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Frisco Unveils New Innovation Hub to Support Growing Innovation and Venture Capital Sectors

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Plug and Play to serve as operator for new innovation hub

FRISCO, Texas, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The City of Frisco, Texas, announced the opening of Origin, a new innovation focused facility designed to bring industry specific accelerator programming, sports-tech innovation in human potential and international startup support to the region. Origin is a public-private partnership conceptualized by the Frisco Economic Development Corporation (Frisco EDC) and brought to fruition by Plug and Play at Baylor Scott & White Health Sports Therapy & Research.

Origin has been under development since 2020 and stemmed from the city leadership’s vision to create an open collaboration space for residents to scale their businesses, as well as a networking space for venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, fintech, sportstech, AI, cybersecurity and other startups. After a competitive request for proposal process, Plug and Play was selected in 2023 as the facility’s operator due to their proven ability to connect startups with large corporations, investors and industry leaders.

“This new facility is proof of what’s possible when a city drives with vision, determination and collaborative partnerships,” said Jeff Cheney, Mayor of Frisco. “This hub is a starting point for new technologies, businesses and careers in Frisco. I’m excited to see the groundbreaking innovation that will take shape here.”

Located on the 10th floor of the Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research facility in Frisco, Origin and Plug and Play’s innovation hub will anchor a joint 6,000-square-foot space designed to bring together startups, investors and corporate partners at the center of Frisco’s innovation movement. The flexibly designed space includes private offices, meeting rooms and co-working areas designed to accommodate the thriving startup ecosystem.

“Frisco is home to more than 500 tech companies and many top tier leading brands,” said Jason Ford, President of the Frisco EDC. “Origin was a strategic investment in Frisco’s future and marks a major step forward in Frisco’s continued rise as a national innovation leader. With the help of Baylor Scott & White and Plug and Play, we’ve created a one-of-a-kind space where new ideas, industries and startups can flourish here in Frisco, all working side by side.”

For Plug and Play, a Silicon Valley-based innovation acceleration company with an international presence, this new facility will be the largest space under their operation outside of their California headquarters. Plug and Play will operate the hub under a membership-based model, and will host networking events, hackathons, workshops and special presentations open to the greater community.

“This innovation hub is more than just a physical space, it’s a signal to the world that Frisco is serious about shaping the future,” said Saeed Amidi, CEO and Founder of Plug and Play. “Frisco is already a national model for how sports, business, and innovation can coexist. We’re honored to bring our global network and proven accelerator model to this remarkable community with values perfectly aligned to our own.”

In addition to hosting carefully designed startup cohorts, the space will also be open to Frisco-based entrepreneurs, service providers and partner institutions, including the University of North Texas–Frisco, which will sponsor a dedicated sports innovation space within the facility.

About Frisco Economic Development Corporation
The Frisco EDC operates as a Texas non-profit corporation and is governed by a seven-member board of directors appointed by the Frisco, Texas City Council. Job number one is facilitating the creation of jobs, as the Frisco EDC’s mission is to improve the economic opportunities and quality of life for all Frisco residents. The Frisco EDC has facilitated major economic development projects, resulting in hundreds of projects and thousands of jobs in the City of Frisco. For more information, visit FriscoEDC.com.

About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play is present in 60-plus locations across five continents. It offers corporate innovation programs and helps corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. Plug and Play also organizes startup acceleration programs and has built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where it has invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal and Rappi. For more information, visit www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/.

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SOURCE Frisco Economic Development Corporation

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CassTime Unveils AI-Driven “T+D Solution” to Tackle Data and Repair Bottlenecks in the Global Automotive Aftermarket

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LAS VEGAS, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At the recently concluded AAPEX 2026, more than 45,000 professionals from 128 countries and regions and over 2,500 exhibitors gathered in Las Vegas, a clear sign of sourcing demand across the global automotive aftermarket. At the same time, a long-standing industry challenge has become harder to ignore: as vehicle model counts keep climbing and model refresh cycles shorten, global repair networks are commonly facing difficulties in parts data matching, fragmented supply sources, low quotation efficiency, and insufficient repair technical capabilities.

In response to these bottlenecks, Li Li, CEO of International Business at CassTime, introduced an AI-driven “T+D Solution” at the 2026 CassTime Partner Conference. T refers to Digital Trade, which connects supply with overseas procurement demand through the CassChoice platform; D refers to an intelligent localized service platform, which uses PartGrid to bring parts matching, repair support, and insurance claims assessment capabilities to local markets. The solution has already been put into practical operation in markets such as Saudi Arabia.

Industry Bottlenecks: Data Matching and Repair Capability Are Global Challenges

Li Li noted that channel and market-access conditions vary significantly across regions: the Middle East has many new vehicle models and a growing number of supply channels; Brazil has a complex channel and market-access system; Central Asia’s supply channels are being restructured; and North America has mature certification and channel requirements for branded parts. The common challenges are concentrated in four areas: data matching, supply stability, quotation and delivery efficiency, and local repair service capability. Insufficient data leads to matching difficulties, fragmented demand leads to unstable supply, and local repair capabilities are difficult to build up quickly.

“After decades of development, the automotive aftermarket has formed a complete supply chain system, and CassTime has also built a digital system covering the entire value chain,” Li Li said. “We hope to translate proven digital practices into a holistic solution that can be implemented overseas, covering both parts and repair services.”

Li Li emphasized that China’s auto parts industry has been tempered through intense competition and has long built a comprehensive domestic supply chain. In particular, its parts SKU coverage for Chinese-brand vehicles is especially complete: Chinese vehicle models have a large installed base and rapid update and iteration cycles. Leveraging deep accumulation in the local market, CassTime has formed the industry’s most complete coverage in parts data, VIN decoding, and repair cases for Chinese-brand vehicles. This is also the foundation of the T+D Solution. Supported by this most complete Chinese-brand vehicle SKU database, wherever Chinese-brand vehicles go in the world, CassTime can bring along the parts supply and repair experience already proven in China, enabling overseas partners to share the best practices of China’s supply chain.

CassChoice: Digital Trade to Solve Supply-Demand Matching Challenges

In traditional procurement scenarios, when a customer submits demand for hundreds of thousands of SKUs, it usually requires manual order splitting, separate inquiries to multiple suppliers, quotation consolidation, and delivery in batches—a long and inefficient process. The CassChoice system can automatically break down demand, generate batch quotations, track order status, and output reports. The relevant data can also be used for demand tracking and analysis—a direct manifestation of using AI and digital tools to solve “difficult data matching and fragmented supply.”

According to CassTime, its overseas platform has accumulated more than 5 million SKUs—with particularly complete SKU data for Chinese-brand vehicles—and can generate quotes in seconds for more than 10,000 SKUs. On the supply side, CassChoice connects factories, brands, and distributors, helping overseas customers complete sourcing, procurement, and local delivery, and efficiently matching fragmented supply with fragmented demand on a digital platform.

PartGrid: AI Agents to Fill Local Repair Capability Gaps

To address matching challenges caused by the large number and rapid updates of vehicle models, PartGrid integrates CassTime’s VIN decoding system to help local partners achieve precise matching just as they would in China, reducing error rates. Multilingual communication is handled by AI, enabling barrier-free interaction. The platform can use formats such as WhatsApp Chatbot to connect with local users, adapting to the usage habits of small repair businesses and end users.

Beyond parts circulation, PartGrid also provides three AI agent service capabilities: an AI Repair Master, which synchronizes accumulated repair data and cases to local markets to help solve technical difficulties, especially overseas repair of Chinese vehicle models; an insurance claims assessment agent, which combines real-time fault analysis, parts matching information, and labor-hour estimation to support efficient implementation of insurance business; and an AI Seller, which provides accurate and timely quotations around the clock. Together, these three capabilities form a localized service loop of “parts + repair + insurance,” directly addressing the industry bottleneck of “repair capability falling behind.”

Saudi Arabia Case: Localized Operations Starting from Claims Scenarios

CassTime’s partner in Saudi Arabia is a Middle East technology company that manages insurance business. Its digital platform, Tamam, handles related business for nearly half of Saudi Arabia’s insurance companies. The two parties began their cooperation with online access in claims scenarios: through PartGrid, the partner’s platform connects local car owners, workshops, and the supply chain to enable digital tracking and management of the process; through CassChoice, it connects supply, opening up the parts value chain from source to end user.

On this basis, the cooperation has three expansion directions: extending application scenarios from claims to more end-user demand; as workshops adoption and business volume grow, more local suppliers join the platform; and upstream factories, brands, and distributors connecting to supply.

At present, CassTime has advanced implementation in the Middle East and is extending the mature model to Central Asia, South America, and other regions, accelerating the construction of a global parts service network. CassTime stated that it will continue to rely on AI and digital capabilities and work with local partners to jointly build a sustainable overseas service ecosystem.

About CassTime

CassTime Holding Co., Ltd. ( “CassTime”) is a leading digital intelligence platform for the automotive aftermarket in China. It is committed to building AI-enabled digital infrastructure for all participants across the automotive aftermarket value chain, driving the industry’s upgrade toward digital intelligence, standardization and efficient collaboration. The company focuses on auto parts trading, supply chain integration, digital intelligence management for workshops and end-consumer vehicle owner services. It has built a full-value-chain ecosystem covering upstream OEMs and auto parts manufacturers, auto parts distributors, auto service workshops and car owners.

Media Contact

Ben Chan
General Manager, North & South America
Email: ben.chen@casstime.com 
Phone: +86 186 6512 3710

Related Links

CassChoice – China Auto Parts, Direct Supply Worldwide

https://www.facebook.com/people/CassTime/61595799821591/

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SOURCE CassTime

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Sensitron Introduces 16-Channel, 270VDC Programmable SSPC Series

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SPHM/SEHM Series consolidates circuit protection, load switching and real-time monitoring in a single networked COTS module

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sensitron Semiconductor, a U.S.-based manufacturer of high-reliability power electronics, today announced the SPHM/SEHM Series, a family of programmable Solid State Power Controllers (SSPCs) for 270VDC power distribution. Built on a microcontroller-based, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) architecture, the series replaces discrete circuit breakers, solid state relays and system monitors with one intelligent unit that switches, protects and reports on up to 16 electrical loads.

Sensitron Semiconductor programmable 16-Channel Solid State Power Controllers (SSPCs) for 270VDC power distribution.

Flexible, high-capacity power distribution

Each SPHM/SEHM module provides 16 independently controlled high-side channels, each programmable from 1A to 10A, for a total capacity of up to 160A. Channels can be paralleled to drive higher-current loads, letting system designers tailor the power architecture to the platform rather than the other way around.

View the latest specifications at sensitron.com/270Vdc_SSPC.

Protection built in

True I²t protection with thermal memory, instant-trip capability and a trip-free reset circuit safeguard both loads and wiring. Soft turn-on and turn-off limit inrush and reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Visibility at the system level

Integrated current, voltage and temperature sensing delivers readings accurate to within 5% across the full operating temperature range. Measurements and channel status are reported to the system controller over dual CAN or dual RS485 interfaces, enabling remote diagnostics, power budgeting, load shedding and condition-based reconfiguration.

Additional features

Start-up and continuous built-in self-test (BIT)

Galvanic isolation between the control interface and line power

Programmable interface I/O signals

Bootloader with field-updatable runtime code

Onboard code space for customer-developed application software

Conduction cooling with an operating range of −45°C to +100°C

“The introduction of our latest 270VDC Solid State Power Controller represents a significant leap forward in thermal management, effectively reducing junction temperatures by 15% compared to industry standard components.”  said Joseph Castaldo, Sensitron’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “By leveraging advanced wide-bandgap semiconductor materials, Sensitron Semiconductor is empowering engineers to push the boundaries of power distribution in the most demanding aerospace and defense applications.”

Configurations and applications

The SPHM Series is supplied as an open-frame card for integration into existing enclosures, while the SEHM Series adds an IP67-rated enclosure for harsh environments. Target applications include military ground vehicles, unmanned and manned aerial vehicles, marine vessels, command and communication centers, energy exploration equipment and off-highway vehicles.

Availability

For configuration options, availability and current specifications, visit www.sensitron.com/270Vdc_SSPC or contact sales@sensitron.com.

About Sensitron Semiconductor

Headquartered in New York, Sensitron Semiconductor is a U.S. company that for more than 50 years has delivered high-reliability power semiconductors and power management solutions to military, aerospace, space, medical and other demanding markets.

About Sensitron Semiconductor

Headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, Sensitron Semiconductor is a U.S. company that designs and manufactures high-reliability power semiconductors and power management solutions for military, aerospace, space, medical and industrial applications. With over 50 years of experience, Sensitron offers solid state power controllers, motor drives, power modules, rectifiers and transient voltage protection devices. Standard and custom solutions help customers meet demanding electrical, thermal and mechanical requirements. For more information, visit www.sensitron.com.

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SOURCE Sensitron Semiconductor

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Agoda names five quieter corners of Asia to catch the snow this season

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SINGAPORE, Nov. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Winter is almost upon Asia, and with it the part of the calendar travelers look forward to: frozen lakes, steaming open-air baths, and towns that come fully alive once the snow settles. Winter trips are shifting away from the big-name resorts, where lift queues and lodging have both grown steeper, toward smaller places where the snow still feels like it belongs to the locals first. Digital travel platform Agoda spotlights five spots across Asia where travelers can take in the season’s sights, from fire festivals to frozen lakes.  

Zao Onsen, Japan

Up in Yamagata, freezing wind and snow coat the conifers until they stand like hooded figures across the slopes — the juhyo (snow monsters). On winter evenings they’re lit from below, turning an ordinary ski field into something closer to a dream.

Taebaek, South Korea

Away from the Olympic crowds of Gangwon’s better-known towns, Taebaek hosts a late-January snow festival built around hand-carved snow and ice sculptures, sledding hills, and mountain trails that lead to some of Korea’s most reliable early-season powder.

Gulmarg, India

High in Kashmir, Gulmarg rides one of the world’s loftiest cable cars up into wide, lightly tracked bowls. Mornings bring tea sellers and the smell of woodsmoke; afternoons bring long, quiet descents that few travelers outside the subcontinent have discovered.

Kanas, China

Tucked into the far north of Xinjiang near the Altai Mountains, Kanas turns almost silent in winter: a long glacial lake freezes over, snow piles onto the roofs of the old Tuvan villages, and smoke curls from log cabins where families still see out the season in the traditional way.

Sapa, Vietnam

Sapa is proof that snow in Southeast Asia isn’t a myth. When cold air drops over the Hoàng Liên Son mountains, frost and the occasional dusting settle over the rice terraces, and the hill-tribe markets carry on trading in the mist, blankets and all.

“Winter in Asia has so much to offer travelers willing to look a little further afield,” said Jay Lee, Regional Director, North Asia at Agoda. “From a snowy mountain village to a warming soak in an outdoor onsen, these destinations offer different ways to enjoy the season and experience local life. With Agoda’s wide range of stays, travelers can find a base that suits their budget and make a winter escape their own.”

With over 6 million properties, more than 130,000 flight routes and a wide range of activities to choose from, travelers can discover and plan their next winter escape on Agoda.com or the Agoda app.

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SOURCE Agoda

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