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Rice launches AI venture accelerator to fuel industry innovation in collaboration with Google Public Sector

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HOUSTON, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today Rice University announced the launch of the Rice AI Venture Accelerator (RAVA), designed to drive early stage artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and commercialization. In collaboration with Google Public Sector, RAVA is powered by Google Cloud technology and services and aims to connect AI-focused startups with large companies and public sector organizations to solve critical business and industry challenges through AI.

“We are creating an ecosystem where industry leaders can access the next generation of AI-driven solutions.”

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Rice AI Venture Accelerator in partnership with Google Public Sector,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “This collaboration builds on Rice’s decades-long history of innovation and aligns perfectly with our mission to transform breakthrough research into real-world impact. Through RAVA, we are creating an ecosystem where industry leaders can access the next generation of AI-driven solutions.”

The AI accelerator is led by Rice Nexus, the university’s innovation hub located in Houston’s Ion District. RAVA partners will have exclusive access to Google Public Sector’s leadership in AI and machine learning research, cloud computing and AI-focused sandbox services.

Google Cloud will provide the necessary technology to help AI startups build minimum viable products rapidly and scale those solutions for deployment across industries. This will include leading-industry technology around cybersecurity, AI-optimized infrastructure and valuable datasets. In addition, partners will benefit from Rice’s top AI researchers, who bring expertise from the Ken Kennedy Institute and the Houston innovation ecosystem.

“Google Public Sector is proud to partner with a leading institution like Rice University to launch the Rice AI Venture Accelerator,” said Reymund Dumlao, director of state and local government and education at Google Public Sector. “By providing access to Google Cloud’s cutting-edge AI, secure cloud infrastructure and expertise, we’re enabling the next generation of AI pioneers to develop solutions that address critical challenges across industries and within the public sector. This unique partnership between education and industry will give participants access to cutting-edge research, leading technologists, specialized resources and a collaborative academic ecosystem, fostering an environment for rapid innovation and growth.”

RAVA will also collaborate with non sibi ventures, a venture capital firm that specializes in identifying and selecting high-potential early stage startups to further enhance the program’s value.

While Rice Nexus — a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot innovation hub — will serve as the physical hub, RAVA will extend its support to AI startups from across the U.S., enabling them to develop solutions for industry and public sector challenges. This aligns with Rice’s broader strategic plan, Momentous, which prioritizes leadership in responsible AI, computing and disruptive technologies.

“By leveraging the vast resources and leadership of Google Public Public Sector from AI research, cloud service and the AI-focused Rapid Innovation Team, we will provide RAVA partners access to unparalleled technology,” said Paul Cherukuri, vice president for innovation at Rice. “This partnership is poised to accelerate the commercialization and real-world impact of AI solutions in ways that were previously unimaginable.”

Under the leadership of Sanjoy Paul, an AI expert and entrepreneur, the Nexus aims to be a key driver for innovation across multiple industries including biotech, energy, climate and health care.

“This hub enables AI startups to go beyond building minimum viable products that meet industry privacy standards by utilizing the latest AI technologies from Google Cloud,” said Sanjoy Paul, executive director of Rice Nexus. “Our goal is to maximize the return on investment for our corporate partners, driving meaningful innovation that will have lasting impact on their industries.”

RAVA represents the next step in Rice’s commitment to innovation, advancing AI research and supporting the growth of the Houston innovation ecosystem. The program will provide crucial resources to ensure that AI solutions are not only developed but also deployed at scale, changing industries and advancing technology globally, university officials said.

For more information about RAVA, please visit https://nexus.rice.edu/rava.

About Rice University
Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of architecture, business, continuing studies, engineering and computing, humanities, music, natural sciences and social sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. Internationally, the university maintains the Rice Global Paris Center, a hub for innovative collaboration, research and inspired teaching located in the heart of Paris, and Rice Global India in Bengaluru. With 4,776 undergraduates and 4,104 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 7 for best-run colleges by the Princeton Review. 

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SOURCE Rice University

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The National Association of Mortgage Brokers Announces its Launch of MORE, New Mortgage Education and Professional Development Platform

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NAMB MORE brings training, credentials, professional development and daily mortgage market information together in one place

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) the first and only national volunteer-led and membership-driven organization representing the interests of mortgage brokers and home buyers since 1973, today announced the launch of NAMB MORE(Mortgage Originator Resources and Education), a new learning and professional development platform designed to give mortgage professionals the education, resources and information they need to grow throughout their careers.

MORE officially launches today during NAMB National 2026, being held October 16–19 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The platform is designed as a long-term resource for mortgage professionals at every career stage, bringing training, credentials, professional development and timely industry information together in one place.

Mortgage professionals can learn more and access the platform at nambhasmore.org. Access to MORE will be free through NAMB Focus, January 7–9, 2027. Users must have a NAMB member profile to access the learning management system.

“NAMB MORE represents a significant investment in the future of mortgage professionals and the continued advancement of our industry,” said Michael Farrell, President of NAMB. “We wanted to create more than a collection of courses; we wanted to build a resource that professionals can turn to throughout their careers. NAMB MORE delivers valuable education, professional development and practical information members can apply to their businesses daily. ‘NAMB has MORE’ is a mantra the entire organization embraces, reflecting our commitment to providing the industry with innovative tools that support professional growth, strengthen advocacy and help foster our members’ success. “MORE was developed with the mortgage industry in mind, with NAMB and subject-matter experts contributing to the platform’s educational content.”

The platform is designed to support mortgage professionals from their first year in the business through experienced production, management and leadership roles. Educational resources span foundational mortgage knowledge, loan origination, mortgage programs and products, business growth, sales and marketing, borrower experience, professional development and more.

The MORE course library includes content across core categories such as:

Business Strategy & GrowthLoan OriginationMortgage FoundationsMortgage Programs & ProductsProfessional Development & Workplace SkillsSales, Marketing & Borrower ExperienceGeneral

Additional learning resources and credentials are designed to help mortgage professionals continue developing their skills as their careers evolve.

A key component of the new platform is the MORE Daily Dashboard, which serves as the home screen members see when they log into MORE. Rather than requiring members to visit the platform only when completing a course or pursuing a credential, the Daily Dashboard is designed to give mortgage professionals a reason to return every day.

The Daily Dashboard currently features:

Mortgage Rate Alert Widget: Provides information about the factors affecting mortgage rates and refreshes at least hourly.Upcoming Events: Highlights NAMB events and opportunities so members can stay connected to the association and industry.Daily Access to MORE: Provides a central starting point for accessing education, professional development and other resources.

“The Daily Dashboard is an important part of what makes MORE different,” added Farrell. “We want MORE to become part of a mortgage professional’s daily routine. Whether someone is checking the latest rate information, looking for an upcoming NAMB event or continuing their professional education, MORE puts useful resources in one place.”

About NAMB: The National Association of Mortgage Brokers has been the only national volunteer-led and membership-driven organization representing the interests of mortgage professionals and homebuyers since 1973. NAMB provides mortgage professionals with advocacy, education, and rigorous certification programs to recognize members with the highest levels of professional knowledge and education. NAMB’s active lobbying and advocacy efforts focus on national and state issues, protecting the interests of its members and borrowers. As the leading national trade association for the mortgage industry, NAMB is affiliated with state associations throughout the country and represents the interests of more than 546,800 licensed and registered Mortgage Loan Originators and 49,100 licensed Mortgage Broker and Mortgage Lender businesses throughout the U.S. www.namb.org

Media Contact

Joshua Steinfeld, Steinfeld Consulting, 1 339-225-1581, steinfeldconsulting@gmail.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/the-national-association-of-mortgage-brokers-announces-its-launch-of-more-new-mortgage-education-and-professional-development-platform-302910967.html

SOURCE The National Association of Mortgage Brokers

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The United States Golf Association Selects Gupta Media as Paid Media Agency of Record

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The appointment comes as the USGA looks to continue to strengthen brand equity and increase awareness and engagement with golfers nationwide

BOSTON, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The USGA, the non-profit governing body of golf in the United States, has named Gupta Media its paid media agency of record following a competitive pitch process that began in February. Gupta Media will lead paid media strategy, planning, buying and reporting in support of the USGA’s Championship ticketing and broader commercial initiatives, while helping grow brand equity, awareness and engagement across the organization. Its work will span key USGA priorities, including golf’s official Handicap Index® and GHIN app; the Rules of Golf and the USGA’s governance of the game; Membership; and initiatives that advance golf through sustainability, research and innovation, and greater access and inclusion. The relationship expands beyond media execution to include audience strategy, first-party data integration, measurement and optimization.

“Gupta Media stood out for its ability to connect the dots between data, audience strategy, media and creative to real business outcomes, so we’re incredibly excited for this next chapter.”

The relationship comes at an important moment for the USGA, with the organization focused on continuing to expand its reach and deepening brand affinity across the ever-growing, diverse golf community. Gupta Media will help drive ticket sales for some of the sport’s biggest events, including the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, the 2027 U.S. Women’s Open at Inverness Club, the 2028 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club and the 2028 U.S. Women’s Open at Oakmont Country Club. The agency will also support the USGA in creating greater awareness and brand recognition for its corporate Partners through co-branded content and paid media.

Golf has an enormous network of people who love the game, creating a growing opportunity to build a deeper, more direct relationship between golfers and the organization. That challenge is exactly what Gupta Media is built to strategically address — from growing membership and promoting ticket sales for major live events to reaching new audiences and understanding customer lifetime value. By bringing together audience insights, first-party data and media performance, Gupta Media will help the USGA create more relevant, effective marketing that drives measurable business results while strengthening its connection with the next generation of golfers.

“We were looking for an agency that could bring a deep understanding of our audiences, a genuine enthusiasm for our mission and the strategic expertise to work with us through this next phase of golf’s growth,” said Lynn LaRocca, USGA’s Managing Director of Brand & Marketing. “Gupta Media stood out for its ability to connect the dots between data, audience strategy, media and creative to real business outcomes, so we’re incredibly excited for this next chapter.”

“There’s a personal element to this partnership that makes it especially rewarding. My golf journey began 30 years ago when I first visited Pebble Beach as a teenager, long before I could imagine actually playing on the course,” said Gogi Gupta, Founder, Gupta Media. “To now have the opportunity to connect that lifelong passion for the game with the work we’ve spent years building and fine-tuning our agency to do feels like kismet. We’re eager to bring our proficiency to an organization that plays a leading role in the great game.”

The relationship brings together Gupta Media’s deep experience in sports marketing with its data-driven approach to audience strategy, media and creative. The agency has developed a specialized set of tools and processes to address data and analytics challenges of sports and live events, including TallyTickets.com, its proprietary ticketing analytics platform that helps teams understand sales trends, forecast demand and make more informed marketing and media decisions. Gupta Media’s experience spans sports, entertainment, premium events, and pop culture, giving the agency a comprehensive understanding of the audience models and fan behaviors that shape the industry.

About the USGA:

The USGA is a mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community through handicapping and grassroots programs; to showcase the game’s best talent through the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and 13 other national championships and our museum; to provide unbiased global governance with The R&A through the playing, equipment and Amateur Status rules; and to advance issues important to golf’s future, with a focus on driving sustainability.

About Gupta Media:

Gupta Media, a certified Minority Business Enterprise, is a strategic consultancy at the intersection of creative strategy, digital media, advanced analytics, and performance marketing. We drive growth for professional sports franchises, global tech leaders, DTC brands, major music labels, and other high-profile organizations by building intelligent media plans, best-in-class reporting tools, and custom enterprise technology. Founded 25 years ago by Cornell grad Gogi Gupta, the agency is known for developing new methods of maximizing advertising efficiency in a digital-first world. Harvard Business School’s case study on Gupta Media was taught to all incoming students for three years and is still taught around the globe.

Media Contact

Carly Carioli, Gupta Media, 1 617-682-3733, ccarioli@guptamedia.com, guptamedia.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/the-united-states-golf-association-selects-gupta-media-as-paid-media-agency-of-record-302911621.html

SOURCE Gupta Media

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China Mobile Hong Kong Establishes Hong Kong’s First U6G Network

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Expanding Next-Generation Network Capabilities and Accelerating the Innovative Convergence of Communication, Computing, and AI Laying a Solid Foundation for 6G Development in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited (“China Mobile Hong Kong”) announced that it has taken the lead in realising a U6GHz network, successfully completing network testing and validation at its Mong Kok flagship store and advancing the exploration of Upper 6GHz band applications in mobile networks. Implementing China Mobile Group’s strategy of “strengthening the network foundation and full-stack innovation”, China Mobile Hong Kong aims to enhance network capabilities through new frequency band applications, drive collaborative innovation between terminals and the wider industry, and lay a robust foundation for Hong Kong’s future 6G development.

Strategic Early Deployment of New Spectrum to Build Momentum for a 6G Future
U6GHz, or the Upper 6GHz band, can provide continuous wide bandwidth and is a crucial spectrum resource supporting 5G-A and future 6G evolution. On 29 November 2024, Hong Kong completed its 6/7GHz spectrum auction, becoming the first region globally to auction this frequency band for public mobile services. China Mobile Hong Kong successfully bid for 100MHz of continuous spectrum and has made appropriate forward-looking deployments, advancing network capability validation and terminal adaptation to accumulate experience for future 6G commercialisation.

Expanding Network Capacity to Enable Smoother Smart Applications
The newly added U6GHz spectrum can be utilised synergistically with existing frequency bands. Through various combinations with current spectrums, it can achieve download speeds of 3Gbps. The increased availability of spectrum helps enhance data transmission capabilities, accommodating more simultaneous user connections, improving the internet experience in highly congested areas, and supporting high-definition video and large-capacity data transmission.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into production and daily life, the demand for data transmission from devices such as smart glasses and AI robots continues to rise. China Mobile Hong Kong will promote the synergistic development of U6GHz and intelligent computing services, enhance connectivity between terminals and intelligent computing platforms, and explore AI image analysis, immersive interactions, and industrial applications. This will allow smart services to better integrate into everyday life and corporate operations.

Aligning with Mainland China and Hong Kong Blueprints to Consolidate the Foundation of Digital-Intelligent Development
China Mobile Hong Kong will actively align with the Nation’s “15th Five-Year Plan” and Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan. Focusing on “AI+”, computing infrastructure, and new industrialisation, the company will enhance communication and smart services through network upgrades to assist Hong Kong in building an international innovation and technology centre. Concurrently, China Mobile Hong Kong will collaborate with industry partners to accelerate the research, development, and testing of U6GHz products. By expanding hotspot coverage according to demand, it aims to drive the maturity of the industrial ecosystem and accelerate Hong Kong’s 6G development. Looking ahead, China Mobile Hong Kong will continue to leverage its strengths as a central state-owned enterprise, providing high-quality digital infrastructure to serve Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, thereby fully contributing to the building of a cyber superpower and a digital China.

About China Mobile Hong Kong Limited
China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited (“China Mobile Hong Kong”) is the wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile Limited (HKEx: 941), which is listed on the Fortune Global 500. China Mobile Hong Kong was incepted in January 1997 and was the first mobile network operator to launch PCS services in Hong Kong.

As the world’s leading mobile network brand with the largest customer base*, The Company offers innovative and comprehensive 5G communications services, including voice, data, IDD and international roaming. The Company is committed to the development of 5G with new technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, cloud computing and big data, integrating 5G applications in different industries, promoting the construction and development of smart city groups in Greater Bay Area.

* China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile Limited. As of 31 December 2025, China Mobile Limited had the largest number of mobile network subscribers in the world.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/china-mobile-hong-kong-establishes-hong-kongs-first-u6g-network-302911836.html

SOURCE China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited

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