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Context Labs Receives Strategic Investment from 22/x to Establish Abu Dhabi Regional HQ for AI Data Infrastructure

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The Abu Dhabi-based investment platform backs Context Labs’ regional growth in AI Data Infrastructure, the verified data foundation for sovereign AI and industrial applications across the MENA region.

ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Context Labs B.V. (“Context Labs”), the AI Data Infrastructure company, today announced a strategic investment from 22/x, the Abu Dhabi-based AI-native investment and incubation platform established by the Nowais family. The two companies also signed a long-term agreement to establish Context Labs’ regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi and accelerate expansion in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The agreement with 22/x covers:

A strategic equity investment by 22/x in Context LabsEstablishment of a regional headquarters for Context Labs in Abu Dhabi to serve customers and partners across the GCC and wider MENA regionRegional deployment of Context Labs’ AI Data Infrastructure, including the Context Labs AI Distillery™ for sovereign AIDevelopment and deployment of industry applications for priority sectors, including energy, utilities and critical infrastructureCollaboration to deploy and integrate into the existing assets and ecosystem in the Middle East and North Africa

Context Labs builds AI Data Infrastructure, the trusted data layer that enterprise AI depends on, and delivers the Context Engine for trusted and secure sovereign AI. Its platform ingests fragmented operational, engineering and enterprise data, structured and unstructured, verifies it cryptographically at the source, and maintains a tamper-proof data fabric with full lineage and provenance, so every AI model, agent and decision can be traced back to verified data.

A library of industry-specific ontologies gives that data context in the language of each sector, from energy, chemicals and mining to commodities trading, logistics, utilities, pharmaceuticals and financial services, so the platform scales across industries and extends readily to new ones. Use-case applications, from operations to compliance, are built on that common foundation. The Context Labs AI Distillery™ extends that infrastructure into the enterprise, enabling organizations to run frontier and open-weight AI models and semantic context agents inside their own data centers, on their own verified data, with full decision provenance.

In energy and critical infrastructure, this provides a trusted foundation for connecting operational performance, emissions intelligence and AI-enabled decision-making. By bringing fragmented data into a verified, auditable environment, the platform can help operators demonstrate the integrity of their energy, respond to evolving market and regulatory requirements, and support more resilient operations.

22/x will collaborate with Context Labs to scale this infrastructure and its applications across the MENA region, giving organizations making significant commitments to enterprise AI a verified data foundation that builds trust and delivers measurable ROI. The partnership will draw on 22/x’s expertise in incubating deep-tech and applied AI for critical infrastructure operations, and on its longstanding relationships with sovereign-aligned compute, data and distribution channels in the region. The focus is not simply to bring technology into the region, but to establish tangible capabilities, long-term partnerships and sustainable outcomes.

“AI is only as good as the data underneath it, and enterprises have to be able to verify that data before AI can be trusted to act on it,” said Dan Harple, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Context Labs. “Our cross-industry ontologies, built on a single AI Data Infrastructure, let us move with the region’s national champions across every sector they lead. With 22/x, we are bringing them the infrastructure to own their IP, own their AI, and prove the integrity of their data to partners, regulators and markets worldwide.”

“Through Arab Development, we have predominantly served the oil and gas industry, bringing global expertise and technology into the UAE and building lasting local partnerships and industrial capability. As automation, robotics and artificial intelligence reshape these industries and the wider economy, we recognized the need for a dedicated, future-focused vehicle to support the new digital economy. We established 22/x to build on that foundation, helping local industries adopt these technologies, modernize their operations and develop the capabilities to compete in an increasingly digital world,” said Yousif Al Nowais, Chairman and Managing Director of 22/x.

“Our partnership with Context Labs brings an essential foundation to that ambition: trusted data that enables businesses to apply AI with confidence while retaining control over their information. For us, this transition must also create opportunities for Emiratis to develop specialist skills, contribute to deployment and lead the industries of the future. Our ambition is not simply to bring technology to the UAE, but to build the knowledge, capability and long-term value that remain here,” said Mohammed Yousif Al Nowais, Director and Board Member of 22/x.

“Our family has built deep trust across the Emirates and the wider region, and that trust is the foundation on which 22/x stands. Our role is to turn it into execution, not simply to introduce another AI platform, but to make AI work in real operating environments,” said Ahmed Nasser Al Nowais, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member, 22/x. “From Abu Dhabi, 22/x will establish Context Labs’ regional headquarters, connect it with the sovereign compute, data and industrial partners who shape this market, and bring Emirati talent into the work from the outset. Together, we will work with customers on clearly defined use cases and build a repeatable pathway from first deployments in the UAE to scale across the GCC and MENA. Success will be measured by practical outcomes: better operational visibility, more auditable decisions and stronger control over enterprise data, all while holding to our National values: build here, build to last, and build in service of the Nation.”

About Context Labs B.V.

Context Labs is an AI Data Infrastructure company delivering the Context Engine for Trusted and Secure Sovereign AI. Its platform turns complex, fragmented operational, engineering and enterprise data into continuously verified, auditable information that AI systems, people and markets can trust. Built on an extensible library of industry-specific ontologies that map to established standards published by ISO and other standards bodies, the platform is deployable across sectors, with use-case applications delivering decision-ready intelligence on a common foundation. The Context Labs AI Distillery™ lets enterprises run sovereign AI inside their own data centers, so they own their IP and own their AI. Formed out of MIT research and led by a team that helped drive the at-scale growth of the Internet, Context Labs has offices in Amsterdam, Cambridge (Mass.), Houston and Abu Dhabi. Learn more at www.contextlabs.com.

About 22/x

22/x is an Abu Dhabi-based AI-native platform founded by the Al Nowais family. Operating across advisory, infrastructure, investment and incubation, it helps global technology businesses establish and scale their presence in the Middle East, with a focus on applied AI and critical infrastructure. 22/x connects international innovation with regional market knowledge, industrial relationships and capital to build lasting local capability and support long-term economic value creation. Learn more at www.22x.ae.

Media contacts

Context Labs: press@contextlabs.com | 1-617-902-0932 | contextlabs.com/resources

22/x: info@22x.ae

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Sunrate and Netstorming Partner to Expand Payment Options for Global Travel Businesses

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LONDON, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sunrate, the global payment and treasury management platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Netstorming, a leading travel technology and software development company, at World Travel Market London 2026. The partnership will make Sunrate Cards available through Netstorming’s network, giving travel businesses greater choice and flexibility in managing B2B travel payments.

“Sunrate has established a strong presence in global travel payments and continues to evolve alongside the industry. As future technologies reshape how travel businesses operate, we see opportunities to enable more intelligent and seamless payment experiences, with next-generation capabilities such as our recently launched Agentic Card reflecting this ambition,” said Paul Meng, Co-founder and CEO of Sunrate. “Our partnership with Netstorming brings payment innovation closer to the technology powering global travel, supporting our vision for the future of travel payments.”

Through the partnership, Sunrate Cards will be added to Netstorming’s portfolio of payment options, enabling eligible travel businesses to use Sunrate Cards for supplier and other business payments. Designed for businesses operating across borders, Sunrate Cards provide greater control over payment flows through configurable spending parameters, enhanced security controls and real-time transaction visibility.

Sunrate Cards support settlement in more than 16 currencies, helping travel companies manage payments across different markets and currency zones while reducing the operational complexity associated with traditional payment methods.

“Travel is one of the world’s most interconnected industries, and its payment infrastructure must keep pace. Our partnership with Netstorming combines its deep travel technology expertise and network with Sunrate’s global payment capabilities, giving travel businesses another efficient way to manage supplier payments,” said Paul Batchelor, Head of Business Development, Europe at Sunrate. “We look forward to making B2B travel payments simpler, more flexible and more scalable.”

“Our network is the heart of our business. We believe that Sunrate’s solutions will provide our customers with greater flexibility expanding distribution opportunities. Together, our technology at Netstorming and Sunrate’s payment infrastructure will help drive stronger B2B connectivity and create new opportunities across the global tourism market,” said Nicola Rizzardini, CEO and Co-founder at Netstorming.

The partnership further strengthens Sunrate’s presence across the global travel technology ecosystem. Sunrate works with leading travel technology and payment platforms, enabling travel businesses to access capabilities spanning card issuance, international payments, global collection, global acquiring and treasury solutions.

About Sunrate

Sunrate is a leading global payment and treasury management platform for businesses worldwide. Founded in 2016, Sunrate has enabled companies to operate and scale both locally and globally in 190+ countries and regions with its cutting-edge infrastructure, global network, and unified solutions.

Sunrate operates through offices across key markets, including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London. The company partners with the top global financial institutions, such as Citibank, Standard Chartered, J.P. Morgan. Sunrate is also the principal member of Mastercard and Visa. To learn more about Sunrate, visit https://www.sunrate.com/.

About Netstorming

Netstorming is an Italian tech company specializing in the development of software solutions for the tourism industry. Founded in 2004, the company works with international tour operators, travel agencies and DMCs. Over the years, strong partnerships with major Italian and international operators, combined with a highly skilled team constantly updated on travel market trends and IT innovation, have positioned the company as a reference in travel technology.

Netstorming offers its core products and a wide range of technology services to the global tourism market. The company believes continuous innovation is key to delivering high performance tools that meet clients’ needs, working closely with partners to develop customized solutions that streamline operations and boost productivity.

Main products:

TOWeRS — B2B online booking systemBRIDGE — Centralized API/XML hotel integration solutionMIDA — Online accounting management system

More information: https://www.netstorming.net/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sunrate-and-netstorming-partner-to-expand-payment-options-for-global-travel-businesses-302919266.html

SOURCE Sunrate

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New AI transformation company raises funding to advance AI adoption in Europe

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LONDON, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hg, the leading investor in European and transatlantic technology and services businesses, today announced an agreement to invest, with participation from Anthropic and angel investors, in a new AI transformation company to help European companies advance responsible AI adoption and product innovation.

The new company, which will formally launch later this year, will be an independent entity that works with organizations to advance AI adoption and AI-native product build, moving beyond pilots to measurable operational impact. The company will build on Claude, with forward deployed engineers, helping businesses move beyond simply adopting AI to building real, defensible advantage from it.

Built for Europe, the company will shape the organizations that will define Europe’s AI era – supporting businesses with distinctive IP, deep domain expertise and long-standing customer relationships that operate across a uniquely complex landscape of languages and regulatory regimes.

Steve Batchelor and JB Brian, Co-CEOs of Hg, commented: “This builds on Hg’s early conviction in the transformational power of AI. We’re delighted to announce our investment in this new company and look forward to further advancing Europe’s position within the global AI ecosystem.”

Steve Corfield, Head of Global Business Development and Partnerships at Anthropic, commented: “Businesses are looking for experienced teams to help them put Claude to work. We’re proud to invest in companies like this as they grow to meet that need.”

About Hg

Hg is an investor in European and transatlantic technology and services businesses. We are an AI leader in private equity, helping to build sector-leading enterprises that supply critical applications or workflow services to deliver intelligent automation for their customers.

We take an active approach to value creation, combining deep end-market knowledge with world class operational resources to support entrepreneurial leaders looking to scale and drive AI transformation.

With a vast European network and strong presence across North America, Hg currently has over $110 billion in assets under management and more than 400 employees. Our portfolio spans around 60 businesses worth over $195 billion in aggregate enterprise value, employing more than 140,000 people and consistently growing revenues at more than 16% annually.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-ai-transformation-company-raises-funding-to-advance-ai-adoption-in-europe-302927628.html

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Pudu Robotics Unveils PUDU TOMO S Series: Extending Lawn Care Automation to Blade Sharpening

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Bringing commercial robotics expertise home, PUDU combines automated blade care, precise edge cutting and intelligent navigation for easier lawn maintenance.

AMSTERDAM, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial robotics, today officially unveiled the PUDU TOMO S Series at its product launch event, bringing its robotics expertise into the home. Built around the SharpLoop™ Self-Sharpening System, the robotic mower series combines automated blade care with precise lawn maintenance to help homeowners achieve consistently clean cuts with less routine upkeep.

PUDU’s move into home robotics builds on years of serving demanding commercial environments. Working with globally renowned companies including Walmart, Toyota, Marriott and Pizza Hut has strengthened its experience in product reliability, adaptability, efficient deployment and ongoing support. Enterprise requirements for operational stability have helped PUDU develop and deploy robotics at scale, providing a foundation for its expansion into everyday home life.

Underpinning this expansion is PUDU’s “One Brain, Multiple Embodiments” architecture, which brings together embodied navigation, manipulation and interaction, alongside motion control and multi-robot coordination. This scalable foundation supports different robot forms and applications, enabling PUDU to bring its capabilities into the home.

“Bringing robotics home means giving people more time to enjoy everyday life,” said Felix Zhang, CEO of PUDU. “With PUDU TOMO, we are applying years of commercial robotics experience to lawn care, combining reliable performance with automation that extends from mowing to blade maintenance. By reducing the routine work behind a well-kept lawn, we are bringing our mission of making work easier and life better into people’s homes.”

PUDU TOMO S Series: Self-Sharpening System for Consistently Clean Cuts

Automated mowing saves time, but keeping blades sharp remains a recurring task for homeowners. The PUDU TOMO S Series brings blade care into the mowing cycle, combining automatic sharpening with powerful cutting to maintain lawn quality with less routine intervention.

At its core, the SharpLoop™ Self-Sharpening System automatically sharpens the rotary blades at the charging station when needed. This tool-free mow-return-sharpen-repeat cycle helps preserve blade sharpness and cutting performance over time. By reducing routine blade maintenance and replacement, it means less hands-on work with sharp blades and more time for homeowners to relax and enjoy their gardens.

The Lift-Cut-Discharge System tackles tall, dense and wet grass with dual 636 W high-torque motors driving the blades at up to 6,000 RPM. Aerodynamic high-lift blades raise flattened grass into the cutting path, while a dedicated rear discharge channel guides clippings away to help prevent buildup and blockages—delivering cleaner cuts with less clogging and manual rework.

Attention to detail extends to the lawn’s finish. PUDU TOMO’s Zero Edge Cutting combines an offset cutting deck with intelligent side sensing and a responsive side bumper. The deck positions the cutting path close to the boundary, while sensing and bumper feedback help guide movement along walls, trees, flower beds and open lawn edges, reducing uncut strips and manual trimming. Meanwhile, 180° rear-wheel zero-turn steering enables smooth, tight turns with less turf disruption. Alternating mowing directions and perimeter return routes further support an even appearance with fewer visible tracks.

All-wheel drive helps PUDU TOMO tackle challenging lawns with confidence. Four independent high-torque hub motors provide traction on slopes up to 45°. A floating cutting deck follows ground contours, while independent suspension supports obstacle crossing up to 6 cm.

Triple-Sense Navigation combines 360° LiDAR, AI Vision and network RTK for centimeter-level positioning without a local RTK reference station. One-Tap Auto Mapping identifies lawn boundaries and plans routes from the first run, eliminating boundary wires and manual mapping.

The PUDU TOMO S Series comes in three versions for lawns from 1,500 m² (0.37 acres) to 5,000 m² (1.24 acres), with sales expected in early spring 2027. For pricing and regional availability, visit PUDU HOME and subscribe for product news and launch updates.

About PUDU TOMO

TOMO is Pudu Robotics’ consumer robotic lawn care product line, redefining the standard of robot mowing through innovative cutting technologies that make lawn care simpler than ever. Featuring the world’s first self-sharpening rotary-blade robotic mower, the TOMO lineup frees homeowners from blade maintenance and replacement, delivering consistently precise, high-quality cuts—season after season.

Backed by Pudu Robotics, ranked No. 1 globally in commercial service robotics by both revenue and shipment volume, with over 130,000 robots shipped across more than 85 countries and regions and more than 1,900 patent applications worldwide, PUDU TOMO brings this proven technological foundation into the home, making effortless, worry-free lawn care accessible to households around the world.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/pudu-robotics-unveils-pudu-tomo-s-series-extending-lawn-care-automation-to-blade-sharpening-302927001.html

SOURCE Pudu Robotics

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