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Fresha Cements Its Position as the Leading Software Powering The Global Barbering Industry

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LONDON, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fresha, the world’s leading AI-powered booking platform for beauty and wellness, is now the leading software powering barber businesses globally, backed by 108% year-on-year growth in active barber partners and a rapidly expanding barbering community across major markets including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. Fresha’s leadership extends beyond its technology, with some of the industry’s most influential barbers, educators and entrepreneurs representing the platform internationally, alongside long-term partnerships with major barbering events and communities around the world.

Fresha’s growing barbering community spans independent professionals and barbershops through to some of the industry’s most recognized franchises, including MENSPIRE, Rascals, Ted’s Grooming Room, Gould Barbers, and Blackbox. Its global ambassador network reflects the increasingly international nature of the profession, bringing together leading barbers and educators from the UK, Europe and North America, including Josh Lamonaca, Sam Bentham, Thaddeus Jayaseelan, Andrea Amighetti, Alexi Michael and US-based Yadiel “A-Rod” Rodriguez. The network continues to expand, with barber and educator Cal Newsome and Sheldon Edwards, educator and owner of HD CUTZ, among the latest industry names to join Fresha as global ambassadors.

Beyond the platform, Fresha now supports a global calendar of more than 25 trailblazing professional hair and selfcare events and activations. This includes a landmark five-year partnership with HairCon Powered by Fresha in the UK, a multi-year exclusive global partnership with HAIRFEST, and an expanding presence across North America, where Fresha has brought its barbering community together through major industry moments in Toronto and continues to deepen its presence across the United States. Fresha’s wider barbering footprint now stretches from London and Manchester to Toronto and the US, as well as Australia, Bali, Romania and beyond.

That international momentum reflects a barbering industry that is becoming increasingly ambitious, entrepreneurial and commercially sophisticated. Across established barbering markets such as the UK and fast-growing communities across North America, independent barbers are building powerful personal brands, established shops are expanding into multiple locations, and some of the profession’s biggest names are developing academies, education businesses, products and international communities alongside their work behind the chair. Fresha has grown with that ambition, giving businesses the infrastructure to manage bookings, payments, clients, teams, commissions, marketing, reporting and online discovery from one connected platform, while continuing to introduce AI-powered technology designed to take more of the operational workload away from professionals.

For barbers, where the person delivering the service is often also responsible for managing and growing the business, that technology has a particularly important role to play. Fresha allows independent professionals to manage their entire operation from one place, while giving larger barbershops and multi-location groups the controls and visibility required to manage increasingly complex businesses. Newer capabilities, including AI Concierge, can answer client calls while barbers are busy behind the chair, helping clients book, reschedule and manage appointments using live information from the business. Professional Profiles, Online Reputation and Smart Website Builder give barbers powerful ways to showcase their work, build their reputation and grow their presence beyond the shop itself.

“Barbering is one of the most entrepreneurial communities within the global selfcare industry, and the growth we’re seeing reflects just how quickly these businesses are evolving,” said William Zeqiri, Founder and CEO of Fresha. “We want Fresha to give barbers the infrastructure to build serious, enduring businesses, whether that means running one chair exceptionally well, growing a team, opening multiple locations or building an international brand. Seeing our active barber partners more than double in a year is incredibly exciting, but for us this is only the beginning. We intend to keep investing in the technology, people and communities pushing barbering forward.”

“Barbering has changed enormously, and the opportunity for the next generation is so much bigger than simply becoming great behind the chair,” said Josh Lamonaca, Co-founder of MENSPIRE Salon and MENSPIRE Academy and Head of Hair Education at Fresha. “Barbers are building teams, opening locations, educating internationally and creating brands with global audiences. As those ambitions grow, the systems behind the business become incredibly important. What excites me about Fresha is that it isn’t looking at barbering from the outside. It is listening to the people within it and building technology that can grow alongside where we want to take this industry.”

The rapid growth of Fresha’s barbering community reflects a wider ambition to become more than the software used behind the chair. From its established barbering community across the UK and Europe to its expanding presence throughout the United States and wider North American market, Fresha is investing in the technology, people and communities shaping the profession at a global level. From independent professionals building loyal local client bases to established brands expanding teams, locations and academies internationally, Fresha is building the infrastructure to support a barbering industry that is becoming more ambitious, connected and influential around the world.

About Fresha

Fresha is the world’s leading AI-powered booking platform for beauty and wellness, trusted by over 140,000 partner businesses across more than 120 countries. Its fully integrated ecosystem spans scheduling, payments, marketing, team management and a global consumer marketplace, giving beauty and wellness businesses everything they need to operate, grow and scale. The Fresha Marketplace connects millions of consumers with salons, spas, barbershops and wellness studios worldwide, with over one million monthly downloads and more than $1.4 billion in monthly transaction value. To learn more, visit fresha.com.

Press enquiries

press@fresha.com

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SOURCE Fresha

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ACL Digital Recognized with 2026 TSMC OIP Partner of the Year Award for Design Service Excellence

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ACL Digital earns recognition at the TSMC 2026 North America OIP Ecosystem Forum for delivering advanced design services for mutual customers across AI, Data Center, and IoT markets.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ACL Digital, part of the ALTEN Group, today announced that it has received the 2026 TSMC Open Innovation Platform® (OIP) Partner of the Year Award for Design Service Excellence. ACL Digital is a trusted AI-led Digital Enterprise & Systems Engineering Partner driving innovation by designing and building intelligent systems across the full technology stack from chip to cloud.

The 2026 TSMC OIP Partner of the Year Award recognizes ACL Digital’s exceptional contributions to providing advanced design services for mutual customers. TSMC announced the award winners at its 2026 North America OIP Ecosystem Forum, a premier event bringing together TSMC’s customers and design ecosystem partners.

Through continuous alignment of its technological roadmap, ACL Digital partners with TSMC to enable global enterprises to solve intricate engineering challenges across critical sectors:

Data Center & AI Systems: Delivering optimized silicon design and system architecture to handle heavy AI workloads and enterprise compute demands.IoT & Edge Computing: Designing low-power, high-efficiency semiconductor solutions that empower edge-intelligence ecosystems.

“On behalf of ACL Digital, thank you to TSMC for the prestigious OIP Partner of the Year Award for Design Service Excellence. This recognition reflects our powerful shared vision,” said Ramandeep Singh, CEO of ACL Digital. “For years, our deep collaboration has enabled mutual customers to turn complex technology challenges into groundbreaking market realities. By aligning our roadmap to TSMC technology innovations, we continue to push the limits of silicon design performance. Thank you, TSMC, for your trust, your excellence, and your extraordinary partnership.”

“This award celebrates a collaboration that delivers immense value to our customers,” said Prasanna Shroff, Head of Semiconductor at ACL Digital. “Together, we have successfully enabled next-generation chips for Data Center, AI, and IoT markets, empowering our mutual customers to scale faster. We’d also like to thank the OIP ecosystem for its proactive support in expanding our capabilities through recent advanced node design trainings, helping us deliver an even stronger customer experience. Moving forward, we are fully committed to expanding our footprint in these critical application spaces. We will continue collaborating with TSMC to engineer the future.”

Looking ahead, ACL Digital intends to expand its partnership footprint within the TSMC OIP ecosystem, strengthening its design services capabilities to help global clients transform complex silicon ideas into production-ready enterprise solutions.

About ACL Digital

ACL Digital, part of the ALTEN Group, is a trusted AI-led Digital Enterprise & Systems Engineering Partner driving innovation by designing and building intelligent systems across the full technology stack from chip to cloud. By integrating AI and data-powered solutions, we help enterprises accelerate digital transformation, optimize operations, and achieve scalable business outcomes. Partner with us to turn complexity into clarity and shape the future of your organization.

Learn more at www.acldigital.com.

 

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SOURCE ACL Digital

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iLOQ and Kimi Räikkönen unlock the next generation in new global campaign

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New campaign builds on iLOQ’s longstanding relationship with the Räikkönen family, bringing Kimi and aspiring young racer Robin together to explore what one generation can give the next – and a new chapter in Kimi’s life as father and mentor

OULU, Finland, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — iLOQ, a global technology company providing sustainable smart access management solutions that enhance security, flexibility and convenience, has partnered with Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen and his son Robin Räikkönen for a new global brand campaign centered on the next generation – and the opportunities that can be created when they are given access to move forward.

Under the theme “The Next Generation Is Coming,” the campaign builds on iLOQ’s longstanding relationship with the Räikkönen family and its broader history of sports partnerships. Having supported Kimi for many years, iLOQ extended that relationship to Robin as he began his own racing journey. The campaign now follows Kimi and Robin at a moment when their respective relationships with racing look very different. Kimi, who retired from Formula 1 in 2021 after a career spanning more than two decades, is now supporting Robin as he develops his own path in karting. As Robin begins to make his own mark on the track and see results from years of hard work, the campaign captures a coming-of-age moment in that journey – and the perseverance, commitment and independence being passed from one generation to the next.

For Kimi, that has meant exchanging the driver’s seat for a new role.

“I’m a mechanic now, so it’s different,” said Kimi Räikkönen. “I enjoy doing the mechanic work for Robin and supporting him, and trying to explain some corners – maybe you should try this or that. But I always give him his own option. I only say, maybe this could be better, and at least give it a go – and then it’s up to him to choose.”

The campaign’s focus on opening opportunities for the next generation reflects iLOQ’s broader vision of what access can enable. Through its battery-free digital locking and mobile access solutions, iLOQ enables secure access to the places people need to enter, while the new campaign takes that idea beyond the literal door to consider what access can make possible.

“Access has always been at the heart of what we do, but what really matters is what it makes possible,” said Heikki Hiltunen, iLOQ Board Member and former CEO. “We’ve worked with Kimi for many years because he personifies many of the values that have shaped iLOQ – integrity, hard work, perseverance, and the confidence and competence to deliver beyond what people expect. Our own story has always been about combining that heritage with innovation and continuing to move forward. Supporting Robin as he begins his own journey feels like a natural next chapter. It’s about opening opportunities for the next generation and giving them the freedom to make those opportunities their own.”

The campaign marks a different kind of appearance for Räikkönen. Rather than looking back at his Formula 1 career, the campaign focuses on what comes next for his family – racing, the lessons he is passing on to Robin and his belief that young athletes need space to develop independently.

That extends to how Kimi approaches Robin’s development. While data and video analysis have become an increasingly familiar part of modern motorsport, Räikkönen says their approach is deliberately more instinctive.

“We don’t really look at videos, we don’t look at data, and I don’t own a computer, so it’s slightly different than maybe many others,” Räikkönen said. “But I prefer that he learns himself. It’s probably going to take longer, but at least he figures out in his own head what is the correct way. And I think if he wants to keep going and try to achieve something in the future, it’s the better way.”

For Räikkönen, that also means taking a longer view of what success looks like. While results matter, he says watching Robin learn and continue to enjoy racing is more important than any individual finish.

The campaign is led by a cinematic hero film featuring Kimi and Robin together on the racetrack, supported by photography, digital and out-of-home advertising, and a four-part interview content series with Kimi. Conversations explore his transition from racing to supporting Robin, his philosophy on developing young talent, the realities of family life around racing, and what experience has taught him about learning from the past while continuing to look forward.

The campaign will roll out across iLOQ’s key global markets through digital out-of-home, social media, print, online video and other channels, alongside iLOQ’s own platforms, industry events and partner communications, continuing to build on the longstanding relationship between iLOQ and the Räikkönen family.

For more information about iLOQ and its sustainable smart access management solutions, visit www.iloq.com.

Media materials

Campaign photography and additional Kimi Räikkönen interview content are available here. Campaign video available here.

Media enquiries

Erika Kuorikoski
San Francisco Agency
+358 41 3271472
erika@sanfrancisco.fi

About iLOQ

iLOQ is a technology disruptor that has revolutionized the locking industry by replacing mechanical locking to make life limitless. Battery and cable-free smart locks maximize security, minimize lifecycle costs, and enhance the value and sustainability of properties and infrastructures. iLOQ operates in more than 55 countries with over 1,800 partner locations globally. In 2025, iLOQ had a turnover of €150 million and more than 310 employees. www.iLOQ.com

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

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Envision Energy Secures TÜV SÜD Certificate for Wind Farm Control System, Strengthening Long-Term Resilience for Future Energy Systems

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HAMBURG, Germany, Sept. 25, 2026 /CNW/ — During WindEnergy Hamburg 2026, Envision Energy’s wind farm control system has received IEC 62443-3-3 Security Level 2 (SL2) certificate from TÜV SÜD, covering key elements of the wind farm control system, including SCADA, PPC, PLC and industrial network devices. The certificate marks a significant step forward in Envision Energy’s cybersecurity journey, extending independently validated security capabilities from core control components to the wind farm system level.

IEC 62443 is a globally recognized cybersecurity standard series for industrial automation and control systems. IEC 62443-3-3 focuses on system-level security requirements, including relevant components, networks and system security mechanisms work together within an overall control system. The certificate therefore provides independent validation of the cybersecurity capabilities embedded across Envision Energy’s wind farm control system.

Envision Energy has been integrating cybersecurity into the design, development, production and delivery of its wind energy technologies. Its IEC 62443 capabilities now span multiple layers, including:

Secure Development Lifecycle certified to IEC 62443-4-1;SCADA, PPC and PLC certified to IEC 62443-4-2 SL2;Wind farm control system certified to IEC 62443-3-3 SL2;System Security Integration and Maintenance Service Capabilities certified to IEC 62443-2-4

Together, these certificates reflect a structured approach to cybersecurity spanning secure development, core components, system-level protection and service delivery.

“As wind becomes an increasingly critical part of future energy systems, cybersecurity is fundamental to the safe, reliable and resilient operation of wind assets. The latest certificate reflects Envision Energy’s continued commitment to meeting evolving cybersecurity and compliance requirements in international markets, including Europe,” said Yimin Lou, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer of Envision Energy, “We see certificate not as the destination, but as a foundation for continuous improvement. We will continue to embed cybersecurity across the lifecycle of our technologies, systems and services, building greater resilience and lasting trust for our customers.”

“The energy transition is accelerating the digitalisation of critical energy infrastructure, making cybersecurity an increasingly important element of trust in the technologies that power it. Envision Energy’s IEC 62443-3-3 SL2 certificate represents a further step towards addressing cybersecurity at the system level, complementing the security capabilities already established across its core control components. Independent verification against internationally recognised standards can help strengthen confidence in the security and reliability of wind energy infrastructure.” said Frank L. Blaimberger, Vice President Global Innovation Lead for Digitized Compliance Solutions and Connected Systems from TÜV SÜD.

– End –

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SOURCE Envision Energy

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