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bit.bio Launches ioTracker Cells Range at SLAS 2025, Adding New Visualisation Functionality to Human iPSC-derived Cell Types

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Researchers can easily track and isolate bit.bio’s consistent, defined, and scalable human iPSC-derived cells for the first time, opening up new applications in neurodegenerative drug discovery.

ioTracker Cells, the new range within bit.bio’s ioCells portfolio, deliver added visualisation capabilities that enhance the portfolio of deterministically-programmed human iPSC-derived cells powered by opti-ox™.The first product in this range, GFP ioMicroglia, is derived from bit.bio’s industry-leading wild-type ioMicroglia and retains their consistent, defined, and highly functional properties. It is specifically designed to track and isolate cells in complex in vitro cultures and in vivo settings, enabling a deeper understanding of intercellular interactions in neurodegenerative diseases.Microglia are the primary responders to signals of brain injury or disease, and their activation and movement patterns are frequently studied in conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — bit.bio, the global leader in cell programming technology, today announces the launch of its ioTracker Cells range, starting with GFP ioMicroglia, a progressive tool designed to accelerate complex neurodegenerative disease research and drug discovery. This innovative new range represents a strategic expansion of bit.bio’s ioCells Toolkit, introducing advanced live-cell imaging assay capabilities to further enhance the functionality of its flagship products.

bit.bio will showcase its portfolio of human iPSC-derived cells at the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) conference, taking place from January 25-29, 2025, in San Diego, California. The bit.bio team will be at Booth #851, present multiple poster sessions and host a panel discussion with industry experts, highlighting real-world applications on how its cells are transforming drug discovery workflows.

“With ioTracker Cells, we are empowering researchers to unravel the complexities of the human brain,” said Jonathan Milner, CEO of bit.bio. “This new range, starting with GFP ioMicroglia, reflects our mission to deliver transformative tools for biomedical research and drug discovery. Our cells are accessible to scientists worldwide through global shipping, providing a comprehensive toolkit to accelerate discoveries that have the potential to transform the understanding and treatment of devastating neurological diseases.”

bit.bio’s ioCells are human iPSC-derived cells, manufactured using the company’s deterministic cell programming technology, opti-ox™. They are widely recognised as best-in-class for their unparalleled consistency, functionality, and scalability. The ioCells portfolio now features 46 products, including ioWild Type Cells, ioDisease Model Cells, ioCRISPR-Ready Cells, and the newly introduced ioTracker Cells.

“With GFP ioMicroglia, we’re simplifying cell visualisation in complex model systems,” said Mark Kotter, Founder of bit.bio. “We are committed to relentlessly innovating cellular tools that enable scientists to study human biology and disease. I look forward to learning how our customers will use our ioTracker cells to enable novel scientific breakthroughs.”

GFP ioMicroglia are engineered to constitutively express green fluorescent protein (GFP) in bit.bio’s well-established ioMicroglia Male wild type cells. These cells demonstrate key functionalities including phagocytosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. Assay-ready in just 10 days, GFP ioMicroglia are ideal for co-culture with other neural cell types, live-cell imaging assays to simplify assessment of microglia motility and morphology, and fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) workflows.

“bit.bio’s new ioTracker Cells range represents a valuable addition to our neuroscience toolkit,” said Farah Patell-Socha, Vice President of Products at bit.bio. “These cells offer researchers a more refined approach to studying neuroinflammation, neurogenesis, and neurodegenerative processes. By enabling precise tracking and isolation in complex in vitro cultures, they facilitate a deeper understanding of intercellular interactions in disease. Combined with our CRISPR-Ready cells, disease models, and genetically-matched controls, these tools provide a comprehensive foundation for advancing neurodegenerative disease research.”

For more information or to purchase bit.bio’s GFP ioMicroglia, please visit our ioCells Product catalogue.

About bit.bio

bit.bio designs and manufactures human cells to advance drug discovery and biomedical research enabling transformative treatments in human health. Using our proprietary deterministic cell programming technology, opti-ox, our aim is to convert any induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into any desired human cell type in a single step. Using our AI-powered discovery platform, we are working towards identifying unique combinations of transcription factors that can program any desired cell type with exceptional purity and consistency at scale, with products ready to ship globally. To date, bit.bio’s ioCells portfolio features eight differentiated cell types and 38 derivative products including ioWild Type Cells, ioDisease Model Cells, ioTracker Cells and ioCRISPR-Ready Cells.

Since spinning out from the University of Cambridge and launching in 2016, we have raised approximately $225m from leading investors, including Arch Venture, Blueyard Capital, Charles River Laboratories, Foresite Capital, M&G, Milky Way, National Resilience, and Tencent.

For more information, please visit: www.bit.bio
For information on bit.bio’s trademarks, visit www.bit.bio/trademarks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitbioltd/

Media Contact:

Chris Hempel
Spark Public Relations
chris.hempel@sparkpr.com

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SOURCE bit.bio

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CHAI AI, Backed by CoreWeave and AMD, Hits $80M ARR with talks of $2.4B Valuation

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PALO ALTO, Calif., April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Following a pivotal 2025 investment from CoreWeave and AMD, CHAI AI has maintained an unstoppable growth trajectory, surpassing $80 million ARR at the close of Q1 2026, propelling the company to an estimated $2.4 billion valuation.

“Millions of people use our social AI platform every day, and our continued growth is a direct reflection of our incredible talent,” said William Beauchamp, founder of CHAI AI. “I moved the company from the UK to Palo Alto in 2022 because it is where I can find talented engineers. Our growth is driven by fast iteration cycles and the hard work of the engineers.”

What is the mission of CHAI AI? People want to create their own AI and share it with others, and they want to discover and interact with AI built by people they follow. Just as social media platforms emerged when video creation and consumption became ubiquitous, social AI platforms are now emerging to meet an equivalent wave of consumer demand for generative AI creation, sharing, and interaction.

What is the growth rate and traction? In the last three consecutive years, CHAI AI has sustained a 3x growth rate with ARR crossing $80 million by the end of Q1 2026 and a projection to surpass $200 million.

What is the valuation of CHAI AI? CHAI AI is estimated to have a valuation of $2.4 billion as of Q1 2026, based on $80 million in ARR and its sustained growth rate.

Who are the major investors in CHAI AI? AMD and CoreWeave are the primary, strategic investors in CHAI AI, bringing its total investment to date to over $55 million.

What is the culture like at CHAI AI? Our fast-growing company is supported by a talented engineering team that thrives on fast iteration cycles and takes on the most challenging problems in the field. CHAI AI operates with a high-bar, high-reward culture where engineers own entire product segments end-to-end, from prototyping to production.

What is the compensation? CHAI AI competes with top-paying companies such as Jane Street, OpenAI, Meta, and Citadel. We pay 100% cash salaries and are known for generous compensation offers, with the option to trade a portion of cash for stock options. The founding team’s background is in quantitative trading, and they have maintained a compensation philosophy consistent with that culture.

How do promotions and performance reviews work? Performance is reviewed on a daily basis, and engineers are expected to work hard and drive impact. At the beginning of each year, there is a performance-based salary increase.

What is the management structure? The structure is flat, with a team of 15 to 20 engineers.

What are the typical working hours? Engineers at CHAI AI typically work from 9 AM to 5 PM during weekdays, as well as Saturday morning.

Is there vacation or PTO? CHAI AI does not have a set number of vacation days on the calendar, but we respect that employees need time to recharge. In practice, most engineers take around 20 days off per year.

Is the role fully in-person in Palo Alto, hybrid, or remote-friendly? All CHAI employees are expected to work in person in Palo Alto. As a startup that moves fast, we want to ensure the team stays in sync.

What’s the onboarding experience like for new engineers? New hires follow a structured 3-month onboarding plan. Each new hire is paired with an experienced hire and ramped up quickly. You will be assigned high-impact tasks from day one, with clear evaluation metrics and direct mentorship from peers.

Press Contact:
CHAI AI Press
+1 (626) 594-8966

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SOURCE Chai AI

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Greenberg Traurig Shareholder Lisa M. Lanham to Speak at MBA Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference

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MIAMI, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lisa M. Lanham, a shareholder in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A.‘s Financial Regulatory & Compliance Practice, will speak at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference, taking place May 4-7 at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami.

Lanham will participate in the session titled “Emerging Issues Track: The Risk Behind the Race — Employee Mobility, Data, and Licensing,” scheduled for 3:30-4:45 p.m. Monday, May 4. The panel will examine how competitive hiring practices, proprietary data use, and evolving multistate licensing frameworks are creating heightened legal and regulatory risks for independent banks. Panelists will discuss recent litigation trends, data protection considerations, and operational practices that can expose institutions to increased scrutiny.

Based in the firm’s Miami office, Lanham’s practice focuses on consumer financial services regulatory compliance and licensing. She regularly advises mortgage lenders, servicers, fintech companies, and financial institutions on navigating complex federal and state regulatory regimes, workforce mobility issues, and compliance risk management.

The MBA Legal Issues & Regulatory Compliance Conference is a leading industry forum bringing together legal, compliance, and business professionals to address emerging regulatory challenges facing the mortgage banking industry.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has approximately 3,100 lawyers across 51 locations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm’s broad geographic and practice range enables the delivery of innovative and strategic legal services across borders and industries. Recognized as a 2025 BTI “Best of the Best Recommended Law Firm” by general counsel for trust and relationship management, Greenberg Traurig is consistently ranked among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100, NLJ 500, and Law360 400. Greenberg Traurig is also known for its philanthropic giving, culture, innovation, and pro bono work. Web: www.gtlaw.com.

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SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City Out Now on Meta Quest, Pico, and Steam VR

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Award-winning Cortopia Studios launches the first-ever Turtles VR game

STOCKHOLM, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been everywhere from New York City to Dimension X, but with the launch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City, Beyond Frames Entertainment and Cortopia Studios take the iconic heroes into an all-new reality for the very first time: virtual reality.

Watch the full release trailer here: https://youtu.be/TK2PFmvvVf0

Available now on Meta Quest, Steam VR, and Pico for $24.99, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City is a story-based action adventure game that can be enjoyed single-player, or with friends in optional co-operative multiplayer, allowing players to join together and push against the forces of The Foot.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City takes players to a New York City where the Shredder has been defeated and, in the void left behind, warring factions are vying for total control – from Karai, the leader of the Japanese branch of The Foot Clan, to Mashima, a mystic determined to resurrect the ruthless chaos and power that he believes their fallen leader stood for. 

Players will explore the neighborhoods you’ve sworn to protect, square off against classic foes, and chow down on pizza – just like a real Turtle. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City, players are in full control of their play style and experience, engaging however they feel their favorite Turtle would – from stealthy attacks to outright berserker action. 

In addition to the base game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City is available with a Digital Deluxe Edition upgrade for $4.99, featuring four alternate skins for each Turtle (Mirage, Nostalgia, Owari Masks and Red Masks), alongside an in-game digital art book and an in-game browsable soundtrack.

To learn more, follow Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City on Discord, X, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

PRESS KIT

Press kit for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City can be found here: https://bit.ly/3GMgdqP

CONTACT:

Press Contact: Jim Squires, press@beyondframes.com
Beyond Frames Publishing: Maeva Sponbergs, Head of Publishing, hello@beyondframes.com, +46 8 50235808

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/beyond-frames/r/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles–empire-city-out-now-on-meta-quest–pico–and-steam-vr,c4342105

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SOURCE Beyond Frames

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