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Accion Opportunity Fund and Ripple celebrate the first graduating class of the Digital Leap Forward Accelerator

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Fifty small business owners across 20 states complete an eight-week program built to help them compete in a digital economy, with a 100% graduation rate

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF), a leading national nonprofit lender and advocate for underserved small businesses in the United States, and Ripple, the leading provider of blockchain-based enterprise solutions, today announced the graduation of the first cohort of the Ripple Digital Leap Forward Accelerator — a program designed to help small business owners adopt the digital tools, financial knowledge, and technology they need to grow and compete.

Fifty small business owners completed the eight-week program, representing more than 18 industries across 20 states. All fifty graduated. Each received a $10,000 grant, funded by Ripple, to invest in their business — a total of $500,000 committed directly to small business owners across the country.

“Our mission extends far beyond access to capital,” said Luz Urrutia, President and Chief Executive Officer of Accion Opportunity Fund. “Capital opens the door. Knowledge, resources, and community help businesses thrive. That’s what this accelerator was built to do, and these fifty graduates proved it, showing what’s possible when small business owners have both the funding and the know-how to put new tools to work.”  

Over eight weeks, participants worked through expert-led sessions on digital marketing, AI and technology integration, financial planning, payments, automation, inventory management, human resources, and operations. Each graduate also completed a personalized digital assessment and roadmap to guide their next steps and joined a peer community of fellow small business owners navigating the same challenges. Graduates can continue working with AOF through free business advising beyond the program.

The program is part of a broader partnership between AOF and Ripple, which includes a $15 million contribution to Accion Opportunity Fund — the first contribution AOF has accepted in stablecoin, made in Ripple’s RLUSD — supporting lending, research, and digital education for small business owners across the United States.

“At Ripple, we believe the technology transforming global finance can also open doors for small business owners in the United States,” said Jonathan Perri, Director of Social Impact at Ripple. “Contributing to Accion Opportunity Fund in RLUSD puts that belief into practice, using digital assets to help real businesses grow. We’re proud to support this cohort of graduates and inspired by what they’ve already accomplished.”

The accelerator responds to a clear need. According to AOF’s national research, 79% of underserved small business owners say up-to-date digital tools are highly important to their business. Rather than lagging in their willingness to adopt technology, many are ahead in their sense of urgency — what they often lack is access to the right tools and the knowledge to use them effectively. The Digital Leap Forward Accelerator was built to close that gap.

“Before the program, I was just guessing at things,” said Shandra Turner, founder of The Bougie Grazer in Atlanta, Georgia. “Now I can look at analytics and I know where to find them, and how to pivot. The accelerator really helped me with that.”

To learn more about the Digital Leap Forward Accelerator and the AOF–Ripple partnership, visit aofund.org/partnerships-ripple.

About Accion Opportunity Fund
As a leading national nonprofit small business lender and Treasury Department-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Accion Opportunity Fund provides affordable loans, free business advising, educational resources, and support networks to fuel long-term success. More than a lender, the organization champions underserved small business owners who are ready to grow, thrive, and build a better future. For over 30 years, Accion Opportunity Fund has expanded access to economic opportunity by creating pathways to both financial and knowledge capital.

About Ripple
Founded in 2012, Ripple is the leading provider of blockchain-based enterprise solutions across traditional and digital finance. Its solutions span global payments, custody, liquidity, and treasury management, serving as a one-stop shop for moving, storing, exchanging, and managing value. Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, and the cryptocurrency XRP underpinning these solutions allow Ripple and its customers to shape the modern financial system.

Media Contact
AOF: pro-accion@prosek.com
Ripple: press@ripple.com

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SOURCE Accion Opportunity Fund

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Last-Minute Apparel Delivery (2026): Same-Day Options for Outfits, Shoes, and Event Essentials by Consumer365

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NEW YORK CITY, NY, Aug. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Consumer365 has released a new guide examining how same-day retail services can help with last-minute outfit needs, event essentials, and sports or outdoor apparel. The article looks at DoorDash as one way consumers are using delivery and delivery facilitation apps for everyday shopping outside restaurant meals.

Last-Minute Apparel Delivery

DoorDash – offers same-day apparel delivery from nearby retailers, including clothing, footwear, athletic wear, and accessories where available

A missing dress shirt, an unexpected weather change, shoes left at home, or workout gear needed before practice can turn a routine day into a time-sensitive shopping problem. Same-day clothes delivery offers another way to handle such errands when visiting a store is difficult.

What Is Changing about Last-minute Apparel Shopping?

Apparel delivery fits this pattern because clothing needs are sometimes tied to fixed times, such as a flight, wedding, dinner, school activity, game, hike, or gym session.

DoorDash is expanding its retail service outside of food delivered through DoorDash, with categories that include footwear, athletic wear, sporting equipment, camping gear, and accessories. Through DoorDash, shoppers can order from nearby stores for same-day delivery, subject to local inventory and service coverage.

Which Situations Can Same-day Delivery Help Address?

Consumer365’s guide looks at everyday situations where last-minute apparel delivery can help: Examples include:

Replacing shoes or clothing forgotten while travelingOrdering an accessory, costume item, or basic garment before an eventGetting athletic wear before a workout, practice, or gameFinding rain gear, hiking apparel, or camping accessories shortly before an outdoor planHandling a damaged, stained, or incorrectly packed item when time is limited

Searches for a last-minute outfit or event outfit ideas may begin with style, but timing and local stock can affect the final choice. A same-day shoe delivery search may also be less about browsing and more about solving a specific problem before a set deadline.

How Does Apparel Delivery through DoorDash Work?

Shoppers can check the DoorDash app or website for participating retail stores in their area, review available items, and choose delivery during checkout. Orders may also be scheduled for a later date and time, which can help with event preparation or travel planning.

If an item is unavailable, the delivery courier may contact the customer to discuss the available choices. Depending on the retailer and the order, those choices can include replacing the item with an alternative, refunding the unavailable item, or canceling the full order for a refund.

This process matters for clothing and shoes, where size, color, fit, and intended use can make substitutions more complicated than a routine household purchase. Shoppers can reduce uncertainty by checking product details and responding promptly if contacted about an unavailable item.

How Quickly Can Retail Orders Be Delivered?

Retail delivery through DoorDash is available in as fast as one hour. Delivery speed is based on average delivery times and is not guaranteed. Stores, products, fees, and timing vary by location, so customers should review the estimate shown for their address before placing an order.

What Should Shoppers Know about Returns?

Return rules vary by retailer, and customers are encouraged to check the specific return policy shown for each store before placing an order, including when ordering through platforms like DoorDash.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Consumer365 notes that retail delivery, including services that facilitate such delivery like DoorDash, has become a practical option for handling time-sensitive needs, including apparel, footwear, and sports or outdoor supplies. The guide offers a simple framework for checking local availability, delivery timing, possible substitutions, and return terms before relying on same-day service for an important plan.

Please visit the Consumer365 website for the full review.

About DoorDash

DoorDash is one of the world’s leading local commerce platforms, helping businesses grow and connecting consumers with the best of their neighborhoods. Through its global portfolio, including Deliveroo and Wolt, DoorDash serves communities across more than 30+ countries, delivering experiences that bring people together—from everyday moments to global celebrations.

About Consumer365.org: Consumer365 provides consumer news and industry insights. As an affiliate, Consumer365 may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/last-minute-apparel-delivery-2026-same-day-options-for-outfits-shoes-and-event-essentials-by-consumer365-302857721.html

SOURCE Consumer365.org

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CorelDRAW 2026 Review: New Features and Workflow Updates for Designers and Print Professionals Highlighted by Expert Consumers

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NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Expert Consumers has recognized CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2026 for workflow updates designed to support designers and print professionals. The CorelDRAW 2026 review examines the software’s current capabilities that can reduce repetitive work, improve file preparation, and support production-ready output.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2026 Review:

CorelDRAW – provides professional design, AI-assisted image preparation, and production tools designed to help print shops, sign makers, apparel decorators, and designers repair client files, manage color, work at accurate scale, and prepare production-ready assets.

The recognition reflects a practical view of professional design software. Rather than presenting new technology as a substitute for creative judgment, the review considers how each update fits into daily work. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2026 brings together illustration, page layout, photo editing, typography, color management, and print preparation within a connected environment.

Print shops, sign makers, apparel decorators, in-house marketers, and professional designers form the primary audience. These groups often manage imperfect client files, multiple output formats, precise color requirements, and short production schedules. The review finds that CorelDRAW’s strongest value remains the connection between design decisions and final production.

What’s New in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2026

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2026 introduces performance, interface, and stability improvements alongside new AI-assisted capabilities. Corel reports application launch times around three times faster or more. Faster startup can make a practical difference for professionals moving between several projects throughout a working day.

A refreshed interface introduces updated icons, refined controls, clearer active-tool states, and more consistent navigation across desktop and browser-based workflows. The changes preserve familiar working patterns while improving visual clarity. Smoother font handling, smarter page and export settings, and new zoom controls also address routine actions that frequently interrupt production.

Existing workflow tools remain central to the overall experience. Multipage View supports side-by-side page management, while Focus Mode helps isolate detailed objects for editing. Object styles encourage consistent formatting across documents. Multi-Asset Export allows selected objects and pages to move into several deliverable formats through a more controlled process.

AI-Assisted Tools Address Common File Problems

Expert Consumers highlights the AI-assisted tools as practical production aids rather than replacements for design work. Client-supplied artwork often arrives with low resolution, compression artifacts, unwanted backgrounds, or limited editability. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2026 addresses several of those problems without requiring a complete manual rebuild.

One-click AI background removal can isolate subjects, including areas with fine details such as hair or fabric. Corel PHOTO-PAINT provides greater control through AI-assisted subject selection and clip masking. AI-powered upsampling and JPEG artifact removal can improve unsuitable source images. PowerTRACE can then convert bitmap artwork into editable vector graphics when production requires scalable elements.

AI Generate and Remix Image support concept development and mockup preparation. Using text prompts, designers can generate starting visuals, change an image element, or place a subject into a new setting. Professional review remains necessary before production. Brand accuracy, resolution, typography, color behavior, and output settings still require human evaluation.

Generative features use an AI credit system. Subscription and maintenance customers currently receive 2,000 credits per month per seat. A one-time purchase includes a non-recurring allotment of 2,000 credits. Corel notes that credit rates and allotments can change, making current terms important for teams planning frequent use.

Production Workflows Remain a Central Strength

The CorelDRAW review places particular emphasis on print and production workflows. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite supports extensive file compatibility, direct bitmap adjustments, multipage layouts, color management, preflight checks, and professional publishing formats. The connected toolset can reduce application switching as work moves from initial artwork to final output.

Extensive file compatibility also matters when client assets arrive in mixed formats. Direct import, correction, and export options can maintain a clearer handoff path. The goal is not simply a larger toolset, but fewer avoidable conversions between receipt and output.

Color management and on-screen proofing help identify potential output issues before materials enter production. Spot colors and document palettes support consistent color decisions across coordinated assets. For apparel decorators and screen printers, separation checks can reduce uncertainty before film, screens, ink, and garments are committed.

Sign makers and large-format professionals can work at a true 1:1 scale. Wide-format canvas support assists with oversized artwork, while Border and Grommet tools help prepare banner layouts for finishing. Preflight Control can identify production concerns before export. PDF/X support, including PDF/X-4, provides established options for print-ready file delivery.

The Export docker (Windows) or inspector (macOS) and Multi-Asset Export support repeatable output across different objects, pages, and formats. Print Merge can incorporate variable text, images, QR codes, and spreadsheet data. The Pages docker or inspector helps organize brochures, labels, point-of-sale materials, and coordinated campaign assets within multipage documents.

Licensing, Suitable Users, and Practical Trade-Offs

Whether CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is worth the investment depends largely on production needs and preferred licensing. Corel offers both subscription and one-time purchase options. A subscription includes ongoing updates, CorelDRAW Web, cloud storage, cloud-based asset management, expanded content, and recurring AI credits.

The one-time purchase allows continued use of the 2026 desktop version without an ongoing subscription. This option excludes many features, apps, and workflows available to subscribers and maintenance customers. It also does not include ongoing support for future operating systems, devices, or technologies, and provides a non-recurring AI credit allotment instead of monthly credits. This distinction gives organizations a clearer choice between a stable desktop setup and a continuously updated workflow.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2026 is most relevant for print shops, sign makers, apparel decorators, and professional designers handling production-focused work. In-house marketing teams may also benefit from combining illustration, layout, image editing, typography, and export tools in one environment.

The review also identifies a genuine trade-off. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite contains a broad professional toolset, so teams producing only simple template-based graphics may not need the full depth of the suite. AI-assisted tools can improve preparation speed, but dependable output still requires knowledge of color, file quality, typography, and production settings.

Expert Consumers concludes that CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2026 delivers a focused update for professionals working under real production constraints. Faster startup, improved stability, practical AI-assisted preparation, and established print controls shape the main case for the release. The assessment positions CorelDRAW as a production-oriented option for organizations managing signage, apparel, multipage documents, variable print jobs, and imperfect client files.

The full review is available at the Expert Consumers website.

About Corel

Corel is a global software company headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with more than 100 million users in over 75 countries. Founded in 1985, Corel has built a strong reputation for innovation and usability in graphics, digital‑media, and productivity software. Its product portfolio includes vector illustration (CorelDRAW Graphics Suite), natural‑media painting (Corel Painter), photo editing (Corel PaintShop Pro), video production (Corel VideoStudio), and productivity tools (WordPerfect Office and WinZip). Corel’s software is designed for both professionals and creative consumers and provides powerful features in an accessible, easy‑to-learn format. With a global footprint that includes major offices in the US, UK, Germany, China, Taiwan and Japan, Corel continues to expand its reach while maintaining a close connection with its user community.

About ExpertConsumers.org: Expert Consumers delivers news and insights on consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Expert Consumers may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coreldraw-2026-review-new-features-and-workflow-updates-for-designers-and-print-professionals-highlighted-by-expert-consumers-302857735.html

SOURCE ExpertConsumers.org

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HTX Research Examines U.S. AI Equities: Technology Remains Early, While Capital Expenditure and Valuations Have Entered the Late Cycle

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APIA, Samoa, Aug. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HTX Research, the dedicated research arm of HTX, has released a new report titled The Industrialization of Intelligence and the Bubble Cycle: Token Economics, Capital Expenditure, and the Repricing of Risk-Reward Across U.S. AI Equities. Its central argument is that the AI industry and AI equities are not at the same point in their respective cycles — technological diffusion remains in its early stages while capital expenditure, valuations, and investor sentiment have moved well ahead of it.

The Variables Driving Equity Prices

Markets first priced the scarcity of GPUs, high-bandwidth memory, servers, and data-center capacity, and later the capability gains delivered by frontier models and coding agents. In 2026, the variables driving equity returns are shifting away from model parameter counts and the scale of capital expenditure toward token production costs, task-completion reliability, usage intensity, enterprise-workflow penetration, and the ability of enormous AI investments to generate durable free cash flow.

Behind that shift is a change in the magnitude of capital spending. J.P. Morgan Asset Management estimates that five U.S. hyperscalers will spend approximately $697 billion in 2026, with capital expenditure rising from roughly 33% of their operating cash flow in 2023 to an estimated 93%. Once capital expenditure consumes the overwhelming majority of operating cash flow, market attention necessarily moves from revenue growth to return on capital.

The Bubble Sits in the Financial Architecture, Not the Industry

Cloud revenue, coding-agent adoption, semiconductor sales, and enterprise demand are all growing in real terms, meaning AI technology itself is not a false narrative. Capital expenditure, external financing, data-center projects, private-model valuations, and a number of high-multiple second-tier equities, however, display increasingly speculative characteristics.

Headline price-to-earnings ratios also fail to represent true valuation levels: Alphabet’s multiple is distorted by investment income, and Amazon’s current accounting profit does not reflect a normalized valuation. What genuinely offers value is the closest alignment among normalized valuation, competitive moats, cash flow, and AI optionality.

At current prices and cycle positions, the report views Alphabet as offering the most compelling overall asymmetry, and applies the same framework across Microsoft, Meta, TSMC, NVIDIA, Amazon, Oracle, Micron, AMD, Arista, and Vertiv — distinguishing businesses with high fundamental win rates from those whose valuations already demand near-flawless execution.

AI Is Reshaping How Crypto Investors Allocate Capital

AI’s role as a shared theme across global capital markets extends beyond U.S. equity pricing into the allocation behavior of crypto investors. As names including NVIDIA, Micron, TSMC, Broadcom, Meta, and Alphabet enter the everyday portfolios of crypto users alongside gold, crude oil, ETFs, and pre-IPO assets, a growing share of users now treat crypto and U.S. equities as different allocation directions within a single global risk-asset system.

HTX has been one of the earliest crypto exchanges to systematically pursue this direction. According to data disclosed in August 2026, cumulative trading volume in the platform’s TradFi perpetuals section has exceeded $2.5 billion, with support for more than 170 TradFi-related assets spanning U.S. equities, ETFs, gold, silver, crude oil, AI semiconductors, memory, aerospace, and pre-IPO themes such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

What makes this model work is the platform’s existing base of crypto users who have completed registration, verification, and funding. Holding stablecoins such as USDT, they can trade TradFi assets within the same account without opening a brokerage account or moving capital into a separate financial system — allocating toward gold, ETFs, or large-cap technology when risk appetite declines, and raising crypto and high-beta AI exposure when it recovers.

The Competitive Boundary for Trading Platforms Is Shifting

Competition among trading platforms will extend beyond spot markets, derivatives, liquidity, and listing speed toward a broader contest spanning multi-asset access, wealth management, and AI investment tools. Platforms with durable competitiveness will see their core capability evolve from execution alone toward global asset distribution.

This confirms a larger judgment in the report: AI is changing not only model capability and compute demand, but capital flows, allocation behavior, and how financial products are organized. HTX’s early positioning in TradFi corresponds with HTX Research’s sustained tracking of the AI theme and cross-market capital flows — identifying cycle positions, reading capital flows, and understanding how assets move in relation to one another sits at the core of research work, and also forms a source of first-mover advantage in business decisions. As AI drives global markets into a new phase of convergence, institutions capable of understanding both industrial cycles and capital flows are better positioned for the next round of competition.

*The above content is not an investment advice and does not constitute any offer or solicitation to offer or recommendation of any investment product.

About HTX Research

HTX Research is the dedicated research arm of HTX Group, responsible for conducting in-depth analyses, producing comprehensive reports, and delivering expert evaluations across a broad spectrum of topics, including cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and emerging market trends. Committed to providing data-driven insights and strategic foresight, HTX Research plays a pivotal role in shaping industry perspectives and supporting informed decision-making within the digital asset space. Through rigorous research methodologies and cutting-edge analytics, HTX Research remains at the forefront of innovation, driving thought leadership and fostering a deeper understanding of evolving market dynamics. Visit us.

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SOURCE HTX Research

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