Three Scientists Honored with $250,000 Blavatnik Awards for Breakthroughs in Organic Chemistry, Gene Editing and Bioelectronics

News provided by

Blavatnik Family Foundation; The New York Academy of Sciences

Oct 07, 2026, 07:03 ET

Celebrations held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York for the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists' 20th anniversary gala.

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Three exceptional scientists each received $250,000 – the largest unrestricted scientific award available to early-career scientists in the United States – at the 2026 ceremony of the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists for their work in organic chemistry, genome engineering, and bioelectronics.

Presented by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences, the Awards honor America's most innovative faculty-rank scientists and engineers, aged 42 and younger. The 2026 Laureates were selected from a highly competitive pool of 372 nominees representing 187 academic and research institutions across 43 states. From this national pool, an independent jury of eminent scientists also selected 15 Finalists who each received $15,000 in unrestricted funding.

The winners of the 2026 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists are:

CHEMICAL SCIENCES LAUREATE:

David Nagib, The Ohio State University

Organic synthesis is a major bottleneck in the discovery of new medicines. To address this, organic chemist Prof. David Nagib develops methods to create key medicinal building blocks by harnessing reactive chemical species called radicals and carbenes. His lab has invented ways to activate inert portions of complex molecules. By turning high-energy chemistry into reliable methods, Nagib's work helps chemists create more potent and selective medicines faster, cheaper, and more efficiently. These advances are accelerating pharmaceutical discovery and expanding what is possible in modern organic chemistry.

LIFE SCIENCES LAUREATE:

Patrick Hsu, Arc Institute and Stanford University

Biology relies on molecular machines that read, write, and regulate genetic information, yet scientists are only beginning to understand how to harness their full potential. Prof. Patrick Hsu, a bioengineer and co-founder of the Arc Institute, discovers and engineers these programmable biological systems to precisely manipulate DNA and RNA. His work has expanded the CRISPR toolkit with RNA-targeting enzymes, uncovered programmable bridge RNAs that can direct large-scale genome rewriting, and pioneered artificial intelligence models that predict and design biological sequences. Together, these innovations are transforming genome engineering, accelerating biological discovery, and supporting the development of new gene therapies while laying the foundation for a new era of AI-enabled biological design.

PHYSICAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING LAUREATE

Jonathan Rivnay, Northwestern University

The human body runs on chemical and ionic signals, but ordinary electronics struggle to read or join that conversation. To overcome this obstacle, materials scientist and biomedical engineer Prof. Jonathan Rivnay is designing soft, flexible electronic materials that work directly with living cells and tissue. Rivnay has helped to pioneer implantable "living pharmacies": small devices that hold engineered cells and prompt them to make and release medicines inside the body. Rivnay's work is leading the world to more personalized treatments for long-term conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and circadian rhythm disorders.

"We are extremely proud to recognize this year's National Laureates and to welcome them into the Blavatnik Awards community," said Len Blavatnik, Founder of Access Industries and Head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

The Ceremony

The Blavatnik Awards announced the Laureates at its 20th anniversary gala, a black-tie awards ceremony held October 6 at the American Museum of Natural History, hosted by Len and Emily Blavatnik and presented by Robert P. Lifton, MD, PhD, President of The Rockefeller University.

During the ceremony, each Laureate shared their prize-winning research with leading figures in philanthropy, research, academia, business, and the arts. Fifteen Blavatnik National Award Finalists and nine Blavatnik Regional Awards honorees were recognized as well.

This year also marked a milestone for two institutions: The Ohio State University and the Arc Institute each celebrated their first-ever Blavatnik National Award Laureates.

Reflecting on the long-term impact of the Awards, Lifton listed the successes of the first cohort of scientists who received their Blavatnik Award twenty years earlier. "From this inaugural group of 14 honorees, eight now hold named and endowed chairs at institutions including Yale, Rockefeller, Cornell, Columbia and Cambridge. Five have been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, two to the National Academy of Medicine, six to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and one to the Royal Society of the UK. And subsequent to their Blavatnik Awards, they've won prizes such as the Shaw Prize, the Benjamin Franklin Medal and even the Fields Medal."

In his remarks, Professor Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Awards' Scientific Advisory Council, recalled the origins of the Blavatnik Awards. The idea was inspired by Len Blavatnik's experience at the 2007 Nobel Prize ceremony, where the prestige of the occasion and the recognition of their lifelong discoveries prompted a question:

"What if exceptional scientists could be recognized earlier in their careers, at a pivotal moment when they were just beginning to build their own research programs, pursue ambitious scientific questions, and take creative risks? And so, twenty years ago, the Blavatnik Awards were born – a first-of-its-kind science prize dedicated to recognizing the most promising early-career scientists of their generation, administered by The New York Academy of Sciences."

Since 2007, the Blavatnik Awards have honored 539 scientists and awarded $21.5 million in unrestricted funding. At a time when intense competition for research funding makes it increasingly challenging for early-career scientists to establish independent programs and pursue innovative ideas, the Awards provide unrestricted prize funding that gives recipients the freedom to explore high-risk, high-reward research.

Beyond the lab, Blavatnik Awards honorees are using science to drive global economic growth. To date, Blavatnik Awards honorees have founded 52 companies, six of which are publicly traded, and collectively valued at more than $40 billion.

About the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists: blavatnikawards.org/about/

About the Blavatnik Family Foundation: blavatnikfoundation.org/about-us/

About The New York Academy of Sciences: nyas.org/about-us/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Select ceremony collateral, including imagery, videos, graphics, and headshots, can be found in the 2026 Blavatnik Awards Press Kit.

SOURCE Blavatnik Family Foundation; The New York Academy of Sciences

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Emerging Biotechs Standardize on Veeva Basics to Accelerate Drug Development

More than 175 biotechs use pre-configured applications to streamline operations

PLEASANTON, Calif., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) today announced that more than 175 emerging biotechs are establishing a technology foundation with Veeva Basics. Biotechs are launching pre-configured and pre-validated Veeva Basics applications in weeks, adding systems that can scale as they move from startup to commercialization. Veeva Basics delivers unified, end-to-end applications for clinical, regulatory, quality, medical, and commercial, enabling high-growth companies to speed innovation while saving time, effort, and cost.

"As a growing company with under 40 employees, we're focused on developing science fast to deliver antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that target difficult-to-treat cancers," said Bryan Ball, chief technology operations officer at Whitehawk Therapeutics. "Our partnership with Veeva helped us replace paper processes with industry-leading solutions without an IT team or complex customizations. Veeva Basics redefined how we operate, significantly improving processes across regulatory and quality for greater speed and compliance."

Biotechs are leveraging Veeva Basics to drive new ways of working, including shifting regulatory publishing strategies from outsourced to insourced. Veeva Submissions Publishing Basics provides a modern application for submission building and health authority interactions that equips regulatory teams to bring publishing in-house. For biotechs preparing to publish their first submissions to the FDA, Veeva Basics enables them to hit critical regulatory milestones with improved visibility and control across the entire regulatory lifecycle.

"Insourcing our submission publishing through Veeva Basics gave us sharper quality control and significantly faster regulatory timelines," said Darryl Clarke, global head, regulatory operations at Structure Therapeutics. "We have modern applications with global support to execute quickly now, and the flexibility to scale in the future."

"Biotechs are responsible for so much of the innovation shaping the industry and they need technology that reflects the pace that they operate in," said Jim Thai, vice president, Veeva Basics. "It's been a privilege to work with industry pioneers and build this community of Veeva Basics customers advancing drug development."

Built on the proven Vault Platform, Veeva Basics applications help customers to scale their technology infrastructure seamlessly as they grow. For more on Veeva Basics, visit veevabasics.com, or register for Veeva R&D and Quality Summit, Oct. 20-21 in Boston. The event is open exclusively to life sciences industry professionals.

About Veeva Systems

Veeva delivers the industry cloud for life sciences with applications, agents, data, and consulting. Committed to innovation, product excellence, and customer success, Veeva serves more than 1,500 customers, ranging from the world's largest pharmaceutical companies to emerging biotechs. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Veeva is committed to balancing the interests of all stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, and the industries it serves. For more information, visit veeva.com.

Veeva Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding Veeva's products and services and the expected results or benefits from use of our products and services. These statements are based on our current expectations. Actual results could differ materially from those provided in this release and we have no obligation to update such statements. There are numerous risks that have the potential to negatively impact our results, including the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our filing on Form 10-Q for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2026, which you can find here (a summary of risks which may impact our business can be found on pages 33 and 34), and in our subsequent SEC filings, which you can access at sec.gov.

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Nestlé and NBA announce multi-year international marketing partnership

- Milo,Nescau and Nesquikwill become Official Partners of the National Basketball Association (NBA)

- The partnership will include activations across select NBA youth basketball development programs and platforms

- Multi-year agreement spans 21 markets across four continents and marks Nestlé's largest international brand collaboration to date

VEVEY, Switzerland, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestlé and the NBA are entering a new, multi‑year international marketing partnership making Milo, Nescau and Nesquik Official Partners of the NBA.

The agreement spans 21 markets across four continents and is designed to engage fans and inspire youth basketball participation around the world. Nestlé's largest international brand collaboration to date, the partnership reflects the company's strategy to focus on fewer, larger global marketing platforms that can be activated consistently across markets, ensuring local relevance. It will come into effect on 1 January 2027.

As part of the collaboration, Nestlé and the NBA will build on a shared commitment to youth participation in sport by creating more opportunities for young people and families to engage with basketball. This will include activations across select NBA youth basketball development programs and platforms, including Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA, NBA Basketball School, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coaches Academies, Her Time To Play and NBA 3X, and will extend across select NBA events and fan engagement platforms, including NBA Global Games and NBA House.

"For decades, our brands have believed in the power of sport to bring out the best in people," said Liberato Milo, SVP Head of Confectionery & Snacking Strategic Business Unit at Nestlé. "From Milo and Nescau sports programs to Nesquik athlete partnerships and initiatives, we have seen how sport can energize people, build confidence and create healthy habits. Together with the NBA, we will use the power of basketball to connect with consumers at scale, create locally relevant experiences and inspire more young people and families to get active and enjoy the game."

The marketing partnership will also encompass retail programs and in-market fan experiences, including on-pack promotions featuring NBA branding and opportunities for consumers to win NBA tickets, merchandise and other prizes.

"Nestlé is one of the world's most recognizable brands and has a longstanding connection to consumers across the globe," said Julie Morris, NBA Senior Vice President of Commercial Development and Media. "We look forward to leveraging Nestlé's reach and local market presence to connect with fans in new ways and support the continued growth of basketball around the world."

The partnership will activate across: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam – with the Philippines joining from October 2027.

Contacts:

Nestlé: Chiara Valsangiacomo, +41 21 924 2200, [email protected]

NBA: Sam Postlethwaite, +44 7468 711407, [email protected]

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Company will measure autonomic and inflammatory signatures in up to 200 critically ill patients using its VITALx-patch wearable sensor and ARC cascade-endotyping classifier

LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- InflammaSense, Inc., a pre-revenue medtech company developing wearable autonomic neurography (ANG) technology, today announced its selection as a performer on an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) CIRCLE program receiving up to $38M to transform how clinicians track and treat critical illness in intensive care units. InflammaSense joins the program as a subaward performer under prime awardee the University of Vermont, working alongside UVM's Gary An on the ReSCUED effort within CIRCLE.

ARPA-H's CIRCLE program, short for Critical Illness Immunological Reprogramming and Control Point Learning Engine, targets the immune dysregulation that drives organ failure in critically ill patients; sepsis accounts for a substantial share of the roughly 4.6 million Americans who face potentially fatal critical illness each year. The program follows a measure-model-modulate framework: compiling real-time datasets on immune and inflammatory trajectories, building patient-specific computational models, and testing interventions that target immune control points before organ failure progresses.

Under the subaward, InflammaSense will deploy its VITALx-patch, a non-invasive wearable sensor, to measure autonomic and inflammatory signatures in up to 200 severely critically ill patients across three clinical sites. Data will feed the company's Autonomic Research Core (ARC) cascade-endotyping classifier, which stratifies patients by immune trajectory and supports the CIRCLE program's digital-twin modeling of critical illness. The work builds on InflammaSense's core platform; it was built on UC San Diego-owned intellectual property covering neural signal detection of immune responses through cervical Autonomic Neurography or "ANG" measured with ventral cervical or anterior neck magnetoneurography and electroneurography.

"CIRCLE gives us a path to validate ANG at scale in the population it was designed to serve," said Imanuel Lerman, MD, MSc, CEO and Founder of InflammaSense. "Sepsis hyperimmune and or immunoparalysis states are difficult to detect in real time with existing tools; this program will systematically determine whether continuous, non-invasive ANG monitoring can reliably flag that window early enough to act on it."

About InflammaSense, Inc.

InflammaSense is a pre-revenue medtech company based in La Jolla, California, developing autonomic neurography (ANG) technology for real-time immune monitoring. Its lead indication is sepsis immunoparalysis and sepsis hyperimmune states, paired with matched and targeted therapeutics.

Media Contact:

Imanuel Lerman 

InflammaSense, Inc.

[[email protected]] | [619-786-7202]

SOURCE InflammaSense

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) announced details for the release of its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026. NHI plans to issue its earnings release after the market closes on Monday, November 9, 2026, and will host a conference call on the following day, Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (888) 506-0062, with the access code 260192.

The live broadcast of the conference call will be available online at www.nhireit.com and at https://www.webcaster5.com/Webcast/Page/633/54463 on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The online replay will be available shortly after the call and remain available for one year.

About National Health Investors, Inc.

National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI), established in 1991, is a self-managed real estate investment trust specializing in sale-leaseback, joint venture, mortgage and mezzanine financing of need-driven and discretionary senior housing and medical facility investments. NHI operates in two reportable segments: Real Estate Investments and Senior Housing Operating Portfolio ("SHOP"). NHI's portfolio consists of independent living facilities, assisted living and memory care communities, entrance-fee retirement communities, senior living campuses, skilled nursing facilities and specialty hospitals. For more information, visit www.nhireit.com.

Contact: Dana Hambly, Senior Vice President, Finance

Phone: (615) 890-9100

SOURCE National Health Investors, Inc.

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New operating structure designed to increase efficiency and support continued growth

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced the appointment of Joseph M. Fitzgerald to executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO), effective Jan. 1, 2027. In this role, Fitzgerald will oversee the company's global operations, business units and regions.

In connection with Fitzgerald's appointment, Boston Scientific will establish three reportable segments* — Interventional Therapies, Rhythm Solutions and MedSurg also effective Jan. 1. As the company continues to grow and expand its portfolio, the structure is designed to enable faster decision making and support strategic allocation of investments across the company's portfolio.

"Joe's deep knowledge of our business and markets, strategic leadership and strong track record of execution make him well suited for this role," said Mike Mahoney, chairman and chief executive officer, Boston Scientific. "These changes reflect the scale and breadth of our business today and the opportunities ahead. The new operating model will create greater capacity to focus on our long-term growth priorities while enabling our businesses to move faster and remain close to our customers and their patients."

Lance Bates, executive vice president and president, Interventional Therapies, will lead the global Interventional Therapies segment, which will include the Penumbra business following the anticipated close of the acquisition. Nick Spadea-Anello, executive vice president and president, Atrial Fibrillation Solutions, will lead the global Rhythm Solutions segment. Stephen Morse, senior vice president and president, Asia Pacific, will serve as executive vice president and president, MedSurg and Asia Pacific. Each will report to Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald currently serves as executive vice president and group president, Cardiovascular, Boston Scientific. Under his leadership, the company has strengthened its portfolio through organic innovation, strategic investments and commercial execution, introducing new technologies that have advanced care for patients around the world.

*Interventional Therapies will include the Interventional Cardiology, Vascular Therapies and Interventional Oncology & Embolization businesses; Rhythm Solutions will include Electrophysiology, WATCHMAN and Cardiac Rhythm Management & Diagnostics; and MedSurg will include Endoscopy, Urology and Neuromodulation.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical technologies that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 45 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high-performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. Our portfolio of devices and therapies helps physicians diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, oncological, neurological and urological diseases and conditions. Learn more at www.bostonscientific.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "may," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our management transition and organizational plans, business plans and product performance, and financial performance. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include, among other things: economic conditions, including the impact of foreign currency fluctuations; future U.S. and global political, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions, including changing trade and tariff policies; geopolitical conflicts and tensions; manufacturing, distribution and supply chain disruptions and cost increases; disruptions caused by cybersecurity events; disruptions caused by public health emergencies or extreme weather or other climate change-related events; labor shortages and increases in labor costs; variations in outcomes of ongoing and future clinical trials and market studies; new product introductions; expected procedural volumes; the closing and integration of acquisitions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; the execution and effect of our business strategy, including our cost-savings and growth initiatives; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. New risks and uncertainties may arise from time to time and are difficult to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation

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TYSONS, Va., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Oddball, a leading digital services agency modernizing government technology, today announced the appointment of Kathy Klapacz as Chief Operating Officer.

Kathy brings 20 years of executive leadership experience scaling federal programs and technology organizations across defense and civilian health agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Defense Health Agency (DHA). Her expertise spans operational strategy, technology transformation, and delivering mission-critical solutions.

Throughout her career, Kathy has led complex federal portfolios exceeding $100 million and organizations of more than 400 personnel. Her experience includes overseeing large-scale federal technology modernization initiatives, cloud transformation, and operational strategy, with a proven track record of strengthening delivery performance and supporting organizational growth.

"Kathy brings the rare combination of operational rigor, deep federal market experience, and people-centered leadership that Oddball needs as we continue to scale," said Marybeth Wootton, Chairwoman of Oddball's Board of Directors. "Her ability to connect delivery, technology, customer needs, and growth will be instrumental as we build on Oddball's strong foundation."

As Chief Operating Officer, Kathy will oversee operational strategy and execution, strengthening collaboration across delivery, engineering, and growth while preserving Oddball's culture, technical excellence, and mission focus.

"What drew me to Oddball is the combination of an incredibly talented team, a strong culture, and a genuine commitment to delivering meaningful outcomes for our customers," said Klapacz. "I'm excited to build on that foundation and help Oddball scale in a way that preserves what makes the company special."

Kathy holds an MBA from the University of Maryland University College and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Penn State University. She also holds PMP, CSM, and ITIL certifications.

About Oddball

At Oddball, we're not just another agency – we're a strangely human force driving innovation in government digital services. Our team consists of experienced engineers, program managers, and other commercial tech professionals, and our passion lies not just in creating solutions but also in collaboratively addressing client challenges. Oddball takes pride in supporting federal clients throughout the entire process – from design to deployment.

We specialize in crafting scalable solutions that are purpose-built for the citizens they serve and the workforces they empower.

SOURCE Oddball

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SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, eBay released its 2026 Recommerce Report, new global research showing that secondhand shopping is becoming a more deeply embedded part of everyday life. The research indicates that consumers around the world are increasingly turning to recommerce for value, selection, sustainability and connection.

Based on surveys of more than 10,500 consumers and more than 1,700 eBay sellers across several markets, the report demonstrates a meaningful shift in the role of recommerce: what was once a more occasional or discretionary way to shop is increasingly becoming an engrained part of how consumers and eBay sellers manage household budgets and make everyday purchasing decisions.

Among the report's key global findings:

- 70% of global consumers surveyed consider secondhand shopping important for managing their household budgets.

- 47% say they buy secondhand goods at least monthly, up from 35% in 2025.

- 76% say they have shopped for secondhand products in the past year.

- 89% plan to spend the same or more on secondhand goods next year.

- Younger consumers continue to lead the shift, with 53% of 18–29-year-olds expecting to buy more secondhand products over the next 12 months, compared with 36% overall.

For the first time, eBay's research shows U.S. consumers place greater importance on secondhand for managing household budgets than consumers globally. In the U.S., 36% of consumers surveyed say secondhand is "very important" to managing their household budgets, compared with 28% globally. The new research shows the meaningful role recommerce can play for sellers, too: 45% of U.S. eBay sellers say resale provides supplemental income, while 25% say the money from their sales has provided vital support for their household income. With millions of sellers from around the world on the platform and approximately 70% of eBay sales coming from small businesses, these findings underscore how recommerce is increasingly helping people stretch their budgets as buyers while also creating economic opportunity for sellers.

"Recommerce has been core to our marketplace for 30 years, and this year's report makes clear that its role in people's lives is only growing," said Jamie Iannone, Chief Executive Officer at eBay. "With more than 2 billion live eBay listings, consumers around the world are embracing secondhand for the affordability, quality, trust, and discovery it offers. eBay is proud to help power that global shift by connecting people with the products they love and the economic opportunity that recommerce creates."

The report also points to several forces shaping the next chapter of recommerce:

- There is significant opportunity to unlock more supply: 85% of surveyed eBay sellers source secondhand inventory from their own belongings, highlighting the potential to bring more of the items sitting in homes and closets back into circulation.

- At the same time, sustainability remains a powerful part of the story, with 83% of consumers surveyed agreeing that recommerce has real environmental benefits.

- And as recommerce grows more social and interactive, 54% of consumers say community and shared connections, like live shopping, are important to their secondhand shopping experience.

About the Research

The 2026 Recommerce Report is based on two surveys conducted online in partnership with Bounce Insights, a leading agile research platform. The external survey included 10,522 consumers across the U.S., U.K., Germany, Poland, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Austria, and Japan. The survey fieldwork took place between July 9, 2026 and July 27, 2026. Respondents included consumers who have engaged in recommerce, defined as individuals who have bought pre-loved or secondhand goods. In addition, a survey of 1,707 eBay sellers was conducted between July 15, 2026 and August 10, 2026 across the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Australia, and Japan. Respondents included active eBay sellers who have engaged in recommerce by selling pre-loved or secondhand goods on the platform.

About eBay

eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce leader that connects people and builds communities to create economic opportunity for all. Our technology empowers millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world, providing everyone the opportunity to grow and thrive. Founded in 1995 in San Jose, California, eBay is one of the world's largest and most vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique selection. In 2025, eBay enabled $80 billion of gross merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.

SOURCE eBay Inc.

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- Volumetric Building Companies cuts operational cycle times by 50% with SAP Cloud ERP

- Second Nature Brands extends and strengthens their common enterprise platform following its Voortman acquisition

- Modernized ERP foundation positions clients to scale operations and support AI-readiness

ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced IBM Ready for SAP Solutions to help midsize and fast-growing organizations accelerate cloud ERP modernization, unify enterprise data, and establish an AI-ready digital core. Volumetric Building Companies and Second Nature Brands are among the clients using the solution to support growth and future AI initiatives.

Volumetric Building Companies (VBC), a global modular construction company, reduced operational cycle times by 50% across purchasing, manufacturing, and inventory processes following a three-month SAP Cloud ERP transformation with IBM. Second Nature Brands, a portfolio company and creator of premium snacks and treats, recently completed an SAP Cloud ERP transformation with IBM that integrated its acquired Voortman Bakery business and established a common enterprise platform for its operations.

The two transformations demonstrate how IBM Ready for SAP Solutions can support different business needs, from improving operational efficiency to integrating acquired businesses onto a common enterprise platform.

"As our business continues to grow, we needed technology that could scale with us and give our teams a more connected way of operating," said Chris Macies, COO, Volumetric Building Companies. "By modernizing our ERP environment with IBM, we now have unified visibility across our supply chain and operations, helping our teams move faster and make more informed decisions with greater visibility throughout the manufacturing process. Just as importantly, we've established a scalable digital foundation that positions VBC to support future automation and AI initiatives as we continue to grow."

"Successfully integrating an acquisition is about more than combining operations. It's about quickly implementing and expanding a unified foundation built for future growth," said Jeff O'Gradney, VP IT, Second Nature Brands. "Working with IBM, we successfully integrated the Voortman Bakery business and expanded our common enterprise platform that positions Second Nature Brands to scale more efficiently as one organization."

Bringing together IBM's industry expertise, fit-to-standard delivery, and IBM Consulting Advantage, the company's AI-powered consulting delivery platform, IBM Ready for SAP Solutions is designed to help organizations accelerate transformation at scale.

"Businesses are under increasing pressure to operate with greater speed, efficiency and predictability, and many are implementing AI to improve," said Dr. Tom Janoshalmi, Global Managing Partner, IBM Consulting. "But scaling AI requires a connected and modern enterprise foundation. VBC and Second Nature Brands started from different places, and now both run on a modern SAP platform built for what comes next."

Volumetric Building Companies and Second Nature Brands' transformations reflect a broader shift as companies focus on modernizing ERP systems to improve operational efficiency and prepare for AI. According to research from the IBM Institute for Business Value, 68% of enterprises say accelerating ERP modernization is important to improving operational efficiency and maintaining competitiveness.

"Businesses can unlock the greatest enterprise-wide value from AI when they connect intelligent technologies with rich data semantics, end-to-end business processes, industry expertise, and strong governance," said Santina Franchi, SAP Corporate Segment and GROW. "VBC and Second Nature Brands recognize this opportunity and are building a modern digital core with SAP and IBM Ready for SAP Solutions as the foundation for scaling their AI ambitions with confidence, speed, and reliability. Through this partnership, we are extending our GROW Fast methodology to help customers accelerate their journey to SAP Cloud ERP, enabling go-lives in weeks and creating a strong platform to expand across the SAP Autonomous Enterprise."

IBM Ready for SAP Solutions is currently available in limited countries and for specific industries. IBM plans to continue expanding availability of the solution globally across additional industries and markets. To learn more, visit ibm.com/consulting/sap-ibm-ready.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contact:

Kristen Shah

IBM

[email protected] 

SOURCE IBM

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Rebrand expands the company's AI engagement portfolio and introduces a sports-focused revenue platform backed by CapStone Holdings

ASPEN, Colo., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Structurely today announced its rebrand as 21X and the launch of 21X SPORTS, a new business vertical owned by 21X and developed in partnership with GameAbove Sports. The 21X name reflects a broader product portfolio built around the same commercial purpose that has guided Structurely for more than a decade: turn more customer conversations into revenue by capturing demand, sustaining follow-up and moving more opportunities toward action.

For existing customers, services, integrations, support relationships and platform access will continue without interruption under the 21X name. The new identity is built on the same experienced team, established platform and client relationships, strengthened by new investment and an expanding product portfolio. The platform draws on experience from more than 500 million conversations, with human feedback used to refine performance.

The 21X name builds on Structurely's proven foundation: representing the company's next phase and its ambition to multiply the value of every customer connection. Its brand promise is "21X. Multiply the power of connection." Under the new name, the company will expand that foundation with additional products, interfaces and AI tools designed to support both revenue growth and operating efficiency. The platform helps businesses engage customers faster and more relevantly while reducing the cost of routine conversations. AI manages initial interactions, answers questions and identifies intent, then routes the right opportunities to people when human judgment, expertise or relationships matter most.

"Structurely was built to help businesses create more revenue from the demand and customer relationships they already have. That focus does not change with 21X," said Corey Welch, CEO of 21X. "What changes is the scale of what we can offer: more products, more ways to engage and more tools that help customers grow top-line revenue, improve the customer experience and operate more efficiently."

CapStone Holdings Backs the Next Phase of Growth

CapStone Holdings remains the parent company of both 21X, formerly Structurely, and GameAbove, and is backing this next phase with new funding and resources. The commitment supports an expanded product portfolio, the launch of 21X SPORTS and the company's continued focus on long-term growth and operational excellence.

21X SPORTS Brings the Revenue Platform to Sports

21X SPORTS will help collegiate athletic departments, professional and minor league teams, leagues, and sports product and apparel companies pursue incremental revenue from existing fan and customer databases. Potential applications include ticket sales and renewals, lapsed-buyer reengagement, merchandise offers and other revenue campaigns. Across voice, SMS and email, AI can initiate engagement, answer questions, identify interest, present relevant opportunities and connect qualified fans or customers with team personnel when appropriate. For enterprise organizations already managing multiple systems, 21X SPORTS is designed to consolidate AI-powered engagement, voice, SMS, email and workflow orchestration into one platform, reducing reliance on disconnected point solutions.

The result is a more responsive fan experience, better insight for sales and marketing teams, and more opportunities to generate ticketing, merchandise and other commercial revenue. By automating routine engagement and qualification, 21X SPORTS is designed to help organizations serve larger audiences without increasing staffing at the same rate.

GameAbove Sports will contribute sports-market relationships, business development experience and sales perspective, helping 21X SPORTS reach organizations seeking to improve ticketing, merchandise and other commercial revenue.

"Sports organizations have invested heavily in building fan and customer relationships, but many lack the capacity to engage those audiences consistently and at scale," said Keith J. Stone, founder and chairman of GameAbove. "21X SPORTS gives teams, leagues and sports businesses a practical way to turn more of that existing demand into commercial opportunity while creating a more responsive fan experience."

Experience a 21X live demo: call (330) 222-6156 and hear the difference.

To learn more about how 21X helps organizations create more revenue from the customers they already have, visit 21Xai.com.

About 21X

21X, formerly known as Structurely, is an AI engagement infrastructure company that helps businesses grow revenue, improve customer experiences and operate more efficiently. Built on more than a decade of experience in real customer conversations, 21X uses AI across voice, SMS and email to respond, understand intent, guide customers toward the right next action and route appropriate opportunities to live personnel. The company serves organizations in real estate, mortgage lending, life insurance, aviation and sports. Learn more at 21Xai.com.

About GameAbove Sports

GameAbove Sports is focused on global sports business development and strategic investments. It works across teams, franchises, leagues, events, sports-related companies and community initiatives to advance growth and opportunity in sports. Learn more at gameabovesports.com.

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