JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Vantage Markets, in collaboration with its charitable arm, Vantage Foundation through the #TradeforHope initiative, has successfully supported Grab Indonesia’s Women Driver Program – Wiramudi Grab program. This initiative empowered over 3,400 women across multiple cities in Indonesia, create economic opportunities in the ride-hailing industry by providing startup capital, essential equipment, and financial incentives to help them establish a sustainable source of income.

The program, which ran from November 2024 to January 2025, achieved remarkable results. It onboarded 1,400 new female drivers and reactivated 2,000 dormant drivers in Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Bandung, Makassar, Semarang, and Yogyakarta. Participants received free driver kits, including jackets and helmets, as well as reactivation incentives to encourage continued participation in the workforce.

The initiative had a tangible economic impact, with participating drivers experiencing a 13% increase in trips compared to those who did not receive support. Beyond financial assistance, the program provided participants with a renewed sense of confidence, independence, and community support.

For Purwati, the program was more than just an opportunity to earn an income—it also helped her build confidence in a new career path: “Joining as a lady Grab driver has been incredibly helpful in earning my own income and gaining new knowledge. Plus, I’ve received great benefits like jackets, helmets, and even cosmetics! These small gestures mean a lot. Thank you so much for the support!”

The Wiramudi Grab Program has demonstrated the power of corporate responsibility and strategic partnerships in fostering economic empowerment and workforce inclusion. By breaking down barriers to entry, the program has provided thousands of women with a chance to generate sustainable income while promoting greater gender diversity in Indonesia’s ride-hailing sector.

Marc Despallieres, CEO of Vantage Markets, emphasised the importance of this collaboration: “At Vantage Markets, we believe that financial independence should be accessible to everyone, and we are committed to supporting initiatives that create real, lasting impact. Our partnership with Vantage Foundation and Grab Indonesia is a testament to the power of collective action in driving meaningful change. By empowering women with resources, training, and financial support, we are not only helping them secure a stable income but also fostering a more inclusive and sustainable future. We look forward to expanding this partnership and continuing to support communities in need.”

The #TradeForHope campaign is part of Vantage’s ongoing efforts to integrate social responsibility into its operations. By giving back through initiatives like these, Vantage is paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future for the communities it serves.

About Grab

Grab is a leading superapp in Southeast Asia, operating across the deliveries, mobility and digital financial services sectors. Serving over 700 cities in eight Southeast Asian countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – Grab enables millions of people everyday to order food or groceries, send packages, hail a ride or taxi, pay for online purchases or access services such as lending and insurance, all through a single app. Grab was founded in 2012 with the mission to drive Southeast Asia forward by creating economic empowerment for everyone. Grab strives to serve a triple bottom line – we aim to simultaneously deliver financial performance for our shareholders and have a positive social impact, which includes economic empowerment for millions of people in the region, while mitigating our environmental footprint.    

About Vantage Foundation

Vantage Foundation is an independent charitable organisation launched at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK in 2023. The foundation has worked with charity organisations around the world, including the iREDE Foundation in Nigeria, Teach For Malaysia in Malaysia, and Instituto Claret in Brazil.

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For more information, please visit www.vantage.foundation

Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or an offer of any financial products or services. The charitable activities described herein are conducted by Vantage Foundation with support from Vantage Markets. These activities are entirely separate from any financial services offered by Vantage Markets. This article is solely intended to describe corporate social responsibility efforts and does not imply any endorsement or partnership related to financial products or services. Readers are advised to seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. Any reliance you place on the information presented is strictly at your own risk.

RISK WARNING: CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Ensure you understand the risks before trading.

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WILMINGTON, Del., April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ —

The Opportunity
As a leading supply chain services company operating in the UK, CZ, sought to streamline its trade finance operations and reduce the time-intensive processes associated with paper-based trade documentation. Traditional trade processes often involve multiple parties, high administrative costs, and lengthy timelines. This creates friction in global trade, particularly for fast-moving commodities like sugar.

The growing adoption of digital trade solutions, such as electronic Bills of Lading (eBLs), allowed CZ to embrace fully digital trade documentation, enabling faster financing, reduced costs, and greater operational efficiency.

The Solution

CZ successfully executed its first fully digital trade financing transaction using WaveBL. This milestone transaction showcased the power of end-to-end digital trade processes:

1. Issuance of eBL: The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) issued an electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) on WaveBL and transmitted it to CZ.
2. Compilation of Supporting Documents: CZ added electronic versions of the necessary trade documents, such as invoices and letter of instructions to the bank, to the WaveBL platform.
3. Document Submission to the Bank: CZ sent the eBL and supporting documents to Mizrahi Tefahot Bank LTD, UK via WaveBL for review and processing.
4. Financing Approval: The bank validated the documents against compliance requirements and promptly provided financing to CZ.
5. Document Transfer to Importer: The bank forwarded the complete set of electronic documents to the importer in Israel, ensuring a seamless and efficient transaction.

This streamlined process eliminated the need for physical documentation, saving significant time and reducing administrative burden for all parties involved. By now, CZ, fully transformed the flow and completed dozens of transactions.

The Impact

CZ experienced transformative benefits from this digital-first approach:

• Faster Financing: Traditional transactions take several days to get to the bank, and take 15–25 days until reaching the importer. This is now completed in hours, enabling quicker access to working capital.
• Enhanced Security: Documents were transmitted securely via WaveBL’s blockchain-backed platform, mitigating risks associated with physical document loss or forgery.
• Cost Savings: The elimination of paper documentation reduced courier costs, printing expenses, and administrative overhead.
• Seamless Collaboration: WaveBL’s platform provided a unified space for collaboration between CZ, its financial institution, and MSC, ensuring all parties remained synchronized throughout the process.

“This digitised way of working represents a turning point in how we approach trade finance. By adopting WaveBL’s digital platform, we’ve cut processing time from weeks to hours while ensuring security and transparency at every stage. This success sets a strong foundation for leveraging digital trade documentation in future operations.”
— Tanya Epshteyn, Associate Director, Head of Structured and Trade Finance, CZ

CZ’s journey showcases how fully digital trade documentation can revolutionize the way businesses manage international trade. By leveraging WaveBL, CZ demonstrated the power of faster financing, reduced costs, and secure collaboration.

This success sets a benchmark for companies across industries, proving that embracing digital trade solutions is essential for staying agile, efficient, and competitive in today’s global market.

The bank, Mizrahi Tefahot Ltd in the UK, by using the WaveBL platform, allows its customers access for a very efficient and friendly way to manage their trade documentation, increasing their satisfaction from the services they receive.

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“The type of deals that CZ manage with their bank showcase that electronic trade is not limited to Letters of Credit and Collection but is everywhere in the Global Trade Finance arena.” says Ofer Ein Bar, VP Financial Institutions at WaveBL.

“The use case of using electronic documents to shorten the preliminary processes to financing, and at the same time reduce costs with a friendly and efficient user experience is a game changer for Global Trade. It will help to resolve the huge gap of financing so needed to support the growth of global trade.”

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For inquiries:

Ofer Ein Bar
ofer.einbar@wavebl.com 

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Brainstorm AI events will return to London, Singapore, and San Francisco in 2025

NEW YORK, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fortune and Accenture announced today dates for the 2025 Brainstorm AI global conference series, which will return to three dynamic centers of AI activity and investment: London (May 6-7), Singapore (July 22-23), and San Francisco (December 8-9).

This is Fortune’s second year for the global series of AI conferences with a new theme: “The Age of Intelligence.” The events convene top technologists, entrepreneurs, Fortune Global 500 executives, investors, policymakers, and other leading minds shaping the future of AI. Each event will serve as a strategic hub for global AI innovation and dialogue, with a distinct regional focus.

Fortune journalists and editors will be present and on stage throughout each Brainstorm AI event, inquiring into the most pressing questions about this transformational technology, offering insights tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities facing companies, investors, and customers in each region during this pivotal year.

Fortune Brainstorm AI London returns to Rosewood in London, May 6 – 7. This year’s event will explore AI that can reason, plan, and act—all while managing a complete overhaul of computing as we know it. Participants will dive into how businesses are shifting from planning for AI to actively implementing it while navigating the evolving policy and regulatory landscape.

Day One will kick off with Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE and Lord Holmes of Richmond MBE discussing the future of AI and regulation in the UK and Europe. Attendees will hear from top investors from Accel, GV, IVP, and Headline, who will discuss their big bets on AI. We’ll close the day with a spectacular session on the impact of AI on children, featuring Joanna Shields, former Minister for Internet Safety and Security under David Cameron and Theresa May.

Day Two begins with with Jason Warner, the CEO of the ascendant AI startup poolside, and a demonstration from Proto Hologram. Later in the day, Renee James, founder and CEO of Ampere Computing, joins the program fresh off her company’s sale to SoftBank. We’ll close out the day with Amazon Robotics Chief Technologist Tye Brady, who will share how the tech giant is using AI in its warehouses. For the full agenda, please visit here.

Fortune Brainstorm AI Singapore will be held July 22 – 23, exploring the next frontier of intelligence—and how Asia is rewriting the playbook. From the rise of AI agents and the open vs. closed LLM debate to breakthroughs like DeepSeek that are reshaping the global AI race, we’ll unpack the trends and technologies driving the future of artificial intelligence.

As AI development collides with geopolitics, trade tensions, the rising cost of infrastructure, and the debate around the advent of AGI, this two-day event will convene top leaders and builders shaping the region’s tech future. In a pivotal year for innovation, Brainstorm AI Singapore offers a timely look at where intelligence is headed—and who’s leading the charge. For more information, please visit here.

Fortune Brainstorm AI San Francisco

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The third event in the 2025 Brainstorm AI series will return to San Francisco and convene top industry leaders to continue discussions on how businesses are shifting from planning for AI to executing it, with an eye on the evolving policy and regulatory landscape. We’ll examine the latest advancements in AI reasoning and share how organizations are moving beyond experimentation to full-scale deployment. Additionally, we’ll address AI’s immense resource demands and explore how industries can ensure its growth remains sustainable and responsible.

Brainstorm editorial director Andrew Nusca and co-chairs Jason Del Rey, Allie Garfinkle, and Jeremy Kahn will lead the Brainstorm AI franchise series.

“A new generation of tech disruptors is rising. Policy is shifting by the minute. Every organization needs an AI strategy—period,” says Andrew Nusca, editorial director of Fortune Brainstorm. “Fortune’s Brainstorm AI series could not feel more urgent, relevant, and inspiring.”

Lan Guan, chief AI officer of Accenture, said, “As AI increasingly acts autonomously on behalf of people, we believe it will be people’s trust in AI that will define how far it can go. Whether AI systems perform as expected, are traceable, act justly and are reliable in its intent – these are essential to shape a foundation of trust. One of the major themes throughout the Fortune Brainstorm AI events will be how organizations can bridge the gaps to scale and thrive with AI across the enterprise.”

Previous Fortune Brainstorm AI conferences have been moments that draw together disparate members of the AI community, including company founders, tech CEOS and CTOs, venture capital firms, professors, and key policymakers from leading companies and institutions such as Apple, DeepMind, Google and Bard, IBM, iKhan Academy, Intuit, Khosla Ventures, LucasFilm, Microsoft, Pfizer, Walmart, White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, Salesforce, Stanford University, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, Wells Fargo, Workday, among many others.

About Fortune:
Fortune is a global multi-platform media company built on a legacy of trusted, award-winning reporting and information for those who want to make business better. Independently owned, Fortune tells the stories of the world’s biggest companies and their leaders as well as a new generation of innovators who are moving business forward. Digitally and in print, Fortune measures corporate performance through rigorous benchmarks, and holds companies accountable, in regions around the world. Its iconic rankings include Fortune 500, Fortune Global 500, Most Powerful Women, and World’s Most Admired Companies. Fortune builds world-class communities by convening industry thought leaders for exclusive summits and conferences, including the Fortune Global Forum, Brainstorm Tech, and Fortune Most Powerful Women. For more information, visit fortune.com.

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth, and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent- and innovation-led company with approximately 801,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology and leadership in cloud, data and AI with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. Our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Song, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable us to help our clients reinvent and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners, and communities. Visit us at accenture.com

Media Contacts: 

Patrick Reilly
Fortune
Patrick.Reilly@fortune.com 

Chelsea Hudson
Fortune
Chelsea.Hudson@fortune.com

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