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Shepherd and Brickeye Partner to Bring IoT Risk Intelligence Into Autonomous Underwriting

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Construction’s safest builders have had no structured way to earn better Builder’s Risk coverage terms for the loss-prevention technology they deploy. Shepherd and Brickeye are the first to change that.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shepherd, the AI-native commercial insurance platform, and Brickeye, the IoT-enabled construction risk intelligence platform, today announced a partnership integrating Brickeye’s BuildersRiskIQ™ risk intelligence directly into Shepherd’s underwriting model. The result: a verified, real-time view of physical risk on every protected project and better terms for builders who invest in protection.

Protecting Job Sites Should Reward Builders and Owners. Now It Does.

Shepherd Savings rewards builders for the technology they use to run safer, better-protected projects. The program began on casualty products, recognizing contractors who adopt tools for project management, reality capture, and jobsite documentation. It now covers Builder’s Risk, and Brickeye brings the jobsite intelligence that makes it possible.

Brickeye is the first Builder’s Risk partner in the program. Brickeye actively prevents loss: catching a burst water line and triggering shut-off before it floods a floor, or flagging thermal conditions in mass concrete before they turn into defects. Water damage and concrete quality are two of the costliest loss drivers in construction, and Brickeye works on both. Its platform monitors and mitigates risk across 4,500+ projects in 20+ countries. Brickeye has grown revenue 150% year over year, and has helped clients cut water loss deductibles by up to 50%.

Builders who put Brickeye on their projects receive a tiered protection classification, verified by a Certificate of Protection and based on the contracted scope of IoT services. That classification earns better terms, premium credits or lower deductibles through Shepherd Savings.

Verified Protection from IoT Data, Priced In From Day One

That same classification enters Shepherd’s underwriting model at the moment of pricing. Shepherd has spent two years replacing weeks-long, email-driven underwriting with an AI platform that prices complex construction risk in minutes, and Brickeye’s verified, structured data is exactly the kind of input that makes that model sharper. Shepherd has issued 1,500+ policies covering $400B+ in insured project value and grown revenue 7x in 24 months.

As insured projects close out, the correlation between protection tier and actual claims outcomes becomes pricing and structure intelligence no competitor can replicate. Every project that closes adds a verified signal to how Shepherd prices the next one. For Brickeye, it validates what each protection tier actually delivers, real claims outcomes that prove the value of IoT risk controls in the field. For insurance brokers, this partnership creates a differentiator: the ability to place clients who invest in risk mitigation at better terms than the standard market can offer. And for owners, this program eliminates the uncertainty and lender issues that can come along with potentially $1M+ water damage deductibles.

Better Data Means a Smarter Model

Autonomous systems rely on their inputs. Brickeye’s verified jobsite intelligence is precisely what enables Shepherd’s fully autonomous model to earn more authority to act and price with precision over time. The model compounds with each project that closes.

“De-risking a project starts before breaking ground. We assess design and risk in preconstruction, then deploy the IoT controls that inform how the project should be protected and underwritten,” said Tim Angus, CEO of Brickeye. “From there, our platform mitigates risk in real time, catching a burst water line and triggering shut-off before it floods a site, or flagging thermal conditions in mass concrete before they cause defects. Until now, all that intelligence lived on the jobsite and never informed the underwriting decision. With Shepherd, it does, and the builders who protect their projects pay less for it.”

“We built Shepherd on the thesis that, given the total cost of risk in large construction, financial services providers like us are uniquely positioned to incentivize loss prevention for the mutual benefit of ourselves and our customers,” said Justin Levine, Co-Founder and CEO of Shepherd. “Brickeye gives us a verified, upfront picture of exactly how a Builder’s Risk account is being protected, plus real-time physical-risk intelligence as it’s built. That is precisely the kind of proprietary, structured input that lets our model earn more authority and act with more autonomy and precision over time.”

The partnership initially covers U.S. Builder’s Risk for vertical construction, with a focus on water damage mitigation, expanding to include concrete quality and defect risk mitigation on infrastructure and heavy civil projects as the partnership grows. Together, Shepherd and Brickeye are solving a structural gap in a $5B global market where verified jobsite data has never informed the price.

About Shepherd

Shepherd is an AI-native insurance technology platform making risk frictionless for builders and operators shaping the physical world. The company combines proprietary AI underwriting technology, real-time construction data integrations, and deep industry expertise to deliver commercial insurance with speed, precision, and intelligence. Shepherd insures construction, infrastructure, and energy projects for companies ranging from mid-market general contractors to the firms building frontier AI infrastructure. Shepherd is headquartered in San Francisco with offices nationwide. For more information about Shepherd, visit shepherdinsurance.com.

About Brickeye

Brickeye is a global leader in construction IoT and job site risk mitigation technology services, trusted by top-tier owners, developers, contractors, and insurers across 20+ countries. Brickeye is building the first AI-native IoT-enabled construction risk intelligence platform. The company helps clients protect project margins, keep construction schedules on track, and reduce insurance costs by de-risking projects in preconstruction, delivering real-time alerts and automated risk controls during construction, and providing actionable insights post-construction. Learn more at brickeye.com.

Media Contacts

marketing@shepherdinsurance.com;

media@brickeye.com

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SOURCE Shepherd

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DUVA Introduces DUVA ONE at IFA 2026: Personalized Sleep Earbuds That Respond in Real Time

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The Sleep System That Understands You Best.

BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DUVA, created by Fitnexa, is introducing DUVA ONE at IFA Berlin 2026. This intelligent in-ear sleep system is designed to sense changes in the user and the bedroom, then personalize audio, noise control, and device behavior throughout the night.

Most sleep wearables explain what happened after users wake up. DUVA ONE is designed to help while the night is still happening. Its low-profile earbuds, environment-sensing charging case, and app work together to determine when and how to respond.

A user might start the night with a podcast over Bluetooth. After they fall asleep, DUVA ONE can introduce locally stored sleep audio and optimize power use. If a partner begins snoring or traffic grows louder, it can adjust ANC or add sound masking. In the morning, a private offline alarm wakes only the wearer, without requiring an active phone connection.

In-ear PPG and motion sensors estimate sleep stages and track heart rate, HRV, sleep position, and movement, while the case monitors noise, light, temperature, and humidity. The AI Agent interprets these signals alongside playback status and personal preferences to select an appropriate response. Users control sleep audio, playback duration, ANC strategy, and nighttime interventions in the DUVA App.

“Sleep does not happen in a static environment, so sleep technology should not remain static either,” said Diego, Founder of Fitnexa. “DUVA ONE is designed to respond while sleep is still happening.”

Key Highlights

Layered noise relief: Passive isolation, Hybrid ANC, and sleep audio provide noise reduction of up to 42 dB, with Transparency Mode and adaptive ANC calibration.Personalized AI sleep guidance: The AI analyzes the user’s real-time sleep state and generates personalized audio guidance to help them gradually fall asleep.Side-sleeping comfort: Each fitted earbud weighs approximately 3.3 grams and has an approximately 9.9 mm low-profile design. Two ear-tip shapes and multiple tip and stabilizing-wing sizes provide more than 40 fit configurations.All-night battery: Up to 16 hours in the most power-efficient configuration, including 13 hours of local audio with ANC off and 9.5 hours with ANC on. The USB-C and wireless charging case provides up to five additional recharges.Private offline alarm: Alarms gradually increase in volume and offer 5, 10, or 15-minute snooze options through the earbud controls.Privacy-first sensing: DUVA ONE does not record conversations, store ambient audio, or upload raw environmental audio. Users can disable individual sensors and delete historical data.

DUVA ONE is planned for release in October 2026 at a target retail price of US$349.99, with target markets including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia.

Media Contact: essie@duva.com
Learn more: duva.com

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SOURCE DUVA

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China Xplained | The China Squeeze, or the China Opportunity?

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GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a news report from South: 

Is China’s manufacturing rise squeezing out or creating opportunities for other economies?

Ahead of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in China this November, journalists and experts from around the world gathered in Guangdong for the Asia-Pacific Media Forum (APMF) 2026.

The forum opened in Shenzhen on September 5, bringing together more than 400 representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from international organizations.

Before the opening of the forum, participants travelled across Guangdong to see China’s industries and development first-hand.

In this episode of China Xplained, we look at the numbers, supply chains, investment and voices from across the developing world—to ask a bigger question: Is China squeezing out room for other economies?

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PUDU D7 Named Honoree in IFA Innovation Awards for Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies

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BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, today announced that its PUDU D7 Semi-humanoid Intelligent Robot has been named an Honoree in the Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies category of the IFA Innovation Awards. The recognition highlights PUDU D7’s ability to combine mobile navigation, dexterous manipulation and intelligent sensing to perform a range of tasks in real-world industrial and commercial environments.

The IFA Innovation Awards recognize outstanding innovations across the global technology landscape. Entries are evaluated by an independent international jury based on criteria including technology and functionality, innovation and originality, and the potential to create tangible value for users and the market. The recognition places PUDU D7 among emerging technologies demonstrating new possibilities for the future of robotics.

From Industrial Operations to Guest Interaction

PUDU D7 is designed for industrial, warehouse, retail and hospitality environments, where it can move through human-oriented spaces and perform tasks that require both mobility and dexterous manipulation.

In industrial and warehouse settings, D7 can handle materials, pick items from shelves, replenish inventory, transport goods between work areas and push carts. With a payload capacity of up to 20 kg (44.1 pounds) and an operating height of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet), it can work with a range of storage systems and materials.

In retail, D7 can support shelf replenishment, item handling and store organization, moving products between storage areas and shelves and helping maintain product displays.

In hotels and hospitality, PUDU D7 can take on the role of an intelligent front-desk host, welcoming guests, preparing and serving coffee, interacting with visitors and providing engaging experiences. Its semi-humanoid form and dual-arm capabilities allow it to combine practical service tasks with natural human-robot interaction, bringing a more personable and engaging presence to the guest experience.

Designed for Adaptable Performance

PUDU D7 combines a dual-arm manipulation system, tactile sensing and a 360-degree perception system to support these applications. Front- and rear-facing LiDAR and other sensors enable navigation around people and obstacles, while tactile sensing provides precise control when handling objects.

The robot also features autonomous battery swapping, allowing it to independently replace its battery and reduce downtime during extended operation.

Together, these capabilities enable D7 to support different tasks across a range of environments without being limited to a single application.

PUDU D7 Makes Its European Debut at IFA

IFA 2026 marks the first time PUDU D7 is being showcased in Europe. At the Pudu Robotics booth, visitors can experience live demonstrations highlighting the robot’s capabilities and its potential for human-robot interaction.

D7 interacts directly with visitors through demonstrations including waving, making heart gestures and picking up objects. These demonstrations showcase the robot’s ability to combine movement, manipulation and interaction in a human-oriented environment.

Advancing the Next Generation of Intelligent Robotics

The IFA Innovation Awards recognition marks another step in Pudu Robotics’ expansion from service delivery, commercial cleaning and industrial delivery into embodied intelligent robotics.

PUDU D7 is part of Pudu Robotics’ broader strategy to develop a portfolio of specialized, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots, building on its capabilities in embodied navigation, manipulation and interaction. This approach enables the company to address a broader range of applications across commercial and industrial environments.

Pudu Robotics will continue working with customers and partners worldwide to explore new applications for embodied intelligence and bring increasingly capable robots into real-world environments.

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics is a global leader in commercial service robotics and the industry’s first company to offer a full portfolio spanning specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots. According to Frost & Sullivan’s latest market report, Pudu Robotics ranks No. 1 globally in commercial service robotics by both revenue and shipment volume. Built on its One Brain, Multiple Embodiments architecture, Pudu offers robots for service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied AI applications across hospitality, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, education, public services, and more. To date, Pudu Robotics has shipped over 130,000 robots to customers across 85+ countries and regions.

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SOURCE Pudu Robotics

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