Technology founder and longtime operator brings more than 20 years of experience building and scaling technology-enabled businesses

DALLAS, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HighLevel, the AI-powered operating system for businesses, agencies, and founders, has announced the appointment of Matt Maloney, founder and former CEO of Grubhub, to its Board of Directors.

Maloney brings more than 20 years of experience building and scaling technology-enabled businesses. As founder and CEO of Grubhub, he helped build one of the first scaled online food- ordering marketplaces in the United States, leading the company over a 17-year tenure from startup through significant growth, its merger with Seamless, and its multibillion-dollar acquisition by Just Eat Takeaway.com in 2021.

"Matt knows firsthand what it takes to build a company from an idea into a platform operating at massive scale," HighLevel's founding triumvirate, Shaun Clark, Varun Vairavan, and Robin Alex, said in a joint statement. "His combination of founder instinct, operating experience, and deep understanding of technology-enabled businesses will be incredibly valuable to HighLevel as we continue building the technology and ecosystem that help businesses grow."

Maloney's appointment comes during a period of significant global expansion for HighLevel. In September, the company opened HQ East and its AI Center of Excellence in Dubai, creating a new hub for product development and AI innovation in the Middle East. HighLevel has also expanded its U.S. presence with the opening of its Dallas office, HQ West, a Customer Center where employees work and customers gather for events and educational sessions designed to deepen their understanding of the platform and its capabilities.

"At Grubhub, we helped independent restaurants turn technology and digital marketing into real business growth," said Matt Maloney. "I see that same opportunity at HighLevel on an even broader scale. Shaun, Varun, and Robin are exceptional founders who have built a company with tremendous momentum. I'm excited to join them and a team of entrepreneurs who share my conviction that helping small businesses succeed is how you build something incredible."

HighLevel's global expansion is paralleled by continued AI momentum and industry recognition. Most recently, Meta selected HighLevel to integrate Muse into its platform, marking the second time in three months the company has chosen HighLevel to help bring its latest AI technology to small and medium-sized businesses. HighLevel was also among a select group of companies given early access to OpenAI's GPT-Live-1, further strengthening its role in bringing the latest AI capabilities to small and medium sized businesses at scale.

The announcement also comes weeks before HighLevel hosts LevelUp, its largest annual event, October 26–29 in Dallas. More than 1,500 founders will converge in Dallas for four days focused on entrepreneurship, marketing, AI, operations, and growth. The event will feature more than 60 speakers, including Gary Vaynerchuk and Daymond John, and give attendees the first look at HighLevel's 2027 product roadmap.

Together, the expansion of HighLevel's global footprint, continued investment in its platform and ecosystem, and the addition of experienced technology leaders reflect the company's focus on building the infrastructure, products, and leadership needed to serve businesses and the agencies and entrepreneurs helping them grow.

About HighLevel

HighLevel is the AI-powered operating system for businesses, agencies, and founders. The platform brings together the tools businesses need to market, sell, communicate, and operate, including CRM, marketing automation, payments, communications, and AI, in one integrated platform. HighLevel serves businesses around the world directly and through its global ecosystem of agencies and entrepreneurs.

Media Contact

Piper McCoy

[email protected]

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New capability lets users fund accounts and initiate transactions through chat, connecting the assets they hold to the actions they want to take

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14, 2026/PRNewswire/ -- Mesh, the leading crypto payments network, today announced the launch of Link Chat, a new AI-powered product experience in Mesh Link that enables users to initiate financial actions through a simple, natural-language request. The capability is live and rolling out to partners. Link Chat will expand across Mesh's product stack, including payments and additional transaction types.

With Link Chat, a user can simply state their intent: "Deposit 50 USDC into my account." Mesh then guides that request into a transaction flow. Rather than navigating between apps, locating funds, selecting a payment method, and managing each transfer manually, users can connect their intent to the accounts and assets needed to complete the action.

Closing the Gap Between Intent and Action

Nearly one in three consumers (31%) across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada now regularly use conversational AI to ask personal-finance questions and compare financial products – with nearly a quarter (24%) of those consumers doing so through tools outside their bank's app, according to Forrester. Yet moving from a request to a completed financial action still requires the right accounts, assets, and payment rails to work together behind the scenes.

Link Chat combines a conversational interface with Mesh's existing connectivity and orchestration infrastructure. A user states the action they want to take, reviews and confirms the transaction details, and Mesh orchestrates the connection between an eligible funding source and the destination platform.

"Conversational interfaces are changing how people get things done. But in financial services, an interface is only as useful as the infrastructure behind it," said Arjun Mukherjee, Chief Technology Officer at Mesh. "Link Chat brings the user experience and the financial rails closer together, so people can use the value they already hold without navigating a maze of disconnected accounts and platforms."

Infrastructure for Connected Commerce

Mesh connects wallets, exchanges, and financial platforms through a single integration, enabling platforms to offer more connected financial experiences without building and maintaining individual integrations across a fragmented ecosystem. Platforms embed this connectivity through Mesh Link, the experience their users interact with to connect accounts and move funds.

Link Chat builds on that foundation. When a user makes a request, Mesh can help surface eligible accounts and funding sources – including accounts the user has already connected to a platform and compatible accounts available to connect. The user remains in control throughout the entire process, reviewing and approving transaction details before funds move. The result is a more natural way for platforms to help users act on financial intent, whether funding an account, completing a payment, or taking another supported action.

Mesh will showcase Link Chat at Money20/20, where the company will have a significant presence across the conference. Arjun will speak at Chat Is the New Checkout: What Happens When Moving Money Becomes a Conversation, taking place Monday, October 19, from 4:20 – 5 p.m. PT on The Intersection Stage.

Following the session, Mesh will host a meet-and-greet on Monday, October 19, from 5:00–5:20 p.m. PT at Coffee Corner at The Intersection. Attendees can meet the team, ask questions, and learn more about how Mesh is building the infrastructure for a more connected future of commerce.

About Mesh:

Founded in 2020, Mesh is building the first global crypto payments network, connecting hundreds of exchanges, wallets, and financial services platforms to enable seamless digital asset payments and conversions. By unifying these platforms into a single network, Mesh is pioneering a connected and secure ecosystem for digital finance. For more information, visit https://www.meshpay.com/.

SOURCE Mesh

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FormativGroup Acquires Saige Consulting, Adding AI and Data Engineering to Its Platform

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Backed by Rockbridge Growth Equity, FormativGroup today announced the acquisition of Saige Consulting, an AI and technology consulting firm that connects business strategy with emerging technology solutions to modernize operational systems and workflows.

FormativGroup's strengths across application platforms and data architecture complement Saige's depth in technology strategy, software development, and AI implementation, giving clients a specialized partner to build intelligent operations, from strategy through scalable delivery.

The combination brings together business applications, workflow development, data architecture, and AI embedment into business operations. Saige brings distinctive technology capabilities and engineering prowess, seeking to turn integrated platform designs and solutions into tangible, outcome-based results. Further, they have meaningful experience embedding AI and automation into core business workflows to help clients move from aspirational thinking into repeatable use-cases.

"Saige brings forward thought leadership and practical solutions into accretive operating and economic results our clients can measure," said Gene Chao, CEO of FormativGroup. "Their teams work across cloud platforms, data architectures, and AI foundations that our solution designs depend on. Saige provides demonstrated experience in applied business-technology."

"We built Saige to help leaders see what's possible with technology and turn that possibility into reality," said Charles Hu, Managing Partner of Saige. "We believe joining FormativGroup gives us the scale and expertise to take that ambition further. Together, we believe we can turn AI's promise into practical solutions that strengthen our clients' ability to compete and grow."

"We back management teams building focused, well-run platforms," said Tony Pulice, Partner at Rockbridge Growth Equity. "FormativGroup has a clear strategy, and Saige adds engineering depth and a strong foothold in AI and technology consulting. We believe the combination will support steady, long-term growth."

About FormativGroup

FormativGroup helps clients build technology ecosystems that unlock the full power of their data. By focusing on the right application solutions, integrated workflow designs and data architecture, we strive to strengthen industry and business systems while ensuring information moves to the right place at the right time.

About Saige Consulting

Saige is a global AI and technology consulting firm that helps public and private sector organizations modernize operations through cloud, data, AI, and workflow automation. Its teams connect business strategy with software engineering and hands-on implementation, guiding clients from discovery through delivery and adoption. For more information, visit www.saigeconsulting.com.

About Rockbridge Growth Equity

Founded in 2007, Rockbridge Growth Equity is a middle-market private equity firm that partners with founder-led and established companies to accelerate growth and build long-term value. The firm combines financial investment with strategic support through its relationship with the Rock Family of Companies, providing access to industry and operational expertise. Rockbridge manages over $1.7 billion in assets across sectors including e-Commerce and Marketing Services, Financial Services and Fintech, Tech-Enabled Products and Services, and Digital Media. For more information, visit www.rbequity.com.

Media Contacts

For FormativGroup:

Rachel McClary

508-808-4157

[email protected]

www.formativgroup.io

For Rockbridge:

Christina Maldonado

[email protected] 

SOURCE Rockbridge Growth Equity; FormativGroup

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Partnership gives MSPs access to a solution designed to help businesses and employees navigate BYOD environments

BOSTON, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aura Business, the business division of global online safety and wellbeing leader Aura (ASX: AXQ), today announced a partnership with Climb, a global specialty technology distributor focused on security, data management, connectivity, cloud and software solutions. Through the partnership, Climb's network of resellers and managed service providers (MSPs) can now offer Aura Business's new identity-centric BYOD security solution to their customers.

MSPs are on the front lines of helping customers protect every point of access, yet security gaps remain as more employees use personal devices for work related assignments. Through its partnership with Aura Business, Climb gives businesses a powerful solution to secure employees, customers, and company data across both personal and business devices.

"Businesses are operating across more devices and environments than ever, which can make it difficult for MSPs to see and protect every potential point of risk," said Jason Coville, head of the MSP business at Aura. "Omdia found that 65% of MSPs are seeing demand for BYOD management, yet only 24% monitor employee-owned devices, while 55% have experienced a BYOD-related security incident in the past 24 months. With Aura Business now available through Climb, MSPs can extend protection to the devices employees use every day, including those that may fall outside traditional security controls. We're excited to give our partners another way to help their customers stay protected as their environments continue to evolve."

Aura Business complements existing IT security with an easy-to-deploy, identity-centric platform that helps close critical gaps in modern, distributed work environments. Built for MSPs, it secures access to corporate systems from employee-owned devices — without managing the device or accessing personal data — while providing partners centralized visibility and control through a simple, multi-tenant platform.

"MSPs are helping businesses secure increasingly complex environments, and unmanaged devices remain one of the biggest gaps in today's security strategies," said Tim Popovich, Chief Operating Officer at Climb. "Bringing Aura Business to the MSP market gives our partners a powerful solution to protect employees, customers, and company data across personal and business devices."

Climb customers can immediately access Aura Business through the Climb marketplace. To learn more about how Aura Business helps protect employees and reduce identity-based risk, reach out to your Climb representative or contact Aura Business at [email protected] or visit aura.com/msp.

About Aura

Aura (ASX: AXQ) is a global leader in online safety and wellbeing. Built on the belief that people deserve a trusted, always-on layer of protection, Aura's AI-powered platform delivers protection for individuals, families, and enterprises — from proactive protection against identity theft, financial fraud, and online threats to tools that help schools and parents protect children from cyberbullying, harmful content, and threats to their wellbeing.

Aura's platform spans the environments that matter most — home, school, and work — empowering people of all ages with end-to-end protection for every aspect of online life. Learn more at aura.com.

About Climb

Climb is a global specialty technology distributor focusing on Security, Data Management, Connectivity, Storage & HCI, Virtualization & Cloud, and Software & Application Lifecycle. Climb is committed to transforming distribution by providing emerging and established IT technologies, flexible financing, real-time quoting, best of breed channel operations, speed to market, and exceptional service to our partners worldwide. Climb is a wholly owned subsidiary of Climb Global Solutions (NASDAQ: CLMB). Experience the Climb difference and learn how our people first approach empowers VARs and MSPs to grow, scale, and accelerate their business. Visit www.ClimbCS.com, call 1-800-847-7078, and connect with us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Aura

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Lead Plaintiff Deadline November 2, 2026

NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP ("Wolf Haldenstein"), a nationally recognized securities litigation law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. ("Hims & Hers" or the "Company") (NYSE: HIMS) on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired Hims & Hers securities between August 4, 22025,and July 29, 2026 (the "Class Period").

Investors who purchased Hims & Hers shares during the class period and suffered losses may be eligible to participate in the case, with the lead-plaintiff deadline set for November 2, 2026.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT CONTACT AND TRADE INFORMATION

The filed complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failing to disclose material adverse facts to investors, including that

- the Company shared consumers' health information with third-party advertising platforms;

- the Company charges consumers for prescriptions almost immediately after they submit an intake form, despite telling consumers that they will be able to consult with a medical provider to find a treatment that is "right for them;"

- the foregoing conduct subjected the Company to regulatory scrutiny;

- because of the foregoing, the Company was reasonably likely to incur fees and penalties; and

- because of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On July 29, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"), the People of the State of California through Los Angeles County Counsel and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection sued Hims & Hers in the Northern District of California. According to the FTC, the action alleges that Hims & Hers fails to clearly disclose that it charges consumers for prescriptions almost immediately after they submit an intake form, despite telling consumers that they will be able to consult with a medical provider to find treatment that is "right for them." The FTC also alleges that the company has made it difficult for consumers to cancel subscriptions and misled consumers about keeping their health information private. The FTC alleges that Hims shared consumers' health information with Meta, Snap and other third parties.

Following this news, the price of Hims & Hers stock fell $4.32 per share, or 14.73%, to close at $25.00 per share on July 29, 2026.

This illustrious firm, founded in 1888, is steadfast in their pursuit of justice for investors who have suffered financial harm due to these misrepresented statements. The law firm brings to the fore over 125 years of legal expertise in securities litigation and has a proven record of protecting the rights of investors.

We encourage all investors who have been affected or have information that will assist in our investigation, to contact Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP.

There is no cost or obligation to speak with an attorney.

Contact:

- Phone: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774

- Email: [email protected]

- Contact Person: Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis

Firm Website: Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

SOURCE Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

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Company adopts the name of its research evaluation platform as it builds Tessa tools for the full lifecycle of scientific research

TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Siensmetrica, Inc., developer of the AI-powered Tessa research evaluation platform, today announced that it has changed its name to Tessa AI, Inc. The change, effective October 7, aligns the company with the name its customers and partners already use.

The original name, a coined word meaning roughly "knowledge measurement," reflected the company's start as a system for scoring published research. Since its May 2026 launch, Tessa has helped researchers, clinicians, and biopharma professionals evaluate biomedical studies, showing the evidence behind every score.

Scoring is now one part of a larger mission. Tessa AI is building Tessa tools that support a study across its entire life: strengthening manuscripts before submission, surveying whole fields of literature in a fraction of the usual time, helping the public check news stories against the research behind them, and evaluating work published decades earlier. Chief Science Officer Marvin J. Slepian, MD, JD, calls this the "natural history of scientific research."

"Our customers, partners, and even our own team have called us Tessa for a while," said Marc Toth, CEO of Tessa AI. "Siensmetrica described where we started. Tessa describes where we're going."

Research evaluation has not kept pace with the volume of science being published. Peer review is stretched thin and sometimes gamed, citation counts can be padded, and prestige metrics often stand in for real evaluation. Tessa AI's leadership, a team of serial innovators, believes research is overdue for disruption. The company recently removed author reputation from the TScore so papers are judged on evidence alone.

"Most of the tools that touch a study's natural history were built for a slower world," said Dr. Slepian. "Our goal is to bring transparency and rigor to every stage, so good science is recognized wherever it comes from."

The first new Tessa product is expected in the coming weeks. Siensmetrica.com now redirects to tessaai.co.

About Tessa AI, Inc.

Tessa AI, Inc. (formerly Siensmetrica, Inc.) develops Tessa, an AI platform built on the T.E.S. (Transparency, Explainability, and Significance) framework that evaluates the trustworthiness of biomedical research. Learn more at www.tessaai.co.

Contact

Sage Osterfeld

[email protected] 

tel: (760) 593-7243

SOURCE Tessa AI, Inc.

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New Expedia Group report identifies seven travel trends set to shape 2027, from one-night getaways and hobby-led trips to emerging destinations and the new Set-Jetting forecast.

SEATTLE, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Expedia Group today unveiled Unpack '27: The Trends in Travel™, the annual report exploring the destinations, experiences, and behaviors expected to shape travel in 2027.

Drawing on first-party insight from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, as well as global traveler research and social listening, Unpack '27 reveals the new places drawing travelers in 2027 and some surprising things they're doing when they get there.

"Travel is about creating memories, and Unpack '27 uncovers the destinations and experiences shaping those moments," said Ariane Gorin, CEO of Expedia Group. "In 2027, travelers are being more intentional in choosing their next adventure, seeking experiences that are more personal and purposeful to them. We're making it easier to discover, plan, and book the right trip, so travelers can spend less time managing the details and more time enjoying the moments that matter."

Expedia Trends

2027 Destinations of the Year — Expedia's Destinations of the Year showcases some of 2027's fastest-growing travel destinations, using real search data to track where traveler interest is climbing:

Checkmarks designate locations recognized by Expedia's Smart Travel Health Check framework for managing tourism responsibly without overcrowding. Learn more about the Destinations of the Year and Expedia's Smart Travel Health Check here.

Un-Adulting — Travelers are reclaiming child-like joy with getaways built around play, spontaneity, and zero obligations. With Expedia data showing 57% of travelers are likely to book an Un-Adulting trip in 2027,7 theme park events just for grown-ups, immersive attractions, and nostalgic experiences are becoming the ingredients for a genuine break from being an adult. Un-Adulting trips are about wanting a carefree day (69%), quality time with loved ones (64%), and a genuine break from responsibilities (56%).7

Trip Snacking — In addition to saving for one big annual vacation, travelers are fitting more frequent, bite-sized breaks into busy lives, with searches on Hotels.com for one-night stays up nearly 10% year over year.3 Quick getaways, they say, are for celebrating a milestone (34%), seeing a show (32%), and resetting between longer trips (28%).7

Evidence shows that Trip Snacking is fast becoming the default way younger travelers get away. While 79% of travelers say they're planning to book a one-night stay in the coming year, that figure climbs to 83% among Gen Z and Millennials.7

Gothic Getaways — The hotel stay is becoming an experience in its own right, with Hotels.com finding 56% of travelers having booked a hotel specifically for its atmosphere or aesthetic.7 Gothic Getaways are especially popular among Gen Z and Millennials, with 71% reporting a desire to stay in Gothic-style property.7 Among travelers interested in booking a Gothic-style hotel, the leading motivations are historic properties with a storied past (46%) and destinations steeped in folklore, legend, or the supernatural (35%).7

Gothic architecture, candlelit corridors, dark color palettes, and properties steeped in history are redefining the idea of atmosphere, while demand for castle properties on Hotels.com increased 20% globally year over year4 — proving that where travelers stay can be as memorable as where they go.

Top properties for Gothic Getaways include L'oscar London, London, U.K.; Maison Métier, New Orleans, U.S.; L'Escape, Seoul, South Korea; and the Grand Hôtel Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden. Find out more about Gothic Getaways and the hotels that embody the trend here.

Vrbo Trends

Hobby Hubs — For a growing number of travelers, trip planning starts with a passion rather than a destination, with Vrbo research showing 68% are likely to take a hobby-focused trip in 2027.8 Vacation rentals are becoming gathering places for crafting weekends, photography retreats, board-game nights, birding trips, and antiquing escapes with 38% of travelers saying hobbies play a bigger role in how they travel compared to five years ago.8

Connection is key for those looking to engage in hobby holidays. The leading motivations for booking a Hobby Hub are enjoying a hobby in a new setting (41%), spending time with people who share similar interests (41%), and disconnecting from day-to-day distractions (34%).8 Hobby Hubs bring people together around the activities they love, creating space to connect and enjoy those passions in a new setting.

Heartland Hideouts — Beach and mountain getaways may be the first destinations that come to mind when considering vacation home rentals, but Vrbo has seen dramatic growth in interest for landlocked destinations. Searches rose most sharply for Bentonville, Arkansas (+140%); Deadwood, South Dakota (+120%); and Lincoln, Nebraska (+120%), with Knoxville, Lancaster, and Canmore, Canada also gaining ground.5 These smaller cities, college towns, and lakeside escapes offer local character, cultural energy, outdoor access, and a slower pace away from the usual coastal hotspots.

Nearly 65% of travelers have gone on vacation to non-coastal destinations in the past 12 months, with the top driver for visiting landlocked locales being interest in the local culture, food, and art scenes, followed by a desire for exploration, fewer crowds, and affordability.8 Find all the top Heartland Hideouts here.

Expedia Group Trends

Set-Jetting — Five years after Expedia Group first named Set-Jetting as a travel trend, screen-inspired travel continues to turn fictional worlds and filming locations into real-world itineraries. Nearly 1 in 5 travelers now report having booked a trip to a destination after seeing it featured in a TV show or movie.7

Nearly half of the travelers surveyed reported proactively researching or booking trips to destinations from upcoming TV shows and movies that haven't even been released yet, rising to 58% among Gen Z and Millennials.7 Searches for Monaco on Expedia Group properties spiked by over 120% in the 30 days after Emily in Paris Season 6 was confirmed to be filming there. And on social media, mentions of traveling to Miami increased by 64% year-over-year driven by the upcoming Miami Vice reboot.6

The 2027 forecast includes Emily in Paris Season 6, The White Lotus Season 4, Heated Rivalry Season 2, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, Miami Vice '85, K-Pop: The Debut, Beach Read, Day Drinker, and the Ocean's Eleven prequel. These anticipated releases are putting destinations on travelers' maps before the first episode or scene arrives. Learn more about Set-Jetting here.

To learn more about Unpack '27: The Trends in Travel™, visit www.expedia.com/newsroom for the full report, downloadable assets, and brand-specific insights from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.

Notes to Editor

Destinations of the Year: Based on increases in flight and accommodation searches on Expedia from September 1, 2025, to July 27, 2026, vs. September 1, 2024, to July 27, 2025.

A checkmark denotes destinations that meet the Smart Travel Health Check framework, aligned with World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) principles. The Smart Travel Health Check helps travelers identify destinations that offer rich cultural and natural experiences without the overcrowding seen in many of the world's most popular cities.

Un-Adulting: Social media data based on mentions of "Un-Adulting," "carefree travel," and similar terms on X, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook from April 15 to June 30, 2026, versus the same period in 2025.

Trip Snacking: Based on searches on Hotels.com for one-night stays with a check-in between Thursday and Sunday from September 1, 2025, to August 25, 2026, vs. September 1, 2024, to August 25, 2025.

Social mentions of 24-hour getaways based on mentions of "one-night stays" and similar terms on online news outlets, blogs, and social channels including X, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Gothic Getaways: Based on global accommodations searches made on Hotels.com from May 7 to August 4, 2026, vs. May 7 to August 4, 2025.

Social media data based on mentions of gothic aesthetics, castles, gothic architecture, and related dark-travel terms on online news outlets, blogs, and social channels including X, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Castle-property demand is based on Hotels.com searches from September 1, 2025, to July 27, 2026, versus September 1, 2024, to July 27, 2025.

Heartland Hideouts: Based on vacation rental searches on Vrbo from September 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, versus September 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025.

Set-Jetting: Search data based on accommodation, flight, and/or package searches on Expedia Group brands in the 30 days after relevant title or filming announcements versus the prior 30 days.

Social media data based on mentions of the shows/films along with travel terms on online news outlets, blogs, and social channels including X, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook from March 1, 2026, to June 10, 2026, compared to the same period the previous year. Third Party Methodology:

Third-party research was conducted by market research company OnePoll in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct. The study was conducted online between August 4, 2026, and September 1, 2026, among 26,000 adult respondents across 16 countries, who are planning domestic or international travel in the next three years.

Third-party research was conducted by market research company OnePoll in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct. The study was conducted online between August 3, 2026, and August 27, 2026, among 10,000 adults across seven countries who have stayed in a vacation rental.

About Unpack '27

Q: What is Unpack '27?

Modern Asset Lab Launches Match Protocol™ After Benchmark Finds AI Ghosts 8 in 10 Small Businesses

The Match Protocol™ Benchmark put 100 U.S. small businesses through up to 32 blind buyer conversations with ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity and Gemini; the Match Protocol Score™ grades any business on the same method.

TULSA, Okla., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Modern Asset Lab today launched Match Protocol™, a proprietary five-layer framework for Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) that engineers a business to be found, matched, recommended, trusted and chosen when ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity and Gemini answer a buyer's question.

The benchmark covered 100 U.S. small businesses across 10 industries and 11 metro areas, with an average of 27.8 buyer conversations answered per business. AI never recommended 36 of the 100 and never named 31. The average business scored 50.9 of 100, and 80 of the 100 landed in the Ghosted tier.

Clint Rogers, founder of Modern Asset Lab and CEO of Techstars-backed Creativo AI, developed Match Protocol™ with Creativo AI as its proving ground. The Match Protocol Score™ (match.modernassetlab.com) applies the same methodology to any business.

What the Benchmark Found

- AI can read them but will not recommend them. Businesses in the benchmark averaged 80 of 100 on the Found stage and 88 on Trusted, yet 18 on Recommended. A working website is no longer a referral.

- Almost none are regularly recommended. Eighty of the 100 landed in the bottom tier, and 62 were recommended three times or fewer across an average of 27.8 buyer conversations. Only 8 were recommended in more than half of their respective conversations.

- No industry escaped. Among industries large enough to quote, plumbing averaged highest at 56.6 and HVAC at 54.9; dental practices scored under 60 in 10 of 11 cases, auto repair in 9 of 10 and roofing in 9 of 11.

Fast Facts

- Sample: HVAC, plumbing, roofing, dental, med spa, personal injury/family law, auto repair, independent restaurants, CPA/accounting and landscaping, across 11 metro areas in the South, West and Midwest. At n=100, results are directional rather than nationally representative.

- Tiers: Ghosted (0–59), Friend Zone (60–69), First Date (70–79), Going Steady (80–89) and The One (90–100). In the benchmark: 80 Ghosted, 13 Friend Zone, 5 First Date, 2 Going Steady.

- Five layers: Machine-Readable Architecture, Algorithmic Alignment, Targeted Extraction, Citation & Corroboration and Human Handoff (M-A-T-C-H).

How the Match Protocol Score™ Is Derived

The Score asks all four engines the questions real buyers ask, never naming the business, and weights five stages, each mapped to the layer that improves it, into a 0-to-100 score

Business owners can see their free Match Protocol Score™ at match.modernassetlab.com

Methodology: modernassetlab.com/match-protocol

Benchmark findings: modernassetlab.com/benchmark

Founder Quote

"When your ideal customer asks ChatGPT or Google AI a question, the AI is a matchmaker scanning for the safest, most authoritative match. The benchmark confirms it: most businesses have never been introduced," said Rogers. "Match Protocol™ aligns the algorithmic math with human trust so that when AI plays matchmaker, it chooses you, and when the human clicks, they are ready to buy."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Match Protocol™?

Match Protocol™ is a five-layer framework for Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), developed by Clint Rogers and owned by Modern Asset Lab. It makes a business machine-readable, aligned, extractable, corroborated and conversion-ready so the top AI engines recommend it.

How is the Match Protocol Score™ calculated?

The Match Protocol Score™ asks the top AI engines questions buyers ask, never naming the business, and weights five stages — Found, Matched, Recommended, Trusted and Chosen — into one 0–100 score. Recommended carries the most weight, so a business that AI never recommends cannot leave the Ghosted tier.

How is Match Protocol™ different from traditional SEO?

Traditional SEO optimizes pages for keyword rankings and backlinks. Match Protocol™ optimizes a business as an entity — structured data, extractable answers, third-party corroboration and conversion path — so an AI engine selects and recommends it inside a generated answer. SEO earns a position; Match Protocol™ earns the recommendation.

About Modern Asset Lab

Modern Asset Lab is a Tulsa, Oklahoma, client acquisition agency and creator of Match Protocol™, the Match Protocol Score™ and the Match Protocol™ Benchmark. Founded by Clint Rogers, U.S. Army veteran, author of Grow Rich With AI and CEO of Techstars-backed Creativo AI (creativo.ai). modernassetlab.com

Media Contact

Clint Rogers, Founder, Modern Asset Lab

[email protected] 

(918) 922-9294 (Text Only)

modernassetlab.com

SOURCE Modern Asset Lab

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New deployment guide, informed by Vertiv and STL Partners research, helps organizations determine their AI archetypes and where the supporting infrastructure should be located

Workload-based approach connects business requirements to right-sized infrastructure models and reference designs to reduce deployment risks

COLUMBUS, Ohio [October 14, 2026] — Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, and Deloitte Center for Integrated Research today introduced a collaboration to help enterprises address a critical challenge in moving artificial intelligence from experimentation to production: determining where AI workloads should run and whether the available physical infrastructure can support them.

The new Vertiv Designing Infrastructure for Enterprise AI Guide, developed by Vertiv and STL Partners, a digital infrastructure research firm, provides business, IT and facilities leaders with a workload-based framework for making those decisions before committing to an infrastructure plan. Starting with the intended business outcome and AI workload, organizations can evaluate deployment location, infrastructure requirements and facility readiness, then align each workload with an appropriate physical infrastructure model and reference design for further planning and technical validation.

The underlying research highlights a critical consideration as enterprises move AI workloads into sustained production: infrastructure readiness can determine where workloads can be deployed and how quickly they can move into production. Available power, cooling, connectivity and operational capacity can determine whether a workload can be supported in an existing facility or requires a different deployment model.

The guide translates these considerations into a four-step process: (1) define the intended business outcome and AI workload, (2) evaluate the workload’s scale, performance and operating requirements, (3) determine the most appropriate deployment location and (4) match the workload and location to a physical infrastructure model and reference design.

“The next phase of enterprise AI will be shaped not only by models and computing, but also by whether organizations can provide the power, cooling, connectivity and operating environment each workload requires,” said Giordano Albertazzi, CEO of Vertiv. “By starting with the workload, enterprises can make infrastructure decisions earlier, identify constraints sooner and build a more credible path from AI ambition to production.”

“The economics and operating requirements of AI change as workloads move into production,” said Nicholas Merizzi, principal, Silicon2Service U.S. Lead, Deloitte Consulting LLP. “Organizations need to consider business value, governance, operating ownership and infrastructure together. Bringing those questions into the planning process earlier gives leaders a stronger basis for deciding where AI workloads should run and how they should be supported over time.”

The process recognizes that enterprise AI is a portfolio of workloads rather than a single infrastructure decision. Exploratory workloads may remain in the cloud, while sustained or business-critical workloads may favor hybrid infrastructure or capacity managed by the enterprise. Workloads requiring faster response times, greater control, data proximity or specific model performance may need to run at the edge or in another controlled environment.

The workload-specific approach allows public cloud, colocation, enterprise-owned capacity, hybrid environments and edge infrastructure to each play a role. Rather than advocating broadly for or against the cloud, the guide provides a consistent method for determining the appropriate operating environment for each AI workload.

The research categorizes enterprise AI workloads into six archetypes covering model development, retraining and four categories of production use. These archetypes help organizations identify workloads with similar performance, operating and infrastructure requirements, creating a more consistent basis for planning. Each workload can then be aligned with one of four physical infrastructure models: Edge AI Cluster, Small AI Cluster, Large AI Cluster and High-Density AI Cluster.

The four models provide a starting point for decisions involving power, cooling, controls, connectivity, resilience, operational support and future growth. Corresponding reference designs can then be adapted based on site assessment, workload requirements and detailed engineering.

Facility readiness is critical across all four models. The guide helps enterprises evaluate whether a proposed location has sufficient power, cooling, connectivity, operational capacity and room for growth. Conducting this assessment early can help identify infrastructure constraints before they become barriers to deployment.

The full guide, Designing Infrastructure for Enterprise AI, details the six workload archetypes, four physical infrastructure models and a four-phase roadmap for planning, deploying and evolving enterprise AI infrastructure. It is available at Vertiv.com.

About Vertiv

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to enable its customers’ vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today’s data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extends from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, USA, Vertiv does business in more than 130 countries. For more information, and for the latest news and content from Vertiv, visit Vertiv.com.

Forward-looking statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27 of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. These statements are only a prediction. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements set forth herein. Readers are referred to Vertiv’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for a discussion of these and other important risk factors concerning Vertiv and its operations. Vertiv is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 14, 2026 – American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) plans to invest approximately $4 billion to advance a new 702-megawatt fuel cell generation project near Cheyenne, Wyoming, under a long-term 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Google, marking a significant step in AEP’s strategy to serve growing demand from large-scale customers.

Under the PPA, Google will acquire power from Cheyenne Fuel Cell, LLC, which is approximately 92% owned and controlled by AEP, and nearly 8% owned by funds advised by Basalt Infrastructure Partners, LLP. AEP and its partners plan to start construction in 2026, and the facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2028.

“As power demand continues to grow, AEP is bringing together new technologies and strong partnerships to deliver reliable, innovative energy solutions quickly and at scale,” said Bill Fehrman, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. “This project demonstrates how we are creating new opportunities to meet evolving energy needs for customers both within and beyond our traditional service territory.”

AEP’s development and construction of this fuel cell generation facility is supporting Google's growing energy needs in the greater Cheyenne area. The planned facility uses advanced fuel cell technology developed by Bloom Energy that can be deployed rapidly and provide reliable, on-demand power to meet the needs of large-load customers. The technology generates electricity without combustion of natural gas, and the project includes plans to integrate carbon capture technology to deliver reliable, near-zero-emissions power. The project follows agreements reached between Google and Black Hills Corp., effective Sept. 30.

About AEP

American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) is committed to improving our customers' lives with reliable, affordable power. We plan to invest $78 billion from 2026 through 2030 to enhance service for customers and support the growing energy needs of our communities. Our nearly 18,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electric transmission system with 40,000 line miles, along with more than 252,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver energy to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 33,000 megawatts of diverse owned and contracted generating capacity. We are focused on safety and operational excellence, creating value for our stakeholders and bringing opportunity to our service territory through economic development and community engagement. Our family of companies includes AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Ohio Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit aep.com.

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