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leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners Rebrands as LEAD; Expands Family of Funds and Introduces Strategic Advisory Arm

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Since its founding in 2017, LEAD has grown from a Berlin-based accelerator program into a premier global venture corporation with $155M in assets 

BERLIN and LAKE NONA, Fla., Aug. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LEAD, formerly known as leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners, today announced its new name and its expanded company structure, consisting of an institutional asset manager building a global family of funds and an advisory division working with organizations on their strategic innovation and investment initiatives.

This new positioning reflects LEAD’s growth and foothold in the marketplace, and reinforces its mission to enhance lives through sports and health technology. What began as an accelerator program founded in 2017 has now scaled into a premier global venture corporation with 70+ portfolio companies and $155 million in assets under management.

LEAD focuses on two pillars: investment and advisory, which are amplified by its global collective of renowned innovators, investors, athletes, and industry partners, among others.

“When we launched LEAD seven years ago, we were the first to not only see the investment potential in sports, but also recognize the continued convergence of sports and health. We were able to capitalize on these new opportunities, building a deep portfolio of the most innovative technologies that are defining the future of sports and health, and bringing more and more experts and innovators into the fold to create an incredibly powerful global network,” said Christoph Sonnen, co-founder of LEAD. “Our rebrand to LEAD better represents our vision, mission and desire to support entrepreneurs and organizations making an impact while building a world-class venture capital and advisory business at the forefront of sports and health technology.”

The company has expanded its family of funds to best serve founders and organizations operating at all stages across sports and health. LEAD invests globally and stage-agnostically through four investment vehicles:

LEAD ONE: As an evolution from our original accelerator program investment vehicle, LEAD ONE is a direct investment vehicle backing global pre-seed companies in sports and health technology; with financial backing and access to strategic venture partner organizations, including professional sports teams, player associations, sports federations, lifestyle brands, performance facilities, and health systems, including FC Cincinnati, Spartan Race and Exos, among others.Lake Nona Fund: A fund for seed-stage companies that have displayed product market fit and a management team capable of delivering scale.ADvantage: Launched in partnership with OurCrowd in 2018, this $50M fund is built to invest in Series A stage companies that display verified business metrics and are helmed by industry-leading operators.Locker Room: An invite-only fund for top-tier professional athletes and business leaders to invest in highly selective opportunities.

With its deep knowledge of the sports and health tech landscape and trends, access to dealflow and network of vetted startups, LEAD’s newly formalized strategic advisory practice serves as a consulting arm to organizations looking to develop and nurture their own innovation programs. What began as a one-time service for companies like adidas and the Orlando Magic, has since developed into a key offering of the business. In addition, LEAD acquired a majority stake in WhiteRock, a boutique advisory firm, to expand its portfolio of services by including M&A and sports business consulting. In totality, LEAD’s strategic advisory services include:

Advisory (powered by White Rock, a LEAD company): Expert guidance for end-to-end M&A advisory services and sports business consultingInnovation Intelligence: Unparalleled market intelligence and trend reporting, as well as tailored sourcing of product and technology solutionsVC as a Service: Full VC process management, including inbound deal flow vetting and analysis, corporate venture arm services and support in building internal venture capabilities.Equity Endorsements: Advise on investment participation opportunities and engagement models, including negotiation and management of equity-based endorsements for brands, athletes, and agents.

“LEAD has been a great innovation partner for the Orlando Magic and our affiliates. LEAD provides access to impressive, high-potential startups and their team helps keep a pulse on the most innovative trends and cutting-edge technology in the sports, health, and wellness space,” said Jay Riola, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Orlando Magic.

Key to LEAD’s strength is its vast strategic network of notable investors, partners, advisors and athletes – including Harry Kane, Justin Rose, the Orlando Magic, and many more – who are deeply committed to offering their time, insights and support to LEAD’s portfolio companies. These relationships empower its portfolio to unlock incredibly valuable testing opportunities with its target audiences, real-time market insights, and the ability to test, learn, iterate and scale products and services.

About LEAD:
LEAD is a global venture corporation dedicated to enhancing lives through sports and health tech. Our family of funds delivers for entrepreneurs at every stage with capital, expertise, and strategic connections. Our advisory division helps corporations, consulting firms, sports properties, healthcare organizations and others bring their most innovative initiatives to life. While we work across different venture stages, industries, and areas of the world, on ideas for sports fans, athletes, and health-conscious consumers, everything we do has one thing in common: we aim to enhance lives, one idea at a time. Visit www.lead.vc for more.

 

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SIGGRAPH 2026 Unites Global Computer Graphics Community in Los Angeles With Landmark Keynotes, Inaugural Games Summit, and AI Innovation

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Weeklong Conference Celebrates 53 Years of Advancing the State of the Art in Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques

LOS ANGELES, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 53rd annual SIGGRAPH conference, the world’s premier conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques, brought together thousands of artists, researchers, developers, and industry leaders from around the globe this week at the Los Angeles Convention Center. From an inspiring keynote by legendary Disney Imagineer Lanny Smoot and the debut of the Games Summit to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, neural rendering, Gaussian splatting, and immersive storytelling, SIGGRAPH 2026 reaffirmed its role as the global stage where research meets production and ideas shape the future of the field.

SIGGRAPH 2026 welcomed an international audience of more than 9,500 people from 69 countries, alongside a bustling exhibition floor where companies large and small showcased the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques, products, and services.

“SIGGRAPH 2026 showed what happens when the world’s technical and creative communities share one space. The lines between computer graphics, physics, and AI are blurring, and this week our attendees turned that convergence into new collaborations, research directions, and ways to tell stories,” said SIGGRAPH 2026 Conference Chair Chris Redmann. “From our first Games Summit to a keynote that reminded us invention is a team sport, this conference celebrated the breakthroughs of today while laying the groundwork for the future of our field.”

A highlight of the week came Monday, 20 July, when Disney Research Fellow and Walt Disney Imagineering inventor Lanny Smoot took the keynote stage with “Inventions, Innovations, and Imagination: Lanny Smoot’s Prolific Path”. Smoot, who holds 107 patents and in 2024 became only the second Disney employee after Walt Disney himself to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, traced a career spanning more than 45 years, from Bell Labs breakthroughs to beloved Disney Parks innovations including the HoloTile floor and the extendable lightsaber. His message that successful technical practitioners love to create and want to learn from others resonated with a packed house of attendees at the start of the conference week.

Keynote programming continued throughout the week with three standout sponsored sessions. NVIDIA research and engineering leaders Neil Ashton, Ming-Yu Liu, and Edward Liu explored the next era of graphics through neural rendering, world models, and AI-driven simulation. Bolt Graphics founder Darwesh Singh shared his vision for a GPU architecture built for real-time path tracing, and the research team behind Tripo AI examined how generative 3D is redefining how digital worlds are made.

AI ran through nearly every program at SIGGRAPH 2026, positioned not as a replacement for human creativity but as a creative partner. Technical Papers, Technical Workshops, Courses, and Birds of a Feather sessions connected researchers and production artists on generative workflows, differentiable physics, and world models. NVIDIA dedicated a full day to physical AI, presented 21 papers connecting 3D worlds and robot control, and drew industry-wide conversation with a technical deep dive into DLSS 5 neural rendering.

The inaugural Games Summit brought dedicated programming for game developers to SIGGRAPH. Sessions spanned motion sickness accessibility, destruction systems, performance capture pipelines, and cross-industry collaboration through OpenUSD. Robotics also took center stage across the conference, from research in simulation and motion control to the crowd-favorite Robo Dojo, where attendees guided robots through an immersive training ground on the exhibition floor.

In the Experience Hall, five interactive programs: Spatial Storytelling, the Immersive Pavilion, the Art Gallery, and Emerging Technologies, along with the in-person Hands-On Courses track of the Courses program, had attendees step inside the future of interaction and storytelling. Installations spanned AI-driven art, mixed reality sport, embodied robotics, and spatial narratives of wildfire and memory, while lively discussions on Gaussian splatting explored the future of photorealistic virtual reality.

The Computer Animation Festival, an Academy Award® Qualifying Festival for the “Best in Show” prize, celebrated global storytelling in the Electronic Theater, newly expanded in 2026 to include films longer than 10 minutes, opening the festival to a wider range of filmmakers and formats than ever before. Production Sessions took audiences behind the scenes of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” with Wētā FX and Lightstorm Entertainment, NASA’s “Visualizing the Moon for Artemis II”, Disney and Pixar Animation Studios’ “Hoppers”, and Industrial Light & Magic’s work on “The Mandalorian and Grogu”.

SIGGRAPH 2026 also celebrated this year’s contributors by honoring some “best of” from various programs, including:

Art Gallery
Best in Show — “Sternwerk
Alvaro Cassinelli, City University of Hong Kong, School of Creative Media; and Tobias Klein, City University of Hong Kong and School of Creative Media

Art Papers
Best Art Paper — “Resonance: Meditative Neural Rhythms as Collective Spatial Experience
Ruipeng Wang and Behnaz Farahi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Critical Matter Group, Media Lab; and Yuxiang Cheng and Zhiyan Xing, Harvard University and Critical Matter Group, Media Lab

Computer Animation Festival: Electronic Theater
Best in Show: “Apart
Pola Maneli, Social Popcorn Films (South Africa, United States)

Jury’s Choice — “18 Months
Paulo Garcia and Natalia Gouvea (United States)

Best Student Project — “Beyond Words
Antoine Barbannaud, Théo Merlet, Cyril Buisson, Damien Poncelet, Anthonin Haüy, Timothé Vergught, Mathis De Sauvecanne, Thémys Cheynel, Lilou Tiprez, Leandro Leijnen, and Romain Gueusset with Creative Seeds (France)

Audience Choice — “Saba
Liron Topaz and Lirit Rosenzweig-Topaz (United States)

Emerging Technologies
Best in Show — “EmerFlux: A Two-Layer Liquid Surface Display for Organic Pixel-Based Aesthetic Representation of Information
Kaito Shimizu and Toshitaka Amaoka, Meisei University

Audience Choice — “EmoMime: Augmenting Social Behavior and Self-Expression via Wearable Robotic Limbs
Hideki Shimobayashi, Masaharu Hirose, and Masahiko Inami, RCAST, The University of Tokyo; Tomoya Sasaki, Tokyo University of Science and RCAST, The University of Tokyo; and Arata Horie, RCAST, The University of Tokyo and commissure Inc.

Immersive Pavilion
Best in Show — “Cosmos Unseen: Black Holes
Marcus Moresby, Aditi Rajagopal, Bhaumik Patel, and Mark Lynch, Atlantic Studios

Real-Time Live!
Best in Show — “Create Interactive 3D Assets in Seconds!
Ying-Tian Liu, Yuan-Chen Guo, Yumeng Li, Yu-Lin Tsai, and Yan-Pei Cao, VAST; Hanxiao Wang, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and VAST; and Yi-Hua Huang, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and VAST

Audience Choice — “Dissectible Anatomy: Embodied Exploration for Education
Tim McGraw and Jack Myers, Purdue University

Technical Papers
Best Paper Awards
GimmBO: Interactive Generative Image Model Merging via Bayesian Optimization
Chenxi Liu and Selena Ling, University of Toronto; and Alec Jacobson, University of Toronto and Vector Institute

Mixwell: Sharp 2D Fluid Brushes for Progressive Physics-Based Mixing
Doug James, Stanford University; and Ethan James

Walk on Decomposed Subdomains: A Hybrid Monte Carlo-Deterministic Solver for Elliptic PDEs
Clément Jambon, Mohammad Sina Nabizadeh, and Mina Konaković Luković, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Robust Planar Maps for 3D Vectorization
Robert Fuchs, Carnegie Mellon University; and Keenan Crane, Carnegie Mellon University and Roblox

Inverse Rendering for Discrete X-Ray Computed Tomography
Lovro Nuic, Ziyi Zhang, and Wenzel Jakob, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne; Korbinian Sager, Carl Zeiss AG

Looking ahead, the global computer graphics community will reconvene for SIGGRAPH 2027, the 54th annual conference, taking place 8–12 August 2027 in Anaheim, California, led by SIGGRAPH 2027 Conference Chair and Walt Disney Imagineer Kristy Pron. For the latest conference news and updates, visit siggraph.org.

About ACM, ACM SIGGRAPH, and SIGGRAPH 2026
ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field’s challenges. ACM SIGGRAPH is a special interest group within ACM that serves as an interdisciplinary community for members in research, technology, and applications in computer graphics and interactive techniques. The SIGGRAPH conference is the world’s leading annual interdisciplinary educational experience showcasing the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH 2026, the 53rd annual conference hosted by ACM SIGGRAPH, will take place live 19–23 July at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

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SOURCE SIGGRAPH 2026

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Lyntris Inc. Announces Filing of Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering

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WASHINGTON, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lyntris Inc. (“Lyntris”), a defense technology company providing “sense-to-act” connectivity solutions for the modern, connected battlespace, has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to a proposed initial public offering of shares of its common stock. Certain of Lyntris’s existing stockholders identified in the registration statement are also expected to sell shares of common stock in the proposed offering. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size, price or other terms of the offering.

Evercore ISI, Citigroup and Guggenheim Securities are acting as lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. BofA Securities is also acting as a joint book-running manager for the proposed offering. Baird, Raymond James and William Blair are acting as bookrunners for the proposed offering. Lyntris has applied to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “LYNX”.

The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the registration statement and the preliminary prospectus included therein may be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may also be obtained from: Evercore ISI, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 55 East 52nd Street, 35th Floor, New York, New York 10055, by telephone: (888) 474-0200 or by email: ecm.prospectus@evercore.com; Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717 or by telephone: (800) 831-9146; and Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate, 330 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017 or by email: gsequityprospectusdelivery@guggenheimpartners.com.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Lyntris
Lyntris is a defense technology company delivering “sense-to-act” connectivity solutions for the modern, connected battlespace. Combining differentiated hardware, software and mission expertise, Lyntris helps customers to detect threats earlier, decide faster and act with precision in contested, multi-domain environments.

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TELUS transforms legacy telecommunications site into 195 new homes for Nanaimo

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Across Canada, demand for rental housing continues to outpace supply. TELUS Living is helping address this challenge by transforming existing TELUS properties into smart, sustainable homes in communities where new housing is needed most.

NANAIMO, BC, July 23, 2026 /CNW/ — TELUS Living today opened a new 195-home purpose-built rental community in downtown Nanaimo, transforming a former telecommunications property into smart, sustainable housing that helps address one of Canada’s most pressing challenges: increasing rental supply in growing communities. Located at 235 Wallace St, the multi-storey, mixed-use build features 195 purpose-built rental units, providing much-needed housing supply to downtown Nanaimo, while thoughtfully honouring the city’s unique coastal identity and heritage.

The Nanaimo development is part of TELUS’ long-term strategy to repurpose legacy telecommunications infrastructure into purpose-built rental housing as the company modernizes its network and completes the transition from copper to PureFibre technology. The Nanaimo community joins TELUS Living’s growing portfolio of developments that are transforming underutilized TELUS properties into housing across Canada.

“The Nanaimo development represents exactly what TELUS Living stands for by providing purpose-built rental housing tailored to the specific needs of the community it serves. We’ve designed 235 Wallace St with Nanaimo’s unique character in mind, offering a curated lifestyle that blends a climate-conscious, Zero Carbon Design approach with top-tier wellness and smart-tech amenities,” said Manasweeta Bhatia, Vice President of Corporate Real Estate at TELUS. “We shape every TELUS Living project by listening to the community, understanding its unique identity and design needs, and building accordingly. Its central downtown location and proximity to both Vancouver Island University and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital also position it as an ideal home for students, educators, and healthcare workers seeking modern, connected living.”

“More housing and good jobs are a win-win for downtown Nanaimo,” said Sheila Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo-Gabriola Island. “Adding to the approximately 1,500 affordable homes our B.C. government has completed and underway in Nanaimo, it’s great to see TELUS stepping up with 195 new units. It’s been great to see hundreds of construction and indirect jobs in town, and I can’t wait to see folks move into their new homes.”

“I’m thrilled to see a new rental option in downtown Nanaimo, and especially excited that this conversion was made with sustainability and active transportation in mind,” said George Anderson, MLA for Nanaimo-Lantzville. “Ensuring everyone can find homes they can afford in the communities they love requires creative approaches, and I hope to see more creativity like this in the future.”

“I’m delighted to celebrate the opening of TELUS Living Nanaimo, a landmark project that strengthens our downtown as a vibrant, inclusive place to live,” said Leonard Krog, Mayor of Nanaimo. “This partnership between the City of Nanaimo, our community, and TELUS demonstrates what’s possible when we work together toward shared goals. The addition of nearly 200 diverse housing options is exactly what our city needs, and we’re excited about the positive impact this will have on our community. TELUS’ commitment to our city and investment in our future will contribute to Nanaimo’s economic and social vitality.”

Situated within walking distance of downtown’s vibrant cafes, eclectic Old City Quarter, the iconic Harbourfront Walkway, and a short transit ride from Vancouver Island University and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, the development is architecturally designed to blend classic and contemporary exterior elements. Curated for modern living, the community offers an expansive suite of indoor and outdoor social amenities alongside street-level retail and public art contributions.

Project Highlights:

Smart-Enabled Living: Powered by the TELUS PureFibre network, the custom TELUS Living App provides keyless entry, smart climate control, leak detection, parcel notifications, visitor management, and amenity bookings.Social & Wellness Amenities: Features a rooftop deck with an outdoor kitchen, BBQs, and panoramic views, alongside a state-of-the-art fitness centre and resident lounge.Pet & Active Lifestyle Ready: Equipped with a dedicated children’s outdoor play area, outdoor bark park and pet care station, secure underground parking, bike storage and maintenance facilities.Premium Functional Interiors: Studio to three-bedroom layouts include private balconies, individual A/C with Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) for optimal air quality, Samsung SmartThings appliances, and in-suite laundry.Gold-Standard Sustainability: Sets a Vancouver Island benchmark aligned with Zero Carbon Design standards and Salmon-Safe development guidelines that actively protects local ecosystems.

This opening marks a significant milestone in TELUS Living’s mission to transform existing real estate holdings into purpose-built rentals that bridge the housing gap with smart, sustainable, and community-focused developments. As TELUS completes its transition from legacy copper to advanced fibre networks, the company is transforming its historic central offices–which once served as the backbone of B.C.’s phone system–into vibrant, smart, purpose-built rental communities. TELUS Living is breathing new life into these properties to help address Canada’s housing crisis. For more details on TELUS Living Nanaimo or to view available floor plans, please visit telusliving.com/nanaimo.

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a world-leading communications technology company operating in more than 45 countries and generating over $20 billion in annual revenue with more than 17 million customer connections through our advanced suite of broadband services for consumers, businesses and the public sector. We are committed to leveraging our technology to enable remarkable human outcomes. TELUS is passionate about putting our customers and communities first, leading the way globally in client service excellence and social capitalism. TELUS Health is enhancing approximately 170 million lives across 200 countries and territories through innovative preventive medicine and well-being technologies. TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods utilizes digital technologies and data insights to optimize the connection between producers and consumers. TELUS Digital specializes in digital customer experiences and future-focused digital transformations that deliver value for their global clients. Guided by our enduring ‘give where we live’ philosophy, TELUS continues to invest in initiatives that support education, health and community well-being. In 2023, we launched the TELUS Student Bursary, which strives to ensure that every young person in Canada who wants a postsecondary education has the opportunity to pursue one. To date, the program has distributed over $6 million in bursaries to 2,000 students and counting. Since 2000, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $1.85 billion in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs, including 2.5 million days of service–earning TELUS the distinction of the world’s most giving company.

For more information, visit telus.com.

For more information, please contact:
Brandi Rees
TELUS Public Relations
brandi.rees@telus.com 

SOURCE TELUS Communications Inc.

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