Market Newsdesk

NEW YORK, NY, April 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SPYR Technologies (OTC Pink: SPYR) ended Q1 2021 exactly as it ended Q4 2020—with a host of anticipated and reported goals resulting in a litany of completed and announced milestones.  And the company has started Q2 2021 in just the same fashion.  After reporting late last month that SPYR’s wholly owned subsidiary, Applied MagiX, would be implementing additional distribution channels for sales of its Apple^® HomeKit^® smart home products, SPYR and Applied MagiX followed through on that expectation with the first such addition to its distribution network, eBay Marketplace, the second-largest online marketplace worldwide with over 185-million active buyers.

This week’s news that Applied MagiX’s products are now available in the eBay Marketplace follows 2 consecutive quarters of promises made, promises kept after SPYR joined the technology sector and refocused the company to compete in the industry. https://ebay.com/usr/applied_magix_sales

The transparency and follow-through that SPYR is delivering to shareholders since transitioning its business model in 2020 to operate within the technology sector are refreshing, and it all began with presenting the plan to investors, landing a $15-million funding commitment, and acquiring the California-based Internet of Things (IoT) company, Applied MagiX.

The SPYR Technologies company is a registered Apple developer that operates in the growing multi-billion-dollar smart home market. To that end, Applied MagiX is currently engaged in developing its own signature line of branded smart home products and accessories, while, at the same time, offering consumers sourced Apple HomeKit, Apple CarPlay^®, and Apple Watch^® products and accessories from its trusted technology partners.

Q1 2021 company highlights include:

1.)  Filing a Trademark Application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its Truly Convenient^™ brand, which will be used to identify many of its planned Apple ecosystem accessories. 

When discussing the trademark, Dr. Harald Zink, the CEO of Applied MagiX, said, “We are developing some unique variants of familiar products, making them ‘Truly Convenient,’ so we decided to make it its own sub-brand based on that descriptive. The Truly Convenient line will initially include accessories for iOS devices and the wildly popular Apple Watch, while introducing some unique and, well, truly convenient, twists to familiar products like chargers and cables.”

2.)  Introduction of a 2-pronged sales and product development strategy which includes Applied MagiX releasing proprietary products under its own brand, with availability based on R&D and manufacturing timelines, and the company sourcing and selling products from technology partners to drive revenue into the company immediately.  SPYR/Applied MagiX also released a list of “product categories.”

“Essential HomeKit Products” like a HomeKit Secure Video camera and HomeKit Contact, Security and Environment Sensors.

“Essential Home Accessories” like Truly Convenient^™ USB wall-chargers, Truly Convenient Lightning charger & data cables, Truly Convenient Apple Watch charging cables, Apple Watch accessories, and watch bands.

“Companion Apps and Functional Enhancement Apps” on MacOS and iOS systems, including Apps that support the products that Applied MagiX will ship to customers, Apps that support and improve third-party hardware, and Apps that improve functionality of MacOS systems.

3.)  Announcing the first shipment of HomeKit-related products were en route to Applied MagiX for sale and distribution and then a subsequent announcement that the company received those products.

4.)  Launching the new Applied MagiX website and online store where Applied MagiX introduced its first 4 smart home products from the “Essential HomeKit Products” category sourced from technology partner, Onvis.

Onvis C3 Apple HomeKit Secure Video Camera – $59.99 https://appliedmagix.com/shop/onvis-c3-camera

Onvis SMS1 Multipurpose Smart Sensor” (Environment & Motion) – $19.99 https://appliedmagix.com/shop/onvis-sms1-homekit-motion-sensor

Onvis CS1 Multipurpose Smart Sensor with Alarm – $19.99 https://appliedmagix.com/shop/onvis-cs1-smart-sensor-alarm

Onvis CT2 Door/Window Contact Sensor – $15.99 https://appliedmagix.com/shop/onvis-door-window-contact-sensor-ct2

It is expected that SPYR and Applied MagiX will continue to expand their product distribution network throughout Q2 2021, and if the past 2 quarters are prologue, the company should continue announcing its expectations and following up with even more promises made, promises kept.

Read SPYR Technologies’ press releases at https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/spyr/press-releases

About SPYR Technologies

SPYR Technologies is a technology company that, through its subsidiary, Applied MagiX Inc., develops and resells Apple^® ecosystem compatible products with an emphasis on the growing multi-billion-dollar smart home market.  SPYR continues to identify and target acquisitions that will grow its footprint in the industry and expand the products it offers consumers, including companies developing artificial intelligence and smart-technology products.

About Applied MagiX, Inc.

Applied MagiX is an Internet of Things (IoT) company headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, with an office in Hong Kong.  The company is a registered Apple^® developer that develops and resells Apple ecosystem compatible products with an emphasis on the growing multi-billion-dollar smart home market.

About Stock Market Media Group

Stock Market Media Group is a news & media content development IR firm offering a platform for corporate stories to unfold in the media with press releases, feature news articles, corporate videos, radio-style CEO interviews, and research reports.

This article was written based on publicly available information. Stock Market Media Group may, from time to time, include our own opinions about the companies, their business, markets, and opportunities in our articles. Any opinions we may offer about any of the companies we write about are solely our own and are made in reliance upon our rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and are provided solely for the general opinionated discussion of our readers. Our opinions should not be considered to be complete, precise, accurate, or current investment advice, or construed or interpreted as research. Any investment decisions you may make concerning any of the securities we write about are solely your responsibility based on your own due diligence. Our publications are provided only as an informational aid, and as a starting point for doing additional independent research. We encourage you to invest carefully and read the investor information available at the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov, where you can also find all of SPYR Technologies’ filings and disclosures. We also recommend, as a general rule, that before investing in any securities, you consult with a professional financial planner or advisor, and you should conduct a complete and independent investigation before investing in any security after prudent consideration of all pertinent risks.  We are not a registered broker, dealer, analyst, or advisor. We hold no investment licenses and may not sell, offer to sell, or offer to buy any security. Our publications about SPYR Technologies are not a recommendation to buy or sell a security.

Should Stock Market Media Group and its management own shares in the profiled company, they may benefit from any increase in the share price of the profiled companies and hold the right to sell the shares bought or issued at any given time including shortly after the release of the company’s profile. Section 17(b) of the 1933 Securities and Exchange Act requires publishers who distribute information about publicly traded securities for compensation, to disclose who paid them, the amount, and the type of payment.  Under the Securities Act of 1933, Section 17(b), Stock Market Media Group discloses that its coverage was extended and was remunerated an additional fifteen-thousand dollars, paid for by a third party via bank wire, for its published content related to SPYR Technologies. 

In February 2015, SPYR agreed to issue to us 250,000 shares of SPYR’s Restricted Common Stock. Our rights to sell any of this Restricted Common Stock are subject to prior compliance with all U.S. Securities Laws, including but not limited to Rule 144. Further, our sale of any of the Restricted Common Stock is subject to a volume restriction providing that we may only sell 5,000 shares daily for every 250,000 shares of the daily trading volume.  All shares have been held for the requisite period under Rule 144 and were eligible to be sold immediately upon reaching the requisite holding period without further notice.

Stock Market Media Group and its management never accept compensation in free-trading shares for its marketing services of the company being profiled, however third parties that have compensated Stock Market Media Group may hold free-trading shares of the company being profiled and could very well be selling shares of the company’s stock at the same time the content is being disseminated to potential investors; this should be viewed as a definite conflict of interest and as such, the reader should take this into consideration.

For more information: www.stockmarketmediagroup.com.

Contact:

Stock Market Media Group

[email protected]

Orlando, Florida, April 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IZEA), the premier provider of influencer marketing technology, data, and services for the world’s leading brands, announced today that it has completed sales of approximately $35 million of its common shares pursuant to the Company’s At-The-Market (ATM) Offering established on January 25, 2021 (the “ATM Sales”), through National Securities Corporation (“National”), acting as sales agent.

In the ATM Sales, an aggregate of 7,028,132 common shares have been issued to investors at an average at-the-market price of $4.98 a common share.

A $75 million shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (including a prospectus) relating to IZEA’s securities was filed with the SEC and became effective on June 2, 2020. The total gross proceeds raised under the Form S-3 since June 2020 is approximately $75 million, exhausting the total amount available under the Shelf registration.

National Securities Corporation, member FINRA/SIPC, a leading full service independent brokerage, investment banking and asset management firm, acted as the exclusive selling agent in the deal.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the ATM offering. Nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.  

About IZEA Worldwide, Inc.
IZEA Worldwide, Inc. is a marketing technology company providing software and professional services that enable brands to collaborate and transact with the full spectrum of today’s top social influencers and content creators. The company serves as a champion for the growing Creator Economy, enabling individuals to monetize their content, creativity, and influence. IZEA launched the industry’s first-ever influencer marketing platform in 2006 and has since facilitated nearly 4 million transactions between online buyers and sellers. Leading brands and agencies partner with IZEA to increase digital engagement, diversify brand voice, scale content production, and drive measurable return on investment.

Safe Harbor Statement
All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “hope,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “likely,” “projects,” “plans,” “pursue,” “strategy” or “future,” or the negative of these words or other words or expressions of similar meaning.  Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding expectations concerning IZEA’s ability to increase revenue and bookings, growth or maintenance of customer relationships, and expectations concerning IZEA’s business strategy. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those described in IZEA’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements made in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and IZEA assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in expectations, except as otherwise required by federal securities law.

Martin Smith
IZEA Worldwide, Inc.
Phone: 407-674-6911
Email: [email protected]

Lakeland, FLA., April 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Qgiv, a leading provider of nonprofit fundraising technology, has again received multiple awards in G2’s fundraising software category, including the Best Results overall award for the third consecutive year, Small Business Leader, Overall Leader, Momentum Leader, High Performer Mid-Market, and Best Support Mid-Market. G2, a top peer-to-peer business review site, ranks Qgiv in each of these areas quarterly based on reviews from verified Qgiv users.

“We continuously strive to deliver high quality fundraising software that empowers our nonprofit clients,” said Todd Baylis, CEO and co-founder of Qgiv, Inc. “We’re incredibly honored by this distinction and appreciate our clients for once again recognizing Qgiv as a fundraising technology leader during a period of increased reliance on digital fundraising tools.”

G2 has created a variety of software product rankings based on data from over 1 million reviews from verified users. The Best Results Index is calculated based on return on investment and how likely a nonprofit is to recommend Qgiv to a friend; the Momentum award is based on a company’s year-over-year growth in number of employees, web and social growth, and G2 reviews; the High Performer index is calculated based on the number of high customer satisfaction scores a company receives in relation to their market presence scores; and Support Index category is calculated based on quality of support and ease of doing business with Qgiv.

Qgiv customers have said the following about Qgiv on G2:

• “My organization moved to Qgiv after looking far and wide for an online giving platform that would help us reach our target donors and we have not been disappointed. The interface is easily customizable and donor friendly!”
• “The extremely quick response to my dozens of questions as a new Qgiv user made it possible for our organization to shift gears from our canceled March 14 gala to staging a very successful online auction. Great platform with even greater service.”
• “No upfront cost allows so many worthy small organizations the chance to fundraise online and do so in different venues like auctions and P2P. The interface is great, very intuitive. Reporting capabilities and ease are very helpful, too. Customer service is top-notch, always there when you need them!”

To read all of Qgiv’s G2 reviews, visit Qgiv’s G2 profile here. To learn more about Qgiv’s fundraising tools and how they can benefit your nonprofit, visit www.qgiv.com and request a demo.

About Qgiv: Qgiv, Inc. is a leading digital fundraising platform founded in 2007. From their headquarters in Lakeland, FL, they currently serve more than 5,000 nonprofit organizations in the United States and Canada. Unlimited access to tools and support, no long-term contracts, and integrations with leading CRM and email tools make it easy for nonprofits to experiment with new technology and grow their digital fundraising programs. Qgiv is committed to helping nonprofits raise more by anticipating and addressing their needs and challenges through customer-led development and close attention to industry best practices. To learn more about the Qgiv platform visit www.qgiv.com.

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Melaina Chromy
Qgiv
[email protected]

ATLANTA, April 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sage (FTSE: SGE), the market leader in cloud business management solutions, today launches a new report in partnership with IDG entitled: Global distributors transform to adapt, survive and thrive. The results reveal how distributors are addressing challenging external forces with a focus on improving customer service and experience (39%), implementing cloud-based apps (37%), and improving e-commerce capabilities (36%).

Leveraging cloud technology to prepare for the future

Almost 80% of distributors currently have a digital transformation strategy, despite nine in 10 saying implementing new technologies and innovations into distribution operations is a challenge, due to a lack of in-house expertise and high associated costs.

With a heightened need to optimize supply chains and access real-time data analytics to predict future demand, distributors understand the key role technology plays. 42% consider themselves an early adopter of the cloud, and a further 22% say they are innovators – indeed, the majority of distributors are now running core business applications on public cloud, operated by third party providers.

In addition, the adoption of Robotic Process Automation (81%) and Internet of Things (75%) is enabling distributors to prepare for the future and drive greater business-wide efficiency. The benefits realized from digital transformation range from cost reductions (45%) and faster delivery (42%), to improved data security (45%) and better customer service and experience (39%).

The green agenda

With an increasing demand for companies to show their green credentials, 75% of distributors around the world have adopted a circular economy strategy, influenced by consumers, regulations, and new technologies to help improve their environmental impact. Organizations are under pressure to reduce waste output – hence the growing popularity of circular economy business models, where scarce resources are replaced with renewable, recyclable, or biodegradable materials.

For distributors, the shift to circularity is driven by the need to reduce their carbon footprint (39%), address environmental concerns (38%), increase productivity, efficiency, and resiliency (32%), and improve their competitiveness (31%).

However, for almost 75% of distributors, aligning their goals of sustainability and profitability is proving difficult. Many businesses are coming up against friction between these objectives, increasingly trying to reduce waste production and operate local supply chains to reduce mileage, whilst also trying to drive profitability.

Transforming business with data-centric servitization

More than half of distributors looking to increase their service offerings for customers are turning to servitization strategies. Around four in 10 believe they are at, or near, completion of their moderate (57%) or major (28%) servitization transformation strategy.

Servitization is proving to be a rich and profitable source of service innovation – the most frequently realized benefit is credit financing (73%), whereby distributors can take immediate ownership of products and raw materials, and then pay for them over an extended period of time.

Identifying how to best serve customers changing expectations will be increasingly driven by data-centric servitization. Distributors will partner more with technology companies and platforms to derive valuable insights from diverse data sources and capitalize on their new-found understanding of customer needs and market trends.

Rob Sinfield, Vice President of Product for Sage X3, commented:

“Across the globe, distributors are meeting the challenging macro-economic climate head on, ensuring their business is innovative, resilient, and responsive to change. The sector is realizing the potential to reimagine operations using business cloud applications enhanced with emerging technologies like AI and data analytics. Building agile supply chains whilst embracing customer demands for improved sustainability, distributors are looking to new models such as Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) distribution model, intelligent sourcing and distribution, servitization and the adoption of the circular economy to drive growth.”

Jessica Groopman, Industry Analyst and Founding Partner at Kaleido Insights, commented:

“Digital transformation is a technological, cultural, and an operational shift through which organizations are leveraging data to deliver value, to innovate with agility and sustained “vitality”. It’s not just about today. It’s about being proactive in looking ahead – because digital transformation is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Emerging technologies such as RPA and IoT, among many others, are even more powerful when they converge. This is where the real opportunities lie for the distribution ecosystem and across the entire value chain.”

To learn more, download the full report.

Notes to Editors

Methodology:

This survey was conducted by IDG – the world’s leading technology media, data and marketing services company, between October and November 2020. It surveyed 652 Director/C-Level business and IT leaders globally in businesses with 50 to 4,999 employees: 201 in North America, 401 in EMEA, and 50 in Australia. Our wholesale trade and distributor respondents included firms that work in professional and commercial equipment and supplies, grocery and related products, furniture and home furnishings, household appliances and electrical and electronic goods, machinery, equipment and supplies, apparel, and motor vehicles and parts. And, our transportation and warehousing respondents came from freight trucking, warehouse and storage, courier and express delivery services, air, rail, water, or urban transportation, and postal services, among others.

Media contact:

Peter Olson
[email protected]
408-878-0951

About Sage

Sage is the global market leader for technology that provides small and medium businesses with the visibility, flexibility and efficiency to manage finances, operations and people. With our partners, Sage is trusted by millions of customers worldwide to deliver the best cloud technology and support. Our years of experience mean that our colleagues and partners understand how to serve our customers and communities through the good, and more challenging times. We are here to help, with practical advice, solutions, expertise and insight. www.sage.com/en-us/

DALLAS, April 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Beneficient Company Group, L.P. (Ben), a leading company serving the growing market of investors seeking liquidity from alternative assets, today announced that Maria Rutledge has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer.

Previously, Ms. Rutledge held the role of Managing Director, Technology, where since 2018 she managed a team of more than 30 professionals and played a key role in building the infrastructure that powers the delivery of Ben’s unique liquidity solutions and overall client experience. She was instrumental in developing Ben’s technology architecture, helping to automate each of Ben’s core business functions and streamlining various underwriting, risk management, and business development processes along the way.

In her new role, Ms. Rutledge will oversee all of Ben’s proprietary systems, customized data management solutions, artificial intelligence and automation, and robust application stack as Ben seeks to meet growing demand for liquidity and other services in the alternatives market.

“Maria’s commitment to excellence, efficiency, innovation, and collaboration has made her an invaluable asset at Ben,” said Derek Fletcher, President & Chief Fiduciary Officer of Ben. “Her demonstrated ability to lead in a dynamic technological and regulatory environment makes her the ideal person to serve as Ben’s Chief Technology Officer as we embark on this next phase of our growth.”

“Serving as Ben’s first Chief Technology Officer presents a new and exciting opportunity, and I’m thrilled to be in a position to help Ben reach its strategic goals at the C-Suite level,” said Ms. Rutledge. “Continuing to improve the investor experience and develop new ways to empower owners of alternative assets with digital solutions remains the primary focus of Ben’s Technology teams, and I look forward to working closely with Derek and the rest of the Senior Leadership Team to achieve this goal.”

Prior to Ben, Ms. Rutledge held roles of increasing responsibility in technology management and leadership at MUFG Investor Services, The Michaels Companies, Society of Petroleum Engineers, CompUSA, and XO Communications.

Ms. Rutledge holds an MBA from the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas, as well as multiple industry certifications such as PMP, CSM, and ITIL Information Technology.

About The Beneficient Company Group, L.P.

The Beneficient Company Group, L.P. (Ben) provides a unique suite of simple, rapid, and cost-effective liquidity solutions and other financial services for owners of alternative assets. Ben’s liquidity solutions are available for most types of professionally managed alternative asset investments and can be customized to suit individual circumstances. Serving as a principal by using its own balance sheet, Ben operates as a permanent financial institution that helps to remove many of the traditional barriers to liquidity faced by mid-to-high net worth individuals and small-to-mid-sized institutions. For more information, visit www.trustben.com.

Media Contact

Brunswick Group
[email protected]
+1 312 800 8120

Additional Considerations

Ben does not offer legal, tax, estate, or investment advisory services. Subject to Qualification. To understand the terms of the securities fully, you should carefully read the entire confidential private placement memorandum before making a decision to acquire Liquidity Bonds.

These materials do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities of GWGH or any of its affiliates. Any offer or sale of securities shall be made solely to accredited investors and solely pursuant to a definitive confidential private placement memorandum and related documents, including definitive subscription materials. Neither Ben nor GWGH, nor any of their affiliates or representatives, (i) make any express or implied representation or warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained in these materials, or (ii) shall have any liability resulting from your use of these materials.

These materials contain certain estimates, projections and forward-looking statements that contain substantial risks and uncertainties. Please see private placement memorandum for a list of additional risks. The estimates, projections, and forward-looking statements contained herein may or may not be realized, accurate, or complete, and differences between estimated results and those realized may be material. Such estimates, projections, and forward-looking statements are illustrative only and reflect various assumptions of Ben’s management concerning the future performance of Ben and its affiliates, including GWGH, and are subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond their control.

Any securities offered through the Ben ExchangeTrust™ will be offered on a best-efforts basis on behalf of GWGH by Emerson Equity, L.L.C. Member FINRA, SIPC and Managing Broker-Dealer for the issue. GWG Life, LLC, The Beneficient Company Group, L.P., and Emerson Equity, L.L.C. are not affiliated entities.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fbf5df24-8709-4999-a5cf-d713b14bd627