PIONEERING DECENTRALISED SECURE MESSAGING PLATFORM MANYONE ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON CENTRE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY
Vancouver, Canada – February 25th, 2021 – Manyone Inc., a pioneering technology venture in decentralization and digital identity, is delighted to announce that it has entered into a new strategic relationship with the globally renowned University College London (UCL) Centre Blockchain Technology (CBT).
This partnership will support research conducted by UCL CBT’s Senior Research Associate, Dr Geoffrey Goodell, to explore and evaluate end-user technology systems, infrastructure, business imperatives, and regulatory policy to support the privacy, dignity, and market power of individual persons in the emerging digital economy. The research is aimed at identifying the requirements and approaches for systems whose features specifically support the advancement of truly consensual trust relationships, the empowerment of local communities, and the public interest.
Vancouver-based Manyone believes in empowering solutions and technologies with the potential to produce a new, distributed internet where everyone can feel safe, secure and in control of their digital identity.
Dr Paolo Tasca, Founder and Executive Director of the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies, notes that, “On behalf of UCL and the Centre for Blockchain Technologies, I am delighted to begin our new partnership with international industry partners Peer Social Foundation and Manyone. We are grateful for their support and recognition of the impactful research being done to meet our shared ambitions. Thanks to their generosity we will continue our proud tradition of enabling academic research with real-world application.”
Michael Cholod CEO at Manyone and Executive Director of The Peer Social Foundation comments, “As a dedicated group of decentralists, our teams look to find ways to free communication from manipulation and control by protecting individual, business or governmental digital identities. Part of that mission is to work with the most respected and knowledgeable people in the field. The team at UCL represent some of the best thinkers in the area and we’re honoured to work with them.”
Dr Geoffrey Goodell, Senior Research Associate at UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies, specifically ads that, “The funding from The Peer Social Foundation and Manyone will provide vital resource to explore and evaluate user-controlled identity management, decentralised social networks, and tokenisation as vehicle for authorisation without identification. Our partnership will support the advancement of trusted relationships in the digital economy, the empowerment of local communities for the benefit of public interest. I am excited to deepen our collaboration and share our insights.”
Manyone, with offices in Vancouver, Canada and Stockholm, Sweden are looking to launch the first decentralised secure messaging solution by Mid-2021.
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Manyone is a pioneering technology venture that aims to deliver private secure networks and private digital identities, to increase personal and enterprise productivity and digital security. Manyone actively works with The Peer Social Foundation on education and research into topics of interest to consumers and enterprise. The Peer Social Foundation and Manyone believe in empowering a distributed internet where everyone can feel in control of their digital identity. They do this by delivering a self-sovereign digital identity and decentralized communication and sharing platform for enterprise and consumers. A critical component of this is to work beside and support vital education, R&D and the open-source community to connect people, business.
Find out more here: www.manyone.one http://blockchain.cs.ucl.ac.uk/
Entrepreneur challenges business owners to help save the environment
Paste & Publish, a New Zealand based content marketing agency announced today that they are setting aside 5% of revenue to provide pro bono work to selected environmental projects that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford professional help.
Paste & Publish Founder, Callum Armstrong, says that this commitment is important because our natural world is in a state of crisis.
“I believe that it is our responsibility as business owners to help create the future we want to leave for our children.
There’s no silver bullet in the fight against climate change, but every little bit of help makes a difference,” says Armstrong.
“That’s why we have built philanthropy into our business model – to ensure that as we grow, so does our positive impact on the planet.”
The first project that will receive support from their 5% pledge is The Reforestation Fund. This fund, which is set to launch later in the year, provides sustainable and ethical brands with a way to help the environment as part of their offering.
Companies who support The Reforestation Fund donate a small amount from every sale on selected products, and are allowed to display the fund’s endorsement in return. Money raised is used to help community projects that plant native forests and support groups that look after our native plants and wildlife.
The Reforestation Fund co-founder, Anna Wentsch, says that people are looking for ways to support the environment, and that the services provided by Paste & Publish will empower TRF to make it easy for people to do just that.
“We are extremely grateful for the support that Paste & Publish is providing by designing our brand identity and rebuilding our website.
This will set up the foundations for us to connect people and companies with our natural world,” says Wentsch.
Armstrong says that companies who design philanthropy into their everyday operations experience a wide range of benefits. They often see higher rates of customer retention and trust, happier staff who know they are doing good in the world, increased sales and less reliance on price based competition.
About Paste & Publish
Based in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, Paste & Publish provides content marketing services to companies that want to grow. They help brands to attract their ideal customers by creating high value strategic content, and using sales funnels to convert them into paying clients. To find out more, visit www.pasteandpublish.com.
Exciting New Zealand-Based Freelance Website Answers Roaring Freelance Economy
SkillConnect connects businesses and freelancers in an erupting remote work environment
New Zealand, (February 5, 2021) — SkillConnect is an exciting new freelance website that was created to answer the incredible demand for remote work opportunities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the website is operated in New Zealand, it presents businesses and freelancers with an opportunity to work with each other from virtually anywhere around the world. Account registration is free for both businesses and freelancers.
Officially launched in late 2020, SkillConnect was built from the ground-up as an innovative freelancer platform that is easy to use for both businesses and freelancers.
The site actively evolves and adapts to changes in demand, services, and feedback from its users. As the site continues to grow, more features will be added to better serve its users.
The hiring process for a freelancer is notably simple, and can be broken down into four steps:
- Post a job or project
- Connect with freelancers
- Chat and share files
- Pay only after the project is completed or upon mutual agreement
With the demand for freelance work on the rise, SkillConnect seeks to supply the demand for freelancers, both in New Zealand and abroad, “More people than ever are looking for opportunities to use their skills to make money online,” says the founder of SkillConnect, Sathya Parlapothula.
“There is also a huge demand for freelance work, particularly from small businesses who want more economical options to hiring full-time employees. The fit and the opportunity were both there to make this successful,” Sathya Parlapothula says.
About SkillConnect
SkillConnect is a New Zealand-based online freelancing site that connects businesses and freelancers all around the world. It was launched in November 2020 and continues to see a growing number of registered freelancers and businesses.
For more about SkillConnect, visit:
www.skillconnect.co.nz
For more information, please contact:
Name: Sathya Parlapothula
Email: hello@skillconnect.co.nz
Momentum Life Receives Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for a Second Time in 2021
For the second year running, Momentum Life has received a Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award, recognising their commitment to providing exceptional experiences, as rated by real customers.
Momentum Life, a licensed and trusted direct-to-consumer life insurer in New Zealand, has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for 2021, an honour it received in 2020 having also been awarded the Gold Trusted Service Award in 2017, 2018 and 2019. These awards are presented to businesses using Feefo, an independent customer review platform, to collect genuine ratings and reviews from verified customers.
This accreditation remains unique, as it is based purely on interactions with real customers. The Platinum Trusted Service for which Momentum Life has been recognised is awarded to brands that achieved a rating of at least 4.5 out of 5.0 throughout 2020 and who had also received the Gold Trusted Service Award for three consecutive years or more.
Eugeniu Jalba, Chief Financial and Operating Officer for Momentum Life, says: “We’re thrilled to have received the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for a second year. This strengthens our dedication to putting customers at the centre of everything we do – from the minute they first contact us, through to paying claims. We are deeply grateful for all the positive feedback we’ve received from our customers over the years and we are committed to doing all that we can to continue providing financial protection for them and their families.”
Congratulating Momentum Life on winning this year’s award, Steph Heasman, Director of Customer Success at Feefo, commented: “The Trusted Service award has always been about recognising companies that are outstanding in customer experience and generate great feedback from happy customers.
“This year, despite the incredible challenges of a global pandemic, so many companies using Feefo have continued to provide remarkably high levels of service and they deserve a huge amount of credit for what they have achieved.”
Momentum Life was also recently awarded the Reader’s Digest NZ 2021 Silver Quality Service Award for Funeral Insurance. Receiving both awards reinforces Momentum Life’s commitment to delivering best in class products, services and experiences.
Customers can call 0800 111 679 for a no-obligation quote.
About Momentum Life
Momentum Life is a licensed New Zealand life insurance company, providing direct-to-consumer insurance solutions to New Zealanders. Their mission is to put customers’ needs first, by making insurance simple, accessible and affordable at every stage of life.
Momentum Life is also a proud supporter of Heart Kids, the only charity in New Zealand dedicated to providing lifelong care and support for children and families living with childhood heart defects. A portion of all Momentum Life’s first-year insurance premiums are donated to support the valuable work of Heart Kids.
To learn more please visit www.momentumlife.co.nz.
Facing pandemic lockdown challenges, entrepreneurs find new opportunities
Founder of ‘Inka Bands™’ in Auckland recently launched a new online store featuring stylish exercise accessories to meet rising demand for at-home fitness gear
Auckland, New Zealand — Oct. 12th, 2020 — The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a mountain of challenges to entrepreneurs everywhere.
But any ambitious visionary knows in challenges there are often opportunities.
Many entrepreneurs have used the pandemic as a chance to rebrand, pivot, and activate new ideas for these new and unusual times.
For Auckland entrepreneur Wayne Bowater, the pandemic presented him with an opportunity to launch a new brand to meet a new need.
Bowater is the managing director of McKenzie Group, a global distributor of quality health and wellness products sourced in New Zealand, and Mckenzie Distribution for its New Zealand distribution requirements. Recognizing a spike in at-home fitness due to the pandemic, he launched Inka Bands™ to introduce stylish and fashionable wrist weights and ankle weights for fitness enthusiasts in New Zealand and Australia.
“Though many entrepreneurs have taken a big hit during the pandemic, some of us have tried to stay alive by looking for new opportunities during the coronavirus lockdown,” Bowater said. “With so many people now working out at home, I came up with a fun new idea to power their workouts with great-looking hands-free weights to go along with their great-looking workout gear.”
The name INKA is a nod to a slang term referring to “the best friend you could ever ask for.” Inka Bands offer a comfortable way to add resistance to a home workout with attractive wrist and ankle weights manufactured from the highest quality fitness materials. Every Inka Band is waterproof. They come in a range of contemporary colours.
“Whether exercising along with a virtual workout at home, running, biking, hiking, rehab, yoga outdoors, or heading back to the gym for a Pilates session, we’ve got you covered with Inka Bands,” Bowater said. “Our beautiful weighted bands are perfect for boosting the muscle-building and fat-burning power of any workout. Best of all, you can wear them down to the cafe afterwards due to their stylish design sensibility.”
Learn more about Inka Bands and shop online at https://inkabands.co.nz.
‘Kiwi invasion’ – Flintfox wins big on global stage with Microsoft.
Flintfox honoured by Microsoft for outstanding sales achievement and innovation.
(Auckland, New Zealand, July 28, 2020) – Flintfox International, a disruptive innovator in pricing and rebate management and Gold Microsoft partner in the development and implementation of Supply chain solutions , are honoured to receive the 2020 MSUS Partner Award for Retail.
Flintfox is also proud to have achieved prestigious 2020/2021 Inner Circle status. Membership in this elite group is based on sales achievements that rank Flintfox in the top echelon of the Microsoft Business Applications global network of partners. Inner Circle members have performed to a high standard of excellence by delivering valuable solutions that help organisations achieve increased success. For the 4th time, Flintfox has been selected out of thousands of partners for this elite membership.
“Each year we recognise Microsoft Business Applications partners from around the world for delivering innovation and driving unsurpassed customer success,” said Cecilia Flombaum, Microsoft Business Applications Ecosystem Lead. “Our Inner Circle members are chosen based on their business performance as well as capabilities as an organisation, whether that’s creating IP, developing solutions, or having an industry leading focus on digital transformation. Microsoft is honoured to recognise Flintfox for their achievements this past year, their dedication to our customers, and their innovation around the Microsoft Cloud.”
2020/2021 Inner Circle members are invited to the Inner Circle Virtual Summits, taking place quarterly between July 2020 and June 2021, where they will have a unique opportunity to share strategy and network with Microsoft senior leaders and fellow partners.
The Microsoft US (MSUS) Award program was developed to recognise outstanding achievement by their US partners. Flintfox was up against a competitive nomination pool and rose to the top amongst hundreds of other partners and ISV’s.
Flintfox, with their best of breed solutions for managing supply chain revenue, together with Microsoft, enable companies to achieve more in the US and beyond. With Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management and the Flintfox pricing and rebate management solution, there has never been such a complete and powerful tool available for Supply Chain companies. Flintfox are proud to have had their achievements recognised by Microsoft.
Many clients have trusted Flintfox to implement Dynamics 365 along with their Revenue Management suite of products.
“Supply chains are complex these days and managing pricing and incentives accurately for companies can be the difference between profit and loss. With Microsoft’s commitment to ERP innovation, breadth of functionality, and ease of use, Flintfox complex pricing and rebate management provides a true competitive advantage. With our Dynamics 365 offerings and our deep domain expertise along with our revenue management software, we are not just competing, we are winning. To be selected as a top partner for the prestigious Inner Circle Award is another indicator of the success of Flintfox in sales and innovative, industry-leading supply chain software.
We are proud that our outstanding achievements globally have been recognised by Microsoft US. All the more extraordinary is the size and scale of North America and thinking back to our humble beginnings in New Zealand. This is a fantastic reflection of the leading Dynamics implementation expertise we have in North America and is a great testament to our company as we continue to grow in scale and influence. Looking forward to achieving even more wins with Flintfox and Microsoft – we make an incredible team.” says Flintfox CEO and Chairman, Mike Ridgway.
Flintfox has over 15 years of leading collaborations with Microsoft as an ISV, resulting in dozens of happy Dynamics AX and Dynamics 365 ERP clients getting the solutions they need to succeed and grow. As well as bringing extended functionality to D365, Flintfox has recently developed the RMx hyper-speed pricing engine in the Azure cloud, that works with any ERP, to complement the Trade Revenue Management (TRM) Suite for Dynamics. RMx delivers 5,000 complex prices calculated per second in Azure. There is currently no other solution like it in the world.
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About Flintfox
Flintfox provides best of breed Trade Revenue Management (TRM) solutions for resolving revenue challenges across the supply chain. They have over 30 years of expertise delivering TRM solutions to over 125,000 users across 25 countries within the manufacturing, wholesale distribution and retail industries. Their TRM software, for both buy and sell-side operations, integrates with any ERP and enables accurate, real-time calculations for complex revenue activities including price management, promotions pricing, rebate management, claims and deductions. As a Microsoft Gold Partner, Inner Circle Member and one of only 10 software developers managed globally, Flintfox also provides consulting and implementation services for Microsoft Dynamics applications. Flintfox operates across North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific, with headquarters located in New Zealand.
Precision Driven Health announces sponsorship of Hack Aotearoa 2020
Precision Driven Health (PDH) is excited to return in 2020 as a major partner for Hack Aotearoa.
Building on the success of the 2019 conference – the first of its kind in New Zealand – Hack Aotearoa 2020 continues to innovate and will include a health datathon in addition to the main Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare conference.
This globally recognised Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Critical Data event aims to spark cross-disciplinary collaboration and learning of data science to improve healthcare. Hosted by the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Critical Data, the event will see local and international data scientists, academics and healthcare professionals come together to present opportunities for the use of data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health.
The overarching theme for the 2020 event is ‘Advancing the Quadruple Aim’, while the ethical use of data, and the use of data for Māori health equity, are key event themes. Hack Aotearoa is an exciting opportunity to advance the digital health and data science landscape in Aotearoa.
During the datathon, healthcare professionals and data scientists will have the chance to work with the MIT eICU Collaborative Care and MIMIC Critical Care datasets. The aim is to harness insights from these datasets and search for better ways to diagnose and treat critical care patients.
Precision Driven Health returns as a major partner for the second year running. Chief Executive Dr Kevin Ross is looking forward to the event.
“As New Zealand’s premier health data science collaboration, we are looking forward to another gathering that looks to unlock the value of data for our population. Hack Aotearoa combines local expertise and values with international know-how to bring a unique, hands-on experience over a few days,” says Dr Ross.
Philips ANZ is another major partner of Hack Aotearoa. As a leading health technology company, Philips ANZ provides connected care solutions powered by advanced analytics in order to improve health outcomes and the delivery of care. At the crux of transitioning towards value-based healthcare, the measurement of system-wide health outcomes and the improvement of patient care delivery is based on a combination of multiple datasets.
“As the owner of the largest translational ICU dataset in the world composed of 7.5 million ICU episodes, Philips is proud to contribute to events like Hack Aotearoa in order to drive academic and practical insights for New Zealand. We need to look at new, more efficient ways to increase access to care and improve care collaboration. Philips believes Hack Aotearoa is a great setting to start those conversations,” says Joe Cain, Business Manager Population Health, Philips ANZ.
Hack Aotearoa will take place 17th to 19th January 2020 at the Owen G Glenn Building, University of Auckland.
About MIT Critical Data
MIT Critical Data is an affiliation of research labs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who are engaged in research in and around data that has a critical impact on people’s health.
About Precision Driven Health
The Precision Driven Health partnership (PDH), established in 2016, is one of the most ambitious data science research initiatives to be undertaken in New Zealand. The partnership unites the health IT sector with healthcare providers and universities to create health and commercial opportunities for New Zealanders. Research is focused on applying new data science techniques to understand the massive volume of data about an individual captured by health information systems, consumer devices, social networks, genetic testing and other sources. To date, PDH has supported more than 75 projects in health data science, including summer and postgraduate scholarships, a joint PDH-HRC Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme, and multi-million dollar discovery and transformation programmes in several areas, including de-identification and deep learning. PDH researchers are also exploring vital concepts such as bias in machine learning, the ethics of AI use, and consent paradigms for enabling the next wave of health data research. Find out more at www.precisiondrivenhealth.com.