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EQT selected to lead the Scaleup Europe Fund

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STOCKHOLM, May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 

The European Commission and fellow founding investors from across Europe have selected EQT as the preferred investment adviser and fund manager for the Scaleup Europe Fund (“the Fund”).

The Fund – which has a target size set at EUR 5 billion – will invest across the EU and associated countries in European technology scaleups, spanning digital systems, industrial systems and life sciences. EQT will make a significant commitment of its own capital to the Fund. 

With EUR 269 billion in total assets under management, EQT is Europe’s largest private markets investor. The Scaleup Europe Fund will build upon EQT’s long-term commitment to European technology, complementing its existing early-stage investment platform that is active across Ventures, Growth and Life Sciences

EQT has been selected by the European Commission and fellow founding investors from across Europe as the preferred investment adviser and fund manager for the Scaleup Europe Fund. The Fund is a new initiative launched under the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy to bridge Europe’s scaleup funding gap. The Fund will invest across the EU and associated countries in Europe’s most promising technology companies, in sectors spanning artificial intelligence, quantum computing, dual use technologies, clean energy, space technology, biotech and medical innovation.

“We are proud to have been given the opportunity to lead the Scaleup Europe Fund and clear on the responsibility that comes with it. This is a significant milestone for Europe at a critical moment. Europe has proven its ability to create successful early-stage technology companies, the challenge is now to scale those businesses into becoming global leaders while maintaining their European roots,” said Per Franzén, CEO and Managing Partner at EQT. 

He added: “For more than a decade we have built EQT’s early-stage platform – through the launch of the Ventures and Growth strategies and the acquisition of leading European life sciences investor LSP – to help European technology and life sciences startups reach their full potential. The Scaleup Europe Fund is the latest step in this journey. Now we look forward to engaging with the entire European tech ecosystem to drive a better future for all.”

Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation at the European Commission, said: “Europe’s competitiveness hinges on scaling our own innovation, in our own strategic sectors, with our own capital. The Scaleup Europe Fund is our bold step forward, where we unite public and private capital behind a shared vision for European leadership. With the newly selected fund manager and a coalition of Europe’s most respected long-term investors, this is proof of what Europe can achieve when we align our resources.”

EQT Partners Ted Persson and Victor Englesson are proposed as Co-Heads of the Scaleup Europe Fund Advisory Team, with Christian Sinding, Institutional Partner at EQT, proposed as Chair of the Investment Committee. The strategy will focus on privately-owned European technology companies from Series B onward, drawing on EQT’s broader platform, including Motherbrain for AI-driven sourcing and portfolio intelligence, a structured framework for activating corporate offtake partnerships, and EQT’s network of industrial advisors.

Ted Persson, Partner at EQT and proposed Co-Head of the Scaleup Europe Fund Advisory Team, said: “Realizing the Scaleup Europe Fund’s full potential will require partnership across the ecosystem. We invite investors, corporates, policymakers and institutions to join us on this journey to make the fund truly transformational for all of Europe. Our ambition is for the Scaleup Europe Fund to be more than capital, we want it to be a catalyst for the wider ecosystem, driving corporate partnerships, strengthening talent networks and fostering further public-private collaboration.”

“The Scaleup Europe Fund will partner with the most ambitious founders in Europe who are building global champions within a range of different strategic technologies. It’s critical for Europe’s long term competitiveness that these founders are successful and we will leverage all our global resources to help them win”, added Victor Englesson, Partner at EQT and proposed Co-Head of the Scaleup Europe Fund Advisory Team. “The Scaleup Europe Fund complements EQT’s existing platform and long-term approach to supporting companies with the capital, capabilities and ecosystem connections needed to scale globally.”

The Scaleup Europe Fund is designed on commercial terms, with market-standard governance and the appropriate independence to make decisions on commercial merit. The target fund size of the Scaleup Europe Fund has been set at €5 billion. The actual fund size is dependent on the outcome of the fundraising process and may be higher or lower than the target size; the hard cap of the fund will be set at a later date. EQT will make a significant commitment of its own capital to the Fund.

Alongside the European Commission, the group of founding investors in the Fund include Novo Holdings, EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), CriteriaCaixa, Santander/Mouro Capital, Fondazione Compagnia San Paolo / Intesa Sanpaolo / Fondazione Cariplo, APG Asset Management (acting on behalf of Dutch pension fund ABP), and Allianz. Having concluded the competitive manager selection process, EQT and the founding investors will finalize the remaining documentation, structuring and regulatory steps required ahead of the formal launch of the fund.

More information
Biographies: Per Franzén, Ted Persson, Victor Englesson.
Press Kit: Here

The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security, and may not be used or relied upon in connection with any offer or solicitation. Any offer or solicitation in respect of any fund will be made only through a confidential private placement memorandum and related documents which will be furnished to qualified investors on a confidential basis in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Any securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold without registration thereunder or pursuant to an available exemption therefrom. Any offering of securities to be made in the United States would have to be made by means of an offering document that would be obtainable from the issuer or its agents and would contain detailed information about the issuer of the securities and its management, as well as financial information. The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration.

Ekaterina Zaharieva is Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation at the European Commission, which will be a Founding Investor in the Scaleup Europe Fund could in the future have other business relationships with EQT and its affiliates, which create a potential conflict of interest. The European Commission’s views with respect to EQT and the Scaleup Europe Fund are not necessarily reflective of the views of current or future clients of EQT and investors in funds advised by EQT. EQT did not compensate Ekaterina Zaharieva or European Commission directly or indirectly for this statement.

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

https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-selected-to-lead-the-scaleup-europe-fund,c4349882

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The EQT team

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In HelloNation, Wedding Expert Agathi Georgiou-Graham Examines What Makes an Elevated Wedding Feel Memorable Without Overspending

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The article explains how thoughtful planning, guest comfort, and the right wedding venue shape a memorable wedding atmosphere.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What makes a wedding feel elevated without requiring an oversized budget? A HelloNation article featuring insights from Agathi Georgiou-Graham of Arbor Venues in Rochester, New York, explains how thoughtful planning and guest-focused decisions often matter more than expensive details.

The article explains that many couples assume an elevated wedding depends on luxury upgrades and expensive décor. In reality, guests often remember how the event felt rather than how much money was spent. According to the article, weddings usually feel more elegant when they are organized, welcoming, and comfortable from beginning to end.

The HelloNation article highlights the importance of selecting the right wedding venue early in the planning process. A venue with natural beauty, balanced lighting, and a practical layout often requires fewer decorations and less customization. The article notes that couples sometimes overspend trying to transform a space that does not match their original vision. Choosing the right wedding venue from the start can help couples create an elevated wedding while avoiding unnecessary expenses later.

Lighting also plays a major role in shaping the wedding atmosphere during the wedding reception. The article explains that soft lighting, candles, and simple uplighting can make a space feel warm and inviting without requiring elaborate decorative pieces. Guests often respond more strongly to atmosphere and comfort than to oversized displays. A wedding reception with balanced lighting frequently feels polished and welcoming, even when the overall design remains simple.

Food and service are also identified as important parts of the guest experience. According to the article, guests may not remember every decorative detail, but they usually remember whether dinner felt enjoyable and organized. Quality catering, professional service, and comfortable dining arrangements often leave a stronger impression than expensive rentals or large floral installations. Wedding Expert Agathi Georgiou-Graham explains through the article that investing in the guest experience often creates more meaningful results than focusing only on appearance.

The article also discusses the importance of comfort and organization throughout the event. Guests notice crowded seating, long delays, and confusing schedules. Weddings often feel more refined when attendees understand where to go and what to expect throughout the evening. The article describes how thoughtful planning helps the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing move naturally from one stage to the next.

Music and pacing also influence how guests experience the wedding atmosphere. The article explains that the right music and strong coordination help maintain energy throughout the celebration. A crowded dance floor is often the result of good timing and smooth transitions rather than costly entertainment upgrades. Couples planning an elevated wedding may benefit more from focusing on flow and coordination than from adding unnecessary extras.

Consistency is another important theme discussed in the article. The décor, music, food, and service should support the same overall atmosphere from beginning to end. The article notes that neutral colors, clean layouts, and comfortable seating arrangements often create a timeless feeling that guests appreciate. Wedding Expert Agathi Georgiou-Graham shares insights showing that smaller details tend to work best when they support the larger guest experience instead of competing for attention.

The article concludes that thoughtful planning allows couples to create weddings that feel polished, connected, and welcoming without overspending. By focusing on the wedding venue, quality catering, lighting, pacing, and guest comfort, couples can create a lasting impression through organization and hospitality rather than expensive upgrades alone.

What Makes a Wedding Feel Elevated Without Overspending features insights from Agathi Georgiou-Graham, Wedding Expert of Rochester, New York, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused digital publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. HelloNation maintains partnerships with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the United States First Responders Association.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-hellonation-wedding-expert-agathi-georgiou-graham-examines-what-makes-an-elevated-wedding-feel-memorable-without-overspending-302775040.html

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Creatify launches the first AI creative agent built specifically to make ads that convert

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Creatify launches an AI creative agent trained on 15M+ ads and $1B+ in analyzed ad spend. It orchestrates full ad production through one conversation, prevents hallucinations, and puts marketers in the director’s seat.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Creatify, the AI ad platform that recently surpassed 3 million marketers on its platform, today launched Creatify Agent: the first AI creative agent trained specifically on advertising performance data, designed to produce ads that convert rather than just ads that look good.

We didn’t build another AI video tool that happens to make ads. We built an agent trained on what makes ads convert. Every other agent shows you a new AI model. We show you performance data from 15 million ads powering every creative decision the agent makes.

Most AI video agents are built to generate content. Creatify Agent is built to generate ads. The difference is what powers it: 15 million ads created on the platform, over $1 billion in ad spend performance analyzed, and the collective signal from 3 million marketers and 10,000+ companies, agencies, and marketing teams running real campaigns. That data trains the agent to know which hooks hold attention, which scripts drive action, which creative structures convert across platforms, and which patterns fail.

The result: an AI agent that doesn’t just produce video. It produces video ads informed by what has worked at scale across Meta, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and AppLovin.

Preventing hallucinations in advertising content

Speed means nothing if the output gets your brand wrong. AI models hallucinate: they fabricate product features, misspell brand names, drift logos, and invent claims. In a paid ad, that’s a policy violation, a budget drain, and a trust killer.

Creatify Agent addresses this architecturally. The agent researches the brand, product, goals, and audience before generating anything. It locks in verified brand names, logos, product details, and key claims as constraints for the entire pipeline, preventing hallucinations with fabricated features, inconsistent characters, incorrect value propositions, and brand visual drift that plague other AI tools.

Proprietary vision intelligence checks every output against confirmed brand assets. Logo drift, text errors, product inaccuracies, and visual inconsistencies are caught automatically before delivery.

Full creative control through conversation

Creatify Agent works like having a scriptwriter, director, casting agent, and producer on call — except they live inside one conversation. Describe what you need, and the agent researches your competitors, writes the creative strategy, picks hooks, generates scripts, creates and casts characters, produces the video, and delivers platform-ready variations for Meta, TikTok, Instagram Reels, and organic channels.

What makes the agent different from existing AI video tools: you can step into any part of the process and direct it. Ask it to rethink the hook. Tell it the avatar doesn’t match your audience. Request a different tone in the voiceover. Upload your own footage and have the agent build around it. Push back on the script angle and watch it adapt. Every interaction refines the output toward your creative vision, not the AI’s default.

The agent runs internal checks throughout the pipeline and leads the process autonomously, surfacing decisions to the marketer at key creative checkpoints — strategy direction, script approval, character sign-off — and handling everything else end to end. The entire process takes minutes and costs $5 to $8 per ad, compared to $500+ and weeks of coordination with traditional production.

This means a solo ecommerce founder gets the same production capability as a brand with a creative agency on retainer. A growth team shipping weekly creative tests can direct 20 ad variants in a single conversation instead of briefing freelancers and waiting days for drafts. A performance marketer can explore a creative direction, reject it, pivot, and produce the final version in one sitting.

How it works

The agent operates as a multi-step creative workflow, orchestrated through conversation:

Brand and product intelligence. The agent researches the brand, product, goals, and audience. It locks in verified brand names, logos, product details, and key claims as constraints for the entire pipeline.Competitor research. The agent analyzes competitors to identify positioning gaps and unused angles.Strategy and scripting. Based on brand data, competitive intelligence, and performance patterns from 15M+ ads, the agent writes creative strategy, selects hooks, and generates script variations tuned to the target platform.Character creation and casting. The agent generates or selects AI avatars matched to the brand’s audience, drawing from 1,500+ avatars or creating custom characters to fit the brief.Production and quality assurance. The agent produces the video and checks every output against confirmed brand data to catch errors before delivery.Conversation-driven refinement. At any step, the marketer can redirect, provide feedback, supply footage, request variants, or adjust creative direction. The agent maintains context across the full conversation and adapts.

One conversation can produce dozens of ready-to-run ad variations. The agent manages format optimization (9:16, 16:9, 1:1), platform-specific requirements, and multi-language output in 75+ languages.

Built on a production-grade platform

Creatify is used by 3M+ marketers and 10K+ teams including Alibaba, HubSpot, and ElevenLabs. The company has raised $24M from WndrCo, Kindred Ventures, NFDG, and Comcast Ventures, is SOC 2 Type II certified, and is rated 4.8 on G2 with 1,000+ reviews.

Availability

Creatify Agent is available today to all users, including the free plan. Paid plans start at $19/month (Starter) and $49/month (Pro).

About Creatify

Creatify is an AI ad platform that generates professional video and image ads using top AI models while staying on brand. The platform converts product URLs, text, or images into ready-to-run ad creative in minutes, with 1,500+ AI avatars, 75+ languages, and 210+ voices. Creatify has been featured in Fast Company, Bloomberg, and TechCrunch.

For more information, visit creatify.ai.

Media Contact

Yinan Na, Creatify AI, 1 (650) 319-6694, hello@creatify.ai, https://creatify.ai/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/creatify-launches-the-first-ai-creative-agent-built-specifically-to-make-ads-that-convert-302775006.html

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COSO Announces Search for New Board Chair

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Committee begins leadership transition to guide next phase of governance, risk, and internal control advancement

NEW YORK, May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), today announced that it has initiated a formal search process for its next Board Chair, marking an important leadership transition as the organization continues its mission to strengthen enterprise risk management, internal control, governance and fraud deterrence across industries worldwide.

Lucia Wind, COSO Chair since 2023, will step down on December 31, 2026, following a distinguished completion of her term of service. The Board is deeply grateful for Lucia’s leadership and forward-looking direction. During her tenure, COSO advanced key modernization initiatives, strengthened global engagement around our frameworks, issued key thought leadership pieces and expanded collaboration with standard‑setting bodies. Her commitment to COSO’s mission ensured COSO remains influential, practical and relevant in a rapidly evolving landscape.

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), a sponsoring organization of COSO, is managing the application process. The elected position will commence on January 1, 2027, for a three-year term.

The incoming Chair will succeed the current leadership at the conclusion of the current term and will guide COSO’s strategic priorities during a period of rapid change in organizational governance, technology adoption, and risk oversight. The role includes stewardship of COSO’s globally recognized frameworks, engagement with standard‑setting bodies, development and management of key partnerships and collaboration with the five sponsoring organizations.

“COSO’s work continues to evolve as organizations face increasingly complex risks and heightened expectations for transparency, accountability, and effective governance,” said Doug Prawitt, Lead Director of the COSO Board. “The next Chair will play a pivotal role in shaping COSO’s direction and ensuring our frameworks remain relevant, practical, and responsive to emerging challenges.”

The search will focus on candidates with deep experience in executive leadership, governance, risk management, internal control, auditing, or related disciplines, as well as a demonstrated commitment to advancing COSO’s mission. The selected Chair will lead COSO’s ongoing initiatives, including modernization of its frameworks, expansion of global outreach, and continued collaboration with regulators, practitioners, and academic institutions.

COSO’s sponsoring organizations include the American Accounting Association (AAA), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Financial Executives International (FEI), The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

Candidates may submit a letter of interest along with a current resume of qualifications to: bit.ly/4eUG2UA by the position application close date June 30, 2026. For more information about COSO, please visit www.coso.org.

Additional details regarding the search process and timeline will be announced as they become available.

About COSO
Originally formed in 1985, COSO is a voluntary private sector organization dedicated to helping organizations improve performance by developing thought leadership that enhances internal control, risk management, governance and fraud deterrence. COSO is jointly sponsored by the American Accounting Association (AAA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Financial Executives International (FEI), the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), and The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). For more information, visit www.COSO.org.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coso-announces-search-for-new-board-chair-302775046.html

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