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Black Dragon Capital℠ Confirms Partnership Focused on Innovative Fintech Solutions with SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

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Largest Credit Union in California and Fifth Largest in the United States Collaborates with Black Dragon Capital℠ to Better Serve Community of Over One Million Members

BOCA RATON, Fla., April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Multi-phased investment firm Black Dragon Capital℠, which is led by recognized leaders in financial technology and credit unions who understand the unique needs of this market, has announced their partnership with SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.

Founded over a decade ago by recognized financial technology and credit union leaders, Black Dragon Capital℠ is a multi-phased investment firm focused on disruptive technologies in high growth industry segments that strengthen economic stability within communities. The firm is led by a collaborative team with a combination of intense operating experience, community impact focus, and a proven ability of transforming and growing companies.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union (“SchoolsFirst FCU”) is the largest credit union in California, serving a community of over 1.4 million members. The organization has been committed to providing its members with world-class personal service meant to help them better their financial lives ever since it was founded in 1934.

SchoolsFirst FCU has decided to place their trust in Black Dragon Capital through a partnership which aims to address the significant business and competitive issues created by the ongoing digitization of financial services. This is a decision influenced by Louis Hernandez’s integrity as a professional with decades of experience in the industry and further reinforced by an extensive due diligence process on the part of SchoolsFirst FCU, which revealed Black Dragon’s history of transforming companies. Through this collaboration, Black Dragon Capital℠ and SchoolsFirst FCU hope to create and scale financial technology companies that can help credit unions transform their business and regain their member service advantage.

SchoolsFirst FCU joins a growing list of the most innovative Credit Unions in the industry who have partnered with Black Dragon Capital℠ to reshape our community. They will work with the Black Dragon Capital℠ team to leverage the firm’s global reach and technology-driven expertise, with the main objective of delivering innovative solutions dedicated to empowering credit unions to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

“Over the years, Black Dragon Capital℠ has become synonymous with integrity, expertise and a commitment to the credit union community, thanks to Louis Hernandez, Jr.,” said Bill Cheney, Chief Executive Officer, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union. “I have known Louis for years and have witnessed firsthand his unparalleled ability to build and lead successful companies. His visionary leadership at Black Dragon Capital℠ is the driving force behind our confidence in this partnership. Together, credit unions are poised to revolutionize the fintech landscape to deliver unprecedented service to their Members. We are excited to explore the potential of the groundbreaking new technologies that the Black Dragon team will bring forward.”

The Black Dragon Capital℠ team’s insights on operations, combined with their deep experience in cutting-edge technology puts them in a place to deliver competitive advantages for their portfolio companies and founders. Through intense research on the competitors and markets, they have honed their prowess in identifying scalable solutions and helping founders accelerate growth by cutting through competition.

“Since our team is composed of tenured professionals with deep domain expertise in the financial industry, we consider the challenges faced by credit unions as our own. Black Dragon Capital℠ is committed to empowering credit unions so that they can remain competitive and thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape. We look forward to opportunities that allow us to collaborate with credit unions like SchoolsFirst FCU to meet our common goal of empowering CUs and their communities,” said Louis Hernandez Jr., Founder and CEO, Black Dragon Capital.

About Black Dragon Capital℠ 
Black Dragon Capital℠, founded over a decade ago by recognized financial technology and Credit Union leaders, is a multi-phased investment firm focused on disruptive technologies in high growth industry segments that strengthen economic stability within communities. The firm is led by a collaborative team with a combination of intense operating experience, community impact focus, and a proven track record of successfully transforming companies.

About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
As the leading third-party administrator of retirement plans for school employees, SchoolsFirst Plan Administration, LLC has served the educational community for more than 40 years. SchoolsFirst Plan Administration provides retirement plan services for 403(b), Roth 403(b), 457(b), Roth 457(b) and FICA Alternative plans for nearly 400 public school districts, charter schools, community college districts and county offices of education in California. Plan participants have full access to financial education and advice provided by SchoolsFirst FCU, including access to financial planning advisors, seminars, online education and planning calculators. Other services provided by SchoolsFirst Plan Administration include retaining contribution information, authorizing loans and distributions, dedicated phone support for both districts and participants six days a week, and contribution remittance, plan audit support, and secure online access.

Media Contact or Inquiries: 
Aren Wong
Social Media Manager, Black Dragon Capital
awong@blackdragoncap.com

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SOURCE Black Dragon Capital

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CHAI AI, Backed by CoreWeave and AMD, Hits $80M ARR with talks of $2.4B Valuation

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PALO ALTO, Calif., April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Following a pivotal 2025 investment from CoreWeave and AMD, CHAI AI has maintained an unstoppable growth trajectory, surpassing $80 million ARR at the close of Q1 2026, propelling the company to an estimated $2.4 billion valuation.

“Millions of people use our social AI platform every day, and our continued growth is a direct reflection of our incredible talent,” said William Beauchamp, founder of CHAI AI. “I moved the company from the UK to Palo Alto in 2022 because it is where I can find talented engineers. Our growth is driven by fast iteration cycles and the hard work of the engineers.”

What is the mission of CHAI AI? People want to create their own AI and share it with others, and they want to discover and interact with AI built by people they follow. Just as social media platforms emerged when video creation and consumption became ubiquitous, social AI platforms are now emerging to meet an equivalent wave of consumer demand for generative AI creation, sharing, and interaction.

What is the growth rate and traction? In the last three consecutive years, CHAI AI has sustained a 3x growth rate with ARR crossing $80 million by the end of Q1 2026 and a projection to surpass $200 million.

What is the valuation of CHAI AI? CHAI AI is estimated to have a valuation of $2.4 billion as of Q1 2026, based on $80 million in ARR and its sustained growth rate.

Who are the major investors in CHAI AI? AMD and CoreWeave are the primary, strategic investors in CHAI AI, bringing its total investment to date to over $55 million.

What is the culture like at CHAI AI? Our fast-growing company is supported by a talented engineering team that thrives on fast iteration cycles and takes on the most challenging problems in the field. CHAI AI operates with a high-bar, high-reward culture where engineers own entire product segments end-to-end, from prototyping to production.

What is the compensation? CHAI AI competes with top-paying companies such as Jane Street, OpenAI, Meta, and Citadel. We pay 100% cash salaries and are known for generous compensation offers, with the option to trade a portion of cash for stock options. The founding team’s background is in quantitative trading, and they have maintained a compensation philosophy consistent with that culture.

How do promotions and performance reviews work? Performance is reviewed on a daily basis, and engineers are expected to work hard and drive impact. At the beginning of each year, there is a performance-based salary increase.

What is the management structure? The structure is flat, with a team of 15 to 20 engineers.

What are the typical working hours? Engineers at CHAI AI typically work from 9 AM to 5 PM during weekdays, as well as Saturday morning.

Is there vacation or PTO? CHAI AI does not have a set number of vacation days on the calendar, but we respect that employees need time to recharge. In practice, most engineers take around 20 days off per year.

Is the role fully in-person in Palo Alto, hybrid, or remote-friendly? All CHAI employees are expected to work in person in Palo Alto. As a startup that moves fast, we want to ensure the team stays in sync.

What’s the onboarding experience like for new engineers? New hires follow a structured 3-month onboarding plan. Each new hire is paired with an experienced hire and ramped up quickly. You will be assigned high-impact tasks from day one, with clear evaluation metrics and direct mentorship from peers.

Press Contact:
CHAI AI Press
+1 (626) 594-8966

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SOURCE Chai AI

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Greenberg Traurig Shareholder Lisa M. Lanham to Speak at MBA Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference

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MIAMI, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lisa M. Lanham, a shareholder in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A.‘s Financial Regulatory & Compliance Practice, will speak at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference, taking place May 4-7 at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami.

Lanham will participate in the session titled “Emerging Issues Track: The Risk Behind the Race — Employee Mobility, Data, and Licensing,” scheduled for 3:30-4:45 p.m. Monday, May 4. The panel will examine how competitive hiring practices, proprietary data use, and evolving multistate licensing frameworks are creating heightened legal and regulatory risks for independent banks. Panelists will discuss recent litigation trends, data protection considerations, and operational practices that can expose institutions to increased scrutiny.

Based in the firm’s Miami office, Lanham’s practice focuses on consumer financial services regulatory compliance and licensing. She regularly advises mortgage lenders, servicers, fintech companies, and financial institutions on navigating complex federal and state regulatory regimes, workforce mobility issues, and compliance risk management.

The MBA Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference is a leading industry forum bringing together legal, compliance, and business professionals to address emerging regulatory challenges facing the mortgage banking industry.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has approximately 3,100 lawyers across 51 locations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm’s broad geographic and practice range enables the delivery of innovative and strategic legal services across borders and industries. Recognized as a 2025 BTI “Best of the Best Recommended Law Firm” by general counsel for trust and relationship management, Greenberg Traurig is consistently ranked among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100, NLJ 500, and Law360 400. Greenberg Traurig is also known for its philanthropic giving, culture, innovation, and pro bono work. Web: www.gtlaw.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greenberg-traurig-shareholder-lisa-m-lanham-to-speak-at-mba-legal-issues–regulatory-compliance-conference-302759523.html

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City Out Now on Meta Quest, Pico, and Steam VR

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Award-winning Cortopia Studios launches the first-ever Turtles VR game

STOCKHOLM, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been everywhere from New York City to Dimension X, but with the launch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City, Beyond Frames Entertainment and Cortopia Studios take the iconic heroes into an all-new reality for the very first time: virtual reality.

Watch the full release trailer here: https://youtu.be/TK2PFmvvVf0

Available now on Meta Quest, Steam VR, and Pico for $24.99, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City is a story-based action adventure game that can be enjoyed single-player, or with friends in optional co-operative multiplayer, allowing players to join together and push against the forces of The Foot.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City takes players to a New York City where the Shredder has been defeated and, in the void left behind, warring factions are vying for total control – from Karai, the leader of the Japanese branch of The Foot Clan, to Mashima, a mystic determined to resurrect the ruthless chaos and power that he believes their fallen leader stood for. 

Players will explore the neighborhoods you’ve sworn to protect, square off against classic foes, and chow down on pizza – just like a real Turtle. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City, players are in full control of their play style and experience, engaging however they feel their favorite Turtle would – from stealthy attacks to outright berserker action. 

In addition to the base game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City is available with a Digital Deluxe Edition upgrade for $4.99, featuring four alternate skins for each Turtle (Mirage, Nostalgia, Owari Masks and Red Masks), alongside an in-game digital art book and an in-game browsable soundtrack.

To learn more, follow Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City on Discord, X, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

PRESS KIT

Press kit for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City can be found here: https://bit.ly/3GMgdqP

CONTACT:

Press Contact: Jim Squires, press@beyondframes.com
Beyond Frames Publishing: Maeva Sponbergs, Head of Publishing, hello@beyondframes.com, +46 8 50235808

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

https://news.cision.com/beyond-frames/r/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles–empire-city-out-now-on-meta-quest–pico–and-steam-vr,c4342105

The following files are available for download:

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-empire-city-out-now-on-meta-quest-pico-and-steam-vr-302759639.html

SOURCE Beyond Frames

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