Technology

Flexpoint Ford Makes a Significant Minority Investment in Create Music Group to Fuel Strategic Growth

Published

2 years ago

June 25, 2024

CHICAGO and LOS ANGELES, June 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Create Music Group, a rapidly growing music and entertainment company, announced today a $165 million investment led by private equity investment firm Flexpoint Ford. Flexpoint seeks to partner with companies that provide differentiated financial solutions and services to growing industries and has significant experience in the music space. The firm’s investment is expected to support Create’s continued momentum and its efforts to further improve and augment the services it offers to its global client-base.

Founded in 2015 by Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Strauss, Chief Operating Officer, Alexandre Williams and Chief Business Development Officer, Wayne Hampton, Create Music Group is a dynamic, data-driven music company that leverages technology, an owned audience of more than 400 million fans, and a valuable catalog of IP, providing a full range of services to independent artists and labels, including music distribution, music publishing, owned marketing channels, content creation support, advertising and branding, and tailored financial solutions. Create’s proprietary software platform and full suite of professional services gives a rapidly expanding number of independent artists and labels access to major-label services at every stage of their growth. Create’s rapid growth has largely been self-funded until now and this is the first major investment the company has taken on.

“Our partnership with Flexpoint marks a significant milestone for our company and their expertise will be instrumental as we continue to scale our operations and find new ways to serve our client’s evolving needs,” commented Jonathan Strauss, CEO of Create Music Group. “Flexpoint’s investment will also support our ambitious acquisition strategy which will allow us to expand our market presence and create the scale to continue to provide unparalleled services to our clients and partners.”

“We believe Jonathan and his team have set a new standard for the industry, challenging traditional music companies to rethink their strategies,” said Mike Morris, Managing Director at Flexpoint Ford. “By acting as a media company that offers comprehensive support to artists, including distribution, marketing, financial solutions and audience engagement, Create Music Group has created a blueprint for the future of music.” Stephane Essama, Principal at Flexpoint Ford added, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the founders of Create and provide them with the capital that is needed to meet the enormous demand from their clients as the company continues to build a truly differentiated offering for artists and labels in the rapidly evolving music industry.”

Music industry veteran Charles Goldstuck also joined the funding round. The Raine Group acted as financial advisors to Create and Willkie Farr & Gallagher acted as legal counsel in connection with the transaction. Reed Smith acted as legal counsel to Flexpoint in connection with the transaction.

About Create Music Group
Established in 2015, Create Music Group is a rapidly growing music and entertainment company. The company operates as a record label, distribution company, and entertainment network which generates over 25 billion music streams each month on DSP’s. Named #2 on the Inc 5000 Fastest Growth Companies in America in 2020, the company has grown exponentially by leveraging its owned IP with its media and technology platform. The company works with superstar artists, major and independent record labels, and global media brands. It operates a number of companies including Label Engine, one of the largest independent music distribution platforms in the world, with over 75,000 artists and 5,000 label clients; and Flighthouse, a digital entertainment brand focused on Gen Z, which has more than 300 million followers across social media. Create Music Group is based in Hollywood, CA and has more than 400 employees worldwide.

For more information, visit: https://createmusicgroup.com/

About Flexpoint Ford
Flexpoint Ford is a private equity investment firm that has approximately $8.2 billion of regulatory assets under management and specializes in privately negotiated investments in the financial services and healthcare industries. Since the firm’s formation in 2005, Flexpoint Ford has completed investments across a broad range of investment sizes, structures, and asset classes. Flexpoint Ford has offices in Chicago, Illinois, and New York, New York.

For more information, visit: www.flexpointford.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flexpoint-ford-makes-a-significant-minority-investment-in-create-music-group-to-fuel-strategic-growth-302181691.html

SOURCE Create Music Group

Technology

iSOFT Contributes Intelligent Driving OS as AUTOSAR CAPI Global Code Baseline

Published

22 minutes ago

June 16, 2026

SHANGHAI, June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At the 17th AUTOSAR Open Conference (AOC) in Shanghai, iSOFT (iSOFT Infrastructure Software Co., Ltd.) contributed its self-developed intelligent driving operating system as the global code baseline for AUTOSAR’s Common Adaptive Platform Implementation (CAPI) – a notable milestone in the evolution of the global smart vehicle industry.

“This is a paradigm shift from ‘standard-first’ to ‘code-first,’ responding to new industrial demands of the intelligent connected era,” said Liu Hongqian, General Manager of iSOFT. “Open source enables collaboration but must meet automotive-grade safety and performance requirements. iSOFT was the first to open-source EasyXMen, and CAPI reinforces our commitment. As the first international code standard baseline from a Chinese enterprise, this is Chinese wisdom going global. CAPI lets global enterprises develop on one codebase, significantly reducing adaptation costs.”

Joachim Langenwalter, AUTOSAR spokesperson, underscored China’s lead: “China is the world’s largest automotive market at 30 million vehicles annually. Other countries are keeping a close eye on Chinese-developed technology. iSOFT leveraged ‘China speed’ to establish CAPI’s foundation, allowing specifications and code to evolve in lockstep with shortened feedback cycles. AUTOSAR transcends geopolitical boundaries; this unified codebase will be used worldwide.”

Patrick Will, Head of SW Product Marketing & Management at Infineon, noted the accelerating transformation: “The open-source shift is accelerating and automotive mindsets are changing. iSOFT and Infineon are aligned in a shared vision: to streamline software development processes. Our DRIVECORE platform integrates iSOFT middleware with Infineon software and hardware layers, enabling customers to kick off their projects swiftly without encountering licensing barriers. ‘China-for-China’ development is increasingly essential, yet global collaboration matters — walls make no sense.”

Yu Peng, XPENG Motors Technical Center GM, explained CAPI’s value: “It delivers three key benefits for OEMs: reduced redundant costs, enhanced supply chain security, and accelerated ecosystem collaboration. CAPI solves the structural tension where foundational software moves too slowly while upper layers iterate in weeks. It provides a ‘common foundation’ for chip vendors, software suppliers, and automakers to co-develop on the same baseline. China’s mass-production practices now feed back into global standards while global standards better serve China.”

With 25 million-plus units deployed across 300-plus vehicle models, iSOFT’s OS brings production-proven middleware to the global stage through CAPI’s open, collaborative framework for the software-defined vehicle era.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/isoft-contributes-intelligent-driving-os-as-autosar-capi-global-code-baseline-302801042.html

SOURCE iSOFT

Technology

METI-Supported Global South-Japan Tech Talent Internship Opens Applications for 2026 Program

Published

22 minutes ago

June 16, 2026

Program connects STEM students from the Global South with leading Japanese companies through on-site and online internships

TOKYO, June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Applications are now open for the Global South-Japan Tech Talent Internship (GS-JTI), a program sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), with Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support Co., Ltd., serving as the Program Secretariat. The program aims to connect talented students and recent graduates from the Global South with Japanese companies in advanced technology fields, creating opportunities for cross-border learning, skills development, and future career growth.

The GS-JTI program is designed for students and recent graduates in STEM fields, including IT, AI, and semiconductors, who are interested in gaining real-world experience with Japanese industry. Through the program, selected participants will have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, learn from industry mentors, and experience Japanese workplace culture.

In addition to practical work experience, the program offers various forms of participant support. These may include travel and accommodation support, visa application assistance, and 24/7 support during the internship period, in accordance with program conditions.

The program offers both on-site internships in Japan and online internship opportunities. On-site internships are scheduled for approximately 1.5 months between September 2026 and February 2027, while online internships are scheduled for approximately one month during the same period, subject to host company conditions.

Applicants must satisfy the program’s eligibility requirements. Eligible candidates include individuals who:

are majoring in STEM-related fields, including IT, AI, and semiconductors.are currently enrolled at a university or have graduated within the last three years.possess working proficiency in English.are citizens of countries listed on the OECD DAC List (excluding the People’s Republic of China); andreside outside Japan at the time of application.

Past program feedback indicates strong participant interest in future engagement with Japanese employers. According to program materials, 94% of previous interns expressed interest in working for Japanese companies after completing the internship.

The GS-JTI program seeks to contribute to skills development, cross-cultural exchange, and longer-term collaboration between Japan and future technology professionals from the Global South.

For additional information about the program, please visit:
** https://gs-jti.go.jp/foreign-talent/**

To register and apply, please visit:
** https://hub.techjapan.work/register**

Contact
Global South – Japan Tech Talent Internship (GS-JTI) Program Secretariat
(Contractor: Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support Co., Ltd.)
Email address: gs_hr_exchange_support@tohmatsu.co.jp

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/meti-supported-global-south-japan-tech-talent-internship-opens-applications-for-2026-program-302797841.html

SOURCE DELOITTE TOHMATSU VENTURE SUPPORT CO., LTD.

Technology

U.S. News Unveils 2026-2027 Best Global Universities Rankings

Published

22 minutes ago

June 16, 2026

Universities in more than 100 countries are evaluated in the newest edition.

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings and consumer advice, today published the 2026-2027 Best Global Universities rankings, which evaluate more than 2,250 schools on academic research and reputation.

The latest edition includes universities from more than 100 countries. The following countries have the most schools in the overall rankings:

China: 409United States: 275India: 123United Kingdom: 93Japan: 86

“For students seeking universities with strong academic excellence and global recognition, the Best Global Universities rankings offer an essential comparative resource,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News. “Our methodology focuses on a school’s research mission and scholarly impact, helping students identify institutions that are truly at the forefront of global knowledge creation.”

Of the 51 subject rankings, four will have more schools ranked this year, including: water resources; chemical engineering; energy and fuels; and clinical medicine.

Powered by data and metrics from the Web of Science Core Collection and InCites Benchmarking & Analytics provided by Clarivate, a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, the Best Global Universities methodology weighs factors that measure a university’s global and regional research reputation and academic research performance.

For the overall ranking, this includes bibliometric indicators such as publications, citations and international collaboration. Each of the 51 subject rankings has its own weighting based on academic research performance in that specific area.

2026-2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities
*See the full rankings here.

Overall Best Global Universities – Top 10

Harvard UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Stanford UniversityUniversity of OxfordUniversity of CambridgeTsinghua UniversityUniversity of California BerkeleyYale UniversityUniversity College LondonColumbia University

Africa – Top 3

University of Cape Town (South Africa)Cairo University (Egypt)University of Witwatersrand (South Africa)

Asia – Top 3

Tsinghua University (China)National University of Singapore (Singapore)Peking University (China)

Australia/New Zealand – Top 3

University of Melbourne (Australia)University of Sydney (Australia)University of New South Wales Sydney (Australia)

Europe – Top 3

University of Oxford (United Kingdom)University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)University College London (United Kingdom)

Latin America – Top 3

Universidade de Sao Paulo (Brazil)Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (Chile)University of Buenos Aires (Argentina)

The Best Global Universities rankings serve the broader U.S. News mission of providing trusted information and rankings – such as Best High Schools, Best Colleges and Best Online Programs – to empower all students in making informed choices about their education.

For more information on the Best Global Universities, visit X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram using #BestGlobal.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, insurance, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a leading global provider of transformative intelligence. We offer enriched data, insights & analytics, workflow solutions and expert services in the areas of Academia & Government, Intellectual Property and Life Sciences & Healthcare. For more information, please visit www.clarivate.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-news-unveils-2026-2027-best-global-universities-rankings-302800745.html

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.