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Milliken Chemical created its new Hyperform HPN 909ei high-performance additive with the aim of helping packaging thermoformers achieve better end results when processing polypropylene (PP) homopolymers. That type of PP homopolymer is typically used to thermoform drink cups and lids, food packaging, and trays. This formulation delivers an excellent balance of physical properties and superb aesthetics – all enabled through cleaner chemistry.
Traditional nucleating agents typically require customers to sacrifice impact to gain greater stiffness. This additive, however, delivers better stiffness (flexural modulus) while maintaining good impact performance. It also provides isotropic shrinkage (similar shrinkage in both directions, thereby reducing warpage) and a higher heat-deflection temperature.
Milliken’s new PP additive for thermoforming uses cleaner chemistry to deliver brighter look.
Additionally, Hyperform HPN 909ei also helps to minimize migration, especially in food-contact applications. This new grade of Hyperform has one Specific Migration Limit (SML) less than the previous generation product, a fact that is especially vital for safety reassurance in the European Union. A lower number of SMLs means there is one less substance that must be monitored and tested for, reducing customers’ compliance burden.
Sabic, the massive Saudi Arabian chemicals and plastics producer, said that German skin-care products maker Beiersdorf AG has agreed to use certified renewable polypropylene (PP) from Sabic’s TruCircle portfolio of bio-based materials in its cosmetics packaging. Beiersdorf will introduce the new packaging products in the market this year, replacing fossil-based virgin PP.
Michael Becker, head of global packaging development at Beiersdorf, stated: “We are proud to be the first in our mass market segment to use polypropylene made from renewable, plant-based raw materials as a packaging material for our cosmetic products.”
Jabil Inc., a manufacturing and supply-chain management behemoth with 260,000 employees across 100 locations in 30 countries, is throwing its considerable heft behind the innovative products developed by Ecologic Brands Inc. Manteca, California-based Ecologic produces sustainable packaging specializing in paper bottle and paper-based packaging solutions.
Jabil Packaging Solutions has added Ecologic Brands and its range of plastic-lined paper bottles to its portfolio via a recent acquisition.
Jabil, based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and a huge plastics processor in its own right, acquired Ecologic and is adding it to its Jabil Packaging Solutions division. Ecologic’s paper bottles do contain a lightweight inner plastic liner that is non-laminated, mono-material and entirely recyclable. The firm’s patented eco.bottle is made with 60 percent less plastic than rigid plastic bottles, with an outer fiber shell made from 100 percent recycled cardboard and old newspaper that meets ASTM D 6868 composting standards.
It’s clear that brand owners in the packaging sector have never been more eco-conscious, and that this trend is taking many forms – from sourcing more sustainable raw materials, to designing products that are more recyclable or compostable, using biopolymers, or finding ways to reduce overall material use.
These developments and much more will be on display at Chinaplas 2021 in Shenzhen during April 13-16. Come to see first-hand the materials, machinery and technologies that are helping to enable a more sustainable packaging future.


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Leading Malaysia Insurtech Platform Fatberry.com Expands to Thailand
Thailand based MooMoo Non-Life Insurance Broker acquired through the ASEAN Fintech Group.
In line with its regional expansion plans. Malaysia's leading insurtech platform Fatberry.com expands to Thailand. Through collaboration with its majority investor, ASEAN Fintech Group (AFG), Fatberry.com, has acquired Bangkok-based MooMoo Non-Life Insurance Broker (MooMoo) at an undisclosed amount.
Founded in 2017, Fatberry.com is a leading Insurtech platform that started in Malaysia with plans to expand regionally across Southeast Asia. Fatberry.com provides flexible and affordable insurance products to the masses via an easy-to-use online insurance platform from its partnered underwriters. It is currently a market leader in the digital insurance market in Malaysia.
As the go-to insurance platform in Malaysia, Fatberry.com has been providing accessible and affordable insurance plans to Malaysians since 2017. With over 250,000 visitors visiting Fatberry.com's online platform monthly, Fatberry.com users receive tailor-made solutions for their insurance needs anytime, anywhere powered by AI data analytics.
John Tan, CEO at Fatberry.com, says, "Thailand marks the first regional expansion destination for Fatberry.com outside of our home market Malaysia. The Thai insurance market is an attractive and important market for us to enter with our innovative technology and ability as it is one of the largest insurance markets in ASEAN."
MooMoo started as a non-life insurance broker in 2014, offering motor insurance from its 16 partnered underwriters to over 6000 customers in Thailand.
The Thailand Motor Insurance Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of approximately 6% from 2021 to 2026*, and motor insurance currently holds a 59.27%* share in the overall non-life insurance segment with an estimated market size worth US$ 8.3 Billion per annum**
At the helm of Fatberry.com Thailand is Somkiat Chaisuparakul, Executive Director of Fatberry ( Thailand ) Ltd. He says, "The Thai non-life insurance market is highly competitive. To become a leader in the non-life insurance segment in Thailand, the adoption of Insurtech is necessary to increase efficiency and remain relevant."
By adopting Fatberry.com's insurtech platform and processes, Fatberry Thailand is set to accelerate its growth in the Thai market. In parallel, it will now expand its offerings to include non-life insurance products such as health and commercial products.
"The ASEAN fintech Group's vision is to create accretive value through the digitization of money and commerce flow across one of the fastest-growing fintech geo-markets in ASEAN. With Fatberry.com’s entry into Thailand, we are excited at the exponential growth and prospects of developing our business regionally," says Douglas Gan, Executive Director, ASEAN Fintech Group.
For more information, please visit Fatberry.com Thailand at https://fatberry.co.th/
and the ASEAN Fintech Group at www.aseanfintechgroup.com
John Tan, CEO, Fatberry.com
A charismatic entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in tech and financial services, John has led many successful businesses through his extensive knowledge in the shared services sector (web and data centres), fintech and financial services by improving operational efficiency.
His deep interest in mobile and online technology and expertise in executing profitable business strategies has led Fatberry.com to emerge as one of Malaysia's leading Insurtech player in less than two years
Somkiat Chaisuparakul, Executive Director of Fatberry ( Thailand ) Ltd
Somkiat is a leader in Banking and Consumer Marketing for more than 35 years, having held key positions in several financial institutions, including consumer banks, credit card organizations, and technologies and e-commerce companies. He grew the Standard Chartered Bank credit card business tenfold during his four-year tenure as Head of Card Services from 1997-2000. In 2001, Somkiat founded a Customer Value Management company, and under his leadership, became one of Thailand's most prominent customer loyalty, direct marketing, and customer relationship management company.
In 2011, he pioneered a new private sale online e-commerce international luxury labels.
Somkiat is also the Founder of Market Access Group. He managed large investment portfolios in technologies and internet commerce businesses, and luxury retail stores. He also consults in marketing, analytics & big data solutions, FinTech solutions, and e-commerce strategy.
In addition to his intimate knowledge of the Thai market, Somkiat is a member of various executive committees in the Private and Government sectors and the Executive Vice President of the Thai e-commerce association
Douglas Gan, Executive Director, ASEAN Fintech Group
Douglas is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor for tech companies. He currently serves as the Executive Director of AFG and various other Boards, including Chairman of ezsy Pte Ltd, a Digital Assets company with more than S$50m in annual revenues.
In 2018, Douglas started a US$100 million Smart City Fund, GBCI Ventures, to empower the development of sustainable smart cities in Asia. The fund mainly invests in Distributed Ledger Technology, AI, IoT and robotic startups. GBCI Ventures introduced a US$15m grant managed by the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to encourage startups to build smart city solutions on distributed ledger technologies. Under his leadership, GBCI Ventures had an impressive return of more than US$300m in less than three years and fully divested the fund at its peak at the end of 2020, during the tumultuous COVID period.
A technopreneur and venture builder, he began his entrepreneurial journey in 1997 when he started his first web hosting business. He subsequently set up numerous other ventures over the years, including an online youth forum, a Counterstrike gaming server hosting company, a hardware trading business, a social media marketing agency and more.
Between 1997 and 2021, Douglas sold more than ten of his companies to multinational corporations, funds and boutique investment houses. One notable business among his many successful ventures was ShowNearby, a location-based mobile app he founded in 2008. It won multiple awards in Asia, becoming one of the world's top three most downloaded apps in 2010.
He joined forces with Fatfish co-founder Lau Kin Wai to start the iFashion Group in 2014, making several prominent acquisitions in the regional online fashion space.
In recognition of his achievements, Douglas was named a Young Professional of the Year in 2011 by the Singapore Computer Society. In 2012, he also received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, where he had previously graduated with an IT Diploma in 2003.
Douglas is also an Advisor and Angel Investor to various tech startups in Distributed Ledger Technologies, Fintech, Digital Asset Exchanges, Multiverse, General Tech, AI, and e-Commerce.

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By now, you likely have come across at minimum one article that somehow was related to marijuana on a daily basis. Be it a piece on medicinal marijuana, the differences between hemp and marijuana or drug cartel wars, most of us have gathered at least some knowledge about this plant…and have also formed an opinion with regards to the legalization vs. criminalization of this plant.
If, like me, you are in the age group 40 and under, chances are that you are in favor of legalizing marijuana, even if you don’t make use of it in your own life. You might be an occasional marijuana smoker or perhaps simply let your friends have some “relaxation” time with it while you indirectly inhale it and either way not see a big issue with legalization of marijuana because “a little” can’t hurt, right?
That used to be my point of view as well. I don’t do drugs, but having lived through the drug cartel wars in Mexico and hearing about the supposed decrease in crime as a consequence of legalization, I started supporting the global legalization movement. However, the more mainstream marijuana and its derivatives are becoming, the more I hear about unexpected side effects marijuana can have. In recent months, hospitalizations and even deaths in the U.S. due to e-cigarettes and vaping devices burning marijuana oil have dominated the headlines.
Though there is still no consensus on whether the smoking instruments, marijuana, or another element is causing these illnesses and deaths, a nationwide investigation by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) concluded that the cause could be contaminated marijuana that users buy on the black market rather than from a store. Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also launched an investigation and pointed out that the contamination might come from vitamin E acetate sold on the black market and used as a thickening agent to adjust THC levels in marijuana.
It may or may not be the marijuana, but since the actual cause of these illnesses is not clear yet, health officials are calling for stricter regulations around e-cigarettes and vaping devices. There has been a huge increase in the number of people using e-cigarettes and vaping devices, and unfortunately many of them are minors. The sweet and candy-like flavors are designed to target minors and mask the fact that one pod of e-cigarette fluid can contain more nicotine than a pack of cigarettes. Last year already, San Francisco became the first city to ban all flavored vaping products and now it has also outlawed e-cigarettes. Following this example, Michigan and Boulder, Colorado just announced a ban on flavored products, as well. Hence, the FDA is now proposing to make favored vaping products illegal, including marijuana vaping roses.
Regulations like the ones these health agencies are proposing are seminal in a number of ways. They are certainly neither opposing medical marijuana not are they criminalizing cannabis use for recreational purposes entirely. In the end, in states where marijuana has been legalized for recreational purposes, it is up to each user to decide how much to smoke. Nonetheless, taking into consideration the recent hospitalizations and deaths might hopefully make users reconsider where they buy their products.
Luckily, there has been a growing quest for transparency to find out where all the things we own, touch and put in our bodies come from. Among others, this has made us question whether the foods we eat are contaminated with undesirable microorganisms or whether the fruits and vegetables we buy are covered in pesticides. Especially for vegans who already pay attention to their food sources, it seems like an obvious next step to pay more attention to the source of the cannabis and other products needed to consume/smoke cannabis. But even for those people who are not vegan (yet) but who are marijuana consumers, hopefully, the news on hospitalizations and even deaths after vaping marijuana oils are an alarm bell.
Putting a stop on vaping marijuana does not mean opposing marijuana entirely. There are many reasons to justify why cannabis should be legal everywhere. For example, according to a team of drug experts in the UK, marijuana may be safer than many other drugs including tobacco and alcohol, and it is actually much less addicting than tobacco. Hence, you can be pro-marijuana while still remaining a responsible consumer. Whether you choose to consume marijuana via vaping or another form, don’t put your life at risk by buying cheap black-market products. As with pretty much anything in life, dig a bit deeper and know where thing come from, especially if you will put them in your body.
Also by Tatiana: Will Cell-Based Horns Save Rhinos From Poaching?
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Photo: Rick Proctor


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The Kansas City Federal Reserve announced Friday the annual Jackson Hole symposium will be held virtually, a reversal from prior plans that saw a modified, in-person program…
China’s exports demonstrate the biggest dive for two years
In February, China's exports went down following a shocking rebound in January. As for imports, they declined for a third month in a row, backing anxiety over whether China and America can tackle deep differences over trade.
In February, China's exports are anticipated to have slumped by 4.8% from 2018 after January’s 9.1% leap.
Such a tumble would be the greatest since December 2016. It drops a hint at a further weakening in global demand.
In February, imports are anticipated to have gone down by 1.4% from 2018 in contrast with January’s 1.5% dip.
Firmer-than-anticipated imports could enable some China watchers to ascertain that the Chinese economy is demonstrating signs of bottoming out responding to a pack of stimulus measures last year.
However, most experts usually caution that China's data early in 2018 can be extremely distorted by the timing of the Lunar New Year holidays because at that time some businesses speed up their shipments or scale back output prior to shutting for a extended break.
As follows from factory surveys, imports and exports are going to remain dismal in the nearer future, with February's official indicator indicating that export orders tumbled to their weakest value since the global financial downtime.
In February, China's total trade surplus tumbled steeply to $26.38 billion from $39.16 billion in January.
In response to soaring global and domestic pressure, this week the Chinese cabinet uncovered a 2019 economic surge objective of 6.0%-6.5%, down from an actual 6.6% last year, which appears to be the slowest tempo for almost 30 years.
On Tuesday, Premier Li Keqiang told parliament that China is going to shore up the Chinese economy through billions of dollars in extra tax cuts as well as infrastructure spending. What’s more, the Chinese government will decrease real interest rates.
Hong Kong stock index extended a decline sparked by China’s tech crackdown. Tesla posted better-than-expected results. Jump in!
US Advance quarterly GDP is announced on April 29 at 15:30 MT time.
Quadruple witching is gone and now there are no reasons for the market to hinder. From banks statements and economic data to gas storage reading and Fed’s Powell speech – get ready for active trading.
The US showed strong retail sales for August despite the spread of the Delta virus strain. As a result, the US dollar rocketed and gold dropped by 2286 points in half an hour after the release.
The United States will release MoM Retail Sales data on September 16, 15:30 GMT+3.


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Even though our passionate staff have opinions about everything, we do try to keep our blog focused on technology and recruitment matters rather than more controversial stuff like politics, football and music.
Robertson Sumner CEO, Marc Sumner was recently asked about his view on the current state of hiring across the IT Channel. This article first appeared on the 7th February 2024. The Robertson Sumner CEO […]
I foresee a wave of leadership changes in Q1 2024, surpassing the activity of the past 12 months. This strategic shift among channel firms aims to propel them forward in the dynamic landscape of 2024. […]
Marc Sumner, CEO anticipates five key trends that will shape the hiring market in the coming year. 1. AI-DRIVEN HIRING PROCESSES Artificial Intelligence will revolutionise candidate sourcing, screening, and assessment. AI algorithms will be able […]
In the evolving landscape of the UK labour market, the latest report from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) for June 2023 highlights key trends. The report reveals a sharp increase in candidate availability, a […]
The UK tech sales industry is an ever-growing and dynamic sector, with the demand for professionals in this field increasing significantly over the past few years. According to a report from the Office of National […]
This year’s Robertson Sumner salary survey has revealed that 83% of companies increased their workforce’s salaries in the past 12 months, with many roles seeing increases of between 10-20%. Hybrid working is also on the […]
The technology industry is constantly evolving, in fact I have just today seen the announcement about major layoffs coming in 2023 at both Amazon and Salesforce with “over-hiring” given as one of the key explanations. […]
Robertson Sumner has been successfully delivering sales & marketing hires for the IT channel for over 20 years. “It felt like it was the natural evolution for the business to meet the demand of our […]
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Software Empire is striking back
EA has been telling the world how it is going to use the rights it has on Star Wars games – it is going to make a lot of them.
Released on October 21 with early access on October 18
Battlefield 4 was a great game and its prequel, Battlefield 1 will give us a great reason to open our wallets.
Not coming soon
EA is telling the world that it wants into the third-person action market with an open world game, but it does not appear to be happenng any time soon.
Release scheduled for October 21st
Couple a days ago at its official unveil, EA and DICE have unveiled its latest addition to the Battlefield franchise, putting the story back to World War I timeframe and announcing it as Battlefield 1.
More to come
Electronic Arts has added Titanfall to the list of games available on Origin Access.
Have not had one of them since I was six
Electronic Arts claims that its upcoming game line-up will be an "embarrassment of riches" next year.
Until October 12th
Although we knew it was coming sometime in October, EA and DICE have announced that the Star Wars Battlefront open beta will run from October 8th to October 12 and be available on the PC, Xbox One and Playstation 4.
Daft rumour of the week
CD Projekt Red has issued a formal statement denying a daft rumour that it might be selling itself to EA Games.
To include Walker Assault mode
EA/DICE has announced that the beta phase for Star Wars: Battlefront will be available in October on PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.
Gets you into A-Wing, X-Wing, TIEs and more
As teased earlier, DICE has unveiled a new Star Wars Battlefront game mode during Gamescom 2015, the Fighter Squadron mode.


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18 January 2008
The Morning After takes a look back at some of the best events of 2007. CLICK HERE for more.
JLL has appointed Andrew Barker as the new head of sustainability consulting.
Online shopping giant Amazon has revealed plans to open a hair salon in London’s Spitalfields.
SevenCapital has secured a £43.5m development loan from Maslow Capital for its new residential project in Bracknell, The Grand Exchange.
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2010 LA Preview: 2012 Mazda5 and Shinari coming to the U.S.
The 2010 LA Auto Show is around two weeks away and Mazda North America has announced that it will debut the 2012 Mazda5 minivan, which made its debut earlier this year at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show (as a 2011 model year). Standing alongside the Mazda5 will be the Shinari Concept, which made its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
The 2012 Mazda5 will hit dealerships later this year and will be powered by a 2.5L MZ4 inline 4-clyinder engine making 157-hp. It will be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Click here for our original post on the 2011 Mazda M5.
Click here for more news on the Mazda Shinari.
– By: Omar Rana


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Displaying items by tag: South America
Sparke, the International Services arm of the TIM Group and among the top ten global operators, announces the expansion of its South American backbone with a new Point of Presence in Cartagena, Colombia.
The new PoP responds to the fast growing demand for capacity services in Colombia, providing local and international network providers, ISPs, Content Players and OTTs with transport solutions up to 100 GB through Sparkle’s City2City service
Thanks to the interconnection with the PCCS and SAm-1 cables, Sparkle will provide its customers with advanced connectivity solutions from Colombia and other Latin American countries up to the United States.
The combination of Sparkle’s terrestrial and submarine networks in the Americas, enriched by the new generation Seabras-1 cable, ensures complete redundancy and a top quality data experience.
In the next few months Sparkle will further expand its presence in Colombia, with the opening of a new PoP in Bogotá that will enhance the performance of Sparkle’s global Tier-1 IP transit service Seabone with lower latency and improved traffic routing capabilities.
The new PoPs in Cartagena and Bogotá confirm Sparkle’s positioning as one of the main providers in the Americas and as first Tier-1 backbone in Latam.
Motorola was the fastest growing smartphone brand in South America in Q2 2017, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Market Monitor service, while Samsung rose to a healthy and highest ever 41 percent marketshare. Smartphone shipments in the region grew 9 percent annually during Q2 (April-June) driven by improved macroeconomic climate, LTE rollout and open channel growth in some markets.
"Latin America's positive smartphone growth this quarter can be attributed to the uptick in demand in Brazil and Colombia compared to last year despite softness in Peru and Chile,” said Counterpoint's Senior Analyst Tina Lu. “Relatively speaking, Q2 2016 last year saw a great dip in demand as the biggest LATAM market, Brazil suffered from a deep recession and low consumer sentiment surrounding the impeachment of former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff.”
According to the World Bank, Brazilian economy is forecasted to grow at a marginal rate of 0.3 percent indicating more stability than last year. Colombia's smartphone market grew 26 percent annually and was the fastest growing market in Q2 2017 due to entry of newer brands such as Meizu, Infinix and Xiaomi expanded the open market, said Lu.
Peru's growth tapered off after a strong growth last year due to aggressive competition between operators, Lu added. Meanwhile, Chile's shipment volumes declined as government cracked down the illegal transshipments to the neighboring countries.
"The other driver of growth has been proliferation of LTE smartphones,” Lu said. “Almost nine out of ten smartphones sold in LATAM was LTE capable and instrumental in driving up the replacement rate and feature phone to smartphone upgrade rates. LTE is also allowing some brands to increase their market share as many brands and operators are switching to an all-LTE portfolio of devices."
Commenting on the smartphone OEM competitive environment, Research Analyst, Parv Sharma, noted, "While new Chinese brands have focused on entering and increasing their footprint in LATAM, however, it has been difficult for many of these brands to scale, leverage domestic manufacturing and align well to some of the operator-centric markets in LATAM.”
Sharma added, “Unlike in many regions in Asia or Africa, Chinese brands still contribute to only 31 percent of the region's total smartphone volumes. Brazil and Argentina both have local assembly requirements that most Chinese brands struggle to comply with. The exceptions are Lenovo-Motorola and TCL-Alcatel in Argentina and Brazil due to their years of presence in the region and Huawei in Argentina which have invested and partnered for domestic manufacturing to grow in these markets."
Commenting on OEM performances, Senior Analyst, Jene Park highlighted, "Samsung is the king in Latin America and its share is four times higher than its closest competitor, which is LG. On the marketing side, Samsung has capitalized on more than ten years of heavy investment in brand building and an aggressive channel strategy that targeted both the operator and open channels.”
Park added, “On the product side Samsung consolidated its advantage in both Brazil and Argentina, which requires local assembly, by exceptional product availability and faster than ever time to market. For example, the Galaxy S8 was launched and available for the Brazilian market just 20 days after the global launch, while the Galaxy S7 took almost 40 days after the global launch."
The Samsung Galaxy J series was the star performer in the LATAM market, according to Counterpoint; however, not the newly refreshed J series, but the 2016 models that were discounted. LG focused on its mid-range K series, especially K4 and K10. This resulted in LG K10 making it to the top five bestselling models in LATAM.
Mr Sharma, noting Motorola's performance highlighted, "Motorola (excluding Lenovo) was the fastest growing brand in LATAM up 65 percent year-on-year in volumes. Biggest boost was Motorola successfully made its way back to America Movil (Claro)'s shelves, which it had not been ranged with for around one year. This win has boosted Motorola's performance not only in Brazil, but also in Colombia and Mexico. Furthermore, Motorola has also been aggressively increasing its open market participation."
Spanish telecom giant Telefónica posted its Q2 results for 2017 showing strength in its South American subsidiaries and declines in Europe. The company showed “a general acceleration in growth in main financial and operational terms” as it moves to organically reduce its €48.5 billion debt pile rather than sell off assets.
The operator posted revenue of around €13 billion, an increase of 1.9 percent from the same quarter in 2016. Net profit for Telefónica reached €821 million, an increase of 18.4 percent from the same period in 2016. The company’s key revenue drives, it said, was mobile data revenue.
Telefónica was able to reduce its debt by €3.7 billion year-on-year, which will increase once the company completes the sale of its 40 percent stake in tower unit Telxius, which it’s selling for €1.3 billion. Telefónica moved to sell its O2 unit in the UK to help reduce its debt after it felt pressure from investors, but the company is now attempting to reduce its debt organically by improving cash flow.
“The strength and better business trends in the first half of the year, as well as being well-positioned to continue capturing sustainable growth in the coming quarters, allow us to upgrade our guidance for 2017,” commented José María Álvarez-Pallete, Executive Chairman of Telefónica.
Spanish telecom giant Telefónica and Huawei have announced the opening of an Open IoT Lab to work on the development of products and applications related to Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) technology.
Telefónica´s NB-IoT Open Lab to be opened in Chile in the next few months aims to boost the IoT business ecosystem and drive innovation in the IoT space. It will allow IoT players such as equipment vendors, service providers, end-user OEM device makers and application developers, to deploy faster their services and applications over Telefónica´s networks.
They will also have early access to new IoT developments by combining Huawei resources and capabilities with Telefónica´s well established R&D Centre´s facilities, resources and know-how.
As Hernán Orellana, CEO I+D Chile, said: “This Open Lab will allow us to put Chile at the forefront of technology, especially in the IoT networks arena, more precisely NB-IOT, where our experience is already recognized in the industry.”
This Open LAB will have a permanent showroom in Telefónica´s headquarters in Madrid where the newest IoT solutions coming from Chile will be demoed regularly.
Telefónica Chile’s R&D Centre is a joint initiative between Telefónica and the Chilean government with the goal of promoting an open and participatory Internet of Things ecosystem.
The NB-IoT Open Lab in Chile IoT Competence Centre will be a meeting point for the IoT community in order to foster the use of the new technologies by organizing events such as “plug-fests”, collaborative design and testing, tutorial sessions and co-development programs for start-ups amongst others.
It is a fruitful networking space where different players in the delivery chain can work together to boost the adoption of new IoT services. Telefónica and Huawei jointly deployed the first field NB-IoT smart metering service in Chile during 2016.This initiative enables the roll out of such experiences to many other areas and applications.
Vicente Muñoz, Chief IoT Officer at Telefónica, explains: “Telefónica NB-IoT Open Lab is an IoT space that aims at building a complete ecosystem of partners, manufacturers, technicians, developers and designers to bring the best solutions to market around Mobile IoT networks. Chile NB-IoT Open Lab will accelerate the development of IoT commercial solutions and ensure they are supported by a broad ecosystem.”
Patrick Zhang, President, Huawei Marketing and Solutions Department said, “We are proud to be partnering with Telefónica in the creation of the NB-IoT Open Lab. The NB-IoT Open Lab will strengthen the strategic cooperation between Huawei and Telefónica on technology innovation and eco-system maturation relating to NB-IoT. Huawei will work closely with Telefónica to launch the NB-IoT Open Lab for the continuous technology evolution and acceleration of the commercial deployment.”
Telecommunication organizations in Latin America are devising strategies aimed at implementing structures which can enable them to monetize ‘Big Data’. Many are currently involved in developing and deploying ‘Big Data’ solutions. However - monetizing these efforts remain a challenge for telco’s in South America.
The growth of direct and indirect competition in the telecommunications sector has rather inevitably impacted revenue growth rates and the profitability margin of traditional operators worldwide. Universally telecommunication entities have found it difficult to monetize over-the-top services, value-added services and cloud as they try to move away from the traditional connectivity and capacity business. In relation to South America, the potential to monetize ‘Big Data’ has got Telco’s in the continent enthusiastic about the topic – and what ‘Big Data’ technology can bring to business.
Telco’s in Latin America are currently embarking on the initial phase of the project in relation to ‘Big Data’ – focusing their attention firstly on optimizing infrastructure – then they intent to transform their business with predictive analytics, next-generation applications and advanced use cases. In addition to this, companies are also rethinking and re-evaluating their organizational structure and the portfolio it offers clients. Some have developed special units to specifically define roadmaps focused on their digital and innovation strategies in an attempt to re-invent business operations and ultimately to lead them to be in a position to enable new services.
Research has found that capital expenditure or ‘Big Data’ telecommunications services in Latin America market reached $633.3 million in 2016. The investment is projected to reach $1.779 billion in 2022, led by countries such as Brazil and Mexico.
Some of the main priorities for the telco’s will undoubtedly be on improving customer experience satisfaction based on deeper customer understanding, prediction of issues based on extensive and more accurate network analysis, and revenue creation based on identified sales opportunities in the sector. Whether or not the companies can achieve these targets is yet to be seen.
However, it’s clear that as the digital transformation continues to evolve – ‘Big Data’ will become a new revenue source for Telco’s who are preparing to take advantage of new business opportunities. Data from users, services, networks, locations and management sources could be monetized through product promotion, targeted advertisement- new sales opportunities - quality of experience and network optimization. The question for telco’s is not only how to implement the technology, but how to effectively set the value it will extract.
Nokia has extended its long-term relationship with TIM in Brazil, signing a new contract supporting the operator's strategy to build a robust network infrastructure to cope with increasing consumption of mobile data with 4G.
TIM, the leader in 4G coverage in the country, is the first operator in Brazil to use the frequency of 2600 Mhz and refarm the 1800 Mhz frequency band to 4G LTE. TIM is now ready to make the move to future-proofing its network using the 700 MHz spectrum band, which enables excellent indoor and rural area coverage for 4G-enabled devices.
To support this groundbreaking network project, TIM has selected the Nokia AirScale radio access platform, which runs multiple radio technologies simultaneously in one base station and allows virtually unlimited scalability that will support massive IoT demand and 5G speeds. With the network upgrade to 4.5G Pro the operator will be able to better mix frequencies and technology usage at the same site, reducing costs and ensuring a fast and smooth deployment of the new LTE network.
"We're looking at the highest technology quality standard today in the market, with the combination of three spectrum bands to increase our capacity and improve the end-user experience,” said Leonardo Capdeville, head of Technology at TIM. “With the support of Nokia and its AirScale radio access, we will be able to reach more areas and speed up LTE coverage in the country, reinforcing our innovation capabilities and commitment to the Brazilian market."
Luiz Tonisi, head of the TIM Brazil customer team at Nokia, said: "Our commitment with TIM is to deliver a best-in-class service experience for its subscribers. This project is an important milestone for us as it paves the way towards the network of the future and reinforces our long-standing partnership with TIM. The near future looks very promising with the possibility to expand further our LTE footprint and make a positive impact in the digital society."
This news follows another initiative, announced in late 2015, in which Nokia and TIM collaborated to modernize and expand TIM's 3G and 4G LTE networks in 17 states in Brazil with the use of Nokia's small cells products, as well as the implementation, optimization and care services.


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After sanctions imposed by the usa year that is last Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei is struggling mightily.
The company fell out of the world’s top five organizations in terms of smartphones shipped – the time that is first’s ranked outside that team in six years, based on Canalys.
In the 2nd quarter of 2020, the organization had been # 1. In-may, Huawei had been blacklisted by the U.S. and positioned on the Entity List, which limits semiconductor that is foreign using American technology to manufacture their chips from selling said chips to Huawei. To sell hardware and software to Huawei now, the U.S. requires companies that are american supply a license, additionally the U.S. federal government indicates few indications that they’ll grant licenses at all.
This has resulted in major businesses closing their partnerships with Huawei. Bing will not license its Android os OS to Huawei, which could maybe not influence its Chinese product sales much where services that are google already limited, but could impact loyalty internationally.
Right now, Huawei relies on over 30 firms that are american its core community of vendors. Key lovers like Qualcomm and Intel signaled back might which they will never offer to Huawei until further notice.
With these sanctions set up, competition is posed become extremely tough for Huawei, particularly with Apple’s figures this present year – Apple shipped 90.1 million phones during Q4, a record that is new shipments from any smartphone vendor in history.
Will competition be “fair” moving forward? Can Huawei make a comeback under such lockdown that is stringent? Host Daniel Litwin dives in on this MarketScale industry revision.
Follow us on social media marketing for the most recent updates in B2B!
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Xiaomi launched their flagship device Xiaomi Mi 6 in April 2017. It’s just nearly three months and the company has started teasing a new flagship device launch set for July 11 which is just two days away. The company has released a teaser image poster which asks about what 6 GB of RAM means? Does it mean smoother, faster, more tasks, more efficient or something more? You can find more about it on July 11, 2017. Xiaomi already has few devices with 6 GB of RAM i.e. Mi 5s Plus, Mi Note 2, Mi MIX and Mi 6.
Apart from the teaser image, Xiaomi has also released a video which gives us a sneak peek into the specifications of the upcoming flagship device. As per the teaser video, the upcoming Xiaomi flagship device is powered by Snapdragon 8XX processor with UFS storage and DDR4 RAM. It also indicates a 3D glass body with a large display.The teaser indicates that the phone features a 22 MP camera that can record 4K videos & comes with a smart beauty mode and is backed by 4,000 mAh battery. It also indicates a USB Type-C port with support for Quick Charge, an IR blaster and NFC.
All these specifications point out to a flagship device and if recent rumours are to be believed, it may be the “Plus” variant of existing flagship device from Xiaomi i.e. Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus. Mention of a large display and bigger battery in the video teaser, also suggests the plus variant of Mi 6.
At the moment, we are only guessing the name of the device as Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus. But we will know very soon i.e. in just two days if our guess is true or not. Stay tuned at Androidpure and we will keep you updated.


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Tomislav Car, former CEO of Infinum: “I founded Infinum with Matej and ran it as CEO for the last 16 years. The job of a CEO is a lot of things, but the bottom line is pretty simple – to lead the company to victory. Victory can mean whatever you want it to mean. Getting the desired client, growing to a certain level, selling to a larger corporation and the like.”
Infinum, one of the most powerful IT companies in Croatia, achieved a high revenue growth rate last year, announcing plans to further accelerate business expansion in 2022. In 2021, the company reported 30% revenue growth, closing the fiscal year with revenues of HRK 138 million.
One of the largest Croatian IT companies Infinum has, via its investment branch Infinum Ventures, invested in the Zadar travel-tech company Rentlio. Rentlio automates the operational and sales processes of hotels, hostels, apartments and other tourist facilities.


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a better world through creativity
About Design Indaba
Design Indaba News
News & Features
Video Archive (2006 – present)
Our database of African and international creatives and companies making waves in the design world.
Chlorine device offers safe drinking water for all
Zimba is a device that automatically mixes chlorine into water using the correct proportions and no electricity, only gravity.
South Africa’s first medical thriller hits at the heart of illegal organ donation
Enlisting somewhat unusual and controversial tactics to promote the film, the subject of illegal organ trade has everybody sitting up and taking notes.
Research project produces first map of Nairobi’s informal transport system
Researchers are crowdsourcing data to create a transport system map for the accurate location of matatu routes – Nairobi’s informal transit system.
A device and mobile app that lets you grow pesticide-free, fresh food 365 days a year
No sunshine required to grow your own healthy food. Grow and monitor yours in your home at the click of a button.
Farmerline uses SMSes to empower small-scale farmers in Ghana
Ghanaian tech provider, Farmerline offers innovative mobile communication and farming information services to literate and illiterate rural farmers
Turning shipping containers into renewable solar units
SolarTurtle is an innovative green energy product that relies solely on battery-based distribution for rural electrification.
Virtual Reality App offers better clinical care to cancer patients
Oncomfort finds an innovative way to help cancer patients self-manage stress, anxiety and pain through evidence-based psychological interventions in VR.
The robots are coming!
AMP Robotics is revolutionising the waste processing industry by using robots for recycling – this age-old problem now has a new solution!
Have the conversation: Make contraception one of the cool kids
Future Fab, a lifestyle brand, is on a mission to break through the stigma and awkwardness of talking about reproductive health using innovative campaigns.
Get walking with stylish eco shoes made from recycled plastic bottles
It’s the eco-friendly, super comfortable flat that’s taking off. Rothy’s flats are made from just one material: polyester fibre sourced from recycled bottles.
Let the children play!
Play Pallets has devised a solution to afford kids, regardless of their economic circumstance or war-torn location, an all-important opportunity to play.
Pioneering the future of urban farming
INFARM is a pioneering on-demand farming service that helps cities become self-sufficient in food production, while reducing environmental impact.
Trash disposal games cleans up Dutch campus
Strategically placed trashcans were installed at the Dutch Koning Willem I College to prevent students from littering across the campus.
Rapid Assessment of Malaria (RAM) detects malaria in 5 seconds
John Lewandowski, a PhD student in mechanical engineering at MIT has designed a device that can detect malaria from a single drop of blood in 5 seconds.
Combatting drought with orange peels
Kiara Nirghin won the Google Science Fair Community Impact Award for her innovative creation of a super absorbent biodegradable polymer made from orange peels.
Art meets clean energy: Customisable solar panels blend in with any roof
SolarSkin, a Sistine Solar product offers colour-matched photovoltaic panels in an artful way and retains its revolutionary technologies in renewable energy.
Osmosis power: Mini generator creates energy from salt water
Nanoscientist Aleksandra Radenovic, explores the wonder of osmosis (also known as blue energy) power generation.
Coolar: The electricity independent medical refrigerator
Coolar is a carbon-neutral solar-powered refrigerator specifically geared towards preserving vaccines and critical medical supplies.
SHE: Sanitary pads made from discarded banana tree material
Sustainable Heath Enterprises (SHE) manufactures affordable sanitary pads made from banana tree fibres to keep Rwanda’s girls and women in school and work.
Bringing bones to life: Artist prototypes a hand grown out of stem cells
Artist Amy Karle’s Regenerative Reliquary is an open-source biotech project showcasing a human hand grown out of stem cells.
The Visionary Kitchen creates dinners from food waste
The Visionary Kitchen, a volunteer organisation, hosts weekly free dinners for up to 10 guests from foods that have reached their sell-by-date.
EyeControl: The first screen-free device for ALS patients
Often patients with ALS are "locked in" and unable to speak or use their limbs. With EyeControl, "locked-in" patients can communicate using eye-scrolling tech.
MOMALA – the healthcare app that detects malaria on the spot
This medical app turns a smartphone into a microscope to diagnose malaria at an early stage in just a few clicks.
Wakami's ethically crafted accessories empower over 500 Guatemalan women
Working with women in rural Guatemala, Wakami is a design-driven organisation that sells over $1-million in products to over 20 countries.
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THERE’S nothing glamorous about a toilet brush, but this cleaning fanatic has found a bog brush that’s super hygienic and easily stored - and it comes in pink.
The cleaning enthusiast shared a clip of her new, silicone loo brush, and viewers can’t wait to try it for themselves.
Mum-of-two and Tiktok user Abbi shared the video, showing exactly why her new toilet brush is a game changer.
In the clip, she shows that the brush is made of silicone, so the bristles are more spaced out and smoother than a standard toilet brush, meaning that the product is far easier to clean.
It’s also a flatter design and it’s totally flexible, so it can get into nooks and crannies.
In a follow-up video, Abbi also explains that the brush can be stuck up on the bathroom wall, meaning your bathroom will look less cluttered.
Abbi’s videos have reached over five million people, and commenters are totally obsessed with the clever product, which is available on Amazon for £11.49.
“Love how hygienic this is”, enthused one commenter, while a second wrote: “I need this.”
“This literally makes so much more sense than the OG toilet brush”, added a third.
Commenting on the flexible brush head, one viewer said: “That looks good for the edge at the top of the bowl.”
Some commenters had already got the brush and were very impressed with the results.
One viewer exclaimed: “Omg I got one of these at the beginning of the year… best thing ever!!!”
Another said: “I love it, I got it from Amazon.”
“Bought one of these a month ago, makes toilet Tuesdays so much easier!”, said one impressed customer.
Most read in Fabulous
In other cleaning news, this woman cleaned her filthy loo with a can of coke – but it’s how she shows off her hard work which has people talking.
We shared how this woman made her toilet foam, and why viewers couldn't get enough of it.
Plus, read about why this professional cleaner says you should NEVER use bleach in a bathroom.


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As you guys might have heard, Blizzcon 2010 is going to take place in a few weeks – October 22-23.
And every time Blizzard is celebrating it’s great franchises – Warcraft, World of Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo – together with the fans attending, rumors come up which great announcement Blizzard is going to make.
This year vgtribune.com is arguing that Warcraft 4 might be announced this year during the opening ceremony.
According to a “fairly trusted source”, vgtribune reports that Warcraft 4 is under development and lists what the newest sequel to Blizzards successful rts-series shall feature:
- Episodic campaign was considering – no word on what they decided.
- Thrall is “currently” in it.
- The game is planned “tentatively” for a Q4 2012 release.
- Its an RTS based on the Starcraft II engine.
- Its being considered for multiple platforms like the 360 and PS3, but DS has actually been started on.
- It now finally has a team working on it since Starcraft is out.
- Its still very early stages and the concept art looks “beautiful”.
The problem about such news is that a “fairly trusted source” is mostly everything but trustworthy. And as this is right now the only news about Warcraft 4, there are good chances that this rumor will not be proven as true.


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Significant increase in all three phones
Data on iPhone batteries are rarely ever published by Apple. And no, not when the phones are officially unveiled. The reason for this is that they tend to have significantly smaller capacities than their competitors and yet a similar and even better experience is obtained in many cases thanks to the optimization of the processor and software designed by Apple itself. However, the data can be obtained based on various tests carried out on the devices once they are launched on the market.
Of the iPhone 13 we cannot say yet exactly what capabilities they will have, although the Weiboo website has shown capabilities that the leaker has echoed L0vetodream, who is likely to confirm this information based on their sources. Obviously it might not end up being this way, but given its success story and that it has been commenting for months that Apple will increase the battery of its next smartphones, it does not seem to be information that is going to be very misguided.
- iPhone 13 mini (12s mini): 2,406 mAh
- iPhone 13 (12s): 3,095 mAh
- iPhone 13 Pro (12s Pro): 3,095 mAh
- iPhone 13 Pro Max (12s Pro Max): 4,532 mAh
This would be a considerable increase compared to the iPhone 12. We recall that these devices have 2,227 mAh batteries in the case of the iPhone 12 mini, 3,687 in the case of the 12 Pro Max and 2,775 or 2,885 in the case of the 12 and 12 Pro. These last data may vary depending on the source, but in any case it means a lower battery than what its successors would bring.
How will this affect the autonomy of the teams?
In the case of the ‘mini’ model, we understand that this increase was a necessity. The current iPhone 12 mini is not a team that has a bad autonomy, but the truth is that its difference with the rest of the range is considerable and depending on what type of uses it can be short, so an increase in this year’s generation will be very well received. In the case of the standard iPhone 13 you will also notice a significant change. If we take into account the presumably good management that the future A15 processor will do, this increase in autonomy will be even more evident.
However, on ‘Pro’ models it may not be too noticeable. It is expected that these models will finally incorporate ProMotion technology with 120 Hz refresh rate, technology that consumes more battery than the current 60 Hz and therefore would need a greater capacity of this to perform in the same way as current models do. Therefore, although it is not ruled out that the autonomy increases a little, the experience could be the same and the battery change would respond only to the idea of balancing the decompensation that this new function of the screen would leave.
Once again we insist on emphasizing that these are not yet data that can be contrasted, although they are not far from what will surely end up being a reality. We will continue in any way expectant to new information in order to continue to know what these next Apple flagships will be like.


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China will also will install 25,000 stations to recharge the electric motors, said Wang Zhe, an official from Shanghai’s new energy automobile promotion office at the International Forum on Chinese Automobile Industry Development in Tianjin.
“With government support in purchasing, R&D and infrastructure, Shanghai will be able to produce 100,000 new energy vehicles every year, including 60,000 passenger vehicles by 2012. About 20,000 of them will be for private use,” Wang said.
More than 2.43 million vehicles had been registered in Shanghai at the end of 2009. The number of private vehicles in Shanghai has been increasing by 20% annually since 2006.
The Jiading District of Shanghai, a major automobile manufacturing centre, is working to become a leader in manufacturing new eco-vehicles in China, said deputy district head Fei Xiaomei. China aims to develop as the world’s largest new eco-vehicle market by 2020 with five million cars. It also plans to export more than 15 million fuel-efficient vehicles annually. – Source: Shipping Gazette


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Innovating Against the Odds: Female Entrepreneurs Disrupting Industries Through Startups
Innovation knows no boundaries, and neither does entrepreneurship. However, for female entrepreneurs, the path to success often involves overcoming unique challenges and breaking through barriers that have traditionally hindered their progress. Despite facing systemic biases and societal expectations, female entrepreneurs around the world are making remarkable strides, disrupting industries, and reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape through their startups. This article explores the inspiring stories of these trailblazing women who are innovating against the odds.
The Landscape of Female Entrepreneurship:
The entrepreneurial landscape has historically been dominated by men. However, in recent years, there has been a significant rise in the number of female-led startups globally. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), women now represent a substantial portion of entrepreneurs worldwide, with their numbers continuing to grow steadily.
Despite this progress, female entrepreneurs still face numerous challenges, including limited access to funding, lack of representation in leadership positions, and gender biases in the business world. These obstacles can often discourage women from pursuing entrepreneurship or hinder their ability to succeed once they enter the fray.
Breaking Barriers through Innovation:
Despite the challenges they face, female entrepreneurs are harnessing the power of innovation to disrupt industries and carve out their place in the market. From technology and healthcare to finance and fashion, women-led startups are driving change and pushing boundaries across various sectors.
One notable example is Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder and CEO of Bumble, a popular dating app that empowers women to make the first move. By flipping traditional gender dynamics on their head, Wolfe Herd disrupted the online dating industry and created a platform that prioritizes female agency and safety.
In the realm of technology, Arlan Hamilton, the founder of Backstage Capital, has been a trailblazer in investing in underrepresented founders, including women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Her innovative approach to venture capital has challenged the status quo and provided opportunities for entrepreneurs who have been overlooked by traditional investors.
Challenges and Opportunities:
While female entrepreneurs have made significant strides in recent years, they still face persistent challenges that can hinder their progress. Access to capital remains a major obstacle, with studies showing that women-led startups receive significantly less funding than their male counterparts. Additionally, gender biases and stereotypes continue to shape perceptions of female entrepreneurs, affecting everything from funding decisions to media coverage.
However, amidst these challenges, there are also opportunities for growth and empowerment. Initiatives such as mentorship programs, networking events, and funding opportunities specifically tailored to female entrepreneurs are helping to level the playing field and support women in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
Empowering the Next Generation:
As female entrepreneurs continue to disrupt industries and challenge the status quo, their success serves as inspiration for the next generation of women leaders. By sharing their stories, offering mentorship, and advocating for gender equality in entrepreneurship, these trailblazing women are paving the way for future generations to thrive in the world of business.
Innovation knows no gender, and female entrepreneurs are proving that they have what it takes to drive change, disrupt industries, and build successful startups against all odds. By harnessing the power of innovation, resilience, and determination, these women are not only breaking barriers but also reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape for the better. As we celebrate their achievements and continue to support their endeavors, we move one step closer to a more inclusive and diverse world of entrepreneurship.


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The launch of mobile-banking services and payments in Canada was the next logical step for Monitise Americas LLC, according to CEO Lisa Stanton. "The credit-union market is very engaged in consideration of mobile banking here in the States, so we're excited to launch initially with a focus on credit unions in Canada," Stanton tells CardLine. Monitise Tuesday announced an agreement with Everlink Payment Service Inc., a Canadian provider of electronic-transaction and payment services, to distribute a suite of mobile-banking services to financial institutions, including 375 credit unions (CardLine, 6/3). Monitise has similar deals with five U.S. financial institutions to distribute the services through the NYCE electronic funds transfer network. Stanton says the suite gives mid-sized banks and credit unions the "opportunity to remain competitive and, maybe in some cases, leapfrog the big guys in terms of their product offerings, convenience and so on." With the mobile-banking and payments space changing daily, Stanton says there is urgency to expand the capabilities of mobile banking. "We focus on the traditional things, like viewing account balances and recent transactions, with the promise to introduce things to consumers that they can't do today anywhere else," Stanton says. Bill payment and person-to-person mobile payments are a start, and those services will be offered in the future, Stanton says. Monitise views mobile banking as an entrance to mobile payments, and Stanton says the company is committed to contactless Near Field Communication technology. "If done right with a financial-services focused provider, it will add revenue opportunities for banks and credit unions," she says.
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Shopee, a popular online shopping platform from Singapore, is ready to make its debut in Europe. The ecommerce company is preparing to launch in Poland. The company is part of Sea, whose gaming arm Garena is already active in Europe.
Swedish fintech company Klarna has entered Poland this week with the launch of its 'buy now, pay later' service in collaboration with H&M. This is the latest expansion of Klarna, which has been gruadually building its presence in Europe in the last years.
Booste, a Polish financing platform for ecommerce merchants, has raised 12 million euros in a Series A funding round. The fintech company will use the money to expand its services to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
VidaXL, an online retailer from the Netherlands, will build two new fulfillment centers in Europe. One will open in the Netherlands, while the other will arise in Poland. The two fulfillment centers are part of VidaXL's growth strategy.
Polish parcel locker company InPost has acquired Mondial Relay, a major logistics company from France. InPost will pay 565 million euros to buy Mondial Relay and thus expand its international presence.
Amazon has launched Amazon.pl in Poland. Amazon was already active in Poland since 2014, but now it has opened a dedicated local ecommerce website. Polish shoppers can buy over 100 million products across more than 30 categories.
by Ecommerce News.
About Launch with tags Poland.
Amazon is planning to launch Amazon Poland at Amazon.pl. The dedicated ecommerce website isn't live yet, but selling partners in Poland and abroad can now register their businesses for Amazon Poland. Soon, Amazon.pl will go live.
The number of online purchases reached an all-time record in Poland last year. This has, of course, to do with the lockdowns due to Covid-19. But still, Poland was one of the fastest growing ecommerce markets in Europe.
Omnipack, a Polish fulfilment provider, has raised another 2.5 million euros in funding, which brings its total to 5 million euros. The startup, which manages logistics operations for ecommerce companies, wants to use the money to further expand in Europe.
Polish company Edrone has raised 5.3 million dollars (4.5 million euros) in its first funding after bootstrapping for the last four years. Edrone is an AI-fueled platform that provides customer experience solutions for ecommerce companies.
Everli, the Italian ecommerce marketplace formerly known as Supermercato24, has announced a partnership with Kaufland in Poland. The partnership allows people from 17 cities in Poland to order groceries from a Kaufland store through the Everli website or app.
The major Polish ecommerce platform Allegro has announced its intention to apply for listing on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Should the company proceed with the initial public offering, it would become the largest IPO of Poland.
During the first half of this year, about 5,500 new online stores were registered in Poland. At the same time 2,000 got shut down. But some think the recent boom in ecommerce, due to the pandemic, won't last long.


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Israeli credit cards hit by cyber attack
ALLEGED SAUDI hackers have posted the details of 15,000 Israeli credit cards online in the biggest politically motivated cyberspace attack against Israel to date.
Israel’s three biggest credit card companies urged clients not to panic and promised that any victims of identity theft would be fully compensated and that replacement cards would be issued immediately. The anonymous hackers, claiming to be from Saudi Arabia, called the cyber attack “a gift to the world for the new year”. They posted information including credit card details, personal addresses, names, phone numbers and ID numbers of individuals on a popular Israeli sports website, urging surfers to use the information to make purchases.
“It will be so fun to see 400,000 Israelis stand in line outside banks and offices of credit card companies to complain that their cards had been stolen. To see banks shred 400,000 cards and reissue them. To see that Israeli cards are not accepted around the world,” the hackers wrote.
Bank of Israel officials said the figure of 400,000 was inaccurate and fewer than 15,000 card holders were affected. The bank has launched an investigation, in co-operation with Israel’s three major credit companies.
Pro-Palestinian hackers often target Israel but an attack on this scale was unprecedented.
Experts in cyber security said it was impossible to verify that the hackers originated in Saudi Arabia, but they said the attack was further proof that it was increasingly difficult to prevent determined hackers.
The Israeli military and top strategic facilities are advised by the Israel Security Agency on protection from cyber attack.
A few weeks ago, the websites of Israeli intelligence branches crashed but officials denied pro-Palestinian hackers were responsible, blaming a technical fault.


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For the last few years, Rantoul Street has been the road of choice for developers looking to put up new buildings in Beverly.
Now, it's Cabot Street's turn.
A developer has filed plans with the city to build a three-story apartment building in a parking lot at 130 Cabot St., next to the Siam Delight restaurant and Sam's Cleaners.
If the plan is approved, it would be the first significant new construction in the main section of downtown in years.
"We think the downtown is moving toward the Beverly-Salem bridge a little more," said Jeff Holloran, the developer who plans to buy the property if the project is approved. "We wanted to bridge the gap."
The proposal calls for 13 apartments, with space for two retail stores on the first floor. Gin Wallace, executive director of Beverly Main Streets, said the plan meshes with her organization's efforts to bring both more residents and retail to the downtown.
"Most of the residential stuff is happening on Rantoul, but we're really excited about (this plan) because it fits right into our vision for the downtown with residential above and retail below," Wallace said. "The more people you have living downtown, the more people you have for the businesses."
The parking lot at 130 Cabot St., at the corner of Vestry Street, has been owned by Jay Levy since 1995. He has rented the lot to various businesses over the years, including the Registry of Motor Vehicles, but said the lot has essentially been a "hole" at that end of Cabot Street.
Levy, who has owned an office/retail building across the street since 1978, said the combination of an apartment building and retail stores should provide a boost for the area.
"This end of Cabot Street is kind of a neglected end of Cabot Street," he said. "Once you get past City Hall, the retail kind of falls off. If they put up a building and there's some retail, it will extend the retail on Cabot Street and help some of the other retail in this area."
Wallace said there has been little new construction on downtown Cabot Street because of the lack of available space. Most of the recent residential construction in the city has taken place on Rantoul Street, where developer Windover Construction is trying to take advantage of the street's proximity to the train station.
Windover, which built the Depot Square condominiums in 2006, recently completed a three-story building with 38 apartments next to The Pickled Onion. It is also planning to build an apartment building at the Enterprise car rental lot farther down Rantoul Street toward the bridge, as well as transform the Beverly Self-Storage building on Pleasant Street into affordable housing for veterans.
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the 130 Cabot St. proposal on June 19 at 9:30 p.m. at City Hall.
If the project is approved, construction could begin in the fall or early winter, with the building opening in the spring or summer of 2013, Holloran said.
Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or by email at email@example.com.


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The Baby Boomers have always been the generation in the spotlight, the ones who demanded social change, whether it be through music, politics, or fashion. Their descendants, however, have been discredited in the past, written off as lazy and prone to feelings of entitlement. However, this school of thought is quickly fading, and those who are Generation Y(those born between 1970 to about 2000 - in other words, US!) are now being known as the most influential buying demographic, and the generation that is rapidly changing the pace of the fashion industry.
On February 2nd, Fashion Group International held an event, “Y they Buy” where an industry panel discussion on Gen Y’s purchasing habits. Victor Barac, consultant for Applied Anthropology Consulting, defines Generation Y as a "culturally diverse generation that has been the first to come of age in a technological environment".
Gen Y-ers rely heavily on multimedia communication and bloggers, who are now seen as the new ‘authority’ thanks to their ability to put out the most current news in the fastest amount of time. Therefore, its no surprise that this fast-paced generation who seeks instantaneous information would expect the same when it comes to fashion.
The concept of “fast fashion” was created in response to the demands of Generation Y, who often see a trend on the runways of Paris on Tuesday, and expect a less expensive variation of that trend hanging in their closets by Friday.
John Muscat and Jennifer Wells, co-owners of Line Knitwear, agreed that their clients demand the trends immediately, but added that their expectation of timeliness does not mean that costs be excessive or that the quality suffers. “Customers are more savvy,” said Wells, adding “they want affordable, stylish clothing without quality loss”. Gen Y has forced Line to work harder and faster at churning out the trends quickly enough to satisfy the ever-changing needs of their customers. Muscat and Wells also commented on the fact that Gen Y is more in tune and more knowledgeable when it comes to fashion thanks to the intense media scrutiny of the fashion world.
Sarah Casselman, Fashion Market Editor at Fashion Magazine and panelist for FGI’s event has also seen changes at Fashion thanks to the demands of their 18 to 24 year old readers. To reach the Gen Y market, editors at Fashion Magazine have also been turning to bloggers, saying that although many of their trend stories are based on ready-to-wear, its important to follow bloggers who may be able to pick up on smaller trends. Seeing the value in accessing fashion through the internet, the magazine’s online department has been granted a greater budget and updates the site daily with web videos and photographs of street style in the hopes of remaining as relevant as possible in the time between their monthly issues.
Technology is not the only trigger in this recent shift towards Gen Y’s demands for fast fashion. Panelists also discussed retail giants like Zara, H&M, and Forever 21, who are all vertically integrated and have the ability to find a trend and translate it into garments in as little as two weeks.
Celebrities are also crucial – Generation Y is immersed in celebrity culture and often defines a brands success by the celebrity who wears it. With luxury brands having the greatest amount of access to celebrities, small-time designers must allocate significant amounts of money into PR and marketing in the hopes of breaking in.
While there is no doubt that Gen Y is changing the inner-workings of the fashion industry on all levels, its hard to say whether its for better or worse. Small retailers are struggling to compete with commercial retail giants, reputable magazine’s struggle to stay current, and new designers must compete with established fashion houses for recognition. However, consumer’s are wiser now. Thanks to technology bringing fashion into our worlds in a way it never was before, we are smarter, savvier shoppers, and we’re all a little bit trendier. Generation Y is definitely demanding when it comes to style, but if it makes the streets of Toronto that much more fashionable, it can't be so bad.


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thredUP Co-Founder & CEO James Reinhart speaks onstage throughout TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco 2019 at Moscone Conference Heart on October 02, 2019 in San Francisco, California.
Kimberly White | Getty Photos Leisure | Getty Photos
Gross sales of used clothes are booming on-line, ThredUp CEO James Reinhart advised CNBC’s Squawk Alley on Friday simply earlier than the corporate’s shares started buying and selling within the Nasdaq International Choose Market.
The corporate late Thursday introduced the pricing of its preliminary public providing of its Class A standard inventory at $14 a share, on the excessive facet of estimates, and bought 12 million shares to boost $168 million.
Shares rose nearly 43% to $20 on the shut of buying and selling.
“I believe it is a class that is large, it is getting greater,” Reinhart advised CNBC.
9 banks, led by Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Barclays are collaborating within the deal.
Based mostly in Oakland, Calif., ThredUp is a web-based resale market the place customers should buy and promote secondhand clothes, footwear and equipment. The web site options about 2.4 million listings from over 35,000 manufacturers at any given time.
The secondhand market is estimated to be price $28 billion, in response to ThredUp’s annual report. The corporate expects it to extend to $64 billion by 2024 as extra customers shift to used clothes attributable to environmental issues from quick style. The Coronavirus pandemic has additionally pushed progress as customers look to avoid wasting and earn cash by shopping for style at decrease costs or promoting clothes on the corporate’s platform.
Final 12 months, the corporate introduced in $186 million in income, a rise of 14% from the earlier 12 months.
The variety of energetic consumers grew 24% final 12 months, Reinhart advised CNBC. As well as, 77% of its product provide comes from repeat sellers, that means sellers who’ve beforehand bought on ThredUp earlier than.
“It is one of many distinctive worth propositions that we have been capable of present and so sellers come to us organically and we have by no means had an issue grabbing provide,” he mentioned.
When requested about post-pandemic developments and whether or not buyers will proceed to look to resale as folks return to procuring in individual, Reinhart stays undeterred in his confidence of the platform for years to return.
“I believe we’re nonetheless going to be in a recession [after the pandemic], and there is nonetheless some some members of the group which are struggling and so ThredUp gives nice manufacturers and nice costs,” he mentioned, including the stimulus checks will even spur folks into buying used.
ThredUp has about 21 partnerships with retailers like Walmart to assist manufacturers increase its product choices.
“It is about how they’ll get their prospects to buy extra sustainably” he mentioned. “It really speaks to the breadth of this system that we constructed, and I believe portends a vibrant future for resale, and that work in it.”


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Your News: 5 Ways Technology Can Revolutionise Restaurants In 2021
The use of technology within the hospitality industry has come on leaps and bounds over the years.
From the rise of smartphone-based takeaway deliveries to the use of improved kitchen equipment, we have certainly come a long way from the days of simply needing to write down orders on a small pad of paper.
Nowadays, restaurant owners actually find themselves at risk of missing out on potential revenue opportunities by failing to adopt the latest technological advances and adapt to the changing times.
This is a particularly big no-no in light of the coronavirus pandemic as well, with it now being more important than ever to survive until the government’s various lockdown restrictions are finally lifted.
So, what can you do to prevent that from happening? Well, through technology of course!
Join us as we run through some of the key ways we predict technology will revolutionise the food industry over the coming year, highlighting some of the best trends to keep an eye out for.
1. Pest Control
As you should know all too well already, keeping your restaurant clean is vital from a health and hygiene point of view. As such, it’s important to consider the numerous technological advances that have been seen within restaurants and pest control over the years.
Pests represent a major problem within the food industry, after all, badly impacting reputations, damaging property and contaminating food items.
However, thanks to the recent rise of smart pest control technology, you no longer need to worry. This tech connects to the internet and, in a similar way to ChatBot technology (discussed below), will alert you whenever there is a potential threat, by constantly monitoring, detecting, eliminating and reporting any pest activities it identifies.
2. AI & Voice Search
One of the biggest areas of technological growth in recent years has been the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI).
Whether it be Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri or Cortana, more and more people are now adopting AI-based technology in both their homes and lives, typically via the use of smart-technology like home hubs, lighting, TVs, etc.
A key advantage this offers users is the use of their voice to control certain actions in their life – and that includes ordering food or finding restaurants.
Therefore, it could be worth taking the time now to properly capitalise on this, setting your website and ordering process up to utilise voice search.
It’s important to make life as easy as possible for your customers, after all. So, if your customers are now choosing to rely on voice-based technology, providing them with an option to order food from you in this way – whether it be on an app in the restaurant itself or online – could significantly improve their experience.
3. Contactless Payments
OK, this one may have been around for a while now but, in light of the ongoing need for social distancing, contactless payments are now more important than ever. And, despite the many COVID-based health benefits it can offer, the technology can also make your life as a restaurant a lot easier as well.
Whether it be through speeding up payments or improving customer satisfaction, contactless technology can also encourage customers to leave their wallets at home and remove a lot of the stress associated with working out complicated split payments.
This, in turn, could free up more time for waiters and waitresses, meaning they are better able to entertain other guests in the restaurant or fulfil other requirements.
4. Cleaning Robots
While on the topic of timesaving COVID-friendly tech, cleaning robots have now been designed to assist with a number of tasks.
From hoovering the floors to applying germ-cleaning chemicals, these specialist robots can again free up a lot more time for restaurant staff, removing the need for them to clean so tirelessly throughout their shift.
Plus, they could potentially save you money as well since, as we’ve mentioned already, keeping your restaurant premises clean is imperative from a health and safety perspective.
ChatBot technology is something that has been consistently evolving year on year, and this year looks to be no exception.
Another hugely helpful timesaving platform, ChatBots can deal with a number of customer questions and requests without the need for human involvement.
Going one step further though, more advanced ChatBots can actually retain the information they are asked and pass the query onto a relevant member of staff. This, in effect, provides you with your very own personal assistant at all times, which will only contact you with any queries it is unable to answer itself.
The food industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic but, thanks to the rise in specialist technology, there is a lot of hope yet.
While it may be expensive to invest in on the face of it, by choosing the right technology for your specific restaurant, you could find that this could not only lead to more customers coming through your doors but a significantly healthier profit margin as well.


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Dodge also thinks the Toyota Avalon TRD is no match for the Charger.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has much cause for celebration right now. Despite being over ten years old, the Dodge Challenger is dominating the muscle car sales war. In the third quarter of this year, Dodge sold 18,031 Challengers, a 21 percent increase from the same period last year. This comfortably beat its long-established rivals, the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, which is impressive considering that both cars have been redesigned since the current Challenger launched in 2008.
However, it turns out the four-door Dodge Charger is also luring buyers away from the Mustang and Camaro. "We actually see a lot of people coming in from Mustang and Camaro. It's a sedan, but we see (two-door) muscle car buyers getting into it," Dodge Charger marketing manager Ashton Munoz told Muscle Cars and Trucks.
For seven years in a row, the Dodge Charger has sold over 80,000 units and just had its best Q3 sales in 13 years. It's also the best-selling car in the full-size sedan segment. "We like to theorize that you've had a muscle car your whole life, and you're in that next stage (with a family), but you still want something fun. You can have it with the (Dodge Charger)," said Munoz.
Munoz added that customers driving more sedate sedans like the Toyota Avalon, Ford Taurus, and Chevrolet Impala aren't upgrading to Chargers, but it's a different story for F-150 owners. "We don't see a lot of conquest from 'normal' full-size sedans. It's (literally) the muscle cars and trucks. F-150, Silverado, yeah… Mustang, Camaro and F-150 are kind of the top three."
Other automakers have attempted to compete with the Charger. Toyota, for example, recently launched the Avalon TRD performance sedan, but Munoz thinks it's no match for the Charger. "They're trying, I get it, they maybe see what we're doing and hoping to get a piece of that performance market," Munoz said. "But when you look at their actual additions for performance, they only did an exhaust and tightened up the steering and suspension. And it's still front-wheel drive. We're the only RWD car in that segment."
What also makes the Charger so enduringly popular is the great value for money it offers. Starting at $40,245, the Dodge Charger Scat Pack has nearly 500 horsepower on tap to play with and comes with 20-inch wheels and Brembo brakes as standard.


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The little SUV is aimed at young buyers -- and is priced right
I’ll confess two things right up front: One, I keep forgetting Mitsubishi is still selling cars in America, and two: this is what the Eclipse has tuned into? This? The Eclipse used to be a sport coupe with a killer all-wheel drive setup. Then it turned into a more (and more) watered down version of itself; a […]
The first fruit of a turnaround plan.
A polarizing split-rear window in Mitsubishi's latest compact SUV means you either love it or hate it.
Australia's newest SUVs pick up 5-star safety ratings Read more
Let’s start this with a disclaimer – it’s always a gamble to rip on a car one has yet to drive. I could end up eating these words someday if I drive the Eclipse Cross and like it. Which, of course, is absolutely possible. Still, I don’t...Show More Summary
Mitsubishi's newest member to the SUV lineup is almost here Read more
Local pricing and specifications for the new 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, set to land on December 22. At launch, the range will start with the front-wheel drive LS, priced from $30,500 before on-road costs. Although it’s technically the entry-level model, you get plenty of standard equipment for your money. The car rides on 18-inch alloy wheels […]
The 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has scored five-stars in independent ANCAP testing, joining a long list of new cars to achieve the maximum score. Set to arrive in Mitsubishi dealerships on December 22, the new Eclipse Cross scored 97 per cent for adult occupant protection, with perfect scores in the pole and side-impact tests. Child occupant protection […]
Mitsubishi Motors is adding the all-new Eclipse Cross to the fast-growing market for crossover utility vehicles.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia says a diesel powertrain is unlikely to feature in the new Eclipse Cross SUV. Speaking to media in Melbourne, James Tol, head of product planning for Mitsubishi Australia, said a lack of buyer interest means the range isn’t likely to include a diesel option. “It’s not on our radar,” Tol said. Diesels […]
Getting a steer of a bona-fide prototype is a fascinating and all-too-rare experience, an opportunity to taste-test a work in progress immersed in the surprise and delight of poking around with the largely unknown. Half of the fun is getting to have a play with the stuff carmakers often don’t even want you to see […]
Mitsubishi has released initial details of the work going into local preparation for its upcoming 2018 Eclipse Cross, set to debut in local showrooms by the end of the year. The company says the new SUV is undergoing suspension and steering calibration, powertrain assessment and noise vibration harshness (NVH) control to ensure it “meets the requirements […]
The Mitsubishi ASX may well play in the small SUV segment, and its new sibling the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross probably will, too – but the company reckons it needs an even smaller model to slot beneath those vehicles. Trevor Mann, Mitsubishi Motors chief operations officer, said he thinks there’s space for a sub-ASX model on […]
If you were to walk into a Mitsubishi showroom in the United States today, you’d be treated to two passenger cars, two utility vehicles and promises of more utility vehicles to come. Why, the 2018 Eclipse Cross is on the way! You know,...Show More Summary
As Mitsubishi prepares to launch a new small crossover, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Mitsubishi’s car lineup continues to shrink. The Galant died in 2012. The Mitsubishi Lancer, it was revealed earlier this year, will cease existence in the U.S. Show More Summary
Sit back and place a nitroglycerine pill under your tongue. It’s product announcement time. As it revamps its utility vehicle lineup, Mitsubishi isn’t letting the looming introduction of the poorly named Eclipse Cross compact crossover stop it from foisting attention upon its existing products. Show More Summary
We recap the recent crop of supercars and Mike advocates for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. Continue reading A case for the Eclipse Cross | Autoblog Podcast #508 A case for the Eclipse Cross | Autoblog Podcast #508 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Mar 2017 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments


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KKR & Co. is in superior talks to take a position at the very least $1 billion within the retail enterprise of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, in line with individuals acquainted with the matter, in what might be one other U.S. funding within the unit following Silver Lake’s deal.
KKR is in discussions for a stake in Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd., a unit of the biggest retailer in India, stated the individuals, who requested to not be recognized as a result of the knowledge isn’t public. The non-public fairness agency might make investments as a lot as $1.5 billion and an announcement might come as quickly as this month, one of many individuals stated.
Negotiations are ongoing and might be delayed or crumble, the individuals stated. Representatives for KKR and Reliance didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Weeks after Ambani, 63, raised about $20 billion promoting stakes in his expertise enterprise to buyers together with Facebook Inc. and Google, the tycoon is looking for to repeat the identical together with his retail enterprise. Silver Lake on Wednesday agreed to take a position 75 billion rupees ($1 billion) into Reliance Retail Ventures, valuing the enterprise at about 4.2 trillion rupees.
Earlier this 12 months, Silver Lake plowed $1.35 billion right into a stake in Ambani’s Jio Platforms Ltd. telecommunications and digital providers unit, whereas KKR invested $1.5 billion.
Reliance Retail — a unit of the energy-to-telecommunications conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd. — runs supermarkets, India’s largest shopper electronics chain retailer, a money and carry wholesaler, fast-fashion retailers and an internet grocery retailer known as JioMart. It reported 1.63 trillion rupees in income within the 12 months by way of March 2020. The unit operates nearly 12,000 shops in practically 7,000 cities.
Ambani, the richest man in Asia, can also be boosting his grocery and attire companies by way of acquisitions.
Reliance final month stated it’s shopping for property of debt-strapped rival Future Group for 247.1 billion rupees, nearly doubling the footprint of its retail chains. The deal consists of Future’s retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing models, Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. stated Aug. 29 in a press release.
Also final month, Reliance acquired a majority fairness stake within the digital pharmacy market place Netmeds for six.2 billion rupees. It can also be in negotiations to both purchase out or buy stakes in corporations together with Urban Ladder, an internet furnishings vendor and Zivame, a lingerie maker, in line with individuals acquainted with the matter.
Ambani’s success in luring buyers to Jio Platforms and now his retail enterprise has additionally led to a rise in his private wealth. As shares of Reliance Industries rallied, he has added about $22 billion to his internet value this 12 months, advancing his rank among the many world’s richest to No. 7, in line with the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.


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Coca-Cola Amatil has joined a group of leading beverage companies in supporting a new diversity initiative aimed at fast-tracking the industry’s female talent.
The program brings together senior industry leaders of both sexes, each of whom will be paired with a specifically matched female mentee from a different organisation.
The Women in Drinks Mentoring Program was unveiled by the Women in Drinks Council, in partnership with Serendis Leadership Consulting, and funded by a number of Drinks Association members, including Coca-Cola Amatil.
“When it comes to diversity, as an industry we know we’re well off the pace,” Shane Richardson, managing director of Amatil’s Alcohol & Coffee business says. “We’re significantly behind other industry averages when it comes to the gender diversity at all levels of management.”
“This program is designed to help support women in our industry who aspire to leadership roles, while educating senior leaders and influencers in the drinks industry on the benefits, enablers and barriers to women in their organisations and in our industry as a whole.”


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As part of our Women in Tech campaign, we’d like to highlight the female leaders in the industry who are changing the game and also the world. This article includes three mentions coming from our UK office, but feel free to head over to our US, Australian and Swedish editions to read more stories from women of different backgrounds! Anna Boden (source: Anne Boden/Starling Bank via https://www.altfi.com/article/8487_starling-is-not-for-sale-says-anne-boden-in-new-chapter-of-her-book) Founder of Starling,…
Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are on the rise across many developing and developed economies of the world. The UK government is considering following suit with its own “digital pound” stablecoin. But why?
To end our Swedish Design Series on a high, we thought we’d champion some of the most successful women working in the Swedish tech industry. Not all women mentioned are Swedish-born, but they are helping Sweden become a world-leader in tech. Though not all are design-based, we appreciate that all women mentioned in this list are business-minded, innovation-led and tech-driven, which would explain why they’re all excelling in their field.…
Sweden is one of the world’s leading forces in the fintech industry. Due to their quick adaption of the new financial technologies, it might soon become the first cashless economy in the world! The capital city of Stockholm is known for the various Unicorns that have been built up within the city borders. A Unicorn, in this context, is a start-up that went through scale-up and eventually grew into a…
President Bukele’s El Salvador has become the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender—but the Salvadorans aren’t ready to lead the crypto reform just yet.
Arguably, what made cryptos so successful in the first place is the possibility of having a recognised valuable asset without the hassle of complying with banking and legal regulations.
Every crypto enthusiast knows well that big nations such as the USA or Japan are trying to regulate the cryptomarket. But they are also keeping a certain distance from fully implementing cryptos in national or global finance.
Recent investigations led experts to think that the one of the greatest heist in history – the theft of around US$534 million worth of New Economic Movement (NEM) cryptocoins – might be linked to Russian hackers, instead of North Korean ones as previously suspected.
Egypt has loosened its grip on cryptocurrencies. A ban issued in January 2018 by the current Grand Mufti, Shawki Allam, has now been lifted.
On May 2, the Wall Street Journal reported that social media giant Facebook had recruited financial firms and merchants to build its own cryptocurrency. On the same day, Libra Networks was registered in Geneva, Switzerland.
If there’s one only thing that discourage companies and retailers to implement crypto-based payments for their products is the extreme volatile nature of cryptocurrencies.
Connor James Ibbetson, Journalist You’ve heard the term tossed around recently in the media, but what is FinTech? FinTech is in your phone, on your laptop, in your wallet. FinTech is the budding industry aiming to take the banking world head on to change the game for both consumer and corporate. FinTech simply means Financial Technology, and is being pioneered by small firms around the world, who are able to…
While fintech start-ups continue to revolutionise the financial sector, banks face further competition from tech giants according to a new report.
Despite frequent crashes and bugs associated with challenger banks, they’re still growing at a remarkable rate. But why?


text: Future Cities Exhibition, jointly organized by Dubai Municipality , Environmental Centre for Arab Towns, Arab Towns Organization and Informa Exhibitions at World Trade Centre alongside City Scape Global 2012 was officially inaugurated by Deputy Ruler Of Dubai HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality , Essa Al Maidoor, Deputy Director General, Dubai Municipality , Mohammed Al Noory, Director ECAT, Rohan Marwaha, Managing Director of Informa were also present in the inauguration ceremony. After the inauguration, Sheikh Maktoum toured various pavilions set up by companies and organizations to showcase products, projects and models that promote alternatives and solutions to minimize the risks future cities may face. Sheikh Maktoum also opened Dubai Municipality pavilion and spent considerable time there. Dubai Municipality pavilion showcases models of projects and initiatives that protects environment and sustainable development.