Connect with us

Technology

Microsoft Alum Launches Hey, Black Seattle!: A Hub of Connection for the African Diaspora in the Emerald City

Published

on

SEATTLE, March 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today entrepreneur and former Microsoft director Kiesha Garrison proudly introduces Hey, Black Seattle!, a platform to help Seattle residents of the African diaspora answer the question “Where are all the Black people?” This community-centered initiative aims to connect, support, and celebrate the vibrant yet dispersed Black population in the region by using data and technology for good.

Pushing Back on a Stifling Narrative

Despite the often-cited small percentage of Black residents in the Greater Seattle area (6.7% in the city of Seattle, 8% in the central Puget Sound as of July 2022 census), the region is home to a rich tapestry of Black community organizations, Black-owned businesses, and artists actively working to preserve Black culture and address the isolation experienced by many Black residents.  Some, like the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute and the Black Heritage Society of Washington State have been mainstays for decades, while others like the Africatown Community Land Trust and Arte Noir were formed more recently to push back against gentrification and massive displacement in the historic Central District neighborhood.  All are an example of the creative resilience of a people who refuse to be erased by systemic inequality.

Founder Kiesha Garrison emphasizes, “When people repeat the popular hyperbole ‘there are no Black people in Seattle,’ they do so out of genuine frustration, but it is clear they are missing out on the important work of the deeply committed Black leaders here.” Hey, Black Seattle! seeks to close the awareness gap so that disconnected individuals can come to know the facilitators of Black culture & community that are doing this powerful work in the region.

Founder’s Data-Tech Background Meets Her Love of Community

Garrison, a Spelman alumna who held various business leadership positions in consumer products and enterprise AI at Microsoft, also worked at Vitals, a popular physician finder website. She was also a founding board member for The Live Music Project, a Seattle-based nonprofit which supports access to the arts through the development of community-driven technology products.

She drew inspiration from Microsoft Employee Resource Group leaders who provided Black community resource lists to their employee population as well as from her conversations with local non-profit leaders who have long desired to have a digital community hub but lacked the bandwidth and expertise to build it. Leveraging her background with data-driven tech and her passion for the wellbeing of all Black people, Garrison set out to create a central space for the community to share and find information that transcends professional and social silos.

A Simple Yet Necessary Mission

The mission of Hey, Black Seattle! is simple yet profound: to shorten the time it takes for Black people to find their community in the beautiful Puget Sound region. Garrison, also a public speaker who focuses on how oppression affects personhood and culture, shares, “Community is essential because I believe isolation is a dream killer.  And I want Black people and our dreams to thrive wherever we live.”

At the center of the web service is a comprehensive database of entities serving the Black community across King, Pierce, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties. Hey, Black Seattle! pre-seeded their database with over two hundred vetted community organizations, social groups, businesses, and artists, creating a rich directory that will grow through collective knowledge and aspires to give hope to those who might otherwise relocate for a sense of belonging and wellness.

A Comprehensive Platform

Beyond the community resource directory, Hey, Black Seattle! also offers:

An events calendar, providing a focused space for the community to post and discover events which can often seem buried in traditional search sites.A job board, offering organizations a direct channel to list employment opportunities and support of economic empowerment for the Black community.A photo archive to contribute to the preservation of the historical record of Black life in the region.Regular meetups to introduce newcomers to neighborhoods and educate them about the rich Black history of Seattle.And space for residents to share “Black Love Notes,” acknowledging the importance of appreciation in any culture.

Hey, Black Seattle! is more than a platform, it is a movement. A call to action for Black residents of the Greater Seattle area to come together and contribute to a vibrant, inclusive community where everyone can thrive.

Connect with Hey, Black Seattle!:

Website: www.heyblackseattle.comInstagram: @HeyBlackSeattle

For media inquiries, contact: media@heyblackseattle.com

About Hey, Black Seattle!

Hey, Black Seattle! is a community-driven platform dedicated to connecting and celebrating the African diaspora in the Seattle region. Through its rich database, media, events, and merchandise, Hey, Black Seattle! strives to be a beacon for Black life, highlighting resources and spaces for the community to connect and thrive.

Contacts:
Kiesha Garrison
media@heyblackseattle.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/microsoft-alum-launches-hey-black-seattle-a-hub-of-connection-for-the-african-diaspora-in-the-emerald-city-302080008.html

SOURCE Hey, Black Seattle!

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Pudu Robotics Showcases Full Product Portfolio at WAIC 2026, Winning the “Most Investor-Attractive Enterprise” Award

Published

on

By

SHANGHAI, July 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, is showcasing its full portfolio of intelligent robotics solutions at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), held from July 17–20 in Shanghai. A key highlight of this year’s exhibition is the offline global debut of the PUDU D7, Pudu’s next-generation semi-humanoid robot. In tandem with its exhibition highlights, Pudu Robotics was also honored with the 36Kr “Most Investor-Attractive AI & Embodied Intelligence Enterprise” Award, recognizing the company’s growing influence in the embodied AI sector and continued confidence from the investment community.

Full Product Matrix on Display: Demonstrating Multi-Scenario Capabilities

Pudu’s comprehensive presentation at WAIC 2026 showcased its complete technical and product layout, spanning service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied intelligence.

The PUDU D5 quadruped robot demonstrates advanced terrain adaptability and autonomous navigation across an on-site obstacle course mimicking sand, gravel, steps, and slopes, simulating autonomous inspections in complex environments such as power substations and industrial parks. Additionally, the D5 performed high-speed “drifting” demonstrations at the booth, reaching peak speeds of up to 5 m/s and showcasing industry-leading mobility and responsiveness.

Making its global offline public debut, the PUDU D7 engaged visitors with several immersive and interactive live experiences. Attendees posed for photos with the D7, instantly receiving unique snapshots taken directly from a “robotics perspective.” The robot also demonstrated advanced multi-robot coordination by autonomously walking and guiding the PUDU D5 quadruped around the booth while seamlessly avoiding pedestrian traffic, vividly illustrating collaborative workflows between different robotic form factors.

Pudu is also exhibiting its mature commercial robotics portfolio, including the BellaBot service delivery robot, the PUDU T300 industrial delivery robot, and the PUDU MT1 Max and PUDU CC1 Pro commercial cleaning robots. Together, these products highlight Pudu’s proven deployments across hospitality, retail, F&B, manufacturing, warehousing, and other industries.

Winning the “Most Investor-Attractive Enterprise” Award Amid Sustained Capital Traction

The “Most Investor-Attractive Enterprise” award from 36Kr arrives alongside sustained backing from major global institutional investors. In April 2026, Pudu Robotics completed a new financing round of nearly USD 150 million, bringing its valuation to more than USD 1.5 billion. This brings Pudu’s cumulative funding to more than USD 300 million.

This strong capital interest is supported by concrete commercial performance. According to the “2025 Global Embodied Intelligence and Commercial Service Robotics Independent Market Research Report” released by Frost & Sullivan, Pudu Robotics accounts for 25% and 23% of the global commercial service robotics market in terms of revenue and shipments respectively, ranking No. 1 worldwide in both categories. Furthermore, Pudu Robotics has maintained a year-over-year revenue growth rate exceeding 100%, with international markets accounting for more than 80% of total revenue for consecutive years. While the broader Embodied AI industry remains in early exploratory phases, Pudu has approached a positive EBITDA, achieving large-scale commercial viability ahead of the market.

From Product Export to Ecosystem Integration: A Blueprint for Global Expansion

According to the Research Report on Chinese Enterprises’ Overseas Expansion from 2025 to 2026 published by the 36Kr Research Institute, Pudu Robotics was featured as a primary benchmark case study for Embodied AI. The report attributes Pudu’s international success to its systematic combination of technological innovation, product capabilities, and localized global operation. Analysts noted that Pudu has successfully transitioned from exporting products to exporting global brand equity and integrated robotics ecosystems, establishing a core reference blueprint for hard-tech global expansion.

By deploying versatile product forms that span specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid forms, Pudu Robotics continues to focus on integrating Embodied AI directly into real-world environments—transforming Physical AI from a technical concept into a practical productivity partner.

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics, a global leader in the commercial service robotics sector, is dedicated to empowering easier work and better lives through AI and robotics, with a vision of building a global intelligent robotics infrastructure that serves 10 billion people worldwide.

Pudu Robotics has developed key core technologies and components, including robotic joint modules and motion controllers, and has filed more than 1,900 patent applications worldwide. Built on three core technologies—Embodied Navigation, Embodied Manipulation, and Embodied Interaction—Pudu Robotics has pioneered a “One Brain, Multiple Embodiments” architecture, establishing a comprehensive product portfolio that includes specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots.

Currently, Pudu offers four major product lines: service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery and general embodied AI. Its solutions are widely deployed across industries such as retail, hospitality, manufacturing, real estate and property services, healthcare, entertainment and sport, education, and public services.

To date, Pudu Robotics has shipped over 130,000 units globally, with a presence in more than 85 countries and regions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pudu-robotics-showcases-full-product-portfolio-at-waic-2026-winning-the-most-investor-attractive-enterprise-award-302829057.html

SOURCE Pudu Robotics

Continue Reading

Technology

Best AI Productivity Tools for Creators (2026): CapCut Recognized for Faster Video and Image Workflows by Software Experts

Published

on

By

NEW YORK, July 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Artificial intelligence continues to reshape how digital content is produced, with creators relying on AI tools like CapCut to handle editing, asset generation, and repetitive production tasks that once required several separate applications. As these tools mature, software reviews are placing more weight on workflow efficiency alongside creative output.

Best AI Productivity Tools for Creators

Seedance 2.0 – an AI video generation model that creates videos from text prompts and image inputsPhoto to 3D – an AI tool that transforms 2D photos into images with realistic three-dimensional depth and effects

The use of AI has expanded across independent creators, marketing teams, educators, and small businesses producing content for websites, social media, online stores, and digital campaigns. Rather than using AI for a single task, many creative professionals now incorporate it throughout the production process, from generating concepts and visuals to refining finished content. This has encouraged software reviewers to test how well platforms support complete creative workflows instead of evaluating individual features in isolation.

Software Experts has included CapCut among its 2026 selections for AI productivity tools for creators, citing the platform’s collection of AI-powered features that support faster video and image production. The review examined how integrated AI tools can simplify common creative tasks across video editing, image generation, music creation, and visual enhancement.

What Is Driving Interest in AI Productivity Tools?

Content creators are producing more material than ever across short-form video platforms, social media, online stores, blogs, newsletters, and marketing campaigns. A single project may require multiple image formats, several video versions, captions, background edits, and audio, all within a short production window.

Many creators also repurpose one piece of content into several formats. A long-form video may be edited into short clips for social platforms, paired with custom graphics, accompanied by AI-generated music, and published alongside promotional images. Completing these tasks manually often requires switching between multiple editing applications.

This has encouraged software developers to introduce AI features that reduce manual editing while keeping creators in control of the finished product. Instead of switching between several applications, many creators now prefer platforms that support multiple stages of production within the same workspace.

How Does CapCut Support Video and Image Workflows?

CapCut offers AI tools that assist throughout the creative process, from generating visual assets to preparing finished content for publishing.

Among the tools included are:

Seedance 2.0 for generating AI videos from text promptsGPT Image 2 for creating images from written descriptionsSeedream for AI-generated artwork and creative visualsSeedmusic for producing original music from text promptsAI Image Extender for expanding images while preserving visual consistencyPhoto to 3D for adding depth effects to imagesAI Background Removal for separating subjects from image backgrounds with minimal editing

Together, these features support projects ranging from social media posts and marketing materials to promotional videos, educational content, presentations, and visual concepts, allowing creators to complete more production tasks within a single platform.

Why Are Integrated AI Platforms Receiving More Coverage?

Earlier AI tools often specialized in a single task, such as image generation or video editing. Newer platforms are bringing these functions together to let creators complete more of their work without transferring files between multiple services.

This type of workflow can shorten production time while helping maintain visual consistency across different content formats. It can also reduce the amount of time spent exporting files, reformatting assets, or rebuilding projects in separate applications.

As a result, software evaluations are increasingly examining how efficiently creators can complete everyday production work. Instead of concentrating solely on the number of AI features available, reviewers are also looking at how those tools function together during real-world creative projects.

What Did Software Experts Evaluate?

The review looked at AI tools that support practical creative work across multiple production stages rather than concentrating on a single feature.

Areas included in the evaluation included:

AI-assisted video generationText-to-image creationAI-generated musicBackground removalImage expansionThree-dimensional visual effectsEditing tools that support faster creative workflows

The review also examined how these features work together during typical content production rather than evaluating each tool separately. This reflects the way many creators now build content using interconnected AI tools instead of isolated editing software.

What Does This Mean for Creators?

Creative software continues to incorporate AI across more stages of content production, giving creators additional ways to streamline editing while maintaining creative control. As publishing schedules become more demanding, workflow efficiency has entered software evaluations alongside editing quality and creative flexibility.

Software Experts’ 2026 review places CapCut among AI productivity tools supporting faster video and image workflows through its collection of AI-powered creative features. As AI continues to influence digital content production, reviews are placing emphasis on how effectively platforms help creators complete everyday projects from concept through final publication.

To read the full review, please visit the Software experts website.

About CapCut

CapCut is an AI-powered photo and video editing platform designed to make high-quality video creation accessible across devices. The platform supports creators, businesses, and everyday users with tools for video editing, AI video generation, captions, templates, audio, and visual editing. CapCut is available across mobile, web, desktop, and iPad experiences, helping users create, edit, and prepare video content for social media, marketing, education, and personal projects.

About Software Experts: Software Experts delivers in-depth news on the digital tools shaping today’s consumer experience. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/best-ai-productivity-tools-for-creators-2026-capcut-recognized-for-faster-video-and-image-workflows-by-software-experts-302828623.html

SOURCE SoftwareExperts.org

Continue Reading

Technology

Penetron Strengthens Global Research Collaboration at ICSHM 2026

Published

on

By

PHILADELPHIA, July 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Penetron participated in the 10th International Conference on Self-Healing Materials (ICSHM 2026), held July 8–10, 2026, at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The international event brought together leading researchers, engineers, and industry representatives to present and discuss the latest advances in self-healing materials and related technologies.

A global delegation of Penetron executives attended the conference, representing the United States, Greece, Italy, Brazil, India, Chile, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, and Singapore.

“For over 50 years, Penetron has provided self-healing concrete solutions to the industry that optimize concrete durability by sealing cracks and reducing concrete permeability to limit maintenance requirements, extend structural service life, and help protect infrastructure exposed to groundwater, chemicals, chlorides, and other aggressive conditions,” says Christopher Chen, Director of The Penetron Group. “Our participation at the ICSHM reinforces Penetron’s long-standing commitment to international research collaboration and allows us to better understand emerging research and develop leading-edge solutions for real-world construction challenges.”

Hosted at Drexel University’s Bossone Research Enterprise Center, ICSHM 2026 welcomed specialists from more than 18 countries across six continents and featured over 70 technical presentations, including keynote addresses, plenary sessions, research presentations, and an interactive poster program. The conference opened with remarks from Drexel University President Antonio Merlo and ICSHM Chair Dr. Nele De Belie. Finally, the conference provided valuable opportunities for researchers and industry specialists to strengthen cooperation between academia and the construction sector to further develop self-healing technologies.

“Extending the service life of concrete infrastructure requires cooperation between universities, materials specialists, engineers, and industry,” said Jozef Van Beeck, Director of International Sales and Marketing for The Penetron Group. “ICSHM 2026 provided an important forum for connecting scientific research with the practical requirements of the global construction industry.”

The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs, and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives, and distribution channels.

For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/penetron-strengthens-global-research-collaboration-at-icshm-2026-302829009.html

SOURCE The Penetron Group

Continue Reading

Trending