The nation’s leading operations hub helping product-based businesses scale beyond the garage or spare bedroom is bringing its co-warehousing model to IL, celebrating with the launch of a new “Made in Chicago” grant, offering the winner $5,000 toward their start.

ELMHURST, Ill., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Saltbox, the operations hub for product-based businesses with 13 locations across the US, announces the opening of its first Chicago-area location in Elmhurst this Fall. The 114-suite facility at 934 N. Church Rd. will bring flexible warehouse and office space, loading docks and an on-site operations team to the Chicago market. Designed for businesses that have outgrown working from a garage, spare bedroom, or fragmented collection of storage and office spaces but aren’t ready to commit to a traditional warehouse, Saltbox will give growing businesses the ability to expand their operations. Its co-warehousing model combines private warehouse and office suites with the shared infrastructure businesses need to receive inventory, prepare orders, and ship products.

“Chicago has been one of the markets our members have requested most,” said Olivia Mariani, VP of Marketing at Saltbox. “Product-based businesses are increasingly operating across multiple regions to get inventory closer to their customers, reduce shipping costs, and build more resilient operations. Chicago gives our members a critical Midwest hub while bringing the Saltbox model to a new community of entrepreneurs and operators.”

Members receive month-to-month access to loading docks, mail and package receiving, daily carrier pickups, equipment, conference rooms, a content studio, high-speed Wi-Fi, printing, in-suite power, 24/7 security and reserved parking. Kitchen, workspace, and community areas give founders and their teams room to work beyond the warehouse floor.

The on-site operations team is central to the Saltbox model. Team members receive inventory, bring it to members’ suites, support carrier handoffs, and help solve day-to-day workflow challenges. Businesses can also access Saltbox Fulfillment and S.O.S. (Saltbox Operations Support) for additional hands-on help as their volume and operational needs change.

“Space is only the starting point,” said Katerina Cirilli, CEO of Saltbox. “We built Saltbox to help members run the operation around their products, in an environment where the people, equipment, and infrastructure are already in place. Chicago’s economy has always been shaped by builders and makers, and we believe they deserve an operating home that can keep up with their ambition.”

The Saltbox team chose Elmhurst so that Chicagoland founders and their teams could run their operations closer to home, instead of the common scenario of needing to drive long distances to industrial corridors separated far apart from the rest of their day. The new facility will be situated just minutes from downtown Elmhurst, offering a walkable stretch of restaurants, coffee shops, and services nearby.

The Elmhurst location places members near the transportation routes and commercial communities that power the Chicago region. The I-290 and I-294 interchange is approximately five minutes away, O’Hare International Airport is within a short drive and Elk Grove Village, one of the country’s largest industrial parks, is seven miles from the facility, with downtown Elmhurst about two miles away, keeping restaurants, services and other amenities accessible to members and their teams.

Suites range from 88 to 1,809 square feet: smaller suites accommodate approximately four pallets and one or two people, giving emerging businesses a practical next step after outgrowing the home, while larger suites can hold as many as 125 pallets and provide room for a full team managing fulfillment under one roof. The building also incorporates details from Elmhurst’s history, with conference rooms named Salt Creek, after the waterway where the area’s earliest settlers made their homes, and Cottage Hill, the community’s original name from 1845 to 1869.

“I’ve been walking this building since it was bare concrete while also training for the Chicago Marathon,” said Lucy Voss, VP of Operations at Saltbox. “Both take the same thing: showing up consistently, including on the days when the work is hard. That’s something Chicago business owners understand well. We’re building this location for the people doing that work every day.”

Saltbox Elmhurst is designed for ecommerce and direct-to-consumer brands, consumer packaged goods companies, wholesalers, and businesses handling light assembly or kitting, along with project pros, designers and industrial operators who need functional space, dock access and operational support without building those capabilities themselves. It’s not intended for businesses that only need inexpensive storage, a self-storage unit may be a better fit there, but for teams actively shipping, receiving and managing physical operations, Saltbox offers more control, visibility and flexibility than a fully outsourced model can provide.

To celebrate the company’s commitment to supporting small businesses, Saltbox is proud to launch the Made in Chicago Grant, awarding one qualified Chicago-area product or ecommerce business a $5,000 credit toward membership at Saltbox Elmhurst in honor of their opening. The grant is open to eligible businesses throughout Chicagoland and the western suburbs, including Elmhurst, DuPage County, Elk Grove Village and Oak Brook. One winner will be selected at random from qualified entrants and announced at the grand opening ceremony in the fall. The credit applies to Saltbox membership fees and does not cover additional services, and no purchase is necessary to enter. Businesses can enter and review the complete eligibility requirements at saltbox.com/made-in-chicago-grant.

Businesses interested in becoming among the first Saltbox Elmhurst members can also join the Chicago waitlist at saltbox.com/location/chicago-elmhurst. Waitlist members will receive early access to tour availability and membership information.

ABOUT SALTBOX

Saltbox is an operations hub for product-based businesses, offering co-warehousing, flexible workspace, Saltbox Fulfillment, and hands-on operational support to help teams run their day-to-day operations.

By bringing the infrastructure needed to operate a physical-products business under one roof, Saltbox gives members more control, visibility, and flexibility without the overhead and rigidity of a traditional warehouse or the loss of control that can accompany a fully outsourced solution.

Founded in 2019, the Saltbox network includes 13 locations across nine major U.S. markets, with ongoing expansion underway. Learn more at saltbox.com.

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SOURCE Saltbox

Officially authorized Sony STARVIS 2 imaging, a factory-style install in about four minutes, and no cables running down the windshield. Now available in North America.

SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AKEEYO Global today announced the XPRO, a vehicle-specific 4K dash cam engineered exclusively for the Toyota RAV4. XPRO replaces the original plastic housing behind the rearview mirror and draws power from a connection point already located near the mirror, so there is no suction mount, no cable taped down the windshield, and no visible hardware on the dashboard.

The RAV4 is one of the highest-volume vehicles on North American roads, and its owners have long faced the same compromise. Universal dash cams record well but hang off the glass. Vehicle-specific models look clean but often fall short on imaging, connectivity, or long-term durability. XPRO was built to close that gap.

Imaging that AKEEYO can document, not just claim

XPRO records true 4K at 25fps through a Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensor paired with an F1.08 large aperture and HDR. AKEEYO sources the sensor through authorized supply channels and holds written confirmation from Sony verifying its use, a level of documentation that is uncommon in a category where sensor names are frequently listed without evidence.

The practical result shows up after dark. Tunnels, unlit residential streets, oncoming headlights, and the high-contrast moment when a car exits a parking structure into daylight are exactly the conditions that flatten most footage into an unusable blur. The combination of a larger aperture, 4K resolution, and HDR is intended to keep plate characters, lane markings, and vehicle detail legible when a clip actually needs to be reviewed.

A four-minute install with nothing left behind

Installation requires no drilling, cutting, wire splicing, or fuse-box work for standard driving recording. Owners remove the original mirror cover with the included trim tool, plug in the supplied adapter, tuck the cable inside the XPRO housing, and press the unit into the factory mounting position. Start the vehicle and XPRO begins recording automatically.

The install is fully reversible. XPRO can be removed and the original mirror housing reinstalled at any time, which matters for leased vehicles and for resale.

XPRO ships in two housing designs to match RAV4 production variations. The version without vent openings fits select 2019 to 2024 RAV4 models and the 2022 RAV4 Prime. The version with vent openings fits select 2022 to 2025 models. Because mirror housings vary by model year, trim, and market, AKEEYO asks buyers to match the reference images rather than rely on model year alone, and offers a free fit-check by email for anyone unsure.

Built for a car that sits in the sun

A parked cabin in Phoenix or Dallas can reach temperatures that destroy conventional lithium batteries. XPRO uses an automotive-grade supercapacitor instead, backed by a six-layer ENIG circuit board with gold-finished contacts that resist oxidation and corrosion. The camera is rated for operation from minus 4°F to 158°F.

Evidence retrieval without pulling the card

Loop recording keeps coverage continuous, and a three-level G-sensor locks the current clip when an impact is detected so it survives overwriting. Voice commands let drivers photograph or lock a clip without reaching for the camera, and spoken alerts confirm recording, Wi-Fi, audio, and storage status.

Dual-band Wi-Fi on 2.4GHz and 5GHz connects XPRO to the AKEEYO app for live preview, playback, and downloads of up to 20MB/s under suitable conditions. Drivers can save the clip they need directly to a phone at the roadside without removing the microSD card.

Optional GPS and parking protection

The optional GPS Module records route, speed, direction, location, and time alongside footage, with synchronized video and map playback in the AKEEYO app or the desktop player. For coverage after the engine is off, an optional ACC Hardwire Kit or OBD Power Cable enables time-lapse parking monitoring with impact protection and low-voltage cutoff to help protect the vehicle battery.

Pricing and availability

XPRO for Toyota RAV4 is available now at akeeyo.com, priced at $289 USD. The package includes the XPRO camera, the compatible mirror power adapter, an installation trim tool, a 64GB microSD card, and documentation. Storage is supported up to 256GB. XPRO is a front-facing single-channel camera and does not include a rear camera. Every unit is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee and an 18-month replacement warranty.

Launch offer: use code XPRO25 at checkout for 25% off the XPRO camera and 25% off all XPRO accessories, including the GPS Module, ACC Hardwire Kit, and OBD Power Cable.

Product page: https://www.akeeyo.com/products/xpro-rav4

About AKEEYO

AKEEYO Global develops recording and safety hardware for cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, including the AKY-V360S mirror dash cam, the NV-X2 night vision system, and the AKY-730Pro two-wheeler camera. The company designs its products around genuine, documented imaging components and automotive-grade construction, and supports customers worldwide through its global service network.

AKEEYO Global: https://www.akeeyo.com/

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SOURCE AKEEYO Global

Veteran HR technology founder and people executive joins Relate’s founding team to help scale its mission to transform everyday conversations into opportunities for development, stronger relationships, and better performance.

LEXINGTON, Mass., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Relate, the AI relationship intelligence platform helping people and organizations understand and improve how they communicate, today announced that Kristy McCann Flynn has joined the company as Co-Founder.

The announcement marks the next stage of Relate’s growth as the company expands its platform, customer base, and vision for using AI to make meaningful development part of the conversations people are already having every day.

McCann Flynn is a longtime HR technology founder, operator, investor, and people leader who has spent more than 25 years at the intersection of people, culture, and technology. She previously co-founded and served as CEO of SkillCycle, where she raised more than $15 million and helped scale the company through rapid growth with Inc 5000 growth recognition over multiple years. Her career also includes senior HR and transformation roles across organizations including Pearson, Constant Contact, MoneyLion, Richemont, and Western Asset Management.

As Co-Founder, McCann Flynn will work alongside Relate’s existing founding team to accelerate customer growth, strategic partnerships, fundraising, product strategy, and market expansion, while bringing the voice of HR leaders and enterprise buyers directly into the company’s roadmap.

“Relate has everything I look for in a company: the people, the potential, the product, the passion, and a genuinely huge problem worth solving,” said McCann Flynn. “Every day, conversations shape relationships with customers, prospects, employees, and managers. Relate has the opportunity to turn those moments into continuous development and stronger relationships at scale. I’m incredibly excited to join this team as a co-founder and help build what comes next.”

McCann Flynn’s appointment comes during a period of growing momentum for Relate. The company was recently recognized by G2 as a Best New Software Product for 2026 and continues to expand its technology and reach. Most recently, Relate introduced Vocal Intelligence, extending its analysis beyond transcripts to include factors such as tone, energy, pace, humor, and conversational dynamics.

“Kristy has a powerful combination of founder, operator, buyer and evangelist experience,” said Tom Keenan, Co-Founder of Relate. “She understands what it takes to build a company, but she also understands what it takes for new technology to earn trust inside an organization. That’s incredibly important for where Relate is going.”

About Relate

Relate is an AI relationship intelligence platform built to help people become better at the conversations that matter. Grounded in decades of trust research, Relate combines conversational AI and Vocal Intelligence to analyze both what is said and how it is communicated, giving individuals personalized coaching while helping leaders understand communication patterns, development opportunities, and relationship health across their teams.

Unlike traditional AI meeting tools focused primarily on notes and summaries, Relate turns everyday conversations into opportunities for continuous learning and development.

Learn more at relate.us.

Press Contact

Name Dan Mather

Email dmather@relate.us

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SOURCE Relate