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Fonds de solidarité FTQ invests $7.5M in Mistral Venture Partners Fund IV

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This investment will support software companies in venture capital

MONTRÉAL, Nov. 25, 2024 /CNW/ – The Fonds de solidarité FTQ (the Fonds) announces an investment of $7.5 million in Mistral Venture Partners Fund IV. The presence of the Fonds as the first institutional investor from Québec in this seed fund will allow Mistral to anchor its presence in the province. This investment is in line with the Fonds’ historical support to the venture capital ecosystem including start-ups with high-growth potential.

Mistral Venture Partners Fund IV

Mistral is an early-stage venture capital fund specializing in software companies. Through its first three funds, Mistral has invested in seven Québec-based companies, including Noze, Foko and Unito.

 ”Québec-based technology start-ups face numerous challenges when it comes to raising capital. By investing in Mistral Ventures, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ wants to build on Mistral’s investment track record in Québec in order to support even more of our local start-ups. As an established venture capital firm, Mistral has the expertise and influence in the technology industry to help the growth, both here and abroad, of high potential companies. The technology sector needs to be supported by major investors such as the Fonds and Mistral. That is why I am proud of this first investment in a Mistral fund, which I am convinced will make a difference for innovative Québec companies”, explains Philippe P. Huneault, Vice-President Equity and Impact Investing – Technology, Fund Management and Chief International Business Development at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Fonds and further expanding our presence in Quebec. The collaboration process has been incredibly smooth, and we’ve been extremely impressed by their professionalism and shared vision. We have been investing in the province for a decade and continue to be impressed by the talent and quality of Quebec-based entrepreneurs. We truly believe this partnership will lead to great success and are excited to see what we will accomplish together.” Code Cubitt, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Mistral Venture Partners.

About the Fonds de solidarité FTQ

The Fonds de solidarité FTQ is a source of pride in Québec, fulfilling its mission through a unique business model created more than 40 years ago. Since then, the Fonds has rallied Québec into action thanks to the retirement savings of over 785,000 shareholders.

With net assets of $20 billion as at May 31, 2024, the Fonds supports thousands of companies through venture and development capital investments based on the belief that impact is created as much by financial as societal returns. For more information, visit fondsftq.com or our company page on LinkedIn .

About Mistral Venture Partners

Mistral Venture Partners is one of the only established early-stage venture capital firms focused on Canada, with offices in Toronto and Ottawa. We invest in early-stage start-ups across Canada and are typically the first institutional cheque. All members of the investment team have been founders of at least two start-ups and have a deep understanding of operations at the early stage. Our mission is simple: we work with the best founders in Canada to build start-ups that matter.

SOURCE Le Fonds de Solidarité des Travailleurs du Québec (FTQ)

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XCMG XCA4000 Achieves Milestone with Installation of World’s Tallest Hybrid Tower Wind Turbine

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ORDOS, China, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A new chapter in green energy is unfolding in Inner Mongolia as XCMG’s independently developed 4,000-ton all-terrain crane, the XCA4000, takes center stage at the construction site of the Ordos Zero-Carbon Industrial Park. This enormous crane has become an integral part of the park’s 500MW integrated wind-solar-storage demonstration project, reinforcing its role in pioneering sustainable infrastructure.

The Ordos Zero-Carbon Industrial Park is a joint venture between the Ordos Municipal Government and Envision Technology Group, and stands as the world’s first fully operational zero-carbon industrial zone. It boasts a 100% green electricity supply, with 80% of the energy coming directly from clean sources such as wind, solar, and storage, and the remaining 20% sourced through grid-purchased green power.

The introduction of XCMG’s 4,000-ton crane marks a significant milestone in global energy transition. The XCA4000 is designed primarily for the installation of large wind turbines with hub heights of up to 190 meters tall and maximum power output of up to 15 MW. Powering the crane is a 566 kW Weichai diesel engine, and to help with maneuverability, all 11 axles on the 29.7-meter-long carrier are steered, with eight of them also driven. 

In its most recent operation, the XCA4000 lifted a 117-ton nacelle and drive train, along with 35-ton blades measuring 118 meters in length, to a height of 190 meters—the equivalent of a 60-story building. The XCA4000 performed flawlessly in executing each step of the process: lifting, rotating, aligning, and positioning, with remarkable efficiency and precision, earning acclaim from both the project owner and contractors.

“The 4,000-ton crane is easy to operate despite its 11-axle length,” said Mr. Yang, the crane’s operator who marveled at the crane’s flexible steering. “The multiple driving modes make steering exceptionally flexible. During installation of a 12.5 MW hybrid tower wind turbine, currently the tallest on land, it completed the two lifts in just over twenty minutes each.”

XCMG’s 4,000-ton crane is a testament to the company’s commitment to high-end, intelligent, and green solutions that serve the international market. By tackling the challenges of installing ultra-high-power wind turbines, XCMG continues to support the growing global green energy sector and demonstrates China’s dedication to environmental progress.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2587778/XCMG_XCA4000_Achieves_Milestone_with_Installation_of_World_s_Tallest_Hybrid_Tower_Wind_Turbine.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/xcmg-xca4000-achieves-milestone-with-installation-of-worlds-tallest-hybrid-tower-wind-turbine-302339236.html

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iQIYI leads genre-specific storytelling with the return of its trend-setting ‘Light On Theater,’ featuring seven new suspense dramas

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Five years on, the pioneering drama brand remains the benchmark for suspense

BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — iQIYI, China’s leading online entertainment platform, announced this month the return of its acclaimed “Light On Theater,” celebrating the fifth anniversary of this suspense-themed drama brand. Featuring seven new titles with star-studded casts and renowned production teams, the lineup is set to reinforce iQIYI’s leadership in suspense storytelling and highlight the success of its genre-driven model.

The new slate follows the distinctive style of “Light On Theater” with gripping narratives and rich character development as a lens to explore the depth of human nature. Highlights include the drama “Low IQ Crime,” which brings a fresh dark comedy element to the genre, and “Let Wind Goes By,” which premiered on Dec. 26 and breaks new ground as one of the first suspense series set in Northwest China as it follows two generations of police officers entangled in a complex web of relationships. The lineup also features “A Life for a Life,” a compelling prison drama exploring the dynamic between a detention officer and an escaped convict. Other anticipated titles include “Drifting Away,” “Dead End,” “Breaking the Shadows” and “Justifiable Defense.”

Since its launch in 2020, “Light On Theater” has emerged as one of China’s first and most influential drama brands, offering a curated collection of premium suspense series. The label’s breakout hit “The Bad Kids” debuted that same year and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The series earned critical acclaim and dominated social media conversations, setting a new benchmark for Chinese suspense storytelling with its masterful pacing and nuanced exploration of social issues. This pioneering success has sparked a surge in high-quality suspense productions across the industry that continues today, helping establish suspense as one of the most sought-after genres in Chinese entertainment.

“Our dedication to premium suspense content has created an incredibly engaged viewer base, with high-quality productions driving strong user retention,” says Ying DAI, iQIYI senior vice president and head of “Light On Theater.” “We continuously innovate our content possibilities and boldly push the boundaries of storytelling within the genre, consistently surpassing audience expectations.”

Building on the success of “Light On Theater,” iQIYI has expanded its genre-based approach with “Love On Theater” for romance and “Laugh On Theater” for comedy series, both of which have been well-received by audiences. This year’s launch of “Dajia Theater,” meaning “master of literature,” and “Weichen Theater,” meaning “tiny dust,” which focus on literary adaptations and innovative mini-series respectively, further demonstrates iQIYI’s commitment to serving diverse audience preferences while maintaining premium production standards across genres.

Global recognition

“Light On Theater” has also gained overseas recognition for its premium content, becoming increasingly popular among global audiences in addition to traditional genres like fantasy period dramas.

Standout series “The Bad Kids” and “The Long Night” won consecutive awards at the Asia Contents Awards (ACA) of the Busan International Film Festival, while “Why Try to Change Me Now” marked a milestone last year as the first Chinese-language series to be selected for the Berlinale Series.

The strong reception in overseas markets demonstrates how iQIYI’s meticulously crafted stories resonate with audiences through their universal themes of human nature. Notably, “The Bad Kids” was adapted into a local version in Japan in 2024, highlighting its widespread appeal.

CONTACT: iQIYI Press, press@qiyi.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iqiyi-leads-genre-specific-storytelling-with-the-return-of-its-trend-setting-light-on-theater-featuring-seven-new-suspense-dramas-302339232.html

SOURCE iQIYI

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Japan Global Innovators’ Forum 2025

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The annual meeting is returning for its second year after a successful inaugural event in 2024

TOKYO, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Tokyo-based global media agency Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting Inc. (PBMC) is pleased to announce that the 2nd annual Japan Global Innovators’ Forum (JGIF) will be held in March 2025. PBMC’s solutions-focused multilingual news service J-Stories will co-host the event with the Mainichi national daily’s startup accelerator, Mainichi Future Creation Lab.

Innovative Japanese and international startups with global ambitions will gather in the heart of Tokyo on March 13, showcasing the solutions they offer to address the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges. A panel of industry experts will assess their growth potential both in Japan and abroad at the cross-border pitch event.

Participating startups in the 2025 event will include not only Japanese startups aiming to expand into global markets, but also ambitious inbound Asian startups that are taking on the challenge of solving some of Japan’s critical problems — such as its aging population and rural depopulation.

The categories to be focused on are Age Tech, Health Tech, Mobility, and Green Energy. There will also be special sessions featuring East Asian startups as well as Japan’s regional startups.

Organizers hope that the event will provide practical opportunities for participating entrepreneurs to meet potential partners and supporters in Japan and overseas, including venture capitalists and corporate venture capitalists, among other startup ecosystem players.

Details of the event will be unveiled on a special page in J-Stories by the end of January.

The inaugural Japan Global Innovators’ Forum, a pioneering English-language startup event that promoted dialogue between innovators in Japan and their potential supporters overseas, was held in March of this year at the Tokyo Innovation Base in central Tokyo and live-streamed globally. The event highlighted Japan-based social entrepreneurs aiming to scale globally while offering solutions to social and environmental challenges commonly shared across the world.

Event report: https://jstories.media/article/jgif-event-release

[Event Overview]

“2nd Japan Global Innovators’ Forum”

Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025

Time: 1-6 p.m. (Subject to change), followed by a networking event

Venue: Mainichi Hall (Located on a basement floor of Palaceside Building in Takebashi, Tokyo)

https://www.mai-b.co.jp/index-en.html

Language: English 

Organizers: J-Stories/Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting; Mainichi Future Creation Lab

Focus Categories (Expected) :

Age TechHealth TechMobilityGreen EnergySpecial sessions (featuring Japan’s regional startups and East Asian startups) 

CONTACT:
PACIFIC BRIDGE MEDIA AND CONSULTING
Editorial department:Toshi Maeda (Executive Editor)・Takanori Isshiki (Deputy Executive Editor)・Anita De Michele (Editorial Coordinator)
Email:info@pacificbridge.jp
Phone:+81- 50-5527-0955

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/japan-global-innovators-forum-2025-302339237.html

SOURCE PACIFIC BRIDGE MEDIA AND CONSULTING

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