Connect with us

Technology

HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League: Counter-Strike 2 Tournament Champions Secure Place in Esports World Cup

Published

on

SHANGHAI, Feb. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s premier multi-title esports tournament hosted by Asia’s leading esports company Hero Esports, has announced that champions of the ACL Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) Tournament will secure a spot at the Esports World Cup.

ACL CS2 Tournament is the only Tier 1 event of CS2 within the Asia region and participated in the Valve Regional Standings. The total prize pool of the event amounts to $300,000, of which the champion will take home $100,000. The ACL CS2 will be an all-offline event, with the Grand Finals being hosted in Shanghai.

In addition to CS2, the ACL recently announced that the champion of the ACL Honor of Kings Tournament will gain direct entry to the Esports World Cup. This follows the hugely successful 2024 KPL Grand Finals, which was co-organized by Hero Esports and Tencent’s TiMi Studio Group and had a total prize pool of $9.8 million.

The Esports World Cup stands as the world’s largest esports competition, boasting the largest prize pool in esports history which exceeds $60 million. Direct entry to the EWC serves as a significant motivation for all the competing teams in the ACL and is testament to the continued collaboration between the ACL, Hero Esports and the Esports World Cup Foundation.

Jonny Wang, CEO of the Asian Champions League, said: “We are very excited about the increasingly close relationship between the ACL and Esports World Cup, which is testament to the ACL’s ability to provide a platform for some of the world’s best esports teams based in Asia and enable them to excel on the global stage. We look forward to working with the Hero Esports team to organize our upcoming tournaments, as we continue to progress our shared ambition to grow both the Asian and international esports ecosystems.”

Danny Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Esports, said: “Hero Esports created the Asian Champions League to bridge the gap between international tournaments and regional leagues, providing a clearer pathway for talented teams to compete on the global stage. The ACL’s continued collaboration with the Esports World Cup is an example of this vision becoming a reality, and it also represents Hero Esports’ commitment to shaping and empowering esports globally.”

The ACL CS2 Tournament is structured into four distinct stages: Open Qualifiers (China), Closed Qualifiers (Asia), Playoffs and Grand Finals.

The Open Qualifiers (China) are scheduled to run from February 15 to April 13, featuring the Rookie Stage and the Rookie Advanced Stage. This inclusive phase welcomes teams from all backgrounds in China to register and participate, bridging the gap between professional and aspiring players.

Following this, the top four teams from the Open Qualifiers (China) will advance to the Closed Qualifiers (Asia) and compete with the direct invite teams ranked from 5th to 16th in VRS in Asia. The Closed Qualifiers (Asia) will take place from April 17 to April 27, following a format that includes a mix of BO1 and BO3 double elimination matches.

The Playoffs will be held from May 6 to 11, where the top four teams from the Closed Qualifiers (Asia) will meet the direct invite teams ranked from 1st to 4th in VRS from the Asia Region. The Playoffs will follow a format of BO3 double elimination.

The Grand Finals are scheduled on May 16. The two winners from each bracket in the Playoffs will compete for the championship, while the second-place teams from each bracket will compete for third place.

About Hero Esports

Founded in 2016, Hero Esports is the biggest esports company in Asia, producing more than 7,000 matches every year that captivate an online fan base of over 800 million. With a global presence encompassing 12 office locations and eight top-tier esports arenas, Hero Esports offers a comprehensive suite of esports services, including tournament organization, marketing solutions, community development, and more. As a private company, Hero Esports counts Savvy Games Group and Tencent, among others, as investors, with Kuaishou and Huya as strategic partners.

Headquartered in Shanghai and employing more than 1,100 employees, Hero Esports is a fully integrated operator of esports tournaments and creator of esports content with global reach. The company has helped produce many prestigious tournaments including the Olympic Esports Week, the Esports World Cup as well as the esports series featured at both the Jakarta Asian Games 2018 and the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023. Hero Esports also worked with the world’s top-tier game publishers such as Tencent and Krafton in organizing popular esports leagues such as the Honor of Kings’ KPL series and PUBG’s PGC series, among many others. In 2024, Hero Esports launched Esports Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s premier international, multi-title esports tournament. Hero Esports is a member of the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC).

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hero-esports-asian-champions-league-counter-strike-2-tournament-champions-secure-place-in-esports-world-cup-302376980.html

SOURCE Hero Esports

Continue Reading

Technology

Notari launches Founder Edition N1 Pro AI Notetaker, an AI notetaking system that makes the transcript a starting point for deeper thinking

Published

on

By

Founded by Keychron Co-Founder Paul Tan, Notari pairs a sleek recording device with an AI workspace that helps users question, develop and act on what they capture

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Today, Notari launched direct-to-consumer sales for N1 Pro AI Notetaker, an AI notetaking system designed to function as a thinking partner for conversations, meetings and personal ideas. The system consists of two components: a credit-card-sized recorder and an AI-powered app. The Founder Edition is available through an early-access program at notarilabs.com for a limited-time introductory price of $129.99 USD (MSRP $189 USD) in the United States and U.S. territories, with additional countries planned.

Our goal at Notari is to bring transcription capabilities to more people and organizations, giving them an easier, more customizable way to connect real-world information with their own AI.

At just 0.17″ (4.4 mm) thick, the N1 Pro AI Notetaker recorder is a device that attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone and captures conversations, meetings, lectures and thoughts at the press of a button. Recordings are stored locally, and a built-in contact microphone can capture the other side of phone calls without requiring speaker mode. The Notari AI Notetaker software turns recordings into searchable transcripts and structured summaries, then provides an AI workspace where users can question the material, develop ideas and decide what comes next.

How N1 Pro AI Notetaker extends beyond the transcript

While many AI notetakers can reduce the work involved in recording, transcribing and summarizing conversations, N1 Pro AI Notetaker is designed to help users continue working with that information.

Key capabilities of the system include:

Record locally before deciding what to process: The recorder includes 32GB of local storage and does not require an internet connection while recording. Users always choose which files to transfer for transcription and AI processing in the app.Capture virtual meetings without a bot: Desktop recording captures system audio and in-person sound without requiring a bot to join the call.Move from recording to structured information: The app distinguishes between different speakers and turns recordings into searchable transcripts and structured summaries that users can correct and edit.Ask questions and develop ideas: Users can query captured material to retrieve details, identify unresolved issues and examine alternative perspectives, then use AI to develop what they learn further.Choose between multiple AI models: Users can select ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok through integrations managed by Notari.Option to use the software without the hardware: Notari AI Notetaker can be used independently of the recording device, with recording handled in-app.

“Our goal at Notari is to bring transcription capabilities to more people and organizations, giving them an easier, more customizable way to connect real-world information with their own AI,” said Paul Tan, Founder and CEO of Notari, Co-Founder and former COO of Keychron. “That connection gives AI the context it needs to better support us.”

A personal knowledge system built around user-controlled information

The recording device measures 3.58″ × 2.32″ × 0.17″ and weighs just 54.8g. Four MEMS microphones capture ambient audio, with best recording performance within five metres and recording at distances of up to nine metres under suitable indoor conditions. A 660 mAh battery supports up to 40 hours of continuous recording and up to 60 days of standby time, with approximately two hours required for USB-C charging. Available in Space Black and Silver, the device includes a magnetic adapter ring, USB-C charging cable and one-year limited warranty. A built-in screen indicates when recording is active.

Notari AI Notetaker is available via iOS mobile app (Android coming in November) and web browser, with dedicated desktop apps planned.

The Founder Edition N1 Pro AI Notetaker recorder includes unlimited free standard-model transcription for life on recordings made directly with the device, one complimentary month of the Pro Plan, and access to the Founder Community, where early customers can suggest ideas, provide feedback and vote on future features. With its core features in place at launch, N1 Pro AI Notetaker will continue to evolve through additional features and improvements planned for upcoming releases.

Free and paid subscription plans are also available, including the Plus Plan ($14.99 USD per month) with 2,000 credits for advanced transcription models, and the Pro Plan ($29.99 USD per month), which includes unlimited standard-model transcription and 4,000 advanced-model credits. Files selected for transcription and AI processing are uploaded to Notari’s AWS cloud infrastructure, where data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Users can delete individual recordings and other content from Notari’s servers, and user data is not used to train AI models.

“Too many products are built around restrictions,” continued Tan. “We created Notari to give users the most freedom in how they record, transcribe and work with AI so they can spend less time navigating limitations and more time making better decisions and doing better work.”

Media wishing to interview Notari personnel should contact PR agent Borjana Slipicevic at Proper Propaganda.

About Notari

Notari builds connected hardware and software tools that help people capture information, think clearly and develop ideas over time. Founded by Paul Tan, Co-Founder and former COO of Keychron, where he led product design and innovation, Notari brings together a multidisciplinary team of engineers, designers, writers, developers and thinkers. With backgrounds spanning product design, filmmaking and software development, the team draws on its own experience creating and building products to develop the next generation of notetaking and document tools for capturing information, developing ideas and supporting creative work.

Media Contact

Borjana Slipicevic, Proper Propaganda, 1 7788582595, borjana@properpropaganda.net, properpropaganda.net

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/notari-launches-founder-edition-n1-pro-ai-notetaker-an-ai-notetaking-system-that-makes-the-transcript-a-starting-point-for-deeper-thinking-302920770.html

SOURCE Proper Propaganda

Continue Reading

Technology

Regional Center of Orange County Honors Business Champions for Employees with Developmental Disabilities

Published

on

By

SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) has honored the following seven Orange County businesses as champions for employees with developmental disabilities.

Discovery Cube (Santa Ana)
Grocery Outlet (Anaheim and Long Beach)
Lamppost Pizza (Orange)
Oakley (Irvine)
Heroes Hall – OC Fairgrounds & Event Center (Costa Mesa)
Provider Contract Food Services (Fullerton)
Walgreens (Anaheim)

Decades ago, few people with developmental disabilities were able to get paying work. Many who had jobs were employed in what were sometimes called “sheltered workshops.” These types of workplace settings (which are no longer eligible for Regional Center funding) included only adults with disabilities and were isolated from the broader community.

“Now we take for granted that people with disabilities can and should be able to work alongside coworkers without disabilities,” said RCOC Executive Director Larry Landauer. “But individuals we serve continue to face challenges, so it’s important for us to recognize role-model employers like our honorees who know the benefits of including people with developmental disabilities in their workforces.”

Several years ago, the RCOC Board of Directors adopted an Employment First policy that makes competitive integrated employment the first option for the working-age adults RCOC serves. This aligns with the state policy that also favors inclusive employment. Toward that end, RCOC and its network of service providers partner with businesses of all sizes, community organizations and government agencies throughout Orange County to identify job opportunities and then match individuals’ skills, talents, abilities and interests with the right job and the right employer.

The businesses honored at this event received certificates from the offices of Assemblymember Diane Dixon, Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris and Assemblymember Avelino Valencia.

For more information on the advantages of hiring adults with disabilities, visit RCOC’s Employment First and RCOC’s Employment for People with Developmental Disabilities web pages.

About Regional Center of Orange County: Regional Center of Orange County is the private, nonprofit organization contracted by the State of California to coordinate lifelong services and supports for more than 29,000 Orange County residents with developmental disabilities and their families. The Regional Center is the first stop for those seeking to obtain local services and supports to help them live safely and with dignity in the community. Developmental disabilities include intellectual disabilities, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Learn more at www.rcocdd.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/regional-center-of-orange-county-honors-business-champions-for-employees-with-developmental-disabilities-302921098.html

SOURCE Regional Center of Orange County

Continue Reading

Technology

Dotwork Acquires Arcario Group to Accelerate Adoption of Its AI-Native Enterprise Operating Platform

Published

on

By

Acquisition adds forward-deployed expertise to connect strategy, capital, AI execution and measurable business outcomes.

GEORGETOWN, Texas, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dotwork, an AI-native enterprise operating platform, today announced its acquisition of Arcario Group, a consultancy specializing in enterprise operating models and transformation. The transaction closed October 23. Financial terms were not disclosed.

AI is accelerating execution, but most enterprises still manage strategy, funding and work across disconnected systems. Leaders struggle to see what investments actually cost, whether they produce results and where resources should move next.

Dotwork is building the enterprise steering layer for the AI era. Its graph-based Enterprise Operating Model connects existing systems rather than replacing them, linking strategy, capital, business capabilities, work, decisions and outcomes. Unlike tools centered on projects or workflows, Dotwork focuses on the decisions that drive performance, connecting plans to actual spending, preserving decision context and giving leaders and AI agents a shared understanding of the enterprise.

Arcario brings the expertise to activate that model. Its Connected Enterprise approach aligns people, processes, data and technology, while forward-deployed enterprise value architects work alongside customers to solve targeted problems and measure results.

Together, the companies help enterprises:

Design: Identify gaps between strategic priorities, investments, business capabilities and execution.Activate: Connect existing financial and operational systems, then deploy targeted workflows and AI capabilities without replacing core technology.Steer: Track decisions, actual costs and outcomes, then adapt investments and execution as priorities change.

“The enterprise software industry has spent decades helping companies manage work, automate processes and analyze data. But who’s helping the CEO, COO, CFO and CIO actually steer the business?” said Steve Elliott, founder and CEO of Dotwork. “AI makes deciding where to invest and how to measure results more important than ever. We’re building Dotwork around those decisions—not another workflow or dashboard. Arcario brings the expertise to make that operating model real.”

Rather than requiring lengthy transformation programs or bespoke platforms, the combined teams can start with a high-value business problem, establish a reusable operating model and expand as results are demonstrated. Lessons from deployments will also inform repeatable Dotwork platform capabilities.

“Connecting enterprise strategy to what teams actually do has always been the hard part,” said Konstantin Popov, founder and CEO of Arcario Group. “With Dotwork, we can move beyond recommendations to connect decisions, investments and execution—and show customers the value they’re creating.”

Arcario’s leadership previously built an enterprise operating-model practice acquired by Cprime, where it scaled to support major enterprise transformations. Arcario becomes the foundation of Dotwork’s services and forward-deployed engineering organization. Existing client engagements continue with their current teams. Konstantin joins Dotwork as Head of Transformation Services.

Learn more at dotwork.com/post/welcome-arcario.

About Dotwork

Dotwork is an AI-native enterprise operating platform connecting strategy, capital, work and outcomes through a living, graph-based Enterprise Operating Model. Founded by Steve Elliott, former founder and CEO of AgileCraft (acquired by Atlassian), Dotwork is headquartered in Georgetown, Texas. Learn more at dotwork.com.

About Arcario Group

Arcario Group helps enterprises build the Connected Enterprise, aligning people, processes, data and technology to improve execution and business outcomes. Learn more at arcariogroup.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dotwork-acquires-arcario-group-to-accelerate-adoption-of-its-ai-native-enterprise-operating-platform-302921095.html

SOURCE Dotwork

Continue Reading

Trending