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GigU Expands to the U.S. Market with Brazil’s Most Popular Vehicle App to Boost Gig Workers’ Earnings and Safety

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Brazil-based upstart is using seed round of nearly $5M to fund its U.S. expansion

RIO DE JANEIRO and SAN FRANCISCO, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — GigU, the popular earnings optimization and safety platform for gig-economy workers in Brazil officially announced today its expansion to the United States market with the launch of its mobile app designed to help ride-share and food-delivery drivers maximize profits and enhance safety. The GigU app currently supports drivers working with major platforms including Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats.

“We built GigU by working directly with drivers, eating with them, listening to them, and understanding their daily challenges since 2017,” said Pedro Inada, co-founder of GigU (formerly StopClub). “Our ‘Cherry Picker’ feature helps drivers earn 30% more daily profits on average.”

To help fund its U.S. launch, GigU has already raised a total of nearly USD$5 million in seed funding, building on a previous Seed 1 round of $1.2 million announced in March 2024, being used for market expansion from Brazil to the U.S., including operations and marketing to promote the company and its new app. GigU is already a profitable enterprise.

After remarkable success in Brazil, where it has been downloaded nearly 600,000 times and maintains over 181,000 active users and 70,000+ paying subscribers, GigU is bringing its proven technology to the U.S. market where drivers face declining earnings and increasing safety concerns.

“Our mission is to create a more equitable gig economy by providing workers with the tools, information, and community they need to maximize their earnings potential and improve their quality of life,” said Luiz Gustavo Neves, CEO and co-founder of GigU. “The U.S. expansion represents a critical step in our vision to become the essential first app that every gig worker uses – the central hub that connects workers to opportunities, resources, and each other in a future where gig workers are empowered, not exploited.”

The GigU app’s flagship feature – its proprietary “Cherry Picker” – uses intelligent algorithms to help drivers increase their daily profits by up to 30% on average (as proven in Brazil and its U.S. beta tests) by showing drivers their potential earnings for each offer before accepting rides through an intuitive color-coded system: green for profitable rides, yellow for acceptable options, and red for trips to avoid. The simple color coding minimizes driver distraction while on the road.

“We built GigU by working directly with drivers, eating with them, listening to them, and understanding their daily challenges since 2017,” said Pedro Inada, co-founder of GigU. “Our ‘Cherry Picker’ feature helps drivers earn more while increasing their safety on the road by eliminating complex calculations while driving. Meanwhile, our ‘Secret Camera’ feature transforms smartphones into networked security camera tools that can be connected to Google Cloud to serve as evidence during disputes or safety incidents, providing drivers with much-needed security and peace of mind.”

The U.S. launch comes at a critical time for gig workers. According to Gridwise Analytics’ Annual Gig Mobility Report (2024), Uber drivers saw hourly earnings decline by 4% to $23.33 per hour and Lyft drivers earnings saw a steeper 6% drop to $23.23/hour. Food-delivery drivers fared poorly, with Uber Eats drivers’ hourly pay falling 5% to $14.96 and DoorDash drivers’ 3% decline to $12.23 per hour.

Gridwise reported a much steeper decline for Uber drivers for 2022-2023, so 2024’s modest earnings decline was on top of an already low base. While Gridwise used different metrics in its 2024 and 2025 reports, Uber drivers’ earnings have declined over 20% from 2022-2024, per Gridwise.

In conjunction with driver earnings declining, Solo’s Market Pulse research from November 2024, highlights how food delivery services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub have experienced a surge in popularity, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. While this has led to a significant increase in people participating in the gig economy, with many drivers taking on food delivery as a flexible, full-time option, their earnings results vary significantly across geographic regions.

During the same timeframe, safety concerns are mounting, with a study by the UCL Centre for Transport Studies revealing that 42% of gig workers have damaged their vehicles in collisions at work, 47% break speed limits to meet time pressures, and 16% report struggling to stay awake at the wheel.

Romero Rodrigues, managing partner at Redpoint eventures and an early investor in GigU, emphasized the company’s potential to help transform the gig economy landscape:

“Having built and scaled technology companies in both Latin America and globally, I immediately recognized that GigU’s approach is revolutionary. Their ability to deeply understand their gig customers and pivot to solving their biggest challenges speaks to the strength of their vision and execution, said Rodrigues. “Our investment has enabled GigU to bring their proven solutions to the massive U.S. market, where millions of gig workers are struggling with declining earnings. They’re not just building another app; they’re creating a movement that empowers gig workers who have been treated as disposable parts in an algorithm-driven business.”

GigU’s rapid growth in Brazil hasn’t gone unnoticed by major platforms. The company’s effectiveness led to legal challenges from Uber, which GigU has countered with its own complaint to CADE, Brazil’s antitrust authority, equivalent to the FTC in the U.S., has launched an investigation into Uber’s business practices in Brazil, including an in-depth audit of the company’s operations over the last four years to uncover potentially exploitative practices designed to minimize driver earnings.

Per ongoing research led by Len Sherman, an Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School: While a number of states have reached agreements with the two leading U.S. ride-share companies to help guarantee minimum driver pay rates and enhanced benefits, these agreements have done little to “rein in the key drivers of Uber’s dominant market share” resulting in Uber being able to “adopt a growing array of anti-competitive practices” that warrant FTC review.

The GigU app is available for download starting today on Android mobile devices via Google Play in the U.S. with an option for gig workers to trial the app’s full functionality via a free 30-day trial.

Editor’s note: To view/download assets from the GigU digital press kit, visit: https://app.air.inc/a/b98V56oYR

About GigU:

GigU empowers gig-economy workers to take control of their earnings, safety, and financial future through innovative technology that levels the playing field with big tech platforms. Born from face-to-face interactions with drivers as StopClub in Brazil, GigU transforms smartphones into intelligent earnings optimization tools, helping ride-share and delivery drivers increase their daily profit by 25-30% using the GigU app’s Cherry Picker feature, while providing them with more peace of mind on the road with its Secret Camera feature. For more information, visit www.gigu.app

U.S. Media Contact:

Chris Knight

U.S. Editorial and PR Director for GigU

Based in San Francisco, Calif.

(415) 786-9226 (on WhatsApp)

chris@divinogroup.net

Media Contact

Chris Knight, Divino Group, 1 4157869226, chris@divinogroup.net www.divinogroup.net 

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SK hynix Announces 3Q26 Financial Results

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Reports revenues of 104.6155 trillion won, operating profit of 83.3338 trillion won, net profit of 39.7756 trillion won; Quarterly sales surpass 100 trillion won for the first timeSales of HBM4 and high-value-added server products expanded; HBM4 expected to be the mainstream product from the fourth quarterLong-term agreements secured for more than 50% of 2027~2028 production capacity; A structure that reflects market conditions and ensures stable profitabilityMost of the gains from the Kioxia investment to be shared with shareholders, with  approximately 100 trillion won in shareholder returns to be executed this year

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SK hynix Inc. (or “the company”, www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has recorded 104.6155 trillion won in revenues, 83.3338 trillion won in operating profit (with an operating margin of 80%), and 39.7756 trillion won in net profit (with a net margin of 38%) in the third quarter.

Record quarterly results in both revenue and operating profit and revenue surpasses 100 trillion won for the first time

In a market environment in which prices of key products have risen on the back of growing demand for AI memory, the company once again posted all-time-high quarterly results in both revenue and operating profit, underpinned by the competitiveness of its high-value-added products. In particular, revenue exceeded 100 trillion won for the first time in the company’s history. Revenue and operating profit increased by 32% and 38%, from the previous quarter, respectively.

– Q2 2026: Revenue of 79.3187 trillion won, Operating Profit of 60.5426 trillion won

By product, DRAM results were driven by a significant increase in sales of server DDR5 while HBM4 shipments began in earnest. In NAND, sales of 321-layer TLC eSSD expanded, and high-value-added products for data centers continued to grow across the board.

The company’s financial structure has also become significantly concrete. At the end of the third quarter, cash and cash equivalents stood at 114.5 trillion won, up 26.5 trillion won from the end of the previous quarter, while borrowings decreased by 2.8 trillion won to 15.8 trillion won. As a result, net cash increased to 98.7 trillion won.

Memory supply shortage to persist through 2030

SK hynix analyzed that a virtuous cycle has taken hold in which AI-driven productivity gains and new revenue generation in areas such as software development, customer service, and search lead to greater AI adoption, which in turn drives increased investment in infrastructure. It also projected that, as the drivers of AI investment move beyond the early stage, when a small number of companies accounted for most of it, and broaden to include general enterprises and nation-level initiatives, the global AI data center infrastructure market will continue to grow steadily.

The company likewise expects the memory market to sustain its growth, led in the short term by enterprise and personal AI and, over the mid-to-long term, by physical AI such as autonomous driving and robotics.

The company assessed that supply, on the other hand, is not keeping pace with the growth of the market. Given technical difficulty of leading-edge processes and the long lead time required to build new production facilities, it expects the structure in which demand exceeds supply to persist through 2030.

Expanding production capacity and strengthening product competitiveness to achieve a further step up in growth next year

Building on these favorable conditions, the company plans to accelerate the expansion of production capacity and the strengthening of product competitiveness in order to sustain the current growth momentum, and to scale up revenue and profit one step further next year.

First, the company plans to rapidly increase the portion of its 10nm-class 6th generation (1c) process technology and expand sales of DDR5 and LPDDR5 SOCAMM for AI servers, thereby further strengthening its DRAM portfolio centered on high-value-added products.

To respond to surging HBM demand, the company will ramp up M15X to maximum capacity by the end of the year to increase HBM4 production. Accordingly, the company expects HBM4 to surpass HBM3E in both shipment volume and revenue in the fourth quarter and to establish itself as a mainstream product.

In NAND, the company will raise the ratio of its 321-layer process to more than half of its domestic production capacity in the fourth quarter, and thereby increase the supply of high-performance, high-capacity eSSD. Over the mid-to-long term, the company intends to develop NAND into a core solution that enhances the throughput and economic efficiency of AI services, based on HBF and system optimization technologies.

Long-term agreements secured for more than 50% of 2027~2028 production capacity and the company to drastically expand investment next year

To improve mid-to-long term demand visibility and solidify its growth foundation, SK hynix is expanding long-term agreements (LTAs) with customers. The company has currently signed LTAs with 14 major customers, including leading global cloud service providers (CSPs), and is also proactively discussing with a number of customers the possibility of extending the contract terms, which are typically five years.

The LTA volume secured to date corresponds to more than 50% of total production capacity for 2027 and 2028. In particular, by introducing a mechanism that reflects market conditions within a price range agreed upon with customers, the company has established a structure that secures stable profitability while allowing flexible responses to market changes.

Backed by the demand visibility, the company is also moving to expand its production capabilities. Next year, with the Yongin Phase 1 entering full-scale operation and domestic and overseas infrastructure investment gaining momentum, investment is expected to increase significantly. The company nevertheless plans to adjust the scale and timing of its investment flexibly, after carefully weighing customer demand, product competitiveness, profitability and investment efficiency.

Most of the gains from the Kioxia investment to be shared with shareholders, with approximately 100 trillion won in shareholder returns to be executed this year

As previously indicated in August, SK hynix announced its additional shareholder return plan. For fiscal year 2026, the company will pursue shareholder returns totaling approximately 100 trillion won, comprising cash dividends of 30 trillion won or more and share repurchases and cancellations of 60 trillion won or more in total, including the 40 trillion won announced in August. Through this, the company intends to fulfill its commitment to return 50% or more of free cash flow (FCF). Of this, the 40 trillion won share repurchase announced in August was completed last week, and the shares will be cancelled shortly.

The company also set out its principles: the dividend amount will be determined on the basis of operating results; if significant investment gains arise, they will be returned additionally through special dividends; and share repurchases will continue every quarter.

At today’s meeting, the Board of Directors resolved on a third-quarter cash dividend of 14 trillion won and a share repurchase of 20 trillion won. Of the shares to be repurchased, 10 trillion won, earmarked for shareholder returns, will be cancelled in full, while the remaining approximately 10 trillion won will be used for employee compensation and is not included in the shareholder return total.

The third-quarter dividend is 20,000 won per share, consisting of a 10,000-won dividend reflecting improved earnings and a 10,000 won special dividend that shares the gains from the Kioxia investment. The company has decided to return to shareholders most of the gains realized from its Kioxia investment this year.

SK hynix emphasized that it will deliver stable results based on robust memory demand growth and technological competitiveness and the company will consistently share financial achievements with our shareholders.

 3Q26 Financial Results (K-IFRS)

*Unit: Billion KRW

3Q26

QoQ

YoY

2Q26

Change

3Q25

Change

Revenues

104,615.5

79,318.7

32 %

24,448.9

328 %

Operating Profit

83,333.8

60,542.6

38 %

11,383.4

632 %

Operating Margin

80 %

76 %

3%p

47 %

33%p

Net Income

39,775.6

93,922.6

-58 %

12,597.5

216 %

* Financial information of the earnings is based on K-IFRS

* Please note that the financial results discussed herein are preliminary and speak only as of October 28, 2026. Readers should not assume that this information remains operative at a later time.

* Percentage changes are calculated on the basis of unrounded figures.

Disclaimer

This material has been prepared by the Company for informational purposes only, and the information contained herein has not undergone any separate, independent verification process. No representations or warranties are made regarding the fairness, accuracy, or completeness of the information contained in this material, and such information should not be relied upon. Neither the Company nor its employees bear any civil, criminal, or administrative liability for any damages arising from this material or from its use.

Review of the FY2026 Q3 financial results has not been finalized. Figures in this earnings release are subject to changes during the independent auditing process.

All financial information contained in this document is based on consolidated K-IFRS.

This material contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are generally identified words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” and similar expressions, or the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. SK hynix undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law.

This material does not constitute a solicitation for the acquisition or purchase of securities, and no part of this material should serve as the basis for any contract, agreement, or investment decision, nor should it be relied upon in connection therewith.

About SK hynix Inc.

SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world’s top tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips (“DRAM”) and flash memory chips (“NAND flash”) for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company’s shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.

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DealLabs Builds Travel AI Data Layer with 280,000 Verified Local Records Across Seven Asian Cities

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SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Seoul-based travel data company DealLabs announced that it has built a database of verified local travel information for seven Asian cities: Seoul, Busan, Tokyo, Osaka, Bangkok, Taipei, and Singapore. As of October 13, the database contained more than 280,000 records, each accompanied by its source and verification date. It powers more than 23,000 guide pages and is published in formats AI systems can read directly.

It covers what travelers look for after arriving: subway station exits, timetables, first and last trains, fares, restaurants, tourist attractions, hospitals, closing days for Singapore’s hawker centers, and business hours for Taipei’s night markets. In Osaka alone, the database contains more than 114,000 records, including more than 42,000 medical institutions and pharmacies and more than 30,000 restaurant permits. In Taipei, it contains more than 63,000 records, including 7,200 station-to-station fares.

The number of times generative AI search and answer services accessed DealLabs’ data increased from around 600 times per day on a seven-day average in late September to more than 11,000 times per day in mid-October, nearly 20-fold in less than a month.

Travel information changes rapidly. On the same day, public event listings and organizers’ own notices gave different end dates for three of 25 pop-up stores in Seoul, up to 10 days apart. Business hours, closing days, last train times, and fares are among the areas where AI travel answers are most frequently inaccurate. DealLabs continuously updates this information using official sources.

All seven cities have AI-ready guide files (llms.txt) and data APIs, while Seoul also provides a standard API specification (OpenAPI). The seven cities are run using a single common engine, allowing a new city to be added simply by incorporating that city’s data and sources.

DealLabs is also piloting “Visit Plan Check,” which checks travel AI itineraries against official sources daily.

Young Cho, founder and CEO of DealLabs, said, “When travelers ask AI a question, what matters is whether the answer is accurate for that city today. We will establish a standard for local data that travel AI can rely on.”

DealLabs plans to expand its coverage to 10 cities by the end of 2026 and to 30 cities, including New York and Paris, by 2028.

For more information, please visit https://deallabs.net.

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Teijin Selects Kharon to Strengthen Export Controls Compliance Across Global Operations

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Kharon ClearView will support Teijin teams in Japan, the United States, and Europe as they navigate Japanese and U.S. export controls requirements.

DENVER, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kharon, a data and technology company that provides risk intelligence solutions to help organizations manage regulatory and business risk, announced that Teijin Limited has selected Kharon ClearView to support its export controls compliance program.

Headquartered in Japan, Teijin operates a global materials business that includes carbon fiber and other advanced materials used in aerospace and industrial applications. Its international operations require compliance teams to navigate export control requirements across multiple jurisdictions, including Japan and the United States.

“As a global company, we need an export controls approach that can support our teams across markets,” said Hitoshi Onodera, General Manager of the Quality Assurance and Security Export Control Department and Manager of the Security Export Control Group at Teijin. “We selected Kharon because of the depth of its risk intelligence, ease of use, and its ability to give our teams greater visibility into the entities and relationships that matter to our reviews. ClearView will help us bring that context consistently into our due diligence processes across our operations.”

Teijin will deploy ClearView across its operations globally. ClearView enables compliance teams to investigate complex entity relationships, including ownership and commercial connections to parties subject to export controls and other trade restrictions.

“Advanced materials companies operate in an increasingly complex export controls environment, where understanding the parties behind a transaction can be just as important as screening the names directly involved,” said Ethan Woolley, Global Director of Strategy at Kharon. “Teijin’s decision to deploy ClearView across its operations reflects the importance of having that level of insight. We are pleased to support its teams as they strengthen their approach to export controls compliance.”

About Teijin

Teijin Limited is a Japan-based global technology company providing products and solutions across advanced materials, healthcare, and other technology-driven fields. Founded in 1918, Teijin’s businesses include high-performance materials such as aramid fibers, carbon fibers, and composites, serving applications across mobility, infrastructure, industry, and other markets. The Teijin Group comprises 126 companies and approximately 15,700 employees worldwide.

For more information, visit https://www.teijin.co.jp/.

About Kharon

Kharon’s intelligence supports compliance, trade, risk, and national security programs at organizations around the world, including seven of the 10 largest U.S. banks, six of the 10 largest EU banks, and over 35 Fortune 100 companies. Kharon’s data can also be directly integrated with AI applications and agentic operations through Kharon’s API, MCP, and agent gateway infrastructure, enabling organizations to embed Kharon’s sourced, structured insights into automated workflows alongside their teams.

Visit kharon.com and follow Kharon on LinkedIn to stay connected.

Media contact

Kharon
media@kharon.com

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