Thursday, 12 March 2026

EIG’s MidOcean Energy to Acquire Additional Gorgon LNG Interest from JERA; Parties Explore Strategic Alliance

 

 
  • Transaction increases MidOcean’s equity exposure to premier Australian LNG project
  • Adds incremental uncontracted LNG volumes, enhancing portfolio optimization and marketing flexibility
  • Planning future collaborations, exploring further transactions and opportunities with JERA across other assets globally with the aim of creating a future strategic alliance

WASHINGTON, March 12 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- MidOcean Energy (“MidOcean”), a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company formed and managed by EIG, today announced it has entered into definitive agreements with JERA Co., Inc. (“JERA”) to acquire JERA Gorgon Pty Ltd, which holds JERA’s 0.417% interest in the Gorgon LNG project. MidOcean is an existing participant in the Gorgon LNG project, and this transaction increases MidOcean’s interest in Gorgon to 1.417%. The transaction perimeter also includes JERA’s 0.735% interest in the Ichthys LNG project. Subject to the satisfaction of relevant conditions precedent, the interests in Gorgon and Ichthys will be sold to MidOcean, and then the Ichthys interest shall be transferred, subject to the satisfaction of further conditions, to an existing joint venture participant in the Ichthys LNG project.

The acquisition increases MidOcean’s equity exposure to a large-scale, long-life, integrated LNG project operated by Chevron, further strengthening its portfolio of high-quality producing assets.

In parallel, MidOcean and JERA plan future collaborations, exploring future transactions and opportunities on LNG and adjacent energy transactions globally with the aim of creating a strategic alliance. This reflects a shared objective to pursue disciplined growth and unlock additional sources of value across the LNG value chain.

Gorgon LNG is supplied by the Gorgon and Jansz-Io gas fields in the Carnarvon Basin offshore Western Australia and comprises three LNG trains with total nameplate capacity of approximately 15.6 Mtpa. The project includes domestic gas supply and condensate production, supported by extensive offshore and onshore infrastructure on Barrow Island.

R. Blair Thomas, MidOcean Chairman and EIG CEO, said:

“This transaction advances MidOcean’s strategy to build a scaled, globally diversified LNG company anchored by high-quality assets and counterparties. Increasing our position in Gorgon enhances the quality and durability of our portfolio while expanding our equity exposure to one of the industry’s benchmark LNG projects. Looking ahead, our collaboration with JERA including exploring the establishment of a strategic alliance positions us to pursue additional high-quality opportunities in a disciplined and repeatable way.”

De la Rey Venter, CEO of MidOcean, said:

“The acquisition adds incremental uncontracted equity volumes, increasing our ability to optimise across our portfolio and capture value through commodity cycles. Gorgon is a high-quality, cash-generative asset with long reserve life and strong operating performance. Deepening our relationship with JERA also strengthens our ability to originate and execute future transactions in the global LNG market.”

JERA Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Low Carbon Fuel Officer, Mr Ryosuke Tsugaru, said:

“Australia remains strategically important to JERA as a trusted and reliable LNG supplier, and we value the longstanding partnerships we have built there. Through our ongoing portfolio optimisation, we are strengthening our ability to support long-term energy security for Australia, Japan and the broader region. JERA looks forward to collaborating with MidOcean Energy across the LNG value chain.”

The parties aim to close the transaction during the first half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

UBS acted as financial advisor to MidOcean, and White & Case acted as legal advisor.

About EIG

EIG is a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors with $25.4 billion assets under management as of December 31, 2025. EIG specializes in private investments in energy and energy-related infrastructure on a global basis. During its 43-year history, EIG has committed over $53.4 billion to the energy sector through 425 projects or companies in 44 countries on six continents. EIG’s clients include many of the leading pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, foundations and sovereign wealth funds in the U.S., Asia and Europe. EIG is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Houston, London, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong and Seoul.

About MidOcean Energy

MidOcean Energy, an LNG company formed and managed by EIG, seeks to build a diversified, resilient, cost- and carbon-competitive global LNG portfolio. It reflects EIG’s belief in LNG as a critical element of a lower carbon, competitive and more secure global energy system. MidOcean Energy has diverse LNG interests, including in Gorgon LNG, Pluto LNG, QCLNG and Peru LNG. The company is headed by De la Rey Venter, a 27-year industry veteran who has held a variety of senior executive roles, including Global Head of LNG for Shell Plc.

For additional information, please visit MidOcean Energy’s website at www.midoceanenergy.com or EIG’s website at www.eigpartners.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311979630/en/

Contact

EIG/MidOcean Contact Information
FGS Global
Kelly Kimberly / Brandon Messina
+1 212-687-8080
EIG@fgsglobal.com 

Source : EIG

Wednesday, 11 March 2026

EXPEREO NAMES KEVIN BROWN AS COO TO DRIVE GLOBAL OPERATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) -- Expereo, a leading global Managed Network as a Service (NaaS) provider, has appointed Kevin Brown as Chief Operating Officer (COO), reinforcing its focus on operational integration, efficiency, and scaling customer and supplier-facing functions worldwide.

In a statement, Expereo Chief Executive Officer, Ben Elms said that Brown’s appointment provides a single point of executive ownership, enabling faster decision-making, clearer operational integration, and stronger execution, marking a key milestone in the company’s next phase of growth.

Meanwhile, Brown said: “I am joining Expereo because it sits at the centre of one of today’s most critical business needs – secure, resilient global connectivity.

“I look forward to driving operational excellence, accelerating transformation, and strengthening the customer experience.”

Brown will oversee operational strategy, transformation delivery, and performance across all customer and supplier-facing functions, working closely with Expereo’s Digital Office to advance its digital transformation.

He brings extensive global leadership experience across telecom, cybersecurity, and Software as a Service (SaaS), most recently serving as NCC Group Global COO, where he built and scaled operating models to drive customer experience, efficiency, and growth.

Previously, Brown led BT’s cybersecurity business, establishing a strong track record of transforming operations into engines of value creation at scale.

-- BERNAMA

Airwallex Delivers Triple-Digit Revenue Growth in Singapore for a Second Consecutive Year; Latest Report Reveals Shifting SME Priorities in 2026 Amid Rising Cost Pressures

 

 
  • Airwallex reports 107% revenue growth in Singapore for FY2025, extending its growth streak with a strong FY2025 performance
  • Latest SME study reveals rising cost pressures and a shift towards more cautious investment in 2026
  • Fintech adoption surges as SMEs prioritise faster transactions and expansion closer to home in Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE, March 11 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Airwallex, a leading global financial and payments platform, reported strong FY2025 performance in Singapore, delivering triple-digit growth in revenue for the second year running. FY2025 revenue in Singapore grew 107% year-on-year (YoY), with transaction volume rising 93% over the same period.

“2024 was our launchpad, and 2025 solidified our lead in Singapore. In 2026, we will look to seal our leadership position across the region, building upon our momentum in Singapore,” said Arnold Chan, General Manager, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Airwallex. “Singapore is the engine room for our APAC expansion, and our performance here reflects a deliberate strategy of combining deep local trust with a relentless focus on execution. By staying agile to our customers’ needs and deepening our strategic partnerships, we are ready to deliver yet another standout year by driving growth for both Airwallex and the businesses that rely on our financial infrastructure to achieve their global ambitions.”

Airwallex strengthened its local footprint in 2025, welcoming customers such as Minor HotelsHipVanLovetJ&Co Jewellery, and Motherswork, while continuing to fuel growth for brands like GlobalTix, Endowus, and Love, Bonito to better manage their global financial operations.

Along with its strong commercial momentum, Airwallex’s Singapore headcount grew by 62% in 2025, with hires across its Corporate, Commercial, and Product, Engineering and Design (PED) functions. PED saw the strongest growth at 130%, reflecting continued investment in AI, data and engineering capabilities. Airwallex Singapore plans to grow its headcount by more than 70% by the end of 2026. Singapore is Airwallex’s dual headquarters alongside San Francisco and a central pillar of its global operations. Airwallex’s Singapore team spearheads the company’s expansion across APAC, including new market entries into Indonesia, Vietnam and South Korea in 2025 alone.

SMEs remain growth-oriented while recalibrating strategies amid intensifying cost pressures

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with regional and global growth ambitions have been a key driver of Airwallex’s growth in Singapore. Airwallex surveyed 250 local business decision-makers, building on a 2025 report to gain deeper insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by this key business segment. The research uncovered trends around financial pressures, talent constraints, cross-border expansion and the shift towards digital financial tools.
  • Cost inflation rears its head as the top SME threat: Rising expenses have sharpened into a critical challenge, with nearly three-quarters of SMEs (73%) citing it as a top concern in 2026, up from 62% in 2025. This continued year-on-year increase underscores mounting pressure on margins and operating models. While manpower gaps (43%, down from 46%) and anticipated cash flow challenges (42%, down from 48%) remain key concerns, both have eased slightly.
  • Regional expansion matures from ambition to discipline: SMEs are pivoting from aggressive broad-market entries to high-conviction, regional growth strategies. Among SMEs planning to expand overseas, over 97% of SMEs intend to do so within the next 18 months – suggesting that many are approaching regional expansion with more deliberate planning. Interest in Southeast Asia has risen from 40% to 46%, with Malaysia (36%), Thailand (24%), and Vietnam (16%) emerging as the top target markets – signalling a shift towards familiar trade corridors and geographically proximate markets where execution risk is lower.
  • From aggressive expansion to strategic intent: Regional expansion has evolved from a race for market presence into a disciplined, high-conviction pursuit. The proportion of SMEs planning to increase spending has fallen from 76% in 2025 to 58% in 2026, while those maintaining current spending levels have nearly tripled from 11% to 32%. This shift signals greater capital discipline rather than retreat, as businesses balance growth ambitions with rising costs and economic uncertainty.
  • Fintech adoption reaches a tipping point: Adoption of digital and tech enabled financial platforms accelerated significantly, rising from 38% in 2025 to 57% in 2026. This marks a breakthrough moment, with digital financial tools now viewed as core infrastructure for managing complexity and improving efficiency.
  • SMEs show cautious optimism about the global business environment, with strong government support reinforcing that confidence: 67% of SMEs remain optimistic about the global business environment, up from 64% last year. Confidence in Singapore remains strong, with 70% agreeing that the government provides sufficient and accessible support for SMEs expanding overseas – reinforcing Singapore’s position as a stable base for regional growth.
“These findings confirm a fundamental shift. SMEs are adapting strategically – trading broad market ambition for strategic discipline,” added Chan. “While cost pressures are intensifying, businesses are not retreating – they are recalibrating. They continue to invest, but selectively. SMEs are also accelerating digital adoption, and focusing on regional markets where they see a stronger path to winning growth. Speed, efficiency and regional connectivity are becoming decisive advantages for them.”

To read the full report, click here.

Notes to editor

The research was conducted by Censuswide among a sample of 250 Local SME Decision Makers in Singapore (defined as entities with at least 30% local shareholdings, have group annual sales of not more than S$100 (turnover/revenue) in the most recent financial year, employment size not exceeding 200 employees. The data was collected between 09.02.2026 - 17.02.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles

About Airwallex

Airwallex is an AI native global financial platform for modern businesses. We are building the future of global banking for a borderless, real-time, intelligent economy.

More than 200,000 companies worldwide – from startups to public enterprises – use Airwallex to manage their global banking and financial operations, or to build and monetise their own financial products using Airwallex infrastructure.

Founded in Melbourne in 2015, Airwallex holds 80 licenses across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, forming one of the most comprehensive financial infrastructures in the world. This regulated backbone powers Airwallex products at global scale, including: payment acceptance, billing, global accounts, corporate cards, and spend management.

The company is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore with over 2,000 employees across 26 offices. Learn more at www.airwallex.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260310485447/en/

Contact

For media inquiries, please contact Airwallex at press@airwallex.com.

Source : Airwallex

Friday, 6 March 2026

Applications Are Open for ClimateLaunchpad, the World’s Largest Green Business Ideas Competition

ClimateLaunchpad 2026



SINGAPORE, March 6, 2026/AgilityPR-AsiaNet/ --

ClimateLaunchpad , the world's largest green business ideas competition by Climate KIC , has opened applications for its 2026 edition. Since 2014, the programme has supported nearly 5,000 ideas across 97 countries. This year, it is expanding its presence in Asia with Singapore hosting both the regional final and Global Grand Final for the first time. The competition is therefore partnering with regional partners Better Earth Ventures and TPC Group.

“Strengthening ClimateLaunchpad’s presence in Asia marks a profound new chapter for this programme and for the climate innovation movement more broadly. Asia is where so much of the world’s climate and nature future will be shaped, through business leadership, public-private partnerships and long term strategic thinking. We look forward to supporting this momentum with new business ideas and innovation ecosystem collaborations across more than a dozen countries. This expansion opens space for deeper cross-cultural connections and for first-time founders to turn sparks of imagination into solutions that serve both people and planet.”
- Kirsten Dunlop, CEO of Climate KIC.

What is ClimateLaunchpad and how to join?

Since its launch in 2014, ClimateLaunchpad has become the most accessible pipeline for green innovation.

The curriculum is designed to turn ideas on the back of a napkin into battle-proof businesses. Participants move through several stages:

1. An initial mini-course to refine the concept.
2. An intensive multi-day Boot Camp led by expert trainers.
3. Targeted coaching to perfect value propositions and investor pitches.
4. National and regional finals, where teams pitch to expert juries and gain wider visibility.
5. A place at the Global Grand Final, with prizes and access to a global climate network.

In 2025, the programme received over 2,700 applications from 40 countries. The winning ventures gain prize money, investor connections, and access to a global cleantech network.

Applications are now open for the 2026 edition of ClimateLaunchpad . Climate innovators, green venture builders, and entrepreneurs from around the world can apply here .

Partnering with regional players

This year, Climate KIC is partnering with Better Earth Ventures to host both ClimateLaunchpad Singapore and the Global Grand Final. Better Earth Ventures is a Singapore-based climate innovation platform supporting early-stage founders across Asia-Pacific. As the local delivery partner, they bring deep ecosystem relationships and hands-on experience running climate and agrifood innovation programmes, with a focus on turning promising ideas into scalable ventures. Their work is grounded in the belief that global change starts with local action, and that supporting entrepreneurs on the ground is key to building a resilient green economy.

“We are proud to host ClimateLaunchpad’s Regional and Global Grand Final in Singapore and to convene an international group of climate entrepreneurs from more than 50 countries. Climate solutions are emerging from every corner of the world, and bringing them together creates the kind of cross-border exchange and collaboration this moment demands. Our focus is to ensure early-stage founders have the structure, ecosystem access and support needed to move from idea to credible impact.”
- Rebecca Sharpe, Founder and CEO Better Earth Ventures

At the same time, the competition is entering a new chapter with Singapore-based TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) bringing a perspective rooted in interconnectedness. TPC is a fourth-generation family business ecosystem committed to advancing the well-being economy, with activities spanning global logistics, impact investment, education, and philanthropy.

This perspective recognises that climate, economy, culture and community do not operate separately. Addressing the climate crisis requires understanding how these systems overlap and designing solutions that reflect that reality.

This systems perspective also informs the work of NO.17 Foundation, part of the TPC ecosystem, which focuses on aligning capital, collaboration, and execution so that climate innovation can move from promising ideas to scalable systems change.

“Climate innovation is ultimately a human endeavour before it is a technological one. The most powerful solutions often emerge from people closest to the realities of climate change. Platforms like ClimateLaunchpad help connect these founders with the networks, capital, and collaboration needed to turn local insight into solutions that can scale globally.”
- Luis Alvarado Martinez, CEO of No. 17 Foundation

The partner network

ClimateLaunchpad is supported by long-term partners like Bank of America and Irish Aid. Support from Bank of America strengthens the ecosystem from the earliest stages, giving visibility to solutions that can deliver real-world impact and reshape our economy. Meanwhile, Irish Aid empowers entrepreneurs in emerging markets, ensuring those on the front lines of climate change have the tools to build their own local solutions.

Application open: Climate innovators, green venture builders, and entrepreneurs from around the world can apply here .

About Climate KIC

Climate KIC is Europe’s leading climate innovation agency and community, creating climate-resilient communities and fighting climate breakdown by mobilising systems change in countries, regions, cities, and businesses. Together with partners across the globe, Climate KIC orchestrates solutions and facilitates learning to bridge the gap between climate commitments and current reality, driving faster and more ambitious action.

About Better Earth Ventures

Better Earth Ventures is dedicated to accelerating the development and deployment of transformative technologies and initiatives that mitigate climate change and promote sustainable living. Located in Singapore, we serve as a pivotal gateway to Asia-Pacific, with a strong regional network of commercial partners, investors and mentors to help growth-stage businesses scale sustainably across borders. Through collaboration, mentorship, and strategic partnerships, we empower visionary entrepreneurs to drive tangible impact and pave the way for a resilient and thriving planet.

About TPC (Tsao Pao Chee)

TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) is a fourth-generation family business holding company headquartered in Singapore that is committed to empowering the well-being and happiness economy. TPC does this by supporting global connectivity and resilience through its supply chain and logistics activities, and well-being-focused activities aimed at fostering individual and collective growth.

TPC’s purpose-led well-being business ecosystem comprises IMC Industrial, OCTAVE, and multiple non-profit organisations, including OCTAVE Institute, NO.17 Foundation and Restore Nature Foundation, operating in unity to add value to life, with corporate offices in the People’s Republic of China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan. Find out more about TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) at tsaopaochee.com and on LinkedIn.

About NO.17 Foundation

NO.17 Foundation is the nexus of capital, consciousness, and collaboration in the Well-being Era – the philanthropic heart of TPC (Tsao Pao Chee). Rooted in SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, NO.17 unites values-aligned funders, partners, and changemakers to catalyse systemic transformation. Through trust-based giving, regenerative coalitions, and strategic ecosystem building, we activate new forms of capital – financial, social, cultural, spiritual, institutional, ecological, and human – as a force for collective flourishing. Explore our movement to make philanthropy as a field of love for transformation at https://17foundation.org and on LinkedIn.

About Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).

About Irish Aid

Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland’s international development cooperation programme. It works in more than 80 countries to reduce poverty, hunger and humanitarian need, often focusing on climate action, gender equality and strengthening governance. gov.ie

As part of Ireland’s foreign policy, Irish Aid supports inclusive development, helps communities adapt to climate change, and backs early-stage innovation in underserved regions. Its approach emphasises giving a voice, platform and opportunity to entrepreneurs worldwide — especially in regions hardest hit by climate risks.

Contact details:

Climate KIC
anne-sophie.garrigou@climate-kic.org

SOURCE: Climate KIC

--BERNAMA

Eight Sleep Reaches $1.5B Valuation, Accelerates Predictive AI for Health

Eight Sleep Reaches $1.5B Valuation, Accelerates Predictive AI for Health 


Capital fuels the company's shift from sleep optimization to predictive AI health platform

NEW YORK, March 6 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Eight Sleep, the leading sleep technology company, today announced a new strategic round led by Tether Investments, valuing the company at $1.5 billion. The investment will fund Eight Sleep’s expansion from sleep optimization into predictive, AI-driven health — building a system that anticipates disruptions to recovery and intervenes before they occur.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304029870/en/

The round follows a milestone year. In 2025, Eight Sleep achieved free cash flow positivity while launching three new products — Pod 5, Pod Pillow Cover, and Thermal Blanket — expanding globally to 34 countries, and conducting the most rigorous clinical validation in the company's history. Two peer-reviewed studies show the Pod reduces menopausal hot flashes by 56% and, for the first time in any consumer device, restores the body's natural circadian temperature rhythm during sleep, improving cardiovascular recovery markers.

With Eight Sleep's advancements over the last year, the Company is shifting its focus from sleep optimization to AI-driven preventative health. Eight Sleep is applying predictive intelligence directly to the human body, transforming the bedroom into an intelligent health platform that creates the optimal conditions for recovery before any disruption occurs.

From reactive to predictive: the AI agent

Eight Sleep's Pod tracks biometrics — sleep stages, heart rate, HRV — and automatically adjusts temperature and elevation to improve sleep. Until now, the system has been reactive: reading signals during the night and making real-time adjustments that have been clinically proven to deliver better sleep.

The company is now building a predictive AI agent that anticipates how a user's night will unfold and acts before disruption occurs. The system simulates thousands of scenarios — a warm room, late exercise, a large meal, elevated stress — and optimizes the sleep environment before the user gets into bed.

Eight Sleep’s models are trained on more than one billion hours of real-world sleep data from users in 35+ countries — a proprietary dataset unmatched in scale, diversity, and fidelity. Early pilots of daytime AI-driven guidance have already driven measurable behavior change: nearly half of participants adjusted activity timing, caffeine intake, or sleep schedules based on automated insights.

Expanding into regulated health

Eight Sleep is advancing clinical and regulatory work in the United States, including FDA filings for sleep apnea detection and mitigation. FDA clearance would transform the Pod from a wellness product into a regulated health platform capable of screening, detecting, and intervening at population scale, passively, every night.

"Sleep was just the beginning,” said Matteo Franceschetti, Co-founder and CEO of Eight Sleep. “We've built the most advanced AI-powered health sensing system in the world — one that learns your body better every night and acts on that knowledge. This investment gives us the resources to take that intelligence beyond the bedroom and into every dimension of personal health. What we're building doesn't exist yet — a system that understands your body better each night and acts on that knowledge. Our goal is to build the defining health technology company of this generation."

“We believe advanced personalized AI is the perfect pathway to understand and expand human potential,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “Eight Sleep has the potential to define the future of health tech by building intelligence that learns, scales, and evolves directly with humankind, turning advanced AI into practical, everyday insights and enhancements about core human biology. By helping people better understand sleep, recovery, and long-term health, Eight Sleep is laying the groundwork for a new standard in longevity-focused technology that is truly personalized, can function in any condition, directly on-device, resilient, and aligned with how people live. The age of human-first health intelligence has started.”

Investment priorities

The capital will be deployed across three areas: scaling R&D to accelerate predictive model development; expanding clinical trials and regulatory pathways; and deepening global commercial partnerships in priority markets.

About Eight Sleep

Eight Sleep is the first company to bring sleep fitness to the world by combining technology, physiology, and data to unlock deeper sleep and better health. Its products are trusted by professional athletes, including F1 driver Charles Leclerc and top American tennis player Taylor Fritz, business leaders, and health-conscious consumers across the globe. Recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and twice named to TIME's “Best Inventions of the Year,” Eight Sleep continues to redefine the future of sleep. Its products are available in over 34 countries at eightsleep.com.

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304029870/en/

Contact

eightsleep@aiir.agency

Source : Eight Sleep

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA

Thursday, 5 March 2026

The Next Global AI Trend Has a Face: Kindred Labs Partners With IPX (LINE FRIENDS, BT21) to Turn Characters Into Everyday AI

 

Table

LINE FRIENDS characters, now living across your devices with Kindred.


SINGAPORE, March 5 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kindred Labs today announced a strategic partnership with IPX (formerly known as LINE FRIENDS), the globally recognized character brand LINE FRIENDS, BT21, ZO&FRIENDS and more.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303835585/en/  

Through the partnership, Kindred Labs and IPX will create AI-powered companion experiences that bring expressive character personalities into everyday digital life through responsive, emotionally resonant interaction.

The companions are being designed in a new form factor: a persistent character presence that lives on top of your screen, showing up in the flow of everyday moments, from desktop and mobile to emerging surfaces like smart glasses over time. Beyond personality and expression, these companions are being built to function as powerful personal assistants, designed to become a primary way people use AI throughout their day, expressed through a friendly and familiar presence.

Planned to launch in April 2026 globally excluding China, the partnership aligns with the 15th anniversary of LINE FRIENDS’ iconic character BROWN, introducing a new way for fans to connect with BROWN in daily life.

The partnership was negotiated by Beanstalk, a division of CAA Brand Management, which represents IPX as its interactive licensing agent.

Quote

“The primary way people will experience their personal AI will be through something they genuinely love seeing every day. I can already imagine the delight fans will have when BROWN start showing up in their daily lives, like this familiar presence you're happy to see. We’re taking these characters into a whole new paradigm, one that brings us closer to why we love them in the first place.”

Max Giammario, CEO, Kindred Labs

About Kindred Labs

Kindred Labs is the character-powered AI network built on Sei, bringing officially licensed iconic IP to life as a constant, emotionally intelligent presence by your side. Kindred is among the world’s fastest-growing AI companion startups, with over 8 million users on its waitlist.

To learn more about Kindred labs, visit www.kindredlabs.ai and follow @kindred_AI on X.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303835585/en/

Contact

hey@kindredlabs.ai
Rachelle Irene

Source : Kindred Labs

Jelly Toast Launches in India to Simplify Everyday Celebrations

A new app from Synchronoss designed to simplify how people celebrate and share memories


BRIDGEWATER, N.J. and BANGALORE, India, March 4 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. (“Synchronoss” or the “Company”), a global leader and innovator in personal cloud platforms, today announced the launch of Jelly Toast in India, a new app designed for shared celebrations and group memories.

From birthdays and weddings to Holi gatherings, college festivals, office outings, concerts, and weekend trips, Jelly Toast creates invites, collects photos, and helps groups relive shared moments in one dedicated space.

Celebrations Are Fragmented

Today’s celebrations live across too many apps.

Plans happen in messaging groups. Photos are shared in social media DMs. Albums sit in personal photo apps. Important moments are buried in chat threads or lost when phones change.

Photos get shared, but the memories stay scattered, and the story of the event often gets lost. Jelly Toast was built to solve this.

Hosts create a celebration in seconds and generate a shareable link for guests to join instantly from their browser, upload photos in real time, and contribute to a living memory stream that evolves throughout the celebration. No download or install is required for guests.

Why This Moment Matters in India

India has one of the most vibrant celebration cultures in the world. Birthdays, festivals, weddings, cricket nights, team outings, and family gatherings happen constantly across cities.

At the same time, consumers expect private and secure tools that are fast, beautiful, and effortless. Organizing event media can be chaotic, and there is no dominant platform designed specifically to bring social events and long-term memory organization together.

Jelly Toast brings simplicity to shared experiences in real time.

Pricing and Availability

Available today, Jelly Toast offers three simple options.

The Free plan supports one event with up to 5GB of storage for seven days and is designed for first-time users or intimate gatherings with close friends and family.

Event Pro is a pay-per-event option supporting 50 to 500 guests, ideal for larger celebrations and small businesses such as freelance event planners.

Memory Saver is a monthly subscription for frequent hosts who want ongoing storage and unlimited events, so their memories are always accessible.

Built on Proven Cloud Foundations

“Jelly Toast is built on the same secure and scalable cloud architecture that powers our global personal cloud platforms,” said Pat Doran, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President at Synchronoss. “We are bringing that reliability and intelligent content organization to everyday celebrations. Our goal is simple. Make it easy for people to gather, share, and keep the moments that matter.”

The platform is optimized for India’s mobile-first environment and engineered to perform reliably across varying network conditions.

A Name That Reflects the Purpose

The name Jelly Toast captures the spirit of the product. Jelly represents spontaneity, sweetness, color, and moments that stick. Toast represents togetherness, comfort, shared meals, and lasting memories. Together, they symbolize turning everyday gatherings into joyful shared experiences. Toast the moments that matter and capture them in Jelly Toast.

India Launch and Expansion

The launch begins in Bangalore, India’s technology and innovation hub. Expansion to Mumbai and Delhi is planned later in 2026. As part of its broader strategy to expand its consumer cloud footprint, Synchronoss plans to explore partnerships and integrations across the events ecosystem.

Jelly Toast is now live at www.jellytoast.app.

About Synchronoss

Synchronoss Technologies is a global leader in personal cloud solutions, empowering service providers to establish secure and meaningful connections with their subscribers. Our SaaS Cloud platform simplifies onboarding processes and fosters subscriber engagement using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other advanced features, resulting in enhanced revenue streams, reduced expenses, and faster time-to-market. Millions of subscribers trust Synchronoss to safeguard their most cherished memories and important digital content. Explore how our Cloud-focused solutions redefine the way you connect with your digital world at www.synchronoss.com.

Media Relations Contact:
Domenick Cilea
Springboard
dcilea@springboardpr.com

Source: Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.

--BERNAMA