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akirolabs Secures 7-digit Grant to Develop the Leading LLM for Strategic Procurement, Building on Recent $5M Seed Round

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akirolabs awarded 7-digit non-dilutive public funding from Investitionsbank Berlin and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).The jury acknowledged akirolabs’ breakthrough innovation in ProcureTech and praised its advancements in integrating AI into strategic procurement.Fund will be utilized to develop further akiroAssist, the leading Expert LLM for Strategic Procurement, enhancing akirolabs’ AI capabilities and reinforcing its position as an AI-first ProcureTech SaaS company.This public funding comes after the company’s $5M seed round announcement in January this year, which was led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), OTB Ventures, and D11Z Ventures.

BERLIN, July 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — akirolabs, a Berlin-based ProcureTech startup, enabling enterprises worldwide to augment strategic procurement processes, announces an extension to its recent $5 million seed funding with an additional 7-digit ( € million) non-dilutive grant from Investitionsbank Berlin and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

This highly competitive grant, awarded only to top tech startups pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology, comes shortly after the company’s successful $5 million seed funding round, underlining the strong momentum and confidence in akirolabs’ vision for AI-driven strategic procurement transformation..

The jury was notably impressed by akirolabs’ vision and the development of akiroAssist, their proprietary and leading expert LLM for strategic procurement, which enhances their category management software. This innovative use of technology played a crucial role in securing the grant, highlighting the company’s distinctive position in the ProcureTech landscape.

akirolabs is developing what they call the “Penrose Triangle of ProcureTech” – an impossibly replicable masterpiece that combines three key elements:

Unique Procurement Domain ExpertiseRevolutionary and Highly Innovative Procurement MethodologyCutting-edge AI Engine Leveraging Large Language Models (LLM), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and Ontology

This funding will be strategically utilized to further advance the software’s AI/LLM capabilities, solidify akirolabs’ position as the AI-first ProcureTech B2B SaaS company, and accelerate product development and team expansion.

This funding will be strategically utilized to further advance the software’s AI/LLM capabilities, solidify akirolabs’ position as the AI-first ProcureTech SaaS company, and accelerate the development of akiroAssist – the leading LLM for strategic procurement.

Michael Pleuger, CEO of akirolabs, stated, “We’re honoured to receive this recognition and grant from IBB ProFIT and the ERDF. This vote of confidence from IBB ProFIT and the ERDF fuels our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in procurement”

“We’re excited about the journey ahead and deeply grateful for the support of our investors, customers, and partners” added Pleuger.

Industry expert Elouise Epstein, KEARNEY Partner and best-selling author on Digital Procurement has previously lauded akirolabs: “What you have created is significant… there is no doubt in my mind that this is a breakthrough innovation. akirolabs is on a trajectory to eliminate much of the category management function as we know it today.”

About akirolabs:

akirolabs, founded in 2021 by Michael Pleuger, Detlef Schultz, Christoph Flöthmann, and Tim Ergenzinger, develops and provides an AI-powered SaaS platform for collaborative strategic procurement. akirolabs is based upon a world-class and industry-proven strategic procurement process, methodology, and toolkit, embedded into an intuitive cross-functional collaboration workflow and enriched with all relevant internal and external business insight. akirolabs’ unique approach delivers “Procurement Strategies with Value & Purpose” and a significantly broader and 4-5 times higher value contribution than traditional sourcing solutions.

Press Contact:
Tim Ergenzinger
akirolabs GmbH
Greifswalder Str. 208
10405 Berlin 
hello@akirolabs.com
Tel: +49 30 754 384 66

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2468356/akirolabs_gmbh_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/akirolabs-secures-7-digit-grant-to-develop-the-leading-llm-for-strategic-procurement-building-on-recent-5m-seed-round-302205490.html

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Aleut Achieves Prestigious CMMI Level 3 Certification in Four Key Domains

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RESTON, Va., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aleut Federal LLC (Aleut) proudly announces it has earned Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 3 certification in four key domains: Development (CMMI-DEV), Services (CMMI-SVS), Security (CMMI-SEC), and People Management (CMMI-PPL). This significant achievement highlights Aleut’s commitment to operational excellence and its ability to deliver high-quality, efficient and secure solutions. It demonstrates Aleut’s strength in optimizing product development, improving service delivery, enhancing security, and aligning workforce management to drive performance and engagement. 

CMMI, developed by the globally recognized CMMI Institute, is a framework for assessing and improving organizational performance. Achieving Level 3 certification affirms that Aleut’s processes are clearly defined, consistently applied, and supported by robust standards, tools, and methodologies. This milestone underscores the company’s ongoing dedication to operational excellence, mitigating risk, and delivering measurable performance success.

“This certification shows our customers that Aleut doesn’t just meet their mission-critical needs – we excel at it,” said Nick Trzcinski, President of Aleut Federal. “We are committed to continuous improvement, innovation, and delivering exceptional value. Aleut is a partner our customers can trust.”

Aleut’s CMMI Level 3 certification enhances its ability to deliver high-quality outcomes across all projects while optimizing efficiency and minimizing risks. Complemented by the company’s ISO 9001 certification for quality management, these achievements reinforcing Aleut’s adherence to internationally recognized standards, solidifying its position as a reliable and innovative partner for federal clients.

To read Aleut Federal’s CMMI Appraisal, click here.

ABOUT ALEUT FEDERAL
Aleut Federal LLC, a holding company within The Aleut Corporation’s federal services portfolio, is an Alaska Native-owned enterprise delivering vital services to the U.S. government across four primary sectors: Technology, Mission Support, Environmental, and Construction. Established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971, The Aleut Corporation is one of 12 regional Alaska Native corporations. Aleut Federal’s subsidiaries, including Small Business Administration (SBA) certified 8(a) program participants and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) entities, bring specialized capabilities to meet the diverse needs of federal agencies.

By achieving CMMI Level 3 certification, Aleut Federal strengthens its standing as an industry leader, driving performance excellence while delivering mission-focused solutions with unmatched quality and efficiency.

Contact:
Berlyn Martin
Aleut Federal, LLC
Phone: 276-244-3319

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SOURCE Aleut Federal, LLC

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Lowell Observatory Scientists to Present New Research at American Astronomical Society Winter Meeting- Including New and Unexpected Insights on Planet Formation

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Lowell Observatory researchers will join more than 3,000 astronomers at AAS245 in Maryland from January 12-16, 2025

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The American Astronomical Society’s winter meeting is the largest annual gathering of astronomers in the United States, and Lowell Observatory will be well-represented this year. Executive Director Dr. Amanda Bosh and Director of Science Dr. Gerard van Belle—both of whom just stepped into their positions—lead a contingency of more than a dozen scientists and support staff attending the meeting.

Lowell Observatory will be in attendance at Exhibitor Booth 521, with its astronomers, postdocs, predocs, and other researchers available to discuss their latest science research. Of particular note, Postdoctoral Fellow Taylor Kutra will share unexpected new ways planets may form, based on a study of a binary star system in Taurus that she leads. Kutra will present her findings during both a Tuesday (January 14) science session and Thursday (January 16) press conference.

Other Lowell Observatory scientists will present on topics including comets, asteroids, the Sun and Sun-like stars, exoplanets, a variety of star types, dwarf irregular galaxies, and space-based interferometry.

Bosh says, “The winter meeting of the AAS is a critical opportunity for astronomers at all stages of their careers to share their latest research and interact with colleagues from around the world. Lowell Observatory is pleased to send a strong contingency of our science team to actively participate in this year’s meeting in National Harbor.”

Media are welcome to attend AAS245 in person. A limited virtual attendance option is also available, with live access to press conferences, plenary talks, select town halls, and a virtual oral session. See https://aas.org/meetings/aas245/press.

AAS245 website: https://aas.org/meetings/aas245

AAS245 Presentations by Lowell Observatory Scientists: Full Schedule Here

About Lowell Observatory
Founded in 1894, Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, is a renowned nonprofit research institution. It is the site of historic and groundbreaking discoveries, including the first evidence of the expanding universe and the discovery of Pluto. Today, Lowell’s astronomers utilize global ground-based and space telescopes, along with NASA spacecraft, for diverse astronomical and planetary science research. The observatory hosts over 100,000 annual visitors for educational tours, presentations, and telescope viewing through a suite of world-class public telescopes.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lowell-observatory-scientists-to-present-new-research-at-american-astronomical-society-winter-meeting–including-new-and-unexpected-insights-on-planet-formation-302347343.html

SOURCE Lowell Observatory

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CRTC consults on market dynamics within Canada’s broadcasting system

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OTTAWA, ON and GATINEAU, QC, Jan. 9, 2025 /CNW/ – Today, the CRTC is taking another step forward to implement the modernized Broadcasting Act (the Act) by launching a public consultation on market dynamics within Canada’s broadcasting system.

Through this consultation, the CRTC will explore the dynamics between small, medium and large broadcasters, television service providers and online streaming services. The goal is to help ensure that Canada’s broadcasting system is sustainable, fair and competitive.

The CRTC is welcoming comments until February 24, 2025. Interested persons can participate by:

filling out the online form;writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2;sending a fax to 819-994-0218.

As part of this consultation, the CRTC will hold a public hearing starting on May 12, 2025.

All comments will form part of the public record and will inform the CRTC’s decision.

The launch of today’s consultation follows a number of recent actions the CRTC has taken to implement the modernized Act. To find out more, check out the CRTC’s regulatory plan.

Quick facts

The CRTC is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. The CRTC holds public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters and makes decisions based on the public record.First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and Indigenous organizations requiring assistance submitting comments, including oral interventions, can contact the CRTC’s Indigenous Relations Team.

Associated links

Participate in the consultationRegulatory PlanModernizing Canada’s broadcasting framework

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SOURCE Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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