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The Toy Association™ and People of Play™ Announce Merger

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Association Elevates its Focus on Creativity, Innovation & Consumer Engagement for the Toy Industry

NEW YORK, Aug. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Toy Association™ announced today that People of Play™ (POP) and its assets will be merging into the Association and that Mary Couzin, founder of People of Play, will be joining the senior leadership team at the Association. Couzin will be responsible for guiding the future and growth of this new addition to the Association, effective immediately.

People of Play’s wide range of assets and events, including Chicago Toy and Game (CHITAG®) Fair®, The Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards (The TAGIEs™), the Bloom Report, Young Inventor Challenge®, Toy & Game Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, Play in Education and POP Platforms, and the People of Play Holiday Guide will join The Toy Association’s portfolio of world class events including Toy Fair™ New York, LA Fall Preview and The Toy Foundation’s Toy of the Year® Awards.

Mary Couzin, founder of People of Play, stated: “Who knew that over 20 years ago, when I started Chicago Toy & Game Group, now People of Play, and hosted our first big event, the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, to promote play, we would add so many events and initiatives as well as have such an amazing, long-lasting effect on the industry. By joining The Toy Association with their additional resources and new vision, we can strengthen our brands for generations to come. I’m thrilled that People of Play will continue to grow and flourish and want to thank everyone who has been a part of our initiatives. As we have shown, everything is possible when people of play collaborate.” 

Adding People of Play allows the Association to build on its ongoing strategy of creating meaningful experiences that connect the industry and consumers. Aligning with People of Play creates a deeper relationship with the inventor and design community, putting greater focus on creativity and innovation, one of the cornerstones of the toy industry. Additionally, with the Chicago Toy and Game Fair, People of Play will leverage The Toy Association resources to continue to grow one of the preeminent consumer experiences during the all-important holiday season.

“We saw the opportunity to be a catalyst for creativity and innovation by aligning with Mary Couzin and People of Play and utilizing our assets and experiences to help People of Play and its events grow,” said Greg Ahearn, president and chief executive of The Toy Association. “Mary, a toy industry Hall of Famer, has built an amazing community with some of the most unique events, consumer engagement moments, compelling content, and industry resources and we are excited to have her and People of Play as part of The Toy Association. With People of Play and The Toy Association working together, the possibilities are endless.”

The 22nd annual holiday Chicago Toy and Game Fair, North America’s largest consumer toy & game fair, will take place on November 9 and 10 in Rosemont, IL. The event is open to the public with experiential and immersive events and interactive exhibits and activities for all ages. The 17th annual Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards (the TAGIEs), celebrating toy and game excellence worldwide, will take place on the evening of November 8th at Joe’s Live in Rosemont, IL. If you are an inventor or student designer with ideas to pitch, sign up at the premier and largest Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference. For more information visit www.peopleofplay.com and www.toyassociation.org.

About The Toy Association™ toyassociation.org / toyfoundation.org / thegeniusofplay.org / playsafe.org

Founded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the business trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $102.8 billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $41 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry’s voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play’s positive impact on childhood development. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, government, consumers, and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.

As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair™ in New York City; hosts marketplace activities in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America’s widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard. The Toy Association’s philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation™, a 501 (c)(3) children’s charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 32 million children in need worldwide.

About People of Play peopleofplay.com

People of Play (POP) leads the global toy and game industry in promoting innovation, creativity, and connectivity. A one-stop source of community for toy industry veterans, newbies, inventors, buyers, educators, influencers, media, consumers and people of all ages who love to play, POP hosts a wide range of events. This includes the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy and Game Innovation Excellence Awards (the TAGIE’s), Young Inventor Challenge (YIC), PlayCHIC, Play in Education (PIE) Conference, Toy & Game Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, People of Play platform and newsletters, and People of Play Holiday Guide.

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SOURCE The Toy Association

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IAG’s Hangar 51 Accelerator 2024 Takes Off with New Cohort of Startups Focused on Sustainability, Customer Experience, and Operational Efficiency

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VIENNA, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — International Airlines Group (IAG) announced the launch of its eighth Hangar 51 Accelerator program, welcoming a new cohort of startups poised to revolutionize the aviation industry. Plug and Play, a global innovation platform connecting startups and corporations is proud to support this year’s program as the innovation partner of IAG. 

The selected startups will tackle some of the industry’s biggest challenges across four core areas:

Sustainability: Exploring new technologies that can help decarbonize aviation.

Customer Experience: Enhancing the passenger journey through innovative products and services.

Operational Efficiency: Testing new solutions to improve efficiency and performance.

Airports: Optimizing turnaround management and ground operations.

Over twelve weeks, the startups will work closely with IAG experts to test and refine their solutions in a real-world environment. The culmination of the Hangar 51 Accelerator 2024 will be a Demo Day held on November 27 at IAG’s Headquarters in London. This event will provide a platform for the startups to present their projects to key stakeholders across IAG and its operating companies: Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL, Vueling, IAG Loyalty and IAG Cargo. This event will foster networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration, enabling IAG to showcase the potential of these solutions across the group.

Plug and Play provided support to IAG with key program activities, including global scouting, startup assessment, and event management. Beyond the program itself, Plug and Play has connected IAG to its wider partner ecosystem, offering speaking and participation opportunities at events across Europe. This creates opportunities to connect with other industry leaders to exchange best practices and identify potential synergies.

“We’re truly excited to partner with one of the world’s largest airline groups to drive impactful improvements in airline operations and sustainability. Working with IAG is a unique highlight within our global ecosystem, showing how open innovation across diverse companies/carriers, regions, and approaches can make a real difference for the entire industry. In aviation, collaboration is key, and we’re proud to work together in tackling challenges like CO2 emissions and climate impact. The best startups have made it through our selection process and are now collaborating with various airlines and business units to test their solutions. I’m personally looking forward to Demo Day to see the impact they’ve made,” said Nik Munaretto, Director of Plug and Play Vienna.

Congratulations and welcome to the new Hangar 51 Accelerator 2024 Cohort:

Aeon BlueAiir InnovationsbederFlyOROKeepFlying®Nexus LabNoyaOreyeonParloaTarmac TechnologiesTomorrow.ioZero®ZestIoT

For more information about Plug and Play, please visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com.

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’re present in 60+ locations across 5 continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we’ve invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/

About IAG

International Airlines Group (IAG) is one of the world’s largest airline groups with 585 aircrafts flying to over 250 destinations and carrying more than 115 million passengers in 2023. The Group was created in 2011 and includes the airlines British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, and IAG Loyalty and IAG Cargo. It is a Spanish-registered company with its corporate office in London, United Kingdom. Its shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and on the Spanish stock markets. IAG’s vision is to be the leading airline group in sustainability. The group is proud to have been listed on the Carbon Disclosure Project’s A List for its commitment to sustainability and action on climate change.

Media Relations Contact

press@pnptc.com

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SOURCE Plug and Play

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Frost & Sullivan Launches FrostAI to Help Organisations Identify and Leverage Growth Opportunities

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Accelerating your Transformational Growth Journey: FrostAI’s elevated user experience acts as your company’s Growth Partner

LONDON, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan proudly announces the launch of FrostAI, designed to transform the way organisations access and utilise industry insights. FrostAI uses advanced natural language processing (NLP) to allow users to interact with its analytics platform in conversational language, moving beyond traditional keyword limitations. By simply asking questions, users receive precise, in-depth responses along with highlighted source references, making complex data exploration more intuitive and user-friendly.

The addition of FrostAI significantly enhances the value of Frost & Sullivan’s analytics platform by making it easier for businesses to uncover actionable insights and capitalise on growth opportunities. With access to comprehensive and continuously updated data spanning from January 2020 to today, users can explore trends, analyse market shifts, and validate potential strategies with exceptional accuracy and depth. FrostAI is built to empower users across all industries and sectors, making it invaluable for companies seeking a strategic edge in an increasingly competitive and transformative landscape.

“This launch marks the next step of our broader initiative to integrate AI-driven technologies into our platform,” said Joe Fristensky, Senior Partner and Chief Analytics Officer at Frost & Sullivan. “FrostAI reflects our commitment to innovation and to supporting our clients as they navigate a world where industries are transforming and evolving at an unparalleled pace. By allowing users to ask questions in natural language, FrostAI not only saves time but also makes complex insights more accessible and actionable,” he added.

FrostAI is designed for a wide range of applications, including identifying emerging growth opportunities and monitoring disruptive technologies across various sectors. As businesses continue to face transformational changes, from technological advancements to shifting consumer behaviours, Frost AI is positioned to become an essential resource for decision-makers looking to stay ahead of the curve.

This launch marks the beginning of a series of strategic developments from Frost & Sullivan, aimed at providing clients with leading-edge growth solutions to make informed growth investment decisions with enhanced efficiency.

Frost & Sullivan is committed to a future where AI and analytics intersect seamlessly, bringing the power of advanced data science into everyday strategic planning.

To schedule a personalised demo of the FrostAI platform, please contact melissa.silvas@frost.com

Frost & Sullivan, the growth pipeline company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation, and leadership. The company’s Growth Pipeline as a Service provides the CEO and the CEO’s Growth Team with transformational strategies and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth initiatives. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 60 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses, and the investment community from more than 40 offices on six continents.

Contact:

Kristina Menzefricke
Marketing & Communications
Global Customer Experience, Frost & Sullivan
kristina.menzefricke@frost.com
+44 (0)20 331 01228

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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Former Team USA Chief Joins Enhanced Games, Among Other Senior Hires Ahead Of 2025 Debut

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Enhanced Games expands team with leading experts in Games Delivery, Athlete Relations, Safety, and Digital.New hires bring world-class experience from US Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Nike, Red Bull, and Real Madrid C.F.Future-forward vision reinforces momentum, athlete empowerment, and innovation ahead of the 2025 games.

LONDON, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Enhanced Games announces several recent additions to its growing leadership team, marking a significant step forward as the organisation prepares for its inaugural games at the end of 2025. The key hires bring a wealth of experience from elite sporting organisations, world-renowned athletic programs, and pioneering content platforms. The new leaders collectively bolster the Enhanced Games’ mission to reshape the future of sport.

Dr Aron D’Souza, President of the Enhanced Games, shared his enthusiasm for the new team members, stating, “We’re delighted to welcome Rick, Tim, Dan, and Alejandro to the Enhanced Games. Each brings invaluable expertise, energy, and momentum, setting us up for future success. As we prepare to host the first-ever Enhanced Games, their combined knowledge and deep experience will play a pivotal role in delivering a truly innovative sports experience.”

The new appointments include:

Rick Adams, Senior Vice President, Games Delivery
With a distinguished career in the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), including serving as Chef de Mission of Team USA at the Beijing and Tokyo Olympic Games, Rick Adams brings expertise in managing top-tier sports events and operations. Formerly Chief of Sport Operations, Chief of Sport Performance and National Governing Body Services, and Chief of Paralympic Sport at the USOPC, Adams also led USA Weightlifting as CEO and served as President and CEO of the East Coast Hockey League. His expansive experience in sports delivery and athlete services will be instrumental in designing and orchestrating the inaugural Enhanced Games.

Tim Phelan, Vice President, Athlete Relations
Tim Phelan joins the Enhanced Games from Nike, where he directed sports marketing initiatives across multiple regions, including North America, Russia, and EMEA. With a strong background in track and field and a Master’s in Human Kinetics and Sports Management, Phelan’s focus on connecting with athletes aligns perfectly with the Enhanced Games’ commitment to athlete empowerment. His global insights and deep industry connections will strengthen relationships with athletes worldwide.

Dr. Dan Turner, Ph.D., Director, Athlete Safety
A seasoned sports performance scientist, Dr Dan Turner has been at the forefront of high-performance science with Red Bull North America, consulting for elite athletes, and working within performance medicine. With a Ph.D. in Clinical Human Physiology, Turner’s work has centred around optimizing athlete safety and performance. His expertise will be pivotal in ensuring that Enhanced Games athletes have access to cutting-edge, science-backed support for optimal well-being.

Alejandro Arenas, Director, Content & Digital Channels
Alejandro Arenas, a leader in digital sports engagement, brings experience from Snapchat as Head of International Sports Partnerships and from Real Madrid C.F. as Global Head of Social Media. Known for his innovative approach to engaging sports audiences, Arenas will lead Enhanced Games’ digital strategy, ensuring a dynamic and accessible experience for fans and athletes alike. His focus on immersive digital content will amplify the Enhanced Games’ vision across global platforms.

Each of these leaders will contribute critical expertise to the Enhanced Games’ mission as we shape the future of competitive sports. Their combined skills across Games Delivery, Athlete Relations, Athlete Safety, and Digital Channels mark a robust expansion of our leadership team and set Enhanced on a dynamic course toward the 2025 games.

About the Enhanced Games:

The Enhanced Games are redefining the future of sports, merging scientific innovation with athletic achievement to create a captivating competition for sports fans, tech enthusiasts, and the science-curious. Founded in 2023 by Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza, the Enhanced Games challenge conventional views on human performance, embracing advancements in medicine and technology to safely expand the boundaries of what is possible. With a vision to inspire superhumanity, the Games provide athletes with the opportunity to enhance their abilities under professional supervision, focusing on transparency, safety, innovation, and record-breaking feats.

Backed by pioneering investors like Peter Thiel, Balaji Srinivasan, and Christian Angermayer, the Enhanced Games represent a global movement at the intersection of sport, science, and cultural evolution. Empowered by a diverse team of experts from organizations including FIFA, Nike, Red Bull, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, we are committed to creating a fair, financially equitable platform that inspires humankind to overcome limits and redefine human potential.

For further information, please contact:
Mike Oakes, Communications Director, Enhanced Games
mike.oakes@enhanced.org
Visit: enhanced.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2557015/Enhanced_Games.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2557016/Enhanced_Games_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE Enhanced Games

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