Connect with us

Technology

Ecosia partners with AccuWeather to bring superior weather information and unique Global Severe Weather Alerts to users, and to help make cities more climate resilient

Published

on

AccuWeather brings hyper-local forecasts and life-saving severe weather alerts to Ecosia’s tree-planting search engine

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. and BERLIN, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — AccuWeather, the proven leader in weather forecast accuracy, and Ecosia, the world’s largest not-for-profit search engine, today announce their partnership and product integration.

Over 20 million Ecosia users globally now have access to AccuWeather’s superior weather information and unique Global Severe Weather Alerts, as part of an effort to accelerate awareness of critical weather incidents as they occur, and to expand Ecosia’s product suite.

As part of the partnership, AccuWeather’s API has been integrated into Ecosia’s results for weather data, including Current Conditions, and Daily and Hourly Forecasts, and up-to-the-minute Alerts for locations in the U.S. and around the globe, all built on AccuWeather’s superior collection of global, detailed, and local weather data to help people and companies make the best weather-impacted decisions.

Ecosia users will be able to view the new weather tool on mobile and desktop devices, simply by searching for the location they desire and adding “weather” as the search key term. In addition to hourly, daily and weekly weather forecasts, the product integration will alert users to severe weather events including dangerous high and low temperatures. The partnership also showcases the unique AccuWeather Air Quality Scale that helps individuals quickly understand the impact air pollution exposure will have on their health, helping them make the best decisions about air quality risks around the world.”

AccuWeather and its wholly owned subsidiary, Plume Labs, combine their respective forecasting and air pollution expertise to provide these superior air pollution forecasts, warnings, and insights.

Plume Labs pioneered the air quality forecasting industry by advancing geospatial machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to map and predict air pollution. It provides the most accurate data with the broadest coverage, with current conditions and forecasts for the entire world at a market-leading resolution of 0.2 to 2 kms, down to street level in U.S. and European urban areas.

Ecosia, as an organization, plans to use the integration to help drive its own coordinated efforts to tackle the climate crisis. Ecosia announced a partnership with AI-powered satellite interpretation and reforesting company Kanop to significantly enhance its forest regeneration tracking earlier this year.

The partnership with AccuWeather expands Ecosia’s access to real-time weather and climate data to help inform future locations of urban tree-planting projects. AccuWeather’s powerful weather data is the cleanest and most accurate set of past, current, and forecast weather conditions with the greatest temporal resolution (minutes or hours), greatest spatial resolution (downscaled to 1 km) and greatest number of parameters (300) available. AccuWeather APIs offer developers access to its superior collection of global, detailed, and local weather data, accessible in over 200 languages and dialects.

The data will help Ecosia to identify areas with extremely high urban temperatures and identify areas with low or no tree-cover. Ecosia’s UK team is also planning to use AccuWeather data to in part monitor the health of its NHS tree-planting projects, which were planted in 2020 as a tribute to the UK’s health service during the COVID pandemic.

AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter: “Extreme and severe weather events in the United States and around the world are becoming more frequent, having a greater impact, and affecting places where people may not be as prepared to handle them. The amplification of some of these severe weather events are one of the ways people around the world are experiencing climate change.”

“We’ve seen with climate change that severe weather threats, including extreme heat, are happening outside of the time of year and places that people typically associate with heat waves,” Porter went on to say. “Do not be lulled into any false sense of security. A severe weather event can develop anywhere when the ingredients come together.”

Dozens of temperature records have been shattered across the United States this summer. More than 240 million people in America experienced temperatures soaring above 90°F on a single day in July. Summerlike heat is expected to linger well into autumn. The AccuWeather 2024 U.S. Fall Forecast predicts temperatures are expected to hover 1 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit or more above the historical average across much of the country, most of the time, from September through November. AccuWeather’s team of long-range experts say the highest temperature departures are expected across parts of the Great Lakes region, the Midwest and the Rockies.

“We have seen a surge in weather and climate related searches over the past few years, and at Ecosia, it’s been a drive for our product team to provide a tool which better informs our users on live weather conditions wherever they live. Most recently, the heatwaves in the United States have been of particular interest to our community and to our team working on urban ecosystems,” said Christian Kroll, CEO at Ecosia. “We know that trees can help. In fact, they can cool their surroundings by up to 53°F (12°C) by providing shade and bringing moisture back into the air.”

Ecosia has existing projects in the U.S. that focus on urban tree planting in historically red-lined areas to address heat and health challenges of the community.

“AccuWeather has worked relentlessly to improve and enhance our forecasts, and the way we communicate the impacts and risks, for the past 62 years,” said AccuWeather CEO Steven R. Smith. “Our mission has never wavered; we help protect lives and property around the clock, around the world. We are proud to bring our data and forecasting expertise to the millions of users that rely on Ecosia every day.”

About AccuWeather

AccuWeather, recognized and documented as the most accurate and most used source of weather forecasts and warnings in the world, has saved over 10,000 lives, prevented injury to over 100,000 people, and saved companies tens of billions of dollars through better planning and decision-making.

Billions of people around the world rely on AccuWeather’s proven Superior Accuracy™ across our consumer digital platforms. AccuWeather.com is the #1 weather destination and one of the top 100 most-visited websites in the world, and our award-winning AccuWeather app delivers detailed real-time forecasts to millions of smartphones.

AccuWeather forecasts also appear on digital signage, in 700 newspapers, are heard on over 400 radio stations, and viewed on 100 television stations. The AccuWeather Network and AccuWeather NOW® reach an audience of over 125 million on cable and streaming platforms including DirecTV, Charter Communications – Spectrum, Verizon, Philo, Fubo, Frndly TV, Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Stream, Roku, Xumo, Red Box, Rockbot, LG, and Amazon Freevee.

AccuWeather For Business serves more than half of the Fortune 500 companies and thousands of other businesses and government agencies globally.

Visit accuweather.com for the most accurate hyperlocal forecasts, weather news, and information, and download the free AccuWeather app for Android or iOS.

About Ecosia
Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Ecosia is the world’s largest not-for-profit search engine, with 20 million users globally. The tech company dedicates 100% of its profits to the planet and has collaborated with local communities in over 35 countries to plant more than 200 million trees. In 2014 Ecosia was the first company in Germany to be accredited as a B Corporation and in 2017 it built the first of a growing portfolio of solar plants, which now produce enough energy to power all searches twice over. In 2018 Ecosia gave away its shares to the Purpose Foundation, to assure that it can never be sold and that no one, including the founder, can profit or receive dividends from the company. Ecosia was founded by Christian Kroll in 2009.

Visit ecosia.org to learn more.

CONTACT: pr@accuweather.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ecosia-partners-with-accuweather-to-bring-superior-weather-information-and-unique-global-severe-weather-alerts-to-users-and-to-help-make-cities-more-climate-resilient-302219128.html

SOURCE AccuWeather

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

The AmeriFlex Group® Celebrates Record-Breaking Year Supporting 53 Advisor Transitions and Bringing more than $3.4 Billion in Total Client Assets to the Firm

Published

on

By

Award-Winning Hybrid RIA is Home to 206 Total Advisors in 29 States, Representing More than $14.6 Billion in Total Client Assets

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The AmeriFlex Group®, a rapidly growing, advisor-owned hybrid RIA that puts financial planning first, today celebrated the completion of a record-breaking year in which it welcomed 53 advisors and increased its total client assets by more than $3.4 billion. The AmeriFlex Group® ended the year with 206 total advisors in 29 states, with approximately $14.6 billion in assets under administration (AUA), an increase of 35% year over year.

The AmeriFlex Group® Founder and CEO, Thomas Goodson, said, “We have seen a significant increase in demand for stability during transition periods. From growing their practice to transitioning out of the business, our innovative programs provide advisors with the solutions they need to reach their goals, regardless of the stage of their career.”

Innovative Programming Driving Growth
The AmeriFlex Group® has long developed forward-thinking approaches and programs to address issues facing advisors.

The firm’s award-winning SuccessionFlex® program allows advisors to authorize a succession and continuity agreement with the firm that includes an option to sell 30% to 40% of their current revenue stream to The AmeriFlex Group® with no minority ownership discount.The AmeriFlex Premier+ platform — a proprietary, high-tech financial planning solution that equips advisors to deliver an elevated service experience and helps clients envision the outcome of their planning goals, leading to more informed financial decisions — opened to affiliated advisors. The AmeriFlex Group® partner advisors can collaborate with the AmeriFlex Premier+ team to create more share of wallet.The AmeriFlex Group® acquired The W Source™ in the spring, bringing in-house this unique professional platform facilitating women-to-women networking opportunities across industries on a local and national level. The strategic acquisition positions the firm to reach its ambitious goal of parity between men and women partners.

The Advisor Transition Network
In 2024, the AmeriFlex Group® launched the Advisor Transition Network (ATN), a national platform designed to connect qualified buyers and sellers of financial advisory practices. The network provides a confidential marketplace where financial advisors can transition their businesses. ATN has established a growing network of prepared buyers representing over 200 qualified advisors.

“By launching the Advisor Transition Network, we have delivered something so many advisors need – a straightforward way to sell their business to a qualified buyer,” Goodson added. “With more than 200 individuals and offices nationwide, supported by the experienced succession specialists at The AmeriFlex Group ®, advisors preparing to depart the industry may not have ever had a better option to transition toward retirement so seamlessly.”

For advisors considering initiating a succession plan within the next five years, The AmeriFlex Group® provides a one-stop-shop to build and execute a plan with the support of an award-winning succession team.

Jesse Kurrasch, The AmeriFlex Group® COO, noted, “Over the past several years, we have delivered customized succession plans that maximize the value of an advisor’s life work.”

Continued Growth Earns Industry Awards
The AmeriFlex Group® was named a finalist in the 2024 Wealth Management Industry Awards category for its succession program. Investment News identified the firm as the fastest-growing RIA in 2024, and Goodson was named the Executive of the Year by the ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES program.

About The AmeriFlex Group:
The AmeriFlex Group® is recognized as The Home for Hybrids® (www.HomeForHybrids.com) – BD/RIA Transitional Wealth Planners™ (financial advisors). The RIA is owned-and-operated by its advisor members and partners. Securities offered through Osaic, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through The AmeriFlex® Group®, an Independent Registered Investment Advisor. Osaic is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic. Insurance is offered independent of Osaic. 8475 W Sunset Road, Suite 101, Las Vegas, NV 89113.

Media Contact:
Haven Tower Group
Donald C. Cutler
424.317.4864
dcutler@haventower.com 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-ameriflex-group-celebrates-record-breaking-year-supporting-53-advisor-transitions-and-bringing-more-than-3-4-billion-in-total-client-assets-to-the-firm-302345246.html

SOURCE The AmeriFlex Group

Continue Reading

Technology

Aperture Announces Strategic Majority Investment from Genstar Capital

Published

on

By

Investment to accelerate growth for national forensic expert services platform through expansion across service offerings and geographies

ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aperture, LLC (“Aperture” or the “Company”), a national platform of best-in-class forensic experts, today announced a strategic majority investment from Genstar Capital (“Genstar”), a leading private equity firm focused on investments in targeted segments of the financial services, software, healthcare, and industrials industries.

Aperture is a full-service provider of forensic expert witness services, providing accident reconstruction, premises liability, biomechanical and human factor analysis, construction disputes, and commercial litigation services. Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, the Company services over 11,000 cases annually across its client base that includes law firms, insurance carriers, and corporations. Aperture’s strategic focus on delivering unbiased expertise and fostering deep customer relationships has driven its strong growth, leading to exceptional client retention and customer satisfaction.

The Company has expanded over the past five years through nine acquisitions, diversifying its service lines, geographic reach, and customer base while building world-class operations, facilities, and technology intended to enable experts to better serve customers. Today, Aperture serves over 2,500 clients with 15 offices across the US.

Robert E. Joyce, Jr., CEO and President of Aperture, said, “Aperture is known for the world class expertise of our employees and our client-first approach. We are proud to have built Aperture into both an employer of choice and partner of choice in the industry, enabling professionals to better serve customers and build meaningful careers. Our partnership with Genstar is a testament to the platform we have built and positions us to accelerate our growth strategy, expand our service offerings, and continue delivering tremendous value to our clients.”

Matt McCabe, Director at Genstar, said, “We’ve been following Aperture’s transformation for several years and are proud to partner with Rob and the entire management team as they continue to scale and drive value for their clients. Aperture is well-positioned to achieve outsized growth, and we are excited to invest further in developing new and expanding existing markets, both organically and through M&A.”

Ropes & Gray LLP provided legal counsel and William Blair & Company LLC served as financial advisor to Genstar.

About Aperture

Aperture is a full-service provider of forensic expertise and litigation dispute support services in the areas of accident reconstruction, biomechanical engineering, construction, economic damages, human factors, intellectual property, premises liability, and workplace safety. Aperture’s headquarters is in Arlington, Texas, with additional locations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.aperturellc.com.

About Genstar Capital

Genstar Capital (www.gencap.com) is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high-quality companies for over 30 years. Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry-leading businesses. Genstar currently has approximately $49 billion of assets under management and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the financial services, software, healthcare, and industrials industries.

Media Contacts:

For Aperture
Chad Smith
VP of Marketing and Business Development
chad.smith@aperturellc.com

For Genstar Capital
FGS Global
GenstarCapital@fgsglobal.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aperture-announces-strategic-majority-investment-from-genstar-capital-302345197.html

SOURCE Genstar Capital

Continue Reading

Technology

Poshmark Announces Partnership with Loop to Transform Missed Returns into Resale Opportunities

Published

on

By

The leading fashion resale marketplace empowers consumers to turn non-returnable items into cash, doubling down on commitment to sustainability amid stricter return policies

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Poshmark, a leading fashion resale marketplace powered by a vibrant community, together with Loop, the leading commerce operations platform for Shopify brands, today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership that addresses a common consumer pain point — missing a return window or attempting to return a final sale item — by offering a sustainable and financially rewarding alternative to recoup expenses. Available to the millions of U.S. shoppers across Loop’s network of merchants, this partnership creates a path for consumers to quickly and easily resell non-returnable items on Poshmark, transforming a negative returns experience into a positive one while in turn creating new revenue streams for the merchants. This innovative resale integration is a first for Loop’s merchants, marking a significant step forward in the fashion industry’s efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainability.

Retailers are grappling with the rising costs and environmental impact of returns, where many have tightened their return policies to mitigate these costs. During the holiday shopping period from November 1 – December 24, online spending grew 6.7% (Mastercard), and the total value of returns between December 26-30 increased 8% year-over-year (Loop). What’s more, during those five days alone, there was over $67.6 million of merchandise returned to Loop brands, and listings on Poshmark with “missed return” in the description grew nearly 50%. This surge in activity has amplified the challenges both retailers and consumers face, but has also presented a unique opportunity for innovation to minimize frustration and unnecessary waste.

“At Poshmark, we believe shopping and selling should be simple, social, and sustainable,” said Steven Tristan Young, Chief Marketing Officer at Poshmark. “After observing an increase in Poshmark listings mentioning missing the return window, we saw an opportunity to create a sustainable solution. Partnering with a market-leader like Loop allows us to offer resale as an alternative, creating a more convenient experience for both buyers and sellers, putting money back in their wallets, and keeping more items in circulation.”

This partnership is another example of how Poshmark is simplifying the resale experience by pioneering new tools to help its community succeed, and comes on the heels of its sellers collectively earning over $8 billion on the platform to date. What’s more, this partnership unlocks additional desirable inventory for Poshmark’s community to shop from Loop merchants, including Rothy’s, one of the most beloved brands on Poshmark.

“In partnership with Loop and Poshmark, we are redefining sustainable shopping,” said Dayna Quanbeck, President at Rothy’s. “Washable and remarkably durable, Rothy’s products are designed to stay in the loop as long as possible. Now with our Poshmark x Loop integration, we’re taking a step toward a truly circular fashion economy. By transforming non-returnable items into resale opportunities with just one click, we’re empowering our customers to reduce waste and extend the life of their Rothy’s. We’re proud to be at the forefront of offering practical, sustainable solutions for today’s shoppers.”

Loop’s U.S. merchants interested in enabling this experience for their consumers can do so with a simple click of a button in their Loop account. Once enabled, consumers who are initiating a return through their returns portal will see a “Resell on Poshmark” button next to any items that are not eligible for return. One click produces a complete, pre-filled listing on Poshmark with item details — a strong improvement from the previous experience, where the customer simply faced a dead-end.

“Loop’s collaboration with Poshmark exemplifies the future of returns, where ease of use meets sustainability,” said Hannah Bravo, CEO of Loop. “Together, we’re helping brands and consumers embrace resale as a simple, single-click experience, supporting a thriving circular economy while driving meaningful engagement and value for all.”

About Poshmark
Poshmark is a leading fashion resale marketplace powered by a vibrant, highly engaged community of buyers and sellers and real-time social experiences. Designed to make online selling fun, more social and easier than ever, Poshmark empowers its sellers to turn their closet into a thriving business and share their style with the world. Since its founding in 2011, Poshmark has grown its community to over 130 million users and generated over $10 billion in GMV, helping sellers realize billions in earnings, delighting buyers with deals and one-of-a-kind items, and building a more sustainable future for fashion. For more information, please visit www.poshmark.com, and for company news, visit newsroom.poshmark.com.

About Loop
Loop is the leading commerce operations platform optimizing returns, exchanges, and reverse logistics at scale for more than 4,000 of the world’s most-loved Shopify brands. Through innovative solutions like Workflows, Instant Exchanges, Shop Now, Bonus Credit, and Offset, Loop helps global brands unlock cost savings, increase customer lifetime value, and retain more revenue. Its enterprise-level service delivery and breadth of integration partners make Loop the most agile and resilient returns solution for any retail brand. Loop has processed over 55 million returns and counting and has helped merchants retain more than $2 billion in revenue over the past five years. Learn more at www.loopreturns.com.

Media Contacts
Poshmark: pr@poshmark.com
Loop: loop@walkersands.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/poshmark-announces-partnership-with-loop-to-transform-missed-returns-into-resale-opportunities-302344744.html

SOURCE Poshmark, Inc.

Continue Reading

Trending