SINGAPORE, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What does independent living mean for persons with disabilities, and how can technology help them achieve it? 52 student finalists, chosen competitively from over thousands of students from 10 Singapore’s polytechnics and autonomous universities, attempted to find that answer through six weeks of immersion, visiting care facilities, speaking with beneficiaries, and iterating solutions with real end-users.

Today, those solutions were put to the test at the fourth annual Dell InnovateFest grand finals at National Gallery Singapore, hosted by Dell Technologies, with Mr Edwin Tong SC, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, as Guest-of-Honour. In addition, Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Law, took on an expanded role this year as Chairman of the Dell InnovateFest Advisory Committee, signalling the deepening of public-private-academic partnership at the heart of the programme. 

Organised in partnership with MINDS (formerly Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore) and local disability-focused charity SPD, this year’s hackathon challenged students to develop AI and cloud-native solutions that empower Persons with Intellectual Disability (PWIDs) and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to live more independently and inclusively.

This year’s theme – Inclusive and Independent Living – directly aligns with Singapore’s Enabling Masterplan 2030, which identifies assistive technology as a core enabler of independent living for PWDs and PWIDs. Problem statements were developed in close collaboration with MINDS and SPD, grounding student solutions in the lived realities of beneficiaries rather than hypothetical use cases. Student teams were challenged to build solutions that help PWIDs and individuals with communication difficulties maintain daily living skills and overcome communication breakdowns, so they can engage more independently and confidently in the community. Throughout the development process, teams engaged in regular discussions with MINDS and SPD to gather feedback and further refine their solutions.

The students even took their research further by visiting the homes of PWIDs, gaining firsthand insight into the daily challenges their solutions needed to address.

Over the six-week competition, student teams were mentored by 30 industry experts from Dell Technologies and ecosystem partners including Microsoft, Certis, NCS, NVIDIA, across areas such as AI engineering, platform engineering, machine learning operations, containerisation and cloud-native architecture. Teams had direct access to Dell Technologies cloud-native platform to deploy their applications, as well as Dell Pro Max with GB10 for secure local AI development and testing. 

A defining feature of the 2026 edition was the return of a past finalist as industry mentor. Tay Jeung Hong competed in last year’s hackathon and his technical curiosity and problem-solving mindset caught the attention of Dell Technologies which led him to a role at the Dell APJ AI Innovation Hub. He is working alongside Ryan Sim, a 2023 Dell InnovateFest champion on Physical AI projects. This year, Jeung Hong returned to mentor the next cohort. Their story is a full-circle moment that reflects the programme’s long-term impact on Singapore’s technology talent pipeline. Many of finalists from Dell InnovateFest have also secured full-time roles and internships at Dell and its partner ecosystem.

Dell InnovateFest is a key enablement pillar of the APJ AI Innovation Hub. Since 2023, the hub has equipped over 11,000 students and working professionals with industry-relevant AI and cloud-native capabilities through its initiatives.

Final results for Dell InnovateFest 2026 – The team from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, with their solution InSync, a personalised voice and AI support communication facilitator, and the team from National University of Singapore, with their solution PotPal, a healthy eating diet companion, emerged as the winners of the polytechnic and university tracks respectively, each receiving a grand prize of SGD 10,000.

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For hi-res event images, please visit the link here.

About Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) helps organisations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry’s broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the AI era.

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Dell quote:

“Dell InnovateFest is, at its core, a hackathon with a heart. This year’s finalists did not just build technology. They immersed themselves in the real lives of PWIDs, PWDs and developed solutions with genuine potential to improve independence and dignity. What makes this programme truly special is what happens beyond the competition. Seeing past participants return this year as mentors is the clearest proof that the impact of InnovateFest extends far beyond a single hackathon. This is what it looks like when technology becomes a force for good,” said Andy Sim, Vice President & Managing Director, Dell Technologies Singapore

MINDS quote:

“Independent and inclusive living is something our clients and their families think about every single day. As a result of this hackathon, through the visits to our centres and interactions with our clients, we hoped the student teams would leave with a deeper understanding of those lived realities. What we did not anticipate was how much our own community would gain from the experience – the conversations, the prototypes, the sense that young people are investing their talents in solving these challenges. We look forward to seeing how these solutions can be taken further,” said Kelvin Koh, CEO, MINDS

SPD quote:

“Inclusive and accessible solutions empower persons with disabilities to live with greater dignity and independence. We are heartened by the care the teams have taken to understand the needs and lived experiences of the people they are designing for. This human-centred approach is key to transforming promising ideas into practical solutions that make a meaningful difference in everyday life. SPD is privileged to have supported this journey, and we look forward to seeing these solutions develop and create lasting impact for persons with disabilities,” said Abhimanyau Pal, CEO, SPD

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SOURCE Dell Technologies

Statewide initiative engaged more than 300 applicants and 17 finalists from across North Carolina, awarding $60,000 in startup funding through the N.C. Community College System’s Small Business Center Network

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — After a rigorous, months-long training and pitch competition, the North Carolina Small Business Center Network (SBCN) announced Rinse-A-Poo, Victorious Wellness, and The Gilded Lantern as the first-, second- and third-place winners, respectively, of the state’s inaugural SBCN Startup Showdown.

This statewide entrepreneurship accelerator brought together 17 finalists competing for a share of $60,000 in unrestricted startup funding. The process included intensive business training and coaching, a “Shark Tank”-style Pitch Day event, public voting, and evaluation by a panel of business and entrepreneurship leaders.

The winners were announced during an invite-only awards celebration in Raleigh, N.C., on Sept. 17, attended by Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) Acting President and CEO Dr. Monty Sullivan, and other state and local leaders.

The SBCN is one of the nation’s largest state-funded small business assistance programs, operating through all 58 North Carolina community colleges and serving all 100 counties. The Startup Showdown – the first statewide entrepreneurship accelerator of its kind launched through the state’s 58 community college Small Business Centers – was made possible through funding by the Wells Fargo Foundation and the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation.

“Entrepreneurs are driving innovation and economic growth in communities across North Carolina, and we’re proud to support programs that help turn promising ideas into thriving businesses,” said Juan Austin, senior vice president of philanthropy and community impact at Wells Fargo. “The Startup Showdown is creating new opportunities for founders to access capital, guidance and networks that can help accelerate their success and strengthen local economies.”

First-place ($30,000) winner Dan Spangler, founder of Rinse-A-Poo, received support through the Coastal Carolina Community College Small Business Center. Spangler said Thursday that the Startup Showdown experience has already helped him build valuable connections across the state and prepare his business for its next stage of growth.

“The Startup Showdown was worth every hour I put into it. The coaching sharpened my pitch, but the real value was the ‘room.’ Between the instructors and the other cohort members, I got asked questions that made my product better,” said Spangler. “Taking first place means more than the check, though the check matters. That funding gets Rinse-A-Poo from prototype to production, into the hands of the kennel and daycare operators who have been asking when they can buy one.”

He added: “I ran a pet resort for 14 years and built this because I lived the problem. At Rinse-A-Poo, we take care of the dirty work.”

Second-place ($20,000) winner Victoria Gadbois of Victorious Wellness, supported by the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center, is building a holistic women’s wellness concept designed to bring personalized care, restoration, education and connection together in one welcoming environment.

Third-place ($10,000) winner Phil McNutt of The Gilded Lantern Co., supported by the Montgomery Community College Small Business Center, is developing a mobile mystery adventure experience designed to bring immersive team-building and shared experiences directly to businesses, organizations and communities.

Finalists were evaluated on multiple business criteria throughout the competition and were required to successfully complete the REAL Entrepreneurship® Pitch It! course, facilitated by local community college leaders. The competition also included a public voting period conducted via YouTube from Sept. 1-15.

In total, the competition attracted more than 300 applicants from across North Carolina, generating 1,050 hours of pre-application counseling and technical assistance through the SBCN. The competition also engaged communities statewide, with finalists’ pitch videos generating more than 41,000 views and 9,300 votes during the public voting period. The $60,000 in unrestricted funding will now help the three winners advance their next stages of business development.

“Dan came into the Startup Showdown as a seasoned entrepreneur, but what impressed me most was his willingness to listen, be challenged and continue learning,” said April Priester, director of the Small Business Center at Coastal Carolina Community College. “Dan understood that even experienced entrepreneurs benefit from having someone in their corner who can challenge their thinking and offer a different perspective. I am incredibly proud of what he accomplished, and his success demonstrates the value Small Business Center support can bring at every stage of an entrepreneur’s journey.”

Thursday’s awards celebration marked the culmination of the Startup Showdown, but the work continues through Small Business Centers across North Carolina, where entrepreneurs can access ongoing counseling, training and resources to help start and grow their businesses.

“We’re proud to support these entrepreneurs as they take their next steps, and we’re excited to build on this model in the years ahead,” said Anne Shaw, director, Small Business Center Network. “The Startup Showdown has demonstrated what’s possible when we bring together the statewide reach of our Small Business Centers with training, counseling, mentorship and resources that help entrepreneurs turn ideas into sustainable businesses and create economic opportunity in their communities.”

The SBCN resides within NCCCS’s Economic Development Division, which also oversees key initiatives such as NCEdge, the state’s primary customized workforce training program, along with ApprenticeshipNC, and N.C. BioNetwork.

About Small Business Center Network

The North Carolina Small Business Center Network (SBCN) is one of the nation’s largest state-funded small business assistance programs, operating through all 58 North Carolina community colleges. Through confidential business counseling, practical training, technical assistance and resource connections, SBCN helps aspiring and existing entrepreneurs start, grow and sustain successful businesses. By empowering small business owners in communities across the state, the Network plays a vital role in fostering innovation, creating jobs and strengthening North Carolina’s economy.

About the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS)

The North Carolina Community College System is a network of 58 community colleges created to improve the quality of life across North Carolina by opening the door to opportunities that minimize barriers to post-secondary education, maximize student success, and develop a globally and multi-culturally competent workforce. The Community College System’s Economic Development Division provides education, training, and support services for new, expanding and existing business and industry across all 100 North Carolina counties.

About the North Carolina Community College Foundation

The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation (the Foundation) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 1986 to support the mission of the N.C. Community College System. The Foundation is governed by a diverse board of directors who, together with the executive director, steward the endowment; raise awareness and funds to develop and advance the System; manage several scholarship and award programs that honor excellence, and support public-private partnership programs that foster innovation. Going forward, the Foundation will lead a national campaign to drive more student, college, employer, and system success; and deliver more community, economic, and workforce development value for the state.

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SOURCE North Carolina Community College System

Travellers can now book Twiliner, Europe’s first night bus with lie-flat seats, via Omio on selected European routes

BERLIN, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Omio, the leading global multimodal travel booking platform, has added Twiliner to its platform, giving travellers access to a new premium overnight bus experience across Europe.

Twiliner is designed for travellers who want to make better use of the night: boarding in the city centre in the evening, sleeping through the journey, and waking up in a new city the next morning. With fully lie-flat seats, bedding, onboard Wi-Fi and thoughtful amenities, the service brings a comfort-led alternative to overnight travel for customers looking to avoid airport stress, reduce overnight hotel needs, or travel on routes where convenient night-train options may be limited.

The partnership expands the range of overnight and multimodal travel options available through Omio, making it easier for customers to compare and book premium night bus journeys alongside other transport options in one place.

At launch on Omio, travellers can book Twiliner services on two European routes:

Amsterdam – Rotterdam – Brussels – Luxembourg – Basel – ZurichBarcelona – Girona – Bern – Zurich

Twiliner currently operates almost daily departures on its two routes and has announced plans to expand its network in the coming years, aiming to connect around 30 European destinations.

On board, the experience is designed around rest and convenience, with personal space, charging, a reading light, fold-out table, storage, access to a spacious restroom and separate changing room, complimentary coffee and water, luggage allowance, and an onboard snack bar.

Facundo Viguie Aleman, CMO at Omio, said:
“Travellers are looking for more choice in how they move across Europe, especially when it comes to comfortable, low-stress overnight journeys. By adding Twiliner to Omio, we are making it easier for customers to discover and book a premium night bus experience that helps them travel while they sleep and arrive ready for the day ahead.”

Luca Bortolani, CEO at Twiliner:
“We built Twiliner on a simple idea: overnight travel across Europe can be comfortable enough that you don’t have to choose between resting and getting somewhere. But no single operator can make sustainable travel the obvious choice on its own; it takes an ecosystem of partners working together. Being part of Omio means more travellers discover that option exactly when they’re comparing how to get from A to B, and can choose to arrive rested instead of rushed.”

The integration reflects Omio’s continued focus on expanding high-quality travel supply across modes, borders and operators. With more than 3,000 transport providers across more than 50 countries, Omio helps travellers compare options and find their best way to get from A to B – whether by train, bus, flight or ferry.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/omio-expands-premium-overnight-travel-options-with-twiliner-302883207.html