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Mighty Spark launches national campaign, expands at Costco and takes summer sampling tour on the road

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Chicken snack brand leans into taste as it pursues growth in the fast-rising chicken meat snack segment

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mighty Spark, the creator of the No. 1-selling chicken snack stick, is building momentum ahead of National Snack Stick Day on Sept. 23 with national marketing, retail and experiential initiatives that bring its new “Astoundingly Delicious Chicken” campaign to more consumers.

The brand’s latest push includes:

One of Mighty Spark’s largest club launches to date, with a nationwide Costco rotation now underway.Its first national connected TV campaign, reaching audiences across major streaming platforms.A three-event summer sampling tour reaching pickleball players, youth athletes and their families.

Mighty Spark expands at Costco nationwide

Mighty Spark’s 12-count Chicken Snack Stick Variety Packs are rolling out to more than 600 Costco locations nationwide, matching the scale of the brand’s largest club launch to date.

Depending on the region, Costco members will find either the Original and Honey Jalapeño Variety Pack or the Original and Teriyaki Variety Pack. Pricing is set by Costco and may vary by location and between in-club and online purchases, with anticipated prices ranging from $12.99 to $14.99.

The launch comes amid constrained U.S. cattle supplies and continued upward pressure on beef costs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that the nation’s beef cow inventory declined 1% to 27.6 million head as of Jan. 1, 2026, and forecasts wholesale beef prices to rise 10.6% this year.

During the 52 weeks ended July 4, 2026, sales of chicken snack sticks grew 97%, compared with 11.5% growth for the overall meat snack category, according to NielsenIQ. Mighty Spark’s sales grew more than 43% during the same period.

“The economics of the meat snack category are changing quickly, creating a significant opportunity for chicken,” said Andrew Wagner, chief marketing officer of Mighty Spark. “Our Costco expansion, national campaign and sampling program will introduce more families to a snack that delivers bold flavor, quality ingredients and convenient protein at a price that makes sense for everyday occasions.”

The launch also coincides with the back-to-school season, when families are looking for convenient snacks that can move easily from lunchboxes and backpacks to sports bags and after-school activities. Mighty Spark’s individually packaged Snack Sticks, including its Mini Snack Sticks, are designed for busy, on-the-go occasions while delivering the flavor families crave.

First national campaign puts humor behind “Astoundingly Delicious Chicken”

Mighty Spark’s first national connected TV campaign brings the brand’s “Astoundingly Delicious Chicken” positioning to streaming audiences through two spots highlighting the convenience, taste and texture of its chicken products.

The product-focused “No Compromise” spot highlights Mighty Spark’s ingredients and flavor, while the humor-driven “Award Ceremony” spot celebrates everyday moments made better by a delicious chicken snack stick.

The campaign will reach viewers across streaming platforms including HBO Max, discovery+, Paramount+, HGTV, ABC and Roku. It will focus on families, health and fitness enthusiasts, better-for-you shoppers and consumers who already purchase meat snacks.

Display and retail media advertising will extend the campaign’s reach and reinforce Mighty Spark’s back-to-school message, positioning its chicken snack sticks as a convenient, astoundingly delicious option for lunchboxes, backpacks, sports bags and busy schedules for parents and kids alike.

Mighty Spark takes its snacks on the road

Mighty Spark is also bringing its chicken snack sticks directly to families and active consumers through a summer sampling campaign produced in partnership with Fastbreak AI. Through its Fastbreak Connect platform, the sports technology company produces brand activations designed to connect consumer brands with athletes and families at sporting events.

The campaign kicked off July 23 at the Major League Pickleball tournament in Northbrook, Illinois, where:

Mighty Spark brand ambassadors distributed 4,000 individual chicken snack sticks to players and spectators.Mighty Spark creative appeared on LED screens throughout the venue.Custom video content from the event was shared on social media channels operated by Mighty Spark and Major League Pickleball.

The sampling tour will continue at two youth soccer tournaments:

Desperado Summer Cup: Aug. 7-9 in Grapevine, Texas.Virginia Cup: Sept. 4-6 in Midlothian and Williamsburg, Virginia. The tournament features players ages 8 to 19.

The events will introduce Mighty Spark to young athletes and their families as the back-to-school and fall sports seasons get underway, highlighting the brand’s portable chicken snack sticks as an easy option for practices, tournaments, school days and other on-the-go occasions.

Media images can be found here.

About Mighty Spark

Mighty Spark is a premium chicken company focused on delivering great-tasting lean protein that empowers consumers to eat well without sacrifice. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Mighty Spark sells chicken snack sticks, preseasoned, ready-to-cook ground chicken and chicken patties made with whole-food ingredients. In partnership with Feeding America and with support from retail partners and consumers, Mighty Spark has donated more than 19 million meals to local food banks nationwide.

For more information or to find a retailer, visit mightysparkfood.com.

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SOURCE Mighty Spark

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SparkLabs and Mirae Asset Launch a Venture Capital Fund for Central Asian Startups

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SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC), IT Park Ventures (Uzbekistan), Mirae Asset Venture Investment and SparkLabs Group have signed a term sheet to establish SparkLabs Mirae Silk Road Fund I LP, a new venture capital fund. The fund will be managed by Mirae Asset Venture Investment and SparkLabs Group.

The signing took place in Seoul during the state visits of the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Korea and the first Central Asia–Republic of Korea Summit.

During this past week, South Korea and Kazakhstan signed commercial agreements worth US$18.95 billion. Kazakhstan is a country of 20 million people with its core industries being oil and gas, and among the highest producers of iron and silver in the world. Uzbekistan is a country of 39 million people, and they are the largest electricity producer in Central Asia.

Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC) is Kazakhstan’s national fund of funds and are anchor investors along with IT Park Ventures, the venture capital arm of the country’s state technology park. The new venture capital fund will back Central Asian startups at the Series A and later, which are businesses with a proven model that are ready to scale beyond the region. The fund is sector-agnostic but focuses on AI-native companies, where artificial intelligence is core to the product and business model.

“Higgsfield becoming Kazakhstan’s first unicorn was a turning point. It showed that a world-class AI company can be built in Central Asia. And it won’t be the last with more than half of the region’s population is under 30, growing up digital and our governments actively investing in AI. Yet the region is still largely overlooked by international investors, and that’s the opportunity this fund is built for,” explained Aslan Sultanov, Co-founder and General Partner at SparkLabs Mirae Silk Road.

Former Coinbase CTO and Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, Balaji Srinivasan, reopened his Network School in Kazakhstan last month. Telegram launched an AI lab and opened their first regional office in Kazakhstan this past year.

Beyond capital, portfolio companies will gain access to the SparkLabs and Mirae Asset’s global networks, along with hands-on support in expanding into South Korea, the United States and the MENA region.

About the Partners

SparkLabs Group is a network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds that has invested in over 600 startups across 6 continents since December 2013. These companies include OpenAI, SpaceX, Vectara, Kneron, Anthropic, Nex Team, Kraken, GenG, Lyft, MetAI, and others.

Mirae Asset Venture Investment is the venture capital arm of Mirae Asset Financial Group, one of Asia’s largest independent financial groups with over US$845 billion in assets under management. The company operates worldwide across 18 markets, and manages a fully diversified global investment platform encompassing ETFs, alternative investments, and traditional strategies.

Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC) is Kazakhstan’s national fund of funds and part of Baiterek National Managing Holding. QIC invests in private equity and venture capital funds alongside international and private partners, with the goal of attracting long-term capital into Kazakhstan and developing the country’s investment ecosystem. QIC participates in 19 funds with a combined capitalization of $2.8 billion.

IT Park Ventures is the venture capital arm of IT Park Uzbekistan, the country’s state technology park and the main platform supporting Uzbekistan’s IT industry and tech exports. IT Park Ventures invests in startups from Uzbekistan and Central Asia and co-invests with international funds, connecting regional founders with global capital and markets.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sparklabs-and-mirae-asset-launch-a-venture-capital-fund-for-central-asian-startups-302883810.html

SOURCE SparkLabs Group

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AECOM Data Breach Investigation: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Probes Class Action Claims After Hackers Allege Theft of More Than 1 TB of Data

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National class action law firm offers free, confidential case evaluations to AECOM employees, clients, and others whose personal information may have been exposed in the reported AECOM data breach.

DALLAS, Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from a reported data breach at AECOM, the U.S.-based multinational infrastructure and engineering firm. Anyone who has received a data breach notice from AECOM, or who believes their personal information may have been exposed, can request a free case evaluation.

AECOM data breach — at a glance:

Company: AECOM, a Texas-based, multibillion-dollar multinational infrastructure consulting, engineering, design, and construction management firm.Reported: A cyberattack said to have occurred on or about September 17, 2026, first surfaced on dark web monitoring sites.Hackers’ claims: The group Metaencryptor claimed responsibility for an attack said to involve approximately 1.22 terabytes (TB) of data. Separately, dark web monitoring service Breachsense listed a related AECOM leak of roughly 670GB attributed to a group identified as BrainCipher.Status: The breach and the hackers’ claims remain unconfirmed. AECOM has not publicly detailed the scope or impact.Who may be affected: Current and former AECOM employees, clients, and others whose data AECOM held.Cost to you: Nothing. Case evaluations are free and confidential.

What Happened

According to a September 17, 2026 post on the dark web monitoring site Ransomware.live, the hacker group Metaencryptor claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on AECOM that allegedly affected about 1.22 TB of data. The cybersecurity blog HookPhish similarly reported that Metaencryptor was behind a suspected attack on the engineering firm.

Separately, the dark web monitoring service Breachsense reported an AECOM data leak listed at approximately 670GB, attributed to a group it identified as BrainCipher. Breachsense also indexed thousands of AECOM-linked credentials circulating online, including 27,434 @aecom.com accounts drawn from external breaches and 6,077 credentials tied to aecom.com itself — among them thousands of logins found in “combo lists” and in infostealer malware logs, many with plaintext passwords. Breachsense cautioned that those credentials may belong to either customers or staff and are not necessarily connected to the claimed attack.

The breach has not been confirmed, and important details (including its true scope, the specific data involved, and the number of people affected) are not yet publicly available.

What Personal Information May Be at Risk

The specific data involved in the reported AECOM data breach has not been confirmed. Data breaches like this can expose personal information, increasing the risk of identity theft and fraud. Affected individuals should treat any AECOM breach notification seriously.

Who May Be Affected by the AECOM Data Breach

The investigation focuses on current and former AECOM employees, clients, and anyone else whose personal information AECOM maintained. Anyone who has received a data breach notification from AECOM may face an increased risk of identity theft and fraud and is encouraged to come forward.

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 reported AECOM breach. A successful case could recover compensation for losses such as lost time, out-of-pocket costs, and loss of privacy, and could push AECOM to strengthen how it protects personal information. The firm will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Recommended Steps to Protect Yourself

Review your account statements and credit reports regularly and stay alert for suspicious activity.Confirm whether your information was involved in the AECOM incident.Preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach.Consider placing fraud alerts and enrolling in 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; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

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. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The reported data breach and the hackers’ claims described above are unconfirmed.

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SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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iScreen Reaches No. 1 in Graphics & Design Across 94 Markets Following iOS 27 Update

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Extra-large widget experiences, iOS 27-inspired themes and new customization tools drive iScreen’s latest global growth

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — iScreen, a mobile customization app for iOS and Android, announced that it has reached No. 1 in the Graphics & Design category across 94 countries and regions following its latest iOS 27-focused update.

The update expands iScreen’s Home Screen customization experience with new extra-large widgets, iOS 27-inspired themes, layouts optimized for new screen proportions, and AI-assisted design tools.

Extra-Large Widgets

Built for the larger widget canvas available in iOS 27, iScreen’s new extra-large widgets go beyond simply scaling up existing formats. The collection includes Photo, Album, Music, Calendar, Interactive Refrigerator and Quick Launch widgets, among others. Users can also customize content, layouts and visual styles to create more functional and expressive Home Screen experiences.

iOS 27-Inspired Themes and iPhone Duo Theme Support

iScreen has introduced new iOS 27-inspired themes that combine coordinated wallpapers, transparent-style widgets, icons and other visual elements into complete Home Screen setups.

Selected themes have also been optimized for iPhone Duo’s screen proportions and display dimensions, with wallpapers, widgets and icons adjusted to better fit the new format while maintaining a cohesive visual experience.

AI-Assisted Home Screen Design

iScreen is also testing AI Home Screen Designer with a limited group of users. The feature generates coordinated design suggestions based on users’ preferences for style, color and visual elements, combining wallpapers, widgets and icons into a unified setup.

“The latest iOS update has opened up new possibilities for mobile personalization,” said the iScreen team. “We want to turn those capabilities into practical and creative experiences that make Home Screen design easier and more expressive.”

About iScreen

iScreen is a mobile customization app offering widgets, wallpapers, themes and Home Screen customization tools for iOS and Android devices. With more than 100 million users worldwide, iScreen has ranked No. 1 in Graphics & Design across 94 countries and regions and has been featured by Apple Editorial in 128 countries for five consecutive days.

Official Website: iScreen – Phone Style, iScreen it!
iOS Download: ‎‎iScreen – Widgets & Wallpaper App – App Store
Android Download: iScreen Google Play

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/iscreen-reaches-no-1-in-graphics–design-across-94-markets-following-ios-27-update-302883972.html

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