A National Open House Weekend is scheduled Oct 23 -25 to help educate homebuyers on how to save thousands in closing costs with the Very Important Buyer Program1

TYSONS, Va., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As prospective buyers prepare to tour homes during National Open House Weekend, Oct. 23–25, PenFed Credit Union is encouraging them to take an important first step: speak with a mortgage lender before beginning their search.

A recent market research survey found affordability remains the leading homebuying concern, with 30% of respondents citing the ability to afford a new home as their biggest worry. Another 24% fear overpaying, while 28% worry they could miss a lower price by waiting. The online survey was commissioned by PenFed and conducted by Atomik Research and included 1,000 adults throughout the United States.

Although buyers have traditionally found a home or real estate agent before contacting a mortgage lender, the survey indicates many are open to a different approach. Three in four respondents said it would be helpful for their mortgage lender to connect them with a trusted real estate agent. The added benefit of starting with the mortgage lender is that this approach can help buyers save thousands in closing costs.

"National Open House Weekend is a great opportunity to explore what is available, but buyers can get more from every tour when they understand their budget and financing options first," said Mark Burrage, Senior Vice President, Head of PenFed Home Product and Strategy at PenFed Credit Union. "Connecting with a lender early can help homebuyers set realistic expectations, move with confidence and be better prepared when they find the right home."

The Atomik Research survey also found that buyers value practical support that can reduce costs and simplify the process. When asked what matters most in a homebuying program, 31% selected closing cost benefits and 30% chose help finding a trusted real estate agent.

PenFed's Very Important Buyer program1 brings those benefits together by pairing eligible buyers with a network real estate agent and PenFed's mortgage team*. Through the program, buyers can receive guidance throughout the homebuying journey and save thousands of dollars in closing costs. An important added benefit of the VIB program1, particularly in the current rate environment, is that VIB's are eligible for a no cost Refinance if they choose to refinance their loan with three (3) years of purchase.

During National Open House Weekend, PenFed encourages prospective homebuyers to:

- Connect with a mortgage lender early to understand a comfortable monthly payment and potential financing options.

- Ask questions about closing costs, timelines and the documents needed to move forward.

- Work with a trusted real estate professional who understands local market conditions.

- Tour homes with a clear budget and a list of must-have features.

"Our mission is to help members make informed financial decisions at every stage of life," Burrage said. "By bringing lending guidance, real estate expertise and meaningful savings together, PenFed can help make the path to homeownership clearer and more manageable*."

To learn more about National Open House Weekend, visit nationalopenhouse.com. For information about PenFed mortgage options and resources, visit penfed.org/mortgage.

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is one of America's largest federal credit unions, serving nearly 2.8 million members worldwide with $29 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on X. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

1 Members become Very Important Buyers (VIB) and are eligible to receive the lender-paid closing credit when their transaction is completed with both PenFed mortgage and the qualified PenFed real estate network agent to (1) purchase their new home, offer valid for completed purchase applications received on or after April 3, 2025, or (2) to purchase a home listed by a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty agent, offer valid for completed purchase applications received on or after October 6, 2025; subject to qualification and approval. Member must use the qualified PenFed real estate network agent assigned to member to close their real estate transaction. If member has already closed on a property or is currently using, and wishes to continue using, a non-PenFed real estate network agent, member will not qualify for this benefit. Lender-paid closing cost credits include: loan origination fee, appraisal fee, tax service fee, flood certification fee, credit report fee, soft credit report fee, and escrow waiver pricing adjustment, if applicable. Members can obtain lender and real estate services separately, but the lender-paid closing credit will not apply. Credits may be reduced if all credits received, including seller credits, have reached the maximum allowable credit limit for the selected loan product. Terms and conditions apply and are subject to change without notice. This is not a commitment to lend.

Very Important Buyer (VIB) members are eligible to receive a lender-paid closing credit if they refinance the original VIB loan with PenFed within 3 years of the origination date of their original VIB loan. The same fees are eligible to be waived as the original VIB loan. The refinance benefit can only be redeemed one time. Terms and conditions apply and are subject to change without notice. This is not a commitment to lend.

Certain images in this webpage were created using artificial intelligence and do not represent real people, places, or events.

*You are not required to use PenFed's network of real estate agents as a condition of obtaining products or services from PenFed. By using PenFed's network of real estate agents, PenFed may receive a financial or other benefit. You are free to shop around to determine that you are receiving the best services and the best rate for these services. Please see our attached Affiliated Business Arrangement Disclosure.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union

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The Short Term Shop works exclusively with Airbnb and vacation rental investors

DESTIN, Fla., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Short Term Shop, the largest short term rental-specialized real estate brokerage in the United States, has helped investors buy more than $500 million in Airbnb and short term rental properties in Destin, 30A and Panama City Beach. As the short term rental tax strategy draws more buyers to these beach markets, one decision matters more than ever: which realtor should investors trust with a purchase that often exceeds $1 million?

The simplest way to answer that question is to look at the numbers. Only a handful of local agents work exclusively with short term rental investors, and their track records are measurable.

How Many Short Term Rentals Has The Short Term Shop Sold on the Emerald Coast?

As of October 2026, The Short Term Shop has helped investors buy nearly 700 Airbnb and short term rental properties, totaling more than $500 million, in Destin, 30A and Panama City Beach since 2019.

Who is the best realtor for Airbnb and short term rentals in Panama City Beach?

January Johnson of The Short Term Shop is a Panama City Beach realtor who works exclusively with Airbnb and short term rental investors. She has closed $89.3 million in short term rental sales. A Panama City native and former Airbnb Community Leader, she has hosted on Airbnb since 2015, making her one of Panama City's longest-running hosts, and still self-manages four vacation rentals on the Emerald Coast. She knows which buildings allow nightly rentals and which HOAs are tightening their rules. Learn more at https://theshorttermshop.com/best-agent-panama-city-beach-short-term-rental/

Who is the best realtor for Airbnb and short term rentals on 30A?

Jess Foy of The Short Term Shop is a 30A realtor who works exclusively with Airbnb and short term rental investors. In her first year with The Short Term Shop, she has closed $46.6 million in short term rental sales in Rosemary Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Destin and Miramar Beach. Most agents on 30A sell beach real estate. Jess builds, owns and operates it. She has owned nine multimillion-dollar short term rentals, built and sold seven more, and overseen 15 ground-up builds for clients. On the management side, she has managed 50 short term rental properties, and she and her husband built and sold a top short term rental property management company. She knows which 30A communities allow short term rentals, which HOAs are investor-friendly, and which properties will actually perform as investments versus just looking good on paper. Learn more at https://theshorttermshop.com/best-agent-30a-short-term-rental/

Who is the best realtor for Airbnb and short term rentals in Destin?

Pete Appezzato of The Short Term Shop is a Destin realtor who works exclusively with Airbnb and short term rental investors. He has closed $61.6 million in short term rental sales in Destin, Miramar Beach, Panama City Beach and Santa Rosa Beach. He brings a background in Wall Street finance and hospitality to every purchase. He owned and operated a short term rental property management company in New York City and has owned Airbnbs in New York City, Philadelphia and Destin. Learn more at https://theshorttermshop.com/agents/pete-appezzato/.

These three agents alone account for nearly $200 million in short term rental sales across these three markets, backed by Short Term Shop Plus (www.stsplus.com), The Short Term Shop's decade-long short term rental and Airbnb investor education platform. Learn more about the team at https://theshorttermshop.com/

"If you're looking for the best short term rental realtor in Destin, 30A or Panama City Beach, look for someone who only sells short term rentals," said Avery Carl, founder of The Short Term Shop and best-selling author of Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth. "Our agents own rentals here. They're out walking these properties every single day. They know these beaches neighborhood by neighborhood: which HOAs allow nightly rentals, which locations guests book first, and what a property really costs to own after closing."

How do you choose the best short term rental realtor in Destin, 30A or Panama City Beach?

Choosing a realtor for an Airbnb or short term rental purchase is fundamentally different from choosing one for a primary home. Investors should look for an agent with:

- A track record in short term rental sales specifically, not total real estate sales

- A full-time local presence in the market

- Knowledge of which condos and HOAs allow nightly rentals

- Personal experience owning and operating Airbnbs and vacation rentals

- Verifiable third-party reviews on Google, Zillow or Realtor.com

About The Short Term Shop

The Short Term Shop is the largest short term rental-specialized real estate brokerage in the United States, approaching $4 billion in career transaction volume across 20+ vacation rental markets. Founded by Avery Carl in 2017, the company has helped more than 5,000 investors purchase short term rental and Airbnb properties. Every Short Term Shop client gets live coaching and personal help learning how to set up and run a short term rental from anywhere, so they're ready before closing day. The Short Term Shop ranked #11 nationally on the 2026 RealTrends Top 1000, the only short term rental-specialized team on the list, and was named the #1 team at eXp Realty worldwide three times. Learn more at theshorttermshop.com.

Media contact: Avery Carl, Founder, The Short Term Shop, [email protected]

SOURCE The Short Term Shop

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Healthcare advisory firm builds on state-level advocacy successes, expanding federal reach and integrated campaign capabilities

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Jarrard today announced a significant expansion of its public affairs specialty, establishing a Washington, D.C., presence and adding veteran public affairs strategist Byron Johnson as senior vice president. The investment strengthens the firm's ability to help healthcare organizations navigate the increasingly complex intersection of business, policy and reputation at the federal, state and local levels.

The expansion builds on Jarrard's track record of successful state-level public affairs campaigns, including securing Medicaid expansion reauthorization, shaping medical malpractice legislation and helping hospitals secure $1 billion in state-directed payment funding.

"Jarrard's national public opinion research consistently shows that Americans trust those closest to care to explain healthcare policy changes and shape solutions that improve affordability, access and the patient experience," said Isaac Squyres, senior partner at Jarrard, who has long led the firm's public affairs and issue navigation work and continues to guide the expansion. "For 20 years, we've elevated trusted voices to help clients achieve their most important business goals. Expanding our national public affairs capabilities is a natural next step as business, policy and reputation become increasingly inseparable."

Deepening Washington Expertise and National Reach

Johnson brings more than 25 years of experience in healthcare, policy, advocacy and communications. His expertise includes coalition and alliance development, federal and multistate advocacy, government relations strategy, crisis communications and issue and reputation management.

Before joining Jarrard, he built and led a healthcare public affairs advisory business serving healthcare organizations, insurers and coalitions. Johnson previously held senior leadership roles at FleishmanHillard, Widmeyer Communications and 720 Strategies.

"Byron brings deep Washington experience, sound judgment and a rare ability to see the full field – from policy and public opinion to reputation and organizational dynamics," said Jarrard President and Co-founding Partner Anne Hancock Toomey. "He's exactly the right leader to grow this specialty in the Jarrard way: with integrated thinking, practical counsel and unwavering focus on what matters most to our clients."

Meeting a New Era of Healthcare Policy and Political Complexity

As policymakers at every level grapple with healthcare affordability, access, accountability and more, healthcare organizations face growing pressure to anticipate policy risks, build public trust and mobilize stakeholder support.

Jarrard's public affairs specialty helps CEOs, boards and leadership teams meet these challenges through integrated campaigns combining public opinion research, campaign strategy, coalition development, stakeholder mobilization, digital advocacy, strategic communications and reputation management. The firm works alongside government relations leaders and lobbying teams to connect policy strategy with the voices and audiences that can influence outcomes.

"The stakes for healthcare leaders have never been higher," said Squyres. "They need to move beyond reacting to policy changes to anticipating political risk, beyond isolated advocacy to coordinated campaigns and beyond episodic engagement to building lasting trust and influence. That's what we are investing in, and that's what our clients need."

Central to Jarrard's approach is connecting three critical dimensions: what people think, what policymakers are prioritizing and what leaders should do about it. The firm's research, public affairs, strategic communications and digital and creative experts work as one team to turn insight into action. More than six years of national and local-market research through Jarrard's Market Research & Insights (MRI) practice provides a strong evidence base for campaigns designed to influence opinion and advance client priorities.

Building on Record Momentum

The public affairs expansion comes amid a banner year for Jarrard. The 20-year-old strategic communications firm has posted nearly 40% year-over-year growth, served 200 healthcare clients nationally and added more than 30 healthcare advisors in 2026.

A division of Chartis, one of the nation's leading healthcare advisory firms, Jarrard has invested significantly in its public affairs specialty over the past 18 months, expanding its senior leadership team and strengthening capabilities in digital advocacy, stakeholder activation and grassroots mobilization.

"Healthcare is entering a period of extraordinary transformation, and the decisions made today will shape the industry for decades," said Toomey. "We are investing in the talent, expertise and capabilities to help our clients both navigate and shape the change to come. That's how we deliver on our mission to make healthcare better."

About Jarrard

Jarrard is a specialized healthcare consulting firm devoted to helping leaders during high-stakes moments of change, challenge and growth. The firm uses the power of communications, marketing, research and political strategy to help our clients achieve their most important goals. Founded in 2006, the firm has worked with more than 1,800 clients in 49 states. Jarrard is a division of Chartis, one of the nation's leading healthcare advisory firms. For more information, visit jarrardinc.com or follow us at @JarrardInc.

SOURCE Jarrard Inc.

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The article outlines how defensive driving courses can help lower car insurance costs and improve driving safety.

ROSWELL, Ga., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- How can defensive driving help reduce car insurance costs for drivers in Roswell, Georgia? A HelloNation article featuring insights from Insurance Expert Andrew Filar of Peachy Insurance answers this question.

The HelloNation article explains that completing a defensive driving course can lead to meaningful savings on car insurance premiums. Defensive driving programs teach drivers to recognize hazards, maintain safe distances, and respond appropriately to changing road conditions. By improving driving safety, these courses reduce the likelihood of accidents, which insurers often reward with a discount.

The article notes that many car insurance providers offer discounts to drivers who complete an approved defensive driving course. While the exact insurance discount varies, savings typically range from five to ten percent. In some cases, drivers may see slightly higher or lower reductions depending on their driving record and policy terms. Insurance Expert Andrew Filar is featured in the article as a source of insight into how these programs connect safer behavior with lower risk for insurers.

The article emphasizes that not all defensive driving courses qualify for an insurance discount. Drivers in Roswell, GA, are encouraged to choose a certified program that meets insurer requirements. Insurance companies usually require proof in the form of an insurance certificate issued by an accredited provider. Without this documentation, drivers may not receive any rate adjustment on their car insurance.

According to the article, drivers should contact their car insurance provider before enrolling in a defensive driving course. This step helps confirm eligibility and ensures the course will result in an insurance discount. Some insurers limit how often they can apply a discount or require a clean driving record. Others may automatically apply savings once a policyholder submits an insurance certificate, while some require additional steps.

Beyond financial benefits, the article highlights that defensive driving improves overall driving safety. These courses reinforce habits that reduce collisions and promote road awareness. Drivers in Roswell, GA, can often complete a defensive driving course in just a few hours, either online or in person. The article explains that the convenience of these programs makes them accessible while still delivering practical value.

The HelloNation article also explains that maintaining an insurance certificate matters after course completion. Drivers may need to present this certificate periodically to maintain their insurance discount. Keeping accurate records helps ensure continued savings and avoids delays in updating car insurance policies. Insurance Expert Andrew Filar is again referenced in the article as part of the broader discussion on how informed decisions can support both savings and safer driving habits.

For drivers in Roswell, GA, the combination of improved driving safety and potential savings makes defensive driving a practical consideration. The article encourages readers to compare car insurance providers and confirm which defensive driving course options are recognized. By doing so, drivers can take steps that may reduce their premiums while strengthening their skills behind the wheel.

How Defensive Driving Can Reduce Your Insurance Premiums features insights from Andrew Filar, an insurance expert in Roswell, Georgia, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative "edvertising" approach that blends educational content with storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation

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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- STARZ announced today a new distribution agreement that restores all STARZ channels, STARZ On Demand and the STARZ app through Verizon Fios.

The agreement gives subscribers access to STARZ programming, including the full "Power" Universe and the upcoming "Power: Origins," hit drama "Fightland," every episode of the timeless romantic drama "Outlander" and its critically acclaimed prequel, "Outlander: Blood of my Blood," the upcoming season of the award-winning "P-Valley," the current season of the crime drama "S.W.A.T. Exiles," and the critically acclaimed thriller, "Tip Toe."

"We are pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial agreement that brings STARZ's premium programming to Verizon Fios customers," said Alison Hoffman, President, STARZ Networks. "We remain committed to delivering bold storytelling for women and underrepresented audiences and to serving viewers who value our distinctive programming."

In addition to STARZ's franchises and current lineup, the network offers a robust slate of must-watch movies, including the global blockbuster, Michael (Jaafar Jackson), the action-packed thriller Shelter (Jason Statham), the high-stakes action thriller In the Grey (Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill and Eiza González), and the musical comedy Power Ballad (Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas).

About STARZ

STARZ (NASDAQ: STRZ) is the leading premium entertainment destination for women and underrepresented audiences, and home to some of the most popular franchises and series on television. STARZ offers a robust programming mix for discerning adult audiences, including boundary-breaking originals and an expansive lineup of blockbuster movies, and is embodied by its brand positioning "We're All Adults Here." Complementary to any platform or service, STARZ is available across a wide range of digital OTT platforms and multichannel video distributors and is a bundling partner of choice. STARZ is powered by an industry-leading advanced technology, data analytics and digital infrastructure and the highly rated and first-of-its-kind STARZ app.

Press Contacts

Jennifer Minezaki

[email protected]

Erin Moody

[email protected]

Stephanie Lambert

[email protected]

SOURCE Starz Entertainment LLC

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NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Stock Preachers News Commentary - A new personal AI agent has been downloaded 10.9 million times in the six weeks since its September 8 launch, according to Sensor Tower data reported by Yahoo Finance on October 20, with more than 10.2 million of those downloads in the United States. Over the past 30 days, U.S. downloads of a leading chatbot app fell 25% from the prior 30-day period, Yahoo Finance reported. The shift is a reminder that the market for AI assistants is still wide open, and companies across social media, local search, voice technology and neighborhood networks are building agents of their own. Active Companies from around the markets with current developments this week include: Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META), Yelp Inc. (NYSE: YELP), Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP), SoundHound AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOUN), Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXDR).

The early numbers are striking. Sensor Tower estimates the new agent reached about 2.5 million daily active users for the first time on October 16, with daily users up 15% week over week, and says only 11 other apps have reached 10 million U.S. downloads within 40 days. A Deutsche Bank analyst projected the product could account for as much as 8% of its parent company's revenue by 2030, roughly $36 billion, with a low-end estimate of $2.4 billion, Yahoo Finance reported.

What separates an agent from a chatbot is action. Instead of answering questions, these products are being built to book, call, compare and complete tasks on a user's behalf, often inside apps people already open every day. That puts companies with large, engaged audiences or specialized local data in a position to compete, and several of them have shipped new AI features in the past six weeks.

Agents are the new battleground for attention. Learn to read the charts behind moves like these with the free Stock Preachers guide at stockpreachers.com

In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META)

Meta introduced Muse on September 8 as a secure, private personal AI agent powered by its Muse Spark model, designed to send emails, book travel, fill out forms and negotiate on a user's behalf, while asking for approval before actions such as sending an email or making a purchase. Muse rolled out in the U.S. on iOS, Android and muse.ai, can be messaged in WhatsApp, and is free for most uses, with subscription plans available.

Meta has since added a small-business version and introduced new Muse Wonder models that it says will soon power experiences in Muse. The company reports third-quarter 2026 results after the market close on October 21, with a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Yelp Inc. (NYSE: YELP)

Yelp announced on October 20 its 2026 Fall Product Release, with more than 30 new features, integrations and updates. Yelp Assistant can now book tables at tens of thousands of additional restaurants on iOS through a new reservations integration, bringing its coverage to more than half a million restaurants when combined with existing partners.

A new feature called Check for Me uses an AI phone agent to call a restaurant, confirm the current wait time and text the answer back within minutes; it is rolling out in the coming months in the U.S. on iOS. Yelp said about 10% of its Request a Quote submissions came through Yelp Assistant in the second quarter.

Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP)

Snap introduced SPECS Intelligence in September, which it describes as an anticipatory AI service designed to work across iPhone, Mac and its SPECS augmented reality glasses. Full early access is by invitation only through the SPECS Mac app, while U.S. users 18 and older can try a mobile preview in the SPECS iOS app. Snap said personal content from connected accounts will not be used to train its AI models or serve personalized ads.

The service builds on a large audience: Snap reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.599 billion, up 19%, with 493 million daily active users and 971 million monthly active users. It will hold its third-quarter conference call on November 4.

SoundHound AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOUN)

SoundHound AI introduced OASYS Edge in September, an embedded architecture that brings LLM-powered voice AI agents directly to edge hardware in vehicles and smart devices, scheduled for deployment in late 2026. On September 30, an automaker's voice assistant built on SoundHound's real-time generative AI made its global debut on a new SUV in India.

Earlier in September, SoundHound completed its acquisition of LivePerson, adding a customer base that includes 25 of the Fortune 100. The company reported second-quarter revenue of $61.9 million, up 45%, and raised its full-year 2026 revenue outlook to $230 million to $260 million.

Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXDR)

Nextdoor, which cites more than 110 million verified neighbors, introduced Neighborhood Intelligence on October 7, an advertiser product that uses AI to make sense of local signals across 350,000 neighborhoods. It is available on request, and Nextdoor said pilot campaigns showed a 1.28x lift in brand awareness.

In September, Nextdoor upgraded its AI-powered search in the U.S. to summarize relevant insights from 15 years of neighbor knowledge and added AI summaries to Business Pages. The company moved its listing to the Nasdaq Capital Market on October 14 and will report third-quarter results before the market opens on November 5.

Want to spot the next AI winner on the chart before the crowd? Download the free Stock Preachers guide to reading charts, plus The Roadmap market reports, at stockpreachers.com.

Contact Information:

Media Contact: [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is not a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances.

This article is independent news commentary. Stock Preachers is wholly owned and operated by Market Equities Limited ("MEL"), a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland. MEL has not been paid by any company mentioned in this article. MEL and its owners, operators, directors, and affiliates own shares of META with no plans to sell them in the next 30 days; do not currently own any shares of any other companies mentioned in this article, but reserve the right to, and will, buy and sell shares of those companies at any time without further notice. App download and usage figures are third-party estimates. Information is drawn from company news releases and filings, published reporting and third-party data believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Investing in securities carries risk, including the loss of some or all of your investment. This document is governed by the laws of Ireland.

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The annual Inc. Power Partner Awards recognize B2B companies that provide essential services and expertise to help entrepreneurs and businesses grow

DENVER, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TrewUp has been named a 2026 Inc. Power Partner Awards winner, recognizing the company among the leading B2B partners supporting entrepreneurs and businesses across the country.

The annual Inc. Power Partner Awards honor B2B companies that have demonstrated a track record of helping entrepreneurs and businesses navigate the challenges of building and growing a company. From hiring and compliance to technology, infrastructure, fundraising, marketing, and more, these partners provide expertise and services that enable businesses to operate, scale, and pursue their ambitions.

"Business owners have no shortage of tools at their disposal, and B2B companies need to make clear why their products and services are worth the investment," says Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc. "The companies on this year's Power Partners list have done just that. They don't just have customers – they have superfans and evangelists. Across industries like marketing, financial services, and technology, they've proved their dedication to helping fellow business owners grow and succeed."

"Being recognized by Inc. for the second year in a row means a lot to our team," said Kyle Barnholt, CEO and co-founder of TrewUp. "For a CPG company, trade spend is the largest line on the P&L behind COGs, yet the most complex to manage. This year we went further, from cleaning up deductions and transforming them into trade data, to helping brands validate and assess promotional ROI. What hasn't changed is why we do it: to be the partner who's as invested in our customers' success as they are."

TrewUp was recognized for giving CPG brands clear visibility into trade spend across distributors like KeHE and UNFI and retailers like Kroger, without complex systems or manual spreadsheets. The platform turns messy deductions and distributor shipment files into retailer-specific insights, so Sales and Finance teams can see what's driving trade ROI and act on it. Most teams are live within two weeks.

Since launching in 2022, TrewUp has processed over $1 billion in trade spend across KeHE, UNFI, and direct retailers. This year, the company deepened its partnership with KeHE and is expanding into trade promotion planning with TrewPlanning, giving brands one place to plan promotions and reconcile deductions. Its customers range from established names like Hain Celestial, Twinings, and JFC International to fast-growing brands like Javvy Coffee, which recovered more than $165K in deductions and now saves 12 hours every week. These teams make faster decisions, resolve deductions with confidence, and reinvest recovered dollars into trade that drives growth.

For more information or to view the complete list of honorees, visit https://www.inc.com/power-partner-awards.

About TrewUp

TrewUp gives CPG Finance and Sales teams a clear, real-time view of how their trade spend is performing by retailer, by promotion, and by root cause. By bringing deductions, distributor shipments, and trade data from partners like KeHE, UNFI, and Kroger into one place, TrewUp helps brands act early, cut waste, and grow profitably. Most teams are live within two weeks. Learn more at trewup.com.

About Inc.

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Media Contact:

Brandy Baker

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SOURCE TrewUp LLC

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2150 Announces Technology-Focused iLAB Network, Invites Corporate Partners to Build Next-Generation Companies

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth announces its Fall 2026 iLAB network with a continued goal of connecting students, professors and corporate leaders to advance ideas and problems into solutions, solutions into startups, and startups into investable, impactful companies.

Every iLAB is technology-focused, applying artificial intelligence, data analytics and emerging technologies to industry and community challenges. Active ecosystem partners include Alabama Power, Macquarie Group, Coca-Cola, Latimer.ai and collaborations with the London School of Economics Generator and the Partnership for Innovation (PIN).

"Our students and professors bring talent and insight that industry needs," said Erskine 'Chuck' Faush, CEO of 2150. "We connect that talent with expertise and resources to build practical, long-term solutions for the companies and the communities they serve."

Fall research priorities include:

- Energy: Stillman College, Alabama State University, Miles College and Tuskegee University.

- Workforce development and readiness: Alabama A&M University with Internably and the Coca-Cola mentor–mentee project includes: Alabama State University Albany State University  Alcorn State University, Clark Atlanta University, Dillard University, Fort Valley State University, Grambling State University, Miles College, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, Savannah State University, Southern University, Spelman College, Stillman College, Talladega College, Tuskegee University

- Rural infrastructure: Jarvis Christian University and Greenville, Alabama's Project Camelia.

- Cultural archives and licensing: Florida A&M University with Latimer.ai.

- Water technology commercialization: Jackson State University.

- AI-enabled multi media production: Miles College.

- Housing: An EDUrain consortium with Jarvis Christian, Morgan State, Fort Valley State, North Carolina Central, Georgia State and North Carolina A&T State universities.

The expansion builds on the Mercedes-Benz–Miles College–Stillman College iLAB, immersive student engagement hosted by Mercedes-Benz U.S. International CEO Federico Kochlowski, and Alabama Power's 2025 Energy iLAB involving students from five HBCUs.

"The iLAB connects students with people who can help turn our ideas into businesses," said Bryson Hannah, a mechanical engineering student at Alabama A&M University. "For me, it's making entrepreneurship real." 2150 collaborates with corporate partners to contribute business challenges, executive expertise, research support and pilot opportunities, with pathways to customer relationships, joint development and investment.

"We are excited to participate again this year," said Dr. Preselfannie E. Whitfield McDaniels, provost of Jackson State University. "The iLAB connects academic pursuits with real-world application."

"At Latimer.ai, we're building a nationally recognized company and the collaborations with students and faculty are a valuable part of our growth,"said founder John Pasmore.

2150 also operates active Foundations and Advanced cohorts, supporting Fellows at different stages through immersive learning, mentorship and real-world business development resources. Learn more: https://2150innovate.org/ilabs

SOURCE 2150 Innovate

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SourceGear partners with SQLite creator to bring official SQLite database encryption to developers on all major platforms.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, the official SQLite Encryption Extension (SEE) is available in ready-to-use packages across all major operating systems and development platforms. SourceGear and Hipp, Wyrick & Company (Hwaci) - the creators of SQLite - today announced the availability of SQLite.Encrypted, a new distribution that makes the SQLite core team's encryption technology easier to integrate into modern applications.

First released in 2004, SEE has historically been available only as proprietary source code, requiring developers to build and integrate the encryption technology themselves. Under the new agreement, SourceGear will provide ready-to-use SQLite.Encrypted packages for all major operating systems and development platforms, along with simplified licensing and free evaluations.

"SQLite has become the most widely deployed database in the world, with estimates of over one trillion databases in use," said D. Richard Hipp, creator of SQLite and co-founder of Hwaci. "As the need for protecting sensitive data continues to grow, making our official encryption technology easier for developers to adopt is increasingly important. We developed SEE over 20 years ago, and SourceGear's SQLite.Encrypted distribution makes it more accessible than ever."

Introduced in 2000, SQLite is a C-language library that implements a small, fast, self-contained, high-reliability, full-featured SQL database. SEE reads and writes database files encrypted using 256-bit AES. Unlike third-party alternatives, SQLite.Encrypted uses the official SQLite codebase with the core team's own Encryption Extension (SEE).

"For years, SourceGear has helped developers integrate SQLite into their applications, particularly in the .NET ecosystem," said Eric Sink, co-founder of SourceGear LLC and a member of the SQLite core team. "SQLite.Encrypted is a natural extension of that work. Developers shouldn't have to build and maintain their own encrypted SQLite libraries just to use the official encryption technology. Our goal is to make SEE as easy to adopt as SQLite itself, regardless of the platform or development environment."

SQLite.Encrypted is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, and includes bindings for .NET, Java, Node.js, React Native, Swift, Flutter, Expo, Capacitor, and Cordova. Free 30-day evaluation licenses are available at sqlite.sourcegear.com, and annual subscriptions cost $995 per team and operating system for an unlimited number of apps, with volume discounts available for teams shipping apps across multiple systems.

For more information about SQLite.Encrypted, visit https://sqlite.sourcegear.com.

About Hipp, Wyrick & Company, Inc

Hipp, Wyrick & Company, Inc. (Hwaci) is the company behind SQLite, the world's most widely deployed database engine. Founded by SQLite creator D. Richard Hipp, Hwaci provides ongoing development, maintenance, and commercial support for SQLite, including the official SQLite Encryption Extension (SEE). For more information, visit https://www.sqlite.org.

About SourceGear LLC

SourceGear LLC is an independent software company with more than 25 years of experience developing tools and technologies for software developers. SourceGear has a longstanding involvement in the SQLite ecosystem, including the development and maintenance of SQLite packages for the Microsoft .NET platform. For more information, visit https://www.sourcegear.com.

Media Contact: Email SourceGear at [email protected]

SOURCE SourceGear

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MEDITECH and Lifemed AI Partner to Bring Revenue Cycle Automation to Health Systems

MIAMI, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifemed AI, a non-generative AI-driven healthcare technology company, today announced its formal partnership with MEDITECH as an Accelerator-level member of the MEDITECH Alliance program. The designation brings Lifemed's non-generative deep-learning neural network platform, DeepClaim, which is purpose-built to eliminate claims denials, automate revenue cycle workflows, and recover lost reimbursement, directly to MEDITECH's network of hospitals and health systems nationwide.

Health systems today lose billions of dollars annually to claims denials, many of which stem from preventable errors introduced long before a claim ever reaches a payer. Manual, error-prone processes across patient registration, coding, and claims submission create a cascade of downstream financial risk — denied claims, delayed reimbursement, and revenue that is often written off entirely rather than pursued. The challenge has only intensified as healthcare billing has grown more complex. Payers have invested heavily in the analytics and automation required to manage that complexity at scale, while most health systems continue to work these processes manually — leaving a widening technology gap in one of the most data-intensive functions in healthcare. For hospitals and health systems already operating on thin margins, these inefficiencies represent not just an administrative burden, but a direct and ongoing threat to financial sustainability.

Lifemed's answer to these challenges is a two-part platform spanning the full revenue cycle, from the first patient interaction through final reimbursement.

DeepClaim, Lifemed's flagship Revenue Cycle Automation platform, is powered by a non-generative, deep-learning neural network that analyzes every claim at the individual line-item level before submission, applying intelligent, payer-specific rules and inference to autonomously fix problems and flag the remainder for human review, bringing that same level of algorithmic sophistication to the provider side of the transaction. When denials do occur, DeepClaim automates the appeals and resubmission process end-to-end, identifying the root cause and routing the resolution without manual intervention.

Complementing DeepClaim on the front end of the revenue cycle, Gateway is Lifemed's patient access and registration platform that integrates directly with MEDITECH to automate eligibility verification, insurance discovery, and patient intake, ensuring accurate payer information is captured at the point of service. The result is fewer claim rejections, faster reimbursement, and a measurably cleaner revenue cycle from day one. Cleaner claims also mean less rework downstream for payers, lowering administrative cost on both sides of the transaction.

As an Accelerator-level member of the MEDITECH Alliance, Lifemed will work directly with MEDITECH's sales and marketing teams to bring DeepClaim and Gateway to health systems across the MEDITECH network.

To remove any barrier to adoption, integration comes at no cost to health systems from either MEDITECH or Lifemed. Health systems are invited to receive a complimentary DeepClaim analysis that surfaces a clear picture of what's driving an organization's denials and revenue leakage today, along with a concrete projection of the impact DeepClaim can deliver.

"Healthcare billing has become extraordinarily complex, and the tools most health systems use to manage it haven't kept pace," said Marco DeMello, CEO & Co-founder of Lifemed. "This partnership with MEDITECH helps close that gap. DeepClaim gives health systems a state-of-the-art nongenerative neural network, purpose-built for adjudicating Healthcare claims, that can not only reverse payer denials, but prevent them altogether. Partnering with MEDITECH isn't just a milestone for Lifemed; it's a signal that Revenue Cycle Automation is becoming foundational infrastructure. When claims are right the first time, providers are paid accurately and faster, payers spend less adjudicating avoidable errors, and the whole system runs with less friction — freeing hospitals to focus on what actually matters: patient care."

"We are thrilled to welcome Lifemed to the MEDITECH Alliance Program," said Jeff Kimball, Associate Vice President of Business Development at MEDITECH. "Integrating Lifemed's innovative non-generative AI technologies into the MEDITECH ecosystem strengthens our EHR platform, giving our healthcare customers improved financial visibility and boosted operational productivity."

To learn more about Lifemed's partnership with MEDITECH, or to request a complimentary DeepClaim analysis, visit lifemed.ai.

Media contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Life Med, Inc.

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