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In Discrete Industries, Announcements, Featured, Bangalore

SAP.iO Launches Future of Automotive Startup Program in Bangalore

December 9, 2021 — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) announced the launch of a new virtual startup program focused on the future of automotive at SAP.iO Foundry Bangalore. Five startups have been selected by a panel of SAP experts, partners, and customers in India to join the cohort. The SAP.iO program is designed to accelerate early-stage B2B startups that can extend SAP’s portfolio and deliver additional innovation to customers.

“With investments in electric vehicle infrastructure, digital manufacturing and direct-to-consumer distribution, the automotive industry continues to witness a massive transformation,” said Manish Prasad, Vice President, Metal, Mining & Automotive Industry at SAP Indian Subcontinent. “The SAP.iO program brings together industry and startup communities to build robust intelligent and scalable technology solutions that address current business challenges and accelerate growth and agility for the automotive sector.”

SAP.iO’s growing network of top-tier startup programs enables entrepreneurs to extend SAP’s portfolio with innovative software solutions for SAP customers. Throughout the 12-week program, the startups will gain valuable mentorship from SAP executives and leading industry experts, as well as access to SAP® technology, application programming interfaces (APIs), and opportunities to collaborate with SAP customers.

The SAP.iO Foundry Bangalore cohort includes the following startups:

  • Dave.AI is an AI-powered sales augmentation platform that helps brands drive sales with improved and interactive product discovery experiences using a virtual sales avatar.
  • Rezo.AI automates conversations over voice, emails, WhatsApp, social media, and chats using artificial intelligence for efficient and effective customer interactions.
  • Plutomen provides augmented reality and virtual reality solutions for remote assistance and collaboration to help transform the industrial frontline.
  • Electrono is a digital solutions enterprise with expertise in research infrastructure management, remote engineering, design consultancy, and Industry 4.0 solutions.
  • CamCom leverages computer vision and associated technologies to improve the visual inspection process.

About SAP.iO
SAP.iO delivers new partnerships and products for SAP by accelerating and scaling startup innovation as well as incubating employee ventures. SAP.iO brings together innovators from every region, industry, and line of business to transform how businesses run. Since 2017, SAP.iO has helped 330+ external startups and internal ventures accelerate their growth while enabling thousands of SAP customers to access innovation. For more information, visit https://sap.io/.

In Singapore, Featured, Sustainability, Announcements

SAP.iO Foundry Singapore Launches Sustainability Startup Program in Asia-Pacific and Japan

November 25, 2021 — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today launched a sustainability-focused virtual startup program at SAP.iO Foundry Singapore. Six international startups have been selected by a jury of SAP experts and partners to join the program.

New ideas and innovative solutions are essential to uncover the impact of emissions and waste across every facet of a business. The selected startups use next generation technologies to drive sustainability outcomes for companies across Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ), in areas such as climate action, circular economy, and socially responsible supply chains.

Over the next 13 weeks, the startups will have access to curated mentorship from SAP executives, exposure to SAP® technology and application programming interfaces (APIs), and opportunities to collaborate with SAP customers around the world.

“Achieving our sustainability goals will require all of us to work together at pace, as our planet’s time is running out,” says Paul Marriott, President SAP Asia Pacific and Japan. “Initiatives such as this SAP.iO Foundry program are critical in identifying, enabling, and promoting innovative solutions that can change how our customers’ business is run, and ultimately the impact we have on the world. This program not only helps start-ups accelerate their growth, but it’s also one of the quickest ways to bring the latest innovation to thousands of our customers globally.”

The following startups are participating in the sustainability in APJ program:

  • Ambee helps people to breathe clean air using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to analyze air quality, soil, micro weather, pollen, and more.
  • CarbonClick is a carbon credits marketplace that allows customers to purchase audited carbon offsets, as well as measure and reduce their carbon footprint.
  • givvable helps businesses to discover and track sustainability credentials, attributes and initiatives of suppliers.
  • Resync is a cloud energy management company which manages renewable assets, building energy and industrial energy.
  • Unabiz drives data-driven business efficiency through sensors, manufacturing and cloud platform services for smart metering, smart facilities management, smart logistics and supply chain.
  • WePower connects corporate energy buyers and retailers with green energy generators so all businesses, regardless of size, can purchase locally produced green energy at competitive rates with full transparency.

About SAP.iO
SAP.iO delivers new partnerships and products for SAP by accelerating and scaling startup innovation as well as incubating employee ventures. SAP.iO brings together innovators from every region, industry, and line of business to transform how businesses run. Since 2017, SAP.iO has helped 330+ external startups and internal ventures accelerate their growth while enabling thousands of SAP customers to access innovation. For more information, visit https://sap.io/.

In San Francisco, Featured, Energy & Natural Resources, Sustainability, Announcements

SAP.iO Foundry San Francisco Kicks off Sustainability in Utilities, Energy and Natural Resources Program

October 21, 2021 — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) launched a sustainability in utilities, energy and natural resources industries focused startup program at SAP.iO Foundry San Francisco. Six startups have been selected by a jury of SAP experts, partners, customers, and investment funds to join the program.

The startups in the program are using next generation technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and internet of things to help businesses become more sustainable by providing deeper insights into processes, greater transparency and reducing waste in the supply chain. Over the next 16 weeks, the startups will have access to curated mentorship from SAP executives, exposure to SAP® technology and application programming interfaces (APIs), and opportunities to collaborate with SAP customers around the world.

The following startups are participating in the SAP.iO Foundry San Francisco Fall 2021 program:

  • Bidgely accelerates a clean energy future by enabling utilities and consumers to make data-driven energy decisions.
  • Camus Energy empowers utilities and energy providers with system-wide visibility, forecasting, and advanced controls to balance local renewable supply with flexible demand for a distributed, zero-carbon future.
  • Empower incentivizes transparent and traceable collection, sourcing and recycling of plastic waste globally.
  • OilX is the world’s first digital oil analyst. It leverages satellite technology and AI to create a digital twin of the oil supply chain, from well-to-wheel.
  • Singularity Energy is a data and analytics company that helps customers reduce their carbon emissions.
  • SupplHi covers the vendor management activities from vendor scouting to vendor qualification, vendor performance evaluation and assessment of vendor financials, compliance and sustainability.

About SAP.iO
SAP.iO delivers new partnerships and products for SAP by accelerating and scaling startup innovation as well as incubating employee ventures. SAP.iO brings together innovators from every region, industry, and line of business to transform how businesses run. Since 2017, SAP.iO has helped 330+ external startups and internal ventures accelerate their growth while enabling thousands of SAP customers to access innovation. For more information, visit https://sap.io/.

In Announcements, Bangalore, CRM & Customer Experience

Vonage : Adds Conversational Commerce Solution To Its Product Portfolio With Acquisition Of Jumper.ai

Vonage, a global leader in cloud communications helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation, today announced that it has acquired Jumper.ai, a Singapore-based leader in omnichannel conversational commerce solutions.

Jumper.ai’s team will join Vonage’s Product and Engineering group. With this acquisition, Vonage gains significant technology and developer-focused talent, as well as expertise in conversational commerce, complementing the programmable, flexible and intelligent capabilities of its singular Vonage Communications Platform and robust portfolio of APIs.

Conversational commerce is an in-demand retail trend that capitalizes on the growing convergence of shopping and conversations on platforms such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram, using the chat feature to create a seamless shopping experience. Consumers can engage in personal conversations to inquire about product and pricing information and build trusted relationships with retailers.

The Jumper.ai platform creates omnichannel, messaging-first customer engagement and shopping journeys across social, messaging, and web (WhatsApp, Messenger, Apple Business Chat, Instagram, Twitter, SMS, LINE, Google Ads, Brand websites, and more). According to an April 2021 Conversational Commerce forecast by Juniper Research1, the total addressable market in this space will be worth $27 billion by 20251. As social messaging becomes more important to consumers across the globe as a quick and direct way of connecting with their favorite brands, Vonage will incorporate Jumper.ai technology to expand its total addressable market and complement its robust portfolio of APIs with a packaged AI-enabled conversational commerce offering.

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In New York, Featured, Consumer Industries, Sustainability, Announcements

SAP.iO Foundry New York Launches Sustainability in Retail and Consumer Industries Program

October 19, 2021 — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) welcomes a new cohort for its startup program focused on sustainability in retail and consumer industries at SAP.iO Foundry New York. Seven startups were selected to join the program by a jury of SAP experts, partners and customers among hundreds of startups.

The startups are using next generation technologies to drive sustainability across the value chain in areas such as reusable packaging, responsible and ethical supply chain as well as circular economy. Over the next 16 weeks, the startups will have access to curated mentors, exposure to SAP® technology and application programming interfaces (APIs), and opportunities to collaborate with SAP customers around the world.

The following startups are participating in the SAP.iO Foundry New York sustainability in retail and consumer industries program:

  • Algramo offers a circular platform that encourages consumers to buy in a more convenient, affordable way with zero waste and connects people, brands and retailers to change consumption habits.
  • Ecocart calculates the carbon emissions of business activities, then programmatically offsets those emissions by funding impactful certified carbon offset projects like planting trees or building windfarms.
  • Everledger leverages blockchain and internet of things technology to offer transparency into supply chains for clarity on quality, origin, sustainability footprint and compliance standards.
  • EVRYTHNG helps customers run their business differently with real time data intelligence from each of their products, end-to-end from factory to consumer and beyond.
  • Inspectorio provides a dynamic and risk-assessment based quality compliance program for digitization, automation, transparency and traceability.
  • LimeLoop is a platform for sustainable shipping including reusable packaging, real time tracking, and predictive analytics.
  • Specright delivers a purpose-built platform for specification management that changes how brands, suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers manage data and collaborate to bring products to market.

About SAP.iO
SAP.iO delivers new partnerships and products for SAP by accelerating and scaling startup innovation as well as incubating employee ventures. SAP.iO brings together innovators from every region, industry, and line of business to transform how businesses run. Since 2017, SAP.iO has helped 330+ external startups and internal ventures accelerate their growth while enabling thousands of SAP customers to access innovation. For more information, visit https://sap.io/.

In HR & People Engagement, Announcements

Culture Amp Acquires Values Recognition Platform Disco

Culture Amp, the world’s leading employee experience platform, announced that it has acquired cultural values recognition company, Disco. Disco helps companies recognize and celebrate values-driven work, foster team appreciation and improve company culture across distributed teams.

Together the two companies will accelerate their shared vision of creating a better world of work by helping people feel more connected, valued, and engaged at a critical time for organizations.

The acquisition continues to enhance Culture Amp’s end-to-end employee experience platform, as it empowers companies to transform employee engagement, develop high performing teams, and retain talent.

“Values are at the heart of powerful cultures. Disco has pioneered a wonderfully simple yet powerful way of recognizing them every day,” said Didier Elzinga, CEO and co-founder of Culture Amp. “Critical to creating a better world of work is improving how we work. This acquisition allows us to expand the tools available to our customers to recognize their values at work, to bolster our flow of work and integration expertise, and to drive meaningful change and deeper insights across organizations.”

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In Tokyo, Featured, Announcements

SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo To Accelerate Data & Analytics Startups

October 6, 2021 — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) launched its B2B startup program at SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo with focus on data and analytics. Five startups working in the areas of data harmonization, business analytics, machine learning and data-as-a-service have been selected to join the program.

“It has become increasingly important for our customers to analyze data and get insights from it, particularly in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic,” said Hirofumi Suzuki, SAP Japan President and Representative Director. “This program will encourage our customers to use a variety of data on SAP platforms with new technology from cutting-edged startups”.

The equity-free program is designed to accelerate innovation and drive new business models for SAP’s customers. During the 13-week virtual program, the startups will have access to curated mentorship, exposure to SAP® technology and application programming interfaces (APIs), as well as collaboration opportunities with SAP customers.

The data and analytics cohort includes the following startups:

  • EAGLYS provides safer and more private ways of processing and exchanging data via secure computing systems, as well as enables AI to process always encrypted data.
  • Sustainable Lab allows companies to visualize the cost-effectiveness (contribution to earnings and stock price) of their sustainable development goals (SDG) actions using artificial intelligence and big data analysis.
  • Synspective offers one-stop-solutions using geospatial data from its own synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellites to provide data and analytic information to governments and commercial outfits.
  • Tradewalz provides a cross-industry digital trade platform to share trade documents and electronic data using blockchain technology.
  • Zeroboard streamlines corporate CO2 emission calculation, reduction management, and compliance with regulatory reporting and market disclosure.

About SAP.iO
SAP.iO delivers new partnerships and products for SAP by accelerating and scaling startup innovation as well as incubating employee ventures. SAP.iO brings together innovators from every region, industry, and line of business to transform how businesses run. Since 2017, SAP.iO has helped 300+ external startups and internal ventures accelerate their growth while enabling thousands of SAP customers to access innovation. For more information, visit https://sap.io/.

In Featured, Public Services, Announcements, Berlin

SAP.iO Foundry Berlin Launches Health Sciences Startup Program

October 5, 2021 — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) launched a virtual startup program focused on health sciences at SAP.iO Foundry Berlin. The eight international startups have been selected by a jury of SAP experts, partners and customers to join the program.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further demonstrated that a digitalized patient journey and efficient clinical trials are imperative to a good health system. With this program, SAP.iO aims to increase the visibility and influence of startups who have made improvement in these areas their mission.

“Our customers depend upon SAP and our ecosystem to provide them with access to the best innovations for their businesses, delivered quickly, in order to provide real, tangible benefits”, said Matthew Laukaitis, Global General Manager, Consumer Industries at SAP. “The SAP.iO program helps our customers understand each startup’s niche innovation and use cases that are consistent with their data and business strategy. We are enthusiastic about working with each of the selected health sciences startups together with our customers, as the pace and impact of these innovations is far-reaching all across these industries.”

Over the next 12 weeks, the startups will have access to curated mentorship from SAP executives, exposure to SAP® technology and application programming interfaces (APIs), and opportunities to collaborate with SAP customers around the world.

The following startups are participating in the SAP.iO Foundry Berlin program:

Life Science Track

  • Chekkit provides a patented consumer intelligence, engagement and loyalty software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution to help medicine and pharma companies fight illicit traders and fake medicines.
  • Endeavor is a global consulting and specialty products firm with a focus on manufacturing, supply chain and logistics solutions in SAP and other IT platforms.
  • GenLots provides a SaaS solution that uses machine learning to optimize supply chain processes including order plans, inventory, transactions and prices.
  • Tag-N-Trac offers a proprietary ultra-thin smart label technology linked to a hardware-enabled SaaS/analytics platform that provides real-time supply chain visibility and traceability.

Healthcare Track

  • Laura offers a machine learning-based clinical decision support system and an omnichannel platform to simplify access to medical services and improve the overall patient journey.
  • Oribta focuses on conversational AI for healthcare and life science. Their virtual assistants and conversational platform help with digital front door applications, remote patient support, pre- and post-visit outreach, and other critical interactions throughout the care journey.
  • Vyasa Analytics enables clients to organize and manage unstructured and semi-structured data assets via its Layar deep learning data fabric software. Data integrated within Layar can be used to derive insights and build dynamic knowledge graphs with intuitive natural language question answering.
  • ELLKAY builds the data pipeline for labs, hospitals and health systems, ambulatory providers, healthcare IT vendors and payers. They offer interoperability data solutions, including data integrations, interface and connectivity solutions, data exchange feeds and conversion and data archive services. 

About SAP.iO
SAP.iO delivers new partnerships and products for SAP by accelerating and scaling startup innovation as well as incubating employee ventures. SAP.iO brings together innovators from every region, industry, and line of business to transform how businesses run. Since 2017, SAP.iO has helped 300+ external startups and internal ventures accelerate their growth while enabling thousands of SAP customers to access innovation. For more information, visit https://sap.io/.

In Singapore, Featured, HR & People Engagement, Announcements

SAP.iO Foundry Singapore Kicks-Off “Future of Work” Startup Program

September 14, 2021 — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) launched a virtual startup program focusing on human resources (HR) technology and the future of work solutions at SAP.iO Foundry Singapore in collaboration with SAP SuccessFactors. The six international startups have been selected by a jury of SAP experts and partners to join the program.

Over the next 13 weeks, SAP will accelerate these early-stage startups that are focused on recruiting, talent and team management, and wellbeing solutions. The startups will have access to curated mentorship from SAP executives, exposure to SAP® technology and application programming interfaces (APIs), and opportunities to collaborate with SAP customers around the world. The program will conclude with the SAP.iO Cohort Demo Day in December 2021.

“We are operating at a time where every industry has been disrupted, and almost every organization is undergoing some kind of transformation. People are at the core of this transformation and the heartbeat of business. We see a continuing trend of leaders looking for innovative ways to empower people with the information and capabilities they need to succeed in a digitized world,” said Aaron Green, Head of SuccessFactors, SAP Asia Pacific & Japan. “By partnering with SAP, these startups are joining an innovative ecosystem, and we look forward to working together to accelerate digital transformation for our customers in the world of Human Experience Management.”

The following startups are participating in the SAP.iO Foundry Singapore program:

  • Accredify empowers organizations to create, issue, and verify digital credentials like educational certificates and employee records. Employers and third-party verifiers can check if credentials are certified true copies without time consuming manual cross-referencing.
  • Boldly’s platform enables both coaching and mentoring in one place. With the largest global database of professional coaches, Boldly ensures both coaching and mentoring culture can scale with exceptional operations, coaching and mentoring resources.
  • Tagvance’s personnel and asset tracking solution provides real time and high precision location tracking of people and assets in industrial spaces for improved safety and productivity.
  • Talent Games helps companies find and assess top millennial talent using recruitment games. Talent Games’ gamified candidate assessments are scientifically proven to accurately evaluate each candidate’s personality, cognitive ability, aptitude and behavior, all while they play the game.
  • Wagely empowers companies to provide employees with affordable and sustainable financial services, including access to earned wage access (EWA). This allows employees to access already earned but unpaid wages to reduce financial stress and boost their productivity, motivation and retention.
  • Springday is a B2B software-as-a-service platform with wellness programs, assessment tools and content to enable employees to be happier and healthier. 

About SAP.iO
SAP.iO delivers new partnerships and products for SAP by accelerating and scaling startup innovation as well as incubating employee ventures. SAP.iO brings together innovators from every region, industry, and line of business to transform how businesses run. Since 2017, SAP.iO has helped 300+ external startups and internal ventures accelerate their growth while enabling thousands of SAP customers to access innovation. For more information, visit https://sap.io/.

In Munich, Featured, Discrete Industries, Announcements

SAP.iO Foundry Munich Introduces New Mobility Startup Program with MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH

September 10, 2021 — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) launched a startup program focused on new mobility at SAP.iO Foundry Munich in collaboration with MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH to address customer objectives and challenges in the mobility sector. Ten startups across the globe were selected by a panel of SAP experts, partners, customers, and investment funds to participate. 

Within this program, the B2B software startups will work closely with customers and MHP to unlock joint innovation efforts. The cohort will address multiple strategic areas throughout the equity-free program – from connectivity in transport and fleet management to battery charging and autonomous driving. 

“For sustainable, emission-free mobility, we need the innovative power of startups and the resources and opportunities of large corporates. SAP.iO Foundry Munich combines both in their new mobility program, and we at MHP are pleased to be able to actively support and promote the startups to make a joint contribution to a better future.” said Marcus Wieland, partner and strategic lead for future mobility at MHP. 

SAP.iO’s growing network of top-tier startup programs has paved the way for entrepreneurs to extend SAP’s portfolio with innovative software solutions for SAP customers. Throughout the 12-week program, the startups will gain valuable mentorship from SAP executives, leading industry experts, as well as access to SAP® technology, application programming interfaces (APIs), and opportunities to collaborate with SAP customers.  

The following startups were selected to participate in the new mobility program with SAP.iO Foundry Munich:   

  • 4.screen | 4.screen is building the first marketplace for in-car branded placements to connect businesses with drivers. They help local businesses reach customers within their car navigation screens when searching for points of interest and proactively recommend stops.
  • adiutaByte | adiutaByte offers flexible and scalable optimization algorithms through an easy-to-use and customizable web front-end for automated scheduling processes via software-as-a-service.
  • BlueSpace | BlueSpace.ai is an autonomous vehicle (AV) software company that leverages patented software with 4D sensors, proprietary mathematical formulas, high-quality state estimation, and optimized software implementation to calculate and process the full motion of objects in real time.
  • BOX ID Systems | BOX ID connects logistic transport assets with long-living IoT sensors. BOX ID offers greater precision of physical asset flows while providing insights into analytics and automation for stock levels, transports, pick-ups, and more.
  • ChargeX | ChargeX offers affordable and scalable charging infrastructure. With a simple and clear dashboard, customers can interact with the chargers and report on the charging processes. The all-in-one package makes charging infrastructure simple, scalable and easy to operate.
  • Compredict | Compredict allows fleet operators and vehicle manufacturers to gain deeper insight into how vehicles are being used. The solution provides data for different stakeholders to reduce CO2 emissions over the whole product lifecycle: from right-sized components, efficient vehicle testing, product durability all the way through to optimized maintenance and fleet operation.
  • Eccocar | Eccocar is a platform to launch, operate and scale digital mobility services, designed with rent-a-cars, dealers and fleet managers around the world.
  • gridX | gridX offers a platform for all decentralized energy resources from the PV system to the charging station. This enables customers to operate their charging infrastructure more efficiently, use more self-generated energy and develop their own energy applications.
  • Hovering Solutions | Hovering Solutions develops drones capable of flying autonomously and replacing the need for human intervention within indoor/outdoor environments, beneficial for carrying out 3D mappings of underground, closed, or confined areas.
  • Motion2AI | Motion2AI offers AI platforms for warehouse mobility fleets like forklifts, carts and robots by providing services of safety, monitoring, optimization, and autonomy.

About SAP.iO 
SAP.iO delivers new partnerships and products for SAP by accelerating and scaling startup innovation as well as incubating employee ventures. SAP.iO brings together innovators from every region, industry, and line of business to transform how businesses run. Since 2017, SAP.iO has helped 300+ external startups and internal ventures accelerate their growth while enabling thousands of SAP customers to access innovation. For more information, visit https://sap.io/.   

In Portfolio News, HR & People Engagement, Announcements, San Francisco

Paradox acquires Baltimore-based Traitify to simplify recruiting process

Paradox, a recruiting software designed to make the process more conversational and personalized, has announced its acquisition of Traitify, a mobile-first digital assessment platform based in Baltimore, to simplify the recruiting process.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Paradox founder and CEO Aaron Matos expects the Traitify platform to further enable Paradox’s mission to “simplify hiring through automation with a human touch.”

“They share our passion for recruiting and our philosophy that software should make things simpler, faster and easier — not add more work,” Matos said in a statement.

Scottsdale-based Paradox was founded in 2016 after Matos observed recruiters spending way too much time managing their application tracking system (ATS), following up on emails and scheduling interviews.

Matos saw an opportunity to automate much of these tasks. This idea plagued him like a “pebble in his shoe,” which is what drove him to start Paradox. He believed software should be doing the work for us, not the other way around. He wanted to build software to help recruiters spend less time with software and more time with people. Olivia, the company’s conversational AI assistant, has been developed to make that happen.

Since then, Paradox has experienced rapid growth and has been recently ranked in the top 5% of the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Some of Paradox’s major clients include Unilever and McDonald’s.

The company’s acquisition of Traitify is the next step in its growth strategy.

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In Portfolio News, CRM & Customer Experience, Announcements

Unity Acquires OTO to Foster Safer Gaming Environments

Unity announced the acquisition of OTO, an AI-driven acoustic intelligence platform that can be leveraged to build and foster safer gaming environments with voice and text chat environments. OTO will be integrated into Unity’s industry leading Vivox platform as a cornerstone for solving one of gaming’s global challenges: the rise of toxic behavior that leads to poor player experience, and ultimately, lost revenue for game creators.

“Over the past year, we saw how people all over the world found respite in gaming, due to the desire to connect with friends and family,” said Felix Thé, VP of Product Management, Operate Solutions, Unity. “The findings of our survey being released today also illustrate that with the rise in cross platform, multiplayer gaming, most players also felt there was a surge in toxic behavior. With OTO’s integration into our portfolio of gaming services, we aim to empower creators with a simple, scalable solution to design safe virtual environments that promote friendly experiences and detect problematic social behaviors.”

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In San Francisco, HR & People Engagement, Announcements

Gapsquare, a pioneer of machine learning into gender pay disparity, is acquired by XpertHR

Inequalities between women and men in the workplace have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are likely to persist in the near future, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). The World Economic Forum estimates globally it will take 267.6 years to close the gender gap in economic participation and opportunity.

So it’s even more crucial that the global gender and ethnicity pay gap be “squared away” by entrepreneurs passionate about the issue.

Gapsquare, a U.K. startup that’s been addressing this issue since 2017, has been among a handful of startups addressing these concerns via machine learning around the issue.

Its analytics software, which analyses and tracks pay disparity, pay equality and pay gap data, has now been acquired by XpertHR, a part of RELX, for an undisclosed sum. TechCrunch understands from sources that Gapsquare never raised institutional venture funding.

The Gapsquare platform — along with co-founders Dr. Zara Nanu and Ion Suruceanu — will be joining the XpertHR team. Gapsquare previously counted Vodafone, Condé Nast and Serco as clients, amounting to data from tens of thousands of employees.

Gapsquare’s model is to provide HR and Reward professionals with actionable insights about their company’s existing pay gaps.

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In HR & People Engagement, Announcements, Press Release, Portfolio News

Amwell Enhances Virtual Care Platform with Two Acquisitions: SilverCloud Health and Conversa Health

Amwell, a national telehealth leader, today announced that it has signed definitive agreements to acquire SilverCloud Health, a leading digital mental health platform, and Conversa Health, a leader in automated virtual healthcare. By adding the technology of these two companies to its virtual care platform, Amwell is greatly enhancing the differentiated value it can bring to current and future clients. Each company brings unique, proven capabilities that will position Amwell to materially advance the reach and impact of care teams on patients’ lives through the use of interactive tools that strengthen the cohesion between physical and virtual care.

“We believe that future care delivery will inevitably blend in-person, virtual and digital care experiences; and as such, we are uniquely building a global platform to support such advanced, coordinated care,” said Ido Schoenberg, Chairman and Co-CEO, Amwell. “By integrating SilverCloud Health and Conversa Health into our platform we are demonstrating Amwell’s fundamental and repeatable design to continually scale digital healthcare services across the different sites of care. These acquisitions will amplify the presence and reach of care teams and reaffirm that as the needs of the healthcare marketplace evolve, so too will the Amwell platform.”

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In Portfolio News, Supply Chain Management, Announcements

project44 Acquires ClearMetal Inc.

project44 announced that it will acquire San Francisco-based ClearMetal, a market leader in international supply chain visibility and predictive analytics for enterprises. ClearMetal’s patented artificial intelligence (AI) enables organizations to optimize their supply chains and provides customers with easy access to trusted, live information about their orders and shipments. project44’s acquisition of ClearMetal is the latest growth milestone preceded by building on tremendous 135% YoY growth, crossing the $50M ARR mark, and being named a Leader in the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant. This acquisition places project44 on the cutting edge of logistics AI, enabling customers to improve agility, and resiliency across their global and multi-modal supply chains.

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