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Consumers Energy Debuts All-Electric Bucket Truck, Serving Customers with Zero-Emissions Vehicle

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Showing that electric vehicles come in all shapes and sizes to meet people’s needs, Consumers Energy is now serving customers with the company’s first all-electric bucket truck.

The truck will perform work in Grand Rapids to provide customers with reliable energy, and it represents yet another step in Consumers Energy’s commitment to powering Michigan’s EV transformation.

“We continue to see more EVs take to the road in Michigan, and it’s interesting to see how they arrive in different forms, from heavy-duty vehicles to school buses, to meet all sorts of needs,” said Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “We want to provide an example to our customers who are making their own choices about buying EVs.”

VIDEO: See Consumers Energy’s all-electric bucket truck

The new bucket truck will soon be hitting the road in Grand Rapids and will be staffed by a specially trained team. Built by International Motors and equipped with an Altec boom, the truck is powered by a fast charger at Consumers Energy’s Grand Rapids service center and can travel up to 135 miles when fully charged.

Chris Laird, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric operations, said he’s excited to see the bucket truck improve electric service to customers. The company’s Reliability Roadmap is a plan to reduce the number and length of power outages.

“We’re excited to see this vehicle help our customers who count on us for reliable, dependable energy,” Laird said. “Our traditional mission to serve customers isn’t changing, but we are changing the way we do that work. In this case, that means powering a durable vehicle with zero-emissions energy.”

Consumers Energy provides solutions that support Michigan’s EV drivers, including rebates for home and public charging through its PowerMIDrive program and a companion program, PowerMIFleet, that helps businesses electrify their fleets.

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to ConsumersEnergy.com.

Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumersenergy 

 

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SOURCE Consumers Energy

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Rently Secures $3M Pre-Series A Investment Led by Orange Bloom to Revolutionise the Asian Rental Market

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SINGAPORE, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Rently, a Singapore-based prop-tech platform that lets tenants rent deposit-free while paying landlords on time every month, has closed a US$3 million Pre-Series A led by impact investor Orange BloomHustle Fund, Woh Hup, Feedback Ventures, and 5i Ventures re-upped in the round, which values Rently at US$43 million.

Following this success, Rently is now targeting the close of its Series A funding round by the end of the year, positioning itself to further expand its market footprint and accelerate product development.

Rently: Redefining the Asian Rental Market

Founded in 2022, Rently is now establishing in the UAE and will enter Hong Kong this year. The long-term rental market across Asia is worth more than US$250 billion annually and largely still relies on security deposits and manual processes. Rently is transforming the industry through technology and innovative solutions such as:

Zero deposits, zero friction – Tenants subscribe to Rently Care and move in without locking up two months’ cash.Guaranteed income – Rently Pay ensures landlords receive the full rent on the due date, even if a tenant pays late or defaults.Fully managed – The Rently app covers listings process, contracts, maintenance and insurance in one seamless platform.

Nikesh Kshirsagar, Co-Founder of Orange Bloom, said, “Rently isn’t just another tech startup, it has a deep understanding of future lifestyle trends, strategic corporate partnerships, and a world-class tech platform that simplifies the rental process for users. Orange Bloom firmly believes that Rently is positioned to reshape the rental market, creating efficiencies while integrating responsible, sustainable housing solutions. The co-founders, Dominic, Siebren, Tarik, Emeric, and Kutlay, have done an excellent job assembling a talented, forward-thinking team where innovation thrives. We look forward to being part of Rently’s exciting journey ahead.”

Fund Allocation and Growth Plans

With the proceeds from the Pre-Series A round, Rently plans to accelerate its expansion strategy by scaling Rently Pay across its existing markets, ensuring more landlords benefit from guaranteed, on-time rental income. The company will also localise its platform to support market entry into Hong Kong and two additional Asian cities. To support this development, Rently is also doubling the size of its product and data teams to ensure the platform can scale efficiently.

Dominic Schacher, Co-Founder of Rently, expressed his enthusiasm for the next phase of growth, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Orange Bloom as our strategic partner. Their investment and expertise will be instrumental in accelerating our growth and expanding our product offerings. Together, we will continue revolutionising the rental market, making it more efficient, transparent, and accessible for everyone.”

Existing investor 5i Ventures also reaffirmed its support for Rently’s development. Dieter Schlosser, General Partner of 5i Ventures, Board Member, and Key Investor in Rently, shared his perspective on the round’s success. “The oversubscription of this round is a proof point of the trajectory Rently, and the leadership team have demonstrated. We are very excited to have the new investors on board. The first data points from our geographic expansion to the UAE clearly show the portability of the business model and the scalability of the platform,” said Schlosser, who previously served as CEO of SoftwareONE.

Orange Bloom’s Role and Strategic Partnership

The partnership between Rently and Orange Bloom highlights the influence of impact-driven investment in reshaping industries and demonstrates how strategic investments can drive systemic change in traditional sectors. Orange Bloom’s entry into the proptech and fintech spaces through its investment in Rently reinforces its ongoing commitment to supporting sustainable-focused business models. The collaboration aligns closely with Orange Bloom’s Sustainability Fund, which has been active since 2022 and has backed numerous projects focused on sustainability and social impact. Through initiatives like the Sustainability Fund and future investments, Orange Bloom aims to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs who are shaping a more equitable and sustainable world.

To learn more about Rently’s innovative rental solutions or partnership opportunities, please visit www.rently.sg.

About Rently

Rently Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based fintech startup dedicated to transforming the property rental market. Offering deposit-free rental options through its Rently Care subscription and providing integrated property management services via the Rently app, the platform ensures that property listings are accessible, flexible, and secure. Designed to connect potential tenants with landlords, agents, and enterprises in a seamless and effective way, Rently is committed to making the renting process more transparent, safe, and efficient. Rently is a subsidiary of REFIN Group Limited.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/rently-secures-3m-pre-series-a-investment-led-by-orange-bloom-to-revolutionise-the-asian-rental-market-302454935.html

SOURCE Rently

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Startek® wins CII-CWL Award for Gender Parity in Business

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– Recognized for advancing workplace gender equality through inclusive policies and people-first practices

MUMBAI, India, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Startek®, a digital-first global customer experience (CX) solutions provider, has been honored with the prestigious CII – Centre on Women Leadership (CWL) Award for Gender Parity in Business. This recognition underscores the Startek commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, with a sharp focus on gender equality as a driver of organizational excellence.

“At Startek, we view inclusion as a competitive advantage that fuels innovation and resilience,” said SM Gupta, Global Chief People Officer, Startek. “This recognition from CII and CWL reflects how embedding gender parity into business strategy strengthens our ability to lead in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.”

The evaluation process for this accolade was both rigorous and comprehensive. It encompassed a four-stage assessment that began with an in-depth submission detailing the company’s people-centric practices. This was followed by focus group discussions with returning mothers and mid-level women managers, offering valuable insight into lived experiences. Key informant interviews added further depth, before a final review by an expert jury panel.

Winning this award highlights Startek’s continued leadership in shaping inclusive workplaces where equitable access to career growth, flexible work models, and intentional leadership development programs form the backbone of its DEI framework.

About CII-CWL Awards:
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in partnership with the Centre on Women Leadership (CWL)—a joint initiative supported by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—presents this award to organizations driving transformative change in gender balance across corporate India.

About Startek
Startek® is a global leader in customer experience management, delivering comprehensive digital transformation and CX solutions. With over 35 years of expertise, Startek empowers businesses across diverse industries to create memorable, personalized customer interactions. Operating in 12 countries with a team of 38,000 associates, Startek is committed to connecting brands with their customers through innovation, empathy, and operational excellence.
To learn more, visit www.startek.com and follow us on LinkedIn@Startek.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2222919/4299556/Startek_Logo.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/startek-wins-cii-cwl-award-for-gender-parity-in-business-302454882.html

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FalconX and Standard Chartered Announce Strategic Partnership

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SINGAPORE, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — FalconX, the leading institutional digital asset prime broker, today announces a strategic partnership with Standard Chartered, a leading international cross-border banking group. In the first phase of the partnership, Standard Chartered will provide a comprehensive suite of banking services to FalconX globally, further strengthening the platform’s offerings for institutional clients. The engagement will expand to include a broader range of offerings and mutual opportunities.

Through this collaboration, FalconX will initially integrate Standard Chartered’s banking infrastructure and access to an extensive range of currency pairs, enhancing the speed, scale, and reliability of cross-border settlement for its institutional client base. This continues FalconX’s efforts to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets with enterprise-grade infrastructure.

Matt Long, General Manager, APAC & Middle East at FalconX, commented: “We are pleased to partner with Standard Chartered, one of the most forward-thinking global banks in digital asset adoption. At FalconX, we support trading and financing for some of the world’s largest institutions in digital asset markets, and this relationship strengthens our ability to deliver robust banking and FX solutions to clients who rely on us to operate in crypto markets.”

As FalconX continues to grow its global footprint, the partnership is expected to expand beyond banking into additional products and services tailored to the evolving needs of FalconX’s and Standard Chartered’s institutional clients — including asset managers, hedge funds, token issuers, and payment platforms.

Luke Boland, Head of Fintech, ASEAN, South Asia & GCNA at Standard Chartered, added: “Our collaboration with FalconX underscores our commitment to advancing the digital asset ecosystem. As institutional demand for digital assets continues to grow, we’re proud to provide the banking infrastructure that enables firms like FalconX to deliver world-class trading and financing solutions to institutional clients.”

Notes to editors

FalconX

FalconX is a leading digital asset prime brokerage for the world’s top institutions. We provide comprehensive access to global digital asset liquidity and a full range of trading services. Our 24/7 dedicated team for account, operational and trading needs enables investors to navigate markets around the clock. FalconX Bravo, Inc., a FalconX affiliate, was the first CFTC-registered swap dealer focused on cryptocurrency derivatives.

‍The company is backed by investors including Accel, Adams Street Partners, Altimeter Capital, American Express Ventures, B Capital, GIC, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sapphire Ventures, Thoma Bravo, Tiger Global Management and Wellington Management.

FalconX has offices in Silicon Valley, New York, London, Hong Kong, Bengaluru, Singapore, and Valletta. For more information visit falconx.io or follow FalconX on X and LinkedIn.

Standard Chartered

We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 53 of the world’s most dynamic markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good.

Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/falconx-and-standard-chartered-announce-strategic-partnership-302454933.html

SOURCE FalconX

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