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701x Closes Oversubscribed Series B and Launches Global Expansion

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Community-funded round backed by North Dakotans and Minnesotans, along with rancher-users across the country marks a defining chapter for the only technology ecosystem built exclusively for the beef cattle industry.

FARGO, N.D., June 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 701x, the Fargo, North Dakota-based agricultural technology company bringing connected intelligence to the beef cattle industry, today announced the close of an oversubscribed $10M Series B funding round. Marking six years in business with strong adoption across the United States, the company simultaneously announced it has hit profitability, added world-class talent, and is accelerating a major global expansion.

Unlike typical venture-backed technology companies, 701x’s Series B was raised entirely from individuals who believe in the company’s mission: local North Dakotans and Minnesotans extending to the greater Minneapolis area, and rancher-users from across the country who have experienced the 701x platform firsthand. No venture capital or institutional money was involved.

The Only Ecosystem Built for Beef Cattle

In six years, 701x has built what no other company has: a true, connected ecosystem of the most important technology tools focused exclusively on beef cattle. The 701x platform spans on-ranch software, breed association software, smart wearables, DNA solutions, and a growing accessory product line — all designed to work together and give producers the complete picture of their herd. View their product line at 701x.com.

At the heart of the wearables category is the xTpro — a GPS smart ear tag that utilizes direct-to-satellite connectivity to deliver real-time data and alerts straight to a rancher’s phone, no matter where the herd is located. Equipped with a suite of onboard sensors, the xTpro enables 701x to provide producers with instant alerts for out-of-fence events, animal health changes, estrus detection, calving activity, and bull-not-mounting notifications — putting critical herd intelligence in the palm of a rancher’s hand around the clock.

Profitability Fueled by Heavy R&D Investment

701x has achieved its first profitable month — a significant milestone for a company that continues to direct the majority of its labor budget toward research and development. Current R&D priorities include completing a comprehensive overhaul of an acquired registry software platform and advancing innovation toward a full feedlot management system, both of which represent major near-term milestones for the company and its customers.

75% Reduction in Assembly Costs for the xTpro Tag

Through the integration of robotics and automation throughout its production line, 701x has reduced assembly costs for its signature xTpro smart ear tag by 75%. This manufacturing transformation is no accident: 701x Founder and CEO, Kevin Biffert, built Fargo Automation from the ground up as its sole owner, developing high-speed automation machinery for some of the largest pharmaceutical companies across the globe before selling the company to Körber Medipak in 2017. That deep expertise in precision manufacturing is now being applied directly to 701x’s production operations, allowing the company to achieve significant efficiencies of scale and deliver high-quality, low-cost products to the market at scale — an advantage that grows as production volumes increase.

World-Class Talent Joins for Global Expansion

To support its global ambitions, 701x has brought on world-class talent across key functions. The company is already live in Canada and is on track to launch in the following markets before the end of the year:

AustraliaNew ZealandMexicoUnited KingdomBrazil

This expansion positions 701x as a truly global platform for the beef cattle industry, bringing precision livestock technology to producers across four continents.

“701x was founded because the beef industry deserves better technology — not outdated or single function piecemeal tools, but a connected ecosystem designed specifically for cattle producers. 701x provides tools with the greatest ROI by targeting ranchers true pain points – fertility and health metrics for their cattle. Closing an oversubscribed round funded by our neighbors, our community, and our own customers is the kind of validation that means the most to us. This is just the beginning.”
— Kevin Biffert, CEO, 701x

About 701x

Founded in Fargo, North Dakota, 701x is building a complete technology ecosystem exclusively for the beef cattle industry. The 701x platform brings together on-ranch management software, breed association tools, smart wearables, DNA solutions, and accessory products into a single connected system for cattle producers. With strong adoption across the United States and active operations in Canada, 701x is expanding globally to bring precision livestock technology to beef producers worldwide. Learn more at www.701x.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/701x-closes-oversubscribed-series-b-and-launches-global-expansion-302792092.html

SOURCE 701x, Inc.

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TECNO Wins Two IFA Global Product Technology Innovation Awards for Modular Phone and Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS

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BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TECNO, a global AI-driven innovative technology brand, achieved two IFA Global Product Technology Innovation Awards at IFA 2026:

Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS took the Miniaturized Gaming PC Technology Innovation Gold Award, standing out with its Italian aesthetics and exceptional performance in the compact body. The TECNO Modular Phone was honored with the Ultra-Slim Magnetic Modular Technology Innovation Gold Award, praised for its ultra-slim craftsmanship and unique modular magnetic technology.

These awards once again demonstrate TECNO’s sustained breakthroughs in product innovation and industry-leading craftsmanship in design excellence. The Global Product Technology Innovation Awards were established in 2014 by IDG, IFA, and DIHK to celebrate excellence across the global consumer electronics industry. The awards honor products that set new industry benchmarks and drive innovation through intelligent technology and user-centric design.

TECNO Modular Phone: The World’s Thinnest Modular Smartphone

At just 4.9mm, the TECNO Modular Phone is powered by proprietary Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology. It combines a precision magnetic array with pogo-pin connectors, offering a flexible ecosystem for different needs. The host retains a 3000–4000mAh battery, while modules draw power directly for a snap-and-go experience. It also resolves the inherent conflict between rising AI computing demands and limited device space.

The technology has earned over 20 accolades from leading media, with CNET and Yanko Design naming it the Best of MWC 2026, and The Verge recognizing it as the Best Mobile Tech at MWC 2026.

Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS: One of the World’s Smallest Water-Cooling Gaming Mini-PCs

At around 6.36 liters, the panoramic transparent chassis of the Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS fuses iconic Italian design with raw engineering. Powered by the Intel® Core™ i9-13900HK and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5060 (614 AI TOPS, 145W TGP, DLSS 4), it achieves the pinnacle of performance, providing a high-fidelity gaming experience and high-efficiency AI workstation. The water-cooling system sustains peak frequencies, while 15 ports and WiFi 6E deliver connectivity. It was recognized with Yanko Design’s Best of MWC award.

In addition, TECNO made waves at IFA with the Next-Gen Bezelless Concept Phone featuring a revolutionary 0mm screen bezel, and the convertible laptop MEGABOOK T15 360 Pro. Relentlessly pushing the boundaries of design, performance, and AI innovation, TECNO is pioneering limitless possibilities for futuristic technology.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tecno-wins-two-ifa-global-product-technology-innovation-awards-for-modular-phone-and-tonino-lamborghini-tecno-taurus-302870739.html

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Morpho UV Printer Unveiled at IFA with Hands-On Live Creation

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BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Morpho, a company specializing in UV printing technology, is showcasing its first desktop UV printer at IFA 2026, Hall 17-196. Visitors are observing Morpho’s colorful, textured prints, and some have the opportunity to print on a range of blank materials provided.

Morpho’s desktop UV printer can print on a wide range of materials, including wood, glass, leather, metal, and more, delivering vivid colors and tactile textures for customized results. At IFA 2026, the booth attracted interest from creators, educators, and technology professionals, who gathered to watch live demonstrations.

Among those who have tried Morpho’s printer, three aspects are most frequently highlighted: print quality, the moving gantry design, and overall ease of use.

Visitors are first drawn to the prints, which feature precise color reproduction and finely detailed textile textures. With G7 Master ColorSpace certification, Morpho ensures consistent tones across different pieces. The same level of precision is evident in the raised textures created by the industrial-grade printhead, which builds fine layers of ink for detailed, tactile surfaces. The printhead maintains fast carriage motion speeds of up to 600mm/s while preserving precise detail.

Attendees have also noted the printer’s compact desktop footprint. With its moving gantry architecture—where the entire gantry moves along both axes—the printer offers a large, fully enclosed print chamber that accommodates various objects while remaining desktop-friendly.

First-time users have given positive feedback on Morpho’s usability. The integrated Stereo Vision Smart Alignment™ System quickly captures an object’s height and contours, while Morpho Studio’s guided workflows help users move from idea to print with minimal setup.

Morpho’s team shared that the program has been in development for several years, with the goal of making UV printers a practical tool for everyday creative use. Founder Mingyu “Brett” Wang, formerly Global VP of R&D at DJI, commented, “We communicate directly with our community, listen to feedback, and make fast improvements.”

Ahead of IFA, Morpho’s Kickstarter campaign surpassed $10 million in support from over 2,800 backers worldwide. The company is committed to further developing its proprietary core technology and delivering reliable engineering for creators, makers, and small businesses.

Visit Morpho’s website to learn more.

About Morpho: Morpho develops desktop UV printers that bring industrial-grade printing and coloring to everyday materials, enabling creators to turn almost any physical surface into a canvas for their ideas.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/morpho-uv-printer-unveiled-at-ifa-with-hands-on-live-creation-302870741.html

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Society of Robotic Surgery and Puma Venture Capital Announce Winners of SRS Shark Tank 2026

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Drive Medical claimed the top prize at the third annual SRS Shark Tank 2026, held during the Society of Robotic Surgery’s annual conference at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida. The event, a collaboration between SRS and Puma Venture Capital, once again showcased cutting-edge innovations in the digital and robotic surgery ecosystem and featured early-stage companies poised to transform minimally invasive care.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Drive Medical claimed the top prize at the third annual SRS Shark Tank 2026, held during the Society of Robotic Surgery’s annual conference at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida. The event, a collaboration between SRS and Puma Venture Capital, once again showcased cutting-edge innovations in the digital and robotic surgery ecosystem and featured early-stage companies poised to transform minimally invasive care.

SRS Shark Tank 2026 featured presentations from nine innovative companies. Each had five minutes to pitch their technology and five minutes to engage in a Q&A session with a panel of esteemed judges, including top surgeons, investors, and medical device experts. Companies were evaluated on innovation, impact on healthcare, market potential, business model, and presentation.

Drive Medical earned the top honor for the Pollywog System, the first easy-to-use robotic endoscope integrated with artificial intelligence. The platform is designed to give physicians faster, safer access to the small bowel, allowing diagnosis and treatment to be completed in a single session rather than across multiple procedures.

DeepQure secured second place with HyperQure, the world’s first extravascular renal denervation system for resistant hypertension. Delivered laparoscopically, the device wraps the renal artery from the outside to achieve complete denervation while avoiding the vessel lining.

Microsure came in third with MUSA-3, a microsurgical robot that downscales and stabilizes a surgeon’s hand movements during open super-microsurgical procedures, including free flap, lymphatic, and peripheral nerve surgery. The system received CE mark approval earlier this year.

The strength of the 2026 field extended well beyond the podium: every one of the nine presenting companies was placed in the top three by at least one judge. Reveal Surgical presented optical imaging technology that characterizes tissue for tumor assessment during surgery, and Symphera demonstrated a laparoscopic system that lets surgeons switch instrument tips at the push of a button. Tioga Cardiovascular showed its transcatheter approach to mitral and tricuspid valve replacement.

CardioSentry presented an AI platform for autonomous cardiac ultrasound, and Nina Medical showcased a completely non-invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. LITLab rounded out the slate with mobile, high-fidelity surgical training labs that travel to health systems and medtech companies to train clinical teams onsite. Together the group reflected an unusually broad and competitive slate, spanning robotics, imaging, structural heart, urology, and surgical education.

The 2026 judging panel included Steve Bell, Rob Morgan, Dr. Santiago Horgan, Dr. Erik B. Wilson, Scott Zinober, and Babak Tehranchi, and the event was co-chaired by Amit Hazan and Dr. Vipul Patel.

Participating companies included:

Microsure, Symphera, LITLab, Reveal Surgical, DeepQure, Drive Medical, Nina Medical, CardioSentry, and Tioga Cardiovascular.

About the Society of Robotic Surgery:

Founded in 2012, the Society of Robotic Surgery (SRS) is guided by the fundamental principles of education and collaboration as a means to tackle the complex issues of robotic surgery. The SRS’ membership includes more than 20,000 physicians of all disciplines from around the world whose mission is to share information related to multi-centric studies, database collection, fellowship training and funding support related to robotic surgery. The SRS is the only multi-specialty robotic surgery society in the world with an annual meeting that includes updates in more than a dozen medical sub-specialties along with state-of-the-art plenary sessions and hot topic courses.

About Puma Venture Capital:

Puma Venture Capital is an investment firm seeking to leverage its surgeon venture partners to invest in all aspects of physical intelligence across every medical procedure — to improve patient outcomes, lift labor productivity, and lower system costs.

Media Contact

Ryan Julison, Society of Robotic Surgery, 1 3213776877, ryanjulison@gmail.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/society-of-robotic-surgery-and-puma-venture-capital-announce-winners-of-srs-shark-tank-2026-302869733.html

SOURCE Society of Robotic Surgery

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