Connect with us

Technology

SXSW EDU® Announces Winners of the 2025 Launch Startup Competition and Student Impact Challenge

Published

on

AUSTIN, Texas, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — South by Southwest EDU® Conference & Festival is thrilled to announce the winners of its 2025 Launch Startup Competition and Student Impact Challenge. They were announced at the Launch Spotlight and the Student Impact Ice Cream Social, respectively. Constant Contact was presented with the Launch Startup Competition Grand Prize Award, and Spark was named the Student Impact Challenge winner.

For 14 years, the Launch Startup Competition has provided a forum for early-stage startups to pitch emerging ideas, products, and services to a cohort of industry leaders, early adopters, investors, and educators. During this year’s event, presented by the Walton Family Foundation, participants were given the chance to showcase their ideas in front of a panel of distinguished judges, including Amelia Kelly, CTO of SoapBox Labs, John Gamba, Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, Katie Fang, CEO of SchooLinks, and Missy Testerman, 2024 National Teacher of the Year.

After hearing from the 7 finalists, the judges awarded Constant Contact, based in Austin, TX with the Grand-Prize Launch Award for its focus on helping students become college and career-ready through their near-peer mentorship model. The following awards were also announced as part of the Launch Startup Competition:

Impact Award: This honor, recognizing the potential to impact student learning based on the science of learning, was given to Making Space, based in Los Angeles, CA for its work to create new and improved pathways to employment and career advancement, ensuring Disabled professionals have equitable access to meaningful careers.Community Choice Award: This award, which acknowledges the finalist that received the most votes from the audience during SXSW EDU, was presented to Bili, based in Houston, TX, which empowers families and educators with tools that make bilingualism a natural and exciting part of kids’ lives and help them maintain a strong connection to their heritage languages and cultures.

“This award is a powerful recognition of the impact we’re making—connecting hundreds of thousands of students with mentors who help them see and shape their futures,” said Sophie Smith and Leah Guesman, co-founders of Constant Contact. “What excites us most is the hope and ambition we see in our high school and undergraduate students every day. Winning this competition validates that same hope among educators, investors, and the broader community, reinforcing the bright future ahead.”

“This is a pivotal moment in education where we must do good while doing well. Supporting entrepreneurs in building strong business fundamentals—from early stage to sustainability, scalability, and ultimately exit—is critical,” said John Gamba, Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, who served as a judge in the competition.

In addition, SXSW EDU proudly awarded the Student Impact Challenge, presented by The Allstate Foundation, to Spark, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as this year’s winner. Spark promises to revolutionize support for autistic children by offering personalized therapy supplements, a wealth of resources, and interactive tools designed to empower caregivers. In addition Swype AI and Household Appliances Innovation Powered by Solar were recognized as the first and second runner-ups respectively.

This year, the Student Impact Challenge expands from its previous year to focus on how students can solve pressing social, economic, and environmental problems facing the world today. The winner was chosen by judges Kate Nack, Vice President, The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact, Juanita Soranno, Head of Impact at Cengage Group, Rohit Srinivasan, Founder of Trashbots and former winner of the Student Startup Competition, and Tiana Day, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Advocates for Change.

“I’m so excited and honored to receive this incredible award,” said Nandana Menon, founder of Spark. “Winning the Student Impact Challenge will lead me to so many more opportunities to help children all along the way. This is really going to set up Spark for more success.”

To learn more about the competition programming at SXSW EDU, visit https://www.sxswedu.com/competitions/.

About SXSW EDU:

The SXSW EDU® Conference & Festival is a reflection of the world’s most critical social issues as seen through the lens of education. This year’s event will bring together the learner, the practitioner, the entrepreneur, and the visionary to share their groundbreaking stories, tackle complex issues, and build reimagined paths forward. As a community of diverse people who are united around a like-minded vision for the future, SXSW EDU serves as a place for attendees to renew their purpose in practice from both a personal and professional perspective. It is a place to reinforce the core principles of teaching and learning as well as an opportunity to express your creativity and passion for education. Join the passionate and innovative community at SXSW EDU, March 3-6, 2025.

For more information, please visit sxswedu.com. 

Contact:
Liz Stein
SXSW EDU Press & Publicity
press@sxswedu.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sxsw-edu-announces-winners-of-the-2025-launch-startup-competition-and-student-impact-challenge-302393777.html

SOURCE SXSW EDU

Continue Reading

Technology

AmeriTrust Solutions Expands Point-of-Care Medicaid Application Support to All 50 States

Published

on

By

Available today, the platform gives hospitals and RCM partners a practical way to help eligible patients pursue coverage without a major IT project.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AmeriTrust Solutions today announced that its Medicaid application platform is available across all 50 U.S. states. As hospitals and revenue cycle management (RCM) partners prepare for Medicaid changes under H.R.1, the platform gives them a practical way to help eligible patients pursue coverage and address uncompensated care at the point of care.

The platform addresses a source of uncompensated care that begins before billing: patients who may qualify for Medicaid but never complete an application. By simplifying the process when the need for coverage is immediate, AmeriTrust Solutions helps patients overcome application barriers and gives hospitals a path to reimbursement for care that might otherwise be written off.

The scale of the problem is substantial: U.S. community hospitals provided $42.7 billion in uncompensated care in 2020, according to the American Hospital Association.

Uninsured encounters are often written off as uncompensated care, even when patients may qualify for Medicaid. Long applications, confusing questions and information patients struggle to gather can stand between them and coverage, leaving hospitals without payment for care that could otherwise qualify for reimbursement.

“Hospitals already know what uncompensated care is costing them,” said Peter Justen, founder and CEO of AmeriTrust Solutions. “They need a practical way to help eligible patients get covered and create a path to payment for the care they provide. That starts with an application patients can actually finish.”

AmeriTrust Solutions uses verified third-party data to prefill available information and plain-language questions to guide patients through what remains. Patients review and certify their information before submission through the state’s existing process. The state makes every eligibility decision.

Available today, the platform is designed for straightforward deployment alongside existing hospital workflows, without a major IT project or replacement of state eligibility systems. Hospitals can begin submitting applications as soon as the platform is live, creating the potential for Medicaid reimbursement within weeks, depending on state eligibility decisions and claims processing. Hospitals can offer the experience under their own brand, giving existing teams a straightforward way to help patients complete applications at intake or the bedside.

RCM partners can add this capability to their hospital offering without developing Medicaid application technology internally. That gives them another way to support hospital clients serving uninsured and self-pay patients, with a focus on helping more applications reach submission.

As healthcare organizations evaluate AI and other new technologies, AmeriTrust Solutions puts the emphasis on a clear, guided application process and the value it can deliver. The platform uses verified information, relevant questions and applicant review to make a complex administrative task more manageable.

“The questions hospital leaders are asking are straightforward: What will this do for us, and how soon can we put it to work?” Justen said. “Our focus is helping patients complete applications now, so hospitals can begin addressing the coverage gaps that contribute to uncompensated care.”

Hospitals and RCM partners can learn more about the platform and discuss deployment at ameritrustsolutions.com/.

About AmeriTrust Solutions
AmeriTrust Solutions helps hospitals and RCM partners reduce uncompensated care by simplifying Medicaid applications at the point of care. Verified data prefill and guided questions help patients complete more accurate applications for submission through existing state eligibility processes. By reducing administrative burden and helping eligible patients access coverage, the company creates a clearer path to reimbursement—supporting rural hospital financial stability and helping preserve local access to care. Visit https://ameritrustsolutions.com/

Media contact
Tina Burgess
AmeriTrust Solutions
(202) 770-0272
pr@ameritrustsolutions.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ameritrust-solutions-expands-point-of-care-medicaid-application-support-to-all-50-states-302917246.html

SOURCE AmeriTrust Solutions

Continue Reading

Technology

University of Phoenix highlights career-focused, transfer credit-friendly degree programs

Published

on

By

University data highlights affordability as students apply transfer credits toward business, management, healthcare, technology and other career-focused degree programs while reducing education costs

PHOENIX, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — University of Phoenix is recognizing National Transfer Student Week by highlighting the degree programs receiving the highest volumes of transfer credits, demonstrating how adult learners are benefiting from affordability, transparency and certainty as they apply previously earned academic credit toward career-focused degrees. Many of these programs align with occupational fields projected for growth by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, underscoring how students are building on prior academic achievements while pursuing educational pathways connected to workforce needs.

According to University transfer-credit data for the past year, students applied more than 525,000 accepted transfer credits to the Bachelor of Science in Management program and more than 275,000 accepted transfer credits to the Bachelor of Science in Business program. University data also shows associate and bachelor students saved an average of more than $12,010 through transferred credits, excluding military students, underscoring the role transfer pathways can play in making higher education more affordable.

“Transfer credit can help students do more than save time and money,” said Devin Andrews, vice president, Office of Admissions and Evaluations. “It can help them continue making progress toward degrees that align with their professional goals. By recognizing eligible transfer credit, we help students build on what they have already accomplished and focus on the education and skills needed for the next phase of their careers.”

As University of Phoenix celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, the institution is reflecting five decades of helping working adults build on previous academic achievement and professional experience rather than start over. Today, transfer-credit pathways remain an important part of that mission, helping eligible students reduce costs while pursuing degrees aligned with career goals.

Students apply transfer credits across career-focused degree programs

University transfer-credit data shows students are applying significant volumes of transfer credit toward degree programs aligned with business, management, healthcare, public service and technology careers.

Programs receiving the highest volumes of accepted transfer credits include:

Bachelor of Science in Management: 525,085 accepted transfer credits and 447,622 applied transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Business: 275,745 accepted transfer credits and 243,281 applied transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Health Administration: 165,159 accepted transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration: 159,810 accepted transfer credits and 139,898 applied transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Information Technology: 140,604 accepted transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Social Work: 135,583 accepted transfer credits.

These programs represent areas where students are frequently building on previously earned academic credits as they continue toward degree completion and career goals.

University of Phoenix transfer student Joshua Barron decided to earn his degree while working full time and raising his child. “I have always had a goal of earning my bachelor’s degree,” said Barron, who came to the University with previous college credit. “I transferred credits from another college and used self-paced provider options to accelerate my progress. What started as a goal became a clear path toward achieving the degree I wanted for my future.”

Affordable degree pathways align with growing workforce needs

Several of the University’s most popular transfer-friendly programs align with occupations projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to experience faster-than-average employment growth through 2034. Management occupations, Healthcare occupations, and Information Technology occupations all fall into high-growth categories according to BLS projections.

Learn more about transfer-credit opportunities

Students interested in learning how previously earned credits may apply toward a degree program can learn more here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is Built for Real Life. 50 Years Strong. The University innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world through flexible online learning, relevant courses, academic AI pillars, and skills-mapped curriculum for associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Active students and alumni have access to Career Services for Life® resources including career guidance and tools. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-of-phoenix-highlights-career-focused-transfer-credit-friendly-degree-programs-302917249.html

SOURCE University of Phoenix

Continue Reading

Technology

/C O R R E C T I O N – Verisave/

Published

on

By

In the news release, Verisave appoints Payments Veteran Chris Lefebvre as Chief Executive Officer to Drive Product Development and Growth, issued 22-Oct-2026 by Verisave over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

Verisave appoints Payments Veteran Chris Lefebvre as Chief Executive Officer to Drive Product Development and Growth

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Verisave, a leading provider of payments optimization solutions, today announced the appointment of Chris Lefebvre as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2026. Lefebvre, who joins from Fiserv, succeeds Jeremy Layton, who will transition into the role of Founder and Chief Commercial Officer to ensure strategic continuity.

Lefebvre brings more than 30 years of executive leadership across payments, financial services and technology, with a track record of guiding companies through growth, transformation and successful exits. He led financial services for a major retailer and was selected to serve on the Merchant Advisory Board for the card networks. As COO of BankServ, he led the company’s national expansion and its successful exit. Lefebvre has since held C-suite roles at eCommerce sales and marketing companies, after which he founded CRC, a management and strategy consulting firm serving regulated companies in healthcare, energy and financial services. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Relationship Management for Grocery, Petroleum, and Technology at Fiserv, and was instrumental in reshaping their client engagement strategy.

“I am extremely proud of the work Verisave has done over the years,” said Jeremy Layton, Verisave Founder and Chief Commercial Officer. “I am confident in our ability to continue bringing solutions and transparency to an industry that is largely unregulated and highly complex. Our clients increasingly need better solutions to control costs and manage their payments proactively. Chris brings deep payments expertise and a track record of building products and solutions around this need.”

“Verisave has built something rare: a trusted platform that delivers real and measurable value for its clients,” said Chris Lefebvre. “What drew me to the role is how much opportunity lies ahead, both in deepening our core solutions and expanding our reach across the broader financial ecosystem. I’m energized by the prospect of working with such a talented team as we look to accelerate Verisave’s growth and bring even greater value to our clients.”

About Verisave
Verisave is a payments optimization and consultancy firm, specializing in merchant account, payments stack, processing fee, and interchange fee solutions. Verisave identifies wasted spend and inefficiencies within the payments operations and merchant account settings, bringing significant direct and operational cost savings to clients. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company is backed by Ceto Capital. Learn more at verisave.com

Media Contact:
Samuel Barber
sam@pitchr.ai

Correction: A headshot of Chris Lefebvre has been added.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/verisave-appoints-payments-veteran-chris-lefebvre-as-chief-executive-officer-to-drive-product-development-and-growth-302917253.html

SOURCE Verisave

Continue Reading

Trending