24.8 C
Vientiane
Friday, August 22, 2025
spot_img
Home Blog Page 1149

Compass Mining Expands with 20 MW Hydro-Cooled Bitcoin Mining Facility in North Dakota

5.5 MW of the Next-Generation Antminer S21 Hydro Machines Already Energized for Institutional Client

WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Compass Mining (“Compass” or the “Company”), a leading provider of Bitcoin mining hardware, hosting, and operational solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of a new 20-megawatt (MW) Bitcoin mining facility in North Dakota. The facility is equipped with the water-cooled Antminer S21 Hydro machines, with 5.5 MW of capacity already energized by Compass. The remaining machines will be phased in over the coming months to meet growing demand from Compass’s clients.

This expansion allows Compass to immediately provide hosting services to both institutional investors and individual miners. Effective immediately, customers purchasing machines through Compass’s platform—starting with a minimum order quantity (MOQ) as low as one unit—will have the option to deploy them at the “North Dakota 2″ site.

“Our continued expansion of both self-owned and partner-operated facilities reflects our commitment to offering flexible and efficient Bitcoin mining solutions,” said Shanon Squires, Chief Mining Officer at Compass Mining. “The introduction of hydro-cooling technology provides our clients with a more powerful and energy-efficient mining option while ensuring long-term machine durability.”

The newly energized 5.5 MW of power capacity consists of 1,000 units of the Antminer S21 Hydro, the newest generation of bitcoin mining machines. These machines use advanced water blocks to dramatically improve cooling efficiency compared to traditional air-cooled systems. This results in increased processing power, reduced energy consumption, and a more stable operating environment, minimizing downtime and maximizing long-term performance.

Compass Mining’s strategic approach combines self-owned facilities, such as its recent Iowa 4 site, with high-uptime third-party partnerships to maximize operational reliability. In 2024, Compass energized approximately 50 MW of mining capacity across sites in Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Texas, reinforcing its position as the leading provider of hosting and operational solutions for bitcoin mining.

About Compass Mining

Compass Mining is a customer-first company that provides a platform for individuals and businesses to purchase Bitcoin mining hardware, host machines, build and manage mining facilities, and access a range of ancillary services. With a commitment to exceptional customer support and transparency, Compass Mining sets the benchmark for bitcoin mining hosting. Its mission is to make Bitcoin mining accessible to everyone. To learn more about Compass Mining or to start mining today, visit compassmining.io.

IBM Expands Granite Model Family with New Multi-Modal and Reasoning AI Built for the Enterprise

  • Granite 3.2 – small AI models offering reasoning, vision, and guardrail capabilities with a developer friendly license
  • Updated Granite time series models that offer long-range forecasting with less than 10M parameters

ARMONK, N.Y., Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) today debuted the next generation of its Granite large language model (LLM) family, Granite 3.2, in a continued effort to deliver small, efficient, practical enterprise AI for real-world impact.


All Granite 3.2 models are available under the permissive Apache 2.0 license on Hugging Face. Select models are available today on IBM watsonx.ai, Ollama, Replicate, and LM Studio, and expected soon in RHEL AI 1.5 – bringing advanced capabilities to businesses and the open-source community. Highlights include:

  • A new vision language model (VLM) for document understanding tasks which demonstrates performance that matches or exceeds that of significantly larger models – Llama 3.2 11B and Pixtral 12B – on the essential enterprise benchmarks DocVQA, ChartQA, AI2D and OCRBench1. In addition to robust training data, IBM used its own open-source Docling toolkit to process 85 million PDFs and generated 26 million synthetic question-answer pairs to enhance the VLM’s ability to handle complex document-heavy workflows.
  • Chain of thought capabilities for enhanced reasoning in the 3.2 2B and 8B models, with the ability to switch reasoning on or off to help optimize efficiency. With this capability, the 8B model achieves double-digit improvements from its predecessor in instruction-following benchmarks like ArenaHard and Alpaca Eval without degradation of safety or performance elsewhere2. Furthermore, with the use of novel inference scaling methods, the Granite 3.2 8B model can be calibrated to rival the performance of much larger models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet or GPT-4o on math reasoning benchmarks such as AIME2024 and MATH500.3
  • Slimmed-down size options for Granite Guardian safety models that maintain performance of previous Granite 3.1 Guardian models at 30% reduction in size. The 3.2 models also introduce a new feature called verbalized confidence, which offers more nuanced risk assessment that acknowledges ambiguity in safety monitoring.

IBM’s strategy to deliver smaller, specialized AI models for enterprises continues to demonstrate efficacy in testing, with the Granite 3.1 8B model recently yielding high marks on accuracy in the Salesforce LLM Benchmark for CRM.

The Granite model family is supported by a robust ecosystem of partners, including leading software companies embedding the LLMs into their technologies.

“At CrushBank, we’ve seen first-hand how IBM’s open, efficient AI models deliver real value for enterprise AI – offering the right balance of performance, cost-effectiveness, and scalability,” said David Tan, CTO, CrushBank. “Granite 3.2 takes it further with new reasoning capabilities, and we’re excited to explore them in building new agentic solutions.”

Granite 3.2 is an important step in the evolution of IBM’s portfolio and strategy to deliver small, practical AI for enterprises. While chain of thought approaches for reasoning are powerful, they require substantial compute power that is not necessary for every task. That is why IBM has introduced the ability to turn chain of thought on or off programmatically. For simpler tasks, the model can operate without reasoning to reduce unnecessary compute overhead. Additionally, other reasoning techniques like inference scaling have shown that the Granite 3.2 8B model can match or exceed the performance of much larger models on standard math reasoning benchmarks. Evolving methods like inference scaling remains a key area of focus for IBM’s research teams.4

Alongside Granite 3.2 instruct, vision, and guardrail models, IBM is releasing the next generation of its TinyTimeMixers (TTM) models (sub 10M parameters), with capabilities for longer-term forecasting up to two years into the future. These make for powerful tools in long-term trend analysis, including finance and economics trends, supply chain demand forecasting and seasonal inventory planning in retail.

“The next era of AI is about efficiency, integration, and real-world impact – where enterprises can achieve powerful outcomes without excessive spend on compute,” said Sriram Raghavan, VP, IBM AI Research. “IBM’s latest Granite developments focus on open solutions demonstrate another step forward in making AI more accessible, cost-effective, and valuable for modern enterprises.”

To learn more about Granite 3.2, read this technical article.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contact:
Amy Angelini
IBM AI Communications
alangeli@us.ibm.com  

1

Vision model benchmark results are available in IBM’s technical article, IBM Granite 3.2: Reasoning, Vision, Forecasting, and More, published February 26,  2025.

2

Instruct model  benchmark results are available in IBM’s technical article, IBM Granite 3.2: Reasoning, Vision, Forecasting, and More, published February 26,  2025.

3

Inference scaling benchmark results are available in IBM’s technical research blog, Reasoning in Granite 3.2 Using Inference Scaling, published February 26, 2025.

4

Reasoning in Granite 3.2 Using Inference Scaling, IBM, published February 26, 2025.

 

IBM Corporation logo.
IBM Corporation logo.

 

NYSE CONTENT ADVISORY: PRE-MARKET UPDATE FOR FEBRUARY 26TH

NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is proud to offer a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. 

 

NYSE CONTENT ADVISORY: PRE-MARKET UPDATE FOR FEBRUARY 26TH

Trinity Chavez delivers the pre-market update on February 26th

  • The Dow continued to gain, aided by earnings from Home Depot (NYSE: HD)
  • Nvidia to report earnings after market close this evening
  • Markets closed mixed on Tuesday as investors weigh economic concerns and upcoming data

Watch NYSE TV Live every weekday 9:00-10:00am ET 

Video – https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2628363/NYSE_Feb_26_Market_Update.mp4

 

CNPC ETRI Unveils 2024 Report on Oil and Gas Industry Development and 15th Five-Year Outlook

BEIJING, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On January 21, the CNPC Economics & Technology Research Institute (CNPC ETRI), China’s premier energy think tank, unveiled the 17th edition of its annual oil and gas industry report, titled 2024 Report on Oil and Gas Industry Development  in Beijing. The release was accompanied by the “Outlook on the Development Environment of the Domestic and International Oil and Gas Industry for the 15th Five-Year Plan” and the “Energy Data Handbook of CNPC ETRI.”

CNPC ETRI Unveils 2024 Report
CNPC ETRI Unveils 2024 Report

In 2024, the oil and gas industry shows a “stable yet evolving” landscape, driven by a resilient global economy amidst complexity.  It forecasts that in 2025, the industry will navigate a landscape of “seeking stability amid change,” as intensified competition among major nations could reshape the global energy sector. China’s oil and gas sector remains vital for economic growth, while also pushing towards environmentally responsible practices to achieve sustainability goals.

The report highlights global energy trends, significant trends include a shift towards clean energy, increased electrification, the expansion of emerging technologies, and enhanced energy integration. Looking ahead to 2025, global energy demand is anticipated to grow moderately, with a long-term shift towards green and low-carbon practices.

At the report release conference, industry analysts from CNPC ETRI discussed the development prospects for the oil and gas industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. However, the shift towards a multipolar world, coupled with a technological revolution, promises to reshape the energy landscape. China’s accelerated deployment of a sustainable and renewable energy ecosystem is expected to significantly stabilize the global energy supply chain and contribute to climate change mitigation efforts.

 

CLPS Incorporation to Announce First Half of Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

HONG KONG, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CLPS Incorporation (the “Company” or “CLPS”) (Nasdaq: CLPS), today announced that it will release its financial results for the six months ended December 31, 2024, or the first half of the Company’s fiscal year 2025, before the market opens on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

About CLPS Incorporation

Headquartered in Hong Kong, CLPS Incorporation is a leading global information technology (“IT”) consulting and solutions service provider, primarily focused on serving global institutions in the banking, wealth management, e-commerce, and automotive sectors. As an IT services provider for a growing network of clients within the fintech and financial services industry, CLPS has expanded its business beyond core IT services, venturing into the loan, e-commerce, academic education, and tourism sectors. Through its diversified offerings, CLPS is committed to providing comprehensive services and solutions for its clients. The Company maintains 19 delivery and/or research & development centers to serve different customers in various geographic locations. Mainland China centers are located in Shanghai, Beijing, Dalian, Tianjin, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Hainan. The remaining 9 global centers are located in Hong Kong SAR, USA, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Philippines, Canada, and UAE. For further information regarding the Company, please visit: https://ir.clpsglobal.com/, or follow CLPS on Facebook, InstagramLinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning and protections of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond the Company’s control, may cause the actual results and performance of the Company to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. All such statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s expectations of the Company’s future growth, performance and results of operations, the Company’s ability to capitalize on various commercial, M&A, technology and other related opportunities and initiatives, as well as the risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s most recently filed SEC reports and filings. Such reports are available upon request from the Company, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission, including through the SEC’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov. We have no obligation and do not undertake to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements after the date hereof, or after the respective dates on which any such statements otherwise are made.

Contact:

CLPS Incorporation
Rhon Galicha
Investor Relations Office
Phone: +86-182-2192-5378
Email: ir@clpsglobal.com

Captiva Verde Announces Partnership with Genesis Water Technologies

Vancouver, British Columbia – Newsfile Corp. – February 26, 2025 – Captiva Verde Wellness Corp. (CSE: PWR) (OTC Pink: CPIVF) (“Captiva Verde”) a public company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the trading symbol PWR and further listed in the US OTC Market under the symbol CPIVF announces the addition of Genesis Water Technologies, (“Genesis”) global leader in specialized pure water production, as a strategic partner to both the company and Matnaggewinu Development Corporation, (“MDC”) our 49% owned subsidiary.

Genesis is a global technology company founded to create sustainable, affordable, and efficient solutions to the international drinking water crisis. Over 1.8 billion people are living in water scarcity. According to the United Nations, by 2050 80% of the world will be water scarce. Genesis Systems developed and patented new methods of producing renewable water from air, which are used in our products such as WaterCubes®. Genesis Systems’® technology is endorsed by the United States Air Force. Genesis Systems® technology represents the culmination of years of R&D and is ideal for implementation in challenging environments worldwide. Genesis Systems® technology has best use cases in agriculture, energy, tourism, hospitals, emergency response, military and municipal water supplies. Additionally, it leverages advanced engineering to deliver reliable water generation solutions, even in regions facing water scarcity.

From individual water consumption to water service in buildings to industrial and agricultural use, Genesis Systems’® scalable technologies have the potential to save time, money, and lives, while increasing resilience and reach. In summary, Genesis Systems® patented technologies are the only scalable, turn-key, green tech that provides elegant solutions to meet increasingly challenging global water supply shortfalls.

Genesis Water Technologies brings extensive expertise in providing advanced water treatment and filtration solutions for both municipal and industrial clients. It is designed to be implemented in challenging environments worldwide, offering scalable solutions for individual water consumption to industrial and agricultural use. This partnership aligns with Captiva Verde’s commitment to delivering innovative and environmentally responsible solutions to address critical global challenges, including water scarcity and pollution. The website for Genesis Water Technologies can be found at: https://genesissystems.com.

The co-founder of Genesis Water Systems, Dr. David Stuckenberg, is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience within the infrastructure, water technology, and the renewable energy sectors. Dr. David Stuckenberg’s proven track record in driving growth and strategic development will provide invaluable insights as Captiva Verde and Matnaggewinu Development Corporation continues to expand its global footprint and develop cutting-edge sustainable technologies.

In 2018 and 2019, NATO named David Stuckenberg a “Young Disruptor.” He has been called “the George Kennan of this century” by senior military leaders and “a National Treasure,” by the former Director of the Central Intelligence, Agency Ambassador R. James Woolsey.

Dr. David Stuckenberg has executive experience in government and industry spanning nuclear weapons treaties to national critical infrastructure resilience and high-tech start-ups to large companies. David frequently lectures nationally and internationally at institutions like NATO, King’s College, and Chatham House on innovation and technology at nexus of strategy. His defense research and strategies have informed and shaped all levels of government (including U.S. Congress, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the White House). Where these strategies and programs concern infrastructure, they are the exemplar for U.S. states and cities, including the nation’s largest federal complex, Joint Base San Antonio.

During his tenure at the Department of State, Dr. David Stuckenberg served as a Military Advisor and Subject Matter Expert where he created peacekeeping programs throughout the world and interfaced with the United Nations. Before this, David stood up and led a special Task Force for the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff where he marshaled 150 organizations in ground breaking research leading to an Executive Order. This work now comprises a network of 400 organizations.

As a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins, David is involved with novel research on asymmetric and hybrid warfare and water tech. Previous to joining Johns Hopkins, David was a U.S. Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow. He is also Chairman of the Board at the non-profit think tank American Leadership & Policy Foundation.

As an entrepreneur, David co-founded Genesis Systems and serves as the COO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. Genesis Systems is a global green tech company solving global water scarcity with renewables. David has built companies and organizations from zero to more than $100 million in value. David’s business strategies have informed and are in use by leading companies including Citi® and BP®.

Dr. David Stuckenberg has judged at the NATO Innovation Hub and is involved in the impact-start-up community throughout the U.S. including the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum. As an aerospace engineer and inventor, David is the author of multiple patents. As a veteran combat pilot, he has flown more than 300 sorties worldwide.

He holds a Ph.D. in international security from King’s College; a Master’s in politics from George Washington University; and a B.S. in technology from University of Central Missouri. David is currently a Lt. Colonel in the Texas Air National Guard.

This partnership marks significant milestones in Captiva Verde and MDC’s mission to be at the forefront of sustainable technology solutions, further positioning the company as a key player in the global clean technology market.

About Genesis Water Technologies:

Genesis Water Technologies is a leading provider of advanced water treatment solutions, specializing in sustainable and innovative technologies that address water quality challenges for clients worldwide. Genesis Systems® technology has versatile use cases in agriculture, energy, tourism, hospitals, emergency response, military, and municipal water supplies. It is designed to be implemented in challenging environments worldwide, offering scalable solutions from individual water consumption to industrial and agricultural use. Their expertise spans across industries, including municipal, industrial, and commercial sectors.

About Matnaggewinu Development Corporation (MDC):

MDC is a Mi’kmaq-led organization committed to advancing economic development for Mi’kmaq communities through sustainable projects and partnerships. The corporation focuses on initiatives that preserve Mi’kmaq culture while fostering economic self-reliance and prosperity. MDC is 49% owned by Captiva Verde.

About Captiva Verde:

Captiva is a public company (CSE: PWR) dedicated to building partnerships that support Indigenous development and economic growth in key sectors such as sustainability, real estate-based hospitality, tourism, aviation and renewable resources.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

“Jeff Ciachurski”

Jeffrey Ciachurski
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Cell: (949) 903-5906
E-mail: westernwind@shaw.ca

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws (together, “forward-looking statements”). All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the expansion of Captiva’s health and wellness platform.

Forward-Looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “potential”, “target”, “budget”, “propose” and “intend” and statements that an event or result “may”, “will”, “should”, “could” or “might” occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-Looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: general business and economic conditions. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include those described under the heading “Risks and Uncertainties” in the Company’s most recently filed MD&A (a copy of which is available under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com). The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

United Warehouse Signs New Solar PV Systems Agreement to Further Enhance Sustainability and Revenue Diversification

HONG KONG, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — United Warehouse Limited (“United”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marvion Inc. (OTC: MVNC), today announced the signing of a new Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System Service Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Starwarehouse Engineering Limited (“Starwarehouse”). This collaboration further solidifies United Warehouse’s commitment to sustainability and green energy transition while diversifying its revenue streams.

Under the Agreement, Starwarehouse will be responsible for designing, installing, and commissioning a 170kW solar PV system on the rooftop of another United Warehouse’s facility located at DD 119 LOT 1294,1295,1298, Pak Sha Tsuen, Yuen Long, New Territories. The system will include 512 units of 520W flexible solar panels, a 120kW inverter, a 50kW inverter, an isolation transformer, and other related equipment. The electricity generated by the system will be sold to CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (“CLP”) under the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme, providing United Warehouse with a long-term, stable revenue stream while further reducing its carbon footprint.

The project is an expansion to the previous PV system installation done in October 2024, and this new installation is expected to commence operations in 2025 and will run until December 31, 2033. The PV system is projected to generate a significant amount of renewable energy annually, effectively reducing United Warehouse’s operational costs and promoting environmental sustainability.

Mr. Chan Sze Yu, CEO of Marvion Inc., commented, “This new agreement not only reflects our commitment to green energy but also demonstrates our ability to balance long-term financial returns with social responsibility. We look forward to the economic and environmental benefits the PV system will bring to the company, further strengthening our competitiveness in the Hong Kong market.”

A spokesperson for Starwarehouse added, “We are honored to partner with United Warehouse once again, providing them with efficient and safe PV solutions to support their energy transition. We believe this state-of-the-art system will deliver long-term environmental benefits and economic returns to the Marvion Group.”

Key Highlights of the Agreement:

  1. Revenue Diversification: The PV system will generate stable additional income for United Warehouse through CLP’s Feed-in Tariff scheme.
  2. Sustainability: The project will significantly reduce the company’s carbon footprint, supporting Hong Kong’s carbon neutrality goals.
  3. Long-Term Collaboration: The Agreement is valid until 2033, ensuring mutual benefits for both parties over the coming years.
  4. Risk Mitigation: The Agreement includes provisions for insurance, maintenance, and force majeure, ensuring smooth project operations.

This collaboration not only underscores Marvion and United Warehouse’s commitment to sustainability but also reinforces Marvion Inc.’s leadership in environmental protection and social responsibility as a logistics and warehousing service provider.

About Marvion

Mavion (MVNC) is a group provides logistics and warehousing services in the Hong Kong market. The group provides one-stop transport and storage solutions to business clients.

Website: http://www.unitedksk.com

For media queries, please contact:
ir@unitedksk.com 

Venus Williams Invests in WeWard App to Promote a Healthier World Through Walking

Tennis champion and entrepreneur Venus Williams joins walking app WeWard as an investor and ambassador.

NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — WeWard, the free walking app that rewards 20M users for every step, today announced that tennis champion and entrepreneur Venus Williams has joined the company as both an investor and ambassador. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to encouraging healthier and more active lifestyles worldwide.

WeWard x Venus Williams
WeWard x Venus Williams

According to the World Health Organization, 31% of adults and 80% of adolescents do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity. Further, WeWard data shows that Americans walk nearly half as much as they should and rank among the lowest in daily walking activity compared to their developed nation counterparts.

With a shared mission to promote healthier living, Williams and WeWard aim to raise awareness around the dangers of physical inactivity, and highlight the significant health benefits—across cardiovascular health, mental health, metabolism, and energy levels—that come with developing a daily walking routine. Cardiovascular health is particularly top of mind at this time for those celebrating American Heart Month and maintaining New Year’s health resolutions for 2025.

As part of the announcement, WeWard debuted a 50-second spot showcasing the tennis champion tracking her steps on the app and later celebrating during a match after hitting her step count goal. In addition to the video campaign, WeWard has pledged to donate $25,000 to support Venus’s charity of choice, CARE, which works to address global poverty by supporting economic growth, improved health, access to education, and more for women and communities around the world. The startup will also be hosting a month-long ‘Venus Williams Championship’ in-app where participants can unlock increasing donation amounts with their collective steps. If the final steps milestone is reached, WeWard will donate a total of $40,000. Starting today, users can also engage in Venus-themed walking challenges and redeem special rewards, including tickets to sporting events, Garmin watches, gift cards, and more.

Williams, who is highly-decorated in both sports and entrepreneurship, has been a longstanding advocate for prioritizing personal wellness both on and off the court. This partnership closely follows the release of her health and wellness book STRIVE, which outlines a holistic and science-backed approach to life improvement.

“As someone who is deeply passionate about personal health and wellness, I’m thrilled to be partnering with WeWard,” said Venus Williams. “A large part of staying well and active is simply by moving your body whichever way you can, and with WeWard, walking becomes a fun and rewarding experience. I’m excited to be part of a movement that encourages people to take that first step towards a healthier, more active lifestyle.”

Founded in 2019, WeWard is the lifestyle app rewarding 20M users for their daily walking activity, bringing a new kind of gamified approach to exercise motivation. Each day, users can track and redeem their daily steps for incentives like cash deposits, charity donations, or retail gifts, and partake in social challenges, such as leaderboards and collectibles. WeWard users have been shown to increase walking activity by nearly 25%, and to date, the company has given $20M in cash back to users, $1M to charity partners, and helped save more than 600,000 tons of CO2 from walking activity generated.

The partnership with Williams marks a significant milestone for the startup, which expanded to 20 new countries in July of 2024 and recently crossed 1M downloads in the U.S. since its rollout into the region.

“We couldn’t have found a better partner to help us inspire more people to walk,” said Yves Benchimol. “Venus has been such a huge inspiration to so many throughout her multi-faceted career, and we’re thrilled to have her energy, advocacy, and entrepreneurial spirit onboard to help us drive WeWard’s mission to get more people walking.”

For more information, please visit WeWard’s website at https://www.wewardapp.com/

About WeWard
Founded in 2019 by Yves Benchimol, WeWard is a free mobile app designed to make walking a more rewarding part of people’s lives. Through gamifying and socializing the step count, the app rewards users for their daily walking activity through incentives such as cash deposits, gift purchases, and charity donations. More than 20M users have signed up to join the platform, which has been shown to increase user walking time by nearly 25%. WeWard is the chosen partner to over 1,500 brands, including household names such as Amazon, Adidas, L’Oreal, Netflix, Nike, Converse, and more. It is available in 29 countries across the globe. To learn more, visit https://www.wewardapp.com/.

About Venus Williams
With 7 Grand Slam titles, 5 Wimbledon championships and 4 Olympic gold medals, tennis champion Venus Williams is one of the most accomplished and inspiring women in the history of sports. Outside of her accomplishments on the court, Venus has parlayed her fine-tuned business acumen with her healthy competitive spirit into numerous successful ventures across the art, design, and wellness spaces, as well as advocacy efforts around equality and mental health. Venus’s achievements throughout her legendary career have merited her a plethora of additional accolades, including being honored as Variety’s “power of Women”, Glamour Magazine’s ‘Woman of the Year,’ CARE Impact Award for Gender Equality, ESPN’s ‘WTA Player of the Year,’ and Forbes’ ‘Celebrity 100’ among others.