Technology

Huma Raises $38M to Hyper-scale its Payment Financing (PayFi) Network

Published

2 months ago

September 12, 2024

Huma Finance is transforming payment financing by utilizing real-world assets to deliver instant and borderless liquidity, enabling faster, more accessible, and more efficient financial solutions.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Huma, the first Payment Financing (PayFi) network, announced today that it has raised $38 million in funding. Distributed Global led the equity round, with significant participation from Hashkey Capital, Folius Ventures, the Stellar Development Foundation, and TIBAS Ventures, CVC arm of İşbank, the largest private bank in Turkiye. Part of this raise came as investments into high-yield real world assets (RWA) assets on platform.

The vast majority of businesses and people around the world depend on a form of payment financing. Credit cards alone finance $16T in merchant payments globally. Trade finance facilitates $10 trillion in B2B payments. One in every six families depends on remittances—money sent back home across the borders—yet even that system depends on trillions of dollars being locked in pre-funding accounts. The list goes on. While the demand for payment financing increases daily, creating an urgent need for more innovative solutions, traditional financial institutions are unable—or unwilling—to meet this need, widening the liquidity gap with each passing day. Payment financing is so ingrained in every part of our lives that, without it, the entire economy would stop growing.

PayFi aims to address this giant liquidity gap by bringing trillions of dollars of real world payment volume over to blockchains and stablecoins. Leveraging the core strengths of blockchain—global money movement in seconds through programmable money—PayFi also enables new real-world use-cases that were previously impossible. Huma has built the first ever PayFi network with all of these use cases in mind, adopting an open, modular and decentralized approach to empower interoperable solutions across participants. By bringing the best of RWA, Payments, and DeFi together, Huma is creating a network that is far more efficient and accessible than traditional alternatives.

“While designing Huma, we often asked ourselves: How do you build an open payment financing network on blockchain that is more powerful than Visa? Today, stablecoins are already powering $2T in payments annually. An open payment financing network is going to help grow the entire payment ecosystem faster.” said Huma co-founder Richard Liu. “The surge of interest we’re seeing right now is a testament to PayFi’s potential. As more partners join us every week, it’s clear that PayFi is quickly becoming the new frontier of RWA.”

Building on this vision, Huma’s April merger with Arf, the leading on-demand liquidity solution for global payments, brought together the two of the most prominent PayFi players. Huma and Arf have already surpassed $1.8 billion in payment financing transactions and are on track to reach $10 billion next year, making them one of the fastest growing use cases for Circle’s USDC.

Part of this raise came as investments into Arf’s high-yield RWA assets. The Stellar Development Foundation provided a $10 million investment. Additionally, tokenized assets are currently available to accredited investors on Scroll for a limited period. With this funding infusion, Huma plans to further expand its PayFi network to the Stellar smart contract platform and to Solana in the coming months, making sure the network is accessible from all the major payments-focused chains.

“Moving money quickly and cheaply across borders is at the core of what the Stellar network does best. PayFi is providing real world utility that solves problems for people and companies, and it is the type of project tailor-made for the Stellar network. We look forward to continuing to working with Huma to grow the PayFi ecosystem,” said Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation.

“Huma’s PayFi network represents an important step forward in payment financing, offering solutions to long-standing inefficiencies in the industry,” said Chao Deng, CEO of HashKey Capital. “We believe innovations like this are crucial for addressing real-world challenges, and we’re pleased to see Huma playing a key role in advancing the Web3 space.” Huma’s growing PayFi network has caught the attention of leading blockchain advocates, further fueling the momentum behind PayFi. The Solana Foundation’s support signals how PayFi’s innovative on-chain financial solutions are set to redefine global finance.

“PayFi is the creation of new financial markets around the time value of money. On-chain finance can enable new financial primitives, product experiences, and financial access that are impossible in traditional or even Web2 finance. When I met the Huma team, it was immediately apparent that they’d be a great anchor for the PayFi ecosystem within Solana.” said Lily Liu, President of Solana Foundation.

Huma plans to launch the Huma Foundation this year, a pivotal move to decentralize its PayFi network and broaden global access, further solidifying its leadership in the RWA space. Additionally, Huma is set to host the inaugural PayFi Summit in collaboration with the Solana Foundation and Stellar Development Foundation at Singapore Token 2049 on September 17th——an event poised to ignite conversations and drive innovation in the industry.

About Huma

Huma Finance is the first PayFi network. Huma powers financing of global payments, with instant access to liquidity anywhere, anytime. For more information about Huma and the PayFi network, visit https://huma.finance/

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Technology

Todd Tucker joins Parking Revenue Recovery Services as Chief Operating Officer to Guide Growth as PRRS expands as a Vehicle Identification and Monitoring Technology Platform

Published

58 minutes ago

November 15, 2024

DENVER, Nov. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Parking Revenue Recovery Services (PRRS), Inc., a leader in AI-driven compliance and vehicle activity monitoring, is pleased to announce the appointment of Todd Tucker, JD, DBA, CAPP, CPP, as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective November 15, 2024. With over 30 years of experience in the parking industry, Tucker is a recognized leader, having held various senior executive roles. Todd assumes the role of Chris Conley, who has decided to retire and enjoy some well-earned time after 30 years in the parking industry.

Before joining PRRS, Tucker served as President at Parking Logix and has been a leader in multiple tech companies focused on mobility solutions, with two leading to strategic and/or investment transaction outcomes Todd’s experience as a parking operations leader/expert and his roles spearheading the development and growth of innovative technology offerings focused on parking provide him with a unique ability to build solutions that meet the needs of today’s parking operations.

PRRS is uniquely positioned in gateless parking technology solutions through its machine vision-based technology, which identifies all vehicle activity, enhances compliance, and enables clients to expand their service capabilities. Our technology allows clients to gather valuable insights into operation and consumer activity while helping our clients improve their customer experience. With Tucker’s extensive expertise in parking technology and leadership, PRRS aims to broaden its services across North America, solidifying its status as the premier provider of gateless technology solutions to operators and facilities.

“Todd’s proven track record of driving innovation and his dedication to enhancing technology-based services make him the ideal candidate to lead PRRS into its next growth phase,” said Gabor Burchner, Managing Director, GB & Partners IM. “As the demand for adaptable technology solutions providers continues to rise, Todd’s leadership and collaborative approach will be invaluable.”

PRRS, in partnership with Asura, has successfully implemented the ARC solution and its compliance services at over 400 parking sites across 29 states. With ongoing investment from GB & Partners IM, PRRS is set to expand beyond its current identity as a “parking notice firm” to become the leading gateless technology solution for the future.

“I am thrilled to join PRRS and enhance the value we provide to our parking operating partners,” said Todd Tucker. “Throughout my career, I’ve consistently sought to challenge the status quo by delivering innovative solutions in an ever-evolving industry. PRRS is at the forefront of leveraging technology to enhance its services, and with GB & Partners IM participation, we will continue to deliver exceptional value to the parking sector and beyond. I look forward to joining the PRRS team and collaborating with our clients to push boundaries and innovate in compliance and facility monitoring services.”

About Parking Revenue Recovery Services

Parking Revenue Recovery Services, Inc. (PRRS) is North America’s leading Parking Compliance and Facility Monitoring technology provider. PRRS is on track to provide over 1,000 parking locations and proudly supports national, regional, and local parking operators throughout the United States. Our client owners and parking operators use our monitoring and compliance services in all properties, including commercial lots and garages, municipal facilities, college and university facilities, airports, hospitals, commercial properties, and residential buildings. PRRS creates exceptional value for its parking operator clients through increased overall customer compliance and enhanced visibility into operating activity and usage while delivering excellent customer service. We maximize the value provided to our clients through excellence, innovation, and efficiency in its compliance and monitoring services, delivered by an outstanding team of parking professionals dedicated to the highest levels of customers.

About Asura Technologies

Asura Technologies specializes in next-generation video analytics and license plate recognition software, utilizing AI to create smart parking, traffic management, frictionless tolling, and safety security applications. Active globally since 2018, Asura Technologies USA collaborates with PRRS to provide highly effective, automated parking enforcement solutions through innovative technology.

About GB & Partners IM

GB & Partners IM is an independent private equity and venture capital firm focused on innovative city technologies, fashion, fintech, medical technologies, and mechanical engineering. As the largest Hungarian-based firm in its sector, GB & Partners IM offers extensive leadership experience in private equity and venture capital investments, M&A transactions, and IPOs, providing operational support to investment entities by international standards. In 2019, GB & Partners IM became the first Hungarian venture capital firm to gain membership in Invest Europe.

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SOURCE Parking Revenue Recovery Services, Inc.

Technology

Connect and Converse Across Borders with Moii: Now Available Worldwide

Published

58 minutes ago

November 15, 2024

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Moii, an innovative avatar-based interest-matching conversation service developed by tech startup illuni, has officially launched globally. Available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, Moii offers users a unique way to meet new friends, share stories and enjoy engaging conversations. The service allows people around the globe to experience safe, interest-based connections with like-minded people, fostering a sense of community across borders. Moii exemplifies illuni’s commitment to creating immersive digital experiences through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

To create heartfelt connections, download Moii from the Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.illuni.moii&hl=en-US) and Apple App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/moii-heartfelt-connections/id6456406927).

Create Moiiments, Connect Globally

In a world where genuine interaction can feel rare, Moii provides a space for simple, meaningful conversations without the pressure of video or photo sharing. By connecting users based on shared interests, Moii creates a relaxed environment for spontaneous chats, whether someone is looking for a listening ear, a language exchange, or a fresh global perspective. With engaging features such as avatar costumes and singing content in virtual karaoke – introduced in a recent November update – the app continues to attract a growing user base of young adults seeking meaningful connections beyond small talk.

“Since our global launch on the 1st of November, users from over 30 countries have come together on Moii to share interests, create unique content and enjoy friendly conversations,” said Byung-Hwa Park, CEO of Illuni. “We are thrilled by the enthusiasm for Moii as people around the world find it to be a fun and welcoming platform.”

Aimed at users in their 20s and 30s, Moii allows users to interact in a fully customizable 3D environment. Instead of revealing their actual appearance, users create avatars that reflect their personalities and interests, providing a sense of anonymity, security, and comfort. Once matched, users can personalize their avatars, use conversation cards, and enjoy mini games, making every interaction fun and engaging.

With a mission to create comfortable spaces for conversation, Moii promotes cross-cultural and language exchange on a global scale. Whether users want to make foreign friends, practice a new language, or simply chat with a friendly listener, Moii offers a low-pressure, refreshing way to connect.

Looking ahead, Illuni plans to expand Moii’s language support, making it accessible to even more users across the globe.

For more information about Moii, visit https://www.moii.net/en

About illuni

Illuni is a forward-thinking startup focused on developing immersive digital experiences through advanced AI technology. The company is committed to building innovative mixed-reality services that redefine user engagement in digital spaces. Alongside Moii, illuni’s portfolio includes Storyself (https://storyself.com), an interactive storybook app that transforms users’ pictures into story characters, allowing them to become the protagonists of various tales—making it both engaging and educational for children.

To learn more about illuni and its suite of mixed-reality projects, visit: https://www.illuni.com/en

For media inquiry, please contact: illuni Communications, e-mail: contact@illuni.com

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SOURCE illuni

Technology

LONGi’s Solar Panels Enhance Sustainability in Bengaluru’s Residential Complex

Published

58 minutes ago

November 15, 2024

BANGALORE, India, Nov. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LONGi, in partnership with SolarSquare, has completed a 342 kW solar project using advanced Hi-MO 5 solar panels for a residential apartment complex in Bengaluru.

Launched seven months ago, this solar project is set to save the residential complex up to $47,736 annually and has already generated an impressive 340,000 units of electricity. Thanks to the high efficiency of the solar modules, significant economies of scale, and the inherent advantages of rooftop solar, the project is projected to reach its break-even point within just 4.75 years.

Before the installation of the rooftop solar panels, residents faced annual electricity costs of approximately $143,305. The switch to solar energy is expected to result in annual savings between $47,768–$53,768, effectively reducing their electricity expenses by around 33%.

Nikhil Nahar, Co-founder and Director of SolarSquare, stated, “Through our strategic partnership with LONGi over the years, our customers have gained access to state-of-the-art technology for their projects. LONGi’s solar panels consistently deliver performance and help our customers save on electricity bills. With a shared vision to accelerate the mass adoption of renewable energy and enhance sustainability, our partnership has continually provided innovative solutions, earning the trust of our customers.”

LONGi remains committed to delivering advanced solar technology and helping more residential complexes achieve energy independence through its highly efficient and reliable products.

About LONGi

Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world’s leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation.

Under its mission of ‘making the best of solar energy to build a green world’, LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/longis-solar-panels-enhance-sustainability-in-bengalurus-residential-complex-302306744.html