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St. Vincent De Paul Disaster Services Launches Kokua, a Platform for Disaster Relief Disbursements Built on the Algorand Blockchain, to Bring Game-Changing Efficiency and Transparency to Relief Funding for People Impacted by Natural Disasters

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For the first time, families affected by deadly natural disasters will receive aid through a survivor wallet, integrated with Amazon and developed in partnership with AID:Tech and the Algorand Foundation, with aid funding from the American Red Cross

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — St. Vincent de Paul Disaster Services, a leading U.S. aid organization that helps people in situational poverty brought about by natural and man-made disasters, today announced the launch of the Kokua survivor wallet in partnership with AID:Tech, a provider of Web3 Onchain Reputation & Rewards infrastructure, and The Algorand Foundation. Kokua–which leverages the open, public Algorand blockchain–is a disbursement platform that simplifies the connection of natural disaster survivors to the relief that will aid their recovery. Survivors are able to validate their identity, receive digital aid funding via Algorand’s blockchain, and redeem them for critical items like furniture and other household goods, with orders fulfilled by Amazon–all within the Kokua survivor wallet.

The initial launch of Kokua will serve 100 Tennessee families who were affected by the deadly 2021 winter tornados. Survivors, identified by St. Vincent de Paul Disaster Services and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, will receive relief funded by the American Red Cross. Traditional aid distribution is fraught with lengthy identification and verification processes that impedes survivors from stabilizing quickly. Kokua bypasses logistical blockades that are the status quo by connecting to those in need directly via mobile app.

To launch Kokua, St. Vincent de Paul chose to partner with best-in-class technology providers. By leveraging the Algorand blockchain, which is carbon-negative, permissionless, and efficient–capable of processing 6,000 transactions per second with full finality–aid recipients can be sure their redemption transactions are secure, confirmed, and doing no harm to the environment. The novel identity process developed by AID:Tech enables survivors to verify who they are via decentralized identifiers (DIDs). Which are designed to be implemented without the control or inefficiencies of a centralized registry, identity provider, or certificate authority.

“As natural disasters continue to grow in intensity and frequency, blockchain technology is a practical solution to keeping up with the increasing need for aid,” said Elizabeth Disco-Shearer, CEO of St. Vincent de Paul Disaster Services. “Through Kokua, aid will reach the people who need it most with greater speed, enable more autonomy for disaster victims, and bring greater accountability to the aid space more broadly.”

Taken together, the technology and partners behind Kokua will bring efficiency and transparency to critical disaster relief processes like never before, and serve as a new model for how aid distribution can work in the digital age.

“Oftentimes it is not aggregating resources that impedes disaster relief, it is the distribution,” said Matt Keller, Director of Impact and Inclusion at the Algorand Foundation. “This Algorand-backed survivor wallet uniquely leverages blockchain technology to ensure aid is securely and efficiently distributed to those who need it with unprecedented transparency, as all distributions are publicly traceable on chain.”

“Using Algorand blockchain, we are giving control back to survivors by allowing them to own, control and manage their digital identity,” added Joseph Thompson, CEO of AID:Tech. “Once survivors are verified using our proprietary method, they can use Kokua seamlessly without the hassle of proving their identity to multiple entities.”

Kokua will be accessible to those receiving aid relief on both iOS and Android devices.

About St. Vincent de Paul Disaster Services

St. Vincent de Paul Disaster Services is a second-responder and a Catholic lay organization that provides person-to-person recovery services to families impacted by man-made and natural disasters across the United States. In addition, local Vincentians (members) dedicate thousands of volunteer hours to help families impacted by natural disasters. The program will continue to focus the Society’s efforts on the long-term case management needs of affected people after all of the first-responder agencies have departed. https://www.svdpdisaster.org/

About Algorand Foundation

The Algorand blockchain — designed by MIT professor and Turing Award winning cryptographer Silvio Micali — is uniquely capable of delivering on the promise of a borderless global economy. It achieves transaction throughputs at the speed of traditional finance, but with immediate finality, near zero transaction costs, and on a 24/7 basis. Its carbon-neutral platform and unique pure proof-of-stake consensus mechanism solves for the “blockchain trilemma” by achieving both security and scalability on a decentralized protocol, and without a second of downtime since it went live in 2019.

The Algorand Foundation is dedicated to helping fulfill the global promise of the Algorand blockchain by taking responsibility for its sound monetary supply economics, decentralized governance, and healthy and prosperous open-source ecosystem. For more information, visit https://algorand.foundation

About AID:Tech

AID:Tech is merging digital identity with payments and building an identity onramp from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0. AID:Tech focuses on real world use cases like disaster relief disbursements to bring the benefits of decentralisation and self-sovereign identity to non-crypto natives. AID:Tech’s Onchain Reputation & Rewards infrastructure enables people to build a reputation score and get rewarded for their time, effort and energy when contributing to society both physically and virtually. Learn more at https://aid.technology

Media Contact
alexa@algorand.foundation.com

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Infidigit Welcomes Pinaki Gupta as an Advisor to Foster Leadership and Drive Strategic Growth

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December 26, 2024

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MUMBAI, India, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Infidigit, an AI-enabled digital growth partner known for delivering exceptional results in SEO, CRO, and digital growth, welcomes Pinaki Gupta as Director – Strategy and Oversight. Pinaki’s vast experience in driving business transformation and fostering innovation will be instrumental in shaping Infidigit’s strategic direction and positioning the organisation for long-term success.

With a career spanning global enterprises such as Tata Interactive Systems and MPS Interactive and as the founder of Pisarto, a prominent home decor marketplace, Pinaki has consistently driven innovation and growth. His expertise will play a pivotal role in further scaling Infidigit’s vision and helping it explore untapped opportunities in the dynamic digital marketing ecosystem.

Sharing his thoughts, Pinaki Gupta, said, “Infidigit’s rise as a leader in digital marketing has been remarkable. Kaushal and his team have built an organisation with a strong culture of innovation and performance that truly sets them apart. I am excited to join Infidigit as an Advisor to bring a new perspective and help evaluate business opportunities and accelerate their growth journey. Together, we will focus on building strategic frameworks that ensure Infidigit continues to thrive in an evolving digital-first world.”

Kaushal Thakkar, Founder and Managing Director of Infidigit, said, “Pinaki and I share a long and fruitful professional history, during which I’ve consistently been impressed by his incisive strategic mind. His knack for challenging the status quo and driving transformative change makes him an ideal fit for Infidigit’s ambitious growth trajectory. We’re excited to leverage his mentorship as we reach new heights, fortify our leadership team, and continue delivering exceptional results for our clients.”

Infidigit, under Kaushal Thakkar’s leadership, has consistently set benchmarks in SEO, CRO, and digital growth strategies. With over 100 award-winning campaigns, Infidigit has delivered measurable results across industries. Pinaki’s addition to the leadership team further strengthens its mission of combining innovation, leadership, and performance to help businesses grow sustainably.

About Infidigit:

Infidigit, an AI-enabled digital growth partner, empowers top brands to achieve impactful results through SEO, ASO, CRO, and data-driven digital strategies. At the forefront of AI innovation in marketing, Infidigit is developing a SaaS product to further simplify SEO. With a proven track record of measurable success, Infidigit partners with startups, MSMEs, and enterprises across diverse industries, enabling them to thrive in the digital-first economy. Their commitment to excellence is underscored by over 100 award-winning campaigns recognized by prestigious platforms such as the SMX, APAC Search Awards, ET BrandEquity Shark Awards, Sparkies and Exchange4Media IDMA. Infidigit continues to set new standards in digital marketing, driving sustainable growth and unparalleled success for its clients.

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AU NOMO Credit Card: A Smart Way to Leverage Fixed Deposits

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1 hour ago

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December 26, 2024

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AHMEDABAD, India, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) has unveiled its latest offering, the AU NOMO Credit Card, a groundbreaking financial product that allows individuals to access credit while still growing their savings. This innovative credit card leverages the power of Fixed Deposits (FDs) as collateral, providing cardholders with enhanced purchasing power without compromising their long-term savings goals.

The AU NOMO Credit Card enables users to use their fixed deposits to secure a credit limit, offering a unique opportunity for first-time credit card applicants or individuals wanting to build their credit scores responsibly. This solution particularly benefits those with limited documentation or a lack of traditional credit history.

Key Features of the AU NOMO Credit Card

Contactless Payments: Enjoy secure and seamless tap-and-pay transactions for daily purchases.Card Liability Protection: Safeguards user against unauthorized transactions, card skimming, and online fraud with comprehensive liability coverage.Reward Points Program: User can earn reward points on retail, utility, and insurance transactions to maximize the value of their spending.Milestone Rewards: Unlock additional rewards for meeting specific quarterly spending goals.Lounge Access Benefits: Get complimentary access to domestic airport and railway lounges, subject to meeting spending criteria.Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Save on fuel transactions within a specified range with a surcharge waiver.

Eligibility Criteria

Here’s what one must know for eligibility criteria for AU NOMO credit card: 

Age: 18 to 75 yearsCitizenship: Indian ResidentFixed Deposit: Creation and maintenance of a fixed deposit with AU Small Finance Bank

The AU NOMO Credit Card (Credit Card against FD) offers an easy and seamless application process with a digital interface, making it accessible to anyone looking to leverage their savings for immediate spending power. The card promises to meet the needs of those starting their credit journey and those seeking additional flexibility in their financial dealings.

The AU NOMO Credit Card redefines the traditional approach to credit by allowing users to continue earning interest on their Fixed Deposits while enjoying the purchasing power that comes with a credit card. Whether for essential daily expenses or significant purchases, the AU NOMO Credit Card perfectly balances saving and spending, empowering individuals to achieve their financial goals without compromise.

For more information on the AU NOMO Credit Card, visit https://www.aubank.in/personal-banking/credit-cards/nomo-credit-card

About AU Small Finance Bank

AU Small Finance Bank, one of India’s leading small finance banks, is committed to transforming banking by focusing on customer-centric services and a deep understanding of the Indian market. More details on AU Small Finance Bank and its financial products like credit cards can be found online.

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Treat Yourself to a New Christmas Experience by Self-Gifting viaim’s AI Recording Earbuds, Perfect for a More Pleasant and Efficient Workplace

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December 26, 2024

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SINGAPORE, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As Christmas approaches, the concept of self-gifting has become more popular with top business executives to help them get into the holiday mood. Especially designed for the office, a gift of AI recording true wireless earbuds launched by viaim, an AI technology hardware company deeply rooted in the smart office sector, can improve work efficiency, thereby lifting the spirits and improving quality of life for busy workplace elites ahead of the busy and stressful holiday period.

The person who understands themselves best is themselves. It is in this spirit that viaim is encouraging people to give themselves some extra love and care during this holiday season because they deserve it. The Christmas self-gifting trend that has been gaining popularity in recent years sees people pay more and more attention to creating a higher quality life for themselves in their busy work lives. Especially towards the end of the year, consumers are choosing to treat themselves with practical and pleasant gifts for Christmas. Earbuds have become a solid choice for self-gifting because of their usefulness in multiple scenarios, allowing users to enjoy a quality listening experience during work meetings and holiday relaxation time.

The amazing features of the Viaim Nano+ and Viaim Air open-ear AI recording true wireless earbuds make them the perfect choice for self-gifting this Christmas

13 language transcription and real-time translation: During the Christmas holidays, many business professionals travel internationally with friends or spend the holidays with family in countries that don’t speak their native language. viaim headphones allow users to communicate with local people around the world, jumping the language barrier and making cross-border communication smoother and the journey more interactive, fun, and memorable.VIAIM AI Smart Assistant: Generate “Summaries“ and “To-Do Lists“ with one click to help quickly complete an annual report or New Year’s business plan, allowing the festive atmosphere to be enjoyed without missing any key points.Flash Record function: Whether it is to conceive new ideas for next year’s project or suddenly think of a perfect Christmas gift list, inspiration during the holidays is often fleeting. Long press the viaim earbuds for one-click flash recording to capture ideas as soon as the spark of inspiration comes to mind.Noise reduction and a comfortable wearing experience: High-quality 45db noise reduction can provide users with a moment of quietness at Christmas parties, and the comfortable and lightweight design is suitable for long-term wear, meaning a quiet and enjoyable listening atmosphere can be enjoyed during the holidays.

Cecile from VIAIM shared: “Christmas is the time of year to relax and be grateful. It is of course a time to give gifts and be generous to others, but we also must remember to be kind to the person that knows us best – ourselves. Through our brand vision of “work smarter, not harder,” we hope to help people find their own special holiday moments in their busy work life by using our super-efficient office earbuds, so that everyone can enjoy a more productive and enjoyable life experience. I would like to personally wish all our customers, both new and old, a peaceful, relaxing, and happy Christmas.”

About VIAIM

VIAIM is an innovative technology company in the consumer-goods sector. With a focus on versatile, multimodal interactions, we strive to provide effective solutions that meet users’ specific needs. By harnessing state-of-the-art technology, we bring our visionary ideals to life, helping people embrace the incredible possibilities the Company offers.

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SOURCE VIAIM

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