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The King’s Foundation and FormationQ Launch “Harmonious Urban Growth” Programme to Help Cities Plan Sustainable Expansion Using Quantum Optimisation

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LONDON and AUSTIN, Texas, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The King’s Foundation and FormationQ today announced a new partnership to showcase how towns and cities across the Commonwealth can grow sustainably using quantum technology.

The partnership, entitled Harmonious Urban Growth: A Health-Optimised Expansion Framework Using Quantum Methods, is a three-year programme designed to help cities grow sustainably while improving the health of people and the planet. The initiative will incorporate advanced computational modelling, including quantum optimisation enabled by trapped-ion systems from IonQ, to explore new methods for planning complex urban systems and sustainable town planning.

Today, around 1.3 billion people live in unplanned settlements, and that number is expected to grow by well over one billion more in the next 30 years. When urban expansion occurs without planning frameworks, infrastructure and public services can struggle to keep up with population growth, creating long-term challenges for mobility, public health, and environmental resilience. Early planning helps cities become more livable, walkable and sustainable. In many of the places growing most rapidly, professional planning resources are limited, yet the need to organise urban expansion has never been greater.

The Harmonious Urban Growth programme builds on The King’s Foundation’s Rapid Planning Toolkit, a practical methodology developed with Commonwealth partners following the Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation (CHOGM 2022). The Toolkit enables mayors, planning authorities and built-environment professionals to establish clear frameworks guiding responsible expansion before informal settlement patterns become difficult to reverse.

The Toolkit was piloted in Bo, Sierra Leone, where it helped local authorities and community stakeholders avoid development in flood-prone wetlands while identifying walkable areas and infrastructure corridors for future expansion.

The three-year programme will be supported by UK urban planning consultants Space Syntax, who will bring their knowledge on cities, mapping, and data to the initiative. Working alongside The King’s Foundation and FormationQ, they will apply digital modelling techniques to the toolkit process, harnessing the power of IonQ’s quantum technologies to develop new platforms that can support our understanding of the complexity of cities.

Ben Bolgar, Executive Director for Projects at The King’s Foundation, said:

“We are excited to partner with FormationQ to explore how our Rapid Planning Toolkit can help communities grow sustainably across the world. We hope that the work of the Projects Team at The King’s Foundation will impact more communities positively as a result.”

Through the partnership, FormationQ will contribute advanced computational and optimisation capabilities, leveraging the IonQ quantum platform, to allow planners to explore large numbers of potential spatial configurations across interconnected systems including water networks, ecological corridors, transportation infrastructure, neighbourhood centres and block structures.

Urban planning across these layers involves complex combinatorial decisions. Advanced optimisation techniques, including quantum approaches, can help analyse these interactions more efficiently and generate alternative spatial frameworks that balance walkability, environmental resilience, infrastructure efficiency and economic accessibility.

Nada Hosking, Founder and CEO of FormationQ, said:

“Rapid urbanisation is one of the most complex systems challenges of the 21st century. Cities must balance environmental resilience, infrastructure capacity, economic opportunity and human wellbeing simultaneously. Advances in computational modelling, including quantum optimisation techniques, offer new ways to explore these complex interactions and support better planning decisions.”

The computational modelling informs a participatory planning process in which planners, local authorities and community representatives review spatial options and shape a preferred framework. Proposed plans can then be tested directly on site, with streets, squares and public spaces physically marked on the ground and digitally mapped to guide early development.

By combining quantum computing, participatory planning and field testing, the Harmonious Urban Growth programme aims to create a scalable framework for guiding sustainable city expansion in rapidly urbanising regions. The collaboration between The King’s Foundation and FormationQ reflects a shared commitment to supporting resilient communities and responsible stewardship of the built environment.

Notes to Editors

About The King’s Foundation

The King’s Foundation was founded by King CHarles III and was first formed in 1990. The charity’s core mission is to build sustainable communities and transform lives.

Inspired by the values of His Majesty, the Foundation builds and supports communities where people, places and the planet can coexist in harmony. The Foundation’s Projects Team works both domestically and internationally across stakeholder and community engagement, masterplanning, and community regeneration. Over 35 years, the team has developed plans for hundreds of thousands of homes in walkable communities and revitalised a range of historic buildings. In addition to its UK presence, the Foundation delivers projects in over a dozen sites worldwide.

The King’s Foundation is headquartered at its flagship regeneration project, Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, and acts as custodian of other historic Royal sites including Highgrove Gardens and The Castle of Mey. The charity also manages educational programmes and cultural events in London at The King’s School for Traditional Arts, The Garrison Chapel and Trinity Buoy Wharf.

For more information, please visit www.kings-foundation.org / or email media@kings-foundation.org.

About FormationQ

FormationQ is the enablement layer for global quantum adoption. The company builds the institutional pathways and collaborative structures that allow quantum technologies to move from frontier research into real-world use. Working with leading institutions and technology partners, FormationQ operates and supports programmes that advance talent development, application formation, and ecosystem coordination in ways that can be governed, trusted, and sustained over time.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier – delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA, and Astrazeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.

Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com.

FormationQ Media Contacts
formationq@edelman.com

Matthew Strebe
FormationQ
matthew.strebe@formationq.com

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Rocket Money’s Rowan Rewrites What AI Can Do in Personal Finance

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Rocket Money’s new AI financial assistant, developed with Anthropic, takes money management out of apps and dashboards and puts it into conversational texts

DETROIT, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rocket Money, part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), today launched Rowan, an AI agent that goes beyond analysis, monitoring consumer’s finances and even acting on their behalf, all through simple text messaging.

Rocket Money’s AI financial assistant puts management into conversational texts.

Powered by Anthropic, Rowan watches spending around the clock. When it spots a way to save, it sends a text. The consumer replies in plain language and Rowan handles the rest. It can renegotiate recurring bills, cancel subscriptions and even create automated savings transfers.  

Most personal finance apps are passive, showing a dashboard that leaves the real work up to the consumer. Rowan does the work for them.

“What we’ve built with Rowan wasn’t possible even 12 months ago,” said Aaron Dignan, VP of Agentic Products at Rocket Money. “It finds the money slipping through the cracks, the forgotten subscriptions, the bills that creep up, and it actually does something about them. That’s the difference between knowing and acting.”

Rowan is built on a sophisticated stack of AI agents trained with Rocket Money data. The result is something unprecedented: a system that monitors your finances, applies advanced reasoning, and proactively engages to give you knowledge and control over your personal finances. Rowan identifies opportunities and executes complex tasks in the real world based on your instructions.

Consider a client that signs up for a free month of streaming that then goes unused.  Rowan doesn’t forget, three weeks later it will send a text asking the consumer if they are enjoying the service or if they would like to cancel before incurring a charge.  If the member replies “cancel” Rowan contacts the service, cancels the trial and confirms when it is done. One word, no logging in, no lengthy conversations and no hold music.

Maybe someone wants to save money while still enjoying their morning coffee. They simply text Rowan: “Every time I buy a coffee, round up to the nearest dollar and put the extra change in my high-yield savings account.” Rowan sets up the process. From that moment forward, every coffee purchase triggers an automatic rounding and transfer.

That is a monumental leap from passive to proactive financial management, going from “here’s what you spent” to “here’s how I can help.”

The system is also constantly improving. When Rowan encounters something unexpected, such as a subscription service with an unusual cancellation flow, it learns. It diagnoses the issue, finds a solution and deploys it across the entire system. Each edge case solved becomes a permanent improvement for every consumer.

“This architecture moves us from ‘this is cool’ to ‘this is incredibly powerful and can help me maximize my money,” said Chase Adams, VP of AI Engineering at Rocket Money. “We built it with adaptable agents where you need flexibility and strict code where you need certainty, and our team is engaged throughout to provide human verification.”

Rowan is available to select Rocket Money subscribers now as part of a new Premium Plus tier, with broader availability coming later this year.

ABOUT ROCKET MONEY

Rocket Money is a personal finance app designed to help people manage their money, track spending, monitor subscriptions, build savings, and improve their overall financial health. Originally founded as Truebill and acquired by Rocket Companies in 2021, Rocket Money helps users understand where their money is going, identify opportunities to save, manage recurring expenses, track net worth and credit, and take action through features such as subscription management, budgeting, bill negotiation, automated savings, and Rowan, its AI-powered financial agent. Rocket Money is part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), a Detroit-based fintech platform company.

For more information, please visit www.rocketmoney.com.

ABOUT ROCKET COMPANIES

Founded in 1985, Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT) is a Detroit-based fintech platform including mortgage, real estate and personal finance businesses: Rocket Mortgage, Redfin, Rocket Close, Rocket Money and Rocket Loans. With insights from more than 160 million calls with clients each year, 30 petabytes of data and a mission to Help Everyone Home, Rocket Companies is well positioned to be the destination for AI-fueled homeownership. Known for providing exceptional client experiences, J.D. Power has ranked Rocket Mortgage #1 in client satisfaction for primary mortgage origination and mortgage servicing a total of 23 times, the most of any mortgage lender.

For more information, please visit www.rocket.com.

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Veridian Credit Union launches Money Moves to help members build financial confidence, achieve goals

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WATERLOO, Iowa, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Veridian Credit Union has launched Money Moves, a new financial empowerment program designed to help members build confidence, strengthen financial habits and take meaningful steps toward their financial goals.

The program combines financial education, personalized coaching and financial incentives to help participants increase savings, improve credit and reduce debt. Through one-on-one guidance and practical tools, Monday Moves helps participants create a personalized plan that works for their unique circumstances and long-term goals.

“Financial success should be within reach for everyone,” said Ana Hernandez Eveland, Veridian’s Financial Empowerment Strategist. “Money Moves is about meeting people where they are and giving them the guidance, resources and encouragement they need to move forward with confidence. Whether someone is focused on building savings, improving credit or paying down debt, we’re here to help them take the next step.”

Participants who successfully complete the program may qualify for a $250 matching incentive that can be used toward a secured credit card, starter certificate of deposit or debt repayment, helping reinforce the financial progress they make during the program.

Money Moves is free to attend, though advance registration is required. Individual sessions begin mid-September in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Omaha, and Oct. 1 in Des Moines. Details are available at veridiancu.org/moneymoves.

Founded in 1934, Veridian Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative dedicated to improving the financial well-being of its members. With 32 branches across Iowa, eastern Nebraska and the Twin Cities metro area, Veridian provides a full range of personal and business financial services desigened to help members build confidence and reach their goals. As a not-for-profit credit union, Veridian returns value to its members through competitive products, trusted guidance and a commitment to helping people ahcieve lasting financial success.

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Cresset Expands to Boca Raton, Welcomes $4 Billion Advisory Team

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Led by Michael Bober and Ed Ventrice, the team previously managed approximately $4 billion in client assets at UBS and has deep connections to the Boca Raton community

BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cresset announced today that it is expanding to Boca Raton, Fla., with the addition of a 16-person advisory team led Michael Bober, and Ed Ventrice. The team previously managed approximately $4 billion in client assets for UBS. The team also includes Michael MacDonald, William “Billy” Marino, Sarah Ponczek, and Alex Santos.

Bober and Ventrice each bring more than three decades of experience advising corporate executives, business owners, high-net-worth individuals, multigenerational families, foundations and endowments, and professional athletes. Together with their team, they specialize in comprehensive wealth management, institutional consulting, business succession planning, and addressing the complex needs of families with significant wealth.

Prior to joining Cresset, Bober and Ventrice both served as Managing Directors with UBS Financial Services. Before transitioning to wealth management, each worked as a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm. Their accounting backgrounds have helped shape the team’s integrated approach to wealth management and its focus on delivering coordinated advice across every aspect of a client’s financial life.

“We are excited to join Cresset and gain access to the breadth of resources and capabilities available through its independent, client- and employee-owned model. Cresset’s family office approach closely aligns with how we have always believed wealth should be managed—with a comprehensive, long-term perspective that extends well beyond investment management,” Ventrice said.

Cresset offers a comprehensive suite of family office services designed to address the interconnected needs of individuals and families with significant wealth. Its capabilities span investment management, private markets, tax preparation and planning, estate and trust services, business succession planning, property and casualty insurance advisory, and philanthropic planning for families, foundations, and endowments. Cresset also provides access to medical and travel concierge services through its expansive network, helping clients coordinate support across their financial and personal lives.

“Joining Cresset represents an exciting next chapter for our team and our clients. Cresset has built an exceptional platform around an integrated approach to wealth management, and we look forward to offering our clients those capabilities while continuing to provide the highly personal advice and service they expect,” Bober said.

“We are also proud to continue serving the Boca Raton community we know so well and to build upon the relationships we have developed here over many years,” Ventrice added.

Cresset’s open-architecture, multi-custodial model provides clients with access to leading custodians. This flexibility, combined with Cresset’s extensive wealth management and family office capabilities, allows advisory teams to deliver highly customized solutions based on each client’s specific needs.

“We are thrilled to expand our presence in South Florida to Boca Raton. Michael, Ed, and team have deep and longstanding relationships throughout the Boca Raton community, and we are honored to welcome them to Cresset and look forward to introducing more successful families to Cresset’s comprehensive family office offerings,” said Cresset CEO Susie Cranston

About Cresset
Cresset is a firm built by clients, for clients. As an independent, award-winning* multi-family office and private investment firm, we are reimagining the way wealth is experienced. Our purpose is to help ensure that both wealth and life are fully optimized**—integrated, intentional, and aligned with each client’s vision of success.

We provide access to the caliber of talent, ideas, and investment opportunities typically available to the largest single-family offices and institutions. Our approach is personalized, entrepreneurial, and client-first.

Proudly owned by our clients and employees, Cresset was built to endure. We are creating a 100+ year firm—one focused on delivering an exceptional experience, not only for the families we serve but for the team that serves them. Recognized by Barron’s and Forbes among the nation’s top multi-family offices,* Cresset is guided by long-term relationships, shared success, and a belief that wealth should serve a life well lived.

*Disclosures related to awards, recognitions, and rankings available here. Forbes Top RIA Firms (issued 10.2025). Based on data from April of the prior year through March of the award year. Rankings are determined by SHOOK Research using a proprietary methodology that considers qualitative and quantitative factors. Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firms (issued 09.2025). Based on data from July of the prior year through June of the award year. Rankings are determined using a proprietary methodology that considers qualitative and quantitative factors. Cresset paid a licensing fee to use the Forbes and Barron’s award logos.

**Wealth Optimized, Life Elevated refers to the firm’s philosophy and process in providing advisory and planning services and is not intended to convey a guarantee of results. 

Cresset refers to Cresset Capital Management, LLC and its respective direct and indirect subsidiaries and controlled affiliates. For a full list of Cresset subsidiaries and controlled affiliates, please see cressetcapital.com/disclosures/

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