Investa to Lead a New Era of Accessible Options Trading at The London Investor Show 2025




Investa to Lead a New Era of Accessible Options Trading at The London Investor Show 2025

– CEO Alec Beasley to demystify options trading for UK investors –

London – Investa, the UK’s first zero-commission options trading app (other fees may apply), will champion education and inclusivity in options trading at The London Investor Show 2025.

On Friday, 24th October, Alec Beasley, CEO and co-founder of Investa, will appear on the OpenStage Theatre (11:05am – 11:35am) to present “Speculate, Hedge, and Earn Income with Options.” In his session, he’ll highlight options trading strategies and explain how Investa is empowering UK investors to participate more confidently in this asset class, one that’s hugely popular in the U.S. but has remained underdeveloped in the UK due to many barriers to entry. Drawing on his extensive experience as a former Citi Equity Derivatives Sales Associate, Beasley brings deep market knowledge and insights that will help make options trading more approachable for private investors.

Investa will return to the stage at 12:30pm in the Auditorium for The Lunchtime Summit, a panel discussion chaired by James Baxter-Derrington of The Telegraph. Beasley will join Holly Mead, freelance journalist and former Deputy Money Editor of The Times, and Clem Chambers, a contributing market commentator for Solomon Global, to explore “What Would a £74 Billion Cash Injection Do to UK Markets?” and will provide a unique perspective on market dynamics and the potential impact on private investors.

The Investa app is designed for on-the-go traders seeking a level playing field and access to the same opportunities professionals have enjoyed for years. It provides an intuitive interface and removes jargon, complex options chains, and commissions. The Early Access Launch of its second fundraise on Crowdcube went live on Monday, 20^th October. Visit the Investa page on Crowdcube¹ for more information.

“Our aim with Investa is to give UK investors a clearer and more accessible way to trade options,” said Alec Beasley, CEO of Investa. “We’ve designed the platform to remove the friction points and hidden costs, so that investors can navigate the market more confidently. Investa’s goal is to make the trading experience as straightforward as buying shares. The London Investor Show is the perfect platform to showcase this approach and introduce UK investors to a simpler way of engaging with options trading.”

“Private investors come to The London Investor Show for specialist insights and new opportunities. With Investa, they’re getting both. The team’s Citi background and fintech expertise give them a deep understanding of what UK investors want and the ability to finally make options trading here as accessible as it is in the U.S.,” said Lisa Campbell, founder of Investor Conferences (UK) Ltd.

Join Investa at the London Investor Show 2025

The London Investor Show is taking place on Friday, 24th October 2025 at Novotel London West. Don’t miss the chance to gain valuable insights and network with peers and industry leaders. Get complimentary tickets using the Investa code.

For more information about Investa, visit the website at: https://www.investa.co.uk/

– ends –

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Investa

Investa has built the UK’s first zero-commission options trading app for on-the-go traders. Founded by ex-Citi options brokers who understand the challenges faced by non-US investors and developed by the co-founder of Freetrade (Ian Fuller), Investa aims to level the playing field for private investors by providing an accessible way to trade both stocks and options.

What makes Investa different from other trading apps?

The platform has been designed specifically with options traders in mind and removes the jargon, complex options chains, and commissions to deliver an intuitive and straightforward trading experience. Unlike traditional platforms, Investa focuses on clarity and accessibility:

• Zero commission (other fees apply)
• Cash accounts only, with no margin
• Jargon-free terminology and simplified “options cards” that aim to strip away complexity
• An intuitive interface that has been designed for the on-the-go trader

Investa is a trading name of Investa Markets Ltd, which is an appointed representative of Richdale Brokers & Financial Services Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 1008437). In this capacity, it is permitted to perform the reception and transmission of orders. Investa does not provide investment advice. Individuals should seek advice from a suitably licensed and independent professional advisor.


Visit the website for more information: https://www.investa.co.uk/
Download the app here.

Disclaimer: Capital at risk. All investments carry a varying degree of risk and it’s important you understand the nature of these. The value of your investments can go up or down and you may get back less than your original investment. Options are complex products and not suitable for all investors. Please review Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options prior to engaging in options trading. Fees may apply.

About the London Investor Show

The London Investor Show was launched in 2010 with the sole aim of providing independent investment training and education to private investors and traders in the UK. Alongside Media Partners, MoneyWeek, the London Investor Show delivers this information through a one-day, live event and exhibition – with workshops, seminars, panel sessions, live debates, company presentations and interviews. The London Investor Show, and sister event, the London Trader Show, take place on the same day in the same venue – delegates with a ticket to one event can visit all events.

Friday, 24th October at Novotel London West, W6 8DR. Doors open at 9.30 am and close at 5.00 pm.

For more information, please visit: www.londoninvestorshow.com

For further press information, please contact: Francesca De Franco on 0794 125 3135 or email: francesca.defranco@investa.co.uk  

¹ Crowdcube disclaimer: Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more: https://www.crowdcube.com/explore/risk-warning 

Chipmind launches from stealth with $2.5m for its AI agents to speed chip making




Chipmind launches from stealth with $2.5m for its AI agents to speed chip making

Chipmind’s technology is designed to shorten chip development cycles. Its AI agents solve real-world chip design and verification tasks autonomously, helping engineers save 40% of their time on repetitive low-level tasks.

Zurich, Oct. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today Chipmind, the first European startup building AI agents to accelerate the development of microchips, launches Chipmind Agents, optimized to empower engineering teams in semiconductor companies to speed-up the path from specification to chip manufacturing. 

Chipmind Agents are a new class of AI agents designed to automate and optimize the most complex chip design and verification tasks. Uniquely built upon each customer’s own proprietary, design-specific data, these agents seamlessly integrate into existing workflows, intelligently self-adapting to the specific design context, auto-customizing for proprietary EDA tools, and understanding the entire chip design hierarchy. Functioning as a fully aware and collaborative co-worker, Chipmind Agents enhance engineering productivity by autonomously executing complex, multi-step tasks while ensuring the human engineer always remains in full control. This holistic and purpose-built approach is designed to dramatically reduce time-to-solve cycles within any custom chip design environment, empowering teams to achieve results faster.

Chipmind Founders: Harald Kröll and Sandro Belfanti.

The evolution of chip design has created powerful, deeply embedded EDA tool flows that were not designed for interaction with modern AI agents. Recognizing that these critical systems can’t be discarded, we developed Chipmind’s agent-building technology. This foundational platform is the key to unlocking AI’s potential, as it prepares a company’s current designs and development environment for agentic automation. Instead of replacing legacy systems, our technology makes them ready for the future of chip design.

“In the semiconductor industry, deep customization and data protection are fundamental, but true design awareness is what separates a generic tool from an intelligent partner. Each company’s chip is a complex hierarchy with unique constraints, surrounded by a proprietary environment of tools and workflows,” said Harald Kröll, Co-Founder and CEO of Chipmind. “That is the reality we built for. Our ‘design-aware’ agents are engineered to holistically understand the entire chip context, not just the surrounding tools. We’ve found this deep awareness is the key that unlocks productivity, translating directly into significant time savings on the most complex tasks, all while integrating seamlessly into existing workflows.”

Chipmind is the first European startup focusing on AI agents for chip design and verification, its origin story is built on the strong, trusting relationship between its founders, Harald Kröll and Sandro Belfanti, who met during their PhD studies at ETH Zurich. Both have extensive experience in AI and chip design, and have developed more than 20 chips, ranging from modems for mobile phones to system-on-chip solutions.

“Anyone who’s spent time in chip development knows how much of the work is repetitive and time-consuming, demanding precision but not necessarily creativity,” said Sandro Belfanti, Co-Founder and CTO of Chipmind. “Throughout my career developing chips at top-tier semiconductor companies, I’ve often wished for a solution that could magically take care of those tedious tasks so I could focus on solving real engineering challenges. With Chipmind Agents, we’re finally bringing that solution to life: AI agents that can autonomously handle the boring parts, letting engineers focus on what truly matters: innovation.”

The semiconductor industry is at a critical inflection point. As the demand for more powerful chips continues to skyrocket, the complexity of designing them has grown exponentially, pushing traditional methodologies to their limits. This is no longer a problem that can be solved by simply hiring more engineers. Concurrently, a new generation of engineers is becoming increasingly accustomed to working with AI tools and agents, creating fertile ground for a new market of intelligent, collaborative design solutions. This confluence of need and acceptance sets the stage for a new paradigm: the integration of sophisticated AI agents into the core of chip design. This human-AI collaboration is the key to managing immense complexity, unlocking engineering creativity, and ultimately enabling the next generation of technology that will define our future.

Chipmind has successfully raised $2.5M in its pre-seed round, led by Founderful with participation of prominent angel investors from the semiconductor industry. This investment allows Chipmind to expand its world-class engineering team, accelerate product development, and deepen its engagements with key industry players.

Edouard Treccani, principal at Founderful, added: “In a world buzzing with AI every day, Chipmind stands out as a refreshingly real solution to a problem Harald and Sandro have spent 20 years deep in. From day one, they’ve built in close dialogue with the market, and the early feedback has been remarkably positive. Founderful is thrilled to be part of their journey!

Discover how agentic AI can accelerate your design cycles. Request your demo with our team today.

Media images can be found here. 

About Chipmind 
Chipmind is the first European startup dedicated to creating AI agents that accelerate the development of microchips. By making existing chip design environments and EDA tool flows AI-ready, Chipmind empowers semiconductor companies to shorten development cycles, reduce errors, and foster innovation. Founded by a team of semiconductor and AI experts, the company is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

About Founderful 
Founderful (formerly Wingman Ventures) is the leading Swiss pre-seed fund, backing ambitious founders from day zero to exit. With a hands-on, founder-first approach, Founderful has invested in over 60 startups, building a portfolio of Switzerland’s most promising tech companies.

CONTACT: For further information please contact the Chipmind press office: Bilal Mahmood on b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com or +447714007257.

Chipmind launches from stealth with $2.5m for its AI agents to speed chip making




Chipmind launches from stealth with $2.5m for its AI agents to speed chip making

Chipmind’s technology is designed to shorten chip development cycles. Its AI agents solve real-world chip design and verification tasks autonomously, helping engineers save 40% of their time on repetitive low-level tasks.

Zurich, Oct. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today Chipmind, the first European startup building AI agents to accelerate the development of microchips, launches Chipmind Agents, optimized to empower engineering teams in semiconductor companies to speed-up the path from specification to chip manufacturing. 

Chipmind Agents are a new class of AI agents designed to automate and optimize the most complex chip design and verification tasks. Uniquely built upon each customer’s own proprietary, design-specific data, these agents seamlessly integrate into existing workflows, intelligently self-adapting to the specific design context, auto-customizing for proprietary EDA tools, and understanding the entire chip design hierarchy. Functioning as a fully aware and collaborative co-worker, Chipmind Agents enhance engineering productivity by autonomously executing complex, multi-step tasks while ensuring the human engineer always remains in full control. This holistic and purpose-built approach is designed to dramatically reduce time-to-solve cycles within any custom chip design environment, empowering teams to achieve results faster.

Chipmind Founders: Harald Kröll and Sandro Belfanti.

The evolution of chip design has created powerful, deeply embedded EDA tool flows that were not designed for interaction with modern AI agents. Recognizing that these critical systems can’t be discarded, we developed Chipmind’s agent-building technology. This foundational platform is the key to unlocking AI’s potential, as it prepares a company’s current designs and development environment for agentic automation. Instead of replacing legacy systems, our technology makes them ready for the future of chip design.

“In the semiconductor industry, deep customization and data protection are fundamental, but true design awareness is what separates a generic tool from an intelligent partner. Each company’s chip is a complex hierarchy with unique constraints, surrounded by a proprietary environment of tools and workflows,” said Harald Kröll, Co-Founder and CEO of Chipmind. “That is the reality we built for. Our ‘design-aware’ agents are engineered to holistically understand the entire chip context, not just the surrounding tools. We’ve found this deep awareness is the key that unlocks productivity, translating directly into significant time savings on the most complex tasks, all while integrating seamlessly into existing workflows.”

Chipmind is the first European startup focusing on AI agents for chip design and verification, its origin story is built on the strong, trusting relationship between its founders, Harald Kröll and Sandro Belfanti, who met during their PhD studies at ETH Zurich. Both have extensive experience in AI and chip design, and have developed more than 20 chips, ranging from modems for mobile phones to system-on-chip solutions.

“Anyone who’s spent time in chip development knows how much of the work is repetitive and time-consuming, demanding precision but not necessarily creativity,” said Sandro Belfanti, Co-Founder and CTO of Chipmind. “Throughout my career developing chips at top-tier semiconductor companies, I’ve often wished for a solution that could magically take care of those tedious tasks so I could focus on solving real engineering challenges. With Chipmind Agents, we’re finally bringing that solution to life: AI agents that can autonomously handle the boring parts, letting engineers focus on what truly matters: innovation.”

The semiconductor industry is at a critical inflection point. As the demand for more powerful chips continues to skyrocket, the complexity of designing them has grown exponentially, pushing traditional methodologies to their limits. This is no longer a problem that can be solved by simply hiring more engineers. Concurrently, a new generation of engineers is becoming increasingly accustomed to working with AI tools and agents, creating fertile ground for a new market of intelligent, collaborative design solutions. This confluence of need and acceptance sets the stage for a new paradigm: the integration of sophisticated AI agents into the core of chip design. This human-AI collaboration is the key to managing immense complexity, unlocking engineering creativity, and ultimately enabling the next generation of technology that will define our future.

Chipmind has successfully raised $2.5M in its pre-seed round, led by Founderful with participation of prominent angel investors from the semiconductor industry. This investment allows Chipmind to expand its world-class engineering team, accelerate product development, and deepen its engagements with key industry players.

Edouard Treccani, principal at Founderful, added: “In a world buzzing with AI every day, Chipmind stands out as a refreshingly real solution to a problem Harald and Sandro have spent 20 years deep in. From day one, they’ve built in close dialogue with the market, and the early feedback has been remarkably positive. Founderful is thrilled to be part of their journey!

Discover how agentic AI can accelerate your design cycles. Request your demo with our team today.

Media images can be found here. 

About Chipmind 
Chipmind is the first European startup dedicated to creating AI agents that accelerate the development of microchips. By making existing chip design environments and EDA tool flows AI-ready, Chipmind empowers semiconductor companies to shorten development cycles, reduce errors, and foster innovation. Founded by a team of semiconductor and AI experts, the company is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

About Founderful 
Founderful (formerly Wingman Ventures) is the leading Swiss pre-seed fund, backing ambitious founders from day zero to exit. With a hands-on, founder-first approach, Founderful has invested in over 60 startups, building a portfolio of Switzerland’s most promising tech companies.

CONTACT: For further information please contact the Chipmind press office: Bilal Mahmood on b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com or +447714007257.

Investa Launches Second Crowdcube Raise Following Record-Breaking 2024 Campaign




Investa Launches Second Crowdcube Raise Following Record-Breaking 2024 Campaign

Investa Launches Second Crowdcube Raise Following Record-Breaking 2024 Campaign
– UK fintech invites investors to join next growth phase as it enhances accessibility and streamlines options trading experience –

London – Investa, the UK’s first zero-commission options trading app (other fees may apply), will open early access to its second Crowdcube fundraise on Monday, 20^th October.

The company’s previous Crowdcube campaign in 2024 was overfunded by 220% and attracted almost 500 investors, making it the most participated-in UK fintech raise on the European equity crowdfunding platform that year. Investa hit its funding target within four hours and closed the round six days early. Investa now aims to raise at least £1 million in this second round as it continues to make options trading more transparent, accessible, and easier to navigate for retail UK investors.

Funds raised during this second round will enable Investa to:

• Launch the app for Android
• Scale customer acquisition 
• Develop additional trading infrastructure
• Build the most intuitive options trading app on the UK market
• Empower more investors to help shape access to options trading
• Strengthen operations to support growing demand following the successful iOS launch

The Early Access Launch goes live on Monday, 20^th October. This gives both new and existing investors the opportunity to register their interest and indicate how much they’d like to invest in one of the UK’s most exciting fintech startups. Those who register for the early access can participate in the Private Live round on Monday, 27th October and Tuesday, 28th October, giving them priority to invest ahead of the Public Live phase on Wednesday, 29th October, which is open to everyone.

Since its first fundraising round, Investa has rolled out its iOS app, which surpassed 1,000 downloads on its first day, has facilitated over 2,000 stock and options trades to date, and has opened access to more than 100,000 tradable options contracts. The company has also introduced Open Banking integration, which makes adding funds to an account much easier for users. Investa was also recently named a finalist in the Wealth category at the FF Awards.

“The support we received from the Crowdcube community last year was phenomenal,” said Alec Beasley, Co-Founder and CEO of Investa. “It not only validated our mission to make options trading accessible to UK retail investors, but also highlighted that on-the-go traders want a level playing field; they want access to the same opportunities professionals have enjoyed for years. We’re delivering that access through an intuitive, zero-commission mobile app. With this next crowdfunding campaign, we’re building on our momentum and aim to create the best options trading app in the market.”

“Investa’s 2024 fundraise was really well supported,” said Matt Cooper, Co-CEO of Crowdcube. “The team’s commitment to opening up options trading to private individuals and retail investors in the UK clearly resonated. It’s always exciting for us to support companies that are focused on financial inclusion and opening up new pathways for retail investors to participate in different asset classes.”

For more information, visit the Investa page on Crowdcube

– ENDS –

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Investa

Investa has built the UK’s first zero-commission options trading app for on-the-go traders. Founded by ex-Citi options brokers who understand the challenges faced by non-US investors and developed by the co-founder of Freetrade (Ian Fuller), Investa aims to level the playing field for private investors by providing an accessible way to trade both stocks and options.

What makes Investa different from other trading apps?

The platform has been designed specifically with options traders in mind and removes the jargon, complex options chains, and commissions to deliver an intuitive and straightforward trading experience. Unlike traditional platforms, Investa focuses on clarity and accessibility:

• Zero commission (other fees apply)
• Cash accounts only, with no margin
• Jargon-free terminology and simplified “options cards” that aim to strip away complexity
• An intuitive interface that has been designed for the on-the-go trader

Investa is a trading name of Investa Markets Ltd, which is an appointed representative of Richdale Brokers & Financial Services Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 1008437). In this capacity, it is permitted to perform the reception and transmission of orders. Investa does not provide investment advice. Individuals should seek advice from a suitably licensed and independent professional advisor.


Visit the website for more information:  https://www.investa.co.uk/
Download the app here.

For further press information, please contact: Francesca De Franco on 0794 125 3135 or email francesca.defranco@investa.co.uk 

Disclaimer: Capital at risk. All investments carry a varying degree of risk and it’s important you understand the nature of these. The value of your investments can go up or down and you may get back less than your original investment. Options are complex products and not suitable for all investors. Please review Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options prior to engaging in options trading. Fees may apply.

CfPA Announces 2025 Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit: Shaping the Future of Capital Formation




CfPA Announces 2025 Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit: Shaping the Future of Capital Formation

Industry and leadership summit highlights innovation, progress, and the Crowdfunding Professional Association’s policy platform for advancing the future of capital formation.

Washington, D.C., Oct. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA) is pleased to announce the 2025 Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Industry and Leadership Summit, taking place October 21-22, 2025, at the National Union Building (918 F St NW, Washington, DC).

Now in its second year welcoming national regulators and policymakers, the CfPA Summit convenes a diverse ecosystem of practitioners, investors, issuers, and service providers working to expand access to capital through regulated crowdfunding.

“The regulated investment crowdfunding market is rapidly innovating,” said Jenny Kassan, CfPA Board Director and 2025 President. “And we think that trend will only accelerate as the industry adjusts to new regulatory and legislative initiatives that are in motion for the year ahead. In addition to provide a forum for industry operators to share knowledge and compare best practices, this Summit creates space where people making policy decisions can meet the practitioners who live with those decisions daily.”

Featured Speakers and Panelists

Hester M. Peirce – Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: Gain valuable insights into capital formation, investor protection, and the future of exempt offerings.

Aaron Shafton – Managing Director, Dealmaker Securities: Learn how crowdfunding platforms are bridging private markets and public capital access.

Andrew Dix – Founder & CEO, Crowded Media Group LLC: Stay informed on the latest trends and developments shaping the crowdfunding ecosystem.

Andrew Field – Executive Lead (UK), Global Equity Crowdfunding Association (GECA): Gain an international perspective on harmonizing crowdfunding policies and practices.

Andrew Stephenson – Attorney, CrowdCheck Law; CfPA Board Director: Gain expert insight into how adjacent innovations may shape the future of regulated crowdfunding and capital formation.

Angela Barbash – COO, Revalue LLC; CfPA Board Director: Understand how fiduciary constraints and policy frameworks affect mainstream adoption of crowdfunding as an asset class.

Brian Christie – Co-Chair, CfPA; CEO, Brainsy: Discover how technology, advocacy, and policy intersect to shape the future of investment crowdfunding.

Brian Korn – Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP; CfPA Board Director: Learn how evolving digital-asset regulations intersect with Reg CF and Reg A+, and what upcoming policy changes could mean for issuers, investors, and platforms.

Chris Lustrino – CEO, KingsCrowd: Gain data-driven insights into deal flow, investor participation, and industry growth across the U.S. market.

Craig Denlinger – Managing Partner, Artesian CPA; CfPA Board Director: Understand financial reporting and accounting best practices that drive investor confidence.

Dr. Jason Cherubini – Executive-in-Residence, Loyola University Maryland: Learn how universities can connect finance education and real-world crowdfunding practice.

Darren Marble – Executive Producer, Going Public: Learn how media and storytelling can amplify investor engagement and market visibility for issuers.

Devin Thorpe – Co-Chair, CfPA; CEO & Founder, The Super Crowd Inc.: Discover how impact investing and crowdfunding are creating inclusive, sustainable economies.

Dina Ellis Rochkind – Counsel, Government Affairs, Paul Hastings: Gain perspective on legislative developments, including the Clarity Act and digital-asset policy.

Eric Cox – Board Director, CfPA; Head of Growth, Netcapital: Discover effective marketing strategies and investor engagement methods for successful campaigns.

Eve Picker – CEO, Small Change; CfPA Board Director: Learn how mission-driven crowdfunding is transforming community development and real estate finance.

James Murphy – Risk Monitoring Director, FINRA: Gain regulatory insights into launching and operating compliant Reg CF portals.

Jason Fishman – Secretary, CfPA; CEO, Digital Niche Agency: Learn data-backed digital marketing techniques to boost campaign reach and conversions.

Jenny Kassan – President, CfPA; CEO, Baltimore Community Commons: Discover innovative approaches to community-based capital formation and policy reform.

J. Martin Tate – Partner, Kunzler Bean & Adamson: Understand emerging deal structures and legal innovations in private and exempt offerings.

Julian A. Haffner – Member, Gordon Feinblatt LLC: Gain practical guidance on securities-law issues affecting intermediaries and issuers.

Mark Elenowitz – Managing Director, Digital Offering LLC: Learn how crowdfunding can serve as a pathway from private offerings to public markets.

Maria Springer – Founder & CEO, Capital Department: Gain insights into storytelling, investor relations, and brand-building for successful capital raises.

Matt Venturi – CEO, ClearingBid: Learn about market infrastructure, clearing innovations, and emerging models for secondary liquidity.

Meighan Leon – Chief Legal Officer, Dealmaker: Understand trends and regulatory and market forces powering next-generation capital formation.

Scott McIntyre – Vice Chair, CfPA; Executive Director, WEconomy: Explore collaborative financing models and the role of crowdfunding in community wealth building.

Shelley Golan – Co-Founder & President, Potomac Growth: Discover campaign strategies and marketing insights that drive successful early-stage raises.

Stephanie Geller – Founder & Director, Community Wealth Builders: Learn how nonprofits and universities can leverage Reg CF for community-based investment.

Teresa Goody Guillén – Partner, Baker & Hostetler LLP: Gain insight into digital-asset policy and its intersection with securities crowdfunding.

Vince Bowen – CfPA Board Director; Founder, Mavin Life: Learn about best practices in the evolving crowdfunding ecosystem.

Who Should Attend

Potential issuers (that means you entrepreneurs and founders), funding portals, investors, legal and compliance professionals, policymakers, fintech builders, and anyone with a keen interest to learn more about the regulated investment crowdfunding ecosystem. Attendees gain direct access to the people and conversations driving progress in this sector.

DC Startup & Tech Week (DCSTW)

As part of its continued effort to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, the CfPA is also pleased to announce a partnership with DC Startup & Tech Week (DCSTW), the D.C. metropolitan area’s largest conference for entrepreneurs and startups. Attendees of the CfPA Summit are eligible for a discount to attend DCSTW events using the code CFPA20OFF at dcstw25.eventbrite.com. DCSTW runs from October 20-24, 2025, featuring 150+ sessions, 300 speakers, and specialized tracks in AI, life sciences, climate tech, female founders, Web3, and more – offering a week of learning, networking, and collaboration across the startup and investment community.

Sponsors and Partners

The CfPA extends gratitude to its all-volunteer board and its sponsors, including FINTECH.tv, Dealmaker, CrowdCheck, Digital Niche Agency (DNA), Potomac Growth, KingsCrowd, Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP, The Super Crowd Inc., ClearingBid, Capital Department, Kunzler Bean & Adamson, Brainsy, Crowdfunding Lawyers, Revalue LLC, Smith Anderson, Digital Offering, Halyard Compliance, Going Public, Gordon Feinblatt LLC, GECA, MZ Digital, and Small Change, for making this Summit possible.

Event Details

Dates: October 21-22, 2025
Venue: National Union Building · 918 F St NW · Washington, DC 20004
Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/regulated-investment-crowdfunding-summit-2025 
Metro Access: Gallery Place – Chinatown (1 block) · Metro Center (2 blocks)
Membership: crowdfundingecosystem.com/join

About the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA)
The mission of the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA), as restated in late 2022, is to foster the growth of the Regulated Investment Crowdfunding economy by supporting issuers and investors (and potential issuers and investors) and by working with intermediaries, including portal operators, and other Crowdfunding professionals in the broader Crowdfunding ecosystem. On behalf of these constituents and members, the CfPA advocates with regulators and legislators. The CfPA, a U.S. 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade group, carries out its mission through innovative programs, online publishing, annual gatherings, periodic webinars, and by providing guidance to investors and issuers alike. Learn more at https://CfPA.org, https:// www.crowdfundingecosystem.com, or join as a member at https://cfpa.org/joinus.

Press Contact:
Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA)
Email: contact@cfpa.org
Website: www.cfpa.org 

CfPA Announces 2025 Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit: Shaping the Future of Capital Formation




CfPA Announces 2025 Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit: Shaping the Future of Capital Formation

Industry and leadership summit highlights innovation, progress, and the Crowdfunding Professional Association’s policy platform for advancing the future of capital formation.

Washington, D.C., Oct. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA) is pleased to announce the 2025 Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Industry and Leadership Summit, taking place October 21-22, 2025, at the National Union Building (918 F St NW, Washington, DC).

Now in its second year welcoming national regulators and policymakers, the CfPA Summit convenes a diverse ecosystem of practitioners, investors, issuers, and service providers working to expand access to capital through regulated crowdfunding.

“The regulated investment crowdfunding market is rapidly innovating,” said Jenny Kassan, CfPA Board Director and 2025 President. “And we think that trend will only accelerate as the industry adjusts to new regulatory and legislative initiatives that are in motion for the year ahead. In addition to provide a forum for industry operators to share knowledge and compare best practices, this Summit creates space where people making policy decisions can meet the practitioners who live with those decisions daily.”

Featured Speakers and Panelists

Hester M. Peirce – Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: Gain valuable insights into capital formation, investor protection, and the future of exempt offerings.

Aaron Shafton – Managing Director, Dealmaker Securities: Learn how crowdfunding platforms are bridging private markets and public capital access.

Andrew Dix – Founder & CEO, Crowded Media Group LLC: Stay informed on the latest trends and developments shaping the crowdfunding ecosystem.

Andrew Field – Executive Lead (UK), Global Equity Crowdfunding Association (GECA): Gain an international perspective on harmonizing crowdfunding policies and practices.

Andrew Stephenson – Attorney, CrowdCheck Law; CfPA Board Director: Gain expert insight into how adjacent innovations may shape the future of regulated crowdfunding and capital formation.

Angela Barbash – COO, Revalue LLC; CfPA Board Director: Understand how fiduciary constraints and policy frameworks affect mainstream adoption of crowdfunding as an asset class.

Brian Christie – Co-Chair, CfPA; CEO, Brainsy: Discover how technology, advocacy, and policy intersect to shape the future of investment crowdfunding.

Brian Korn – Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP; CfPA Board Director: Learn how evolving digital-asset regulations intersect with Reg CF and Reg A+, and what upcoming policy changes could mean for issuers, investors, and platforms.

Chris Lustrino – CEO, KingsCrowd: Gain data-driven insights into deal flow, investor participation, and industry growth across the U.S. market.

Craig Denlinger – Managing Partner, Artesian CPA; CfPA Board Director: Understand financial reporting and accounting best practices that drive investor confidence.

Dr. Jason Cherubini – Executive-in-Residence, Loyola University Maryland: Learn how universities can connect finance education and real-world crowdfunding practice.

Darren Marble – Executive Producer, Going Public: Learn how media and storytelling can amplify investor engagement and market visibility for issuers.

Devin Thorpe – Co-Chair, CfPA; CEO & Founder, The Super Crowd Inc.: Discover how impact investing and crowdfunding are creating inclusive, sustainable economies.

Dina Ellis Rochkind – Counsel, Government Affairs, Paul Hastings: Gain perspective on legislative developments, including the Clarity Act and digital-asset policy.

Eric Cox – Board Director, CfPA; Head of Growth, Netcapital: Discover effective marketing strategies and investor engagement methods for successful campaigns.

Eve Picker – CEO, Small Change; CfPA Board Director: Learn how mission-driven crowdfunding is transforming community development and real estate finance.

James Murphy – Risk Monitoring Director, FINRA: Gain regulatory insights into launching and operating compliant Reg CF portals.

Jason Fishman – Secretary, CfPA; CEO, Digital Niche Agency: Learn data-backed digital marketing techniques to boost campaign reach and conversions.

Jenny Kassan – President, CfPA; CEO, Baltimore Community Commons: Discover innovative approaches to community-based capital formation and policy reform.

J. Martin Tate – Partner, Kunzler Bean & Adamson: Understand emerging deal structures and legal innovations in private and exempt offerings.

Julian A. Haffner – Member, Gordon Feinblatt LLC: Gain practical guidance on securities-law issues affecting intermediaries and issuers.

Mark Elenowitz – Managing Director, Digital Offering LLC: Learn how crowdfunding can serve as a pathway from private offerings to public markets.

Maria Springer – Founder & CEO, Capital Department: Gain insights into storytelling, investor relations, and brand-building for successful capital raises.

Matt Venturi – CEO, ClearingBid: Learn about market infrastructure, clearing innovations, and emerging models for secondary liquidity.

Meighan Leon – Chief Legal Officer, Dealmaker: Understand trends and regulatory and market forces powering next-generation capital formation.

Scott McIntyre – Vice Chair, CfPA; Executive Director, WEconomy: Explore collaborative financing models and the role of crowdfunding in community wealth building.

Shelley Golan – Co-Founder & President, Potomac Growth: Discover campaign strategies and marketing insights that drive successful early-stage raises.

Stephanie Geller – Founder & Director, Community Wealth Builders: Learn how nonprofits and universities can leverage Reg CF for community-based investment.

Teresa Goody Guillén – Partner, Baker & Hostetler LLP: Gain insight into digital-asset policy and its intersection with securities crowdfunding.

Vince Bowen – CfPA Board Director; Founder, Mavin Life: Learn about best practices in the evolving crowdfunding ecosystem.

Who Should Attend

Potential issuers (that means you entrepreneurs and founders), funding portals, investors, legal and compliance professionals, policymakers, fintech builders, and anyone with a keen interest to learn more about the regulated investment crowdfunding ecosystem. Attendees gain direct access to the people and conversations driving progress in this sector.

DC Startup & Tech Week (DCSTW)

As part of its continued effort to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, the CfPA is also pleased to announce a partnership with DC Startup & Tech Week (DCSTW), the D.C. metropolitan area’s largest conference for entrepreneurs and startups. Attendees of the CfPA Summit are eligible for a discount to attend DCSTW events using the code CFPA20OFF at dcstw25.eventbrite.com. DCSTW runs from October 20-24, 2025, featuring 150+ sessions, 300 speakers, and specialized tracks in AI, life sciences, climate tech, female founders, Web3, and more – offering a week of learning, networking, and collaboration across the startup and investment community.

Sponsors and Partners

The CfPA extends gratitude to its all-volunteer board and its sponsors, including FINTECH.tv, Dealmaker, CrowdCheck, Digital Niche Agency (DNA), Potomac Growth, KingsCrowd, Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP, The Super Crowd Inc., ClearingBid, Capital Department, Kunzler Bean & Adamson, Brainsy, Crowdfunding Lawyers, Revalue LLC, Smith Anderson, Digital Offering, Halyard Compliance, Going Public, Gordon Feinblatt LLC, GECA, MZ Digital, and Small Change, for making this Summit possible.

Event Details

Dates: October 21-22, 2025
Venue: National Union Building · 918 F St NW · Washington, DC 20004
Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/regulated-investment-crowdfunding-summit-2025 
Metro Access: Gallery Place – Chinatown (1 block) · Metro Center (2 blocks)
Membership: crowdfundingecosystem.com/join

About the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA)
The mission of the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA), as restated in late 2022, is to foster the growth of the Regulated Investment Crowdfunding economy by supporting issuers and investors (and potential issuers and investors) and by working with intermediaries, including portal operators, and other Crowdfunding professionals in the broader Crowdfunding ecosystem. On behalf of these constituents and members, the CfPA advocates with regulators and legislators. The CfPA, a U.S. 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade group, carries out its mission through innovative programs, online publishing, annual gatherings, periodic webinars, and by providing guidance to investors and issuers alike. Learn more at https://CfPA.org, https:// www.crowdfundingecosystem.com, or join as a member at https://cfpa.org/joinus.

Press Contact:
Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA)
Email: contact@cfpa.org
Website: www.cfpa.org 

Eascra Biotech Named to Fast Company’s “Next Big Things in Tech 2025”




Eascra Biotech Named to Fast Company’s “Next Big Things in Tech 2025”

Recognition for groundbreaking work and pioneering space manufacturing

BOSTON, Oct. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fast Company has named Eascra Biotech, a nanomedicine startup, to its annual Next Big Things in Tech list for 2025. Fast Company is recognizing Eascra’s groundbreaking work using microgravity to manufacture therapeutic nanomaterials aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Eascra is one of five companies honored in the Space and Telecom category for “making the International Space Station a pharmaceutical research lab,” and one of 137 total honorees. The list celebrates projects that “represent genuinely new ideas in significant fields, have already demonstrated progress, and hold the potential for further growth.” These projects span 31 different technology sectors, including applied AI, sustainability, robotics, quantum computing, and space innovation.
    
“Being included in Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech list is wonderful visibility and validation for our vision of space-enabled manufacturing,” said Mari Anne Snow, Eascra co-founder and CEO. “The ability to fabricate nanomaterials in low Earth orbit opens new possibilities for safer, more stable therapeutics, advancing healthcare here on Earth.”
  
The Eascra team just completed their fifth mission on the International Space Station in less than two years and is the first commercial company to produce nanoparticles in space for medical use on Earth. Eascra recently received an NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant, an AFWERX SBIR grant and has obtained more than $8M in grants, awards and commercial-sponsored research deals from organizations including NASA and MassVentures.
   
Eascra’s JBNp technology, pioneered by Eascra cofounder Dr. Yupeng Chen, a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Connecticut, delivers RNA therapeutics to hard-to-penetrate tissues like cartilage and solid tumors. Eascra’s proprietary nanoparticles are highly versatile and able to maintain fragile cargos like mRNA at room temperature for extended periods, thus eliminating cold chain requirements.
   
About Eascra Biotech       
Eascra Biotech (eascrabiotech.com) is an early-stage nanomedicine startup providing an advanced therapeutic delivery platform capable of delivering nucleotides, gene editing, and other therapeutics to hard-to-reach treatment sites, such as articular cartilage, kidneys and solid tumors. Our mission is to advance our technology for the benefit of humankind. Eascra’s proprietary delivery mechanism, a Janus Base Nanoparticle (JBNp) invented by Eascra co-founder, Dr. Yupeng Chen, mimics DNA and is customizable for different treatment indications. Eascra is working with NASA, the ISS National Laboratory™, and a variety of private space companies to accelerate our go-to-market strategy. We are actively seeking commercial partnerships with companies in need of innovative delivery mechanisms to expedite the development of cutting-edge treatments that enhance patient outcomes on Earth. 

CONTACT: Media Contact:
Bobbie Carlton
Carlton PR & Marketing LLC
Bobbie@carltonprmarketing.com       
781-718-7619

Google and Spotify alum launch Epiminds with $6.6M to build marketing teams for the AI era




Google and Spotify alum launch Epiminds with $6.6M to build marketing teams for the AI era

Founded by Swedish entrepreneurs, the company is pioneering multi-agent AI systems that run marketing end-to-end.

Stockholm, Oct. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brilliant marketers are still buried in dashboards, spending more time on reports and clicks than on strategy and creativity. Epiminds was created to solve this problem. The company, founded by Swedish entrepreneurs Elias Malm and Mo Elkhidir, today announced its public launch from stealth alongside $6.6 million in funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners with participation from EWOR, Entourage, and high-profile angels including the former CMO of Booking.com. In just twelve weeks from ideation, Epiminds already signed major agencies that manage over 240 brands in their platform.

Epiminds founders Mo Elkhidir and Elias Malm.

Agencies today are squeezed from both sides: clients demand more transparency, faster reporting, and measurable ROI – all with smaller budgets. Inside agency walls, insights are scattered across platforms, making decisions slow or reliant on gut instinct, while the rapid rise of AI creates uncertainty about which tools to adopt and how to scale capacity sustainably. The traditional fixes – hiring more specialists, layering on dashboards and optimizers, or making reactive choices once problems surface – only raise costs and complexity without solving the underlying inefficiency. Worse, they don’t prepare agencies for where the future of marketing is heading. Epiminds solves each of these problems, and more.

The company creates advanced multi-agent AI systems that agencies can train and evolve over time. At the core is Lucy, an AI marketing manager that leads a dynamic team of more than 20 specialized agents working together across reporting, optimizations, budget pacing, bidding and creatives. Agencies can onboard a client in less than 30 seconds and instantly get an AI-powered marketing team capable of running campaigns from A to Z. Lucy and her team doesn’t just surface insights but executes them, learns each agency’s playbooks, and proactively monitors accounts to flag risks before they hurt performance.

“Marketers are under more pressure than ever to do more with less ,” said Mo Elkhidir, Co-Founder of Epiminds. “Lucy and her team take on the busywork so that marketing talent can do their best work. This is not about replacing creativity; it’s about giving it room to flourish.”

The vision was born out of the founders’ own frustrations. Malm, who ran an agency and later worked at Google leading agency partnerships across the Nordics, saw firsthand how talented teams were stuck in inefficient processes. Elkhidir, a Sudanese-born machine learning expert who led technical teams at Spotify and Kry, spent years researching multi-agent systems, teaching AI agents to collaborate to solve complex tasks. The spark came during a weekend project simulating Sweden’s 10.8 million citizens in AI, each with hundreds of attributes. When they discovered that 23,400 of them were marketers, the idea crystallized: an AI-powered marketing workforce that could free real marketers to focus on strategy and creative impact.

Sign up for Epiminds here: https://www.epiminds.com/

The impact is already visible. Agencies using Epiminds report faster onboarding, better performance, less wasted spend, and teams that can shift focus back to creativity and strategy. The dynamic multi-agent system seamlessly handles everything from everyday tasks like reporting and pacing to advanced capabilities such as audits, creative analysis, competitive insights, and strategic planning. By connecting insights to action across platforms, Lucy enables a 10x increase in output without adding headcount.

John Axelsson, Founder & CEO of BBO added: ”We’ve integrated EpiMinds into our advertising workflows. It has really started transforming how our specialists work by automating analysis and surfacing deep actionable insights, while we remain in control of strategic decisions. The result is faster optimization, more effective collaboration between human expertise and AI, and ultimately better outcomes for our clients.” While Jenny Dettervik, Media Lead at Remotion said: “EpiMinds has become a valuable part of our workflow. By automating parts of our agency’s know-how through AI agents, we can get insights faster, optimize more efficiently, and deliver higher quality to our clients.”

The timing is crucial in filling a big market gap. Legacy dashboards and optimization tools remain siloed, requiring heavy manual work. Point AI tools solve one-off problems but fail to orchestrate the bigger picture. Epiminds’ multi-agent approach creates an integrated, adaptive system that continuously learns and improves.

“As a former founder who relied heavily on performance marketing, I saw firsthand how difficult it is to scale campaigns across dozens of channels and geographies. Epiminds’ multi-agent approach directly tackles that challenge, transforming the way agencies and brands operate. It’s rare to see a team build something this ambitious, and we believe Epiminds has the potential to redefine how marketing gets done in the AI era.” commented Paul Murphy, Partner at Lightspeed

After just twelve weeks of joining EWOR, which has a a 0.1% application success rate, Epiminds signed major agencies managing over 240 brands on their platform. “Elias and Mo are the rare kind of founders that have what it takes to take a company from 0-1M ARR, from 1-100M, and from 100-infinity. They have both hustle and leadership, both speed and perfection, and both aggression and empathy. On both a rational and irrational level, I think and feel they will go far.” added Daniel Dippold, Co-Founder & CEO at EWOR

“Ellias and Mo embody the urgency and operational excellence we look for in founders building in the AI era”. Says Pieterjan Bouten, Partner at Entourage. “A massive wave of innovation is reshaping how leading marketing agencies operate, and Epiminds is poised to be at the forefront of that transformation. We’re thrilled to back these two exceptional founders early as they pursue this massive opportunity.”

Looking ahead, Epiminds plans to expand Lucy’s capabilities across more integrations, increase level of autonomy, and self-improving capabilities. Each new feature strengthens the entire system, creating a network effect where every agency benefits from smarter, more capable AI.

“Our vision is simple,” Elias Malm added. “We’re building Epiminds because we see where marketing is headed. The future is about dynamic, agentic teams that analyze, plan, execute, and improve in real time. Every marketer should have access to a 24/7 AI workforce that frees up their time for creativity and strategy. Our goal is to give them that future, today.”

Media images can be found here.

About Epiminds
Epiminds is building the operating system for marketing, a multi-agentic system that analyzes, executes, and learns in real time, empowering marketers to work smarter and move faster. At the core is Lucy, an AI marketing manager that leads a dynamic team of more than 20 specialized agents working together across reporting, optimizations, budget pacing, bidding and creatives. 

Founded in 2025 by Google and Spotify Alum, Elias Malm and Mo Elkhidir respectively, Epiminds work with a roster of agencies that manage over 200 brands.  Epiminds is backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, EWOR, Entourage, and high-profile angels including the former CMO of Booking.com. For more information please visit https://www.epiminds.com/ 

About EWOR
EWOR is a fellowship for exceptional founders who are building transformative technology.
Entrepreneurs shape the future – but only a few shape an entire generation. That’s why EWOR supports the top 0.1% with up to €500,000 and weekly 1:1 mentoring from unicorn founders (Adjust, ProGlove, SumUp) who now work full-time at EWOR. EWOR rejects standard playbooks or rigid programs. Our virtual approach adapts to the non-linear development of founders and startups.
www.ewor.com

About Entourage
Entourage is an early stage VC founded by Pieterjan Bouten, former CEO and co-founder of Showpad. The fund invests in the next generation B2B SaaS Startups and is backed by successful international entrepreneurs such as Jason Lemkin (Saastr), Louis Jonckheere (Showpad) and over 40 founders of global SaaS startups and unicorns like Collibra, Deliverect & Lighthouse. Entourage raised a $40M fund last year and wrote early checks in companies like Aikido, Lexroom and Onecrew. 

CONTACT: For further information please contact the Epiminds press office: Bilal Mahmood on b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com or +447714007257.

Google and Spotify alum launch Epiminds with $6.6M to build marketing teams for the AI era




Google and Spotify alum launch Epiminds with $6.6M to build marketing teams for the AI era

Founded by Swedish entrepreneurs, the company is pioneering multi-agent AI systems that run marketing end-to-end.

Stockholm, Oct. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brilliant marketers are still buried in dashboards, spending more time on reports and clicks than on strategy and creativity. Epiminds was created to solve this problem. The company, founded by Swedish entrepreneurs Elias Malm and Mo Elkhidir, today announced its public launch from stealth alongside $6.6 million in funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners with participation from EWOR, Entourage, and high-profile angels including the former CMO of Booking.com. In just twelve weeks from ideation, Epiminds already signed major agencies that manage over 240 brands in their platform.

Epiminds founders Mo Elkhidir and Elias Malm.

Agencies today are squeezed from both sides: clients demand more transparency, faster reporting, and measurable ROI – all with smaller budgets. Inside agency walls, insights are scattered across platforms, making decisions slow or reliant on gut instinct, while the rapid rise of AI creates uncertainty about which tools to adopt and how to scale capacity sustainably. The traditional fixes – hiring more specialists, layering on dashboards and optimizers, or making reactive choices once problems surface – only raise costs and complexity without solving the underlying inefficiency. Worse, they don’t prepare agencies for where the future of marketing is heading. Epiminds solves each of these problems, and more.

The company creates advanced multi-agent AI systems that agencies can train and evolve over time. At the core is Lucy, an AI marketing manager that leads a dynamic team of more than 20 specialized agents working together across reporting, optimizations, budget pacing, bidding and creatives. Agencies can onboard a client in less than 30 seconds and instantly get an AI-powered marketing team capable of running campaigns from A to Z. Lucy and her team doesn’t just surface insights but executes them, learns each agency’s playbooks, and proactively monitors accounts to flag risks before they hurt performance.

“Marketers are under more pressure than ever to do more with less ,” said Mo Elkhidir, Co-Founder of Epiminds. “Lucy and her team take on the busywork so that marketing talent can do their best work. This is not about replacing creativity; it’s about giving it room to flourish.”

The vision was born out of the founders’ own frustrations. Malm, who ran an agency and later worked at Google leading agency partnerships across the Nordics, saw firsthand how talented teams were stuck in inefficient processes. Elkhidir, a Sudanese-born machine learning expert who led technical teams at Spotify and Kry, spent years researching multi-agent systems, teaching AI agents to collaborate to solve complex tasks. The spark came during a weekend project simulating Sweden’s 10.8 million citizens in AI, each with hundreds of attributes. When they discovered that 23,400 of them were marketers, the idea crystallized: an AI-powered marketing workforce that could free real marketers to focus on strategy and creative impact.

Sign up for Epiminds here: https://www.epiminds.com/

The impact is already visible. Agencies using Epiminds report faster onboarding, better performance, less wasted spend, and teams that can shift focus back to creativity and strategy. The dynamic multi-agent system seamlessly handles everything from everyday tasks like reporting and pacing to advanced capabilities such as audits, creative analysis, competitive insights, and strategic planning. By connecting insights to action across platforms, Lucy enables a 10x increase in output without adding headcount.

John Axelsson, Founder & CEO of BBO added: ”We’ve integrated EpiMinds into our advertising workflows. It has really started transforming how our specialists work by automating analysis and surfacing deep actionable insights, while we remain in control of strategic decisions. The result is faster optimization, more effective collaboration between human expertise and AI, and ultimately better outcomes for our clients.” While Jenny Dettervik, Media Lead at Remotion said: “EpiMinds has become a valuable part of our workflow. By automating parts of our agency’s know-how through AI agents, we can get insights faster, optimize more efficiently, and deliver higher quality to our clients.”

The timing is crucial in filling a big market gap. Legacy dashboards and optimization tools remain siloed, requiring heavy manual work. Point AI tools solve one-off problems but fail to orchestrate the bigger picture. Epiminds’ multi-agent approach creates an integrated, adaptive system that continuously learns and improves.

“As a former founder who relied heavily on performance marketing, I saw firsthand how difficult it is to scale campaigns across dozens of channels and geographies. Epiminds’ multi-agent approach directly tackles that challenge, transforming the way agencies and brands operate. It’s rare to see a team build something this ambitious, and we believe Epiminds has the potential to redefine how marketing gets done in the AI era.” commented Paul Murphy, Partner at Lightspeed

After just twelve weeks of joining EWOR, which has a a 0.1% application success rate, Epiminds signed major agencies managing over 240 brands on their platform. “Elias and Mo are the rare kind of founders that have what it takes to take a company from 0-1M ARR, from 1-100M, and from 100-infinity. They have both hustle and leadership, both speed and perfection, and both aggression and empathy. On both a rational and irrational level, I think and feel they will go far.” added Daniel Dippold, Co-Founder & CEO at EWOR

“Ellias and Mo embody the urgency and operational excellence we look for in founders building in the AI era”. Says Pieterjan Bouten, Partner at Entourage. “A massive wave of innovation is reshaping how leading marketing agencies operate, and Epiminds is poised to be at the forefront of that transformation. We’re thrilled to back these two exceptional founders early as they pursue this massive opportunity.”

Looking ahead, Epiminds plans to expand Lucy’s capabilities across more integrations, increase level of autonomy, and self-improving capabilities. Each new feature strengthens the entire system, creating a network effect where every agency benefits from smarter, more capable AI.

“Our vision is simple,” Elias Malm added. “We’re building Epiminds because we see where marketing is headed. The future is about dynamic, agentic teams that analyze, plan, execute, and improve in real time. Every marketer should have access to a 24/7 AI workforce that frees up their time for creativity and strategy. Our goal is to give them that future, today.”

Media images can be found here.

About Epiminds
Epiminds is building the operating system for marketing, a multi-agentic system that analyzes, executes, and learns in real time, empowering marketers to work smarter and move faster. At the core is Lucy, an AI marketing manager that leads a dynamic team of more than 20 specialized agents working together across reporting, optimizations, budget pacing, bidding and creatives. 

Founded in 2025 by Google and Spotify Alum, Elias Malm and Mo Elkhidir respectively, Epiminds work with a roster of agencies that manage over 200 brands.  Epiminds is backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, EWOR, Entourage, and high-profile angels including the former CMO of Booking.com. For more information please visit https://www.epiminds.com/ 

About EWOR
EWOR is a fellowship for exceptional founders who are building transformative technology.
Entrepreneurs shape the future – but only a few shape an entire generation. That’s why EWOR supports the top 0.1% with up to €500,000 and weekly 1:1 mentoring from unicorn founders (Adjust, ProGlove, SumUp) who now work full-time at EWOR. EWOR rejects standard playbooks or rigid programs. Our virtual approach adapts to the non-linear development of founders and startups.
www.ewor.com

About Entourage
Entourage is an early stage VC founded by Pieterjan Bouten, former CEO and co-founder of Showpad. The fund invests in the next generation B2B SaaS Startups and is backed by successful international entrepreneurs such as Jason Lemkin (Saastr), Louis Jonckheere (Showpad) and over 40 founders of global SaaS startups and unicorns like Collibra, Deliverect & Lighthouse. Entourage raised a $40M fund last year and wrote early checks in companies like Aikido, Lexroom and Onecrew. 

CONTACT: For further information please contact the Epiminds press office: Bilal Mahmood on b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com or +447714007257.

Veteran Marketing Executive Russ Hannig Joins SponsorCX as COO Amid Rapid Growth




Veteran Marketing Executive Russ Hannig Joins SponsorCX as COO Amid Rapid Growth

LEHI, Utah, Oct. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SponsorCX, the fast-growing leader in sponsorship management, today announced the appointment of Russ Hannig as Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. The addition underscores SponsorCX’s commitment to building world-class leadership as the company scales operations and expands its market presence. His appointment reinforces SponsorCX’s mission to simplify sponsorship management and empower brands and properties with data-driven solutions.

Hannig will oversee marketing, human resources, and customer success, three critical functions that drive customer acquisition, team growth, and long-term partnership value. His unified leadership across these areas, positions SponsorCX to deliver seamless experiences from initial brand awareness through ongoing customer relationships.

“Russ is one of the most skilled and well-rounded leaders I’ve had the privilege of knowing,” said Jason Smith, CEO of SponsorCX. “His ability to scale teams, build strategy, and drive growth makes him uniquely qualified to help take SponsorCX to the next level. We’re entering an exciting stage of growth, and Russ’s leadership will be instrumental in guiding us forward.”

The appointment follows recent executive additions, including Jeff Knudsen, formerly at Salesforce (Spiff), and Nathan Bleak, former CRO at Fishbowl, demonstrating SponsorCX’s ongoing investment in proven leadership. With sponsorship management shifting rapidly toward data-driven solutions, experienced operators like Hannig are essential for sustainable growth.

Hannig brings extensive experience scaling operations in high-growth environments. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Growth Marketing at Gabb, where he helped drive consecutive Inc. 5000 recognitions. Prior to Gabb, he spent five years at Ancestry in progressive leadership roles, culminating as Senior Director of Integrated Marketing and Brand Experience.

“I’m excited to help SponsorCX reach its full potential,” said Hannig. “The opportunity to optimize operations while strengthening customer relationships is exactly the kind of challenge I thrive on. Together, we’re positioned to redefine how brands and properties manage sponsorships.”

His appointment comes as SponsorCX continues expanding across diverse markets, from NFL, NBA, MLB, and MLS teams to arts, entertainment, and major events. With Hannig leading core operational functions, the company can maintain its customer-centric approach while building the infrastructure required for sustained, scalable growth.

The timing reflects SponsorCX’s confidence in market opportunities and its ongoing commitment to operational excellence. By securing leaders with proven track records, the company positions itself to capitalize on growing demand for comprehensive sponsorship management solutions.

About SponsorCX

SponsorCX is the leading all-in-one platform for sponsorship management. It supports properties and brands through every stage of the sponsorship lifecycle, including sales, inventory, fulfillment, scheduling, agreements, and reporting. With intuitive tools and real-time insights, SponsorCX enables organizations to maximize sponsorship value, strengthen partnerships, and keep every aspect of sponsorship management organized and on track.

Learn more at sponsorcx.com.

Media Contact: Laura Nichols / laura.nichols@sponsorcx.com 

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/edc13397-100b-4c9d-ab5c-4bcdd8790895