Connect with us

Technology

AVPN Announces New Strategy to Mobilise Capital for Asia’s USD 26-Trillion Social and Environmental Transformation

Published

on

Strategy underscores its call for Asia’s leaders to shift from participation to leadership in advancing Asia-led solutions

SINGAPORE, July 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AVPN, Asia’s largest platform for social impact, today announced a strategic evolution of its products and community models, in response to shifts in the global macro landscape and the growing urgency in Asia’s impact needs. The region faces a USD 26-trillion financing need through 2030 to maintain growth, eradicate poverty and respond to climate changes. AVPN is calling on Asia’s philanthropists, capital holders, and government leaders to take transformative action by shaping an Asia-led framework for how capital must be designed, deployed and coordinated – to meet Asia’s social and environmental needs. Entering its 15th year of moving capital towards Impact for Asia, this evolution affirms AVPN’s role as an Asia-led platform that builds an impact ecosystem rooted in on-ground realities, drives a more prosperous and inclusive Asia, and strengthens the region’s influence on global impact action.

“Asia can no longer be a passive participant in global impact conversations,” said Achal Agarwal, Chair, AVPN. “This USD 26‑trillion gap is not just a financing shortfall; it is an opportunity for Asia to design its own playbook and lead with frameworks grounded in our realities, while shaping global approaches for a more equitable, inclusive and prosperous future.”

Asia’s impact landscape is entering a phase of greater complexity and urgency, with capital pools growing, but deployment remaining fragmented across markets, sectors and stakeholder priorities. Official Development Assistance (ODA) fell by 23.1% in 2025 with a further decline projected for 2026, even as needs continue to rise. Global frameworks, while useful, often fail to capture Asia’s diversity, complexity and context. Within the region’s broader financing need, it also faces a USD 1.5 trillion annual SDG financing gap, underscoring the need for more coordinated capital.

AVPN’s strategic evolution introduces its community model, previously known as membership tiers, redesigned for impact at scale. This is to expand its engagement with the impact ecosystem, such that coordination and collaboration can be multiplied.

The Vantage and Discovery pathways are designed to balance breadth with depth.

Vantage: A paid, relationship-led experience designed for organisations seeking deeper strategic engagement, dedicated support, curated connections, and leadership opportunities.Discovery: A flexible engagement pathway that enables organisations to access the AVPN ecosystem and engage through a combination of complimentary and pay-per-use opportunities.

AVPN’s product portfolio remains focused around four thematic priorities – Climate Action, Health Impact, Gender Equality and Economic Inclusion, which will be activated through dynamic cross‑cutting levers such as AI, policy, impact investing and faith‑based giving. These impact levers ensure AVPN and its impact ecosystem continually unlock new forms of capital and innovation to meet the rising needs of the region.

The new strategy reinforces AVPN’s mission of translating intent into impact by bringing together people, ideas and resources for Asia, and its vision of a thriving impact ecosystem that drives a prosperous and inclusive Asia. AVPN delivers this strategy through flagship convenings such as the AVPN Global Conference and summits, pooled funds, policy dialogues and thematic‑specific initiatives, AVPN will amplify community voices, connect unlikely allies and catalyse coalitions that can drive systems‑level change. Current initiatives include partnerships with Indonesia on health impact, with India on energy transition, collaborations with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council on corporate CSR, and work with ASEAN Ministries of Education on economic inclusion enabled by AI and technology.

“When Asia leads with its own frameworks, informed by local realities and grounded in trust, partnership and mutuality, we can turn challenges into opportunities for generations to come. Asia’s leaders must now step up. There is no time to waste. We should not be participants in our own region; we need to be architects of our Asia-led blueprint for impact. And, AVPN’s role as a trusted impact ecosystem is to provide the connective tissue that allows capital to move with confidence across borders, sectors and instruments, so that ambition becomes action,” added Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO, AVPN.

Solving Asia’s social and environmental challenges demands the full continuum of capital, where grants, debt, and equity are intentionally aligned to move solutions from innovation to scale. Asia needs more than just diverse forms of capital but also shared accountability among partners that reduces perceived risk and enables actors across sectors to converge around collective outcomes. With over 700 organisations across 43 markets, and a 15-year track record of building Asia’s impact ecosystem, AVPN is committed to meet this challenge with clarity and purpose for the hundreds of millions of people whose futures depend on the region getting this right.

-END-

About AVPN

AVPN is Asia’s largest platform for social impact, where over 700 resource providers, innovators and intermediaries from across 43 markets collaborate to mobilise capital.  Grounded in deep regional expertise and partnerships, AVPN is building a thriving ecosystem that accelerates measurable progress toward inclusive growth, empowering Asia to lead the way in global impact. AVPN’s mission is to translate intent into impact by bringing together people, ideas, and resources for Asia. We do this by strengthening partnerships, fostering open collaboration, and enabling the coordinated flow of resources across markets and borders. Together with our community, AVPN is building a thriving impact ecosystem that drives a prosperous and inclusive Asia.

For more information about AVPN and our work, please visit our website and read our latest Annual Review.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/avpn-announces-new-strategy-to-mobilise-capital-for-asias-usd-26-trillion-social-and-environmental-transformation-302815239.html

SOURCE AVPN

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

GomSpace Signs 24.4 MSEK Contract with Unseenlabs

Published

on

By

Unseenlabs extends its existing cube satellites constellation.

STOCKHOLM, July 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, GomSpace has signed an additional contract with Unseenlabs to deliver two new CubeSats, expanding the service capacity of the current generation already in orbit. The contract value is 2.2 MEUR (24.4 MSEK), and the satellites are scheduled for delivery in 2027.

These satellites will be similar to the fourteen CubeSats previously ordered in 2022, 2024, and 2025.

Oliver Schieve, VP of Satellite Systems Business Unit at GomSpace, states: “We are proud to once again be selected by Unseenlabs to deliver two additional 8U satellites based on GomSpace’s standard platforms and Unseenlabs’ payload. Seeing Unseenlabs continue to grow and strengthen their business confirms that GomSpace’s long-term focus on reliability and strategic partnership is the right approach.”

Jonathan Galic, co-founder, President, and CTO of Unseenlabs, adds: “Continuing to build our infrastructure on the same proven platform greatly benefits Unseenlabs and allows us to reinforce further the persistence of our services.”

This contract reinforces GomSpace’s market outlook, supports the company’s annual objectives, and contributes to building a solid backlog for 2026.

For more information, please contact:
Anne Breüner (Head of Corporate Affairs)
Tel: +45 40 200 192
E-mail: anbr@gomspace.com

Caroline Schwob (Marketing & Communication Director)
Tel: +33 680 042 226
E-mail: communication@gomspace.com

About GomSpace Group AB
The company’s business operations are mainly conducted through the wholly-owned Danish subsidiary, GomSpace A/S, with operational office in Aalborg, Denmark. GomSpace is a space company with a mission to be engaged in the global market for space systems and services by introducing new products, i.e. components, platforms and systems based on innovation within professional nanosatellites. The company is listed on the Nasdaq First North Premier exchange under the ticker GOMX. FNCA Sweden AB is the Company’s Certified Adviser. For more information, please visit our website on www.gomspace.com.

Miscellaneous
This information is information that GomSpace is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, 08:30 a.m. CEST on July 1, 2026.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com.

https://news.cision.com/gomspace-a-s/r/gomspace-signs-24-4-msek-contract-with-unseenlabs,c4369630

The following files are available for download:

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gomspace-signs-24-4-msek-contract-with-unseenlabs-302815524.html

SOURCE GomSpace A/S

Continue Reading

Technology

AI Is Forcing a New Way Into the Workforce: How the Next Generation Succeeds as the First Job Disappears

Published

on

By

EasyA Founders Dom and Phil Kwok Join Planet Classroom to Challenge the Future of Work: Building Skills Over Credentials

NEW YORK, July 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As artificial intelligence automates the entry-level roles that once defined early careers, a new question is emerging for educators, employers, and policymakers: If the traditional first job disappears, how does the next generation gain experience?

 

In the latest episode of AI For A Better World, Planet Classroom Co-Founder and CEO C. M. (Cathy) Rubin sits down with Dom and Phil Kwok, co-founders of EasyA, to examine how artificial intelligence is transforming the first step into the workforce.

“We’ve all heard the headline that AI is coming for your job,” Rubin says. “But the real crisis isn’t job loss—it’s the ladder being kicked away.”

From Entry-Level Roles to the “Vanishing Ladder”

Rubin challenges the Kwoks on the future of career development when the traditional pathway—degree, internship, junior role—begins to collapse. Dom Kwok, drawing on his own background as a former analyst at Blackstone, points to a fundamental shift in upskilling already underway.

“Much of the work junior employees used to do—Excel spreadsheets, making presentations, really doing the menial stuff—is being automated,” Dom explains. “Models like Claude are replacing some of the junior work… it’s going to result in much fewer analysts needed. The entry-level job as we know it, I think, is over.”

Rather than eliminating opportunity, the shift is redefining it. Dom notes that as routine tasks disappear, early-career professionals can skip the office “manual labor” and move directly to more complicated work that requires a blend of emotional intelligence (EQ) and IQ.

Proof of Skill Over Proof of Degree: The Power of GitHub

As Rubin presses further, the conversation turns to what frontier tech employers value most today. “When a top-tier company looks at talent today,” she asks, “are they looking at the GPA or the GitHub?”

“Definitely the GitHub,” Dom Kwok responds. “We want to see the projects they’ve actually built… We’ve actually hired some of our best engineers, and they never went to school. They never even went to university. But they started building right away and they ultimately had very impressive GitHubs.”

The episode highlights how traditional résumés are heading for the recycling bin, replaced by demonstrable outputs that prove a candidate can think outside the box in real time.

Learning by Doing and the Rise of “Vibe Coding”

With over a million people learning on EasyA, the Kwoks champion hands-on execution over passive lecture halls. Dom explains that much like learning to fly a plane or bake a cake, you cannot truly understand coding until you get your hands dirty.

Furthermore, advanced AI tools are democratizing this process through what is now known as “vibe coding”—allowing hobbyists and non-traditional students to easily build mobile applications just by putting in a clear prompt.

To prove this model works, Phil Kwok shares the success story of an underdog student builder named Ash, who launched a project at an EasyA hackathon in 2022, bypassed traditional collegiate timelines, and survived intense startup challenges to successfully launch Axel, a cutting-edge Web3 and AI agent startup in New York.

AI as a Global Equalizer

While concerns about access persist, the Kwoks emphasize that AI is actively dismantling geographic barriers. “AI removes those barriers,” Dom explains. “You no longer need to pay for an expensive course and sit through hours and weeks of bootcamps… Anyone can literally get stuck in from their homes anywhere in the world.”

Phil Kwok, reflecting on his legal studies at Cambridge University, notes that while universities exist to teach students how to think, AI is the ultimate tool that allows individuals to immediately execute those thoughts.

Looking to the future, Phil predicts a world dominated by solo entrepreneurs powered by automation. “In the age of AI, the ideas person is more powerful than ever. You can build things today that used to require entire teams… It’s very possible to have a one-man billion-dollar company.”

Key Takeaways for the Future of Work:

The Vanishing Analyst: How AI models are taking over spreadsheets and presentations, permanently shrinking traditional corporate junior roles.The GitHub Currency: Why real-world project portfolios are bypassing university degrees in frontier tech hiring.The Vibe Coding Era: How AI acts as a force multiplier, allowing an individual with a clear vision to execute projects that once required teams of 20.The Borderless Workspace: How free AI tools are leveling the playing field for creators in remote regions without elite institutional connections.

Rubin closes the episode with a powerful reflection that reframes modern education: “The question isn’t who will hire you. It’s what can you build?”

Watch AI for a Better World: AI and the Future of Entry-Level Jobs

About Dom and Phil Kwok

Dom and Phil Kwok are co-founders of EasyA, a global platform that helps developers and entrepreneurs learn by building through hackathons and hands-on projects. Their work focuses on equipping the next generation with the skills needed to succeed in emerging technologies.

About C. M. (Cathy) Rubin

C. M. (Cathy) Rubin is Co-Founder and CEO of Planet Classroom and Founder of CMRubinWorld. A multimedia journalist and regular Forbes contributor who has authored more than 800 interviews and articles, Rubin focuses on human-centered AI strategy and global education transformation.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-is-forcing-a-new-way-into-the-workforce-how-the-next-generation-succeeds-as-the-first-job-disappears-302815347.html

SOURCE Planet Classroom Network

Continue Reading

Technology

The Traditional American Backyard Replaces Conventional Neighborhood Development in a New Educational Segment Featuring Realm on “All Access hosted by Andy Garcia”

Published

on

By

How the evolution of single-family zoning into dynamic multi-unit properties is providing a blueprint for sustainable suburban growth.

LOS ANGELES, July 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The conceptual design of American residential neighborhoods is experiencing a fundamental transformation as single-family properties adapt to modern density demands. Realm collaborated with the production team of “All Access hosted by Andy Garcia” during a filming session on June 8, 2026, to document this quiet revolution in construction. Scheduled for distribution to Public Television, the educational segment examines how decentralized housing initiatives are altering urban planning frameworks. The feature highlights the operational shift toward maximizing existing land assets to address broader socioeconomic challenges.

Instead of relying entirely on traditional commercial developers, individual property owners are increasingly driving local housing expansion. The program illustrates how modern platforms synthesize complex municipal databases and historical pricing indexes to simplify the construction process. By providing homeowners with clear architectural baselines and verified builder networks, the methodology eliminates much of the historical friction associated with building secondary units. This structural shift empowers communities to expand organically, turning standard residential properties into diverse tools for economic resilience.

“Nearly 75% of residential land in American cities is still reserved for single-family housing. Today’s zoning reforms are unlocking a powerful opportunity: giving families the ability to build for themselves, their parents, their children, and their communities on land they already own. Expanding housing doesn’t have to mean changing the character of our neighborhoods….it can mean empowering homeowners to help solve one of the country’s biggest challenges while creating more flexibility, financial security, and opportunity for their own families.”

— Liz Young, Founder & CEO, Realm

The momentum behind secondary residential units is heavily accelerated by sweeping legislative changes designed to bypass traditional municipal bottlenecks. Pioneered by West Coast housing policies, states across the country are implementing streamlined permitting processes that effectively remove historical barriers to neighborhood densification. These updated regulatory frameworks not only simplify immediate zoning approvals but also pave the way for formalizing millions of previously unpermitted structures. This legislative shift reflects a growing national acknowledgement that solving the housing availability crisis requires highly adaptable, decentralized zoning regulations that support organic community expansion.

Beyond standard economic pressures, evolving environmental factors are fundamentally altering residential construction requirements in high-risk regions. In the wake of recent environmental emergencies such as intense regional wildfires, traditional whole-home reconstruction frequently encounters severe logistical delays and prohibitive material expenses. Consequently, secondary dwelling structures are rapidly emerging as flexible, accelerated alternatives for displaced residents within established disaster zones. Specialized construction planning methods allow families to re-establish secure living arrangements quickly, illustrating how modern accessory units serve as vital, resilient infrastructure during periods of unexpected community recovery.

About “All Access hosted by Andy Garcia”: “All Access hosted by Andy Garcia” is an educational Public Television program that highlights leading companies, innovative technologies, and paradigm-shifting trends across various industries. Through high-quality documentary segments, the show provides audiences with deep insights into the advancements shaping the modern world. For more information, please visit allaccessptv.com.

About Realm: Realm is an advisory service homeowners rely on for major renovations, from ADUs to remodels to whole-home rebuilds. Working from the largest database of real-world renovation projects in the United States, Realm gives each homeowner a dedicated advisor who shapes the project around their budget, their priorities, and how they live, then prices it honestly and matches them with a vetted contractor who stands behind quality work. The result is a home that finally fits your life: more room as the family grows and spaces that match how you actually spend your days. To learn more, visit realmhome.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-traditional-american-backyard-replaces-conventional-neighborhood-development-in-a-new-educational-segment-featuring-realm-on-all-access-hosted-by-andy-garcia-302814878.html

SOURCE All Access

Continue Reading

Trending