PayJoy to Acquire Strategic Assets of Finia AI, Advancing AI Underwriting and Financial Product Innovation

Transaction brings Finia's technology and experience serving micro-businesses to PayJoy's global platform

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PayJoy, a leading financial services provider for underserved consumers across emerging markets, today announced the acquisition of select strategic assets of Finia AI, Inc., a fintech company that developed AI-powered underwriting and financial products for micro-businesses in Mexico.

The transaction will enable PayJoy to apply Finia's technology and expertise to its global platform, strengthening its underwriting capabilities and expanding its financial product offering for customers with limited access to formal credit.

PayJoy has reached more than 20 million customers across nine countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia through innovative financial products including digitally secured smartphone financing, credit lines, and the PayJoy Card. This acquisition brings technology developed specifically for the needs of small and informal businesses to a platform with the scale and reach to extend those innovations across global markets.

Finia built its AI underwriting capabilities to serve micro-businesses with limited financial data and owners with little or no formal credit history. The venture-backed fintech developed new ways to assess creditworthiness and applied them to offer financial products including credit cards and installment loans.

"I'm excited about the path ahead with PayJoy," said Uri Pomerantz, founder and CEO of Finia AI. "We've spent years building AI underwriting and financial products to serve micro-businesses in Latin America that traditional lenders too often overlook. PayJoy's global reach creates an opportunity to scale our technology and everything we've learned alongside one of the strongest teams in fintech. We share a commitment to improving customers' financial well-being, and this transaction opens a new chapter in that work."

"Finia has developed valuable technology and deep insights that can help address one of the fundamental challenges in financial inclusion: how to assess creditworthiness when traditional financial data is limited," said Jose Luis Gonzalez, Head of Growth for PayJoy Mexico. "Bringing these capabilities to PayJoy will strengthen our platform, enhance how we assess risk, and broaden our product offerings. We see a meaningful opportunity to extend the impact of Finia's work across the markets we serve."

PayJoy and Finia AI are also partnering to help eligible Finia customers access PayJoy's loans and other financial products. Interested customers can apply at https://go.payjoy.com/finia_leads, subject to PayJoy's eligibility requirements and approval.

About Finia AI

Finia AI, Inc. develops AI-powered underwriting and financial products designed to expand access to credit for micro-businesses. The company has served tens of thousands of micro-businesses across Mexico, including small and informal businesses, through credit cards and installment loans tailored to their needs. Finia AI's investors include Deciens Capital, Precursor Ventures, and Clocktower Technology Ventures, alongside venture funds and angel investors across the United States and Mexico.

About PayJoy

PayJoy expands credit access across emerging markets through point-of-sale financing and card offerings. Its proprietary secured-credit technology enables first-time borrowers to responsibly build financial stability and participate fully in the modern economy. Through its cutting-edge machine learning, data science, and anti-fraud AI, PayJoy has financed over $3.5 billion of loans with over 20 million people and employs over 1,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.payjoy.com/.

Media contact: [email protected]

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Americas Cardroom Pros Schedule Eight-Hour Dual Venom Streams

Jon Pardy, Ana Marquez and Drew Gonzalez feature on October 11, 15 and 18.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Americas Cardroom has scheduled eight-hour broadcasts with Americas Cardroom Pros Jon Pardy, Ana Marquez and Drew Gonzalez as its $6.5 million guaranteed Dual Venom PKOs continue. Poker fans can follow the coverage on the official Kick channel and take part in viewer chat.

Pardy is scheduled for Sunday, October 11, when Day 1C begins at 1:05 p.m. ET for both the $5 Million GTD No-Limit Hold'em Venom PKO and $1.5 Million GTD Pot-Limit Omaha Venom PKO. Each tournament has a $2,650 buy-in and five starting flights.

Both events use the Progressive Knockout format, awarding bounty prizes beginning on Day 1. Marquez is set to stream on Thursday, October 15, for Day 1D, followed by Gonzalez on Sunday, October 18, for Day 1E.

Later coverage depends on tournament results. Americas Cardroom Pro Chris Moneymaker is tentatively scheduled for October 19 if he reaches Day 2, with a replacement expected otherwise. A qualifying Team Pro or Team Online member could feature on NLH Day 3, October 20. NLH final-table streaming is scheduled for October 21.

ACR Stormers will also stream their Dual Venom action on Twitch, offering viewers another place to follow along and chat.

Venom Fever runs through October 18, guaranteeing 587 $2,650 seats through Direct and Mega Satellites, with Survivor Flips Step Satellites providing an additional qualifying route. The 587 figure applies to the promotion overall, not the remaining seats.

Venom Specials add more than $10 million in tournament guarantees separate from the two main Venoms. Both main events have final tables scheduled for October 21.

Streaming information is available through the official Kick channel. For event dates, buy-ins and the full schedule, visit the Dual Venom PKO tournament page.

About Americas Cardroom

Americas Cardroom is one of the world's leading online poker destinations, serving players since 2001. Known for major tournament series, innovative promotions, and a commitment to the poker community, the company is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026 while continuing to expand its tournament offerings and deliver world-class online poker experiences to players across the globe.

Media Contact:

Adam Neal

Americas Cardroom Pros Manager

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44 7845 582487

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RTX's Raytheon completes three successful tests of new Coyote upgrades

Raytheon funding development of Coyote Block 2C+RM upgrades to defeat the latest advanced drone threats

TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, successfully completed three tests of its new Coyote® Block 2C+RM upgrades, advancing the program from concept to testing in just 15 months. These Raytheon-funded developmental testing events show rapid progress of current Coyote Block 2C+RM interceptor upgrades to support an urgent joint U.S. military mission to counter evolving drone threats.

The Coyote Block 2C+RM upgrade builds on the combat–proven performance of current Coyote variants, which have intercepted hundreds of drones. This effort intends to integrate a rocket motor for faster launch and flight, along with a new seeker and warhead designed to defeat all classes of current and emerging drone threats.

"With a common backbone, Raytheon can rapidly scale the Coyote family across counter-drone missions — so we're accelerating the pace of innovation," said Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. "Coyote Block 2C+RM is the latest example of how we're investing to deliver critical upgrades to combat-proven technology that give service members a decisive advantage on the battlefield."

The initial test series included several first-of-its-kind events, including confirmation of initial integration with the current counter-drone architecture and the first launches of a Coyote effector equipped with a tactical rocket motor to improve threat engagement times and faster successive shots.

About Raytheon

Raytheon, an RTX business, is a leading provider of defense solutions to help the U.S. government, our allies and partners defend their national sovereignty and ensure their security. For more than 100 years, Raytheon has developed new technologies and enhanced existing capabilities in integrated air and missile defense, smart weapons, missiles, advanced sensors and radars, interceptors, space-based systems, hypersonics and missile defense across land, air, sea and space.

About RTX

With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. With industry-leading capabilities, we advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact [email protected].

SOURCE RTX

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Mistlabs Launches Ambi, a New Type of AI that Thinks Ahead and Aims to Enable AI-to-AI Communication

Following US$26 million in funding from lead investors Luminous Ventures and Huaqin, Mistlabs' CEO Peter Mo introduces ambient AI that runs in real-time, setting the stage for AI-to-AI communication between independent AI devices

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mistlabs, a U.S. developer of cross-platform ambient intelligence technologies, is launching Ambi. Launching out of beta on Apple devices, Ambi is a groundbreaking ambient intelligence system that conducts real-time reasoning, followed by agent-to-agent communication between AI-enabled devices in the coming months. Ambi's launch follows US$26 million in Pre-A funding led by Luminous Ventures and Huaqin, which will fund the development of Mistlabs' standalone AI wearable.

Mistlabs CEO Peter Mo has led the creation of a new kind of ambient intelligence system. Initially available on Apple devices, with the company's self-developed AI wearable set to follow later this year, Ambi acts less like a summarizer and more like an always available live counsel that users can carry with them.

Because each Ambi develops an independent understanding of its user across multiple devices, the company aims to use the new capability of agent-to-agent communication to exchange relevant context and coordinate with other Ambi agents on their users' behalf. This will extend to real-time negotiations during meetings, where AI agents of each respective Ambi user can communicate with one another, within the guideline of user-granted permissions. Ambi will identify where their respective users' priorities align and help negotiate toward mutually acceptable outcomes as the conversation unfolds automatically and in real-time.

"Most AI platforms today are built around completing tasks, but Ambi is our first step toward answering a different question: what happens when AI can understand, reason and act in real time? What entirely new use cases have become possible?" said Peter Mo, CEO of Mistlabs. "We're moving beyond AI that simply waits for a prompt. Ambi introduces real-time reasoning and actions that can happen sometimes before the user even thinks to ask; and in the coming months it will extend to mediating between users and maintaining intelligence across platforms."

Real-Time Ambient Intelligence That Thinks Ahead

Rather than simply waiting for a question and delivering an answer, Ambi builds a contextual understanding of the user throughout their day continuously across multiple devices. This enables it to identify opportunities to proactively deliver an outcome.

Ambi's 'Routine' feature calls on multiple agents to conduct a recurring task. When used, for example, during a meeting about competitors, Ambi will independently analyze and fact check the conversation while it happens. In parallel, even before a meeting finishes, Ambi may have cross-referenced competing products, and organized the information into a draft proposal to present from the user's MacBook. It anticipates next steps and actions for the user to consider, moving the project forward before the follow-up meeting.

Even if the user is no longer actively thinking about the project, the same intelligence can continue working beyond the meeting. It recognizes irregularities, missing information or new developments throughout a project's lifecycle and proactively flags what may require attention to keep work moving forward and keep them on task. These insights are retained in Ambi's memory, allowing its understanding, routines, and ongoing actions to carry seamlessly from one device to another, be it a MacBook, Apple Watch, or an iPhone.

Developing Contextual Intelligence for the Future of Agent-to-Agent Communication

Ambi builds context by observing and recapping relevant conversations and activities across supported platforms and devices, while developing an understanding of the user that is retained in memory, from their preferences and priorities to how they communicate and work. This deeper understanding enables Ambi's AI agent to act on the user's behalf in real time, serving not only as an assistant, but also will be further expanded into acting as a collaborator or mediator in the following months.

When two independent users with Ambi-compatible devices are in the same meeting, their respective agents can communicate with one another, each drawing on its understanding of its own user. This enables the agents to identify where priorities align, surface potential points of disagreement and suggest outcomes that better account for the needs of both sides.

From Cross-Device Intelligence to a Purpose-Built AI Wearable

While Ambi today is focused on delivering contextual ambient intelligence across Apple devices compatible with iOS 18 or Macs, it is designed with user privacy in mind, with audio not stored by default.

More broadly, Ambi represents a move beyond an AI landscape largely centered on task management, summarization and one-off recommendations. Rather than simply telling users what happened or what they should do next, Ambi's live counsel in your pocket understands situations as they unfold, providing guidance in real time and taking action on the spot when appropriate.

Ambi's Future Hardware Development Plans

Ambi is also developing its own wearable AI hardware, designed to give its ambient intelligence a richer understanding of the user and the context surrounding them. "While we're starting with the iPhone, Apple Watch, MacBook and Mac, our move into standalone hardware sets the stage for Ambi's intelligence to extend across entirely new device types in the future," said Mo.

By extending beyond existing devices into purpose-built cross-platform hardware, Ambi can build an even deeper contextual understanding over time of the user and the context surrounding them. This additional context can make its memory, recommendations and routines more personalized and useful over time.

To download Ambi visit: https://www.ambi.ai/download/

To waitlist for Ambi visit: https://www.ambi.ai/waitlist/

To access the press kit, visit: Ambi Press Kit 

About Mistlabs

Headquartered in San Francisco, Mistlabs' CEO Peter Mo is the developer of Ambi, a cross-platform ambient intelligence platform that reasons and outputs recommendations in real-time. Launched first on Apple devices including the iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac and MacBook, Ambi is also set to expand into wearable AI devices. Mistlabs has raised US$26 million in Pre-A funding, led by notable investors including Luminous Ventures and Huaqin Technology.

To learn more about Mistlabs Limited visit: https://www.ambi.ai/

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[email protected]

SOURCE Mistlabs Limited

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ASRock Rack Showcases AI Infrastructure Powered by NVIDIA Technologies at 2026 OCP Global Summit

TAIPEI, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ASRock Rack Inc., a leading innovative server company, today announced its presence at the 2026 OCP Global Summit, taking place in San Jose, California, from October 12 to 15, at booth D37. The showcase will focus on its AI server portfolio, which includes systems featuring the NVIDIA Vera CPU and the NVIDIA HGX Rubin NVL8 platform.

As workloads shift toward agentic AI, ASRock Rack is showcasing modular systems engineered for autonomous execution, including the 2UXGM-VERA2. This purpose-built system incorporates two NVIDIA Vera CPUs to power complex data pipelines and multi-step reasoning.

ASRock Rack is also displaying the 2U16X-GNR2/DLC Rubin. This fully liquid-cooled platform features the NVIDIA HGX Rubin NVL8 platform to deliver unified compute and memory bandwidth for massive-scale reasoning models.

The showcase also includes the 6UXGM-GNR2 CX8/DLC, based on NVIDIA MGX architecture, supporting liquid-cooled NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPU for heavy enterprise AI, visual computing, and inference deployments.

Further expanding its comprehensive rack-level portfolio, ASRock Rack is currently offering NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 systems. Reinforcing its continuous dedication to NVIDIA's advanced rack-scale solutions, the next-generation NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 platform is also on display during the event and will be available for deployment in the near future.

"Our industry is rapidly evolving to support the shift towards agentic AI, driving demand for infrastructure that can not only manage the increasing thermal requirements but also deliver substantial compute density and memory bandwidth," said Weishi Sa, President of ASRock Rack. "By integrating NVIDIA accelerated computing into our modular server designs, we are helping organizations build scalable, high-performance infrastructure engineered to handle the rigorous computational and thermal requirements of agentic AI and the workloads of tomorrow."

In addition to AI servers, attendees at the 2026 OCP Global Summit can explore ASRock Rack's innovative Open Rack V3 server platforms designed for cloud hosting and enterprise environments, including the liquid-cooled 2OU4N-VENICE2/DLC and the air-cooled 2OU2N-SP8, both powered by next-generation AMD EPYC™ 9006 Series Processors. The showcase also features a wide array of Intel-based solutions, including the 2OU3N3G-GNR. Furthermore, visitors will also be able to see ASRock Rack's latest ARM-powered 2OU2N-ARM, demonstrating a comprehensive ecosystem of server hardware.

For more information, visit www.asrockrack.com.

About ASRock Rack Inc.

ASRock Rack Inc., established in 2013, specializes in cloud computing server hardware. Inheriting ASRock's design concepts of "Creativity, Consideration, and Cost-effectiveness," the company is dedicated to bringing out-of-the-box thinking to the server industry. Leveraging ASRock's growing momentum and distribution channels, this young and vibrant company targets the booming cloud computing market, committing to serve customers with user-friendly, eco-friendly, and flexible server hardware.

Social Media Website:www.asrockrack.com

LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/company/3568757

X (Twitter):x.com/asrockrack

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HARTING Joins NVIDIA MGX Ecosystem to Power Next-Generation AI Infrastructure

Industrial connectivity leader introduces NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 solutions, supporting the evolution of 800 VDC AI data center power architecture

ESPELKAMP, Germany and ELGIN, Ill., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HARTING Technology Group, a leading global provider of industrial connectivity, today announced it has joined the NVIDIA MGX ecosystem as a power system component provider for the NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 platform. HARTING delivers power whip solutions – cable assemblies that distribute power from the building to each rack - as growing AI compute demands reshape how power is distributed within data centers. The solutions span the transition across two generations of NVIDIA MGX power architecture, from 480 VAC to the NVIDIA 800 VDC architecture, designed to support the rapidly increasing power demands of AI factories.

As AI workloads grow and compute density increases, data centers must manage significantly more power within increasingly dense environments without compromising reliability, efficiency or scalability. That shift is placing new demands on the connectivity systems that deliver power to AI compute infrastructure.

"AI is fundamentally changing data center infrastructure, and HARTING has the engineering expertise to help enable that transformation," said Philip Harting, Chairman of the Board and CEO, HARTING Technology Group. "Our inclusion in the NVIDIA MGX ecosystem brings our decades of connectivity experience in high power environments, from rolling stock to automotive, to the infrastructure supporting the next generation of AI."

For the NVIDIA MGX platform, HARTING provides a 100A/480VAC power whip for the 3RU 110kW power shelf for NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72,supporting the transition to 800 VDC with a next-generation 157A/800 VDC DC-DC power whip connecting the power infrastructure to the compute rack.

"As AI compute becomes more powerful and rack densities increase, the industry has to rethink power distribution from the ground up," said Christian Gysin, Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Executive Board, HARTING Technology Group. "The transition from 480VAC toward 800 VDC is a significant step in that evolution. Connectivity must support higher power levels while delivering the reliability, safety and scalability these environments demand. That is precisely where HARTING's engineering expertise comes into play."

HARTING solutions transmit power, data and signal across mission-critical systems worldwide. The company is drawing on decades of experience in demanding industrial environments and its global engineering and vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities to address the evolving connectivity requirements of AI infrastructure and data centers.

As part of the NVIDIA MGX ecosystem, HARTING will be featured on the NVIDIA AI Factory MGX Ecosystem wall at the OCP Global Summit 2026. The executives from HARTING will honourably attend the NVIDIA MGX ceremony. Besides, two HARTING power whip solutions supporting the NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 platform will also be on display in the HARTING booth (Booth No. C79) demonstrating the power connectivity behind current and next-generation AI infrastructure.

For more information, visit harting.com.

About HARTING Technology Group

The HARTING Technology Group is a leading global provider of industrial connectivity. Around 6,500 employees are active across the globe in 42 sales companies, 14 production facilities and seven R&D sites. HARTING connectivity solutions are used to transmit data, signals and power in numerous industrial sectors. Among others, in transportation, e-mobility, automation and mechanical engineering as well as in generation, storage and distribution of renewable energy. In the 2024/25 business year the family owned and managed company generated sales of 1.1 billion euros.

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2026 Winter Equestrian Festival Generates $607.3 Million in Economic Impact for Palm Beach County

WELLINGTON, Fla., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) generated $607.3 million (a 13% increase from 2025) to Palm Beach County's gross domestic product (GDP) through spending by equestrians and visitors, according to a new economic impact study prepared for the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The 2026 numbers highlight a $1.5 billion impact on the county over the last three years.

The annual 13-week competition held at Wellington International welcomes riders, owners, trainers and visitors from across the United States and around the world. Together, these visitors generated $362.8 million in direct spending, supported 5,586 jobs and produced $174.9 million in labor earnings across Palm Beach County.

How the Winter Equestrian Festival compares to other major South Florida sporting events:

Horse-related spending represented the largest share of WEF's economic impact. Nonresident participants directly spent $230.7 million on expenses which included stabling, feed, training, farrier and veterinary services, equipment, horse transportation and other equestrian needs. That spending generated a total GDP impact of $379.3 million, supported 3,583 jobs and produced $110.2 million in labor earnings.

Direct horse-related spending increased 12.3% from $205.4 million in 2025 to $230.7 million in 2026. Since 2021, the total GDP impact associated with horse expenditures has grown more than 71%.

Additional findings in the report include:

- Spectators reported a strong connection to the event. Approximately 96% rated their WEF experience as "Enjoyable" or "Very Enjoyable".

- WEF participants and spectators generated 172,899 paid room nights for Palm Beach County's lodging industry.

- The average weekly spending per horse increased from $3,860 in 2025 to $4,381 in 2026.

- Every category of direct horse-related spending increased between 2025 and 2026.

- Nonresident participants stayed an average of 2.2 months or 61 nights.

- The average participant party included 2.54 people.

Tourism spending by nonresident WEF participants also contributed significantly to the local economy. Participants directly spent $66.3 million on lodging, dining, groceries, entertainment, shopping and transportation ($3 million more than in 2025).

"Over the past three years, the Winter Equestrian Festival has contributed more than $1.5 billion to Palm Beach County's GDP, demonstrating that WEF is not only an internationally recognized sporting event but also a proven economic powerhouse for our region," said Michael Stone, President of Wellington International. "For 13 weeks each year, we welcome athletes, their support teams and visitors from around the world, generating sustained demand for local businesses and supporting thousands of jobs. We take that responsibility seriously. These findings illustrate the far-reaching value of international equestrian sport and reinforce our commitment to strengthening the local economy while maintaining Wellington's position as a premier global equestrian destination."

Each year, participants and visitors are encouraged to fill out the Economic Impact Questionnaire and are rewarded with prizes and experiences. This information is vital to understanding the Winter Equestrian Festival's impact on Palm Beach County. To read the full report, click here.

About Wellington International

Wellington International, located in the heart of Wellington, Florida, is a global leader in equestrian sport and home to over 40 weeks of competition each year, including the renowned Winter Equestrian Festival and Global Dressage Festival. A designated Rolex property since 2012, Wellington International has showcased world-class competition since 1977, making the Winter Equestrian Festival the world's largest and longest-running hunter/jumper horse show. Wellington International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wellington Lifestyle Partners. Learn more at www.wellingtoninternational.com.

SOURCE Wellington International

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ISSA opens the waitlist for new Mat and Reformer certifications as reformer training surges across the fitness industry

PHOENIX, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), the organization behind more than one million certified fitness and wellness professionals since 1988, today announced a waitlist for Mat Pilates Instructor Certification, Reformer Pilates Instructor Certification, and Pilates Instructor Certification: Mat + Reformer, offered as a bundle covering both credentials in a single course. The waitlist opens today, ahead of full enrollment, as Pilates dominates conversation at fitness conferences across the U.S. and around the world.

As reformer Pilates transitions from a niche studio offering into mainstream commercial fitness, ISSA is delivering a flexible, fully online credential designed to break down traditional cost barriers while maintaining rigorous instructional standards.

The new Pilates portfolio includes:

- Mat Pilates Instructor Certification: A complete standalone credential covering the classical 31-exercise mat repertoire, functional anatomy, verbal and visual cueing, and population-specific program design.

- Reformer Pilates Instructor Certification: A comprehensive standalone credential covering reformer safety, spring mechanics, progressive cueing, and the full 27-exercise repertoire. Open to mat-certified instructors from ISSA or any nationally recognized program.

- Pilates Instructor Certification: Mat + Reformer: The bundle option. An all-inclusive, continuous pathway allowing students to earn both independent certifications in a single enrollment.

The Reformer curriculum was developed with on-camera instructor Josh Vela, a fitness professional and Pilates master trainer with more than 18 years in the industry, whose background spans studio, gym, and digital training. Pairing his real-world teaching experience with ISSA's in-house education team helped shape a curriculum built for how Reformer is actually taught today.

ISSA certified 35,293 personal trainers worldwide in 2025, up 12.8% from 31,298 in 2024 and brings that same learn-at-your-own pace approach to Pilates.

"I went into a mat Pilates class thinking I was in pretty good shape and it was stunningly hard," explained Andrew Wyant, ISSA CEO. "The instructor's attention to form and her precise cues changed the entire workout showing why a well-trained instructor makes such big difference. Pilates is one of the fastest growing areas in fitness and ISSA has built these certifications so more people their passion for movement into their next opportunity."

"Mat and Reformer aren't two separate skills bolted together, they're two views of the same method," explained Jenny Liebl, CPT, CNC, Senior Product Developer at ISSA and IFBB Pro, with 18 years of experience in personal training, collegiate strength and conditioning, and professional volleyball. "Mat teaches instructors to see movement without a machine doing the work for them. Reformer adds a moving carriage, springs, and an entirely new set of variables on top of that foundation. Understanding both is what actually makes someone a complete Pilates instructor, and that's what we built this program to do."

Pilates by the Numbers

- 13.8 million Americans practiced Pilates in 2025, up from 12.9 million the year before and 9.9 million in 2020, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association's (SFIA) 2026 Single Sport Report.

- 3.38 million of them are core participants who practice 50 or more times a year, up from 3.1 million the previous year, according to SFIA.

- Americans ages 18 to 24 have the highest Pilates participation rate of any age group at 7.9 percent, according to SFIA.

- More than 30% of core Pilates participants are 55 or older (14.5% ages 55 to 64 and 15.8% ages 65 and up), according to SFIA.

- Scottsdale, Arizona ranks as the most Pilates-obsessed U.S. city, with 35.6 Pilates studios per 100,000 residents, according to Acuity Scheduling's 2026 analysis of the 100 largest U.S. cities.

The waitlist opens today, Monday, October 12 and ISSA will notify waitlist members first when enrollment opens, ahead of general availability.

Pilates in America: 5 Cities and 5 Surprises

Where Pilates is thriving, and who is practicing it, according to the latest data.

Pilates has outgrown its studio-only reputation. It is on the schedule at big-box gyms, boutique studios, resorts, and community centers, and the people showing up are more varied than the stereotype suggests. As ISSA opens the waitlist for its new Mat and Reformer Pilates certifications, we took a closer look at where Pilates is strongest and who is behind the growth. The headline number: 13.8 million Americans practiced Pilates in 2025, up from 9.9 million in 2020, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association's (SFIA) 2026 Single Sport Report. Of those, 3.38 million are core participants who practice 50 or more times a year.

5 U.S. Cities Where Pilates Is Thriving

Acuity Scheduling ranked the 100 largest U.S. cities using studio counts, studios per 100,000 residents, search volume, introductory-offer availability, and average drop-in price. Its data is accurate as of July 16, 2026. Here are the top five.

- Scottsdale, Arizona. With 35.6 Pilates studios per 100,000 residents, Scottsdale has the highest concentration in the study, according to Acuity Scheduling. A resort and wellness culture makes Pilates a natural fit for locals and visitors alike.

- Miami, Florida. Miami has the highest Pilates search volume per 100,000 residents in the study, according to Acuity Scheduling, a sign that interest reaches well beyond a small group of devoted regulars.

- Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta is one of the most welcoming cities for beginners: 70 percent of its 111 Pilates studios offer introductory class deals, according to Acuity Scheduling.

- Minneapolis, Minnesota. Even in a city known for the outdoors, 80 percent of Pilates studios offer introductory deals, tied for the highest share among the top cities, according to Acuity Scheduling.

- Portland, Oregon. Portland ranks as only the 28th-largest U.S. city, yet it has 95 Pilates studios, according to Acuity Scheduling.

Did you know? Los Angeles, the city most associated with the modern Pilates boom, did not make Acuity Scheduling's top 20, as reported by Athletech News.

5 Surprising Facts About Who Practices Pilates Today

Pilates has a familiar image. The data tells a fuller story. All figures below come from SFIA's 2026 Single Sport Report (2025 participation data).

- Adults 55 and older are a major part of the community. Among core participants, 14.5% are ages 55 to 64 and 15.8 % are 65 and older, for more than 30% combined, according to SFIA.

- Gen Z is leading the way. Americans ages 18 to 24 have the highest Pilates participation rate of any age group at 7.9%, and 10.3% of women in that age range practice Pilates, according to SFIA.

- Men are part of the picture. Women make up 70% of the U.S. Pilates participants, according to SFIA, which means roughly three in ten participants are men.

- Pilates lovers are also lifters, runners, and hikers. 39.4% of Pilates participants also use dumbbells or hand weights, 24.1% run or jog, and 32.3% hike, according to SFIA. Participants are also more than three and a half times as likely as the general population to take part in high-intensity training, according to SFIA.

- It is practiced across income levels. 5.1% of people in households earning $100,000 or more practice Pilates, compared with 3.8% of those in households earning less than $25,000, according to SFIA.

Built for Where Pilates Is Going

Whether someone is a college student, a lifelong athlete, or a grandparent rediscovering movement, the people walking into Pilates classes are looking for an instructor who knows what they are doing. ISSA's new Mat Pilates Instructor Certification, Reformer Pilates Instructor Certification, and Pilates Instructor Certification: Mat + Reformer are designed to help more people turn their passion for movement into a meaningful career.

Sources

- Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), 2026 Single Sport Report: Pilates Training (2025 participation data), as summarized by The Pilates Journal, September 9, 2026.

- Acuity Scheduling, "The U.S. Cities Most Obsessed With Pilates," August 2026 (data as of July 16, 2026).

- Athletech News, "These Are the Most Pilates-Obsessed Cities in the US," August 20, 2026.

About International Sports Sciences Association

International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) is the world's most connected fitness and wellness ecosystem. Since 1988, ISSA has gone beyond traditional certification to build the industry's career operating system, giving professionals the skills, confidence, and connections to build meaningful futures, while providing operators with the trusted, work-ready talent they need to grow. Guided by the truth that when professionals succeed, operators succeed, ISSA turns passion into opportunity. Its premier workforce platform, Career Connect, bridges a global community of over one million students across 176 countries with more than 23,000 global partner locations. ISSA aims to connect 100 million people to healthy living by 2030.

SOURCE International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)

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CALIFORNIA HOT SPRINGS, Calif., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vedanta Spiritual and Holistic Retreat, an established 501(c)(3) non-profit sanctuary set across 240 acres of preserved foothills in the southern Sierra Nevada, today announced its formal organizational rebrand to Still Mountain Wellness Retreat (DBA).

The transition reflects the sanctuary's continuing evolution toward authentic classical pranayama, immersive silent contemplation, and restorative residential programs held within protected native ecosystems. Operating under the guiding ethos "Where Breath meets the Nature," Still Mountain provides an unhurried mountain refuge designed to help individuals step back from digital sensory overload, reduce deep nervous system exhaustion, and re-establish natural circadian balance.

"This rebrand reflects the living reality of our campus and the daily practice we have cultivated here over the years," said Deepak, Director of Still Mountain Wellness Retreat. "While our legal structure, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and organizational roots as Vedanta Spiritual and Holistic Retreat remain unchanged, people come to this mountain seeking practical, time-tested tools. They come to understand the mechanics of breath, walk in genuine silence, and experience the stillness of the Sierra foothills. Still Mountain represents that grounded sanctuary directly."

Situated at an elevation of 3,100 feet in California Hot Springs, the property features natural thermal mineral waters, expansive mountain views, unpolluted night skies, and profound natural quiet. The organization maintains active environmental stewardship partnerships with groups including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Point Blue Conservation Science, and the Roots Project. These collaborative initiatives actively protect native oak woodlands, natural spring watersheds, and migratory wildlife corridors across the entire 240-acre campus.

Still Mountain Wellness Retreat hosts small-group residential retreats led by certified, experienced instructors and supported by a dedicated sattvic vegan kitchen serving fresh, organic, plant-based meals prepared with care:

- The Art of Breathwork for Wellness and Stress Reduction: The retreat center's signature program delivers systematic instruction in classical pranayama techniques and functional respiratory mechanics. Drawing on traditional lineage principles, participants learn practical methods to regulate autonomic responses, strengthen vagal tone, expand functional lung capacity, and build lasting mental clarity. Full curriculum details and retreat dates are available at https://smwr.org/retreats/art-of-breathwork-for-wellness-and-stress-reduction/.

- Silent Natural Retreats and Contemplative Stays: Residential immersions centered around intentional noble silence, mindful walking along private mountain ridge trails, and contemplative self-inquiry. Participants disconnect completely from personal communication devices to allow the sensory nervous system to down-regulate and rest deeply in undisturbed nature.

- Women's Restorative and Mindful Gatherings: Nurturing small-group retreats tailored specifically for women seeking personal renewal, reflective peer circles, gentle restorative movement, guided breathing, and communal grounding in peaceful natural surroundings.

- Full Moon and New Moon Meditations: Evening outdoor contemplative sessions coordinated with Sierra lunar cycles. These gatherings integrate gentle breath preparation, quiet seated meditation, and mindful night-sky contemplation away from urban light pollution.

- Corporate Leadership and Executive Renewal Retreats: Structured residential intensives built for organizations, business founders, and executive leadership teams. These private retreats focus on burnout prevention, cognitive replenishment, and strategic reflection through structured silence, group breathwork, and fresh mountain air.

- Guest Teacher Residencies and Campus Hosting: In addition to internal programs, the sanctuary welcomes independent yoga teachers, meditation guides, breathwork instructors, and educational non-profit leaders to host private group workshops. The campus provides a complete retreat infrastructure, including indoor and outdoor practice spaces, comfortable private and shared accommodations, mountain walking paths, and complete organic plant-based meal services.

Beyond residential weekend intensives, Still Mountain integrates structured post-retreat integration support, offering scheduled follow-up check-in guidance to help guests weave sustainable breathwork habits into daily family and professional routines. The non-profit organization also provides community scholarships to ensure restorative wellness practices remain accessible to all sincere seekers.

The complete retreat schedule, group rental inquiries, and program details are available at https://smwr.org/retreats/.

About Still Mountain Wellness Retreat

Still Mountain Wellness Retreat is the operating name (DBA) of Vedanta Spiritual and Holistic Retreat, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization based in California Hot Springs, California. Dedicated to genuine holistic wellness, contemplative silence, and conservation stewardship, the sanctuary hosts residential retreats, teacher residencies, and educational workshops centered on classical breathwork, mindful lifestyle practices, and natural harmony.

Media Contact:

Still Mountain Wellness Retreat

41208 Hot Springs Dr, California Hot Springs, CA 93207

Phone: (661) 548-6424

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://smwr.org

SOURCE Still Mountain Wellness Retreat

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LG Channels is the exclusive English-language home to the German Soccer Network, which will feature live matches from the best clubs in German soccer - including the DFB-Pokal beginning with Round 2 on October 27 and 28

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS), an entertainment technology company and studio, announced - in partnership with DFB (German Football Federation) its new streaming channel, German Soccer Network. It is now available in the U.S. as a premium free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel, exclusively on LG Channels.

The exclusive new channel will air live matches showcasing the best German football clubs, including all Bundesliga teams – one of the top soccer leagues in the world. Matches will air periodically throughout the year and include the DFB-Pokal, a German knockout football cup competition that represents the most important club title in German football after the Bundesliga championship. German Soccer Network will have comprehensive live coverage of the DFB-Pokal, which resumes with the second round on October 27 and 28 and continues through the May final, and will also include live matches featuring the 3 Liga, the World Cup favorite German Women's National Team, and more.

The announcement comes on the heels of the World Cup – where a fever of fandom exploded in the U.S. and brought in a revived interest in the world's favorite sport. There are several prominent athletes from this summer's big tournament who American fans will find familiar on German Soccer Network:

- Malik Tillman (USA – Leverkusen) – Tillman was a key contributor for the US team, scoring the two most memorable goals of the US World Cup run (free kicks against Bosnia and Belgium)

- Gio Reyna (USA - Mönchengladbach) – Reyna is well-known to US fans; he was one of the top subs for this year's team, and scored a fantastic goal against Paraguay

- Harry Kane (England – Bayern Munich) – the star and captain of the England team that went all the way to Semis. Kane is one of the most famous players in the world

- Michael Olise (France – Bayern Munich) – possibly the best player in the Bundesliga; a key contributor to the French team that made the Semis

- Luis Diaz (Colombia – Bayern Munich) – one of the best players in the Bundesliga, and a star for the strong Colombian team that made the Round of 16

- And more…

"Live sports is an area in which Cineverse sees a lot of potential and an area that we can grow. We hope that our distribution of this tournament helps existing fans and news discover the breadth of soccer across all divisions, one of the world's powerhouses in the sport," said Alexandra Viglione, SVP, Business Development and Partnerships, Cineverse.

"We are excited to have German Soccer Network join more than 400 diverse channels on LG Channels, one of the most-popular apps on LG TVs, further expanding the platform's premium live sports offering," said Matthew Durgin, VP of Content & Service at LG Electronics North America. "This partnership with Cineverse gives U.S. viewers an easy way to discover and stream live German soccer featuring some of the sport's biggest clubs and players, directly from their LG devices."

About LG Channels

LG Channels is LG's exclusive global FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) service, offering premium, free-to-stream content for every taste. The service provides a wide range of live channels and on-demand content across diverse genres, including entertainment, movies, drama, news, sports, and more. Operating over 4,500 channels in 36 countries across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, LG Channels delivers a premium and optimized viewing experience to users worldwide. The service is easily accessible on webOS-powered devices, including LG Smart TVs, smart monitors, projectors, automotive infotainment systems, and hotel TVs. For more information please visit LG Channels.

About LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a smart life solutions company with annual global revenues of more than $60 billion. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and vehicle components. LG is an 11-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. www.LG.com.

About Cineverse Streaming

Cineverse owns and/or operates a wide range of premium streaming brands, from free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels to subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) apps. These span fandoms – from single IP channels around pop cultural icons such as Bob Ross and The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan, to channels curated for fans of Horror (Screambox, Midnight Pulp), Anime and Pan-Asian shows and films (RetroCrush, AsianCrush), Documentaries (Docurama, Historian), Independent Film (Fandor), Romance (Dove Channel) and True Crime (Crime Hunters), to name a few.

About Cineverse 

Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS) is an entertainment technology company and studio. Fiercely innovative and independent, Cineverse develops and invests in technology and content that drives the future of the industry. Core to its business is Matchpoint® – a growing tech ecosystem designed to prepare, distribute, monetize, and continuously improve content across any platform. Matchpoint helps studios large and small operate at scale and improve performance and efficiency in an increasingly fragmented distribution environment. Additionally, Cineverse distributes a vast library of premium films, series, and podcasts, across theatrical, home entertainment, and streaming; operates dozens of digital properties that super serve passionate fandoms around the world; and works with leading brands to connect them with audiences they value. From award-winning technology to the highest-grossing unrated film in U.S. history, Cineverse has created a playbook that marries tech and content to redefine the next era of entertainment. For more information, visit cineverse.com.

About DFB

Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB) is the governing body of Association Football in Germany, and is home to the German National teams including four-time FIFA World Cup-winning men's national team and two-time women's world champion national team. Furthermore it is the organizer of various leagues and competitions including the prestigious DFB-Pokal (German knockout Cup competition), 3. Liga (Men's third division) and many more.

Investor Contact:

Julie Milstead

[email protected]

Media Contact:

The Lippin Group for Cineverse

[email protected]

SOURCE Cineverse Corp.

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