Market Dojo Challenges Procurement’s AI Obsession: “Procurement Doesn’t Need Replacing. It Needs Empowering.”

BRISTOL, England, June 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Market Dojo, a leading provider of AI sourcing solutions, CTO Nic Martin argues that the future of procurement belongs to organisations that combine human expertise with Agentic AI, not those seeking to automate it away.

As procurement leaders rush to understand the implications of Agentic AI, Market Dojo is challenging one of the biggest assumptions shaping the conversation: that autonomy should be the ultimate goal.

In a new report, Why Procurement Is Getting Agentic AI Wrong, Market Dojo CTO argues that procurement’s biggest challenge is not AI adoption, but enabling people to use AI effectively.

The report comes at a critical time. According to Gartner, only 36% of CPO’s are very confident in their ability to redesign procurement around AI, whilst just 14% believe they have the talent required to meet the future needs. At the same time, organisations face increasing pressure to drive greater value, resilience and efficiency with limited resources.

According to Martin, this highlights a growing disconnect between AI ambition and organisational readiness.

“Current conversations focuse on what AI can automate. We believe procurement leaders should be asking a different question: how can AI help people achieve more than ever before?”.

Rather than replacing professionals, the report argues that Agentic AI should function as a procurement expertise engine, making best practice, category knowledge and sourcing intelligence accessible at the point of need.

This people-first approach sits at the heart of Market Dojo’s Sustainable AI Philosophy. Built around three core principles: People, Pricing and Planet, the philosophy promotes responsible innovation that empowers procurement teams rather than replacing them, delivers transparent and accessible AI value without inflated premiums, and prioritises lean, sustainable AI deployment that maximises sourcing outcomes whilst minimising unnecessary complexity and environmental impact.

The Executive Insight explores how people-first Agentic AI can help organisations:

Bridge procurement knowledge and capability gapsAccelerate sourcing event creation and executionImprove governance and compliance consistencyIncrease procurement adoption across the businessEnable better, faster and more informed decisions

“The future isn’t a black-box AI making sourcing decisions on your behalf, the future is Agentic AI that understands context, supports decision-making and helps scale procurement expertise across the organisation.”

The report also examines the next evolution of procurement technology, from AI-guided sourcing support and document digestion through to intelligent event creation, supplier discovery and guided decision-making.

At its core, however, the message is simple. Procurement doesn’t need replacing. It needs empowering. Organisations that succeed with AI will not be those that remove professionals from the process. They will be the ones that combine human expertise with intelligent technology to create better outcomes, stronger supplier relationships and greater strategic value.

About Market Dojo
The leading AI sourcing software provider, trusted by organisations worldwide.

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Charlottesville-based med-tech company accelerates innovation and commercialization in orthopedic technology

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., June 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Icarus Medical, a Charlottesville-based med-tech company focused on advancing orthopedic bracing technology, today announced the successful close of its Series A financing round. Originally targeting $5 million, the round closed oversubscribed at $7.2 million, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company’s technology platform, market momentum, and long-term vision.

Proceeds from the financing will support accelerated commercialization across the US, continued product development, manufacturing expansion, clinical validation of current devices, and personnel development as the company continues increasing its national presence.

Major investors participating in the round include Riptide Ventures, OSF Ventures, CU Healthcare Innovation Fund, Highpoint Ventures, MedTech Connect, Neovate Capital Partners, and BLU Venture Investors. In addition to capital, these partners bring strategic healthcare, commercialization, operational expertise, and industry relationships that will help support Icarus Medical’s next stage of development.

“This financing represents a major milestone for Icarus Medical and validates both the clinical impact of our technology and the strength of the team we have built,” said Dave Johnson, Founder and CEO of Icarus Medical. “We are excited to partner with investors who not only believe in our mission, but who also bring strategic insight and relationships that can help accelerate our trajectory.”

Founded in Charlottesville, Icarus Medical is developing a new class of orthopedic bracing technologies that combine biomechanics, additive manufacturing, and patient-focused design to help people stay active and mobile while reducing pain and improving function. The company’s technologies include the Ascender Knee Brace for patellofemoral and multicompartment osteoarthritis, along with solutions for post-operative recovery, neurological conditions, and complex lower extremity mobility challenges.

“Our health system’s mission is to serve all persons with the greatest care and love. As we evaluated Icarus Medical, we needed to be confident that its solutions could meaningfully improve the lives of the patients we serve, said Ben Spektor, director of Venture Investments at OSF Ventures. “Through engagement with our clinicians, we quickly validated that conviction and received strong feedback regarding both the significant unmet need and the value of Icarus’ innovative bracing technology. Spektor added, “Icarus is at the forefront of bracing innovation, and we are proud to support the company’s growth while helping expand access to its products across our Ministry.”

Icarus Medical designs and manufactures its products in Charlottesville, Virginia, while continuing to advance its manufacturing capabilities and create new local jobs. Over the past year, Icarus Medical was named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies after achieving 1,283% three-year growth. The company was also recently recognized with the 2026 CBIC Startup of the Year Award by the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council.

“Healthcare innovation requires more than just great technology. It requires strong clinical alignment, operational execution, and the ability to scale,” said Dave Johnson. “We believe this group of investors positions us extremely well for the next phase of the company.”

About Icarus Medical

Icarus Medical is a Charlottesville, Virginia-based medical technology company focused on developing innovative orthopedic bracing solutions that help patients stay active, improve mobility, and reduce pain. The company combines biomechanics, software, and additive manufacturing to create advanced orthopedic technologies for osteoarthritis, post-operative recovery, neurological conditions, and lower extremity mobility challenges.

For more information about Icarus Medical, visit https://icarusmedical.com.

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SOURCE Icarus Medical

Atlantic City casino industry contributed nearly $120,000 during inaugural Meal on a Mission event hosted by Hard Rock Atlantic City, expanding efforts to combat food insecurity across South Jersey

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., June 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Atlantic City casino industry and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) reached a major milestone in their ongoing effort to fight food insecurity, announcing the Casinos Unite Against Hunger campaign has raised nearly $400,000 since its launch in May 2025, which is the equivalent of providing more than 1.2 million meals to those in need.

The milestone was reached during CFBNJ’s inaugural “Meal on a Mission: A Chef’s Tableside Experience,” held on June 12 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. The event brought together community leaders, acclaimed chefs, local businesses and supporters committed to addressing food insecurity throughout South Jersey.

“Meal on a Mission is a powerful example of what can happen when the Atlantic City community comes together around a common goal,” said George Goldhoff, president, Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ). “Through our partnership with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Atlantic City’s casino industry is helping to create a meaningful, lasting impact for our families facing food insecurity throughout our region.”

During Meal on a Mission, the Atlantic City casino industry collectively donated nearly $120,000 to CFBNJ. This included a $50,000 donation from the CANJ, along with a $50,000 donation from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City in honor of its eighth anniversary. The inaugural event was made possible by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City as Host and Culinary Visionary Sponsor, CANJ as Culinary Visionary Sponsor, Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City as Executive Chef Sponsor, and Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa and Ocean Casino Resort as Epicurean Sponsors. Chefs and restaurants from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Entertainment Properties, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City participated in the event.

Casinos Unite Against Hunger is a collaborative initiative launched in May 2025 by the Atlantic City casino industry in partnership with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey to address food insecurity in communities across South Jersey. In addition to financial support, casino employees have volunteered with CFBNJ initiatives and participated in community outreach efforts. During the 2025 holiday season, the industry participated in a mobile food pantry in Ventnor and helped provide 1,200 turkeys to families in need. In 2026, in addition to sponsoring Meal on a Mission, Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City donated $20,000 to support the CFBNJ, and the MGM Resorts Foundation donated $10,000.

“Every day, too many individuals and families around New Jersey face difficult choices between paying bills, keeping a roof over their heads, and putting food on the table,” said Elizabeth McCarthy, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ). “We are incredibly grateful for the support of organizations like the Casino Association of New Jersey as we work to eliminate hunger in the Garden State.”

CFBNJ is New Jersey’s largest anti-hunger, anti-poverty organization, providing food to more than 800 local food assistance organizations across 15 counties and connecting neighbors with resources that support long-term stability.

About the Casino Association of New Jersey

The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) is a trade organization that provides a collective voice for the Atlantic City casino industry by facilitating the exchange of information and ideas between our industry, small businesses, Atlantic City stakeholders and the general public. The CANJ consistently advocates for legislation and initiatives that support the ongoing revitalization of Atlantic City into a world-class destination resort. A thriving casino industry drives economic growth, job creation, increased tax revenue for state and local budgets, and prosperity for city residents, hardworking families and businesses which rely on the casinos for their livelihood. Our goals are simple: protect and grow the tens of thousands of jobs the casino industry supports across New Jersey and continue Atlantic City’s transformation into a world-class destination resort. For additional information, please visit www.casinosnj.org.

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SOURCE Casino Association of New Jersey