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Varana Capital Welcomes Sagi Dagan, former Head of Strategy and Acting Chairman of Investment Committees at the Israeli Innovation Authority, to the Chai 10X Fund as Senior Advisor and Investment Committee Member

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DENVER, June 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Varana Capital is pleased to announce the appointment of Sagi Dagan as Senior Advisor to the Chai 10X Fund, an Israeli resilience fund forged in the wake of the October 7th attacks. With a vision to invigorate the Israeli tech ecosystem, the Chai 10X Fund sets out three core objectives, each in perfect alignment with Sagi’s unparalleled expertise:

Invest in the Israeli Ecosystem: The Chai 10X Fund is committed to deploying capital to exceptionally promising Israeli companies. As the former Chief Strategist and Acting Chairman of Investment Committees for the Israeli Innovation Authority, Sagi brings extensive experience in investing in Israeli VC backed companies. Dagan has overseen billions in direct investments across hundreds of startups in Israel.

Provide strategic help to our portfolio companies: Chai is committed to providing both capital and substantial value to portfolio companies. Sagi’s background in corporate development at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, where he led renewable energy and deep-tech R&D initiatives, aligns perfectly with this philosophy. His deep understanding of the Israeli startup landscape and strategic experience will add to our already robust efforts in this area. We anticipate the magnitude of our successes to be amplified further.

Collaboration with Government Officials: The fund aims to work hand in hand with government officials to devise innovative economic solutions that propel Israel’s tech sector forward. Sagi Dagan, leveraging his expertise as the former Director and Economic Advisor at the National Economic Council at the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel, brings invaluable experience in designing national initiatives and spearheading strategic endeavors in the hi-tech and venture capital realms.

Ezra Gardner, Varana Capital Co-Founder and CIO, expressed his confidence in Sagi Dagan, stating, “Today will go down as a pivotal moment in the execution of Chai’s mission to be soldiers for the Israeli economy. We believe that Sagi’s unmatched experience in building the IIA is something all Israeli focused funds would be honored to have and I am proud that he has chosen Varana’s Chai 10x Fund. With his guidance and expertise, we are poised to not just meet but exceed our goals. Today, Israel represents the most attractive investment environment we have ever seen globally.”

Sagi Dagan adds, “I am delighted to join Varana Capital’s Chai 10X Fund, where our combined expertise will create powerful synergies to advance Israeli startups and the broader ecosystem. My passion for nurturing innovation and enhancing economic resilience aligns perfectly with the Fund’s mission. Together, we will leverage our strengths to provide essential support, build transformative partnerships, and develop pioneering strategies that will drive Israeli technology and entrepreneurship to unprecedented success.”

About Varana Capital: Founded in 2012 by Philip Broenniman and Ezra Gardner, Denver-based Varana Capital, LLC, focuses on investing in and actively engaging with public and private companies worldwide. The firm partners with visionary leaders to foster global impact. For more information, please visit Varana Capital’s website or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Email: kmj@varanacapital.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/varana-capital-welcomes-sagi-dagan-former-head-of-strategy-and-acting-chairman-of-investment-committees-at-the-israeli-innovation-authority-to-the-chai-10x-fund-as-senior-advisor-and-investment-committee-member-302162090.html

SOURCE Varana Capital, LLC

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Explore Beyond Expo 2025 Osaka with Agoda’s Day Trip Recommendations

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SINGAPORE, April 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda is spotlighting five enriching day trips for visitors attending Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan. Taking place on Yumeshima Island near Osaka from April 13 to October 13, 2025, the Expo will showcase innovations across health, design, and connectivity. Agoda’s day-trip recommendations aim to enhance the travel experience by encouraging exploration of nearby destinations beyond perennial favorites Osaka and Kyoto.

Expo 2025 Osaka is set to attract international visitors, eager to explore forward-looking exhibits and cultural showcases. Agoda’s insights revealed that the highest number of accommodation searches for the Kansai region came from South Korea, followed by Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and mainland China.

Beyond the Expo, the Kansai region and surrounding areas offer a variety of experiences, from historical landmarks to culinary delights. Agoda has identified five destinations that are ideal for day trips:

Nara: Known for its historical significance, Nara features attractions such as Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park, where deer roam freely. The city’s serene environment provides a contrast to the dynamic atmosphere of the Expo. Nara is accessible in about an hour via the JR Osaka Loop Line.Kobe: This port city combines modernity with tradition, offering highlights such as the Kitano Ijinkan-gai District and panoramic views from Mount Rokko. Kobe beef and the hot springs of Arima Onsen are also popular draws. The JR Kobe Line Rapid Service connects Osaka to Kobe in approximately 30 minutes.Nagoya: A blend of innovation and tradition, Nagoya features landmarks like Nagoya Castle and the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. Local cuisine, including miso katsu, adds to the city’s appeal. The Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station ensures a quick and convenient journey.Himeji: Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-see for its architectural beauty and historical significance. The castle’s white facade and surrounding gardens are particularly striking. The JR Sanyo Shinkansen provides access to Himeji in under an hour.Wakayama: Wakayama offers a mix of spiritual and cultural experiences, including Mount Koya, a center of Shingon Buddhism, and Wakayama Castle. Fresh seafood markets add a culinary dimension to the visit. The JR Wakayama Line connects Osaka to this peaceful destination.

Hiroto Ooka, Associate Vice President, North Asia at Agoda, shared, “Expo 2025 Osaka is not just about innovation; it’s also an opportunity to explore the rich culture and history of the Kansai region and beyond. Agoda is excited to help travelers uncover these destinations and create unforgettable memories with great value deals on accommodation, flights, and activities.”

With over 5 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities, Agoda makes it easy to plan your next celestial escape. Visit Agoda.com or download the Agoda mobile app for the best deals.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/explore-beyond-expo-2025-osaka-with-agodas-day-trip-recommendations-302426352.html

SOURCE Agoda

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Lakshmi Finance Center: Jonathan Dale Benton Unveils the Strategic Leap from TradeGenius AI 3.0 to 4.0

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Lakshmi Finance Center announces the next generation of its flagship AI platform, TradeGenius AI 4.0, showcasing advanced learning capabilities, re-engineered infrastructure, and cross-domain scalability under the direction of founder Jonathan Dale Benton.

SAN DIEGO, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Lakshmi Finance Center has officially launched TradeGenius AI 4.0, the most significant architectural and functional overhaul of its intelligent automation platform to date. Building on the foundational framework of version 3.0, the new system introduces a series of transformative upgrades designed to meet the demands of increasingly complex and dynamic real-time environments.

The development, led by Founder and CEO Jonathan Dale Benton, reflects the institution’s ongoing investment in modular artificial intelligence systems that prioritize learning adaptability, high-volume data responsiveness, and operational transparency.

“TradeGenius AI 4.0 is not simply a version update—it’s a complete strategic reinvention of the system’s intelligence core,” said Jonathan Dale Benton. “It now thinks in contexts, adapts in cycles, and learns in real time across environments that no static model could survive.”

While TradeGenius AI 3.0 introduced essential advancements such as adaptive learning databases and preliminary decision feedback loops, version 4.0 redefines those foundations by integrating reinforcement learning, temporal abstraction layers, and dynamic task routing engines. These upgrades allow the system to execute multi-stage, variable-output strategies across non-linear data streams—an essential feature for modern AI operations.

One of the key innovations in 4.0 is its event-driven processing model, which replaces sequential logic chains with flexible response modules. This model enables the system to react to new inputs based on weighted probabilities rather than fixed triggers, dramatically reducing latency and enhancing situational awareness.

In parallel, the platform now supports natural language command interpretation through an upgraded NLP parser, allowing users to construct complex operational logic using simple language prompts. These are dynamically translated into structured tasks, enabling broader accessibility across non-technical roles in systems management and automation testing.

The memory module—a critical improvement over 3.0’s short-term feedback structure—has been expanded into a context-aware temporal buffer. This allows TradeGenius AI 4.0 to maintain variable-length memory trails for long-form decision-making, improving continuity in strategy across extended sessions.

Another core advancement is the scalability architecture, which now supports simultaneous deployment across decentralized nodes with real-time synchronization. This enables federated learning experiments and distributed intelligence deployment in simulated or live multi-agent environments.

The engineering teams behind TradeGenius AI worked through 14 months of sprint-based iterations and regression testing to ensure that legacy logic sets could be retained while accommodating the system’s expanded capabilities. Cross-disciplinary contributions from Lakshmi’s internal data scientists, systems theorists, and interface designers ensured a consistent balance between depth, speed, and usability.

In preparation for broader use, Lakshmi Finance Center is releasing a developer sandbox environment for institutions and research labs, including access to API layers, custom training modules, and anonymized datasets for testing. Internal pilot programs have already demonstrated successful applications in automation orchestration, real-time analytics, and process modeling.

Looking ahead, Lakshmi Finance Center plans to integrate real-world knowledge graph structures and symbolic reasoning systems in future iterations of the TradeGenius framework. Version 4.1, currently in prototype, is expected to introduce explainability modules and internal audit trails for transparency in critical system decisions.

TradeGenius AI 4.0 is now available for enterprise deployment, research collaboration, and curriculum integration within Lakshmi’s technical education programs.

With this release, Lakshmi Finance Center not only extends the capabilities of intelligent systems but reinforces its role as a center for continuous innovation in scalable, modular, and explainable AI.

Media Contact

Charlotte Evans, Lakshmi Finance Center, 1 619-379-7337, contact@lakshmifinance.com, https://www.lakshmifinance.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/lakshmi-finance-center-jonathan-dale-benton-unveils-the-strategic-leap-from-tradegenius-ai-3-0-to-4-0–302424230.html

SOURCE Lakshmi Finance Center

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ROLLER Celebrated on AFR’s Best Places to Work List and Certified as a Great Place to Work

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ROLLER’s purpose is to help create experiences that bring joy and happiness to the world. They achieve this by connecting attraction venues with powerful, easy-to-use technology.

AUSTIN, Texas, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ROLLER, the all-in-one venue management platform for the leisure and attractions industry, is proud to announce it has been named a finalist on the Australian Financial Review’s Best Places to Work List for 2025, in the Technology category. Presented in collaboration with Bendelta, the list evaluates hundreds of companies across Australia and New Zealand based on employee experience, policies, and innovation. For the ROLLER team, being recognized among such respected companies is a meaningful acknowledgment of the culture they’re continuing to build as they scale.

“Our people are the heart of everything we do,” says Bee Hepburn, Chief People Officer at ROLLER. “Being included on the AFR’s Best Places to Work List reflects our team’s passion for not only creating joyful guest experiences through our platform but also cultivating a workplace where people love to show up every day.”

ROLLER was also honored to be officially certified as a Great Place to Work® for the third consecutive year in Australia and the second year running in the United States.

“Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that Certification is based entirely on real feedback from employees, making it a genuine reflection of how people feel about the company culture. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that ROLLER stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”

ROLLER’s employee experience is driven by core values that promote collaboration, trust, innovation, and personal growth. With a global team spanning the Americas, EMEA, and APAC, ROLLER emphasizes flexibility, psychological safety, and opportunities for career progression. Recent initiatives include working with Equidi to close the gender pay gap, a public holiday swap program, and DEI-driven hiring practices.

“We’re intentional about creating an environment where people feel connected to their work, each other, and the impact we’re making,” added Bee Hepburn. “Whether you’re based in Austin, Melbourne, or London, you’ll find the same level of openness, encouragement, and energy that defines ROLLER’s culture.”

As the company continues to grow and evolve, ROLLER remains focused on maintaining a culture-first approach, recognizing that happy, fulfilled teams are the key to delivering world-class products and support to the attractions industry.

About ROLLER

ROLLER is the cloud-based venue management platform for modern attractions, purpose-built to remove friction from the guest experience at every touchpoint. Their all-in-one platform simplifies its customers’ business processes, improving efficiency and maximizing revenue. ROLLER’s comprehensive solution includes: Online Checkout & Ticketing, Point-of-Sale, Integrated Payments, Memberships, Gift Cards, Waivers, Self-Serve Kiosks, Cashless Wallets, Guest Surveys, and more. To learn more, visit roller.software.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/roller-celebrated-on-afrs-best-places-to-work-list-and-certified-as-a-great-place-to-work-302426320.html

SOURCE ROLLER

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