Connect with us

Technology

Propel celebrates 10 year anniversary by pioneering new AI-powered technology to help families navigate the safety net

Published

2 years ago

on

Over the last decade, Propel has put more than $500 million into the pockets of low-income Americans. Now with a rebranded app, it will build new technology to modernize the safety net, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Aug. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Propel, the leading consumer technology company focused on low-income Americans, is celebrating its 10th anniversary by introducing new technology to accelerate its vision: helping every American make it through the month with dignity and abundance. Among its new initiatives, Propel is building AI-powered tools to improve navigation of the safety net through a grant funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The daily act of navigating the safety net – i.e. government programs, such as SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), designed to provide support in a time of need – is cumbersome. Before Propel, the 41 million people in the U.S. who receive SNAP benefits on EBT cards typically checked their balances by calling a 1-800 number. Propel revolutionized this process by launching America’s first free, nationwide mobile app for checking EBT balances. Over the last 10 years, Propel has enabled 15 million people to check their EBT balances a remarkable 5.5 billion times.

Funded by a $3.5 million grant from the Gates Foundation, Propel is now prototyping and scaling new AI-powered technologies to continue modernizing the safety net. With its dedicated focus on low-income Americans who use the safety net, Propel has become the most widely used mobile app for this demographic, trusted by more than 5 million households each month. That makes Propel the ideal platform to provide answers to questions about public benefits–answers that were once buried in hundred-page PDFs are now accessible and intuitive through Propel’s data, reach, and AI.

In addition to building new AI-powered tools, Propel is also launching several new security features that make its app the most secure way to manage EBT benefits. In original research conducted by Propel, theft of SNAP benefits has become increasingly prominent, with 87% of EBT cardholders actively seeking ways to protect their benefits. Propel is the first in the market to offer suspicious transaction monitoring, which automatically scans and flags transactions that reflect an elevated risk of fraud. In select states, users will also be able to lock their cards and block out-of-state transactions.

“Protecting people from benefits theft requires a cross-sector collaborative approach. Propel is a trusted source for millions of EBT cardholders by providing additional tools and information to promote card security,” said Reggie Bicha, President & CEO of the American Public Human Services Association.

“Over its 10 years, Propel has been a clear example that business leaders can develop products for low-income Americans that support, not obstruct, people’s financial security,” said Ida Rademacher, Vice President of the Aspen Institute and Co-Executive Director of the Financial Security Program. “I look forward to many more years of Propel innovating on how to serve people’s financial security and its continued leadership in the field.”

Alongside these changes, Propel is renaming its flagship app from ‘Providers’ to ‘Propel’. Unifying its company and product names aims to increase clarity and transparency for both Propel’s millions of active users and its partners.

Propel was founded in August 2014 by Jimmy Chen, Ram Mehta, and Jeff Kaiser through Blue Ridge Labs @ Robin Hood Foundation, a nonprofit fellowship program that enables tech entrepreneurs to launch new poverty-fighting technology ventures. The program prioritizes individuals with lived experiences of poverty, ensuring that the solutions built are tailored to address real problems faced by the community.

About Propel

Propel builds modern, respectful, and effective technology that helps low-income Americans improve their financial lives. The free Propel app is used by over 5 million Americans across the country each month to manage their food stamp (SNAP) benefits and money. A Harvard study showed that using Propel helped stretch food stamps by an average of two days per month. Propel is a mission-driven for-profit company, with support from investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Nyca Partners, Kleiner Perkins, JPMorganChase, Kevin Durant, and Serena Williams. Propel has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and WIRED Magazine. To learn more, visit propel.app.

Propel measures its impact in a number of ways:

Over 5 million people use the Propel each app month. Over the history of the company, over 15 million people have used Propel’s products.Propel has helped its users put over $500 million back into their pockets – by helping people save money on everyday expenses, avoid fees, and receive cash grants and government benefits.Propel’s users have submitted 2.8 million job applications from roles they found through Propel.Propel’s users have deposited over $1.4 billion onto the Providers Card, a no-monthly-fee debit card built specifically for people who use the safety net.Prior to the Propel app, most people with EBT cards called a 1-800 number to check their balance. By using the Propel app instead, Propel’s users save about 30 seconds each time they check their balance. Propel’s 5 million users save a collective 923 years of time every year through the app. Saving time for low-income families is an underappreciated way to provide more slack and respect for families dealing with financial hardship.

CONTACT: press@joinpropel.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/propel-celebrates-10-year-anniversary-by-pioneering-new-ai-powered-technology-to-help-families-navigate-the-safety-net-302233105.html

SOURCE Propel

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Technology

Genedata Expands AI Discovery Workflows with NVIDIA BioNeMo Open Models, Including the New RFD4-Proteina Release

Published

18 minutes ago

on

October 22, 2026

By

Bringing next-generation binder design models into production discovery

BASEL, Switzerland, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Genedata, a Danaher company, and the leading provider of enterprise software solutions for biopharmaceutical R&D, today announced the addition of the new RFD4-Proteina binder design model into Genedata’s AI-enabled discovery workflows, following the model’s introduction at NVIDIA GTC Berlin. As an early ecosystem partner, Genedata is among the first companies to make RFD4-Proteina available within its production discovery workflows. By connecting AI-generated molecular designs, scientific data, and laboratory results, Genedata helps researchers transform AI predictions into continuous learning cycles that accelerate biologics discovery.

The workflow begins with scientists defining target characteristics and required properties using Genedata’s AI co-scientist. NVIDIA’s open protein design models then generate and evaluate candidate binders within Genedata. As candidates move into laboratory testing, results are captured and linked back to the original designs, helping scientists refine and rank the next round.

“Advances in AI are creating unprecedented opportunities for protein and antibody discovery, but unlocking their full value requires more than access to powerful models alone,” said Othmar Pfannes, Ph.D., President of Genedata. “Researchers need a way to connect molecular design, experimental execution, and scientific data into a continuous learning process. Genedata serves as the digital backbone that brings these elements together, helping scientists evaluate more candidates before testing, preserve the scientific context behind each outcome, and build knowledge from one discovery cycle to the next.”

While advances in generative AI are rapidly expanding what scientists can design, many organizations still struggle to operationalize these models within production scientific research workflows. Genedata provides the orchestration, governance, and scientific data foundation needed to deploy NVIDIA BioNeMo open models, including RFD4-Proteina, directly within the discovery workflows scientists use every day. Researchers can apply AI-generated designs within established processes while maintaining lineage, traceability, and scientific context across the discovery lifecycle.

Within Danaher’s autonomous laboratory initiative, these capabilities connect AI, automation, and scientific data in a closed-loop discovery framework where each experimental outcome informs the next design cycle, creating a continuous learn-and-improve process that advances science while keeping scientists in control.

About Genedata
Genedata, a Danaher company and the leading provider of enterprise software solutions for biopharma R&D, transforms biopharma data into intelligence. Our innovative solutions combine deep science, technology, and AI domain knowledge. Leading biopharma organizations and cutting-edge biotechs partner with Genedata to digitalize and automate complex data workflows. Our advanced analytics and embedded AI enable data-driven decisions. From early discovery through development to the clinic, Genedata solutions drive innovation and maximize ROI being trusted by customers worldwide for more than 25 years.

www.genedata.com
LinkedIn | YouTube

About Danaher
Danaher is a leading global life sciences and diagnostics innovator, committed to accelerating the power of science and technology to improve human health. Through our connected ecosystem of industry-leading businesses, we work side by side with customers to solve their most complex scientific and clinical challenges—helping move innovations from discovery to delivery faster for patients who depend on them. Powered by the Danaher Business System, our advanced science and technology and proven ability to innovate help enable faster, more accurate diagnoses and reduce the time, cost, and risk required to discover, develop, and deliver life-changing therapies. Through continuous improvement and operational excellence, our approximately 60,000 associates worldwide are focused on delivering lasting impact and improving quality of life around the world, while building a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow. Explore more at www.danaher.com.

Disclaimer

The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties related to contract cancellations, developing risks, competitive factors, uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, demand for products and services, development of markets for the Company’s products and services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

All product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/genedata-expands-ai-discovery-workflows-with-nvidia-bionemo-open-models-including-the-new-rfd4-proteina-release-302915726.html

SOURCE Genedata

Continue Reading

Technology

Bybit AI Empowers Users with Their Personal Financial Edge, Adding Personalization and Memory

Published

19 minutes ago

on

October 22, 2026

By

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the New Financial Platform trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, has announced new personalization and memory features for Bybit AI, its in-app intelligent conversational layer. Bybit AI now builds a profile from each user’s assets, positions, behavior and risk profile, connecting wealth, markets and trading across the Bybit ecosystem.

Launched in September, Bybit AI organically unifies Bybit’s core services within a single chat interface. The newly added features extend its capacity from responding to individual requests to maintaining a continuous understanding of the user, giving each user their personal financial edge.

Putting the user at the center, Bybit AI is evolving on three pillars:

Personalized: With permissions granted and limits set, Bybit AI analyzes actual account information, including financial behavior and risk profile alongside assets and positions, to generate outputs tailored to the individual.Connected: Bybit AI links Markets, Trading, Earn, Card and other Bybit products, drawing on the full picture of a user’s holdings and activity rather than a single product.Remembered: Users can proactively share their preferences with Bybit AI, which retains this context through long-term memory so that each conversation builds on the previous one.

The release also introduces Featured, a set of customized entry points for specific use cases. Each entry point offers predefined prompts, such as generating a wealth management plan based on a user’s assets and risk tolerance, and returns structured analysis with key data, clear insights and suggested next steps.

Bybit AI supports main account operations while giving users the option to deploy it within a dedicated Bybit AI sub-account. The AI-powered assistant is built on a security-first architecture. Outputs are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Instructions are executed in chats only after customer authorizations.

Bybit expects to introduce further updates to Bybit AI as it continues to build toward AI-native financial services, with conversational intelligence positioned as core infrastructure.

To explore Bybit AI and learn more about how it works, users may visit: Bybit AI  – Learn how to use Bybit through conversation.

#Bybit  / #NewFinancialPlatform 

About Bybit

Bybit is The New Financial Platform.

We believe every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth. That’s why we’re building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere to the world’s finance.

Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit makes global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.

Built for everyone. Powered by intelligence. Open to the world.

Learn more at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bybit-ai-empowers-users-with-their-personal-financial-edge-adding-personalization-and-memory-302916350.html

Continue Reading

Technology

Poq is now a Shopify Certified Technology Partner

Published

19 minutes ago

on

October 22, 2026

By

LONDON, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —  poq, the native mobile app platform for retail brands, today announced it has been recognised as a Shopify Certified Technology Partner. Shopify’s certification is reserved for app partners that meet Shopify’s standards for quality, security, performance and support. poq is now listed in the Shopify Technology Partner Directory and the Certified Technology Partner App Store Collection, making it easier for enterprise Shopify merchants to find and adopt a proven native app platform.

poq already powers native iOS and Android apps for joint customers including Ardene, Steve Madden UK, e.l.f. Beauty (globally), Horze (pan-European), Mamas & Papas (UK) and ECO. Modern Essentials (ANZ and UK). Across the poq platform, shoppers convert at 1.8 times the rate of mobile web, based on the median across 21 brands from January 2025 to January 2026.

“Certification from Shopify is independent validation that poq meets the high standard Shopify sets for its technology partners,” said Jay Johnston, CEO of poq. “Our customers use their apps to build loyalty and drive repeat purchases from their most valuable shoppers. This recognition means more Shopify merchants can launch a high-performing native app with confidence, on a platform already proven at scale across four continents.”

Results for Shopify Brands

European equestrian retailer Horze moved to Shopify and chose to stay with poq for its native app. “After choosing to continue working together, I can confidently say that this was absolutely the right decision. The level of motivation, ownership, and commitment the poq team demonstrated throughout the project was truly impressive,” said Dominik Schlag, CFO of Horze.

In the UK, Mamas & Papas uses its poq app to make shopping easier for busy parents. “Our poq app makes shopping with us quick and easy wherever they are, and drives loyalty and repeat purchases,” said Jo Molineux, Digital Director at Mamas & Papas.

About poq

poq is a leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that empowers retailers and brands to create and maintain engaging, high-performance native mobile apps. With a focus on driving customer engagement and revenue, poq’s platform enables seamless integration, powerful personalisation, and an enhanced shopping experience for businesses worldwide. Learn more at poqcommerce.com.

Media contact
Emma Williams, Marketing Lead
emma.williams@poqcommerce.com  

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/poq-is-now-a-shopify-certified-technology-partner-302915873.html

SOURCE Poq

Continue Reading

Trending