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From Detroit to 1.5 million: The Startup Breaking the Social Media Playbook

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Less than a year after announcing it was being built, Byio has surpassed more than 1.5 million verified registrations worldwide. Ninety days into beta, organic word of mouth demand has outpaced onboarding, without outside capital or a marketing budget.

DETROIT, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Less than one year after officially announcing it was building a new social platform, Byio (By Invite Only) has surpassed more than 1.5 million verified registrations worldwide, reaching the milestone just 90 days after opening beta.

Registration is free. Membership is free. As demand accelerated beyond the company’s onboarding pace, people began voluntarily paying to have their registrations reviewed sooner or to receive instant access consideration when capacity becomes available. Neither option guarantees admission, but the response has become one of Byio’s strongest indicators of market demand.

For consumer technology companies, demand is typically measured after users gain access to a product. Byio is seeing a different signal. Long before many registrants receive an invitation, some are choosing to pay simply to move through the registration process more quickly, underscoring the level of interest surrounding the platform despite free registration and free membership.

Beta opened on May 1, 2026. Approximately 400,000 people had registered by May 13. Fewer than three months later, verified registrations have grown to more than 1.5 million as members livestream, post, gift, earn and cash out while Byio continues expanding onboarding to meet demand.

The platform’s growth now spans North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Oceania, with verified registrations from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Nigeria, Canada, Jamaica, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and dozens of other countries.

The pace of growth has also compressed an unusually short timeline. Byio officially announced it was being built in September 2025. Eight months later, beta opened. Ninety days after that, registrations exceeded 1.5 million worldwide, transforming what began as a platform under development into one managing global demand while continuing to expand access.

“We built Byio believing it would be used by millions of people,” said R.M. Easterly, Founder and CEO of Byio. “What surprised us was not the vision, it was the speed. Our priority today is not creating demand. It is responsibly welcoming the community that is already here while continuing to build for the future.”

Byio reached this milestone without outside capital, venture funding, institutional investment, crowdfunding, a marketing budget, celebrity backing or an established Silicon Valley network. The company’s global growth has been driven through organic community word of mouth.

Registration remains open worldwide for adults 18 and older as Byio continues expanding access. Learn more or register for consideration at www.byio.com.

About Byio

Byio (By Invite Only) is the first invite-only consumer social marketplace app founded, funded, led and built by Black women. Designed for adults 18 and older, Byio empowers its community to decide who gets invited and who stays while combining social networking, live streaming, creator monetization, and commerce into a single AI-native platform.

Media Contact

Courtney Clements
Creative Marketing Director
420108@email4pr.com 
281-810-9180

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SOURCE Byio Inc.

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Hong Kong Shopping Festival Marks Malaysia Debut with 100 Brands and Over 350 Products to Discover

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today announced the launch of its inaugural Hong Kong Shopping Festival in Malaysia, marking the first time the event has expanded into an ASEAN market.

The festival runs from 21 to 27 September 2026, spotlighting some 100 brands and more than 350 featured products from Hong Kong across Beauty & Personal Care, Fashion, Food & Supplement, Fun & Smart Living, and Senior Wellness Essentials. Malaysia consumers can explore participating brands and products through Shopee, Lazada and the official Hong Kong Shopping Festival website.

Themed “Hong Kong Highlights, One Click Away”, the campaign brings the energy and variety of Hong Kong SAR‘s shopping scene closer to Malaysia consumers. From familiar household names to emerging brands and new finds, it offers shoppers a fresh way to experience the breadth of Hong Kong products while reconnecting with favourites they already know and love. Participating brands include Lee Kum Kee, CATALO, Chow Tai Fook, Chow Sang Sang, Wai Yuen Tong and Chicks, alongside a wider selection of brands and products.

Malaysia marks the first step into ASEAN

The Malaysia launch forms part of the initiative’s first expansion into ASEAN, with Malaysia and Singapore serving as its initial target markets. Following previous editions focused on the Chinese Mainland, the move marks a new phase for the programme as HKTDC looks to connect Hong Kong businesses with new consumers and markets across the region.

Supported by the HKSAR Government, the event gives consumers a trusted way to explore a curated selection of quality Hong Kong products. Throughout the week, shoppers can enjoy limited-time discounts of up to 50%, shopping vouchers and exclusive livestream offers as they discover participating brands across various online platforms.

Mr. Leung Kwan Ho, Regional Director, Southeast Asia & South Asia, HKTDC, said, “Hong Kong SAR has always had a strong connection with Malaysia consumers, from the brands they grew up with to the new products they continue to discover. Through the Hong Kong Shopping Festival, we hope to bring that experience closer to shoppers here, giving them an easy way to rediscover familiar favourites, uncover new brands and experience the diversity of what Hong Kong has to offer today.”

Bringing the shopping experience to life

Beyond browsing, the online shopping event will feature more than 30 hours of livestream shopping content led by popular livestream hosts and influencers in Malaysia and Singapore, giving consumers a more interactive way to engage with participating brands.

Through product demonstrations, first-hand reviews and real-time interaction, viewers can get a closer look at featured products and learn more about the brands behind them, while selected livestream sessions will also feature exclusive offers.

Dedicated campaign pages on Shopee and Lazada will also bring selected products and promotions together in one place, while the official festival website will feature participating brand information, promotional offers and curated recommendations throughout the week.

The Hong Kong Shopping Festival is the flagship annual event under HKTDC’s E-Commerce Express programme, which aims to help Hong Kong companies expand their cross-border e-commerce business and reach new markets. Through collaborations with leading e-commerce platforms, livestream promotions, and integrated marketing activities, HKTDC aims to help participating businesses enhance market visibility, gain practical cross-border e-commerce experience, and explore opportunities arising from the continued growth of ASEAN’s digital economy and e-commerce market.

The Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN) runs from 21 to 27 September 2026. For more information about the event, please visit Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN).

HKTDC’s Malaysia Office
Kenix Chua
Tel: (603) 2381 1061
Email: kuala.lumpur.office@hktdc.org

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SOURCE Hong Kong Trade Development Council

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01F Group Announces Investment in DANA, Indonesia’s Leading Digital Financial Company, Reinforcing Long-Term Confidence in Asia’s Fintech Opportunity

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 01F Group through its growth-stage fintech private equity arm, 01Fintech, today announced its investment in DANA, Indonesia’s leading digital financial platform. The investment reflects 01F Group’s commitment to supporting resilient, locally rooted technology infrastructure that advances financial inclusion and supports Indonesia’s real economy. It also strengthens the Group’s presence in Asia’s fintech sector and reflects its conviction that Indonesia remains one of the region’s most dynamic digital-payments markets, underpinned by high digital adoption, a large consumer base and growing demand for technology-enabled financial services.

As Southeast Asia’s largest digital economy evolves, digital payments have become an essential part of everyday commerce for consumers and small businesses. Indonesia’s digital economy continues to expand rapidly, with digital payments projected to approach USD1 trillion by 2030.

DANA is a leading Indonesian digital e-wallet and digital financial services platform that serves consumers, merchants and financial institutions through a single, integrated ecosystem. Its scale and reach underscore the strength of its platform, including metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions and supports millions of users and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially across Tier 2 to Tier 4 regions.

01F Group invests in category-defining platforms distinguished by sustainable unit economics, strong local execution, and meaningful utility for the communities they serve. Through this partnership, 01F Group leverages 01Fintech’s sector expertise and regional network to support DANA’s continued growth and the expansion of its financial-services offering.

Kenny Man, Founder and Managing Partner of 01F Group, stated:

“Our investment in DANA is grounded in three core convictions: the platform’s exceptional operational discipline, its essential role in empowering local MSMEs, and the team’s unwavering resilience. We are not just capital providers; we look forward to being a long-term partner to DANA as it continues to strengthen Indonesia’s digital financial infrastructure and broaden access to trusted financial services.”

Vince Iswara, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of DANA, said:

“We are pleased to welcome 01Fintech to DANA’s journey. Beyond capital, 01Fintech brings specialized fintech expertise, strategic regional connectivity, and a shared commitment to sustainable growth. Together, we remain focused on strengthening our core platform, supporting everyday merchants, and providing trusted financial tools to communities across Indonesia.”

Unlocking Ecosystem Value & Strategic Synergy

The investment strengthens 01F Group’s footprint in the regional fintech value chain. 01Fintech and DANA will explore opportunities to create value across the broader ecosystem, including:

Expand Credit & Capital Access: Connect MSMEs on the DANA platform with scalable lending and working capital solutions.Broaden access to financial services: Supporting access to products such as micro-insurance, digital savings and wealth-building tools for underserved users.Support regional connectivity: Leveraging 01F Group’s network to explore more efficient cross-border payment solutions for Indonesian merchants and consumers

01F Group and DANA share a commitment to using technology to support the real economy and create durable value for Indonesian businesses and consumers.

About 01F Group

01F Group is a global investment platform that backs visionary founders and CEOs building next generation technology leaders. The Group combines specialised capital with deep operational partnership to help companies bridge innovation and execution, making digital ecosystems more accessible and scalable. Through a family of focused funds, 01F Group supports companies at different stages of their growth journey: 01Fintech, a growth-stage, Asia-focused private equity strategy that empowers fintech entrepreneurs to innovate and scale, with a particular emphasis on digital financial inclusion; 01F GPS (Global Partner Solutions) scales proven technologies into global market leaders through execution-focused partnerships and joint ventures; and the 01F Intelligence Fund, an investment platform focused on trusted AI systems for the global economy.

Together, 01Fintech, 01F GPS and the 01F Intelligence Fund reflect the Group’s long-term approach to technology value creation: backing category‑defining companies, commercialising proven technologies globally and participating in the next wave of growth across fintech, AI and the wider digital economy.

For more information, please visit www.01fgroup.com.

About DANA

DANA (PT DANA Digital Group) is Indonesia’s leading digital financial platform, playing a pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion and accelerating the country’s digital economy through secure, trusted, and innovative financial services. Since 2018, DANA’s integrated ecosystem, including digital payments, QRIS, money transfers, and AI-powered financial solutions, empowers millions of users, businesses, and financial institutions. DANA continues to advance AI innovation, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention, delivering secure financial experiences while helping improve the financial wellbeing of Indonesians.

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SOURCE 01F Group

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NETMARBLE WRAPS UP TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026 WITH THREE UPCOMING TITLES

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Second consecutive TGS appearance featured three upcoming titles, with hands-on demos, live stage programs and interactive experiences

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality games, successfully concluded its second consecutive appearance at Tokyo Game Show (TGS). The company showcased three upcoming titles: Shangri-La Frontier: The Seven Colossi, Solo Leveling: KARMA and Pearl in Blue.

Following its TGS debut in 2025 with MONGIL: STAR DIVE and The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, Netmarble returned with three titles this year, while its booth grew from 56 units to 63 units. Attendees were able to experience each game through hands-on demos alongside live stage programs and other on-site activities.

HANDS-ON DEMOS AND LIVE PROGRAMS ACROSS THREE UPCOMING TITLES

Shangri-La Frontier: The Seven Colossi, the first-ever game adaptation of the hit Shangri-La Frontier IP, was presented in playable form for the first time at TGS 2026. Attendees experienced its tag-based collectible RPG gameplay, while stage programs featuring the development team and members of the anime voice cast highlighted the game’s combat and strategic elements.

Solo Leveling: KARMA offered an early hands-on look at its fast-paced roguelite action and original story set within the Solo Leveling universe. Players battled through the Dimensional Gap using different combinations of weapons and buffs, while live gameplay challenges featured members of the anime voice cast and popular gaming creators.

Pearl in Blue was also presented in playable form for the first time, introducing its original world and characters through hands-on gameplay and an immersive themed booth. Voice performances and character-focused stage programs further highlighted the game’s character-driven storytelling and anime-inspired cinematic presentation.

A STRONG RESPONSE ACROSS THE SHOW

The three titles drew steady interest throughout TGS 2026, giving players an early opportunity to experience the games ahead of release and share direct feedback with the development teams.

More information on the three titles will be announced through their respective official channels.

© Katarina, Ryosuke Fuji/KODANSHA © Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble Nexus Inc. All Rights Reserved.

©Solo Leveling Animation Partners ©Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble Neo Inc. All Rights Reserved.

©Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble N2 Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Netmarble Corporation

Founded in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading global game developer and publisher. Through acclaimed franchises and strategic partnerships with top-tier IP holders, the company delivers innovative and engaging gaming experiences to audiences worldwide. As a parent company of Kabam, SpinX Games, Jam City, and a major shareholder of HYBE and NCSOFT, Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling:ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

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SOURCE Netmarble

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