Connect with us

Technology

Ukrainian and United States Partners Launch MITS – The Primary Accelerator for Ukrainian Defense Tech Startups

Published

on

KYIV, Ukraine, Feb. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — There is a stereotype that defense institutions can only work with large defense companies and organizations and are biased against startups. However, the defense sector is currently undergoing significant transformations and requires bold decisions. The impetus for these changes was strong Ukrainian resistance and Ukraine’s creative approach to warfare. The solution is to cooperate with startups – small technology companies – whose fast and innovative proposals influence the course and outcome of combat operations here and now. All this allows us to significantly contribute to the development of the Ukrainian and global defense ecosystem and accelerate the development of technologies.

To this end, leading Ukrainian and American companies, and experts in the field of defense, technology solutions, and education announced the launch of the MITS (inspired by Ukrainian word for “Might”), an international defense accelerator on February 23, 2024, in Kyiv.

It aims to become a driver of Ukraine’s defense tech, to help young technology companies find the best partners and scale up, and to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine get the best defense technology products into use as soon as possible. MITS offers startups an investment of $200,000: $100,000 in direct investment in the company and $100,000 in unique expertise provided by the accelerator in cooperation with the private American university in Ukraine, American University Kyiv, as well as a post-acceleration program aimed at further assisting startups in attracting investment and scaling.

MITS and American University Kyiv, powered by Arizona State University (No. 1 in innovation among American universities in the newly released annual “Best Colleges” 2024 rankings by U.S. News & World Report), have developed a unique business program to help startups reach the world level of defense tech products, gain new competencies and become market leaders.

The acceleration program has two stages, each lasting three months: business acceleration and post-acceleration support. The program also consists of 2 training blocks:

1) development of business thinking – raising the level of business education, fundraising, management, and financial management with the involvement of industry experts from different countries according to the highest standards of Arizona State University;

2) practical component, which considers the specifics of defense production and is aimed at the successful execution of a defense order. The practical part will involve the heads of Ukrainian and international defense companies, representatives of customers, military, and defense tech experts. The accelerator’s unique value lies in access to a global network of highly qualified mentors and specialists who will provide unique knowledge and skills.

The post-acceleration program aims to prepare companies for future exports and attract foreign investment. Close collaboration with the BRAVE1 Defense Technology Cluster and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine will provide teams with direct support at every stage of contracting and execution, including testing, certification, and codification.

MITS is looking for teams with a working MVP (Minimum Viable Product, TRL 4-6 Levels) or who are as close to a functional product as possible.

The following startup categories will be targeted for acceleration in this phase:

Ground robotic systemsUnmanned aerial vehiclesUnmanned surface vehiclesUnmanned underwater vehiclesElectronic warfare (EW)Communications, optical, and acoustic reconnaissance equipmentMilitary transportMining/demining equipmentSoftware, AI, and cybersecurity solutionsAmmunitionEquipment for the “soldier of the future”

The organizers state that they aim not only to form a technological defense ecosystem in Ukraine, but also to develop the MITS Venture Fund, which will help startups after acceleration. The fund will focus on startups that have successfully completed the MITS accelerator program and other defense, dual-use and deep-tech companies.

Teams that offer innovative defense solutions that can help accelerate Ukraine’s victory are invited to apply for the accelerator from February 23 to March 14, 2024, by filling out the form on the MITS website.

About MITS:

The founders of the accelerator comprise a group of American investors with substantial experience in defense and investment spheres, led by Perry Boyle, a former member of the executive committee of Point 72, LP, one of the leading global investment management firms.

MITS has established a Supervisory Board comprising experts from the defense industries of NATO countries.

The Supervisory Board will be Co-Chaired by Dr Phillip Karber, a former Strategic Advisor to US Secretary of Defense, NATO SACEUR and Governments, and Ernest Herold, a former NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment.

The board will also include well-known experts in defense and investment sectors such as:

David Bonfili, co-founder of ACME General Corp., who served as a senior executive at investment firms Citadel, BlackRock, and Two Sigma and as a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, a DC-based federally-funded research and development center that works primarily for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD).

Monique Brown, Chief of Strategy and Business Development at Actus Advanced Systems, Former Regional Director, International Business Development at Lockheed Martin, and others.

Anton Melnyk, one of the co-founders of the open association of participants in Ukraine’s technological ecosystem “UATechosystem” and Alina Lovchynovska, Ukrainian Army Support activist since 2014, will coordinate the accelerator’s activities in Ukraine.

American University Kyiv is a strategic partner of MITS and Lyudmila Dolhonovska and Yuriy Bots from the American University Kyiv are coordinators in creating the acceleration program.

Media contact:
Alina Lovchynovska
373441@email4pr.com
+380504042040

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ukrainian-and-united-states-partners-launch-mits—the-primary-accelerator-for-ukrainian-defense-tech-startups-302069987.html

SOURCE MITS Capital LLC

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

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

Technology

Who’s Working Remotely? Virtual Vocations Survey Highlights Evolving Jobseeker Demographics

Published

on

By

This survey underscores the diverse backgrounds and experiences of remote jobseekers, highlighting the growing demand for flexible work arrangements across various demographics.

TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — With over 500 participants from the U.S. (69%) and international locations (31%), Virtual Vocations‘ 2024 demographics survey offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of remote work. By comparing responses across these groups, the survey highlights shared experiences and unique challenges faced by jobseekers worldwide.

“Whether based in the U.S. or abroad, jobseekers are embracing remote roles to align their careers with their personal goals, and we’re proud to be a part of their journey.” –Laura Spawn, CEO and co-founder of Virtual Vocations

Although Virtual Vocations is a U.S.-based company, it supports international jobseekers through its fully remote job board and career resources, addressing the global demand for remote work opportunities. The company frequently receives inquiries from international members seeking to access fully remote roles, punctuating the worldwide appeal of flexible work arrangements.

“The 2024 demographics survey results reinforce what we’ve known for years—professionals around the world are seeking flexibility, balance, and opportunities to work from home,” said Virtual Vocations CEO Laura Spawn. “Whether based in the U.S. or abroad, jobseekers are embracing remote roles to align their careers with their personal goals, and we’re proud to be a part of their journey.”

Fully Remote Jobs Remain Most Desired

A significant 43% of U.S.-based jobseekers and 42% of international respondents named fully remote, no-travel jobs as their top preference. These roles, which allow employees to work entirely from home, offer flexibility, aligning with both personal and professional goals. Although occasional in-person requirements may arise, fully remote roles are favored over hybrid, partially remote, and “work from anywhere” options. These positions provide businesses with access to a broader talent pool and enable employees to prioritize workplace values and culture.

Top Industries for Remote Jobseekers

The survey also highlights four key industries attracting remote jobseekers worldwide. Information Technology (IT) stands out as the leading industry for remote roles, with significantly more job postings than any other field. Healthcare follows closely, benefiting from the growth of telehealth and remote medical roles. Customer service offers engaging opportunities for professionals interested in client interaction, while education presents a wide array of roles in online teaching, tutoring, and instructional design, fueled by the expansion of virtual learning.

Jobseekers’ Common Frustrations

Both U.S. and international jobseekers shared frustrations, particularly with online job scams. Jobseekers expressed dissatisfaction with the prevalence of scams, especially when searching for work-at-home positions. Despite relying on online job boards, only a quarter (23% of U.S. respondents and 24% of international respondents) use dedicated remote job boards, like Virtual Vocations, where job postings are thoroughly vetted to ensure they are free of scams. Additionally, many jobseekers expressed frustration with excessive job requirements and employers failing to provide feedback or “ghosting” applicants during the hiring process, with one-third of respondents from both groups reporting these issues.

Income Insecurity: A Global Concern

Income insecurity remains a pressing issue for both U.S. and international jobseekers, with many reporting their earnings as insufficient for comfortable living. Sixty-five percent of U.S. respondents and 77% of international respondents reported inadequate household incomes. Nearly half (48%) of U.S. jobseekers earn less than $60,000 annually, while 68% of international jobseekers earn under $30,000. To improve financial stability, many jobseekers have set income targets, with 30% of U.S. jobseekers aiming for $60,000–$89,999 and another 30% targeting at least $120,000. In contrast, international respondents generally require lower salaries, with 38% seeking $30,000–$59,999 and 32% aiming for $60,000–$89,999.

For a comprehensive analysis and additional insights, read the full demographics survey report here: https://www.virtualvocations.com/blog/annual-statistical-remote-work-reports/remote-work-demographics-survey-results-2024/

ABOUT VIRTUAL VOCATIONS
Founded in 2007 by CEO Laura Spawn and her brother, CTO Adam Stevenson, Virtual Vocations is a small company with a big mission: to connect jobseekers with legitimate remote job openings. To date, Virtual Vocations has helped more than four million jobseekers in their quests for flexible, remote work.

In addition to providing a database of current, hand-screened, and 100% remote job openings, Virtual Vocations offers jobseekers a number of tools to aid in their job searches, including exclusive career courses, downloadable jobseeker content, and career coaching and resume writing services. Virtual Vocations also releases several data-driven reports each year on current trends in remote work.

Virtual Vocations, Inc. is a private, family-owned, and 100% virtual company incorporated in Tucson, Arizona.

Media Contact

Kimberly Back, Virtual Vocations, Inc., 1 (800) 379-5092 x. 703, kim@virtualvocations.com, https://www.virtualvocations.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/whos-working-remotely-virtual-vocations-survey-highlights-evolving-jobseeker-demographics-302339757.html

SOURCE Virtual Vocations, Inc.

Continue Reading

Technology

Judge Baker Children’s Center d/b/a The Baker Center for Children and Families Provides Notice of Data Security Incident

Published

on

By

BOSTON, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Judge Baker Children’s Center d/b/a The Baker Center for Children and Families (“The Baker Center”), a nationally recognized provider of services for children’s mental health, has learned of a data security incident that may have impacted certain personal and / or protected health information. On December 27, 2024, The Baker Center formally notified potentially affected individuals with available address information and provided resources to assist them.

On July 28, 2024, The Baker Center discovered unusual activity within its local digital storage environment. After taking immediate steps to ensure the environment was secure, The Baker Center enlisted independent cybersecurity experts to conduct an investigation to determine what happened and whether sensitive information may have been impacted. According to the investigation, an unauthorized actor gained access to The Baker Center’s systems between July 26 – 28, 2024 and may have downloaded certain files. Following a thorough review of the impacted files, on October 28, 2024, The Baker Center determined that certain individuals’ personal and/or protected health information was potentially impacted during the incident.

The information affected during this incident varies between individuals but may have involved the following: name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license or other government identification number, financial account information, health insurance information, medical treatment or diagnosis information, and/or clinical information.

On December 27, 2024, The Baker Center mailed notification letters to potentially impacted individuals with verifiable address information. The letters include information about this incident and about steps that potentially impacted individuals can take to monitor and help protect their personal and protected health information. The Baker Center has established a toll-free call center to answer questions about the incident and to address related concerns. The call center can be reached at 844-920-8988, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern time

The Baker Center takes the security and privacy of information in its possession very seriously and is taking steps to prevent a similar event from occurring in the future. The Baker Center deeply regrets any inconvenience or concern this incident may cause.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/judge-baker-childrens-center-dba-the-baker-center-for-children-and-families-provides-notice-of-data-security-incident-302339677.html

SOURCE The Baker Center for Children and Families

Continue Reading

Technology

outboundIQ Achieves Certified Implementation Partner (CIP) Status with Five9

Published

on

By

Delivering Optimized, Outbound-Focused Contact Center Solutions for Modern Businesses

LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla., Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — outboundIQ www.outboundiq.com proudly announces its accreditation as a Five9 Certified Implementation Partner (CIP), a distinction that reflects its deep expertise in optimizing and streamlining outbound-focused contact center operations. With a team of seasoned Five9 veterans, expert programmers, and industry thought leaders, outboundIQ is uniquely equipped to help businesses of all sizes unlock the full potential of Five9’s Virtual Contact Center platform.

Optimized Solutions for Complex Contact Center Needs
outboundIQ specializes in providing expedited, outbound-focused contact center implementations, integrating advanced features such as inbound and outbound Voice, SMS, Chat, Email, Salesforce Integration, and other third-party app integrations. Clients can also leverage ongoing optimization engagements and monthly retainers for strategic consulting designed to support long-term, outreach-focused success.

“Who better to handle your domain configuration than the experts that understand the outbound contact center world. To be an outbound expert, you must know 3 things; how to configure the domain front end, how the architecture interprets that design, and how carriers respond to your dialing behavior as a result of the build. outboundIQ has the advantage of deeply understanding all 3 things. Our experts are seasoned professionals that will guide toward the best build for your business. You tell us about your business, your needs and your processes, and we will build you a domain fit for purpose. outboundIQ offers best in class Domain Optimization, Implementation and Consulting for customers of all sizes and complexity. Due to our methodology and proprietary automations, we are able to bring our customers’ projects to life within accelerated timeframes.”

Jessica Clay, VP Support and Services

“We launched our business in June and were fortunate to connect with the incredible team at outboundIQ early on. Navigating the world of outbound calling and building efficient prospecting systems isn’t easy, but the entire team at outboundIQ brought our vision to life seamlessly. They implemented our ideas quickly and executed them flawlessly. Since partnering with them, our contact rates have significantly improved, our conversions have increased, and our overall business is thriving. We’re deeply grateful for this collaboration and look forward to continuing our work together on future endeavors!”

– Tim, Lit Financial

“I genuinely don’t know enough ways to thank the entire outboundIQ team. I inherited a domain riddled with mistakes, tangled beyond belief, and I had essentially planned to scrap the whole thing and start over. That’s when this team, led by Jessica Clay’s brilliance, took over to understand exactly what I wanted to create and completely revitalized my domain. We are all beyond thankful as they continue to consult for us to this day and I see no reason to stop. Thank you, Jessica, Jason, Rudy, Bruno, Sandy and everyone who gets the pleasure of working with these domain geniuses!”

– Michael, Lifetime Home Remodeling

A Holistic Approach to Outbound Excellence
Creating a competitive, consumer-focused outreach program requires more than just advanced technology. As outboundIQ explains, a thriving contact center functions like a high-performing racing team:

The Car: Five9 Virtual Contact Center provides a cutting-edge technology foundation.The Driver: Strong Dialer Administrators who skillfully manage operations.The Pit Crew: IT/Support teams ensuring seamless functionality.The Spotters: Data Analytics and Reporting experts optimizing performance.The Fuel: High-quality data driving better outcomes.

outboundIQ’s professional services team brings these critical elements together, ensuring clients achieve best-in-class outbound operations that prioritize consumer experience while maintaining a competitive edge.

A Call to Collaboration
With its new CIP certification, outboundIQ invites businesses to explore select partnership opportunities and projects to reimagine their contact center operations. Whether through expedited implementations or ongoing strategic consulting, outboundIQ is committed to driving measurable results for its clients.

About outboundIQ
outboundIQ delivers optimized, outbound-focused contact center implementations, combining years of Five9 expertise with cutting-edge strategies to help businesses achieve exceptional outreach outcomes. As a Five9 Certified Implementation Partner, outboundIQ provides tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of modern organizations.

About Five9
Five9 is a digital enterprise’s leading cloud contact center and software provider. The Five9 Intelligent CX Platform is reliable, secure, compliant, and scalable, designed to create exceptional personalized customer experiences.
www.five9.com

Media contact: 
Sandy Tafur
Phone: 404-660-5314
mail: sandy@outboundiq.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/outboundiq-achieves-certified-implementation-partner-cip-status-with-five9-302339797.html

SOURCE outboundIQ

Continue Reading

Trending