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L’Oréal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program Ignites Innovation Across North Asia

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Trailblazing Initiative Expands to Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan Region, Cementing L’Oréal’s Leadership in Regional Beauty Tech Open Innovation

SHANGHAI, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — L’Oréal’s groundbreaking Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program (Big Bang) is now officially active across all of its North Asia markets with the momentous launch in Hong Kong SAR today, ushering in a new era of beauty innovation for consumers in the region and putting L’Oréal North Asia Zone’s “Beauty Triangle” strategy in action. The strategy seeks to maximize synergies and accelerate collaboration, leveraging the unique and powerful North Asia ecosystem and the transversal synergy of China-Beauty, Korea-Beauty and Japan-Beauty.

First launched in Mainland China in 2020, Big Bang embraces open innovation to develop disruptive beauty solutions in partnership with startups and innovators. The program fosters the co-creation and co-development of innovative beauty products and experiences. Its expansion to Japan and Korea in 2023, followed by recent launches in Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan, underscores L’Oréal’s commitment to spearheading cutting-edge beauty solutions throughout North Asia. The program’s success has also inspired its launch in the L’Oréal South Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa region just last month.

Each market tailors its Big Bang program with a unique theme, reflecting regional strengths and fostering local partnerships. L’Oréal Taiwan initiated its recruitment for Big Bang in March, focusing on a “Green Beauty Consumer Journey.” Through collaboration with Taipei Computer Association (TCA), the program champions local sustainability innovations for a circular economy, eco-friendly design, and enhanced consumer engagement.

L’Oréal Hong Kong’s recent launch introduced the city’s first open innovation accelerator dedicated to the beauty industry. Partnering with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Business France Hong Kong, the program prioritizes “Customer Experience Transformation.” The goal is to craft immersive, multi-sensory experiences within brand spaces, elevating customer interactions and bringing brand stories to life in captivating new ways.

L’Oréal Japan and Korea both celebrated successful first years of the program, with participants gaining significant recognition and several already collaborating with L’Oréal. Building on this momentum, L’Oréal Japan will continue its strategic partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to advance research and innovation (R&I) in cutting-edge skin and hair care technologies. Similarly, L’Oréal Korea, having formalized its collaboration with the Ministry of SMEs and Startup through an MOU at Viva Tech 2023, will deepen its focus on R&I while expanding the program with a dedicated digital track.

As the origin point of the Big Bang program, L’Oréal China continues its trajectory of impactful progress, covering comprehensive tracks including Future Science, Phygital Consumer, Operation 4.0, Gen AI and Sustainability. Fostering increasingly sophisticated projects and achieving tangible results. This is exemplified by the recent Viva Technology event, where CITIBIOTECH, a French startup specializing in 3D skin printing and winner of the Big Bang China French Channel, signed a strategic MOU with “Oriental Beauty Valley,” a Chinese government-affiliated incubation organization. This partnership will pave the way for CITIBIOTECH’s successful entry into the Chinese market. This milestone represents the first achievement stemming from a partnership agreement signed by L’Oréal, Business France, and the Oriental Beauty Valley during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to China in April 2023. 

Launched in 2021 with Business France as a strategic partner, the Big Bang China French Channel empowers cutting-edge French startups to expand their reach into the Chinese market. It has successfully recruited around 50 French startups to participate in the Big Bang China program by 2023. 

Since its inception, Big Bang has engaged over 2,000 companies, brought more than 50 business projects to fruition, and fuelled real-world innovation. A prime example is the nanochip technology developed by a previous Big Bang China participant, now featured in Lancôme’s RENERGIE NANO-RESURFACER| 400 BOOSTER, debuting at VivaTech.

Big Bang provides startups and SMEs with an invaluable platform to scale their businesses, connect with government agencies, industry leaders, and investors, and showcase their innovations on a global stage at events like the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and Viva Technology. L’Oréal’s investment in Shinehigh, winner of the 2022 Big Bang China program, exemplifies the company’s dedication to nurturing and accelerating promising beauty tech ventures.

As Big Bang takes root across North Asia, it promises to usher in a new era of beauty innovation, one where technology, creativity and co-creation converge to deliver exceptional and personalized experiences for consumers. L’Oréal is proud to be at the forefront of this exciting evolution, solidifying its position as a beauty tech leader in the region and beyond.

About L’Oréal Groupe

For 115 years, L’Oréal, the world’s leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as essential, inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 37 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L’Oréal for the Future programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality.

With more than 90,000 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (e-commerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2023 the Group generated sales amounting to 41.18 billion euros. With 20 research centers across 11 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 6,400 Digital talents, L’Oréal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse.

More information on https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom

About L’Oréal North Asia Zone

L’Oréal North Asia Zone was established in 2021 as L’Oréal Groupe regrouped the geographical scope of its zones to give greater coherence to consumer behaviour and to create synergy within the region. The North Asia Zone comprises of five geographically and culturally connected markets of Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan Region, Korea and Japan.

L’Oréal North Asia Zone is the second largest region within the Group, accounting for 25.9% of the Group’s global sales in 2023. Situated in the most beauty intense region with more than one-third of the world’s total beauty consumers, L’Oréal North Asia shapes the future of beauty with its innovation centres in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul, while investing in beauty tech transformation as one of the three beauty tech hubs globally. Here, our mission is to strategize, create and activate a powerful ecosystem around the North Asia Beauty Triangle as a competitive edge to unleash sustainable growth for all and inspire the world.

About L’Oréal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program

L’Oreal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program (Big Bang) is the first regional initiative focused on driving open innovation, inspiration and co-creation of innovative beauty products and experiences.  The program discovers, supports and nurtures promising start-ups and companies with innovative technology that can be scaled regionally and globally. 

 

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SOURCE L’Oréal North Asia

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VERNAL CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. ANNOUNCES PRICING OF $100 MILLION INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

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NEW YORK, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vernal Capital Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: VECA) (“Vernal”) announced the pricing of its initial public offering (the “IPO”) of 10,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units are expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under “VECAU” beginning May 6, 2026. Each unit consists of one ordinary share and one right to receive one-fourth of one ordinary share upon consummation of an initial business combination. Upon separate trading, the ordinary shares and rights are expected to be listed on NYSE under “VECA” and “VECAR,” respectively.

D. Boral Capital LLC is acting as sole book-running manager of the offering. The underwriters have a 45-day option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional units to cover any over-allotments. The offering is expected to close on May 7, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

A registration statement for these securities was declared effective by the SEC on May 5, 2026. The offering is made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained, from D. Boral Capital LLC, 590 Madison Ave., 39th Floor, New York, New York 10022, by telephone at (212) 970-5150 or by email at dbccapitalmarkets@dboralcapital.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or to buy, nor shall there be any sale where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the applicable securities laws.

About Vernal

Vernal is a blank check company formed to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Vernal’s target search will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” including statements regarding Vernal’s IPO. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. No assurance can be given that the offering will be completed on the terms described, or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, beyond Vernal’s control, including those in the Risk Factors section of Vernal’s registration statement filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Vernal disclaims any obligation to release publicly updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in Vernal’s expectations, except as required by law.

Contact

Binghan Yi, CFO
binghan@vernal.com
www.vernalspac.com

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SOURCE Vernal Capital Acquisition Corp.

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RIVANNA nominated for MedTech Scale-Up of the Year at MedTech World Awards 2026 | North America

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Nomination places the Charlottesville-based company among growth-stage medtech leaders recognized for commercial momentum in AI-powered clinical decision support; public voting is open through May 8

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — RIVANNA®, developer of AI-powered clinical decision-support solutions, today announced that it has been nominated for MedTech Scale-Up of the Year at the MedTech World Awards 2026 | North America. Public voting is open through Friday, May 8, 2026, with category winners to be announced at the inaugural North American Awards Gala on May 11, 2026, at the Hilton West Palm Beach in Florida.

The MedTech Scale-Up of the Year category honors a growth-stage company successfully scaling revenues, partnerships, and adoption across the global medical technology ecosystem. Nominees across the program’s 22 categories were selected through a structured process led by the MedTech World Steering Committee, with category winners determined by a combination of expert evaluation and public voting from the global MedTech community.

“We have built RIVANNA on validation earned from the most rigorous technical buyers in healthcare: competitive federal awards translated into FDA-cleared products, each paired with a commercial program that meets clinicians where they work,” said Will Mauldin, PhD, Co-founder and CEO of RIVANNA. “Being nominated for MedTech Scale-Up of the Year is a meaningful affirmation of that approach and the team executing it.”

Public voting closes Friday, May 8, 2026. Members of the MedTech community are invited to support RIVANNA’s nomination at the official voting page: vote here.

The award nomination follows a year of measurable scaling for RIVANNA:

In October 2025, RIVANNA reported on being named a finalist in MedTech Innovator’s 2025 Early-Stage Grand Prize competition, selected from nearly 1,500 global applicants to represent the top 4% of medtech innovations worldwide.In December 2025, RIVANNA reported on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 510(k) clearance of its Accuro® 3S Needle Guide Kit consumables, building on existing Accuro 3S device clearance.In April 2026, RIVANNA reported on peer-reviewed findings, published in 2025 in the Journal of Emergency Medicine (DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2025.11.011), showing that the Accuro® XV musculoskeletal imaging system enables non-physician operators to acquire diagnostic-quality scans after just one hour of hands-on training.In May 2026, RIVANNA reported on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 510(k) clearance of the Accuro® XV Diagnostic Ultrasound System for musculoskeletal imaging, authorizing commercial use across hospital and clinic settings.The company’s clinical program now spans eight sites nationwide with more than 1,500 patients enrolled.

The 2026 MedTech World Awards | North America, powered by Blue Goat Cyber, will be presented Monday, May 11, 2026, at the inaugural North American Awards Gala at the Hilton West Palm Beach, marking the first time the MedTech World Awards have been hosted in the United States.

About the MedTech Scale-Up of the Year Award
Presented by MedTech World, the MedTech Scale-Up of the Year category recognizes growth-stage medical technology companies demonstrating strong commercial momentum, expanding partnerships, and accelerating real-world adoption. The award is one of 22 categories spanning innovation, clinical excellence, regulatory strategy, investment, and leadership across the global MedTech ecosystem.

About RIVANNA
RIVANNA® is a medical technology company developing clinical decision-support solutions powered by proprietary clinical datasets, AI models, and purpose-built imaging hardware. The company’s platform automates complex anatomical analysis at the point of care, enabling faster, more confident clinical decisions while reducing variability and expanding access to advanced capabilities. The first applications target significant market opportunities in regional anesthesia and fracture care. RIVANNA has built a proven FDA regulatory track record across its Accuro® platform, with device clearances for Accuro® 3S (spinal needle guidance) and Accuro® XV (musculoskeletal imaging), a portfolio of supporting cleared consumables, and AI software modules advancing through regulatory review. The company is backed by 100+ patents and validated through clinical partnerships with leading academic medical centers. RIVANNA is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, and operates an FDA-registered, ISO 13485:2016-certified manufacturing facility. Learn more at rivannamedical.com.

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D2L Launch Week Highlights Latest Product Releases

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Latest innovations are designed to save time, simplify workflows, and help drive better learning outcomes

TORONTO, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – D2L, a global leader in learning innovation, hosted its first-ever D2L Launch Week, a four-day virtual webinar series spotlighting the company’s latest product innovations across D2L Brightspace in 2026.

Throughout the week, D2L showcased a range of product releases through live demos and practical customer use cases, highlighting how institutions, school districts and organizations can help to drive engagement and improve learning outcomes. The featured updates include enhancements to D2L Lumi for idea generation, intervention suggestions, quiz creation and summarization; tools to strengthen parent and guardian outreach; and administrative capabilities designed to help large organizations delegate course and configuration management more effectively.

“We’re proud to showcase the ways D2L continues to innovate to help make learning more personalized, efficient, and scalable,” said Christian Pantel, Chief Product Officer at D2L. “From new D2L Lumi features to enhanced communication tools and more flexible distributed administration capabilities, these updates are designed to help our customers save time, improve usability, and deliver better learning experiences at scale.”

Enhancements to D2L Lumi

Among the new capabilities were several updates to D2L’s AI-native tool, D2L Lumi, designed to improve usability, transparency, and alignment across workflows, including:

D2L Lumi Ideas: Generates assignment and discussion ideas directly within Brightspace, making it easier to generate high quality content aligned to learning outcomes.D2L Lumi Insights: Gives educators access to learning intervention suggestions, designed to provide recommended next steps based on learner data.D2L Lumi Quiz: Helps educators generate questions from multiple course content topics and includes a more streamlined question-generation workflow.D2L Lumi Summary: Supports summarization from more content sources, including nested submodules, and can give educators the ability to preview and adjust source text before summarization.

Updates to Parent and Guardian Communications

D2L also introduced new parent and guardian communication enhancements to help K-12 educators strengthen engagement beyond the classroom. Teachers can now send bulk emails to all parents and guardians associated with students in their class. For individual student outreach, teachers can also email parents and guardians of a specific learner, making it easier to share timely updates on student progress and classroom activity.

Manage Distributed Administration at Scale

Distributed Administration gives organizations more flexibility to delegate administrative responsibilities across organization levels. With Distributed Administration, administrators can manage specific areas, enabling them to oversee courses while helping to reduce bottlenecks and free up time.

Learn more about the latest product releases showcased at D2L Launch Week.

About D2L   
D2L is transforming the way the world learns, helping learners achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with customers all over the world, D2L is on a mission to make learning more inspiring, engaging and human. Find out how D2L helps transform lives and delivers outstanding learning outcomes in K-12, higher education and businesses.

D2L Media Contact
PR@D2L.com
X: @D2L
© 2026 D2L Corporation.

The D2L family of companies includes D2L Inc., D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L Asia Pte Ltd, D2L India Pvt Ltd, D2L Brasil Soluções de Tecnologia para Educação Ltda and D2L Sistemas de Aprendizaje Innovadores, S. D2 R.L de C.V., and H5P Group AS.

All D2L and H5P marks are owned by the D2L group of companies. Please visit D2L.com/trademarks for a list of D2L marks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE D2L

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