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Global fintechs and web3 giants unite to increase blockchain-based cash assistance for humanitarian crises

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Humanitarian Council members include the Algorand Foundation, Circle, Worldpay, Mercy Corps Ventures, HesabPay, the United Nations Development Programme, and others

BARCELONA, Spain, June 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, in a move led by the Algorand Foundation, a coalition of fintech, web3, and humanitarian organizations announced the formation of a council seeking to increase access to blockchain-based cash assistance during humanitarian crises. The council’s objective – among other activities – is to advise UN agencies and NGOs on using blockchain technology for aid payments, and to develop a roadmap for the successful piloting of blockchain-based cash programs in distressed areas.

Over the past decade, the United Nations and NGOs have begun to offer more cash-based assistance (vs. in-kind or service assistance). According to the CALP Network, a thought leader in humanitarian cash and voucher assistance, this form of assistance now comprises 21% of all international humanitarian aid, reaching $10 billion in 2022, and there is potential for that proportion to be much higher (source). Humanitarian organizations are working to deliver this kind of aid as rapidly and economically as possible whilst navigating ever more complex financial regulations. Given this, the projects under the purview of this council will explore the potential benefits and opportunities of blockchain-based payment solutions in addressing these particular constraints.

The aim in using blockchain is to first offset the lack of financial and technological infrastructure in aid locations such as Afghanistan and others. In these regions, applying blockchain technology could bring more efficiency and ease to the delivery of cash-based aid, making it possible to respond on an even larger scale.

Scaling cash-based aid also requires transparency. Cash aid programs need to be traceable and auditable without infringing on the rights of its beneficiaries. By using blockchain, organizations can maintain an immutable, unchangeable record of how cash was distributed, without disclosing how it is used by the recipient. This model protects the privacy of those in crisis while maintaining the traceability and verification that aid programs, donors, and governments need.

Built on Algorand, global payment app HesabPay is already proving the effectiveness of merging blockchain and aid delivery. It facilitates the world’s largest humanitarian project ever to be run on a public blockchain, bringing support to more than 14,000 families in Afghanistan in collaboration with United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and supported by the WFP Innovation Accelerator.

Bernhard Kowatsch, head of the WFP Innovation Accelerator, added, “The success of HesabPay in Afghanistan highlights the significant impact and scalability of this technology. We are eager to extend these innovations globally to revolutionize aid delivery.”

“Direct cash-based humanitarian assistance has been growing rapidly and is the future thanks to the extraordinary benefits cash provides for recipients. To be effective, humanitarian payments must meet several requirements: instant settlement, easily scalable to thousands if not millions of recipients,  and transparent and traceable,” said Matt Keller, director of impact at the Algorand Foundation. “Blockchain checks all of these boxes, and one reason we invested in HesabPay, which delivers humanitarian aid payments in Afghanistan without sacrificing time or accountability.”

“At Circle Impact, our mission since 2021 has been to empower underserved communities and reach people who have traditionally been excluded from financial systems. We are excited to be part of the Humanitarian Council, where we can cultivate a new generation of financial inclusion aimed at powering humanitarian aid and disaster relief,” said Mercina Tillemann-Perez, Vice President of Circle Impact.

“Launching 16 crypto pilots in 10+ countries over the past 4 years, Mercy Corps Ventures has been actively deploying first-of-a-kind real world use cases in the humanitarian and development context leveraging blockchain technology. We’re now building out a Humanitarian Venture Lab with a pipeline of humanitarian pilots, use cases, and insights that show where the challenges Algorand Foundation is addressing are playing out – and getting solved – in real time,” said Sandra Uwantege Hart, Humanitarian Venture Lab lead at Mercy Corps Ventures.

“Humanitarian crises demand faster, more transparent aid solutions. Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize aid delivery through unparalleled traceability. If this initiative can match the speed and efficiency of the 40 billion+ transactions Worldpay processes annually, there is an opportunity to provide life-saving support to the millions facing humanitarian crises, ensuring funds reach those in need without delay,” said Ahmed Zifzaf, head of crypto/web3 partnerships for Worldpay.

“In UNDP, we are exploring with Algorand how digital payments can bring transparency while making payments with more speed and trust to support the lives in countries without a strong banking ecosystem. Special attention is being paid to supporting the work of civil society organizations, such as through our Tadamon network of 4000 CSOs,” said Robert Pasicko, Innovation Team Leader a.i. at UNDP.

Serving council members currently include:

Sandra Uwantege Hart, Humanitarian Venture Lab Lead at Mercy Corps VenturesMercina Tillemann Perez, Vice President, Circle Impact at CirclePaula Gil Baizan, PoliSync Centre for International Policy EngagementAhmed Zifzaf, Head of Crypto/Web3 Partnerships at WorldpayHasan Fallaha, Livelihoods and Economic Recovery programme Analyst at UNDP SyriaAli Theyab Al-Zuhairi, Economic Reform (FFER-FED) Project Coordinator at the UNDP Iraq Country OfficeRobert Pasicko, Innovation Team Leader a.i., United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)Henri de Jong, Chief Business Development Officer at QuantozRory Crew, Technical Advisor on Data & Digitalization at the CALP NetworkNigel Pont, Senior Advisor at HesabPaySuzana Moreno, Blockchain Technology Strategy and Portfolio Project Manager at WFP Innovation AcceleratorKelly Stablein, Independent Humanitarian Consultant

About Algorand Foundation
Algorand’s mission is to power a world where information has integrity and innovative ideas can scale. The Algorand Foundation supports Algorand’s rapidly growing ecosystem by providing a best-in-class developer environment, supporting key infrastructure and setting technical standards, offering comprehensive support to builders and entrepreneurs, and providing the infrastructure for decentralized governance.

Founded by Turing Award-winning cryptographer Silvio Micali in 2019, Algorand has grown into a vibrant ecosystem of developers, entrepreneurs, and enterprise partners that benefit from institutional-grade certainty and resilience, while features like low fees, instant finality, and a minimal carbon footprint also appeal to the protocol’s millions of retail users. Builders of all kinds can use common programming languages like Python to develop advanced apps and protocols that solve important problems at a global scale: instant payments in war and disaster zones, self-sovereign identity for the disenfranchised, supply-chain traceability for global commerce, permissionless protocols addressing financial inclusion, and the creation of entirely new markets through tokenization, to name a few. To learn more and start your journey on Algorand, visit algorand.foundation.

About Circle
Circle is a global financial technology firm that enables businesses of all sizes to harness the power of digital currencies and public blockchains for payments, commerce and financial applications worldwide. Circle is the issuer of USDC and EURC – highly liquid, interoperable, and trusted money protocols on the internet. Circle’s open and programmable platform and APIs make it easy for organizations to run their internet-scale business, whether it is making international payments, building globally-accessible Web3 apps, or managing their internal treasury. Learn more at https://circle.com.

About HesabPay
HesabPay is a global payment app at the forefront of global financial inclusion, targeting the 2 billion unbanked individuals worldwide. With exponential growth, HesabPay now boasts over half a million users, facilitating $35 million in peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers monthly. The platform serves 250,000 households in managing their bill payments and supports over two dozen donors in distributing humanitarian cash assistance. HesabPay’s impact is evident in its expansive reach and the vital financial lifeline it provides. Discover the full extent of HesabPay’s services at hesab.com.  

About Mercy Corps Ventures
Mercy Corps Ventures invests in and catalyzes venture-led solutions to increase the resilience of underserved individuals and communities. Founded in 2015 as the impact investing arm of global development agency, Mercy Corps, we’ve supported 50 early-stage ventures to scale and raise over $465 million in follow-on capital. 44% of our portfolio has at least 1 female co-founder and centers around climate adaptation and resilience-building solutions in adaptive agriculture and food systems, inclusive fintech, and climate-smart technologies, so that those living in frontier markets can withstand disruption and plan for the future. Through capital and support, piloting new approaches, action-oriented insights, and rigorously managing impact, we catalyze the ecosystem toward smarter, more impactful investments. Learn more at www.mercycorpsventures.vc.

About Worldpay
Worldpay is a leading payments technology and solutions company with unique capabilities to power omni-commerce across the globe. Our processing solutions allow businesses of all sizes to take, make and manage payments in-person and online from anywhere in the world. Annually, we process over 40 billion transactions across 146 countries and 135 currencies. We help our customers become more efficient, more secure and more successful.

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SOURCE Algorand Foundation

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Mercurius Media Capital Commits Initial $1 Million with Option for Additional $2 Million Media Investment in Mode Mobile’s National Growth

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May 15, 2025

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REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Mercurius Media Capital (MMC), the first U.S.-based media-for-equity venture fund, announced a strategic investment in Mode Mobile, the fast-growing platform transforming how consumers monetize their time and attention. MMC has committed an initial $1 million, with an option for an additional $2 million, in targeted media inventory to accelerate Mode’s visibility and adoption across the U.S. market. Mode Mobile operates at the intersection of fintech, media, and rewards, offering a disruptive platform where consumers earn value from their time and attention.

In a landscape often focused on superficial engagement, Mode Mobile pioneers a model of value creation for underserved audiences. “At Mode, we’re pioneering a new way to utilize an everyday asset—turning smartphones into EarnPhones™,” said Dan Novaes, CEO and Co-founder of Mode Mobile. “Our passionate team is eager to partner with MMC and tap into their media expertise to accelerate our growth and connect with entirely new audiences.”

MMC’s investment will fuel Mode’s expansion through a broad media campaign, leveraging MMC’s partnerships with leading media platforms such as Sinclair Broadcast Group, TelevisaUnivision, Atmosphere TV, and others. Mode Mobile joins a growing portfolio of culturally relevant companies accessing high-impact advertising in exchange for equity.

“This isn’t just a growth story it’s a new framework for engagement,” said Piyush Puri, Founding Partner of MMC “Mode is building a model that aligns incentives at scale, fundamentally reshaping user interaction with devices, data, and dollars,” This partnership highlights the power of media-for-equity investing in unlocking growth for startups often overlooked by traditional funding models.

MMC bridges the gap for DTC and mid-sized brands by educating them on TV economics and the long-term value of brand-building MMC’s media offer premium inventory as a strategic asset, with a vested interest in each company’s success, creating impactful and targeted campaigns.

About Mercurius Media Capital Mercurius Media Capital launched in December 2023, is the first U.S.-based media-for-equity venture fund with ~$90 million in committed capital. Co-founded by Satyan Gajwani and Piyush Puri, MMC builds on over 15 years of experience driving media capital transactions at The Times of India Group, facilitating over $3 billion in media-based investments. MMC has partnered with leading media platforms, including Sinclair Broadcast Group, Televisa Univision, Atmosphere TV and others, to offer high-growth startups and enterprises access to distinct, large-scale advertising inventory in exchange for equity. This fund has backed several companies, including Airtasker, Deskera, Edly, Captain Experiences, reAlpha, RYSE and more.

This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Investments in MMC are available only to verified accredited investors. Forward–looking statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Media Contact:
Interdependence PR
Angelic Venegas, Account Director
847-977-5601
395316@email4pr.com 

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SOURCE Mercurius Media Capital

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Dentegrate AI Powers Growth for 220+ Dental Practices, Doubling New Patient Acquisition

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May 15, 2025

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BOSTON, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Dentegrate AI is revolutionizing dental practice growth, with over 220 clinics now using its AI-powered platform to automate patient acquisition and engagement. Early adopters report an average 70% increase in new patients each month, with many practices doubling their growth—all while reducing reliance on traditional marketing agencies.

Built on eight years of dental industry data, Dentegrate AI addresses key challenges practices face with conventional marketing: overextended agency teams, wasted ad spend, and missed growth opportunities. The platform combines two powerful solutions:

Automated Ad Management: Rather than relying on busy ad account managers, Dentegrate AI monitors and optimizes ads automatically in real-time—reducing human error that often occurs when managing multiple clients.AI Patient Coordinator: Functioning as a 24/7 virtual front desk, the AI handles inquiries, appointment scheduling, and follow-ups. This ensures practices maintain timely patient communication without adding to staff workload.

The New Standard: Why AI-Driven Growth Outperforms Agencies

Dentegrate’s mission is to provide always-on, automated systems for dental marketing and patient management. Traditional marketing agencies—often stretched thin across numerous clients—frequently struggle to deliver the focused attention needed for effective campaigns. Dentegrate AI offers a scalable, consistent alternative by running continuously in the background, eliminating the typical overhead and performance inconsistencies found with many agencies.

Early Results

Although some in the dental industry were initially uncertain about AI replacing personalized human strategies, early outcomes have been overwhelmingly positive. Dentegrate AI brings unmatched efficiency and reliability—practices using the platform report an average 76% increase in new patients, with many doubling or even tripling their growth due to its automated approach.

This level of growth is rarely achieved by traditional agencies, particularly those managing multiple clients. In 2025, Dentegrate AI continues to expand rapidly as more dental practices adopt the solution to remain competitive in an evolving market.

The Future of Dental Practice Growth

Dentegrate presents a powerful solution for dental professionals seeking to modernize their operations and reduce their dependence on traditional marketing agencies. It represents a major shift in how clinics approach marketing—offering an automated, efficient path to patient acquisition and long-term growth. For practices ready to stay ahead of emerging trends in marketing and engagement, Dentegrate AI provides a clear advantage.

To learn more, visit dentegrate.com.

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SOURCE Dentegrate

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Excel Dryer: American made and tariff resilient

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42 minutes ago

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May 15, 2025

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Hand dryer manufacturer holds prices as top competitors announce increases across full product lines

EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Excel Dryer, Inc., a family-owned and operated manufacturer of touchless, high-efficiency hand dryers, is benefiting from its longstanding commitment to producing high-quality, American-made products, a strategy that has effectively insulated the company from the impact of import tariffs.

 

“Excel’s mission has always been to design and manufacture quality American-made products that are dependable, and people like to use,” said Executive Vice President and COO William Gagnon. “It’s in our DNA.”

XLERATOR® Hand Dryers are the only ones with Made in USA certification, built with parts from domestic supplier partners and manufactured in Massachusetts. As most of the top hand dryer manufacturers have announced price increases on their entire product line due to changing tariff policies, Excel is holding steady on pricing with production uninterrupted.

In addition to being tariff resilient, Excel leads the industry in sustainability. A life-cycle study focusing on energy consumption shows Excel dryers provide up to a 94 percent reduction of carbon footprint versus 100 percent recycled paper towels. The company encourages developers toward environmentally friendly design practices with green continuing education courses to help builders create health-focused facilities that meet criteria for Well Building Standard (WELL) certification.

Excel is also committed to hygiene, recently teaming up with the highly respected research firm Metrixlab to conduct a global survey. Results show a strong link between public restroom cleanliness and business reputation, with respondents saying the number one contributing factor to a dirty restroom is paper towels on the floor or overflowing trash cans.

“Every day our workers here in Massachusetts create the world’s most efficient, environmentally friendly and hygienic hand drying solution,” said Gagnon. “Born from American innovation, we are proud to set the standard for the industry.”

About Excel Dryer, Inc.
Excel Dryer is a family-owned and operated company that revolutionized the industry with the invention of the XLERATOR® Hand Dryer, which set a new standard for performance, reliability and customer satisfaction. For more than 50 years, Excel has been manufacturing American-made hand drying solutions that are dependable, cost effective, safe and sustainable. Backed by the best customer service, Excel Dryer products can be purchased through an established network of sales representatives and distributors globally. Learn more about Excel Dryer at exceldryer.com.

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SOURCE Excel Dryer

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