The Feed is Dying. Social Network Series Hits 1M Messages by Changing How You Share Online.




The Feed is Dying. Social Network Series Hits 1M Messages by Changing How You Share Online.

New York, Dec. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — From Facebook’s News Feed to Snapchat’s Stories, users have had no shortage of ways to share content online. But lately, people have grown hesitant to share their most authentic moments due to the stigma of current social media. A new social network on iMessage recently hit one million messages by reapproaching how we share content online.

Series, the social network on iMessage, announced that today it has exchanged over 1 million messages while also reaching 10,000 daily active users – all without feeds, followers, or the anxiety that’s driven an entire generation away from public posting.

Series is the AI social network redefining human connection. Series operates directly in iMessage, calls, and other messaging platforms, and makes introductions based on users’ warm networks.

The milestone comes as social media faces an existential crisis. The head of instagram Adam Mosseri commented on a ‘paradigm shift’ away from public posting, with users increasingly retreating to direct messages and closed groups. For non-creators, the pressure to curate perfect content has made sharing feel like work rather than genuine human connection.

Series solves this by removing the concept of posting altogether. Users instead send a customizable message to a curated list of people within the platform, entirely on iMessage. The term series comes from the sequential approach the product takes to ensure a user’s message reaches the right people. Users have sent messages that have resulted in hired videographers, dates in Amsterdam and co-founding a business.

Series founders: Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow.

“Series emerged from the limitations of existing social platforms” says Nathaneo Johnson, CEO at Series. “We are all used to a feed where we express the best version of ourselves. But that rarely allows us to communicate our current state of expression – mainly due to the stigma of posting online. Series solves this by curating each interaction between your content and your audience to feel intimate and personal, something we couldn’t do before.”
​​
Series embraces this “paradigm shift” rather than fighting it. By living within iMessage and focusing on private, one-to-one introductions rather than public broadcasting, the platform gives people what they actually want from social media: meaningful connections in a meaningful setting.

The approach represents a fundamental rethinking of what social networking means. Rather than optimizing for engagement metrics and time spent on the platform, Series optimizes for meeting the right person at the right time. The one million message milestone isn’t about content consumption – it’s about conversations had, introductions made, and long-term relationships explored.

Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow founded Series their junior year at Yale University after watching an entire generation grow exhausted by platforms designed for engagement over genuine connection. Both still attending Yale University, this duo has raised $5.1 million to date, has been featured on this year’s Forbes 30 under 30, and is now scaling what began as a college-first platform into a national movement.

For a generation raised on social media but exhausted by its demands, Series offers something different: connection without performance, community without curation, and social networking that doesn’t require you to be perfect – just human.

Media images can be found here. 

About Series
Series is the AI social network redefining human connection. Series operates directly in iMessage, calls, and other messaging platforms, and makes introductions based on users’ warm networks. Series is hiring for a number of roles. Please visit https://series.so/ for more information or follow via LinkedIn.

CONTACT: For further information, please contact the Series press office on press@series.so

The Feed is Dying. Social Network Series Hits 1M Messages by Changing How You Share Online.




The Feed is Dying. Social Network Series Hits 1M Messages by Changing How You Share Online.

New York, Dec. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — From Facebook’s News Feed to Snapchat’s Stories, users have had no shortage of ways to share content online. But lately, people have grown hesitant to share their most authentic moments due to the stigma of current social media. A new social network on iMessage recently hit one million messages by reapproaching how we share content online.

Series, the social network on iMessage, announced that today it has exchanged over 1 million messages while also reaching 10,000 daily active users – all without feeds, followers, or the anxiety that’s driven an entire generation away from public posting.

Series is the AI social network redefining human connection. Series operates directly in iMessage, calls, and other messaging platforms, and makes introductions based on users’ warm networks.

The milestone comes as social media faces an existential crisis. The head of instagram Adam Mosseri commented on a ‘paradigm shift’ away from public posting, with users increasingly retreating to direct messages and closed groups. For non-creators, the pressure to curate perfect content has made sharing feel like work rather than genuine human connection.

Series solves this by removing the concept of posting altogether. Users instead send a customizable message to a curated list of people within the platform, entirely on iMessage. The term series comes from the sequential approach the product takes to ensure a user’s message reaches the right people. Users have sent messages that have resulted in hired videographers, dates in Amsterdam and co-founding a business.

Series founders: Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow.

“Series emerged from the limitations of existing social platforms” says Nathaneo Johnson, CEO at Series. “We are all used to a feed where we express the best version of ourselves. But that rarely allows us to communicate our current state of expression – mainly due to the stigma of posting online. Series solves this by curating each interaction between your content and your audience to feel intimate and personal, something we couldn’t do before.”
​​
Series embraces this “paradigm shift” rather than fighting it. By living within iMessage and focusing on private, one-to-one introductions rather than public broadcasting, the platform gives people what they actually want from social media: meaningful connections in a meaningful setting.

The approach represents a fundamental rethinking of what social networking means. Rather than optimizing for engagement metrics and time spent on the platform, Series optimizes for meeting the right person at the right time. The one million message milestone isn’t about content consumption – it’s about conversations had, introductions made, and long-term relationships explored.

Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow founded Series their junior year at Yale University after watching an entire generation grow exhausted by platforms designed for engagement over genuine connection. Both still attending Yale University, this duo has raised $5.1 million to date, has been featured on this year’s Forbes 30 under 30, and is now scaling what began as a college-first platform into a national movement.

For a generation raised on social media but exhausted by its demands, Series offers something different: connection without performance, community without curation, and social networking that doesn’t require you to be perfect – just human.

Media images can be found here. 

About Series
Series is the AI social network redefining human connection. Series operates directly in iMessage, calls, and other messaging platforms, and makes introductions based on users’ warm networks. Series is hiring for a number of roles. Please visit https://series.so/ for more information or follow via LinkedIn.

CONTACT: For further information, please contact the Series press office on press@series.so

REGENT Announces Breakthrough Year Marked by Milestones across Technology, Business, and Manufacturing




REGENT Announces Breakthrough Year Marked by Milestones across Technology, Business, and Manufacturing

In 2025 REGENT validated full-scale Seaglider technology, expanded commercial and defense engagement worldwide, and advanced toward first human flight and Seaglider production

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I., Dec. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — REGENT Craft, the developer and manufacturer of Seaglider™ vessels, today announced a landmark year of achievements. From first-ever human operations on a full-scale Seaglider prototype to major international customer traction, expanded defense contracts, and rapid progress toward production, REGENT’s momentum in 2025 marks its most significant year to date.

“This year, REGENT joined the top echelon of advanced mobility companies globally with validation across the business,” said Billy Thalheimer, REGENT co-founder and CEO. “We’ve proven the stability and capability of the full-scale Seaglider on the water, expanded our commercial and defense partnerships around the world, advanced our certification pathways, and built the infrastructure to produce Seagliders at scale.”

Seaglider Technology Validated
2025 marked the beginning of full-scale testing for REGENT’s Viceroy Seaglider prototype, the world’s first crewed operations of a full-scale Seaglider vessel. Since March, the Viceroy prototype has been on the water multiple times per week, achieving an industry-leading test cadence as REGENT validates, refines, and expands Seaglider capabilities.

REGENT has also grown its patent portfolio, with 10 granted and allowed utility patents, four design patents, and more than 40 pending patents worldwide. At the same time, REGENT has advanced its high-fidelity simulation and autonomy stack, bringing its cockpit and training environment ever closer to real-world operations and accelerating crew readiness for future commercial service.

Global Demand Increased
Demand for Seagliders expanded dramatically in 2025, with interest growing in key markets including Hawai‘i, Brazil, Scotland, and the UAE. What began as a solution for coastal passenger transportation has broadened into applications in cargo delivery and last-mile logistics, as well as offshore energy.

Operators around the world are preparing for Seaglider vessels not just as a new mode of transport, but as a platform that unlocks entirely new service models for coastal regions, connecting communities, relieving congested corridors, and delivering high-speed, sustainable operations. REGENT now holds more than $10 billion in customer commitments.

Certification Progress Accelerated
REGENT made decisive progress on both U.S. and international certification pathways. In 2025, the company submitted its Design Basis Agreement to the U.S. Coast Guard, outlining the foundational safety and design standards that will govern Seaglider operations in American waters.

Internationally, REGENT deepened its relationship with Lloyd’s Register to establish a harmonized approval pathway in key global markets. The company also advanced its Seaglider Crew Training Program, integrating real-world prototype data and improved simulation capabilities to establish a robust framework for future crew operations.

Defense Partnerships Expanded
This year saw the official launch of REGENT Defense, a new business line dedicated to supporting maritime national security missions. REGENT expanded its product portfolio with new developments across the Squire and Viceroy platforms, including autonomy, AI-enabled hybrid configurations, and mission-specific adaptations for contested environments.

REGENT also extended its partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, reaching a total of $15 million in contracted work. These continued collaborations demonstrate the relevance of Seagliders for high-speed, low-signature transport; medical evacuation; and critical resupply operations in littoral theaters.

Production Facility Took Shape
REGENT’s new 255,000-square-foot production facility took shape in Rhode Island at 1 Seaglider Way. The final beam was installed, and the company is preparing to move into the facility next year to begin building production Seagliders for customers worldwide.

The Seaglider Manufacturing Facility represents a major investment in American maritime manufacturing, positioning Rhode Island as the global hub for Seaglider production. REGENT’s advanced manufacturing approach is designed to support scalable output, rigorous safety standards, and rapid iteration as the company transitions from prototyping to full-rate production.

Talent Base Grew
REGENT grew to more than 100 team members in 2025, assembling one of the most capable deep-tech teams in the world and continuing to outperform much larger organizations in speed, safety, and execution.

“The team’s cross-disciplinary approach, spanning marine and aerospace engineering, autonomy, simulation, certification, and manufacturing, has been fundamental to REGENT’s progress,” said Mike Klinker, REGENT co-founder and CTO. “This deep bench of talent, coupled with our culture of safety and innovation, has enabled us to bring Seaglider vessels from concept to real-world operation in record time.”

Looking Ahead
REGENT enters next year poised for two historic milestones: the world’s first human flight of a full-scale Seaglider and the official opening of its manufacturing facility to start production. These achievements will mark the next chapter in REGENT’s mission to transform coastal transportation and deliver high-speed, all-electric mobility to communities around the world.

“This year laid the groundwork for one of the most historic moments in maritime and aerospace history,” Thalheimer said. “In 2026, we will fly a full-scale, all-electric Seaglider with human crew onboard and begin producing them for customers around the world.”

Media contact: media@regentcraft.com

REGENT Announces Breakthrough Year Marked by Milestones across Technology, Business, and Manufacturing




REGENT Announces Breakthrough Year Marked by Milestones across Technology, Business, and Manufacturing

In 2025 REGENT validated full-scale Seaglider technology, expanded commercial and defense engagement worldwide, and advanced toward first human flight and Seaglider production

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I., Dec. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — REGENT Craft, the developer and manufacturer of Seaglider™ vessels, today announced a landmark year of achievements. From first-ever human operations on a full-scale Seaglider prototype to major international customer traction, expanded defense contracts, and rapid progress toward production, REGENT’s momentum in 2025 marks its most significant year to date.

“This year, REGENT joined the top echelon of advanced mobility companies globally with validation across the business,” said Billy Thalheimer, REGENT co-founder and CEO. “We’ve proven the stability and capability of the full-scale Seaglider on the water, expanded our commercial and defense partnerships around the world, advanced our certification pathways, and built the infrastructure to produce Seagliders at scale.”

Seaglider Technology Validated
2025 marked the beginning of full-scale testing for REGENT’s Viceroy Seaglider prototype, the world’s first crewed operations of a full-scale Seaglider vessel. Since March, the Viceroy prototype has been on the water multiple times per week, achieving an industry-leading test cadence as REGENT validates, refines, and expands Seaglider capabilities.

REGENT has also grown its patent portfolio, with 10 granted and allowed utility patents, four design patents, and more than 40 pending patents worldwide. At the same time, REGENT has advanced its high-fidelity simulation and autonomy stack, bringing its cockpit and training environment ever closer to real-world operations and accelerating crew readiness for future commercial service.

Global Demand Increased
Demand for Seagliders expanded dramatically in 2025, with interest growing in key markets including Hawai‘i, Brazil, Scotland, and the UAE. What began as a solution for coastal passenger transportation has broadened into applications in cargo delivery and last-mile logistics, as well as offshore energy.

Operators around the world are preparing for Seaglider vessels not just as a new mode of transport, but as a platform that unlocks entirely new service models for coastal regions, connecting communities, relieving congested corridors, and delivering high-speed, sustainable operations. REGENT now holds more than $10 billion in customer commitments.

Certification Progress Accelerated
REGENT made decisive progress on both U.S. and international certification pathways. In 2025, the company submitted its Design Basis Agreement to the U.S. Coast Guard, outlining the foundational safety and design standards that will govern Seaglider operations in American waters.

Internationally, REGENT deepened its relationship with Lloyd’s Register to establish a harmonized approval pathway in key global markets. The company also advanced its Seaglider Crew Training Program, integrating real-world prototype data and improved simulation capabilities to establish a robust framework for future crew operations.

Defense Partnerships Expanded
This year saw the official launch of REGENT Defense, a new business line dedicated to supporting maritime national security missions. REGENT expanded its product portfolio with new developments across the Squire and Viceroy platforms, including autonomy, AI-enabled hybrid configurations, and mission-specific adaptations for contested environments.

REGENT also extended its partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, reaching a total of $15 million in contracted work. These continued collaborations demonstrate the relevance of Seagliders for high-speed, low-signature transport; medical evacuation; and critical resupply operations in littoral theaters.

Production Facility Took Shape
REGENT’s new 255,000-square-foot production facility took shape in Rhode Island at 1 Seaglider Way. The final beam was installed, and the company is preparing to move into the facility next year to begin building production Seagliders for customers worldwide.

The Seaglider Manufacturing Facility represents a major investment in American maritime manufacturing, positioning Rhode Island as the global hub for Seaglider production. REGENT’s advanced manufacturing approach is designed to support scalable output, rigorous safety standards, and rapid iteration as the company transitions from prototyping to full-rate production.

Talent Base Grew
REGENT grew to more than 100 team members in 2025, assembling one of the most capable deep-tech teams in the world and continuing to outperform much larger organizations in speed, safety, and execution.

“The team’s cross-disciplinary approach, spanning marine and aerospace engineering, autonomy, simulation, certification, and manufacturing, has been fundamental to REGENT’s progress,” said Mike Klinker, REGENT co-founder and CTO. “This deep bench of talent, coupled with our culture of safety and innovation, has enabled us to bring Seaglider vessels from concept to real-world operation in record time.”

Looking Ahead
REGENT enters next year poised for two historic milestones: the world’s first human flight of a full-scale Seaglider and the official opening of its manufacturing facility to start production. These achievements will mark the next chapter in REGENT’s mission to transform coastal transportation and deliver high-speed, all-electric mobility to communities around the world.

“This year laid the groundwork for one of the most historic moments in maritime and aerospace history,” Thalheimer said. “In 2026, we will fly a full-scale, all-electric Seaglider with human crew onboard and begin producing them for customers around the world.”

Media contact: media@regentcraft.com

Miami-Based Social App Plus 1 Launches and Expands Across Florida, Plans New York Expansion in Early 2026




Miami-Based Social App Plus 1 Launches and Expands Across Florida, Plans New York Expansion in Early 2026

Friends-first social platform becomes one of Florida’s fastest growing social apps, surpasses 10,000 downloads, and opens a pre-seed funding round

MIAMI, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plus 1, a Miami-based social connection app, is now live and expanding across Florida. The company also announced plans to expand into the New York market in the first quarter of 2026.

Since launch, Plus 1 has surpassed 10,000 downloads, positioning it as one of Florida’s fastest growing social apps. The platform is designed to help people connect through real-world plans rather than profile-based matching.

Users post activities they want to attend, including dinners, workouts, concerts, or networking events, and others can request to join. Hosts approve participants based on shared interests and availability.

Unlike traditional dating platforms, Plus 1 allows users to clearly indicate their intent, including friendship, networking, dating, or double dates. This approach aims to reduce ambiguity and create more transparent social interactions.

Addressing Reliability and Safety
Plus 1 includes features designed to address reliability issues common in social planning. Plans can receive multiple join requests, allowing hosts to approve alternate participants if someone becomes unresponsive.

After meetups, users may optionally complete a short reliability survey. Feedback contributes to a reliability score displayed on profiles, helping users make more informed decisions when joining or approving future plans.

The platform applies a limited and transparent moderation policy. Users are removed only for fake profiles, illegal activity, or threatening or abusive behavior. Other disputes are handled through blocking and privacy controls.

Growth and Funding
Plus 1 is currently raising a $500,000 pre-seed round to support product development, geographic expansion, and operational growth, including its planned New York launch in early 2026.

Founder Comment
“Most social and dating apps rely on endless swiping with very little follow-through,” said Jeff Wulkan, founder of Plus 1. “We wanted to build something centered around real plans and shared activities.”

About Plus 1
Plus 1 is a social connection app that helps people meet through real-world activities. Built with a friends-first approach, the platform supports friendship, networking, dating, and group experiences.

For more information, visit https://www.joinplus1.com

Media contact
info@joinplus1.com
+17322078102

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/86bc3aea-f2c4-4bdf-b219-dfafa37f3ab0

Qued Named 2025 Top Tech Startup by Food Logistics, Supply & Demand Chain Executive




Qued Named 2025 Top Tech Startup by Food Logistics, Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Prestigious tech award spotlights top software and technology startups revolutionizing the supply chain and logistics space

BROADLANDS, Va., Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Qued, a leader in developing sophisticated, automated appointment scheduling solutions for supply chain and logistics companies, proudly announces its recognition as a recipient of the 2025 Top Tech Startup award. This accolade is jointly presented by Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive (S&DCE), one of the leading publications dedicated to covering the global supply chain.

The Top Tech Startup award program is designed to identify and celebrate the most innovative and promising new software and technology providers that are significantly impacting the logistics, warehousing, and overall supply chain management landscape. Qued was selected for its cutting-edge platform that addresses critical inefficiencies in appointment scheduling, ultimately enabling companies to optimize throughput, reduce detention fees, and enhance carrier relationships.

“Recognition like this really speaks to the work our team puts into the problem we’ve been focused on since day one,” said Tom Curee, president of Qued. “Scheduling isn’t flashy, but it’s one of the most costly, overlooked parts of the supply chain. In a market where every hour and every dollar counts, teams can’t afford slow, manual processes.”

The award specifically recognizes startups that have demonstrated exceptional growth, innovative product development, and a strong commitment to solving real-world supply chain challenges through technology. Qued’s platform leverages a unique algorithm to dynamically manage appointments, ensuring optimal utilization of resources for shippers, brokers, and carriers.

“At the end of the day, when appointments run better, everything else runs more efficiently. That’s the mission, and we’re staying locked in on it,” said Curee.

This achievement confirms Qued’s dedication to revolutionizing logistics and highlights the value its technology adds to the ever-changing supply chain landscape.

About Qued

Qued is a cloud-based, AI-powered smart workflow automation platform transforming load appointment scheduling for brokers, 3PLs, and carriers. By automating the scheduling process, Qued eliminates manual work, simplifies multi-stop load appointments, and ensures seamless coordination across the supply chain, improving both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

For more information, visit www.qued.com or contact us at contact.us@qued.com. Schedule a demo here.

About Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Food Logistics reaches more than 26,000 supply chain executives in the global food and beverage industries, including executives in the food sector (growers, producers, manufacturers, wholesalers and grocers) and the logistics section (transportation, warehousing, distribution, software and technology) who share a mutual interest in the operations and business aspects of the global cold food supply chain. Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the only supply chain publication covering the entire global supply chain, focusing on trucking, warehousing, packaging, procurement, risk management, professional development and more. Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive also operate the Women in Supply Chain Forum. Go to www.FoodLogistics.com and www.SDCExec.com.

About IRONMARKETS
IRONMARKETS, formerly known as AC Business Media, is a leading business-to-business media and buyer engagement platform with a portfolio of renowned brands in heavy construction, asphalt, concrete, paving, rental, sustainability, landscape, manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain markets. IRONMARKETS delivers relevant, cutting-edge content to its audiences through its industry-leading digital properties, trade shows, conferences, videos, magazines, webinars, and newsletters. It also provides advertisers the analytics, data, and ability to reach their target audience. Learn more at https://www.iron.markets.

Media Contact
Michaela Dildine
LeadCoverage
Michaela.d@leadcoverage.com

Qued Named 2025 Top Tech Startup by Food Logistics, Supply & Demand Chain Executive




Qued Named 2025 Top Tech Startup by Food Logistics, Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Prestigious tech award spotlights top software and technology startups revolutionizing the supply chain and logistics space

BROADLANDS, Va., Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Qued, a leader in developing sophisticated, automated appointment scheduling solutions for supply chain and logistics companies, proudly announces its recognition as a recipient of the 2025 Top Tech Startup award. This accolade is jointly presented by Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive (S&DCE), one of the leading publications dedicated to covering the global supply chain.

The Top Tech Startup award program is designed to identify and celebrate the most innovative and promising new software and technology providers that are significantly impacting the logistics, warehousing, and overall supply chain management landscape. Qued was selected for its cutting-edge platform that addresses critical inefficiencies in appointment scheduling, ultimately enabling companies to optimize throughput, reduce detention fees, and enhance carrier relationships.

“Recognition like this really speaks to the work our team puts into the problem we’ve been focused on since day one,” said Tom Curee, president of Qued. “Scheduling isn’t flashy, but it’s one of the most costly, overlooked parts of the supply chain. In a market where every hour and every dollar counts, teams can’t afford slow, manual processes.”

The award specifically recognizes startups that have demonstrated exceptional growth, innovative product development, and a strong commitment to solving real-world supply chain challenges through technology. Qued’s platform leverages a unique algorithm to dynamically manage appointments, ensuring optimal utilization of resources for shippers, brokers, and carriers.

“At the end of the day, when appointments run better, everything else runs more efficiently. That’s the mission, and we’re staying locked in on it,” said Curee.

This achievement confirms Qued’s dedication to revolutionizing logistics and highlights the value its technology adds to the ever-changing supply chain landscape.

About Qued

Qued is a cloud-based, AI-powered smart workflow automation platform transforming load appointment scheduling for brokers, 3PLs, and carriers. By automating the scheduling process, Qued eliminates manual work, simplifies multi-stop load appointments, and ensures seamless coordination across the supply chain, improving both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

For more information, visit www.qued.com or contact us at contact.us@qued.com. Schedule a demo here.

About Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Food Logistics reaches more than 26,000 supply chain executives in the global food and beverage industries, including executives in the food sector (growers, producers, manufacturers, wholesalers and grocers) and the logistics section (transportation, warehousing, distribution, software and technology) who share a mutual interest in the operations and business aspects of the global cold food supply chain. Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the only supply chain publication covering the entire global supply chain, focusing on trucking, warehousing, packaging, procurement, risk management, professional development and more. Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive also operate the Women in Supply Chain Forum. Go to www.FoodLogistics.com and www.SDCExec.com.

About IRONMARKETS
IRONMARKETS, formerly known as AC Business Media, is a leading business-to-business media and buyer engagement platform with a portfolio of renowned brands in heavy construction, asphalt, concrete, paving, rental, sustainability, landscape, manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain markets. IRONMARKETS delivers relevant, cutting-edge content to its audiences through its industry-leading digital properties, trade shows, conferences, videos, magazines, webinars, and newsletters. It also provides advertisers the analytics, data, and ability to reach their target audience. Learn more at https://www.iron.markets.

Media Contact
Michaela Dildine
LeadCoverage
Michaela.d@leadcoverage.com

BRMG, a Hover Group Company, Ends 2025 with Strong Foundation and Expanding Operator Pipeline Ahead of 2026 Scale-Up




BRMG, a Hover Group Company, Ends 2025 with Strong Foundation and Expanding Operator Pipeline Ahead of 2026 Scale-Up

BRMG, a Hover Group company, today announced its Q4 and fiscal year-end results, closing FY2025 with a strengthened operating foundation, accelerated growth, and clear momentum heading into FY26.

TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The company delivered significant year-over-year revenue growth, representing a 133% increase from FY2024. This surge reflects the strong market adoption of BRMG’s Operator-first model, which continues to attract senior practitioners seeking independence, alignment, and a modern alternative to traditional agency structures.

Throughout the year, BRMG Operators also surpassed a key performance milestone: each Operating Partner achieved an annual portfolio value above all targets, demonstrating both the maturity of the model and the strength of client demand across the network.

BRMG ended FY2025 performing ahead of its internal targets, despite making deliberate investments throughout the year to strengthen governance, modernize financial structures, enhance frameworks, and prepare the platform for future expansion.

“Quarter four marked our shift from proving the Operator model to preparing it for scale,” said Alex Verdurmen, Partner at BRMG. “We modernized our systems, improved transparency, renewed key Operator agreements, and built the disciplines required for repeatable growth. The foundation is now set for FY26.”

BRMG also closed the quarter with strong momentum on the recruitment front, having engaged in meaningful conversations with multiple senior leaders and solidifying its next wave of Operators for early FY26. This expansion reflects a shifting market: experienced strategists, consultants, and creative leaders are increasingly seeking new models that allow them to grow their own business while benefiting from a collaborative platform.

“At BRMG, our focus is creating an environment where Operators can plug in, perform, and grow,”added Matthew Hollingshead, Co-Founder. “We are building the systems, support, and accountability structures required to onboard new Operators smoothly while elevating the value we deliver to clients and partners. Every step we take strengthens the platform.”

Current Operators echoed the benefits of the model:

“BRMG is a collaborative and supportive team that provides the resources I need. I’m glad to be part of this new model that lets me focus on growing my business,” said Dack Heslop, BRMG Operating Partner.

BRMG enters 2026 with the foundational pieces for growth in place and is prepared to raise the capital needed to accelerate our growth strategy.

2025 also marked the addition of several new clients across the network, including Fidelity, Lixil Canada, HOYA, Jiffy Lube, Grace Foods, Cytoderma, and OurRitual, reflecting growing trust in the BRMG platform and the quality of work delivered by our Operators. This year’s progress sets the stage for disciplined expansion.

The Path Ahead

BRMG enters 2026 in thoughtful growth mode. Our focus is on expanding the strength of our Operator network, continuing to build the financial capacity required to support new opportunities, and positioning BRMG to compete confidently with larger agencies across the Canadian marketing landscape. With a resilient model, growing client trust, and a sharpened vision, we are ready to put our mark on the industry and continue building a platform that elevates both Operators and the brands we serve.

About BRMG

BRMG is a modern brokerage platform for independent marketing Operators. Inspired by the real estate brokerage model, BRMG provides Operators with brand support, shared services, financial stability, and structured upside – without sacrificing autonomy. BRMG is part of Hover Group, which specializes in building disciplined operating models designed for long-term scale.

About Hover Group

Hover Group builds, acquires, and operates companies with a focus on disciplined operating models, platform economics, and long-term value creation. The group provides financial, operational, and strategic support across its portfolio, enabling each business to scale sustainably while maintaining a high standard of governance and execution. Hover Group’s mandate is to develop resilient businesses that can compete at the highest levels while supporting the operators and leaders who drive them.

Contact

averdurmen@thebrmg.com

BRMG, a Hover Group Company, Ends 2025 with Strong Foundation and Expanding Operator Pipeline Ahead of 2026 Scale-Up




BRMG, a Hover Group Company, Ends 2025 with Strong Foundation and Expanding Operator Pipeline Ahead of 2026 Scale-Up

BRMG, a Hover Group company, today announced its Q4 and fiscal year-end results, closing FY2025 with a strengthened operating foundation, accelerated growth, and clear momentum heading into FY26.

TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The company delivered significant year-over-year revenue growth, representing a 133% increase from FY2024. This surge reflects the strong market adoption of BRMG’s Operator-first model, which continues to attract senior practitioners seeking independence, alignment, and a modern alternative to traditional agency structures.

Throughout the year, BRMG Operators also surpassed a key performance milestone: each Operating Partner achieved an annual portfolio value above all targets, demonstrating both the maturity of the model and the strength of client demand across the network.

BRMG ended FY2025 performing ahead of its internal targets, despite making deliberate investments throughout the year to strengthen governance, modernize financial structures, enhance frameworks, and prepare the platform for future expansion.

“Quarter four marked our shift from proving the Operator model to preparing it for scale,” said Alex Verdurmen, Partner at BRMG. “We modernized our systems, improved transparency, renewed key Operator agreements, and built the disciplines required for repeatable growth. The foundation is now set for FY26.”

BRMG also closed the quarter with strong momentum on the recruitment front, having engaged in meaningful conversations with multiple senior leaders and solidifying its next wave of Operators for early FY26. This expansion reflects a shifting market: experienced strategists, consultants, and creative leaders are increasingly seeking new models that allow them to grow their own business while benefiting from a collaborative platform.

“At BRMG, our focus is creating an environment where Operators can plug in, perform, and grow,”added Matthew Hollingshead, Co-Founder. “We are building the systems, support, and accountability structures required to onboard new Operators smoothly while elevating the value we deliver to clients and partners. Every step we take strengthens the platform.”

Current Operators echoed the benefits of the model:

“BRMG is a collaborative and supportive team that provides the resources I need. I’m glad to be part of this new model that lets me focus on growing my business,” said Dack Heslop, BRMG Operating Partner.

BRMG enters 2026 with the foundational pieces for growth in place and is prepared to raise the capital needed to accelerate our growth strategy.

2025 also marked the addition of several new clients across the network, including Fidelity, Lixil Canada, HOYA, Jiffy Lube, Grace Foods, Cytoderma, and OurRitual, reflecting growing trust in the BRMG platform and the quality of work delivered by our Operators. This year’s progress sets the stage for disciplined expansion.

The Path Ahead

BRMG enters 2026 in thoughtful growth mode. Our focus is on expanding the strength of our Operator network, continuing to build the financial capacity required to support new opportunities, and positioning BRMG to compete confidently with larger agencies across the Canadian marketing landscape. With a resilient model, growing client trust, and a sharpened vision, we are ready to put our mark on the industry and continue building a platform that elevates both Operators and the brands we serve.

About BRMG

BRMG is a modern brokerage platform for independent marketing Operators. Inspired by the real estate brokerage model, BRMG provides Operators with brand support, shared services, financial stability, and structured upside – without sacrificing autonomy. BRMG is part of Hover Group, which specializes in building disciplined operating models designed for long-term scale.

About Hover Group

Hover Group builds, acquires, and operates companies with a focus on disciplined operating models, platform economics, and long-term value creation. The group provides financial, operational, and strategic support across its portfolio, enabling each business to scale sustainably while maintaining a high standard of governance and execution. Hover Group’s mandate is to develop resilient businesses that can compete at the highest levels while supporting the operators and leaders who drive them.

Contact

averdurmen@thebrmg.com

Soverli Raises $2.6M Pre-Seed to Bring Secure and Convenient Digital Freedom to Every Smartphone




Soverli Raises $2.6M Pre-Seed to Bring Secure and Convenient Digital Freedom to Every Smartphone

ETH Zurich spin-off Soverli launches a sovereign OS layer for any commercial smartphone — independent of Android and iOS, yet fully compatible and requiring no hardware changes.

Zurich, Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Digital sovereignty is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s defining geopolitical priorities, driving billions in investment across sovereign cloud, AI, national networks, and next-generation sovereign communication. Despite the scale of these efforts, smartphones remain the last unclaimed frontier of digital sovereignty. These devices — now central to nearly everyone’s daily life and relied upon by governments, emergency services, and critical industries — are still un-auditable Android and iOS black boxes. This not only undermines sovereignty but creates systemic fragility: a single faulty update (as seen in the CrowdStrike global outage) or hidden kill switch can take hundreds of millions of devices offline, raising serious questions about the suitability of these devices for mission-critical infrastructure. Even for individuals seeking more control, the only option today is to abandon everyday convenience to run an alternative operating system — a trade-off few can realistically make. 

Soverli, a cybersecurity company, has raised USD 2.6 million in pre-seed funding to introduce a sovereign smartphone architecture that, crucially, works alongside Android and iOS. This makes true mobile sovereignty accessible to every OEM, enterprise, government, and consumer. The pre-seed round was led by Founderful, with participation from the ETH Zurich Foundation, Venture Kick, and leading figures in cybersecurity, adding strong validation from experts in high-assurance systems and trusted computing. 

Soverli co-founders: Ivan Puddu (CEO) and Moritz Schneider (CTO). CREDIT: Daniel Kunz.

Developed over more than four years of research at ETH Zurich, Soverli’s patent-pending methodology enables multiple operating systems (OS) to run in isolation – simultaneously – on a single device. This effectively turns every commercial phone into sovereign infrastructure. For the first time, a fully sovereign, customizable, and auditable OS can run in parallel to Android — on any smartphone, with zero trade-offs: users keep the full Android experience on one OS and can switch to the sovereign OS in milliseconds at the press of a button.

As a showcase of what this can enable, Soverli demonstrated Signal running inside its bespoke sovereign OS: by reducing the attack surface by 500× and isolating the app from Android entirely, Signal’s messages remain confidential even if Android is malicious or compromised with spyware. And because Soverli requires no hardware modifications, this level of protection works on today’s commercial smartphones without impacting what people can do with them.

Soverli’s relevance has grown as Europe and other regions race to strengthen digital sovereignty and ensure business continuity for governments, mission-critical personnel, and essential industries. Today’s secure-phone solutions force a tradeoff between security and usability as they remove features, restrict apps, or require users to reboot between operating systems. Soverli eliminates that compromise entirely, delivering sovereign-grade security without sacrificing usability.

“Availability is mission-critical, yet organizations still rely on operating systems they cannot control or audit,” said Ivan Puddu, co-founder and CEO of Soverli. “We built a fully-auditable smartphone sovereign layer that stays operational even when Android is compromised. It’s a paradigm shift: instead of hoping the OS never breaks, Soverli guarantees continuity if it does, without forcing users to give up the modern smartphone experience they expect.”

Soverli’s early prototypes, developed at ETH, quickly drew the attention of governments, public-sector stakeholders, and enterprises seeking stronger operational safety and business continuity without forcing users onto locked-down smartphones. Interest surged further when European smartphone manufacturers and integrators recognized the strategic potential of the technology. That momentum made the spin-out inevitable, leading the team to build Soverli as an independent company.

The first application is built  for mission-critical communication. Public sector pilots are underway with organizations responsible for emergency response and critical infrastructure, where high availability is essential. If Android fails because of a misconfiguration or attack, as seen recently with large-scale outages triggered by software updates, Soverli’s enabled isolated environment keeps running on its own dedicated software stack. This allows communication and essential workflows to remain operational, which is vital for teams such as police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders. The same architecture protects journalists and human rights workers by allowing secure messaging apps to run inside an isolated environment that attackers cannot see, even if the main OS has been compromised. Enterprises are exploring Soverli for secure bring-your-own-device programs, giving employees a private environment alongside a tightly controlled business workspace — achieving stronger protection for business data without requiring the privacy concessions employees face on today’s company-managed devices.

“People deserve phones they can actually trust, and OEMs must deliver it,” said Antonia Albert, Investor at Founderful. “Soverli’s Swiss-made sovereign layer is the kind of breakthrough that can rewrite the rules of mobile security.”

The broader context is a rapid shift toward digital sovereignty, spearheaded by Europe, where governments and enterprises are seeking infrastructure that provides both independence and state-of-the-art capability. Cloud providers have begun offering sovereign regions, yet smartphones remain a major unresolved gap. Secure communication tools, MDM systems, and hardened devices all depend on the underlying operating system remaining trustworthy. Soverli’s architecture introduces a new model in which institutions can enforce their own security posture on consumer-grade hardware without requiring custom phones or sacrificing usability.

With the new funding, Soverli will grow its engineering team, bring its techonology to more smartphone models, strengthen integrations with mobile device management systems, and scale partnerships with OEMs. Long term, the company aims to set a new standard for how software is layered on phones, making true digital sovereignty available to everyone on every commercial smartphone.

Media images can be found here.

About Soverli
ETH Zurich spin-off Soverli AG, is a Zurich-based cybersecurity company providing a patent-pending platform that packs multiple fully isolated phones into one device — delivering the highest level of security without compromising on convenience and unlocking true digital sovereignty. By enabling independent operating systems to run in parallel on the same smartphone alongside Android and iOS, Soverli helps enterprises, governments, financial institutions, and every consumer combine strong security, user freedom, and modern app ecosystems.

About Founderful
Founderful is Switzerland’s leading pre-seed fund, backing founder teams building tech companies with the potential to become global market leaders. Founderful has a track record of supporting exceptional founders in creating breakthrough companies and has the passionate conviction that the Swiss startup ecosystem is just starting to write its best success stories.