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

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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

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Florida Physician Specialists Data Breach: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Launches Investigation into Exposure of Personal Information

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23 minutes ago

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May 3, 2026

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National class action firm offering free case evaluations to individuals impacted by the Florida Physician Specialists cybersecurity incident

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from the Florida Physician Specialists data breach. Florida Physician Specialists learned of the cybersecurity incident between November 27 and 29, 2025.

What Happened

Florida Physician Specialists discovered that its network was hacked between November 27 and 29, 2025. An investigation launched in late November 2025 confirmed that an unauthorized third party accessed its network. The review of the exposed data was completed on April 6, 2026.

Information Exposed

Affected personal data includes full names and one or more of the following: Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers or state identification numbers, other government identification numbers, financial account information, credit or debit card information, medical information, and/or health insurance policy information.

Who May Be Impacted

Individuals who received a data breach notification from Florida Physician Specialists may face an increased risk of identity theft and fraud.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action to pursue legal remedies on behalf of individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Florida Physician Specialists breach. The firm will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Recommended Protective Steps

Review account statements and credit reports regularly and remain vigilant for suspicious activity. Confirm whether your information was involved in the Florida Physician Specialists incident and preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach. Consider placing fraud alerts and credit monitoring.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Florida Physician Specialists

Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Florida Physician Specialists is a multi-specialty private physician practice serving patients in Northeast Florida.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above to connect with our team regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/florida-physician-specialists-data-breach-edelson-lechtzin-llp-launches-investigation-into-exposure-of-personal-information-302760742.html

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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Sandhills Medical Foundation, Inc., d/b/a Sandhills Medical Data Breach: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Launches Investigation into Exposure of Personal Information

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23 minutes ago

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May 3, 2026

By

National class action firm offering free case evaluations to individuals impacted by the Sandhills Medical cybersecurity incident

MCBEE, S.C., May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from the Sandhills Medical data breach. Sandhills Medical learned of the cybersecurity incident between November 27 and 29, 2025.

What Happened

On May 8, 2025, Sandhills Medical discovered it had been the victim of a ransomware attack. Sandhills Medical began an investigation with the help of cybersecurity experts and a forensic firm. That investigation determined an unauthorized third party accessed Sandhills Medical’s server directly and obtained personal information for select patients.

Information Exposed

Affected personal data includes names, personal health information, and birth dates. This data breach has affected an estimated 169,017 people.

Who May Be Impacted

Individuals who received a data breach notification from Sandhills Medical may face an increased risk of identity theft and fraud.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action to pursue legal remedies on behalf of individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Sandhills Medical breach. The firm will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Recommended Protective Steps

Review account statements and credit reports regularly and remain vigilant for suspicious activity. Confirm whether your information was involved in the Sandhills Medical incident and preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach. Consider placing fraud alerts and credit monitoring.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Sandhills Medical

Based in McBee, South Carolina, Sandhills Medical operates as a Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC) that provides community-based primary health care services.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above to connect with our team regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sandhills-medical-foundation-inc-dba-sandhills-medical-data-breach-edelson-lechtzin-llp-launches-investigation-into-exposure-of-personal-information-302760743.html

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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Danish Publisher Automates Digital Textbook Delivery with Integrated WooCommerce-Webdoxx Solution

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5 hours ago

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May 3, 2026

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Danish educational publisher eliminates manual processing errors and delivers instant access to more than 20 digital learning products

LONDON, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Forlaget 94, a Danish educational publisher serving commercial colleges and vocational schools since 1994, has transformed its digital textbook distribution by implementing a fully automated WooCommerce-Webdoxx solution.

“Using the Webdoxx-WooCommerce integration we have achieved full automation of order processing, fewer errors, and happier customers,” Tom Gertsen, IT Manager at Forlaget 94

Previously, Forlaget 94 relied on manual processes to distribute digital textbooks to customers. As demand for online educational materials grew, the publisher required a faster, more reliable way to manage orders, provision access, and reduce the risk of administrative errors.

Through its integration of WooCommerce with Webdoxx, Forlaget 94 now runs more than 20 educational products through a 100% automated workflow. The solution automatically processes customer orders and provides instant access to purchased digital textbooks, improving the experience for both customers and internal teams.

“The result is full automation of order processing, fewer errors, and happier customers,” said Tom Gertsen, IT Manager at Forlaget 94 and architect behind the WooCommerce-Webdoxx integration. The automated system has enabled Forlaget 94 to eliminate manual errors, accelerate customer processing, and increase customer satisfaction through immediate access provisioning. The implementation demonstrates how educational publishers can modernize digital content delivery while maintaining secure, managed access to learning materials.

Webdoxx, a service created and managed by Drumlin Security Ltd, provides online DRM and managed document delivery services for publishers, educational organizations, institutions, and commercial content providers.

About Forlaget 94

Forlaget 94 is a Danish educational publisher established in 1994, providing educational products for commercial colleges and vocational schools.

About Webdoxx

Webdoxx is an online DRM and managed document delivery service created and managed by Drumlin Security Ltd. The platform supports secure access to digital publications and documents across a range of sectors, including education, healthcare, government, finance, and publishing.

Media Contact

Mike de Smith, Drumlin Security Ltd, 44 7768404712, info@drumlinsecurity.com, https://www.drumlinsecurity.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/danish-publisher-automates-digital-textbook-delivery-with-integrated-woocommerce-webdoxx-solution-302759942.html

SOURCE Forlaget 94

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