Fintech PR
Cuentas Releases Shareholder Update and New Branding Initiative, Highlighting the Successful Launch of Key Initiatives of the Company’s Strategy of Building a Complete Ecosystem to Serve the Underserved but Well Deserved, An Estimated Trillion-Dollar Market Opportunity
Company Management Reports the Successful Completion of Key Strategic Initiatives that are positioning the Company to take advantage for the escalating demand for financial and lifestyle solutions for a growing segment of the population who have been left out of the system.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla., July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Cuentas, Inc. (Nasdaq: CUEN) (Nasdaq: CUENW) (“Cuentas”), the Company that is creating an alternative financial ecosystem for the growing, hard-working segment of the population who do not have access to traditional financial and lifestyle alternatives, today released their shareholder update, underscoring the Company’s progress and the new company branding and unified focus on serving the underserved. Over the past 12 months, Cuentas Management has successfully launched its new mobile platform, Cuentas Mobile as well as the recently announced, sustainable community technology solution Cuentas Casa, which stands to revolutionize sustainable and affordable living. To round out it its core ecosystem, the Company is currently on track to launch its new Cuentas Money Application and financial solutions package, in the fall of 2023. Management believes that these accomplishments put the Company in the position to grow significantly in the coming months and years, updating, upgrading, and rebranding around its core mission providing tools for managing life and solutions for living life to the millions of hardworking Americans who have been left out of the system.
Management further reports that its successful stock split and subsequent NASDAQ confirmation have enabled the company to focus on its core business objective of building a complete ecosystem for what Forbes has called a “the next trillion-dollar market opportunity” (LINK Forbes Article).
“It has been an incredible year as we have taken the Company out of its infancy and into a new focus on serving the underserved” said Cuentas CEO and Co-Founder, Arik Maimon. “We are hitting our stride and looking forward to an exciting next 12 months.” Highlights from management include:
CUENTAS Mobile Launch. Company’s launch of Cuentas Mobile represents an important evolution in its Telco services solution. Cuentas Mobile (www.cuentasmobile.com) offers consumers straightforward access to affordable telco services, including free talk and text in each package.
CUENTAS Money Update. Cuentas is re-imagining its money solution in partnership with global financial giant, InComm, creating a digitally driven money management platform that can be directly integrated into its mobile devices as well as into physical locations via network connectivity or directly in Cuentas cards, a collection of debit and bonus cards which management expects to launch in the fall of 2023. (LINK Nasdaq Article)
CUENTAS SDI Partnership. As reported earlier this week, Cuentas has brought in its partner, OLB to take the majority interest in Cuentas’ 31,000+ convenience store “bodega” network. Cuentas will be providing its Mobile and Money solutions through this growing local store platform, serving local urban communities with big-box type retail options while OLB will manage the day-to-day business from core retail to advanced point of sale integration.
CUENTAS Casa Successful Initial Project and Growing Pipeline: Built upon the Company’s unique deal with revolutionary sustainable building technology company Renco, Cuentas is partnering to roll out entire sustainable residential communities in key areas in Florida hardest hit by a rental housing crises that a recent Harvard Report has called “the worst in the nation” (LINK: Housing Crisis). In under six months, Cuentas has locked up the land option for five new projects which represent over 1500 residential units in over 100 acres across Florida, with the initial test project complete and the next nearing ground break. Management believes that this bold move creates a first-of-its kind and incredibly powerful third pillar to Cuentas Mobile and Cuentas money, with actual physical community development.
“Tying physical construction technology to our portfolio of fin-tech solutions dramatically broadens our portfolio, creating the opportunity for immense, measurable return and value creation”, said Cuentas President and Co-Founder, Michael De Prado. “The response from the communities we are impacting, as well as shareholders and partners, has been overwhelming.”
In addition to its core initiatives, the Company has launched a rebranding program, bringing together the three pillars of Cuentas Mobile, Cuentas Money and Cuentas Casa into a single web presence, Cuentas.com, while re-launching the Company’s mobile site, Cuentasmobile.com with fresh branding. Management expects further product and solution launches as well as new Cuentas Casa development announcements to continue throughout the year.
NEW CUENTAS POSITIONING BRINGS A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF
“We have spent the last year investing in bringing together meaningful solutions that serve the underserved, and the progress is inspiring”, continued Maimon. “We do not believe anyone has ever approached the underserved problem with such a broad scope of integrated solutions.”
About CUENTAS Mobile
CUENTAS Mobile is Cuentas’ first step in our plan to bring increasingly powerful and cost-efficient telecommunications solutions to those that have been unable to acquire or afford them. With a growing selection of plans and services, delivered on the nation’s largest 5G and 4G LTE network, Cuentas Mobile puts the power of the network in the palm of your hand.
About CUENTAS Money
CUENTAS Money is designed to provide a broad range of instant access financial services and solutions to the growing segment of the population who do not have access to such services. In partnership combines a powerful application with even more powerful access, giving users the control of managing all their transactions, payments, money transfers, transfers in one place.
About CUENTAS SDI
Cuentas SDI, LLC. is the company that owns the platform of Black011.com and the network serving over 31,000 convenience stores (“Bodegas”) in and around New York and New Jersey. The Company is managed and controlled by The OLB Group, Inc. Cuentas Inc., is a shareholder in Cuentas SDI, LLC. Black011.com is the network that will deliver a range of services to the network’s customers, including digital incentives, promotions, gift cards, discounts, top up services, telecommunication services, money transfer solutions and other digital and physical products and solutions true the network of financial partners.
About CUENTAS Casa
CUENTAS CASA’s unique approach to property development combines state-of-the-art sustainable building technology with intelligent property management systems with the goal of developing complete residential communities in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost of traditional development. By selectively acquiring locations near metropolitan areas and immediately working with our partners to move into the construction phase, CUENTAS is able to pass on the savings in construction and maintenance directly to the resident. Management has seen rental prices reduced by as much as 30% over traditional residential communities.
About Cuentas
Cuentas, Inc. (Nasdaq: CUEN & CUENW) is creating an alternative financial ecosystem for the growing population who do not have access to traditional financial alternatives. The Company’s proprietary technologies help to integrate FinTech (Financial Technology), e-finance and e-commerce services into solutions that deliver next generation digital financial services to the under-banked and underserved populations across America and eventually, the world. The Cuentas Platform integrates Cuentas Mobile, the Company’s Telecommunications solution, with CUENTAS Money, its core financial services offerings to help entire communities enter the modern financial marketplace. In Q1 of 2023 Cuentas launched Cuentas Casa, an alternative housing community development solution based on a revolutionary, patented, sustainable building system. Management believes adding this construction technology to its offerings bridges the ‘need gap’, providing a first of its kind combination of financial and lifestyle solutions to the underbanked and underserved, putting the Company in a unique position to take advantage of what has been called a Trillion-dollar opportunity (LINK Forbes Article).
CUENTAS LINK: https://cuentas.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements,” as that term is defined in section 27a of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21e of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release, which are not purely historical, are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this news release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements that are preceded by, followed by, or that include such words as “believe,” “plan,” or “expect” or similar statements are forward-looking statements.
Investor Relations
Cuentas, Inc.
800-611-3622
info@cuentas.com
- Jaehoon Chang is promoted to Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group – Automotive Division
- José Muñoz appointed as CEO of Hyundai Motor Company
- Sung Kim appointed as President of Hyundai Motor Company
- Jun Young Choi is promoted to President of Kia Corporation; and Kyoo Bok Lee is promoted to President of Hyundai Glovis
- Appointment of new CEOs for the Group’s affiliates, including Cheol Seung Baek, Hyundai Transys; Joon Dong Oh, Hyundai KEFICO; Hanwoo Lee, Hyundai E&C; Woo Jeong Joo, Hyundai Engineering
SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) today announced key executive appointments for the year 2024 as part of its aims to solidify sustainable growth and better prepare for uncertainties in the global business environment.
This appointment reflects its commitment to a performance-based approach that aligns with outstanding achievements. By consolidating the Group’s core competencies and strategically placing proven leaders with verified track records in key positions, the Group aims to strengthen organizational foundations and accelerate our future transformation.
Jaehoon Chang is promoted to Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group – Automotive Division, effective Jan. 1st, 2025, to further strengthen the future competitiveness of the Group’s mobility business.
Looking ahead, Chang will oversee the entire value chain, including product planning, supply chain management manufacturing, and quality assessment. He will optimize business operations across the automotive business while securing internal synergies and building foundational systems for cost and quality innovation to ensure sustainable future competitiveness.
José Muñoz is appointed President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company to advance global management framework and solidify customer-focused mobility innovation through diverse powertrain offerings, including electric, hybrid, ICE and hydrogen technologies, effective Jan. 1st, 2025.
As a result, Muñoz is appointed as the first non-Korean CEO of Hyundai Motor – identified as the ideal fit to further enhance the company’s performance thanks to his merit-based management philosophy and his commitment to recruiting top global talent. Going forward, he is expected to enhance the company’s global management systems and further elevate its stature as a leading global brand.
Sung Kim is appointed as President of Hyundai Motor Company to manage the business effectively through global economic uncertainties, effective Jan. 1st, 2025.
As part of his appointment to enhance the company’s Think Tank capabilities and better navigate various geopolitical challenges, Kim will oversee global external affairs, analyze and research domestic and international policy trends, and lead communications and PR initiatives. He will focus on increasing synergies across the company’s intelligence functions, strengthening external networking and advancing global protocol capabilities.
Jun Young Choi is promoted to President of Kia Corporation from Head of Domestic Production Division and Chief Safety Officer (CSO). Kyoo Bok Lee, CEO of Hyundai Glovis, is promoted to President.
To strengthen sustainable management and accelerate business transformation, the Group has appointed Cheol Seung Baek as CEO of Hyundai Transys and Joon Dong Oh as CEO of Hyundai KEFICO.
To address challenges in the construction industry and accelerate fundamental improvements, the Group has appointed Hanwoo Lee as CEO of Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. (Hyundai E&C) and Woo Jeong Joo as CEO of Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd.
* Editor’s note: Appointment of all CEOs referenced are subject to approval by the relevant Group affiliate’s Board of Directors
About Hyundai Motor Group
Hyundai Motor Group is a global enterprise that has created a value chain based on mobility, steel, and construction, as well as logistics, finance, IT, and service. With about 250,000 employees worldwide, the Group’s mobility brands include Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Armed with creative thinking, cooperative communication and the will to take on any challenges, we strive to create a better future for all.
More information about Hyundai Motor Group can be found at:
http://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com or Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai, Kia Global Media Center (kianewscenter.com), Genesis Media Center.
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Fintech PR
DC to VC – NatWest Cushon and Future Planet Capital Lead the Charge in UK Pension Access to British Innovation
LONDON, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Future Planet Capital (FPC) is delighted to be working with NatWest Cushon, with a view to the Cushon Master Trust potentially making an investment in the British Co-Investment Fund (BCF). Any future investment will be subject to commercial terms, due diligence, and Trustee approval. If approved, NatWest Cushon’s participation would signify a major step forward, creating new avenues for British pension funds to access high-growth, private technology companies at scale. In partnership with pension solutions provider Mobius Life, the Fund will channel pension investment into the UK’s most innovative and impactful businesses.
The BCF closely aligns with the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s vision under the Mansion House Reforms, aiming to unlock large-scale investment in key British industries. It emphasises the private sector’s pivotal role in accelerating innovation and economic growth, through supporting the UK’s most promising and high-impact technology businesses.
Historically, British pension funds have had limited access to high-growth investment opportunities within the UK, meaning that overseas investors have been the primary beneficiaries of the nation’s flourishing innovation economy. Indeed, according to the BVCA, 86% of venture capital investment comes from overseas investors. To redress the balance, the BCF will be one of the first funds designed specifically for UK regular savings pension funds. It will offer direct and ongoing access to investments in the strategic technologies of the future.
Examples of companies likely to benefit from the Fund’s investments include Tokamak Energy, a world-record holder in nuclear fusion technology. The government-backed UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, was the first investor in Tokamak Energy, which has since gone on to raise over $250m. This demonstrates the role of public-private partnership in supporting British technology to drive both economic growth and environmental impact. With the support of mainstream British capital, much more can now be done.
Lord Norman Foster, Chair of Future Planet Capital’s Advisory Board shared, “One of our most important tasks is to anticipate the future and find ways to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people and the planet. We will need intellectual and financial capital to make that happen. This partnership supports the excellent work that is being done to invest in ground-breaking technologies which offer incredible potential.”
Douglas Hansen-Luke, Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Future Planet Capital, commented, “This collaboration enables British pension savers to support the next generation of British innovation, ensuring that UK capital not only backs but also benefits from the country’s technological and sustainable advancements.”
Julius Pursaill, Pensions expert and advisor to the Cushon Master Trust, said:
“There are a number of good reasons to support the UK Growth agenda. Innovations like the British Co-Investment Fund play an important role in delivering on this objective by driving financial growth whilst also offering access to innovative, impact-focused sectors such as climate technology and artificial intelligence, which can help secure the future for pension savers and broader society.”
About Future Planet Capital
Future Planet Capital is an impact-led venture capital firm built to back growth companies from the world’s top universities and research ecosystems. Founded in Britain with global outlook and reach, Future Planet Capital manages over $460m for public and private investors and has deployed a further $200m of co-investment. With 140 portfolio companies across geographies and stages their mission is to invest in high-growth companies solving global challenges. Mapped against the UN Sustainable Development Goals, these include climate change, education, health, security, and sustainable growth.
For more information visit: https://futureplanetcapital.com/
Other potential investments include:
Tropic Biosciences, founded in 2016 with an initial investment from Future Planet Capital’s UKI2S fund, is reshaping agriculture to improve resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in food production.
Roslin Technologies, spun out of the University of Edinburgh, pioneers the development of pluripotent stem cells for cultivated meat. Their technology addresses the global protein gap by enabling scalable, sustainable meat production without raising animals. By providing genetically stable, self-replicating stem cells, Roslin delivers solutions that reduce production costs to less than $15/kg, positioning itself as a leader in a $2BN cell market by 2035.
Beam (formally known as Rovco) is a growth-stage autonomous robotics company specialising in subsea services for the offshore wind sector. With £19 million in 2023 revenue, the company is rapidly scaling, leveraging cutting-edge AI and computer vision to lead the way in subsea autonomy.
Quotes of Support:
Lord Wei of Shoreditch
”Changing the world and making an impact at scale is really tough and at times can be a lonely place. Future Planet Capital has managed to pull together globally an immense network of investors, founders, and experts to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. It is truly a fellowship, and a font of innovation, as well as being a premier fund platform. In these fast changing times it is so reassuring to know that there are innovators working on making the world a safer, cooler, and better place, whose chances of success are being supercharged through the FPC community.”
Jim Wilkinson, Chief Financial Officer, Oxford Science Enterprises
‘Future Planet Capital’s investment strategy offers not only something different, but something that has been lacking in this space. Its approach as well as its scope -involving a remarkable series of partnerships with leading universities and university venture funds – make it a very valuable strategic partner for anyone active in this field.’
Paul Abberley, Investment Governance Board Chair
CEO at Charles Stanley, one of the oldest firms on the London Stock Exchange. Previously the CEO / CIO of Aviva Investors.
‘Successful innovations deliver superior investment returns. When those innovations have a positive impact on broader society, the capital investments which makes them possible benefit all stakeholders. Responsible investing of this type is easy to envisage but harder to implement, because identification of suitable opportunities is so challenging. The Future Planet approach bridges that gap.’
Priya Guha OBE, Member of the Future Planet Capital Investment Governance Board
‘With the Chancellor firing the starting gun on this Government’s pension reforms in yesterday’s Mansion House Speech, I am delighted Future Planet Capital are able to announce they are in discussion with NatWest Cushon for an investment into the British Co-Investment Fund. With their strong reputation for investing in high-growth high-impact companies in the technology sector, Future Planet Capital’s BCF is exactly the right vehicle through which pension funds can back the scaling companies of the future; a win-win for British scale-ups and for British pensioners.’
Matthew Hurn OBE, Deputy Chair of Future Planet Capital’s Advisory Board
‘The UK Growth agenda presents an exciting opportunity and it is vital that we have in place the tools needed to fulfil this potential. I strongly welcome this partnership which signals an important step forward – helping to pave the way to greater financial growth while offering savers access to world leading, impactful innovation.’
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Fintech PR
Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), a Stellar MLS Subsidiary, Signs Agreement with NAR India As Advisor to Develop a National MLS
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla., Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — UCO, a subsidiary of Stellar MLS, a leading multiple listing service (MLS) in the U.S. and the fastest-growing in the world, has entered into a landmark agreement with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) India as an advisor to successfully launch an MLS across India. This milestone signifies Stellar MLS’s commitment to enhance the real estate industry on a global scale, expanding UCO’s presence worldwide, and furthers NAR India’s journey to modernize and elevate the Indian real estate industry.
Founded in 2008, NAR India is a nonprofit organization that facilitates the professional development of its members and promotes the highest standards and accreditation in the national real estate industry. It is one of only two countries to hold the NAR designation; Canada is the other. UCO will consult with NAR India’s team to guide in areas including the establishment of an MLS, technology, business strategy, organizational setup, and vendor management.
“We are delighted to align with NAR India, a highly respected organization that shares our values of quality customer service, trust and data integrity to benefit the burgeoning real estate market in India,” said Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of UCO and Stellar MLS. “This is a significant nationwide initiative, and we are proud to share our expertise in establishing the MLS concept across India and be a part of NAR India’s mission to utilize the power of collaboration, transparency and an efficient marketplace.”
Cowen also noted the alignment’s potential benefits to Stellar MLS’s Florida customers, such as through referral opportunities: Florida is home to many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Current trends highlight the increasing influence of NRIs in shaping India’s real estate landscape, driven by both emotional connections to their homeland and the pursuit of investment opportunities. On the flipside, India is one of the largest foreign investors in Florida real estate, with $5.4 billion in investments in 2020.
“The partnership between UCO and NAR India marks a pivotal moment for the Indian real estate industry,” said Amit Chopra, President, NAR India. “It brings cutting-edge MLS expertise to India, fostering transparency, trust, and professionalism in our market.”
Tarun Bhatia, Vice Chairman and Chair-Global, NAR India, added: “It also creates exciting opportunities for Indian REALTORS® to showcase properties to a global audience, particularly NRIs, fostering stronger international connections.”
Sumanth Reddy, Chairman, NAR India, concluded: “We are proud to embark on this journey with UCO and look forward to the transformative impact it will have on our members and the industry as a whole, opening up new avenues for growth and collaboration.”
Dr. Mathew Kallumadil, UCO Vice President of Global Markets and Stellar MLS Vice President of Technology and Innovation noted the shared synergies between UCO and NAR India. “India is a complex, diverse market with different languages and cultures within the country, and UCO’s experience in accommodating regional differences and helping build scalable MLS systems will be invaluable in developing a sustainable MLS framework,” Dr. Kallumadil said. “Indian society is very highly digitized, and that is critical to a successful MLS and the ecosystem around it.”
The partnership with NAR India expands UCO’s presence to South Asia, in addition to Europe and the Middle East. UCO recently entered into other strategic global consulting opportunities, including with MLS Leader (Romania) and Arab MLS (Middle East) to optimize real estate practices across their respective regions, and with Igluu, a Prague-based digital technology firm, to expand the MLS concept in Europe. Furthermore, UCO has been actively engaged in global forums to support a forward-thinking approach to transforming the industry and its presence is supported through its partnerships with CEPI, the European Association of Real Estate Professions, and FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation.
For information about UCO and Stellar MLS, visit stellarmls.com/global.
Media Contact: Caryn McBride
Co-Communications
[email protected]
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