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Alive App Raises $1 Million From Powerhouse Ventures and Flipkart Ventures to Accelerate India’s Experience Economy

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Experience-tech platform expands to six markets with 500+ experiences and 400+ creators

Targets 3X revenue growth in the next few months, as it seeks to make experiences a default part of urban India’s weekends

BENGALURU, India, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alive App, India’s AI powered experience-tech platform for building and distributing new and unique experiences, has raised $1 million in a new funding round led by Powerhouse Ventures and Flipkart Ventures. The capital will support the company’s next phase of product and supply expansion as it works to make experiences a more frequent and habitual part of how urban Indians spend their leisure time.

The investment from Flipkart Ventures also creates opportunities for Alive App to explore synergies across the broader Flipkart ecosystem as it builds new pathways for consumer discovery, engagement and access to experiences at scale.

The new capital will be used to strengthen Alive App’s product and technology capabilities and accelerate the creation and availability of experiences across its existing markets. The company is targeting 3X revenue growth in the next few months and plans to focus on increasing the frequency with which consumers use Alive App, with the goal of making the platform a default companion for weekend discovery. The company has also achieved its first profitable quarter in Bengaluru, its first and largest market, as it continues to build density across cities.

Alive App is seeing this shift play out on its platform. The company is now present across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Goa, offering more than 500 experiences across categories including adventure, food, wellness, art, culture and learning. Its creator ecosystem has grown to over 400 creators and partners. Over the last six months, it has expanded into Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi, in addition to its presence in Goa. The company’s experience supply in the newly launched markets of Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Goa has grown five times faster than during its initial expansion phase, with Alive App now adding approximately 100 new experiences every month. The rapid expansion follows a broader shift in how consumers are spending their leisure time. According to Alive App’s platform data, more than 90% of bookings are for local experiences, with consumers increasingly choosing activities closer to home rather than treating experiences purely as part of travel.

The company’s growth reflects the evolution of India’s experience economy from an occasional, travel-led activity into a more regular part of urban consumption. Alive App’s platform combines technology with a curated and largely exclusive supply of experiences, working with creators to conceptualise, build and launch experiences rather than simply aggregating existing listings. With the latest round, Alive App’s focus shifts from establishing the category across individual cities to building the habit around it and making discovery of experiences as routine a part of the weekend as choosing a restaurant, watching a movie or planning a day out.

Supporting Quotes

Vivek Kumar, Founder & CEO, Alive App, said, “Over the last year, the biggest validation for us has been seeing how quickly experiences are being adopted as an upgrade to weekend plans in every city we enter. Mumbai and Chennai are growing much faster than Bengaluru did in its early months, while our supply in the newly launched cities has grown five times faster than in our initial expansion phase. We are now adding around 100 new experiences every month. The opportunity ahead is to make Alive App the default weekend companion for urban India, something people return to every week to discover what they want to do next.”

Kshitij Golwalkar, General Partner, Powerhouse Ventures, said, “Alive App stands out as one of the most differentiated and capital-efficient companies we have seen in this category. What is particularly compelling is how the team is using AI not only as a product feature, but across the business to rethink how consumer technology companies can be built, scaled and operated in India. We believe this combination of a strong consumer proposition, differentiated supply and an AI-led operating model gives Alive App the potential to be a leader in India’s rapidly growing experience economy.”

About Alive App

Alive App is an experience-tech platform focused on helping urban consumers discover and experience curated activities across adventure, food, wellness, art, culture, learning and more. The platform currently operates across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Goa, with 500+ experiences and 400+ creators and partners. Founded by Vivek Kumar, Alive App is building technology and supply infrastructure for India’s emerging experience economy.

Website: www.iamalive.app

 

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BOOX Picco, Its Smallest eReader Yet, Opens for Preorder Sept. 28

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Card-sized 3.97-inch ePaper device debuts as the first product in BOOX’s new Tiles category, designed to make reading easier to fit into everyday life

NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BOOX, a leader in ePaper electronics, today announced that preorders are now open for the BOOX Picco, its smallest eReader to date. Featuring a 3.97-inch monochrome ePaper display in a device weighing approximately 58 grams, Picco is designed to give readers an easy, distraction-free alternative to reaching for their phones during the small pockets of downtime throughout the day. Picco is expected to begin shipping by November.

The BOOX Picco is available for preorder beginning Sept. 28 through the official BOOX Shop, with pricing starting at $99.99.

Picco also marks the debut of BOOX Tiles, a new product category that expands the BOOX ecosystem beyond traditional eReaders and ePaper tablets with new form factors designed to bring ePaper technology into more aspects of everyday life.

Roughly the size of a playing card, Picco can fit into a pocket or bag and is designed for reading on the go, whether commuting, waiting in line or taking a quick break. An included magnetic ring case allows users to attach Picco to the back of a smartphone for an even more streamlined everyday carry.

The 3.97-inch monochrome ePaper display offers 235 PPI resolution and adjustable front lighting with warm and cool settings for comfortable reading across different environments. Users can navigate through either the touchscreen or physical page-turn buttons, while four-way screen rotation accommodates different reading grips.

Picco includes a 16GB microSD card and supports expandable storage up to 2TB, giving users room to carry thousands of books. Files can be transferred through the BOOX Tiles app, a web browser or USB-C, and the device supports a wide variety of popular eBook and document formats.

Designed around focused reading, Picco runs on a streamlined operating system without the visual clutter and constant notifications associated with traditional smartphones and tablets. It also includes utility tools such as Pomodoro, Todo and Countdown, and users can personalize the device with custom screensavers featuring photos, artwork or quotes.

Key BOOX Picco features include:

3.97-inch monochrome ePaper display with 235 PPI resolutionAdjustable warm and cool front lightingTouchscreen and physical page-turn controlsApproximately 58-gram card-sized design16GB microSD card included, with support for up to 2TBFour-way screen rotationWi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivityBOOX Tiles app, web and USB-C file transferMagnetic ring case for attaching Picco to the back of a smartphonePomodoro, Todo and Countdown utility apps

Press kit: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1ti60y7a14kgpqw6h1thb/ALOZXl4xn_xPs7FMzgnznhc?rlkey=pwud7mn5nlcq22wtf2wqngln9&st=7nvue9zt&dl=0 

About BOOX

BOOX is a global leader in E Ink electronics that specializes in E Ink tablets and monitors. It offers 3.97 inch to 13.3 inch E Ink products to assist aspiring, persistent, and innovative users in becoming more productive in work and study without straining their eyes. With cutting-edge hardware and advanced software, BOOX is the world’s only E Ink electronic brand that combines E Ink with Android and provides maximum flexibility. More product information can be found at www.boox.com.

Media Contact

Grace Halvorsen
boox@lightspeedpr.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boox-picco-its-smallest-ereader-yet-opens-for-preorder-sept-28-302890913.html

SOURCE BOOX

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Aon Launches Power Lifecycle Program to Support Conventional Gas Power Projects Powering Digital Infrastructure Growth

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New multiline insurance solution offers up to $2.5 billion in coverage across construction and operations for utility and digital infrastructure clients

DUBLIN, Sept. 28, 2026 /CNW/ — Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced the launch of its Power Lifecycle Program (PLP), a new integrated insurance solution designed to support conventional gas power projects from construction through testing, commissioning and into operations.

Reliable power generation is becoming increasingly important as demand for digital infrastructure, cloud computing and artificial intelligence accelerates. PLP is designed to help organizations investing at scale in power generation – whether behind the meter for dedicated digital infrastructure or in front of the meter to serve broader grid demand – address the growing risks associated with power assets required to meet rising energy needs.

“As investment in energy infrastructure continues to grow, organizations require risk solutions that evolve alongside increasingly complex power assets,” said Joe Peiser, CEO of Risk Capital, Aon. “Our Power Lifecycle Program provides a coordinated insurance solution from construction, testing and commissioning through to operation. By bringing multiple coverages together within a single lifecycle framework, Aon’s Power Lifecycle Program helps clients take a more holistic approach to managing project, operational and infrastructure risk.”

A Lifecycle Approach to Power Risk

Developing a conventional power project involves managing interconnected risks across construction, testing, commissioning and early operations – and a loss or interruption at any stage can affect schedules, financing commitments and anticipated revenue – particularly when insurance is arranged separately at each stage. PLP’s lifecycle model moves insurance from a series of disconnected placements to a single coordinated risk-transfer strategy that supports a project from site selection and construction through commissioning and ongoing operations. The result is generally better continuity of cover, reduced coverage gaps, improved capital efficiency, and greater confidence for developers, owners, lenders and investors.

Key features of PLP generally include:

Up to $2.5 billion in Erection All Risks and Delay in Startup coverage per project, for the construction, testing and commissioning periodsUp to $2.5 billion in Operational Property Damage and Business Interruption coverage per project, for the immediate operational periodUp to $100 million of Construction and Operational Third-Party Liability (excluding U.S. Projects)Clients can opt for a tailored risk advisory assessment of the risk to projects from natural catastrophe, climate, cyber, casualty, supply chain and business interruption risks, delivering enterprise resilience from site selection through to portfolio scale. Risk Engineering and Casualty consulting available.

The program is underpinned by a lead panel of London-based carriers, combining power-sector expertise with meaningful capacity for global clients. Beyond the lead panel, the balance of capacity is predominantly London-based, complemented by significant participation from key local and global markets, providing the breadth, resilience and reach required to support projects worldwide.

PLP is available to power infrastructure developers, private equity firms funding power project developments, contractors controlling construction cover and power infrastructure owners for both grid-connected standalone conventional gas power projects and dedicated projects supporting data centers.

The launch comes as the rapid expansion of data centers drives significant investment in conventional power generation capacity and builds on Aon’s established position supporting digital infrastructure clients through the Data Center Lifecycle Insurance Program that expanded to $5 billion in capacity in July 2026. Together, the two programs reflect Aon’s lifecycle approach to helping clients build, operate and scale critical infrastructure with greater confidence.

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon’s newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Media Contact
mediainquiries@aon.com
Toll-free (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico): +1 833 751 8114
International: +1 312 381 3024

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Verisure widens its offering with exclusive Ting Labs partnership, bringing advanced electrical fire prevention technology to Europe

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Verisure and US-based Ting Labs enter exclusive partnership to deploy its electrical fire prevention solution to customers in EuropeThe plug-in Ting sensor pairs cutting-edge sensor technology with an expert fire safety service to help prevent electrical firesThe new service will be fully integrated into the core Verisure home alarm ecosystem, including 24/7 monitoring by its Alarm Receiving CentreThere are 273,000 fires with an electrical origin (25-30% of all domestic fires) causing €6.25bn of property damage in the EU each year [1]Verisure set to make the new service available to customers in Europe in 2027

GENEVA, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Verisure, the world’s leading provider of professionally monitored security services by customers served, has announced a strategic partnership with US company Ting Labs to exclusively commercialise its pioneering electrical fire prevention solution to its customers in Europe. 

The partnership marks Ting Labs’ first expansion into Europe, building on its experience helping protect more than 1.4 million U.S. homes. From a single outlet, Ting analyses 30 million electrical signals every second to detect dangerous arcing, the early warning signs of electrical faults that could lead to a fire, backed by expert support to help resolve them.

This life-saving technology will now be available to more families, with Ting technology seamlessly integrating into Verisure’s current home alarm ecosystem. The sensor will operate alongside Verisure’s professional monitoring services to provide a new layer of protection against one of the leading causes of domestic fires.

The partnership also expands Verisure’s fire protection offering, complementing Connected Smoke Alarms and AI-powered WiFi Vision that help detect threats earlier and support emergency response when every second counts, with Ting’s ability to help identify electrical fire hazards before a fire ever starts.

There are 273,000 fires with an electrical origin and €6.25bn of property damage caused by domestic fires in the EU each year. Electrical faults are also estimated to account for between 25% and 30% of domestic fires in Europe1. Verisure data and insights also reveal that fires are continually ranked as one of the greatest concerns and drivers of customers seeking monitored home alarm protection. 

Austin Lally, Verisure CEO, said: “This exclusive partnership represents another step forward in our ambition to expand Verisure’s protection beyond traditional security and safety solutions. By combining Ting Labs’ proven electrical fire prevention technology with Verisure’s monitoring expertise, operational scale and customer relationships, we are creating a differentiated, subscription-based proposition that addresses an important and growing consumer need against the rising threat of domestic fires. We believe that this service will slot seamlessly into our existing home alarm ecosystem and will strengthen our competitive position, open new growth opportunities across direct and partner channels, and further reinforce Verisure’s leadership in innovative home protection.”

Bob Marshall, Cofounder and CEO of Ting Labs, added: “Verisure’s scale, expertise, and customer relationships make them the ideal partner to help us extend the protection that more than 1.4 million homes in the US already rely on to a new market. We are proud to bring Ting electrical fire prevention technology to European homes and small businesses. At Ting Labs, protection is our purpose, and in Verisure we’ve found a partner who shares it, so together we’re advancing one mission: more proactive home protection and greater peace of mind for families.”

The partnership combines Ting Labs’ electrical fire prevention technology with Verisure’s home protection expertise through a co-development and licensing model. Ting Labs’ technology, firmware, cloud platform and fire safety tools will be adapted for European homes, with Verisure manufacturing the sensor and managing sales, installation, service and support experience. The newly designed sensor will carry both Verisure and “Powered by Ting” branding, reflecting the technology at its core. Commercial launch in Europe is expected in early 2027.

This new partnership is part of Verisure’s continued investment in its innovation and technology capabilities. In 2025, Verisure has invested approximately €170 million in technology and innovation, with the objective of developing new cutting-edge security products and services, driving volume growth, supporting premium positioning, engaging customers to increase usage and ultimately contributing to margin growth through reducing cost-to-serve.

[1] Source: European Fire Safety Alliance, Forum for European Electrical Domestic Safety

About Verisure

Verisure is the global leader in professionally monitored security services by customers served.

Every day, our dedicated teams use leading technology to Deter, Detect, Verify, and Intervene to protect ~6.4 million families and small businesses from intruders, fire, and health emergencies across 18 countries.

With over 35 years of insights, experience and innovation, Verisure is known for category-creating marketing, sales excellence, innovative products and services, and customer-centricity.

Our mission is to give our customers peace of mind by protecting what matters most to them. We believe that everyone has the right to feel safe and secure.

Thanks to a strong focus on high-quality service, we aim to have the most satisfied and loyal portfolio of customers in the industry. We estimate that we have some of the strongest growth and retention rates globally in consumer-facing services, which demonstrates our commitment to exceptional service levels and strong value proposition for our customers.

For more information: https://www.verisure.com/

About Ting Labs

Ting Labs (formerly “Whisker Labs”) develops advanced technology that helps predict and prevent electrical fires while delivering intelligence that improves the safety and resilience of the electrical grid. Its flagship solution, Ting, helps detect hidden electrical hazards before they become dangerous fires and is trusted by more than 1.4 million homes and 40 leading insurance carriers in the United States and Canada. Powering the nation’s fastest-growing electrical safety network, Ting is proven to help prevent 4 out of 5 home electrical fires, helping protect homes, communities, and lives in North America.

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SOURCE Verisure plc

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