Topic: market expansion
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What Is ChatGPT Go? Your Quick Guide
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Go, a more affordable subscription tier priced around $4.50, to increase accessibility in markets where the standard $20 fee is prohibitive, though it is not available in the United States. The plan offers significant upgrades over the free version, including higher me...
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AI to Fuel 40% Surge in Global Trade by 2040, WTO Reports
AI could boost global trade by up to 40% by 2040 by enhancing productivity, reducing costs, and opening new markets through tools like predictive analytics and automated logistics. Digital trade platforms powered by AI are lowering barriers for businesses, especially SMEs, by streamlining cross-b...
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ByteDance's Quiet AI Chatbot Is Winning Global Fans
Cici, ByteDance's international AI chatbot, is expanding globally by targeting markets like the UK, Mexico, and Southeast Asia while avoiding China and the US, using a female cartoon avatar similar to its domestic counterpart Doubao. ByteDance has aggressively marketed Cici with extensive ad camp...
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Charles Schwab Invests in Qapita, a Carta Rival in Singapore
Qapita raised $26.5 million in a Series B funding round led by Charles Schwab, aiming to transform equity management and employee stock plans for private companies. The partnership introduces Schwab Private Issuer Equity Services, a platform using Qapita's technology to help U.S. startups manage ...
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MoneyHash & Noon Payments Partner to Boost MEA Payment Adoption
MoneyHash and noon payments have formed a strategic alliance to accelerate tailored payment solution adoption in the Gulf Cooperation Council, enabling businesses to activate regional payment methods through a single API. The partnership addresses fragmented payment infrastructures in the MEA reg...
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IQM Quantum Computers Expands Global Ambitions Beyond Europe
IQM Quantum Computers has reached unicorn status after raising $300 million in a Series B round led by Ten Eleven Ventures, fueling its global expansion and focus on the U.S. and Asia-Pacific markets. The funding will accelerate R&D in chip fabrication, software development, and error correction ...
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Google Expands AI Overview Ads to New Markets
Google is expanding its AI Overview advertisements to key English-speaking regions outside the U.S., with full rollout expected by the end of 2025, integrating ads into AI-powered search results. This expansion allows brands to place ads directly within AI-generated summaries, offering new engage...
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Stream Forza Horizon 5 to Your Car with Xbox
Microsoft is partnering with LG to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to internet-connected vehicles, aiming to integrate gaming into over 20 million cars by the end of the decade. The initiative initially targets electric vehicles with LG's webOS platform, though current availability is limited to certain ...
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NomuPay Secures $40M from SoftBank at $290M Valuation
NomuPay, an Ireland-based fintech startup, secured $40 million in Series C funding from SoftBank's SB Payment Service, valuing the company at $290 million and bringing total funding to around $120 million. The company specializes in simplifying cross-border transactions for merchants in fragmente...
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Benchmark invests in Chinese AI startup Manus, valuing it at $500M
Manus AI, a Chinese AI agent tool startup, has raised $75 million in a funding round led by Benchmark, valuing the company at $500 million. The investment will enable Manus to expand its reach into key markets including the U.S., Japan, and the Middle East, following initial success. Following a ...
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Paysky Unveils Revolutionary Fintech Solutions at MTN Summit 2025
The MTN Fintech Summit 2025 in Johannesburg highlighted Paysky's advanced digital payment solutions and its strategic partnership with MTN Group to expand financial services across Africa. Paysky and MTN are collaborating to scale the MoMo platform, aiming to connect merchants and consumers acros...
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SKY Perfect Upgrades Playout-to-Delivery with Harmonic
SKY Perfect JSAT has partnered with Harmonic to upgrade its broadcast infrastructure using Harmonic's software-based XOS Advanced Media Processor, aiming to improve video quality and explore new revenue opportunities. The collaboration leverages Harmonic's cloud-native technology, which integrate...
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Augment AI Logistics Startup Raises $85M Series A from Deliverr Founder
Harish Abbott, co-founder of Deliverr, has launched Augment, an AI-driven logistics company that recently secured $85 million in Series A funding to modernize freight operations. Augment's AI assistant, Augie, automates routine tasks like tracking shipments and invoicing, reducing manual work and...
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Ledger's New Nano: More Than Just a Crypto Wallet
The Ledger Nano Gen5 is a larger, $179 device rebranded as a versatile "signer," featuring a nearly three-inch E Ink touchscreen for improved usability and security in reviewing transactions. It aims to attract a broader audience beyond cryptocurrency users by positioning itself as a secure tool ...
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Ooredoo Fintech & PayPal Boost Global Digital Payments
Ooredoo Fintech and PayPal have partnered to integrate Ooredoo Wallet with PayPal World, creating a unified global payments network for the MENA region. This collaboration enables users to connect with nearly two billion consumers worldwide, facilitating international money transfers and access t...
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Musk Aims to End Tesla Robotaxi Babysitters This Year
Elon Musk aims to remove human safety monitors from Tesla's robotaxis, targeting fully autonomous operations in parts of Austin by year-end while prioritizing safety and regulatory compliance. Tesla plans to expand its robotaxi service to eight to ten additional markets by the end of 2025, includ...
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Spiro Secures Record $100M for Africa's E-Mobility
Spiro secured a record $100 million investment, the largest for an African EV mobility company, to expand its electric motorcycle fleet and battery-swapping network across the continent. The company's battery-swapping model reduces operating costs by 30% and eliminates refueling downtime, making ...
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MoneyHash & Tabby Launch BNPL for MEA Merchants
MoneyHash and Tabby have partnered to launch a buy now, pay later (BNPL) solution for merchants in the Middle East and Africa, enabling quick integration through MoneyHash's unified API. The collaboration allows e-commerce businesses to offer Tabby's interest-free installment plans at checkout, a...
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Zepto Hits $7B Valuation with $450M Funding Amid Quick Commerce Boom
Zepto secured a $400 million investment led by CalPERS, boosting its valuation to $7 billion and positioning it for an IPO next year, with daily orders surging to 1.7 million. The company operates in a highly competitive quick commerce market against rivals like BlinkIt and Swiggy Instamart, whil...
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Advent Partners Takes Majority Stake in Efex
Advent Partners has acquired a majority stake in efex, an Australian managed IT services provider, to support its expansion, enhance service offerings, and continue its strategic acquisition model under founder and CEO Nick Sheehan. efex serves 7,500 customers across Australia with a comprehensiv...
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PEXA Appoints New Executives to Drive Innovation and Growth
PEXA Group has made strategic executive appointments to strengthen its leadership team, aiming to accelerate innovation and support expansion into new markets while enhancing its core digital property settlement platform. Key external hires include Peter Bonney as Chief Product and Technology Off...
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Casio's Furry Stress-Relief Robot Launches in the US
Casio's Moflin, a stress-relief robotic companion, has expanded to the US and UK after a successful launch in Japan, offering comfort through simulated emotional interactions. Designed to be held and cuddled, Moflin expresses mood through subtle movements and sounds, using AI to develop a unique ...
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Google Ventures Doubles Down on Blacksmith Just 4 Months After Seed Round
Blacksmith, a startup specializing in continuous integration and delivery optimization, has secured a $10 million Series A investment led by Google Ventures, following strong early traction and rapid growth. The company differentiates itself by using high-performance, gaming-grade CPUs, which it ...
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Orange & Synamedia Expand Multi-CDN Reach at IBC 2025
Orange and Synamedia are partnering to integrate a telecommunications-grade CDN with the Quortex Switch platform, enabling flexible multi-CDN deployment for global content distribution. The collaboration leverages Orange's network in the Middle East and Africa, along with Synamedia's intelligent ...
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OpenAI Launches AI Hiring Platform to Challenge LinkedIn
OpenAI is launching an AI-powered hiring platform by mid-2026 to connect businesses and job seekers, potentially competing with established networks like LinkedIn. The company is also developing an AI certification program through its OpenAI Academy, aiming to certify 10 million Americans by 2030...
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Shure Debuts First Digital Array Mic for MEA Broadcasts
Shure has launched the DCA901 Planar Array Microphone, a digital audio solution designed to enhance broadcast production with pristine sound and simplified setup in the Middle East and Africa. The microphone features digitally steerable lobes and integrated processing, allowing engineers to isola...
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PayPal & Venmo Users: Get Free Perplexity Pro & Comet AI Browser
PayPal and Venmo users in select countries can receive a free 12-month subscription to Perplexity Pro, which includes access to the AI browser Comet, normally valued at $200 per year. Comet is designed as an intelligent assistant that integrates with personal data like emails and calendars to pro...
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Jack & Jill Secures $20M to Power AI-Powered Job Search
The current online job market is inefficient, with job seekers struggling to stand out and employers overwhelmed by irrelevant applications, leading to a low signal-to-noise ratio. Jack & Jill, a new platform founded by Matt Wilson, uses conversational AI to transform hiring by creating detailed ...
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Qualtrics Taps New APJ Leader to Drive AI Growth
Qualtrics has appointed Raen Lim as Managing Director for APJ to accelerate AI solution adoption, leveraging her over 20 years of leadership experience in technology firms to drive regional growth and enhance customer and employee experiences. Lim's background includes senior roles at companies l...
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Ganiga Debuts Waste-Sorting Robots at TechCrunch Disrupt
The global recycling crisis is severe, with only about 10% of plastic recycled, prompting Ganiga Innovation to introduce AI-powered robotic solutions to improve waste sorting efficiency. Ganiga's products include the Hoooly robotic bins and smart lids that use generative AI to automatically separ...
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Realm.Security Secures $15 Million in Series A Funding
Realm.Security secured $15 million in Series A funding, led by Jump Capital, bringing its total funding to $20 million to accelerate product development and market expansion. The company launched an AI-powered Security Data Pipeline Platform (SDPP) that consolidates and analyzes security data in ...
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Mondoo Secures $17.5M to Expand Vulnerability Management Platform
Mondoo raised $17.5 million in a Series A extension, bringing total funding to over $32 million, with HV Capital leading the investment to support platform enhancements and regional expansion. The company offers an agentic vulnerability management platform that identifies, categorizes, and priori...
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US Spyware Investment Soars to Record Highs
The United States has become the world's leading financial backer of commercial spyware, raising significant human rights and national security concerns due to its use in targeting journalists, activists, and diplomats. A recent study identified 20 new U.S.-based spyware investors in 2024 alone, ...
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Spotify and Netflix Partner on Video Podcasts
Spotify will launch video podcasts on Netflix starting early 2026, beginning in the U.S. and expanding globally, featuring content from Spotify Studios and The Ringer across genres like sports and true crime. The partnership is part of Spotify's strategic shift toward video content to enhance adv...
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Veeam Appliance: Enhanced Data Protection Solutions
Veeam Software has introduced a fully pre-built and pre-hardened software appliance that eliminates manual setup, OS patching, and Windows licensing, offering a secure, ready-to-use data protection platform. The hardware-agnostic appliance can be deployed across physical, virtual, or cloud enviro...
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Nexos.ai Secures $30M to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption
Nexos.ai raised $30 million in Series A funding, valuing the company at $350 million, to support its mission of enabling secure enterprise AI adoption by acting as a trusted intermediary platform. The platform addresses data security concerns by providing a neutral bridge between employees and AI...
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DoorDash Launches Creator Program, AI Tools & Dine-In Rewards
DoorDash launched a creator program that pays users for creating short-form videos of restaurant meals, currently available in 20 U.S. cities with plans to expand, to visually engage potential customers. The company introduced "Going Out," a rewards feature for DashPass members and temporarily al...
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Zelo & Watermelon Launch 24-Hour F&B Invoice Financing
Zelo and Watermelon Ecosystem's partnership introduces 24-48 hour invoice financing, eliminating traditional 60-90 day payment delays for F&B suppliers. This collaboration addresses cash flow gaps by allowing suppliers to convert unpaid invoices into immediate working capital, enabling business g...
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iFLYTEK Expands AI Ecosystem in Middle East at GITEX 2025
iFLYTEK introduced advanced AI solutions at GITEX GLOBAL 2025 in Dubai, focusing on digital transformation and human-centric applications in the Middle East. Key product launches included the AINOTE 2, the world's thinnest E-ink tablet, and AI Translation Earbuds for real-time multilingual commun...
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Liberate AI Raises $50M to Transform Insurance Back Offices
Liberate secured $50 million in Series B funding, valuing the AI company at $300 million, to expand its global deployment of intelligent agents for automating insurance operations. The company develops AI systems, including the voice assistant Nicole, that handle end-to-end tasks like sales, clai...
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Alibaba's $53B AI Push: New Dubai Data Center at GITEX 2025
Alibaba Cloud has expanded its Middle East presence by opening a second data center in Dubai, supported by a $53 billion investment to enhance AI and cloud infrastructure over the next three years. The new facility offers advanced cloud-native and AI solutions, along with big data and storage ser...
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Canon Launches New Colorado XL-Series 3.4m Printer for Large Format Graphics
Canon has launched the Colorado XL-series, a modular line of 3.4-meter large format printers using UVgel technology, available in hybrid and roll-to-roll configurations for versatile applications like signage and packaging. The printers support a wide range of media, from flexible to rigid materi...
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Ex-Battlefield Devs Raise €2M to Tackle Europe's New Accessibility Law
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is introducing new digital accessibility standards for businesses in Europe, with significant fines for non-compliance and a 2030 deadline for existing products. DevAlly, an Irish startup, uses AI and automation to help companies identify and fix accessibility...
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Uber Revives Drone Delivery Service for Faster Food Drop-offs
Uber is relaunching drone delivery via Uber Eats in partnership with Flytrex, piloting food drop-offs in select U.S. markets by year's end to enhance delivery speed and service capabilities. This initiative follows a previous 2019 attempt that was shelved due to regulatory and operational issues,...
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Firsttrip & Bangladesh Telecoms Launch Smart Travel Revolution
Firsttrip partners with Bangladesh's top telecom loyalty programs to integrate its AI travel platform, offering smarter and more connected services to millions of users. Members gain exclusive benefits like AI-personalized travel deals, real-time booking, and instant perks by verifying their stat...
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Rivian CEO Reveals Plans for CarPlay, Lidar, and Budget EVs
Rivian is expanding its market reach with the upcoming R2 model, priced at $45,000, aiming to compete with mainstream EVs like the Tesla Model Y while maintaining its adventure-focused brand identity. The company is advancing its autonomous driving capabilities through an AI-driven approach and h...
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Alloy Unlocks Data Management for Robotics
Robotics companies face a major challenge in managing the immense volume of data—up to a terabyte per day per robot—generated by automated systems from cameras and sensors. Alloy, a Sydney-based startup, provides specialized data infrastructure that uses natural language queries and custom rules ...
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Netflix to Stream Spotify Podcasts Starting in 2026
Netflix will integrate select Spotify video podcasts into its platform starting in the U.S. in early 2026, offering subscribers diverse entertainment like sports, culture, and true-crime shows. This partnership aims to expand distribution for podcasts and connect them with new global audiences, w...
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Gainz & Watermelon Ecosystem Revolutionize GCC F&B Financing
Gainz Financial Technologies and Watermelon Ecosystem have formed a strategic alliance to improve funding access for F&B businesses in the GCC by combining fintech innovation with industry expertise. The partnership offers faster, Sharia-compliant crowdfunding and holistic business support, addre...
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Nscale Partners with Microsoft on Major AI Infrastructure Deal
Nscale has partnered with Microsoft to deploy nearly 200,000 Nvidia GB300 GPUs across data centers in Europe and the U.S., significantly expanding AI infrastructure and establishing Nscale as a key global player. The deployment includes 104,000 GPUs in Texas, 12,600 in Portugal, and additional un...
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