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Toyota Mobility Foundation Names Innovators in Clean Freight as Detroit Winners of Global Sustainable Cities Challenge

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Winners drive innovation in electric semi-trikes, hydrogen production, and fast-charging battery systemsEastern Market lays groundwork for clean freight innovation ecosystem development$1.5 million in implementation funding to be shared by winners to scale solutions in Detroit

DETROIT, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) and City of Detroit today announced three winners of TMF’s Sustainable Cities Challenge in Detroit. The announcement marks the conclusion of the three-year competition, designed to accelerate sustainable and inclusive urban mobility solutions.

In Detroit, the Challenge focused on demonstrating clean freight solutions in the Eastern Market, the cornerstone of Detroit’s food economy and a thriving commercial hub. The goal was to identify solutions that reduce fossil fuel use, lower freight costs, and support cleaner, more efficient movement of goods.

Each winner previously received $180,000 in implementation funding and will now share $1.5 million to scale their solutions across the city.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield said, “Big ideas in clean freight technology have found their home in Detroit. This means cleaner air and a brighter future for residents. We are grateful to the Toyota Mobility Foundation for choosing Detroit out of more than 250 cities across the globe. Our residents gain cleaner air, innovators gain a city serious about sustainability, and together we embody Detroit’s legacy of innovation.”

City of Detroit’s Deputy Chief of Business Innovation and Emerging Industries, Ryan Michael, said: “Globally, the need for advancement in clean freight technology is abundantly clear. Detroit values the opportunity to partner with TMF and the State of Michigan OFME on this vital emerging vertical.

Vince Keenan, Head of Engagement Innovation, City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation, said, “The Mayor’s Office of Mobility Innovation is designed to push big ideas. Whether it’s zero-emission micro-freight solutions that can zip through traffic to avoid (and prevent) congestion, fleet charging solutions that can deploy the capacity to charge in the same time it takes to fill up with diesel and a peek around the corner to the hydrogen solutions that could one day eliminate emissions entirely. The SCC has enabled Detroit to kick the tires on the future of clean freight today.”

Together, the winning cohort marks the beginning of a cleaner, more resilient freight ecosystem in Detroit’s Eastern Market, with benefits that could extend beyond the city and region. TMF and the City of Detroit are proud to announce that Detroit’s winners will include:

Civilized Cycles – A Detroit-based manufacturer of ultra-light electric cargo vehicles, Civilized Cycles is scaling its patented Semi-Trike as a practical alternative to gas-powered delivery vans. Since the finalists were announced, the company has been exploring applications for its Semi-Trike, most recently selling one to Detroit-based company Grounded EVs, where it will be used as a platform to build a mini-RV.

Zachary Schieffelin, Co-Founder and CEO of Civilized Cycles, said: “The Sustainable Cities Challenge gave us the platform to prove that ultra-light electric freight vehicles can meet commercial demand. Detroit offered an ideal opportunity to test and demonstrate their potential in a real-world commercial environment. With this support, we’re expanding production and advancing a cleaner, more efficient model for how goods move through cities.”

ElectricFish Energy Inc – A distributed energy infrastructure company advancing fast-charging EV solutions, ElectricFish recently launched 400squared™, a 400 kW battery-integrated fast charger and introduced its Turbo Charge program to enable seamless deployment at gas stations and fleet sites. Since being named a finalist, the company has been third-party endorsed by MotorTrend and received coverage in high-profile news outlets such as Axios.

Anurag Kamal, Co-founder and CEO of ElectricFish, said: “Detroit showed us what is possible when public and private collaborators come together to build resilient approaches to our nation’s critical infrastructure. We are excited to continue working with this forward-thinking city on deploying clean mobility to accelerate electrification, which may serve as a blueprint for the future of industrial growth and reducing carbon emissions at scale.”

Neology – A clean technology startup developing power systems that can produce hydrogen and electricity independently, useful in applications where clean, off-grid power is necessary. Since being selected as a finalist, Neology has conducted more than ten live demonstrations across Detroit, generating approximately 300 kWh of clean energy – enough to power an average U.S. home for 10 days – and producing approximately 20 kilograms of hydrogen from ammonia. These demonstrations serve as an example of the opportunities for validation of transportation concepts offered by the Sustainable Cities Challenge.

Aris Maroonian, Founder and CEO of Neology, said: “Detroit is once again showing that it leads at the edge of industrial innovation. With the support of the Toyota Mobility Foundation, we are able to move ammonia-to-hydrogen technology from prototype to deployment – accelerating the city’s growing hydrogen ecosystem. We believe scalable, affordable hydrogen solutions will play a critical role in the future of mobility, and we are proud to help position Detroit as a global showcase for that transformation.”

Over three years, the Sustainable Cities Challenge has brought together innovators, policymakers, industry leaders, and community stakeholders to explore new, sustainable ways of moving goods through Detroit. Through multiple challenge rounds and collaborative development, ideas have evolved into practical, scalable solutions designed to support a cleaner, more efficient, and resilient freight system for the city and its communities.

Detroit, the only city chosen in the western hemisphere, is one of three global cities participating in the Sustainable Cities Challenge, alongside Venice, Italy and Varanasi, India. Across the three cities, TMF has invested a cumulative $9 million to tackle each city’s unique mobility challenge.

In every location, the goal remains the same: to catalyze solutions that enhance quality of life, support economic vitality, and advance more sustainable systems of movement. The Challenge turns bold ideas into tangible impact by empowering local innovation and pairing it with global expertise.

Katy Trudeau, President and CEO of Eastern Market, said, “For over a hundred years, Eastern Market has been a place where businesses have adapted and grown to keep Detroit fed. This Challenge builds on that legacy by bringing fresh ideas and innovations into a real-world working environment, created with the needs of the people and businesses who are here every day in mind. These solutions don’t just point to what is possible; they are already helping us move toward a cleaner, more efficient freight system that supports our community and can serve as a model for others.”

Ryan Klem, Director of Programs for the Toyota Mobility Foundation, commented: “In strong collaboration with the City of Detroit and the Eastern Market Corporation, we are excited to announce today’s winners as well as acknowledge the contributions of all innovators who played a role in shaping the effort.  Whether here in Detroit or around the world, the Toyota Mobility Foundation will continue to promote pragmatic solutions to make communities more sustainable, efficient, and functional.”

The Sustainable Cities Challenge is funded by the Toyota Mobility Foundation and conducted in collaboration with Challenge Works and the World Resources Institute. Detroit’s winners illustrate how supporting local innovators can create meaningful impact in communities, with the potential to scale solutions across cities and beyond.

For more information, visit sustainablecitieschallenge.org

About Toyota Mobility Foundation

Toyota Mobility Foundation (Chair Akio Toyoda) was established in August 2014 by Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) to support the development of a more mobile society in which everyone can move freely. The Foundation underscores Toyota’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and respect for people. It utilizes Toyota’s expertise and technologies to support strong mobility systems while eliminating disparities in mobility. TMF works in partnership with universities, governments, non-profits, research institutions and other organizations, creating programs that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address mobility issues around the world. 

“TMF aims to create a truly mobile society that will help people live better lives no matter where they are,” said Chair Akio Toyoda.

About Challenge Works 

For a decade, Challenge Works has established itself as a global leader in designing and delivering high-impact challenges to incentivize cutting-edge innovation for social good. Challenge Works is a social enterprise founded by the UK’s innovation agency Nesta. Over the past decade, Challenge Works has worked on 101 challenge prizes, engaging more than 16,000 innovators and unlocking over £310 million in funding to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. Challenge Works believes no challenge is unsolvable, partnering with non-profits, governments, and other organizations around the globe to unearth entrepreneurs and their innovations that can solve the greatest challenges of our time. Find out more at https://challengeworks.org/   

About World Resources Institute 

World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research organization with offices in Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States, and regional offices for Africa and Europe. WRI’s 1,700 staff work with partners to develop practical solutions that improve people’s lives and ensure nature can thrive. Learn more: WRI.org and on Twitter @WorldResources

About the City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation (OMI)

The Office of Mobility Innovation (OMI) exists to help the City of Detroit navigate the rapidly changing transportation and mobility industries. Transportation and mobility are essential for both people and businesses, and Detroit’s automotive heritage provides an unparalleled opportunity to work with industry to innovate and define their future.

OMI leads mobility advancement efforts on behalf of the City of Detroit and collaborates with industry, academia, philanthropy, and local, state and federal government. By centering residents in every step of the process, OMI is focused on leveraging mobility as a pathway to opportunity in Detroit.

For additional information about OMI, please visit detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/office-mobility-innovation or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

About Eastern Market

Eastern Market Partnership is a nonprofit organization that manages and stewards Detroit’s historic Eastern Market district—one of the largest and oldest public market districts in the United States. As a 501(c)(3), the organization leads operations, infrastructure development, and programming to strengthen the market as a nationally recognized regional food hub while supporting inclusive economic growth and community development. Through partnerships with local stakeholders, Eastern Market Partnership works to expand access to healthy, affordable food, support small businesses and local producers, and advance initiatives that enhance food systems, sustainability, and equitable development across Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

About Civilized Cycles

Civilized Cycles is a Detroit-based design and engineering company redefining the future of commercial cargo transportation. By manufacturing ultra-light, commercial-grade electric vehicles—most notably their patented, modular “Semi-Trike”—Civilized Cycles enables businesses to seamlessly transition away from gas-powered vans. Their technology provides unparalleled cargo capacity, dynamic air suspension, and profound operational cost savings while reducing urban congestion, noise, and carbon emissions.

About Electricfish Energy Inc.

ElectricFish Energy Inc. is a distributed energy infrastructure company with an integrated EV charging platform for gas stations, convenience stores, and fleet operators. Its platform includes the latest ElectricFish 400squared™ (battery-integrated fast-chargers), Reef® (CSMS) , and Stargazer® (AI optimization) – backed by five, issued U.S. patents.

Founded in 2019, ElectricFish delivers 400 kW charging without costly grid upgrades, enabling deployment in weeks instead of years, and continues to power EVs and site loads even during outages. The company, with offices in San Carlos, California and Detroit, is backed by leading investors, corporates, and government agencies.

About Neology

Neology is a Swiss clean energy company developing modular ammonia-to-hydrogen and ammonia-to-power systems for decentralized energy and mobility applications. By leveraging ammonia as a hydrogen carrier, Neology enables scalable, transportable, and cost-efficient hydrogen production for fuel cells, combustion engines, and refueling infrastructure. Its solutions can replace diesel generators in off-grid environments while also supporting hydrogen mobility and industrial decarbonization. Neology is expanding its presence in the United States through deployment initiatives in Detroit.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Alison Powell
Communications Manager
Toyota Mobility Foundation
alison.powell@toyota.com

TMF@89up.org

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SOURCE Toyota Mobility Foundation

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Brightstar Lottery PLC Announces Successful Pricing of €500,000,000 of Senior Secured Notes Due 2032

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LONDON, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Brightstar Lottery PLC (NYSE: BRSL) (“Brightstar”) announced the successful pricing of €500,000,000 4.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2032 to be issued by Brightstar and to be guaranteed on a senior basis by certain of Brightstar’s wholly‑owned subsidiaries (the “Notes”). The Notes were priced at 99.360% of their nominal amount. Application has been made for the Notes to be listed on the Official List of Euronext Dublin and admitted to trading on the Global Exchange Market of Euronext Dublin.

Settlement of the Notes is subject to customary market and other closing conditions and is expected to occur on September 17, 2026.

Brightstar intends to use the gross proceeds from the sale of the Notes (i) to pay the purchase price for the Regulation S interests in its outstanding 2.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 pursuant to the tender offer announced by Brightstar on September 8, 2026 (the “Tender Offer”) and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (ii) to repay utilizations under its senior revolving credit facilities and (iii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the offering (the “Offering”) and sale of the Notes and the tender offer.

The Notes are not being, and will not be, offered or sold in the United States. Nothing in the offering memorandum relating to the Offering (the “Offering Memorandum”) constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The Notes may not be offered, sold or delivered in the United States absent registration under, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act).

MiFID II Product Governance / Professional Investors and ECPs Only Target Market – Manufacturer target market (MiFID II product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No key information document has been prepared as the Notes are not available to retail investors in the European Economic Area (the “EEA”).

The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of MiFID II; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

U.K. MiFIR Product Governance / Professional Investors and ECPs Only Target Market – Manufacturer target market (UK MiFIR product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No disclosure document has been prepared as the Notes are not available to retail investors in the United Kingdom.

The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold, distributed or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold, distributed or otherwise made available to, any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is either one (or both) of the following: (i) not a professional client as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”); or (ii) not a “qualified investor” as defined in paragraph 15 of Schedule 1 of the Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024. Consequently, no disclosure document required by the FCA Product Disclosure Sourcebook (“DISC”) for offering, selling or distributing the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under DISC and the Consumer Composite Investments (Designated Activities) Regulations 2024. References to Regulations or Directives include, in relation to the United Kingdom, those Regulations or Directives as they form part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the EUWA or have been implemented in United Kingdom domestic law, as appropriate.

No action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction in relation to the Notes to permit a public offering of securities.

OFFER AND DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS

Neither this news release nor the Offering Memorandum constitutes an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security, nor shall there be any sale of any security in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

The distribution of this news release and the Offering Memorandum into certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this news release comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

United Kingdom

The communication of this news release, the Offering Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating thereto is not being made, and such documents or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, such documents or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents or materials is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under Section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that it is only directed at and may be communicated to (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments, being investment professionals as defined in Article 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Financial Promotion Order”); (ii) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Financial Promotion Order; or (iii) any other persons to whom these documents or materials may lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order. Any investment or investment activity to which this news release or the Offering Memorandum relates is available only to such persons or will be engaged only with such persons and other persons should not rely on it.

European Economic Area

In member states of the EEA, this news release and the Offering Memorandum is only addressed to and directed at persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended), together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State. The Notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with qualified investors. This news release should not be acted upon or relied upon in any member state of the EEA by persons who are not qualified investors.

Italy

None of the Offering, this news release or any other document or materials relating to the Offering have been or will be submitted to the clearance procedures of the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (“CONSOB”) pursuant to Italian laws and regulations. The Offering is being carried out in Italy as an exempted offer pursuant to Article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 24, 1998, as amended, and Article 35-bis, paragraph 3 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended.

About Brightstar Lottery PLC

Brightstar Lottery PLC (NYSE:BRSL) is a global leader in lottery focused on innovation and forward-thinking strategies and solutions, building on our renowned expertise in delivering secure technology and producing reliable, comprehensive solutions for our customers. As a premier pure play global lottery company, our best-in-class lottery operations, retail and digital solutions, and award-winning lottery games enable our customers to achieve their goals, entertain players and distribute meaningful benefits to communities. Brightstar has a well-established local presence and is a trusted partner to governments and regulators around the world, creating value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. Brightstar serves nearly 90 lottery customers and their players on six continents. It is the primary technology provider to 26 of the 46 lottery jurisdictions in the U.S. and eight of the world’s 10 largest lotteries with central systems. Brightstar has approximately 6,000 employees. For more information, please visit www.brightstarlottery.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning Brightstar Lottery PLC and its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company”) and other matters. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be accompanied by words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “shall,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project” or the negative or other variations of them. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements represent management’s good faith expectations, projections, guidance or beliefs concerning future events, and it is possible that the results described in this news release will not be achieved. Specifically, the Company cannot assure you that the proposed transactions described above, including the successful completion of the Offering and the Tender Offer or, in the case of the Offering, will be made on the terms the Company currently contemplates, if at all. Information concerning these risks and other factors can be found in the Offering Memorandum and the tender offer memorandum with respect to the Tender Offer and the documents filed or furnished by the Company from time to time with the SEC, including the Company’s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.brightstarlottery.com. Except as required under applicable law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider these factors and other risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company’s business. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company, or persons acting on its behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Contact:
Mike DeAngelis, Corporate Communications, +1 (401) 392-1000,
mike.deangelis@brightstarlottery.com
Matteo Selva, Italian media inquiries, +39 366 6803635
James Hurley, Investor Relations, +1 (401) 392-7190

© 2026 Brightstar Lottery PLC

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SOURCE Brightstar Lottery PLC

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Straits Financial Services Pte Ltd Successfully Participates in First Trades of SGX McCloskey FOB Australia Hard Coking Coal Futures

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Straits Financial Services Pte Ltd (SFSPL), a member of Straits Financial Group, is pleased to announce its successful participation in the first trades of the SGX McCloskey FOB Australia Hard Coking Coal Futures, marking an important milestone in the development of risk management solutions for the global metallurgical coal market.

Straits Financial Services’ participation in the inaugural trades reflects its continued commitment to supporting the development of commodity derivatives markets and providing clients with access to a broad range of exchange-traded risk management solutions.

The new contract further strengthens the suite of commodity products available to participants across the steelmaking value chain, including producers, traders, consumers and financial institutions. By providing a transparent and centrally cleared marketplace, the contract can support price discovery and help market participants manage exposure to fluctuations in hard coking coal prices, a critical raw material in global steel production.

Mr Roger Quek, CEO and MD of SFSPL said: “As commodity markets continue to evolve, access to transparent and liquid derivatives instruments is increasingly important for participants looking to manage price risk effectively. We look forward to supporting the growth of this market and continuing to connect our clients with opportunities across global commodity markets.”

Participation in the inaugural SGX McCloskey FOB Australia Hard Coking Coal Futures trades further demonstrates Straits Financial Services’ commitment to supporting product innovation and the continued development of Asia’s commodity derivatives ecosystem.

About Straits Financial Services Pte Ltd

At Straits Financial Services Pte Ltd, we distinguish ourselves by promoting key and innovative contracts to support the financial and commodity derivative markets as well as providing products and services to fulfill the needs of every trader.

With a strong presence in Asia and a deep understanding of the global markets, we provide value to our clients by enabling global access with a local perspective. Established in 2010, Straits Financial Services Pte Ltd is part of Straits Financial Group which is headquartered in Singapore.

Straits Financial Services Pte Ltd provides a fully integrated service for our clients to access the financial and commodity derivative markets and we strive to build lasting relationships with our clients.

For more information, please visit our website at https://www.straitsfinancial.com.

This document is issued for information purposes only. This document is not intended and should not under any circumstances to be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell, nor financial advice or recommendation in relation to any capital market product. All the information contained herein is based on publicly available information and has been obtained from sources that Straits Financial Services Pte Ltd believes to be reliable and correct at the time of publishing this document.

Straits Financial Services Pte Ltd will not be liable for any loss or damage of any kind (whether direct, indirect or consequential losses or other economic loss of any kind) suffered due to any omission, error, inaccuracy, incompleteness, or otherwise, any reliance on such information. Past performance or historical record of futures contracts, derivatives contracts, and commodities is not indicative of the future performance. The information in this document is subject to change without notice.

If after reading the foregoing content you have any doubts in relation thereto, please consult your own independent legal, financial and/or professional adviser.

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SOURCE Straits Financial

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Sandbox VR Continues to Expand Across Australia with a New Melbourne Venue, Opening September 14

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Sandbox VR brings the ‘best virtual reality experience on the planet’ to Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sandbox VR, the world’s premier venue for virtual reality experiences, is set to open its newest location in Melbourne’s vibrant Central Business District. This new location on Bourke Street in Melbourne joins Sandbox VR’s first Australian location on the Gold Coast. Guests can take advantage of a limited-time presale offer of 25% off through September 13 at https://sandboxvr.com/au/melbourne/bourke-street. With nearly 150K players monthly, Sandbox VR is rapidly growing its global footprint with thriving corporate-owned locations and a robust franchising program.

Sandbox VR’s Melbourne venue features a bar, party room and four private rooms where groups of up to six guests suit up with headsets, haptic vests and motion sensors for full-body immersion. The technology allows players to see and physically interact with one another, creating the feeling of living inside the action together. After each experience, guests receive personalised highlight videos to relive and share their adventures. The result is an active, memorable alternative to a conventional night out for friends, families and corporate groups.

“Melbourne is renowned as Australia’s cultural and entertainment capital, with its world-class food, coffee culture, arts, sporting events and vibrant nightlife,” said Bao Phung, Owner of Sandbox VR Melbourne & Gold Coast. “Following the success of our Gold Coast location, we’re incredibly excited to bring Sandbox VR to Melbourne and introduce a completely new form of immersive entertainment. It gives friends, families and corporate groups an active, memorable alternative to a conventional night out, where they can step into another world and experience the action together. Melbourne has always embraced innovation and new experiences, making it a natural home for Sandbox VR and the next chapter of our Australian growth.”

“Melbourne is an important next step in Sandbox VR’s Australian growth story. Bao, Keith and the wider team have built strong momentum for the brand on the Gold Coast, and Melbourne represents the next chapter as they bring our world-leading immersive entertainment to a new audience,” said Senior Director, Global Franchise Operations, Sandbox VR. “As a city that embraces culture, sport and new experiences, Melbourne is a natural fit for Sandbox VR and the memorable group outings it creates.”

Sandbox VR operates both corporate-owned locations and a robust franchise program, and recently hit $300M in lifetime sales while scaling to more than 90 global locations across five continents and 12 countries since launching in 2016. The company is redefining group entertainment with immersive experiences that transform any outing into lasting memories. Built by a team of veteran developers from EA, Sony, and Ubisoft, Sandbox VR delivers full-body immersion through exclusive content and original experiences, including the recently launched Stranger Things: Catalyst, in collaboration with Netflix, and the new Age of Dinosaurs experience in partnership with the Natural History Museum of London and leading dinosaur experts.

Sandbox VR provides an unparalleled entertainment experience with over 250,000 five-star reviews from guests worldwide. With over 6 million lifetime tickets sold across five continents, the company has established itself as the global leader in location-based virtual reality. Sandbox VR is backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Gobi Partners, Craft, and Stanford University, along with individuals such as Kevin Durant, Justin Timberlake, and Katy Perry.

To learn more about Sandbox VR, visit https://sandboxvr.com/au/melbourne/bourke-street.

ABOUT SANDBOX VR

Sandbox VR is the world’s premier destination for location-based virtual reality experiences. Operating across 90+ venues around the globe through a robust franchise and corporate-owned model, Sandbox VR attracts nearly 150,000 guests each month. Sandbox VR provides guests the opportunity to step out of everyday reality into unforgettable adventures through exhilarating, group-play immersive experiences. Using a proprietary full-body VR platform, the company develops original and licensed content, including exclusive experiences like Stranger Things: Catalyst and Squid Game Virtuals in collaboration with Netflix, and the Sandbox VR original Deadwood series. With over 6 million tickets sold worldwide, Sandbox VR has become the leader in immersive entertainment, combining premium technology with emotionally engaging storytelling. Recognized as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies and a two-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, Sandbox VR is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Hong Kong and Vancouver. The company has raised over $138 million from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Gobi Partners, and Craft, with individual backers including Justin Timberlake, Kevin Durant, and Will Smith.

Media Contact:
Media@SandboxVR.com

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SOURCE Sandbox VR

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