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Ukrainian-founded Preply Extends Leadership in Language Learning with First U.S. Office, Fresh Branding, and Two C-Suite Additions

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Sofia Tavares, Chief Brand Officer and Jerry Kingkade, Chief Revenue Officer will Spearhead Leadership and Growth from Preply’s New York City Office

NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Preply, a leading online learning marketplace, today announced a company rebrand and the appointment of two C-suite executives as it establishes its first office in the U.S. in New York City. The global online language learning market is set to reach $47 billion by 2025, due to globalization, technological advancements, and rising demand for bilingualism, all of which drive the demand for innovative language education solutions. With over 600 employees of 60 nationalities across New York, Kyiv and Barcelona, Preply has become a global e-learning powerhouse that connects 40,000 tutors with the world’s largest live language learning community in 180 countries. Preply revenues have grown tenfold over the last three years with this latest activity signifying the company’s doubling down to extend category leadership in what is already its largest market.

New Executive Leadership Drives Preply’s Growth in the U.S.

The two new executive hires; Sofia Tavares as Chief Brand Officer and Jerry Kingkade as Chief Revenue Officer, bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the organization. Both executives will be based in the New York office and have already played a key role in the rebrand and the establishment of the new office announced today.

Tavares will lead the company’s transformation into an iconic brand.  Having previously served as Senior Vice President of Brand at Delivery Hero where she was instrumental in the company’s transition to IPO, Tavares has over two decades of experience leading global marketing strategies for some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including PepsiCo, Cadbury plc, Bacardi, Black & Decker and PetroChina. Tavares is fluent in eight languages.

Kingkade will drive the company’s efforts to transform communications and culture through language at organizations across the world. Having led teams across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, Kingkade joins Preply from Flowspace, where he doubled revenue and tripled gross profit in his first year as CRO. Prior to Flowspace, Kingkade was VP of Sales and Marketplace Operations at Houzz, where he grew the sales organization from one rep to hundreds of employees.

New Identity Marks Next Phase of Preply’s Journey.

Having done extensive work on Preply’s vision and mission earlier in the year, Preply collaborated with London-based agency Koto to redefine the company’s identity and double down on what makes Preply unique.

The new identity introduces a fresh logo, vibrant color palette, and improved website design to improve the learning experience for users and tutors, helping millions more people make their language learning dreams a reality. The new brand is anchored around the theme of repetition, a powerful element of success for those studying a language that reflects how practice, progress and growth transform a learning journey.

“Our new vision, unlocking human potential through learning, has been the driving force behind this project. Today, more people than ever aspire to learn a new language. We believe that by strengthening our brand, we better serve everyone’s language learning needs and aspirations,” said Sofia Tavares, Chief Brand Officer of Preply. “I couldn’t be more excited to be on this journey with the Preply team, and I’m grateful to our wonderful tutors, students, employees and the wider language learning community for coming along for the ride.”

More information about Preply’s new brand can be found in Tavares’ blog post.

Helping U.S. Employers Gain a Competitive Edge

The U.S. is home to the headquarters of some of the largest multinational companies in the world with the American Council of Foreign Language Teachers reporting that 90% of U.S employers rely on a multilingual workforce. However, the demands are not being met and as a result, 25% of U.S. employers are losing out on business opportunities.

“The world is more connected than ever. We are hearing time and again from clients that communications mistakes are costly, both from a financial and reputation standpoint”, remarks Jerry Kingkade. “We’ve welcomed 200 new organizations to the Preply program in the last 12 months and more than doubled the number of clients we’re working within the U.S. so far this year. A staggering 75% of working Americans feel that foreign language skills are important for their career prospects[1]. As we establish our U.S. presence in New York, we look forward to picking up the pace, serving the needs of this hard-working population, and playing a part in addressing a specific skills gap in the labor market”.

Preply’s momentum surges with the introduction of its New York office

Preply is reinforcing its commitment to growth and to better serve its existing U.S.-based B2B customers and partners with the launch of its first office in the U.S.  The New York City location was chosen as a large number of multinational corporations are based in the Northeast.

The new office, The Malin, is now open, located at 134 Charles Street in the heart of New York’s West Village. Preply anticipates that by the close of 2023, 25+ employees will be working from the office complementing Preply’s existing two hubs in Barcelona and Kyiv.

About Preply
Preply is an online language learning marketplace, connecting tutors to hundreds of thousands of learners in 180 countries worldwide. More than 40,000 tutors teach over 50 languages, powered by a machine-learning algorithm that recommends the best tutors for each learner. Founded in the United States in 2012 by three Ukrainian founders Kirill Bigai, Serge Lukyanov, and Dmytro Voloshyn, Preply has grown from a team of 3 to a company of over 600 employees of 60 different nationalities with offices in Barcelona, New York, and Kyiv.

[1] Preply survey 2023 amongst 3000 global participants

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2256296/Preply_Logo.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2256298/Preply_Sofia.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2257267/Preply_Jerry.jpg
Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2256302/PMP_video_for_blog.mp4
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2256297/Preply.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2256321/Preply_language.jpg

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SOURCE Preply

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MindHYVE.ai™ and Islamabad Diagnostic Centre Forge Strategic Alliance to Launch AGI-Powered Diagnostic Intelligence Across Pakistan

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ISLAMABAD, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ — In a groundbreaking move to elevate clinical diagnostics nationwide, MindHYVE.ai™, a U.S.-based pioneer in orchestrated agentic AI and swarm-intelligent systems, has signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (IDC). The collaboration will see the deployment of Chiron and Ava-AutoNarrator™—two proprietary, AGI-powered agents—across IDC’s core diagnostic workflows.

Initially launching at flagship centers in Islamabad (F-8 Markaz) and Lahore (DHA Phase 4), the pilot will introduce a multi-agent diagnostic intelligence layer, enhancing decision precision, speed, and reproducibility in radiology and laboratory services.

“This isn’t just AI—it’s agentic intelligence in action,” said Belal Faruki, Founder & CEO of MindHYVE.ai™. “By fusing swarm intelligence with domain-specific reasoning models, we’re equipping clinicians with AI collaborators that learn, adapt, and elevate patient outcomes—ethically and transparently.”

Key Innovations:

Chiron – A medical diagnostic reasoner, part of MindHYVE.ai™’s Ava-Agent architecture, performs pre-diagnostic inference and real-time anomaly detection across radiological and laboratory datasets.Ava-AutoNarrator™ – A semi-autonomous narrative generation agent, trained on clinical ontologies, that synthesizes structured reports aligned with ICD and HL7 standards.Agentic Coordination Layer – MindHYVE.ai™’s Swarm AI Framework orchestrates agents in real-time—enabling self-organization, priority optimization, and contextual reasoning across patient records.Secure PACS/LIS Integration – Seamless, encrypted integration with IDC’s Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and Laboratory Information Systems (LIS).

Three-Phase Rollout Strategy:

Phase 1 – Ground Launch: Initial deployment, radiologist/lab team onboarding, and system calibration.Phase 2 – Reasoner Tuning: AGI model refinement, cross-clinic feedback loops, and clinical data harmonization across 5–7 IDC locations.Phase 3 – Nationwide Readiness: DRAP-compliant licensing, agent swarm scaling, and full-stack intelligence across IDC’s 130+ branches.

Ethical Intelligence Commitment

All systems will be governed under MindHYVE.ai™’s Ethical AGI Protocol, including:

Human-in-the-loop validationEncrypted patient data pathwaysCollaborative oversight with DRAP and PNACExplainable diagnostic decisions using Ava-Fusion™ reasoning models

“MindHYVE.ai™’s orchestrated AGI reflects our vision of scalable, accessible diagnostics,” said Dr. Rizwan Uppal, Founder & CEO of IDC. “This alliance ushers in a new era of intelligent healthcare, anchored in ethics and excellence.”

About MindHYVE.ai™

Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, MindHYVE.ai™ builds domain-specific AGI agents, multi-agent orchestration systems, and the Ava-Fusion™ family of reasoning models—driving intelligent transformation in diagnostics, infrastructure, and national systems.

Website: www.mindhyve.ai | Email: hello@mindhyve.ai | Contact: +1 (949) 200-8668

Media Contact
Marc Ortiz
Email: marc.ortiz@mindhyve.ai

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SOURCE MindHYVE.ai, Inc.

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Korean Megahit Shampoo, Grabity, Launches in Taiwan “Just wash your hair–and it’ll look thicker.”

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The K-beauty shampoo developed by a world-renowned scientist from MIT has become a hot topic following its launch on Taiwan’s Momo Home Shopping channel

Clinically proven: one use increases hair thickness by 19.22% and volume by 87.27%

100% vegan formula, Dermatest “Excellent” rating, eco-friendly packaging—epitomizing clean beauty

TAIPEI and SEOUL, South Korea, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Korean hair loss care brand Grabity, co-developed by world-renowned MIT scientist Professor Haeshin Lee and researchers from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), officially launched in Taiwan on May 22 through Momo TV Shopping, where it received an explosive response—selling out mostly during its debut broadcast.

The live show aired at 8 PM on the 22nd, hosted by Sharon Tsui, a prominent Momo TV Shopping personality. Tsui emphasized the product’s scientific backing throughout the segment. The entire stock exhausted shortly in record time, and both Momo’s website and customer service center were soon overwhelmed with restock inquiries.

Grabity Shampoo features a high concentration of KAIST’s patented active ingredient, LiftMax 308™, a polyphenol-based complex that forms a protective barrier on hair strands to reduce damage. Clinical trials have proven that a single use increases hair thickness by 19.22% and volume by 87.27%.

Its delivery and sustained-release mechanisms were published in the peer-reviewed international journal Advanced Materials Interfaces, offering strong scientific validation.

Grabity is formulated with a 100% vegan blend using EWG Grade 1 ingredients and has earned an Excellent rating from Germany’s Dermatest, fully aligning with the rising global demand for clean beauty. The shampoo is also packaged in sustainable containers made from recycled coconut shells.

Since its launch in Korea just one year ago, Grabity has become a runaway hit—recording over 1.2 million units sold and KRW20 billion (approx. USD15M) in cumulative sales. It famously sold out in just 39 minutes at Korea’s top H&B store Olive Young, with resale prices reaching up to five times retail. Its rapid sellout in Taiwan is seen as a strong signal for further expansion across Asia’s premium beauty market.

A Momo TV Shopping spokesperson stated, “Grabity is the perfect global partner, offering functionality, a compelling brand story, and a commitment to sustainability. We look forward to bringing more world-class brands to Taiwanese consumers.”

About Polyphenol Factory
Polyphenol Factory was founded in 2023 as a startup by faculty members of KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). With a team of world-class scientists and young innovators, the company is commercializing cutting-edge technologies derived from natural polyphenols. With the vision of “innovating everyday life through science,” Polyphenol Factory is driving new waves of change in the global market.

Press Contact:
Anna Lee
yimijin@gmail.com

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SOURCE Polyphenol Factory

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Manulife Shares Responsible AI Principles at Reuters Momentum AI Summit

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Jodie Wallis, Global Chief Analytics Officer, Outlines How Manulife is Using AI Responsibly

C$ unless otherwise stated                                             TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC     SEHK: 945

TORONTO, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Manulife’s Responsible AI Principles were shared during the Reuters Momentum AI Summit in New York last month. These principles guide the design, development, and deployment of Manulife’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions, which includes over 43 GenAI use cases in production, as of Q1 2025, an equivalent amount slated to be deployed across the organization by year end and over 450 ideas in evaluation1.

Manulife’s Responsible AI Principles empower the firm to deliver value from AI for its customers, colleagues and society. With the fast pace of change in AI, Manulife will evolve its Principles as it learns and grows, as the industry matures, and as new or updated regulations emerge. Manulife’s Responsible AI Principles are:

To use data and AI in ways that are aligned to the company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Impact Agenda.To prioritize the safety of customers, colleagues and organization through sound delivery and governance processes.To endeavor to align AI efforts with a commitment to a sustainable future, by designing energy-efficient AI solutions and partnering with companies who share Manulife’s values.To implement practices intended to make AI solutions and their use of data free from bias, explainable, and reliable, while maintaining the appropriate accountability for decision making.To prioritize human agency and empower our colleagues to use AI tools to enhance their skills and experience, knowing these are crucial for the future.To continually learn from and work with industry partners and AI experts to foster innovation and evolve our commitment to Responsible AI.

“As organizations increasingly rely on AI, being committed to responsible AI use is paramount and Manulife is proud to be a responsible AI steward,” says Karen Leggett, Global Chief Marketing Officer for Manulife. “GenAI is enabling us to better serve our customers, find innovative ways of working, and accelerate our ambition of becoming the most digital customer-centric company in our industry. At the same time, Manulife is taking great care to embed ethical AI principles in every application and workflow.”

______________________________

1 Manulife’s AI team has 450 employee-submitted ideas in queue for review.

Manulife is leading by example as Jodie Wallis, Global Chief Analytics Officer for Manulife, spoke at Reuters Momentum AI Summit in New York, where she, alongside industry leaders, discussed the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on global business. In her remarks, Wallis outlined how Manulife is using AI ethically and responsibly, providing benefits to customers while safeguarding their data and privacy.

“We are committed to harnessing AI responsibly, ensuring it aligns to our core values and supports our mission to make decisions easier and lives better,” says Wallis. “Our AI Principles highlight the importance of ethical adoption, and we are dedicated to cultivating a collaborative environment that tackles the complexities of AI while ensuring it remains safe, trustworthy, and beneficial for all.”

Manulife has been actively investing in and scaling AI capabilities since 2016. In the past three years, the firm has significantly increased the valuei enabled through advanced analytics and AI by expanding its AI solutions portfolio and increasing efficiency through data and AI platform investmentsii, all driven by the company’s responsible AI framework.

As of Q1 2025, Manulife has:

Over 43 GenAI use cases in production and over 450 ideas in evaluationApproximately 200 data scientists and machine learning engineersGlobal access to GenAI tools for all colleaguesA GenAI skills-building program for users, leaders and practitioners

The summit also provided a platform for Wallis to discuss the importance of educating and training colleagues on AI technologies.

“Empowering our workforce with the knowledge and skills to harness AI responsibly is crucial to our success and aligns with our commitment to a productive and ethical use of technology,” says Wallis.

Manulife expects its digital investments and capabilities, including AI-enabled enhancements, to generate a threefold return on investment over five years through 2027, with over $600 million of benefits2 realized in 2024 from our digital customer leadership initiatives globally. To learn more about Manulife’s AI progress, visit: manulife.com/AI

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2 The benefits from our global digital, customer leadership initiatives include expense saves, growth absorption, revenue benefits (margin businesses) and new business CSM growth (insurance). 

Caution regarding forward-looking statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbour” provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to Manulife’s use of its digital capabilities, including AI and AI-enabled tools, and the expected benefits it expects to realize. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited to general business and economic conditions; changes in laws and regulations with respect to the use of AI-enabled tools; our ability to execute our digital plans and to deploy future digital use cases; our ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; our ability to attract and retain key employees; and our ability to protect our intellectual property and exposure to claims of infringement from others. Additional information about material risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations may be found in our most recent annual and interim reports and elsewhere in our filings with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators.

The forward-looking statements in this document are, unless otherwise indicated, stated as of the date hereof. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

About Manulife  

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping our customers make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice and insurance for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2024, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 109,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 36 million customers. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong. 
 
Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com

Media Contact
Gina Simonis
617-840-4794
GSimonis@Manulife.com

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