Tuesday, 12 August 2025

HORIZON QUANTUM HIRES GREG GOULD AS CFO TO SUPPORT GLOBAL GROWTH STRATEGY



KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Horizon Quantum Computing Pte Ltd (Horizon Quantum), a developer of advanced software development tools for quantum computers, has appointed Greg Gould as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Bringing over 35 years of experience in finance, technology, and operations, spanning leadership roles in both public and private companies, Gould will lead key financial initiatives that are a part of the company’s long-term strategic growth plan.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Joe Fitzsimons said Gould brings together growth-stage CFO experience with deep capital-markets expertise, and his institutional relationships will be invaluable as Horizon Quantum transforms into a public company.

“We believe he is ideally suited to help strengthen planning, controls, and stakeholder communication as we enter our next phase of growth,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Gould said: “As CFO, I look forward to aligning our financial strategy with our technological roadmap, ensuring we have the resources, discipline, and operational excellence to achieve our ambitious goals.”

Gould has served as CFO of insurtech company Groundspeed Analytics and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven fit-tech company FIT:MATCH.ai and was named a Top CFO in Miami by Finance & Investing in 2023.

Currently a Venture Partner at 14Peaks Capital and an active technology investor, his earlier leadership roles include Senior Advisor at Corestate Capital and Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Investor Relations at proptech startup Quarters, where he spearheaded strategic partnerships, operational efficiencies, and business expansion.

-- BERNAMA

CYBER DEFENCES FALTER AS ATTACK SUCCESS RATES SURGE - PICUS REPORT

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- In a troubling snapshot of the current cybersecurity landscape, Picus Security, in its Blue Report 2025, revealed a sharp decline in global cybersecurity defensive effectiveness despite an alarming rise in the volume and sophistication of cyberattacks.

Now in its third year, the report draws on over 160 million real-world attack simulations conducted in live production environments.

The security validation company found that 46 per cent of tested environments had at least one password hash cracked. Even more concerning, attacks using valid credentials succeeded 98 per cent of the time, allowing adversaries to bypass controls with ease and remain virtually undetected.

These trends, according to a statement, show how quickly compromised credentials can lead to large-scale data theft.

“We must operate under the assumption that adversaries already have access,” said Picus Security co-founder and Picus Labs vice president, Dr Süleyman Ozarslan.

He urged organisations to adopt an ‘assume breach’ mindset, improve identity control validation and strengthen behavioural detection.

Among the most staggering findings is that only three per cent of data exfiltration attempts were stopped, down from nine per cent in 2024. This comes amid a surge in infostealer malware and double-extortion ransomware, where attackers encrypt and steal data simultaneously to maximise leverage.

Ransomware remains a key threat, with BlackByte registering a prevention effectiveness rate of 26 per cent, followed by BabLock at 34 per cent and Maori at 41 per cent.

Detection capabilities also suffered, with discovery techniques such as System Network Configuration Discovery and Process Discovery blocked in fewer than 12 per cent of simulations.

Overall prevention effectiveness dropped to 62 per cent in 2025 from 69 per cent last year. Although logging coverage stayed at 54 per cent, only 14 per cent of attacks generated alerts, indicating that most malicious activities went undetected.

The report, compiled from simulations conducted between January and June this year, includes industry-specific findings and recommendations to strengthen security controls and improve threat readiness.

-- BERNAMA

Thursday, 7 August 2025

Menos AI Launches Institutional-Grade AI for Hedge Funds and Asset Managers, Starting with an AI Idea-Generation Agent

 


SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug 7 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Menos AI, an AI-native fintech built by and for investment professionals, today announced its public launch. Its flagship product, Sonαr, is an intelligent research agent that helps hedge funds and institutional investors uncover timely, differentiated ideas amid information overload. Sonαr is currently rolling out to select partner funds ahead of a broader release.

Founded by investment veterans and AI experts, Menos AI is backed by a $5.2 million oversubscribed seed round led by prominent Silicon Valley family offices and venture capital firms.

Sonαr: Distilling Alpha from Information Overload

Portfolio managers and analysts navigate a constant flood of market updates, sell-side content, third-party research reports, and internal memos. Sonαr cuts through the noise and surfaces alpha-generating insights that might otherwise be overlooked. Developed with leading global macro and multi-strategy hedge funds, Sonαr uses proprietary Alpha Signal Extraction to identify ideas with novelty, timeliness, and market relevance. Its forthcoming Voice Scoring capability can spotlight contributors who are consistently early and accurate — amplifying insights backed by proven track records and exposing areas where further due diligence can lead to an edge.

"Alpha doesn't scream. It whispers," said William Wu, Co-founder and CEO. "Sonαr helps investment teams hear it early — and act with clarity."

Built to Scale with Investment Teams

Menos AI's mission is helping institutional investors build firm-specific AI capabilities. Their secure, domain-specific agent platform delivers seamless enterprise integration with customers' workflows and preferred internal and external sources, delivering significant time savings from idea discovery to research and middle-office support — enabling managers to focus on strategic, differentiated thinking.

"The next generation of high-performing investment teams will be human–machine hybrids," said Chris Yang, Co-founder and Chief AI Scientist. "Menos AI helps firms build their AI edge."

"Our platform is designed for institutional-grade performance and security," added Xiang Pan, Co-founder and CTO. "We're building infrastructure investment teams can trust."

About Menos AI

Headquartered in San Jose, California, Menos AI builds intelligent agents that help institutional investors scale research, decision-making, and operations. Our team combines expertise from senior executives at leading financial services firms, top engineers from pioneering technology companies, and machine learning specialists with PhDs from premier research universities. Dedicated to "less noise, more signal," we help institutional investors focus on what matters most.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250806499043/en/


Contact

For more information:

Website: www.menosai.com

Email: info@menosai.com

Source : Menos AI

Wednesday, 6 August 2025

DUCK CREEK BILLING ENHANCES MEMBER EXPERIENCE WITH REAL-TIME INSIGHTS AT PURE

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- Duck Creek Technologies, a global intelligent solutions provider for the insurance industry, announced that PURE Insurance has upgraded to the latest version of the Duck Creek Billing platform.

In a statement, Duck Creek said the upgrade would enable PURE Insurance to enhance operational efficiency and financial management and deliver a more seamless billing experience for its members.

Duck Creek Technologies Chief Operating Officer, Chris McCloskey said the company was proud to support PURE in modernising its billing processes and elevating its service to members through the upgraded system.

“PURE Insurance is a valued long-time customer, known for consistently delivering an outstanding service experience,” he said.

Meanwhile, PURE Insurance Vice President, Finance Divisional Information Officer, Meenakshi Rungta said the enhanced platform strengthens existing capabilities by improving billing operations and supporting a more intuitive user experience.

“Upgrading to the latest Duck Creek Billing solution is a strategic step that reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional service to our members,” she said.

PURE Insurance is a member-owned insurer catering to successful and responsible families in the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance markets.

Duck Creek Billing is a software as a service (SaaS) solution designed to automate invoicing, premium collection and payment processes, while providing flexibility in billing options and configurations.

-- BERNAMA

Tuesday, 5 August 2025

LENDLEASE GLOBAL COMMERCIAL REIT SEES MODEST DPU UPTICK IN 2H FY2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Lendlease Global Commercial Trust Management Pte Ltd, the manager of Lendlease Global Commercial REIT (LREIT), reports a 1.8 per cent rise in its distribution per unit (DPU) to SG$0.018 for the half-year ended June 30, 2025 (2H FY2025). (SG$1=RM3.28)

The DPU, scheduled to be paid on Sept 24, is driven by steady retail performance and a more favourable interest rate outlook, according to the REIT in a statement.

Lendlease REIT’s portfolio valuation rose 2.2 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to SG$3.76 billion, supported by its core Singapore assets. Following the Jem office divestment, Singapore retail will comprise over 85 per cent of portfolio value.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Guy Cawthra said this divestment is a strategic milestone—reducing leverage, enhancing flexibility, and reinforcing its commitment to long-term growth in prime retail.

While gross revenue and net property income (NPI) declined 6.5 per cent and 10.0 per cent YoY to SG$206.5 million and SG$148.8 million, respectively, this was largely due to the one-off recognition of supplementary rent from the lease restructuring of Sky Complex in FY2024. On an adjusted basis, revenue and NPI saw marginal YoY growth.

The REIT maintained an interest coverage ratio (ICR) of 1.6 times and reported that 68 per cent of its borrowings are hedged to fixed rates, with the average cost of debt at 3.46 per cent per annum.

Retail strength continued, with over 99 per cent occupancy and a 10.2 per cent positive rental reversion, despite weaker tenant sales due to outbound tourism and transitional refurbishments at Cathay Cineplexes.

In Milan, commercial Buildings 1 and 2 recorded a 1.7 per cent rental uplift tied to inflation-linked escalation clauses. These assets remain fully leased to Sky Italia until January 2033.

-- BERNAMA

Bitget Hosts Crypto Experience Month 2025 Targeting Gen-Zs Across Europe, Asia and Middle East

 


VICTORIA, Seychelles, Aug 5 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, officially launches Crypto Experience Month 2025, a global youth activation campaign under its Blockchain4Youth initiative. Now in its third year, the campaign takes a step away from classrooms and webinars, transforming crypto from a buzzword into something tangible, usable, and real. As part of the third-year celebration of International Youth Day in August, Bitget plans to host Crypto Experience events throughout the month of August across multiple cities in the Middle East, Europe, South East Asia, and South Asia.

Crypto Experience Month 2025 is built around a simple tagline: Look What Crypto Can Do. While headlines often frame digital assets around market movements, this campaign flips the narrative, focusing instead on how blockchain is being applied in payments, gaming, DeFi, identity, and creative expression. Across pop-up activations set to roll out globally this August, Bitget is inviting young people to try crypto for themselves, not on charts, but in checkout lines, in metaverse arcades, and through everyday interactions.

From university campuses to creative hubs, attendees will explore zones where they can mint NFTs, experiment with stablecoin lending, trade tokenized stocks in real-time simulations, and test drive PayFi’s QR-based retail transactions. They’ll receive digital badges, load up a Bitget Wallet Mastercard, and even stake assets in DeFi setups guided by in-person educators. The format is designed to merge experience with understanding, where every station is part demo, part discovery.

The shift from education to interaction marks a new chapter for the campaign. Launched in 2023 with Crypto Experience Day, the campaign expanded to an entire month in 2024, reaching over 15,000 participants across 12 countries. This year’s edition pushes further, prioritizing physical presence and hands-on engagement to help bridge the growing gap between Web2 curiosity and Web3 confidence.

Vugar Usi Zade, Bitget’s Chief Operating Officer and the executive sponsor of Blockchain4Youth, believes that relevance comes from application. “You can’t build belief in the future of crypto through theory alone. You need to let people feel it, use it, question it,” he said. “Crypto Experience Month is about making the technology real and giving young people a reason to care about where it’s going.”

Bitget Wallet will serve as the official campaign partner, integrating its latest features, including PayFi, and on-chain tools into the experience zones. Jamie Elkaleh, Chief Marketing Officer at Bitget Wallet, added, “The onboarding is just the start. It’s also about showing how crypto can empower everyday actions, from payments to creativity. We’re excited to bring that vision to life on the ground.”

Followers of the campaign can look forward to a recap video capturing highlights from each activation in early September. Until then, Bitget’s message is clear: crypto isn’t just coming to the real world. It’s already here, and this August, it’s handing over the controls to the next generation.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin priceEthereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.

Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World's Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. In the world of motorsports, Bitget is the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s most thrilling championships.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/26282002-8b06-4e5c-87a1-fd77694c6645 


SOURCE: Bitget Limited

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.

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

DATAVAULT AI EXPANDS COMMERCIALISATION OF FLAGSHIP AI AGENTS VIA IBM COLLABORATION

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Datavault AI Inc, a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) data experience, valuation, and monetisation, has announced the expanded commercialisation of its flagship AI agents, DataScore and DataValue, developed in partnership with IBM’s watsonx.ai platform.

In a statement, the company said IBM will provide multi-year support, including AI engineering resources and deep technical expertise, to help accelerate the deployment and impact of Datavault’s offerings across enterprise environments, including on-premises, cloud, and hybrid systems.

Datavault AI, a Platinum partner in IBM’s Partner Plus programme, aims to broaden AI adoption across key sectors such as finance, healthcare, sports, entertainment, and government, with joint initiatives covering deployment, testing, and development.

“This marks a major milestone in our enterprise-scale roadmap. By integrating IBM watsonx at a technical level and collaborating closely with IBM, we are positioned to scale our data monetisation platform globally,” said Datavault AI Chief Executive Officer, Nathaniel Bradley.

Meanwhile, IBM Head of Americas AI Partnerships, Biz Dziarmaga said the collaboration with Datavault AI offers customers a scalable pathway to data monetisation, supporting enterprises in unlocking new revenue streams through AI-driven platforms.

As part of the collaboration, Datavault AI will work with IBM’s sales force and partner network to expand customer engagement and adoption of its patented AI solutions.

According to McKinsey & Company, generative AI is projected to contribute between US$2.6 trillion and US$4.4 trillion annually across key business functions, underscoring the rising importance of AI-powered data monetisation in the enterprise technology landscape. (US$1=RM4.23)

Datavault AI has developed a fully integrated AI ecosystem to help organisations unlock the financial value of their data assets. Among its core offerings is Data Vault Bank, a Web 3.0-powered AI engine currently being built with IBM, which will convert enterprise data into structured, tradable assets and is expected to be launched in October 2025.

The company’s DataScore product is a patented, AI-driven scoring and risk analysis tool designed to assess data quality and ensure compliance with key regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

Meanwhile, DataValue is a patented pricing engine that uses AI to assign real-world financial valuations to enterprise data, thereby creating new liquidity and trading opportunities.

Datavault AI’s Web 3.0 data platform, enhanced through completed system integrations, allows for secure, compliant, and scalable monetisation across industries. The platform continues to evolve with new advancements in data indexing, perception, and valuation technologies.

-- BERNAMA