Fintech PR
Paddle opens applications for expanded AI Launchpad to help more ambitious AI founders scale
- Third iteration of Paddle’s AI Launchpad will offer 75 promising AI founders access to expert advice to help accelerate their growth.
- Successful applicants will gain access to an exclusive community of AI founders, masterclasses from industry leaders and the chance to win $20k, plus credits from partners including Google Cloud
- Applications are open from Wednesday 14th August until Sunday 22nd September.
LONDON, Aug. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Paddle, the payments infrastructure provider, has today opened applications for its third AI Launchpad, offering 75 ambitious AI founders the chance to participate in a 6-week program to help them build, launch and scale their AI-powered business ideas.
The potential for AI startups is huge, with generative AI startups globally raising more than $25 billion in funding in 2023, a figure that is predicted to rise to around $45 billion this year. However, developing an AI product is just the beginning and founders need to have a strong commercial and operational understanding, not just great technical skills, if they are to build a sustainable, scalable AI business.
Empowering AI innovators
Paddle’s AI Launchpad is designed to empower and support AI innovators and help founders to reach the pinnacle of their market niche. The program is aimed at AI-focused businesses whose core product offerings are built on natural language processing, machine learning, or other AI driven features and participants should have a minimal viable product ready by the start of the program. Applicants must also demonstrate clear signs of market traction and potential for scalable growth, with a growing customer or user base.
Successful applicants will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate, fostering a supportive ecosystem of like-minded individuals through weekly workshops, office hours and a private ‘Launchpaddler’ community on Slack. Other benefits of the program will include:
- Expert mentorship: Participants will have access to mentorship and live masterclasses from top software industry leaders, providing invaluable guidance and insights.
- Cash Prize: The program will culminate with a cash prize of $20,000 for the best offering, as judged by a panel of experts, to help accelerate the development and market reach of the winning startup.
- Additional benefits from partners: Participants can receive up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits and access to dedicated AI training and resources.
Christian Owens, Founder and Executive Chairman of Paddle, commented: “Paddle’s AI Launchpad began as a way to help a new generation of software founders build in one of the world’s fastest-moving categories, but it quickly became more than that. The vibrant, dynamic and supportive community that has emerged from our two previous programs is inspiring to see. The power of collaboration and shared knowledge within this community has driven real, tangible progress for our cohort and the caliber of what these founders are building is exceptional. The Launchpaddler community is now actively shaping how the program evolves and we’re excited to launch our next iteration, which promises to be the best yet.”
Helping founders unlock growth
Since launching in 2023, more than 175 founder teams have participated in the AI Launchpad program. Previous winners include Virtual Staging AI, a platform that allows real estate professionals to sell properties faster by using AI and Vanna AI, a platform that uses retrieval augmentation to help businesses generate accurate SQL queries for their database.
Launchpaddler growth successes:
- Several Launchpad participants have since seen their businesses achieve over 300% in Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
- Web traffic surged by over 80% for the 2024 H1 program’s finalists
- Vanna AI surpassed 10,000 GitHub stars after becoming a Launchpad winner
Zain Hoda, Founder and CEO of 2024 H1 AI Launchpad winner Vanna AI, said: “The Paddle AI Launchpad was instrumental in shaping Vanna’s growth strategy. The Masterclasses provided invaluable insights into critical areas like pricing strategy, marketing approaches, and defining our value metrics. Meanwhile, the community created a collaborative environment where we could exchange ideas and receive direct feedback on everything from pitch decks to pricing pages and marketing copy. This comprehensive support has been crucial in refining our business model and go-to-market strategy.”
Applications for the AI Launchpad will be open from 14th August to 22nd September 2024, with the program beginning in October. For more information on how to apply for AI Launchpad, including terms and conditions, please visit www.paddle.com/ai-launchpad.
About Paddle
Paddle, the payments infrastructure provider for software companies, powers hyper-scale growth across acquisition, renewals and expansion. With Paddle, companies are finally able to transform their payments infrastructure into a strategic growth lever to respond faster and more precisely to every growth opportunity. Paddle has 300 employees serving over 3500 software sellers in 245 countries and territories globally. Backed by investors including KKR, FTV Capital, Kindred, Notion, and 83North, Paddle aims to define the next wave of B2B SaaS leaders. Visit www.paddle.com or www.twitter.com/PaddleHQ for more information
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/paddle-opens-applications-for-expanded-ai-launchpad-to-help-more-ambitious-ai-founders-scale-302221388.html
Fintech PR
Wahed appoints Khalid Al Jassim as Executive Chairman of Wahed MENA to help guide the strategic growth of Wahed in the region
DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Wahed, a global Shariah-compliant fintech, has appointed Khalid Al Jassim as Chairman of Wahed MENA.
On this appointment, Khalid commented, ”I am excited to guide Wahed’s growth in the region. Wahed’s mission of furthering Islamic Finance is one I resonate with deeply and I look forward to supporting its growth ambitions.”
Khalid has over twenty five years of investment banking and corporate advisory experience gained with some of the most innovative and groundbreaking institutions in the world.
His career spans leading firms including SABIC, Arthur Anderson and Arcapita Bank in Bahrain, where he was instrumental in making it into one of the PE powerhouses in the region. His responsibilities started in the earlier years with establishing the Investment Placement Team and transforming it into one of the most robust teams in the industry. At the time that Khalid left Arcapita to build his personal business, he was an Executive Director. Today he is Chairman of Afkar Vision, a private advisory house specialized in mergers and acquisitions with offices in Manama, Dubai and Riyadh.
As well as being one of the earliest investors in Wahed, he is currently Chairman of the Audit Committee and Board Member at Bahrain Islamic Bank, the 4th oldest Islamic Bank in the World and Board Member at SICO Bank and SICO Capital in Saudi, an $8bn asset manager in the region.
Mohsin Siddiqui, Wahed CEO said, “We are delighted to announce Khalid’s appointment. His unique understanding of the financial landscape in the MENA region is unparalleled and we are excited to bring this expertise in continuing to grow our presence in the region.”
About Wahed
Founded in 2015, Wahed is a financial technology company that is advancing financial inclusion through accessible, affordable, and values-based investing. The company has made significant inroads in the world Shariah compliant investing by creating an easy-to-use digital platform that provides a suite of Shariah compliant investing products including managed portfolios and venture and real estate investments. Wahed caters to over 400,000 customers globally and manages over $ 1 billion in assets.
For more information, visit: www.wahed.com
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566076/Wahed_MENA_Khalid_Al_Jassim.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wahed-appoints-khalid-al-jassim-as-executive-chairman-of-wahed-mena-to-help-guide-the-strategic-growth-of-wahed-in-the-region-302314779.html
DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Qatar Development Bank (QDB) announces a strategic investment in Wahed, a global Shariah-compliant fintech.
Wahed currently manages over $1 billion in assets and has attracted over 400,000 clients worldwide. The company is built on the principles of democratizing access to financial services and offers clients access to Shariah-compliant investments in its mobile app. Wahed removes the barriers to sophisticated investment management services that have been traditionally reserved for high-net-worth investors.
Khalid Al Jassim, Executive Chairman of Wahed MENA said: ‘We are delighted to welcome our new shareholders, QDB. We believe Qatar is fully aligned with our mission in creating a technology-first Islamic finance leader that unlocks a financial ecosystem free from Riba. We look forward to supporting the Qatar National Vision 2030 of becoming a leading knowledge-based economy.
Ali Rahimtula, Partner at Cue Ball Capital said: “Qatar Development Bank’s strategic investment is a clear signal of the faith the industry has in Wahed and its ability to create the future of Islamic Finance.”
About Wahed
Founded in 2015, Wahed is a financial technology company that is advancing financial inclusion through accessible, affordable, and values-based investing. The company has made significant inroads in the world Shariah compliant investing by creating an easy-to-use digital platform that provides a suite of Shariah compliant investing products including managed portfolios and venture and real estate investments. Wahed caters to over 400,000 customers globally and manages over $ 1 billion in assets.
For more information, visit: www.wahed.com
About Qatar Development Bank
Qatar Development Bank’s mission is to advance the economic and innovation development cycle of Qatar, supporting and contributing to the nation’s economic diversification. As well as a focus on the development of Qatar’s private sector, QDB is a powerful catalyst for socio-economic development in the country, empowering the local economy and bettering living standards.
For more information, visit: https://www.qdb.qa/
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566075/Qatar_Development_Bank_Announcement.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/qatar-development-bank-announces-strategic-investment-in-global-islamic-fintech-wahed-302314778.html
DHAKA, Bangladesh, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — With the popularity of electric vehicles in Bangladesh, the globally renowned AIMA brand has also arrived in Bangladesh. The esteemed DX Group has brought the AIMA F-626 to customers. This environmentally friendly battery-operated electric motorbike has already been approved by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) now.
In light of the increasing popularity of electric motorcycles in the country, the internationally-leading brand AIMA has entered the market. By the end of 2023, AIMA electric two-wheelers had established a presence in over 50 countries worldwide, with 11 global production bases, including overseas factories in Indonesia and Vietnam. In 2022, AIMA collaborated with Rob Janoff, the designer of the Apple logo, to refresh the brand’s VI system with a youthful and fashionable image. In 2023, AIMA teamed up with PANTONE, the global authority in color expertise, to create the trending color of the year. As an industry leader, AIMA spearheads the electric two-wheeler sector and showcases the prowess of a leading electric two-wheeler brand on a global scale. As of March 31, 2024, AIMA’s total electric two-wheeler sales had reached 80 million units, earning certification from Frost & Sullivan, a globally recognized business growth consulting firm, as the “Global Leading Electric Two-wheeler Brand”.
Over the years, AIMA has always been a product trendsetter in the electric two-wheeler sector. As of March 31, 2024, the total sales volume of AIMA electric two-wheelers reached 80 million, and Frost & Sullivan, a world-renowned market consulting company, awarded AIMA with the market status certification of the “Global Leading Electric Two-wheeler Brand (by Sales)”.
AIMA adhere to the customer-centered product philosophy and technologies that support long-term innovation and breakthroughs. We believe that the efficiency and modern technology of the AIMA F-626 will present an excellent alternative means of communication for our customers.
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2557788/image.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565550/Image2.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2449955/5026987/AIMA_Technology_Logo.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/chinas-aima-brand-electric-motorbike-is-now-in-bangladesh-302314773.html
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