Technology

Gloo Secures $110 Million Strategic Growth Investment

Published

2 months ago

July 31, 2024

New funding allows Gloo to accelerate platform development and AI advancement while expanding focus to include Gloo Ventures.

BOULDER, Colo., July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Gloo, the leading technology platform dedicated to connecting the faith ecosystem and releasing its collective might, announced the completion of a $110 million financing. The new financing will accelerate development of the Gloo platform—which includes free and premium ministry tools and marketplace offerings—while funneling new investment capital toward ministry-based technology, products, and services.

“So often faith-aligned capital leaves the faith ecosystem,” said Scott Beck, Gloo CEO and co-founder. “That means ministries that need the goods, services, and capital to fuel their growth don’t have access to essential resources. Our goal with this investment round, funded by 100% mission-aligned investors, is to reinvest the capital back into the ecosystem in the form of capital investments and continued development of our growing platform that connects the faith community at scale.”

The investment aligns with plans to expand the Discover marketplace on Gloo, which offers the faith community a comprehensive range of free and premium products and services that meet the specific and ongoing needs of ministry leaders.

“Gloo is accelerating our investment in marketplace motions to create uniquely curated experiences tailored to the faith ecosystem,” said John Fowle, chief financial officer at Gloo. “Investing in a marketplace is not just about enhancing our platform; it’s about empowering our users with the tools and resources they need to make a positive impact in their communities.”

The company is planning further investments to accelerate AI specifically tailored to the faith ecosystem. With a potential AI market size reaching into the trillions within the next decade, Gloo recognizes the growing need faith leaders will have to leverage the technology responsibly. Through its AI & the Church Initiative, upcoming AI hackathon, and other ventures, Gloo has become a leading voice in responsible and innovative use of AI for the faith ecosystem.

Earlier this year, Gloo launched a new division, Gloo Ventures, focused on investments in and acquisitions of organizations that bring value to the faith community. The division will include investments in AI-based tools to help church leaders responsibly leverage the technology.

“It’s clear to us that the faith community is seeking greater connection,” said Beck. “The Gloo platform is already enabling those connections in a variety of ways including enabling over 25MM text-based ministry interactions, connecting over 400K people in need to local ministries and resources, and enabling the exchange of value between thousands of ministry equipping partners and over 70K Gloo churches. No single person, ministry, or church could do this on their own. We’re seeing silos breaking down and collective might at work.”

Gloo closed the latest funding round in the first half of 2024, which included investments from a diverse group of mission-aligned partners including a leading partner in small group content, a major global child development ministry, a major denominational provider of financial services and one of the largest providers of church building and development loans. The approach aligns with Beck’s long-term vision that mission-aligned partners, and ultimately the big C Church, would be significant owners in the platform.

“We choose our investors carefully,” Beck said. “Finding close missional alignment, driving great financial outcomes, and guarding against mission drift are key drivers for us. Ultimately, our commitment is to connect the faith community, so every ministry can achieve its mission,” said Beck, “We’re committed. We’re resourced. And we’ve never been in a better position to achieve this goal.”

Gloo is the trusted tech platform that releases the collective might of the faith ecosystem. Gloo connects ministry leaders to resources, people, data and insights and funding so their people and communities flourish and their organizations thrive. Gloo does this with the highest standards of trust and scalable economic models. Gloo serves over 70,000 churches and over 1,000 resource partners.

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SOURCE Gloo

Technology

AIE Graduates create visual effects for Academy-nominated film

Published

35 mins ago

September 20, 2024

NAWI, a feature film whose visual effects were created by graduates from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE), has been officially nominated by Kenya for entry into the 97th Academy Awards in the category of Best International Feature Film. NAWI is a heartfelt story about a young girl’s journey towards empowerment and aims to shed light on a pressing issue that affects countless young women in the Turkana region of Kenya.

CANBERRA, Australia, Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — NAWI, a feature film whose visual effects were created by graduates from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE), has been officially nominated by Kenya for entry into the 97th Academy Awards in the category of Best International Feature Film. NAWI is a heartfelt story about a young girl’s journey towards empowerment and aims to shed light on a pressing issue that affects countless young women in the Turkana region of Kenya.

“The film has a very important social message to tell so it was rewarding in many ways to be able to contribute to this project. NAWI was a fantastic opportunity for our graduates to put their skills to the test on a full-length feature film,” said Tom Pugh.

AIE graduates and teachers were given the opportunity to work on the film’s visual effects through AIE’s ongoing partnership with Learning Lions, who produced the film with Film Crew & Baobab Pictures. AIE is proud to support Learning Lions non-profit mission to enable young adults in marginalised rural communities of East Africa to become digital creatives by providing game development training and technology.

The visual effects for NAWI were brought to life by AIE teachers and experienced industry professionals, Thomas Magill and Tom Pugh, who were tasked with supervising the visual effects and liaising with the film’s Directors, Apuu Mourine, Kevin Schmutzler, Tobias Schmutzler and Toby Schmutzler. They assembled a team of recent AIE graduates and worked out how to create the effects required to immerse audiences in Nawi’s world.

“Graduates were able to take the skills they had learnt in class and apply them to cinema-quality footage. There was even a bit of nervous excitement working with professional expectations and deadlines,” said Tom Pugh.

Thomas Magill explained that most of the work involved compositing such as fixing blemishes, removing unwanted folds in clothing, changing pages in a book and removing background actors that were in the wrong place.

“We had a river shot where there was only a sandbank, and we had to create an entire island! There were several shots filmed in a dry riverbed which required us to create floodwater. We had to draw upon various disciplines: not just digital compositing but also visual effects creation and fluid simulations,” said Thomas Magill.

Both teachers enthused that the directors were a pleasure to work with and the collaboration was smooth.

Learning Lions and AIE look forward to seeing NAWI progress through two rounds of voting by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to narrow the list of submitted films down to five nominees for the Best International Feature Film.

About Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE)

AIE offers practical, career-focused courses delivered by industry-experienced teachers in 3D animation, game development, visual effects and film. Since 2019 AIE has sponsored scholarships to their Certificate and Diploma programs to Learning Lions student. AIE provided laptops and is supporting with opportunities at various gaming companies around the world for paid part-time and full-time work.

https://aie.edu.au/

About Learning Lions

Learning Lions is fighting poverty with digital opportunity. Established in 2015, Learning Lions equips local youth with essential IT and media skills, and empowering them to become entrepreneurs and self-sustaining individuals. By leveraging digital services, these aspiring entrepreneurs not only support themselves but also provide opportunities for others through employment and mentorship.

https://www.learninglions.org/

Media Contact

Neil Boyd, Academy of Interactive Entertainment, 61 434273190, neilb@aie.edu.au, https://aie.edu.au/

Facebook, LinkedIn

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SOURCE Academy of Interactive Entertainment

Technology

Valhalla MSO Launches Impetus One to Enhance Valhalla Vitality’s Telehealth Platform

Published

35 mins ago

September 20, 2024

Valhalla MSO launches Impetus One, enabling healthcare providers to expand services, improve patient retention, and boost revenue with no upfront costs

MIAMI, Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Valhalla MSO is excited to announce the launch of Impetus One (IO), a new software designed to power the Valhalla Vitality Network Provider Program. This initiative aims to expand the reach and capabilities of independent healthcare providers by offering an alternative to the traditional insurance model. With a focus on preventative medicine and wellness therapies, the platform is set to enhance patient care while creating new revenue opportunities for providers.

The Valhalla Vitality Network Provider Program addresses the gap created by insurance companies that often deny coverage for preventative medicine, wellness services, and even weight loss therapies. Insurance typically does not compensate healthcare providers for the time spent improving a patient’s overall health. Impetus One (IO) offers an alternative by providing a cash-pay marketplace where providers are fairly compensated for delivering impactful, life-changing services to their patients.

Key Benefits for Providers

Impetus One Software Integration: The platform integrates seamlessly with Valhalla Vitality, offering an e-commerce marketplace that connects patients with a wide range of health services. Providers can easily adopt the system to deliver therapies and other services, ensuring smooth payment processing and order fulfillment.No Upfront Costs: Providers can join the Network Provider Program without any initial fees. They simply share a unique link with patients, allowing for easy access to services, and payments are processed as orders are placed. Partner pharmacies handle medication shipments directly, creating a hassle-free experience for providers.Boosting Patient Retention: The platform includes a VIP Rewards Program, designed to increase patient retention and loyalty. Patients earn points for discounts and exclusive benefits, which encourages ongoing engagement and care continuity.E-commerce and Wellness Integration: Unlike typical affiliate programs, Valhalla Vitality allows providers to retain full control of their patient relationships. Providers can generate revenue through the integrated e-commerce system without worrying about referral fees or kickbacks, enabling them to focus solely on delivering high-quality patient care.

By joining the Valhalla Vitality Network Provider Program, healthcare providers gain access to a scalable model that helps increase profits, introduce new services, and enhance patient satisfaction. The VIP Rewards Program also strengthens the bond between patients and providers, making healthcare more accessible and rewarding for all.

Healthcare providers looking to grow their practices and increase revenue can join the Valhalla Vitality Network by visiting http://www.providevitality.com. Valhalla MSO’s new platform is a powerful tool for delivering advanced, patient-centric healthcare with a focus on accessibility and quality.

For more information, visit Valhalla Vitality at http://www.valhallavitality.com.

Media Contact

Chris K., Valhalla Vitality, 888-888-8888, ck@s99agency.com, https://valhallavitality.com/

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SOURCE Valhalla Vitality

Technology

Ultima Markets Wins Two Prestigious Awards at Global Forex Awards–Retail 2024!

Published

35 mins ago

September 20, 2024

LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Sept. 19, 2024 /CNW/ — Ultima Markets, a leading global forex and CFDs brokerage, is thrilled to announce its double success at the prestigious Global Forex Awards – Retail 2024. The company won two distinguished awards: “Best Affiliates Brokerage – Global” and “Best Fund Safety – Global.”

The awards were presented during the event in Limassol, Cyprus, where Jean Philippe, Board Advisor, Corporate Governance and Sustainability at Ultima Markets, accepted the honours.

The Global Forex Awards – Retail has celebrated excellence in trading innovation for seven consecutive years. Ultima Markets’ dual wins reflect its commitment to quality, client-centric strategies, and strong partnerships across the financial services sector.

The “Best Affiliates Brokerage—Global” award recognises Ultima Markets’ exemplary affiliate programme, which has successfully driven its global expansion. It is celebrated for its transparency and competitive rewards tailored to affiliate needs.

Receiving the “Best Fund Safety – Global” award highlights Ultima Markets’ efforts to safeguard client assets. Through its partnership with Willis Towers Watson, the company provides up to USD$1,000,000 in insurance per account, while its Financial Commission membership ensures clients access to up to €20,000 in compensation funds.

These recognitions underscore Ultima Markets’ priority to security and transparency, including segregated accounts and robust risk management practices. The broker also assures affiliate partners of exceptional standards.

Commenting on the awards, Jean Philippe said, “These recognitions reflect the exceptional work of our teams to ensure the safety of traders’ funds and our dedication to creating value for our partners and clients. We will continue to evolve and innovate to meet the market’s demands.”

Ultima Markets is renowned for its extensive range of trading products and personalised customer service, designed to meet clients’ diverse needs worldwide. The dual recognition marks a significant milestone in the company’s global growth and reaffirms its reputation for delivering fund safety and robust affiliate opportunities.

“We are delighted to be recognised with these awards, which reflect our mission to create a secure trading environment and build strong, rewarding partnerships,” said Jack Li, Ultima Markets’ Regional Business Director.

About Ultima Markets

Ultima Markets is a fully licensed, fast-growing broker offering access to 250+ financial instruments. With a team of 2,000+ professionals in 15 global offices, we serve clients in 172 countries. Check out more about our awards on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.