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Grey Market Labs announces $8M Series A funding led by Capri Ventures to accelerate growth of its Replica Platform – First of its kind “Secure Environment as a Service”

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Replica enables Fortune 100 financial, business and healthcare institutions and Federal agencies such as the US Army and Defense Innovation Unit to securely engage in high risk cyber activities without compromising productivity.

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Grey Market Labs (dba Replica Cyber), a pioneering leader in cybersecurity solutions, proudly announces it has secured $8M in Series A funding led by Capri Ventures, with participation from Blu Ventures and AFG to accelerate adoption of its groundbreaking platform – Replica. This strategic investment will enable the company to advance its mission of delivering Secure Environments-as-a-Service, bringing unparalleled privacy and security in an increasingly vulnerable digital landscape. 

Grey Market Labs proudly announces it has secured $8M in Series A funding led by Capri Ventures.

With this round, Andy Brown, CEO of SandHill East, former CTO of UBS, and current board member of ZScaler and PureStorage, will be joining the Board of Directors as will Dennis Shaya, Partner at Capri Ventures. In addition, Don Duet, Former Head of Technology at Goldman Sachs, and Tim Estes, founder of Angel Kids AI and former CEO at Digital Reasoning, will be joining the advisory board, complementing an already strong team including: Christopher Caine (CEO – Mercator XXI), Gary Cubbage (fmr. EVP – Booz Allen Hamilton), Nick Donofrio (fmr. EVP Innovation – IBM), Todd Helfrich (VP Federal – Censys).

The Replica platform offers Secure Environments-as-a-Service, revolutionizing how organizations protect and enable high risk activities. This includes targeting Russian misinformation campaigns in Ukraine, safe testing of new tech with proprietary data, disrupting financial scams and fraud aimed at seniors, and identifying and mitigating insider threats within organizations, among other scenarios. By integrating patented technology, intelligence tradecraft, and Zero Trust architecture, Replica quickly creates realistic IT environments that encompass hardware, operating systems, applications, networks, and data layers. This innovative solution not only protects user and organizational privacy but also delivers the data, tools and workflows needed for users to be productive in their most sensitive work.

Kristopher Schroeder, CEO of Grey Market Labs, emphasized the significance of this funding round: “Replica is the culmination of over 20 years of experience in embedded tradecraft, intelligence operations, and cutting edge software. Our engineering team, with extensive backgrounds in offensive and defensive cyber warfare, has developed a product that is comprehensive with the protection and efficiency needed for today’s enterprises and their users.” Schroeder goes on to say, “This funding will allow Grey Marketing Labs to accelerate our vision to deliver even more impactful solutions for our customers.”

Capri Ventures, the lead investor in this funding round, expressed their excitement about partnering with Replica. “We are thrilled to support Grey Market Labs in their mission to redefine cybersecurity with the Replica platform,” said Dennis Shaya, Partner with Capri Ventures. “Their innovative approach and deep expertise position them as a frontrunner in the industry, especially financial services, and we believe this partnership will drive significant advancements in digital privacy and security.”

Available as both a SaaS product and a hosted service, Replica enables secure work even in a global ecosystem, while reducing burden on the IT organization. The platform’s flexible architecture supports rapid deployments (noted as some of the fastest in Financial Services), continuous updates, and seamless integration with existing enterprise services, including single-sign-on, proxies, and data governance. Additionally, Replica offers rich audit and reporting functionalities to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and provide the critical observability needed for leadership.

Replica has solved critical problems for major Banks, Health Systems, Global Consulting, and Governments with use cases like: Protected Research (deep/dark web, social, automated collects, OSINT), Isolating Acquired (M&A) tech and activities, Advanced Sandboxing for Malware/Unknown Files, Complex Training Environments, Enabling Fraud/Cyber Investigations, Secure DevOps with Data Controls, Intellectual Property Sharing and Protection, and more.

With this new round of funding, Replica is poised to expand its value to customers, enhance its offerings, and further solidify its position as a leader redefining how to protect and enable high-risk activities.

For more information about Replica, please visit ReplicaCyber.com.

About Grey Market Labs
Founded as Grey Market Labs® (dba Replica Cyber), a Certified B-Corp with the mission to protect life online. Our work protecting the United States from foreign intelligence evolved to the creation of Replica™, the world’s first Secure Environments-as-a-Service platform. This patented SaaS platform simplifies creation of comprehensive hybrid-computing systems, delivering privacy and security while giving control to business users and reducing the burden on IT by 99.73%. We have solved critical problems for major Banks, Health Systems, Global Consulting, and Governments with use cases like: Protected Research (deep/dark web, social, automated collects, OSINT), Isolating Acquired (M&A) tech and activities, Advanced Sandboxing for Malware/Unknown Files, Complex Training Environments, Enabling Fraud/Cyber Investigations, Secure DevOps with Data Controls, and more. For anyone that has tried to build complex, secure systems and platforms – Replica replaces this expensive work with the automation of secure environments.

About Capri Ventures
Capri Ventures is an early stage venture capital firm focused on Enterprise Technology.   The team is composed of former software executives and leaders from Fortune 500 enterprises, bringing significant resources early in a company’s lifecycle to help drive commercialization and market adoption.

About AFG Partners
AFG Partners <https://www.afgvc.com/> is an Asian-based VC fund investing in B2B fintech and enabling tech startups addressing the critical needs of financial institutions and corporates globally, particularly in Asia. A core part of the strategy is to invest and help companies in Europe and the US who are interested in expanding across Asia via our network of LPs and ecosystem partners. Previous investments of the principals include N26, Unit, Blockdaemon, Airbnb, Transferwise, Gocardless and Wefox amongst others.

About Blu Ventures
Blu Ventures, a venture capital firmed based in Washington, DC, provides strategic funding and expert guidance in Seed to Series A companies in cybersecurity, healthtech, and B2B software startups. Blu leverages the deep domain expertise of its partners—all former operators with extensive industry experience—to empower visionary entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.bluventureinvestors.com

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SOURCE Grey Market Labs

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PopTake joins Stamina Group’s media network through strategic partnership with View the VIBE

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Hosted by Hugo Filipe and Mikael Melo, the Canadian pop culture podcast enters a new chapter as “PopTake, powered by View the VIBE,” with ambitions to reach audiences across Canada and beyond.

TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2026 /CNW/ — Canadian pop culture podcast PopTake, hosted by Hugo Filipe and Mikael Melo, has officially joined Stamina Group’s media network through a strategic partnership with View the VIBE. The collaboration brings together two entertainment-focused platforms with a shared passion for culture, community and storytelling, with plans to expand PopTake’s reach nationally and explore international distribution opportunities.

Now operating as “PopTake, powered by View the VIBE.” Your hot takes on music, pop culture and life. The show will benefit from the publication’s established Canadian audience, editorial platform and industry/distribution relationships while maintaining the independent voice and creative chemistry that have become its signature.

The partnership also builds on Stamina Group’s experience bringing Canadian-produced content to international audiences. Through its globally distributed video podcast Gents Talk, which has secured placement on airline entertainment systems worldwide and through other transportation syndication partners, Stamina Group has established relationships it hopes to leverage to introduce PopTake to audiences beyond Canada.

“Building Stamina Group has always been about amplifying creative voices and connecting audiences through meaningful content,” says Steven Branco, Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Stamina Group Inc. and Editor-in-Chief, View the VIBE. “With PopTake’s focus on pop culture and View the VIBE’s roots in community, culture and entertainment, the partnership felt like a natural fit. Hugo and Mikael have built something special, and we’re excited to help take it further. Building on the international success of Gent’s Talk and our global distribution partnerships, we see an opportunity to bring PopTake to audiences across Canada and around the world.”

Two best friends, plenty of hot takes

Launched in April 2025, PopTake is a weekly entertainment podcast covering music, film, television, celebrity culture and life. Hosted by longtime friends Hugo Filipe and Mikael Melo, the show combines candid commentary, celebrity interviews and social-first content with the energy of a group chat.

Now in its second season, PopTake has built a growing presence on Canada’s entertainment circuit, covering major events including TIFF, the JUNO Awards, the Canadian Screen Awards and Osheaga. Its celebrity interviews have featured the likes of Zara Larsson, Katy Perry, Chloe Bailey, JADE, Perrie Edwards, FLO, Sofi Tukker, Patrick J. Adams, Eric McCormack, Lauren Ash, Simple Plan and Holly Humberstone, and more.

The show also features recognizable segments including Backtrack, where artists identify their songs played backwards; This or That, a rapid-fire celebrity interview format where artists must choose between their own songs; and HotTake or FlopTake, featuring the hosts’ weekly pop culture verdicts.

“PopTake started as two best friends who couldn’t stop talking about pop culture, so we hit record,” says Hugo Filipe, Co-Founder & Co-Host, PopTake. “Partnering with View the VIBE puts our takes in front of an audience that loves this stuff, as much as we do.”

“We strike the balance between professional and fanboy,” adds Mikael Melo, Co-Founder & Co-Host, PopTake . “Our podcast feels like your two internet besties gushing over your favourite artists, and every now and then, we get to interview them. Asking the questions fans actually want answered.”

Beyond the podcast, both hosts bring established entertainment and creative industry experience.

Hugo Filipe is a Toronto-based creative director, photographer and entrepreneur. He leads Mister Mister, a creative studio with clients including H&M, RBC, OVO and Campbell’s, and owns Nosso Studio, which operates two creative spaces in Toronto.

Mikael Melo is a Canadian Screen Award-winning producer, reporter and digital creator whose credits include ET Canada, Big Brother Canada and The Social. He has interviewed international stars including Katy Perry, Olivia Rodrigo and Florence Pugh, and collaborated with brands including Paramount+, Samsung, Sony Pictures and Universal Music Canada.

What’s next for PopTake?

Through the partnership, PopTake will continue producing its weekly podcast and signature social-first content, while exploring expanded editorial collaborations, new sponsors, celebrity interviews, event coverage, branded entertainment opportunities, in-person events and new distribution channels.

The addition of PopTake further strengthens Stamina Group’s growing portfolio of International media properties, which includes View the VIBE, WanderEater, Gent’s Post and the internationally distributed and acclaimed video podcast, Gent’s Talk.

NOTE TO EDITORS

High-resolution photos and more are available here, including portraits, hero imagery, BTS, logo files and more. Please credit PopTake/Stamina Group accordingly.

About PopTake

PopTake is a Canadian pop culture and entertainment podcast hosted by best friends Hugo Filipe and Mikael Melo. Every week, the pair deliver fresh perspectives and unfiltered hot takes on the biggest stories in music, film, TV and celebrity culture. Beyond the weekly episode, PopTake has built a reputation for social first interviews and red carpet coverage, from the JUNO Awards and the Canadian Screen Awards to TIFF and Osheaga, with signature segments like Backtrack, This or That and HotTake or FlopTake. PopTake brings the energy of a group chat to the biggest names in pop. PopTake is powered by View the VIBE, part of the Stamina Group media network.

For more, visit PopTake on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Instagram, TikTok and everywhere you stream your podcasts or PopTakePodcast.com.

About View the VIBE

Established in 2010, View the VIBE is a leading Canadian digital lifestyle and entertainment publication delivering fresh, engaging and culturally relevant content. Known for its fun, edgy and informative approach to storytelling, the platform covers food, hospitality, fashion, entertainment, pop culture and lifestyle through original editorial, video, social storytelling and live experiences. For over 15 years, View the VIBE has connected audiences with the people, places, trends and cultural conversations shaping Toronto, Canada and beyond. Proudly owned and operated by Stamina Group Inc., View the VIBE continues to deliver its signature perspective on culture, community and, of course, the best VIBES.

For more, visit ViewtheVIBE.com.

About Stamina Group Inc.

Stamina Group Inc. (STAMINA) is a privately owned Canadian media, communications and creative production company specializing in award-winning digital-first content, original storytelling and unique brand experiences. Founded and led by award-winning creative multihyphenate and on-air lifestyle expert Steven Branco, STAMINA owns, operates or partners with a growing network of Canadian media brands and platforms, including View the VIBE, WanderEater, Gent’s Post, the globally streamed video podcast Gent’s Talk, and PopTake. Through its creative production arm, STAMINA produces original editorial photography, video and branded content internationally, with work produced for and/or featured in leading global publications including Flaunt, FASHION, HELLO!, VULKAN, SWAGGER, GQ, The Perfect Man, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Architectural Digest, among others.

For more, visit HaveStamina.com.

SOURCE STAMINA Group Inc.

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Shure Named a Leader in the 2026 IDC MarketScape for AI-Enabled Smart Conference Room Hardware for Hybrid Meetings

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NILES, Ill., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shure today announced that it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide AI-Enabled Smart Conference Room Hardware for Hybrid Meetings 2026 Vendor Assessment (Doc #EUR154115926, October 2026).

Building on more than 100 years of audio expertise, Shure helps organizations equip and manage modern meeting spaces while delivering the high-quality speech capture that AI-powered transcription, speaker attribution and meeting summaries rely on.

“Shure’s position as a Leader in this IDC MarketScape reflects how far the company has expanded beyond its audio heritage,” said Gala Spasova, Senior Research Manager, IDC. “Shure has built a comprehensive workplace collaboration portfolio spanning audio, video, compute and cloud management, while maintaining a clear strength in the complex environments where consistent speech capture and intelligibility matter most are critical.”

Shure brings audio, video, compute and ShureCloud device management together in a portfolio that works across the collaboration platforms organizations already use and trust. Shure solutions support Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and Cisco Webex.

Shure Recognized for Strengths
The report cited the following strengths for Shure:

Shure solutions are well suited for challenging audio environments, including large, complex, and mission-critical deployments where consistent speech capture, scalable coverage, and intelligibility are critical to the meeting experience and downstream AI outcomes.

Real-time talker-positional data can trigger and enhance camera tracking in partner video systems, enabling organizations to improve speaker-focused video experiences while retaining flexibility across camera vendors.

Microsoft Teams and Zoom run directly on the IntelliMix Room Kits and Foundation System, which supply compute, audio processing, and touch panel together, and the Bar Pro runs Teams on the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform, with Shure’s own person-detection and speech-enhancement models on the device

“We believe Shure’s recognition as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape reflects the progress we’ve made in expanding our role in the hybrid workplace. Enterprise collaboration should be built as a platform, not a collection of individual meeting rooms,” said Sam Sabet, Executive VP and Chief Technology Officer at Shure. “At Shure, we’re building that platform with secure, manageable technology that can scale from an all-in-one collaboration bar to a multi-camera system in a large, complex room. Continuous innovation is part of that approach, with solutions designed to grow with our customers as their technology needs evolve. That gives IT a consistent foundation to scale while providing AI tools the high-quality inputs they need to do their job.”

When Organizations Should Consider Shure
According to the IDC MarketScape, organizations should consider Shure when:

You manage a large or complex estate with varied acoustic conditions, and audio quality is a decisive purchasing criterion. You want to maximize the value of meeting AI and recognize that transcription, speaker attribution, summarization, and AI-driven insights depend on the quality of the audio captured in the room.

You want system- and device-level life-cycle management and analytics from the conference room solution supplier, complementing the management capabilities available through your collaboration platform’s console.

Support Across the Lifecycle
“The investment doesn’t stop once the technology is installed,” Sabet added. “Customers need to know their systems will continue to perform and that the right support is there when they need it. With warranty coverage available for up to five years and a professional services team working alongside integrators, resellers and managed services providers, we support customers throughout the lifecycle of their collaboration environments.”

To learn more about Shure’s collaboration and conferencing solutions or request a product demonstration, visit Shure’s conferencing page.

About Shure
Shure (www.shure.com) has been helping people sound extraordinary for more than 100 years. Founded in 1925, we are a leading global manufacturer of audio and collaboration technology, known for our commitment to quality, performance, and durability. We make microphones, wireless microphones, conference room solutions, earphones and headphones, in-ear monitors, and more. 

From the biggest broadcast events and live performances, to critical business meetings and university lectures, to your home office or studio, you can always rely on Shure. 

Shure is headquartered just outside of Chicago in Niles, Illinois, in the United States. We have more than 30 locations around the world, and our products are sold in over 120 countries. 

About IDC MarketScape
IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and services suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shure-named-a-leader-in-the-2026-idc-marketscape-for-ai-enabled-smart-conference-room-hardware-for-hybrid-meetings-302919952.html

SOURCE Shure Inc.

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Big Tree Cloud Holdings Limited Announces Filing of Annual Report on Form 20-F for Fiscal Year 2026

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SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Big Tree Cloud Holdings Limited (“Big Tree Cloud” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DSY; DSYWW),  a capital platform focusing on industrial integration and strategic investments in the Chinese personal care industry and a provider of AI technology services, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026 (the “Annual Report”)  with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on October 26, 2026.

The Annual Report is available on Big Tree Cloud’s website at https://www.bigtreecloud.net  and  https://ir.bigtreeclouds.com,  as well  as the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Big Tree Cloud will provide a hard copy of the Annual Report, including its audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders upon request to the investor relations contact below.

About Big Tree Cloud

Founded in 2020, Big Tree Cloud is positioned as an international capital platform focused on industrial integration and strategic investment in China’s personal care industry. In 2026, the Company also expanded its business to include AI technology services. The Company is committed to empowering industries through capital operations and technology-driven solutions. To learn more about the Company, please visit its corporate website at https://www.bigtreecloud.net.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s ability to achieve its goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the growth of, and trends in, the markets in which the Company operates; its ability to successfully develop and expand its AI technology services business, attract and retain customers, satisfy their technical and operational requirements and capture market demand; its ability to maintain and enhance its brand and reputation; its reliance on its relationship with its customers and end-users; its customer concentration; its ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms; changes in laws and regulations affecting its business, including laws and regulations in China; general economic and business conditions globally and in China; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the Annual Report. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

SOURCE Big Tree Cloud Holdings Limited

Investor Relations Contact
Ting Yan
Phone: +86 15986815865
Email: yanting@bigtreeclouds.com 

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