosciences Announces First Five Distribution Partners, Expanding Commercial Support in Asia Pacific

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FREMONT, Calif., March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Alamar Biosciences, a company powering precision proteomics to enable the earliest detection of disease, is pleased to announce the signing of five new distribution partners to expand its global presence. The company has partnered with established industry leaders across key international markets to enhance access to its innovative proteomics technologies.

The newly signed distribution partners include:

GeneWorksAustralia and New ZealandGenomaxSingaporePhileKoreaSouth KoreaScrum Inc.JapanSpincoIndia

“We are excited to welcome these outstanding partners to the Alamar network,” said Yuling Luo, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman and CEO of Alamar Biosciences, “Their deep expertise in the life sciences industry and strong regional presence will allow us to bring our next-generation proteomics solutions to more researchers and clinicians worldwide.”

Alamar’s technology empowers scientists to achieve groundbreaking insights in biomarker discovery, drug development, and disease research. Through these new partnerships, researchers in Asia-Pacific will now have enhanced access to Alamar’s cutting-edge platforms and technical support.

Alamar remains committed to supporting the scientific community with best-in-class tools that enable high-sensitivity protein analysis. For more information on Alamar’s distribution network and solutions, visit alamarbio.com.

About Alamar Biosciences, Inc.

Alamar Biosciences is a privately held life sciences company with a mission to power precision proteomics to enable the earliest detection of disease. The company’s proprietary NULISA™ Platform along with the ARGO™ HT System work seamlessly with the latest advances in genomics to achieve single digit attomolar detection sensitivity, greatly surpassing the most sensitive protein detection technology on the market today. For more information, please visit alamarbio.com.

 

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SOURCE Alamar Biosciences, Inc.

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