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Airbility Secures KRW 6.5 Billion Series A Led by Sazze Partners, Bringing Total Funding to USD 7.6 million

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Funding will accelerate commercialization of an integrated, high-speed eVTOL counter-UAS portfolio and build production capacity for global deployment

SILICON VALLEY, Calif. and SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Airbility, a deep-tech aerospace and defense company developing high-speed electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, today announced that it has raised USD 4.7 million (KRW 6.5 billion) in Series A funding led by a Silicon Valley-based global VC Sazze Partners. The round brings Airbility’s total funding to USD 7.6 million (KRW 10.5 billion). The company’s valuation was not disclosed.

Existing investor Stonebridge Ventures participated with a follow-on investment, and Industrial Bank of Korea joined as a new shareholder. Airbility’s existing investors also include Samho Green Investment, Mashup Ventures, BASS Ventures and 500 Global. The funding represents Sazze Partners’ first investment in the defense sector. Founded in 2018, Sazze Partners has backed more than 100 companies across artificial intelligence, software and consumer technology, including Korean AI company Upstage.

Funding to Scale an Integrated Counter-UAS Portfolio

Airbility will use the proceeds to advance an end-to-end counter-unmanned aircraft system (counter-UAS), designed to physically defeat hostile drones in the air, while establishing the production infrastructure required for scale. The architecture is built around the company’s high-speed eVTOL platforms and pairs airborne interceptors with onboard autonomy and external sensing assets.

The portfolio includes the net-gun-equipped AB-U10, which is designed for speeds of approximately 180 kilometers per hour, and the AB-U60 mothership platform. Airbility is also developing two new interceptors: the AB-U2, a compact kinetic interceptor deployed from the mothership, and the AB-U4L, a fixed-wing, launcher-deployed interceptor designed for speeds of approximately 300 kilometers per hour. The company plans to commercialize the AB-U10 by the end of 2026 and the AB-U2 and AB-U4L in the first half of 2027, creating a three-interceptor lineup. The AB-U60 is targeted for launch in 2027.

Airbility will also enhance the onboard AI that powers its interceptors. The goal is to enable independent mission execution in communications-limited environments and connect the aircraft with external detection assets, including radar, electro-optical and infrared sensors. This will allow detection, interception and post-engagement assessment to operate as one coordinated system. Airbility will strengthen its manufacturing system in parallel, drawing on its in-house capabilities in 3D printing, composite airframes, battery packs and flight-control software.

Built for Speed, Affordability and Exportability

Airbility was co-founded in November 2023 by researchers who helped develop Korea’s KT-1, T-50 and KF-21 aircraft at the Agency for Defense Development, together with professionals from Hyundai Motor, the MIT Media Lab, LG Electronics and Genesis Design. Three of the company’s senior technical leaders each spent between 25 and 31 years at the Agency for Defense Development. Of Airbility’s 26 employees, approximately 80 percent work in research and development.

In December 2025, two years after its founding, Airbility completed transition-flight demonstrations across three prototype aircraft, validating the core design, flight-control logic and system integration behind its high-speed eVTOL platform. The 4-kilogram-class AB-U4 entered commercialization in 2025.

The company is positioning its counter-UAS system to address a widening cost asymmetry in drone defense. A Shahed-type one-way attack drone is often cited at approximately USD 35,000, while a Patriot interceptor can cost about USD 4 million. Airbility estimates that its air-to-air approach can reduce the cost of an engagement to approximately USD 50 to USD 3,000, depending on configuration. The company also expects the domestically developed AB series to be priced at roughly one-tenth of comparable overseas systems, while offering greater flexibility for export customers facing origin restrictions and lengthy procurement processes.

Airbility is currently in commercial discussions with counterparties in more than nine countries across the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Four memoranda of understanding and two joint-venture initiatives are in progress. In Korea, Airbility recently secured USD 2.2 million (KRW 3 billion) in R&D support through the Korea AeroSpace Administration’s 2026 Scale-Up TIPS program and is building domestic references through projects with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

“Airbility is tackling the cost asymmetry in counter-drone defense with a system that combines a high-speed eVTOL mothership with small interceptors,” said Kiha Lee, Partner at Sazze Partners. “We were impressed by the team’s experience leading indigenous aircraft programs in Korea and by the speed with which it has moved from development to flight validation. If Airbility converts today’s rapidly growing global demand into contracts, we believe it can become a defining Korean defense technology company.”

“This investment gives us the resources to move faster,” said Jinmo Lee, co-CEO of Airbility. “We will build on our validated high-speed eVTOL platform, commercialize our first counter-UAS aircraft this year, and establish a three-interceptor portfolio in the first half of next year. From there, we intend to expand from aircraft sales to integrated system sales, convert our overseas pipeline into contracts, and target KRW 50 billion in cumulative revenue by 2028.”

About Airbility
Founded in November 2023, Airbility is a South Korean deep-tech aerospace and defense company developing AI-powered, high-speed eVTOL systems for air security and future mobility. The company’s aircraft combine optimized eVTOL geometries and flight systems with distributed electric fanjet propulsion, variable-inlet technology and modular hybrid-energy propulsion. Airbility brings together experience in manned and unmanned aircraft, autonomy, propulsion, vehicle engineering and industrial design. For more information, visit airbility.co.kr.

About Sazze Partners
Sazze Partners is a Silicon Valley venture capital firm founded in 2018 to support globally ambitious founders across East Asia and North America. The firm invests in exceptional entrepreneurs and combines capital with operating experience, mentorship and a cross-border network. For more information, visit sazze.vc.

Media Contact
Airbility
contact@airbility.co.kr

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SOURCE Airbility

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In HelloNation, IT Expert Richard Hermann Explains Aging Office Computers

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HelloNation Article Explains Why Aging Office Computers Can Quietly Raise Costs and Slow Daily Business Operations.

BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The article explains that a computer can still turn on and still fail to perform well. Aging office computers often take much longer to open programs than newer models, and employees notice the delay even without knowing the cause.

According to the article, older hardware also tends to fail more often as parts wear down over time. Hard drives, batteries, and cooling systems all become less reliable with age, which can lead to repair bills or unexpected downtime.

The article notes that security is another growing concern, since many older machines no longer receive full software updates. Businesses that store customer or financial records face greater risk when equipment cannot keep up with current protections.

The article breaks computer costs into two parts, the price paid at purchase and the cost of keeping a machine running afterward. It explains that repairs, support calls, and slow performance can quietly outweigh the savings from delaying a purchase.

Employee time is described in the article as one of the largest hidden costs of outdated technology. A worker who loses ten minutes a day to a slow machine can lose close to forty hours a year, a loss that grows quickly across a full staff.

The article states that most computers perform well for three to five years before real slowdowns begin, and that watching for early warning signs helps time an upgrade before problems affect daily work. It lists frequent freezing, slow startups, and repeated support calls as signals worth taking seriously.

Budgeting for replacement ahead of time, the article explains, reduces stress when a device eventually fails and turns technology spending into a predictable expense rather than an emergency one. Businesses that track replacement cycles closely, it notes, tend to avoid costly surprises and keep operations running smoothly.

The right timeline, according to the article, depends on how a business actually uses its technology day to day. Companies that rely on design work, data analysis, or other demanding tasks may need to replace equipment sooner than businesses with lighter computing needs.

Insights from IT Expert Richard Hermann, featured in the article, point to reviewing computer age and performance once or twice a year as a simple way to catch problems with aging office computers early. The article adds that backups, data transfer, and a short training period for new equipment all deserve attention during any replacement plan.

The article recommends that owners avoid waiting until a computer completely fails, since emergency replacements often mean lost data and rushed purchases. A well timed upgrade, it explains, often pays for itself through fewer repairs, better security, and less lost time.

Overall, the article frames aging office computers as a hidden cost that grows over time rather than a single dramatic failure. Regular attention to performance, security, and employee feedback, IT Expert Richard Hermann’s insights suggest, supports smoother operations and fewer disruptions for a growing business.

Signs It Is Time to Retire Aging Business Computers features insights from Richard Hermann, IT Expert of Buffalo, 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.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-hellonation-it-expert-richard-hermann-explains-aging-office-computers-302867945.html

SOURCE HelloNation

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LivePerson Stockholders Approve Acquisition by SoundHound AI

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NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LivePerson (NASDAQ: LPSN) (“LivePerson” or “the Company”), a leading provider of predictable conversational AI, today announced that its stockholders voted to approve the proposed transaction with SoundHound AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOUN) at the Company’s Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) held earlier today.

John Sabino, CEO of LivePerson, said, “We are pleased with the results from our special meeting and thank our stockholders for their support as LivePerson takes this important step forward. We are now one step closer to joining forces with SoundHound AI, further strengthening our position in conversational AI and better positioning the combined business to serve customers and partners at scale. We look forward to working closely with the SoundHound AI team to complete this transaction and deliver the significant value creation potential it offers our stockholders.”

The transaction is expected to close on September 4, 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions. The final, certified voting results for the Special Meeting will be reported in a Form 8-K filed by LivePerson with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

About LivePerson

LivePerson (NASDAQ: LPSN) is an enterprise leader in predictable conversational AI. The world’s leading brands use our award-winning Conversational Cloud and Syntrix platforms to connect with millions of customers. We power nearly a billion messages every month, providing uniquely rich data analytics, agent training, and AI evaluation tools to unlock the power of conversational AI for better business outcomes. Learn more at liveperson.com.

Media Contact:

Riah Lawry
pr@liveperson.com 

Or

Jim Golden / Dylan O’Keefe
Collected Strategies
LivePerson-CS@collectedstrategies.com 

Investor Relations Contact:

ir-lp@liveperson.com 

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws about the expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions, prospects, financial results and strategies relating to SoundHound AI’s proposed acquisition of LivePerson. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the timing of filing the definitive proxy/prospectus and timing of LivePerson’s special meeting, obtaining regulatory approvals, the timing of closing of the proposed acquisition, and the parties’ expectations, intentions, strategies, assumptions or beliefs about future events, results of operations or performance or that do not solely relate to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events or conditions that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including: (1) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between LivePerson and SoundHound; (2) the possibility that the transaction does not close when expected or at all due to the failure to satisfy all of the conditions to closing on a timely basis or at all, including the failure to obtain the required shareholder approvals or to consummate the notes restructuring transactions contemplated by the Notes Restructuring Agreement; (3) the risk that the benefits from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, trade policy (including tariff levels), laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which LivePerson and SoundHound operate; (4) any failure to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of LivePerson and SoundHound; (5) the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (6) reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of LivePerson’s or SoundHound’s customers, employees or other business partners, including those resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the transaction; (7) the diversion of management’s attention and time to the transaction from ongoing business operations and opportunities; and (8) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against LivePerson or SoundHound or in connection with the transaction. Further information on factors that could affect the forward-looking statements and expectations above are contained in the filings that LivePerson and/or SoundHound AI have filed, or that will be filed, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including as set forth in the Form S-4 and the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, as well as the documents incorporated by reference therein.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and LivePerson does not undertake or assume any obligation to update publicly any of these statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

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SOURCE LivePerson, Inc.

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Security Systems Expert Brandon Richardson of Manchester, NH Shares Long-Term Protection Tips for HelloNation

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MANCHESTER, N.H., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — How can property owners keep a security system effective year after year? A HelloNation article answers this question by explaining the small but consistent steps that strengthen equipment performance over time. Readers can explore these insights in a HelloNation article.

The feature highlights Security Systems Expert Brandon Richardson of Mount Major Tech in Manchester, who emphasizes that a reliable security system depends on maintenance, not just installation. Many people assume their system will keep working indefinitely once it is turned on. In practice, small shifts, updates, and overlooked settings can slowly reduce its effectiveness.

Richardson recommends starting with camera angles, since cameras form the backbone of visual evidence. Over months or years, weather, landscaping, or slight bumps can move them off target. Even a few inches of change may create blind spots that weaken coverage. The article explains that reviewing camera angles regularly helps maintain the original viewing plan, ensuring faces and license plates remain visible when incidents occur.

Access logs provide another layer of insight that many owners forget to check. These records track who enters, which credentials are used, and when doors open. Richardson reviews access logs for patterns that do not match normal schedules. If a door opens at an unusual hour or a credential appears unexpectedly, it may signal that permissions need updating or that a process is being misused. The HelloNation article shows how a few minutes of review can uncover issues long before they turn into serious problems.

User permissions also need consistent attention. The piece notes that as employees change roles, vendors rotate, or temporary users finish projects, outdated access remains one of the most common weaknesses in building security. A clean credential list reduces clutter and risk, making the security system easier to manage. Richardson updates these lists often to ensure that only the right people retain access to sensitive areas.

Passwords and codes, though simple, play a major role in preventing unauthorized entry. The HelloNation article explains that static passwords tend to spread over time because people share or write them down. Refreshing passwords and codes on a regular schedule greatly reduces that exposure. The process takes minutes but can prevent the gradual buildup of security gaps that go unnoticed.

Alert settings deserve steady review as well. Systems evolve, and so do business routines. Richardson tests each alert to confirm that it activates during real events and stays silent during normal operations. This process prevents alarm fatigue, which happens when staff receive too many irrelevant alerts and begin to ignore them. By tuning alerts carefully, teams stay confident in their system’s reliability and respond faster when something important occurs.

Software updates are another point of focus. Every major manufacturer releases updates to address bugs, patch vulnerabilities, and ensure compatibility with newer technology. Richardson checks cameras, recorders, access panels, and alarm hubs for current firmware. According to the article, staying current on software updates is one of the most effective ways to protect against modern digital threats. Skipping them can leave security systems exposed or incompatible with new devices.

Integration between systems further strengthens protection. The HelloNation piece describes how cameras, alarms, and access control systems support one another when they share data. A camera can confirm what triggered an alarm, while access logs identify who entered a door at the same time. When these systems are connected, property managers gain a more complete and accurate record of daily activity. This connected defense makes it easier to respond quickly during emergencies and review events after they happen.

Security Systems Expert Brandon Richardson points out that these checks do not require major overhauls. Instead, they should be short, regular reviews that guide the system and keep it performing as designed. A few simple habits—adjusting camera angles, checking access logs, reviewing user permissions, updating passwords, testing alerts, and installing software updates—add up to long-term reliability.

The HelloNation article concludes that the most dependable security system is the one that receives steady attention. Maintenance turns routine technology into a living, adaptable safeguard. By keeping components aligned, updated, and integrated, property owners maintain readiness without unnecessary cost or downtime.

Security System Tips for Better Long Term Protection features insights from Brandon Richardson, Security Systems Expert of Manchester, NH, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative “edvertising” approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/security-systems-expert-brandon-richardson-of-manchester-nh-shares-long-term-protection-tips-for-hellonation-302867955.html

SOURCE HelloNation

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