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izmo Microsystems and IIT Madras Enter Phase II of ₹99.94 Crore MeitY-Sanctioned Silicon Photonics Program

Five-year CPPICS SPECTRA program targets 1.6 Tbps optical transceivers, co-packaged optics, quantum communications and photonic AI

BENGALURU, India, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — izmo Limited (NSE: IZMO) (BSE: 532341) today announced that its semiconductor subsidiary, izmo Microsystems Pvt. Ltd., has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) for Phase II of the Centre for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems (CPPICS).

The Phase II program, titled Silicon Photonics Enabled Cutting-edge Technology Research and Applications (SPECTRA), has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, with a total project outlay of ₹99.94 crore. The five-year program includes a MeitY contribution of ₹97.54 crore and a ₹2.40 crore cash and in-kind commitment from izmo Microsystems.

CPPICS Phase II is designed to advance silicon photonics technologies from research towards commercially deployable products, covering photonic integrated circuit design, fabrication, characterization, advanced packaging, testing and system integration.

Silicon Photonics for the AI infrastructure era

The program comes at a time when optical connectivity is becoming critical infrastructure for AI and high-performance computing.

As GPU and accelerator clusters scale, data-center networks require substantially higher bandwidth while controlling power consumption, latency and interconnect density. This is driving the transition towards 800G and 1.6T optical interconnects, silicon photonics and, increasingly, co-packaged optics (CPO).

According to LightCounting, global sales of optical transceivers and related products reached $26.8 billion in 2025, up 74% year-on-year. The research firm estimates the optical transceiver market at approximately $40 billion in 2026, with silicon-photonics-based transceivers expected to represent more than half of the market for the first time.

LightCounting further estimates that the market for optical chips used across transceivers, active optical cables and near- and co-packaged optics could grow from approximately $4 billion in 2025 to $15 billion by 2031.

The transition is already moving into commercial infrastructure, with major networking and semiconductor companies introducing silicon-photonics-based co-packaged-optics platforms for large AI clusters.

Targeting 1.6 Tbps optical engines and co-packaged optics

CPPICS Phase II targets commercially viable photonic technologies across four major application areas: high-speed optical transceivers for data centers, microwave photonics for advanced wireless communications, quantum photonics, and photonic computing for AI.

Among the planned developments is a 1.6 Tbps silicon photonics transceiver engine operating at 1550 nm for high-performance computing and data-center routing. The project also targets microwave photonic engines operating beyond 50 GHz, integrated QRNG/QKD systems and photonic processors for AI workloads.

The program also proposes development of a silicon photonics Process Design Kit incorporating more than 100 IP blocks for 200 mm wafer platforms, supporting the design and manufacture of increasingly complex photonic integrated circuits.

izmo Microsystems to drive packaging and industrialization

A key challenge in silicon photonics is converting a fabricated photonic chip into a reliable and manufacturable optical system.

CPPICS Phase II specifically envisages development of a volume photonics packaging ecosystem in collaboration with izmo Microsystems, addressing precision assembly, photonic packaging, testing and reliability required for commercial deployment.

Under the program, izmo Microsystems’ role progresses from packaging architecture and CPO interface definition to PIC-EIC co-integration, fiber alignment and attachment, production-grade packaging, process optimization, prototype assembly and reliability validation.

The five-year roadmap ultimately targets a certified co-packaged optics design rule and service capability, creating a pathway from silicon photonics research and foundry fabrication through packaging, qualification and system-level deployment.

Dinanath Soni, Director, izmo Microsystems Pvt. Ltd., said:

“Silicon photonics is becoming a critical technology for the next generation of AI and data-center infrastructure as network speeds move from 400G and 800G towards 1.6T and beyond.

The challenge is no longer only designing the photonic chip. Converting that chip into a reliable product requires precision packaging, fiber attachment, electronic-photonic integration, thermal management and high-speed testing.

CPPICS Phase II brings together IIT Madras’ silicon photonics research capabilities with izmo Microsystems’ advanced packaging and manufacturing expertise. Our role is to help move these technologies from research prototypes towards production-ready modules and co-packaged optical systems.”

Building on CPPICS Phase I

CPPICS Phase II builds on the first phase of the program, which achieved more than 95% of its planned milestones and generated research, IP and prototypes across programmable photonics, microwave photonics and quantum technologies.

Phase II expands the program toward technology translation, industrialization and commercialization, with applications spanning data centers, telecommunications, defence, quantum technologies and advanced computing.

Through the collaboration, izmo Microsystems intends to strengthen its advanced photonic packaging capabilities and participate in the emerging global market for silicon photonics, high-speed optical interconnects and co-packaged optics for AI and high-performance computing infrastructure.

About izmo Microsystems Pvt. Ltd.

izmo Microsystems Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of izmo Limited, is an advanced semiconductor packaging and manufacturing company based in Bengaluru, India. The company provides semiconductor package design, development, prototyping, qualification and manufacturing capabilities across advanced IC packaging, System-in-Package, RF and microwave packaging, and silicon photonics and optical packaging.

For more information, visit www.izmomicro.com / www.izmoltd.com or contact:

Investor Contact

izmo Limited

No. 177/2C, Bilekahalli Industrial Area, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore 560076

CIN: L72200KA1995PLC018734

Email ID: investors@izmoltd.com 

Caution Concerning Forward- Looking Statements: Certain statements in this document may be forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties like regulatory changes, local political or economic developments, and many other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statements. Further, past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Given these risks, uncertainties and other risk factors, viewers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company will not be in any way responsible for any action taken based on such statements and undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. 

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All 365 SPJIMR PGDM Class of 2028 participants placed; median stipend up 17% to ₹2 lakhs a month

91 companies take part, including 37 first-time recruiters

Key pointers:

• 365 participants placed, representing 100% of the Class of 2028
• ₹2 lakhs per month median stipend, up 17% year-on-year
• ₹3 lakhs per month highest stipend, up 20%
• 91 companies participated, including 37 first-time recruiters
• Average stipend rose 12% to ₹1.86 lakhs per month

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — All 365 participants of the Class of 2028 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) have secured summer internships, with the median stipend rising 17% to ₹2 lakhs per month. Stipends rose at every level of the batch, the highest offer reached ₹3 lakhs per month, and 37 of the 91 participating companies recruited from SPJIMR for the first time. 

The Summer Internship Cycle covered the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) and Post Graduate Diploma in Management Business Management (PGDM (BM)), SPJIMR’s flagship two-year programmes.

Prof. Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR, said: “An internship is a student’s first real conversation with the world of work. What gratifies us this year is its breadth: every student placed, across consumer businesses, consulting, finance, technology and healthcare. Our purpose is to shape leaders who are willing to roll up their sleeves, work through ambiguity and create value for the right reasons. This cycle suggests that industry sees those qualities in our students.”

Key figures at a glance

More than half the batch secured ₹2 lakhs per month, while the top 20% of students received an average of ₹2.44 lakhs per month, and the top 50% received an average of ₹2.18 lakhs per month. The gains were not confined to the top of the cohort: the average rose 12% and the median 17%, which indicates broad-based demand rather than a few outlier offers.

Prof. Renuka Kamath, Associate Dean, Full-time Programmes, said: “True institutional excellence is measured not just by milestones, but by the meaningful trajectory of our participants’ careers. As our students begin this journey, they carry with them the SPJIMR ethos: to drive performance with integrity and build businesses that create value for society.”

New recruiters join the campus

Thirty-seven companies recruited from SPJIMR for the first time, including Amgen, Bajaj Auto, Britannia, Citi, D.E. Shaw & Co, Danone, DBS, Flipkart, Galderma, IBM, IDFC FIRST Bank, Kenvue, Kotak, NeoLiv, o3 Capital, SKF, Warner Bros., and Axis Bank.

FMCG and Consumer accounted for 33.1% of placements, followed by Consulting (23.5%) and BFSI (20.2%). General Management and Conglomerate roles made up 7.6%, and Technology, E-Commerce and Product roles 5%. The remaining 10.6% came from Automotive, Pharmaceuticals, Media, Energy, Real Estate, Engineering, Healthcare, and Biotech.

Prof. Ashita Aggarwal, Chairperson, PGDM and PGDM (BM), added: “Repeat recruiters show loyalty. First-time recruiters show conviction. Thirty-seven companies came to us for the first time this year, and they came for what our students bring: rigour, resilience, and a sense of responsibility.”

SPJIMR does not measure its success by the size of an offer. It measures it by the careers that follow, by how its graduates lead, build and serve. A first internship is where the journey begins, and a cohort placed in full, across sectors and with 37 first-time recruiters, begins it from a position of strength. The Financial Times Masters in Management ranking SPJIMR #2 globally for Careers Service reflects the same belief: that an institution’s real impact is seen in what its alumni go on to achieve.

The Class of 2028 now steps into the world of work with that foundation behind it, and with every opportunity to lead with purpose, build with wisdom, and create lasting value for business and society.

About SPJIMR

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) is one of India’s leading postgraduate management institutes. It is recognised in the Financial Times Masters in Management 2026 ranking as the #26 business school globally and #2 in India and in the Financial Times Global MBA 2026 ranking as the #74 business school globally for its PGPM programme. SPJIMR is also consistently ranked among India’s top business schools by leading publications, including Business Today, Fortune India, India Today, and MBAUniverse. It has also been recognised by the Positive Impact Rating as one of the world’s top five business schools for societal impact. Known for its innovative and socially conscious approach to management education, research, and community engagement, SPJIMR seeks to influence managerial practice and enable value-based growth for students, alumni, organisations, and society. The institute holds the international Triple Crown of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA, placing it among a select group of business schools worldwide to hold all three accreditations.

Visit SPJIMR.org for more information. 

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Kaizen Analytix Becomes Kaizen Global to Reflect Expanding Global Footprint and Services Capabilities

New Name and Refreshed Brand Identity Reflect the Company’s Evolution Across AI, Data, Technology and Global Delivery

ATLANTA, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kaizen Analytix LLC, a global provider of AI, data analytics and technology services and solutions, today announced that it is changing its name to Kaizen Global LLC. The new name reflects the company’s continued expansion across geographies, capabilities and industries, including the recent acquisition of Nihon Technology, growth of its global delivery model and expanded portfolio of AI and technology services.

The name change is the next stage in Kaizen’s evolution as the company expands beyond its origins in data analytics to help enterprises address increasingly complex business and technology challenges through AI, data, digital transformation, enterprise technology and global delivery capabilities.

“Kaizen has grown significantly in both the breadth of what we do and where we operate,” said Krishna Arangode, founder and CEO of Kaizen Global. “We are a global company today, with growing capabilities across AI, technology, data and enterprise transformation. Our new name reflects Kaizen’s global footprint and dedication to continuously improve client operations and deliver lasting business value.”

Kaizen Global’s executive team consists of CEO Arangode and Managing Partners and Co-Founders Anand Srinivasan, Jeff Anderson, and Ken Bara. As part of the company’s global expansion, Muthu Muthuvelan will serve as CEO of Kaizen Global Japan, and Sivaramakrishnan Senthatty (Siva Sen) will serve as CEO of Kaizen Global India. 

Expanding Capabilities for a Changing Technology Landscape

The evolution to Kaizen Global follows significant growth in the company’s geographic reach and services offerings, including:

• The acquisition of Nihon Technology strengthened Kaizen’s capabilities in SAP implementation, digital transformation and cybersecurity services while expanding its Japan-India delivery model.
• AI services expansion to help organizations move beyond experimentation toward practical AI solutions that address specific business challenges and deliver measurable results. Kaizen Global’s AI portfolio now includes  AI strategy and implementation, AI-enabled services, purpose-built AI agents and agent management, and AI training and change management.
• The launch of Kaizen Kvantum, a marketing analytics and customer insights practice that serves global brands through Kaizen’s India-based delivery teams.
• Kaizen Circularity AI partnering with Kaizen Global to establish a Global Capability Center (GCC) in Chennai, India, which supports product innovation, data science and customer delivery operations worldwide.
• In support of its growing cybersecurity services, launch of a unified identity security solution designed to address identity-based threats by integrating SSO, MFA, PIM, PAM, IAM, Zero Trust and passwordless authentication.

Together, these developments have expanded Kaizen’s ability to combine business acumen, technology know-how and global delivery resources to support increasingly complex transformation initiatives.

A New Identity for the Next Stage of Growth

The Kaizen Global launch includes a refreshed brand identity and redesigned website that bring the company’s expanding capabilities together under a unified brand.

The new identity is anchored by the tagline “Rapid Delivery, Continuous Improvement” which reflects Kaizen’s longstanding commitment to continuous improvement while emphasizing the measurable business outcomes the company delivers rapidly through AI, technology, data analytics and transformation.

“Continuous improvement has always been at the heart of our business,” said Arangode. “What has changed is the scale and breadth of what we can bring to our clients. Kaizen Global represents that evolution. We are bringing together AI, data, technology, subject-matter expertise and global delivery to help organizations solve complex problems and transform how they operate.”

For more information about Kaizen and its AI and analytics capabilities, visit Kaizen Global.

About Kaizen Global

Kaizen Global is a leading global provider of AI, data analytics and technology services for enterprise transformation and business-value generation. Combining business acumen with technical know-how, Kaizen delivers measurable, sustainable business outcomes through AI-enabled services, development of intelligent systems, and deployment of advanced analytics—all via a continuous-improvement delivery model with a human-in-the-loop. Recognized for speed and flexibility by Gartner, NPR, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Inc. 5000 as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies, Kaizen is a certified minority-owned business headquartered in Atlanta with offices in New York, Dallas, Tokyo, Osaka and Chennai. Follow Kaizen on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter @KaizenGlobal.

Media Contact:

Paulette Brown

Carabiner Communications

pbrown@carabinercomms.com

770.577.3881

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Chandigarh University Signs MoU with 247VC to Create Investment Opportunities for Quantum and Deep-Tech Startups

Chandigarh University’s CUBIC becomes India’s First University-Led Quantum Incubator for Deep-Tech Startups, Signs MoU with 247VC

NEW DELHI, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chandigarh University’s CUBIC, India’s first university-led quantum incubator for deep-tech startups became an academic and incubation partner for PRAGATI Q-Foundry 2026, a national initiative of the Ministry of Science and Technology, aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of quantum technologies, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 247VC Investment Trust which is a leading Indian venture capital firm on the sidelines of the PRAGATI Q-FOUNDRY 2026 NQM Co-development and Venture Partnership Meet held on September 29–30 in New Delhi.

The MoU will facilitate direct access to potential investment opportunities, strategic mentorship and business support for quantum and deep-tech startups associated with CUBIC. The national meet was addressed by the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, and brought together startups, academic institutions, industry, investors, manufacturers to accelerate the translation of quantum technologies from research towards validation, co-development, commercialization and deployment under India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM).

The MoU with 247VC Investment Trust adds an investment and business-development dimension to CUBIC’s incubation activities. This collaboration aims to help promising startups associated with CUBIC access potential seed-stage and eligible early-stage funding opportunities to strengthen investment readiness and connect to relevant investor networks. Under this agreement, CUBIC may identify suitable startups from its incubation ecosystem and facilitate introductions to 247VC, subject to the investor’s sector preferences, stage requirements and investment criteria.

The agreement also provides for potential investor–startup interactions through pitch sessions, curated meetings, demo days and other mutually agreed platforms. CUBIC may support eligible startups in preparing business plans, pitch decks, financial projections and technology and intellectual property documentation required for fundraising. Where mutually agreed, 247VC or its representatives to provide strategic mentorship in fundraising, business development, commercialization and market access.

The parties will also explore opportunities to connect eligible startups with venture capital funds, angel investors, family offices, corporate investors and strategic partners. Potential follow-on investments may be considered for selected ventures as they progress through subsequent stages of growth and fundraising, subject to 247VC’s independent evaluation, due diligence, investment mandate and internal approvals. The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration but does not guarantee funding or create an obligation for the investor to invest in any startup.

Jai Inder Singh Sandhu, Managing Director, Chandigarh University, said, “PRAGATI Q-FOUNDRY 2026 highlights the importance of connecting academic research with industry, investors and strategic users so that promising technologies can move closer to practical applications. Through CUBIC’s role as an academic and incubation partner, Chandigarh University aims to contribute by bringing together research capabilities, emerging talent and entrepreneurial innovation in quantum and other deep-tech domains. Our MoU with 247VC complements this effort by creating a structured pathway for eligible startups to engage with potential investors, strengthen their investment readiness and access strategic mentorship.”

Sandhu added, “For the National Quantum Mission to translate into lasting technological and economic value, India needs to connect scientific research with technology validation, industry adoption, investment and entrepreneurship. Universities can contribute by nurturing talent, supporting research-led innovation and helping promising ideas progress towards commercially viable solutions. Through these collaborations, we aim to strengthen the connections between research, incubation and investment and support India’s broader ambition of developing indigenous, globally competitive technologies.”

The CUBIC will help connect academic knowledge, research capabilities and emerging entrepreneurial ideas with opportunities for technology development and industry engagement. The association will create avenues for students, researchers, faculty members and aspiring entrepreneurs to engage with stakeholders working in quantum technologies and other frontier domains. The initiative aligns with the broader objectives of the National Quantum Mission, which seeks to strengthen indigenous capabilities in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology and quantum materials and devices.

PRAGATI Q-FOUNDRY 2026 provided a national platform for academic and research institutions to showcase promising technologies, connect with strategic users and investors and explore technology transfer, co-development and deployment opportunities. By participating in this initiative, CUBIC aims to strengthen the link between university-led research and practical technology applications, supporting the progression of promising ideas towards deep-tech ventures. Its areas of interest extend beyond quantum technologies to include semiconductors, photonics, advanced materials, robotics and artificial intelligence.

Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

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Puri Airport Clears Final Environmental Hurdle, Construction Set to Begin

Puri, Oct 8 (UDN): The ambitious Shree Jagannath International Airport project in Puri has cleared a major regulatory hurdle with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change granting final environmental clearance for the proposed greenfield airport.

 Representational Image 

The clearance paves the way for the next phase of the project and is expected to accelerate preparations for construction at Sipasarubali, where the airport is planned over nearly 471 hectares.

Puri Collector Dibyajyoti Parida said the environmental clearance has been granted, while certain formalities, including the required no-objection certificate from the Ministry, remain to be completed before construction activities can formally proceed.

“The EC has been accorded for the Puri airport project. A no-objection certificate thereafter is required from MoEFCC to go ahead with the project. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will also give a go-ahead to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) to take up construction work,” Parida said.

Major Step Forward for Puri Airport

The project had earlier received Stage-I environmental clearance from the ministry on April 4, following the forest ministry’s in-principle approval and recommendations of the Expert Appraisal Committee.

Officials said the conditions attached to the initial clearance have since been addressed, paving the way for the final environmental approval.

With the final clearance in place, the forest land required for the airport project can formally be brought into the project framework, removing one of the key obstacles to its implementation.

Airport to Handle 4.6 Million Passengers Annually

The proposed airport is estimated to cost around Rs 5,631 crore and is planned across approximately 471 hectares (1,164 acres).

Once operational, the airport is expected to have a passenger-handling capacity of around 4.6 million passengers per annum.

According to officials, the runway will require 114.961 hectares, including around 3.427 hectares of forest land. A further 0.037 hectare of forest land will be required for construction of the passenger terminal building.

A Boost to Puri’s Connectivity

The proposed international airport is being viewed as a major infrastructure project for Puri and Odisha, particularly given the city’s status as a major pilgrimage and tourism destination.

The final environmental clearance is expected to give fresh momentum to the project, with the authorities now moving towards the remaining procedural approvals, preparation of the detailed project report and subsequent construction activities.

The project is expected to significantly strengthen air connectivity to Puri and support the growth of tourism and related economic activities in the region once completed.

Project Eleven Launches Strongpoint for Post-Quantum Custody with Zcash Foundation as Initial Development Partner

Zcash Foundation joins Project Eleven to shape institutional custody infrastructure for the post-quantum and AI era as more than $1 trillion in digital assets remain at risk of attack by sufficiently powerful quantum computers.

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Project Eleven, the post-quantum security company for digital assets, today introduced Strongpoint, its flagship custody platform built for navigating the transition to post-quantum cryptography. Zcash Foundation joins Project Eleven as an initial development partner, helping shape Strongpoint’s institutional custody architecture.

Strongpoint is designed to give institutions a consistent control layer for securing and managing digital assets as networks change the cryptographic standards underneath them. Rather than rebuilding key-management, transaction approval, and audit infrastructure for each new signature scheme or network migration, institutions can maintain a common set of security controls while the underlying cryptography evolves.

“Institutional digital asset custody was built for a world where the cryptography underneath it rarely changed,” said Alex Pruden, CEO of Project Eleven. “Quantum computing is upending that model. If every network adopts a different solution, institutions could be forced to rebuild their security infrastructure again and again. Strongpoint is built around crypto-agility, so the cryptography can change without the infrastructure changing with it.”

“Institutions holding shielded ZEC need custody infrastructure that respects Zcash’s privacy model today and can adapt as cryptographic standards change,” said Alex Bornstein, Executive Director of Zcash Foundation. “Project Eleven is building Strongpoint with the crypto-agility and technical foundation needed to support those requirements over time, helping strengthen custody infrastructure for the broader ecosystem.”

Zcash Foundation Joins as an Initial Development Partner

Zcash Foundation joins as an initial development partner for Strongpoint, bringing its expertise in privacy-preserving cryptography and protocol engineering to Strongpoint’s institutional custody architecture. Zcash’s privacy-preserving design introduces sophisticated key-management and transaction requirements, making it a valuable environment for developing custody infrastructure capable of supporting evolving cryptographic standards.

The collaboration will help inform how Strongpoint handles network-specific requirements while maintaining a consistent institutional control framework across assets and cryptographic schemes.

Post-Quantum Migrations Are Taking Different Paths

The digital asset industry’s post-quantum transition is becoming a coordination challenge. Among the networks represented by the 20 largest assets in CoinGecko’s Layer 1 (L1) category by market capitalization, Project Eleven found that only 10 have published a network-specific technical proposal, roadmap or implementation path for migrating transaction or account authentication to post-quantum cryptography.

Those approaches span at least six proposed post-quantum signature schemes and vary significantly in how they address account migration, key rotation and legacy-asset recovery. Even where technical roadmaps exist, operational readiness remains uneven, leaving institutions to navigate different standards and requirements across networks.

For institutions operating across multiple networks, that fragmentation means accommodating different cryptographic standards and migration requirements without losing a consistent security model. Strongpoint is designed to provide that common operating layer while allowing the cryptography beneath it to change independently.

Early Access and Deployment

Project Eleven targets production deployment in Q4 2026 and is working with a limited group of development partners ahead of general availability. Additional development partners and supported networks will be announced. Institutions interested in early access can request more information at projecteleven.com/strongpoint.

Founded in 2024 by Alex Pruden and Conor Deegan, Project Eleven raised a $20 million Series A led by Castle Island Ventures in January 2026, bringing its total funding to $26 million. The company recently acquired Riva Labs, a specialized engineering firm with deep expertise in post-quantum signatures, wallet infrastructure and blockchain cryptography, expanding Project Eleven’s in-house research and protocol-engineering capabilities.

Methodology: Project Eleven reviewed the 20 largest assets in CoinGecko’s Layer 1 (L1) category by market capitalization on September 25, 2026. A network was counted only where an official network organization, foundation, core development team or recognized protocol-improvement process had published a network-specific technical proposal, roadmap or implementation path for migrating transaction or account authentication to post-quantum cryptography. General research programs, statements of intent and post-quantum work that did not specify such a migration path were not counted. Draft technical proposals were included and do not imply network approval or adoption.

Alex Pruden and Conor Deegan are available for interview.

About Project Eleven

Project Eleven builds resilient infrastructure and tooling for the post-quantum era. The company develops scalable solutions that strengthen security across a rapidly evolving quantum threat landscape. With deep expertise in cryptography, blockchain, and financial systems, Project Eleven bridges advanced post-quantum research with real-world implementations that prepare the digital asset ecosystem for the future. For more information, visit www.projecteleven.com.

About Zcash Foundation

Zcash Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, builds financial privacy infrastructure for the public good, primarily serving users of the Zcash protocol and blockchain. With expertise in cryptography, protocol engineering, and open-source development, Zcash Foundation works to sustain and improve open financial networks that allow anyone to protect their own privacy, on their own terms. For more information, visit zfnd.org.

Media Contacts

Aubrey Strobel / Elena Nisonoff, Halcyon Communications

projecteleven@halcyonpr.xyz 

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Biobeat Brings Leading Hypertension Voices to AHA Hypertension Scientific Sessions as Conversation Shifts to Cuffless 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

The expert panel will explore clinical evidence and practical application for cuffless 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring as it becomes the trusted way in hypertension care

BOCA RATON, FL / TEL AVIV, ISRAEL — October 7, 2026 — Biobeat, the company transforming hypertension management with its FDA-cleared, medical-grade, single-use, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) sensor, today announced it will host an expert panel session and exhibit at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2026. The panel, comprising leading voices in hypertension, will delve into the shift toward cuffless 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring as it enables healthcare professionals’ to monitor and manage hypertension, while giving attendees a first look at new clinical data from a large multinational hypertensive cohort.

Hypertension affects nearly 50% of U.S. adults, and nearly 80% of them do not have it under control. A single office reading misses nighttime blood pressure and cannot reliably distinguish true hypertension from white-coat or masked hypertension, making the condition hard to measure accurately and manage effectively.

While 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is the diagnostic standard for confirming hypertension, traditional ABPM monitors depend on a cuff that inflates repeatedly around the clock, including overnight. Repeated cuff inflation can cause discomfort and disturb sleep and may cause patients to cut the test short or refuse follow-up monitoring. 

Biobeat’s wireless, cuffless chest patch redefines monitoring by providing clinically meaningful blood pressure data for physicians to interpret and make actionable decisions. Worn for the full monitoring period, it captures 96 blood pressure measurements across 24 hours and automatically generates a physician-ready report with daytime and nighttime averages, dipping patterns, blood pressure load, and indicators of masked or white-coat hypertension.

At the AHA Hypertension Scientific Sessions, Biobeat will host a Learning Studio session titled “From Evidence to Practice: How Clinically Validated Cuffless 24-Hour Ambulatory BP Monitoring is Changing Hypertension Diagnosis and Management.” The panel will explore the clinical validation of cuffless 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and its real-world use in hypertension care. Panelists will also share practical strategies for using full day-and-night blood pressure data to guide treatment decisions.

Panelists include:

• Gianfranco Parati, MD – Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, and Scientific Director, Istituto Auxologico Italiano
• Ziad Zoghby, MD, MBA, FACP – Associate Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic
• Maria Carolina Delgado-Lelievre, MD – Founder and Director, Comprehensive Hypertension Center, University of Miami Health System
• Elias G. Hellou, MD –Cardiologist – Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel & Research Collaborator, Mayo Clinic

“The question in hypertension is no longer whether 24-hour data matters, but how we make clinically validated 24-hour blood pressure data more accessible to healthcare professionals. Cuffless monitoring can provide measurements collected outside the office for healthcare professionals to use with patients who have suspected hypertension,” said Arik Ben Ishay, CEO and Co-Founder of Biobeat. “Medical-grade, clinically validated cuffless monitoring shows what office readings miss so clinicians can act on it. This panel brings both the evidence and the real-life practice from leading voices in hypertension.”

Biobeat’s session will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. ET, in Regency Ballroom A&B at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.

AHA Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2026 takes place October 7–11 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. Attendees can visit Biobeat at Booth 13 throughout the event to see the chest patch and physician reporting platform, and to speak with the team.

Verifact Markets Unveils First Trading Platform to Find Truth in Disputed Facts

Think prediction markets, but instead of asking what will happen, Verifact Markets combines evidence analysis and market structure to settle what actually happened.

CHICAGO, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Verifact Markets launches the first trading platform built to resolve disputed facts. This is a new category of markets, focused on topics of public interest where people genuinely disagree about what is true.

“We’re living in the age of disputed facts. Making or amplifying a claim has never been easier. Resolving one has never been harder,” said Rodrigo Aquino, CEO of Verifact Markets. “Our company exists to change that.”

Verifact Markets is headquartered in Chicago and backed by Positron Capital Management, a multibillion-dollar family office with active investments at the intersection of technology and finance, including prediction markets.

How it works

Users can review arguments and trade True or False contracts. The experience is similar to prediction markets, but the resolution is based on evidence, which users may contribute to.

Verifact Markets uses a patent-pending framework to evaluate evidence at scale along with market structure to resolve markets.

Verifact analyzes data from many sources, including evidence discovered by our systems and evidence submitted by users, and assesses how strongly the overall body of information supports each side.

A market resolves only when Verifact reaches a high level of confidence.

Winning positions pay $1, losing positions pay $0. Same as prediction markets.

When markets remain inconclusive, users still receive their payout. If trading activity fades and no new evidence emerges after a period of time, Verifact may expire the market. Positions are then settled using a trusted expiration price calculated from recent qualifying trades.

Examples of Verifact Markets

Markets offer a mix of long-contested claims and current ones, spanning political, business and cultural topics.

• “COVID-19 originated in a laboratory in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.”
• “Meta overstated the privacy of WhatsApp in its ‘Not Even WhatsApp’ ad campaign”
• “The Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes journalists due to USS Abraham Lincoln reporting.”

During its recent private beta, a market on whether the “LA Clippers used Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement deals to circumvent the NBA salary cap” resolved True.

Team

Verifact Markets is led by a team with decades of experience at the intersection of financial markets and technology, combining hands-on experience founding, operating, and investing in companies with deep expertise in building intelligence systems that process large amounts of information to separate signal from noise.

About Verifact Markets

Verifact Markets is the first trading platform built to find truth in disputed facts. Unlike prediction markets, which ask what will happen, Verifact Markets asks what actually happened. Users trade True or False contracts on contested topics of public interest. Market resolution is based on evidence, which users may contribute to.

Verifact is available to eligible users in several jurisdictions outside the United States, while pursuing the necessary regulatory pathway for a U.S. launch.

Verifact Markets – Trade on disputed facts. 

See the evidence. Take a position. Join the search for truth.

For more information, visit verifact.markets or reach out to press@verifactm.com

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SILVERSEA UNVEILS 103 NEW SAILINGS FOR 2028-2029, INCLUDING NEW S.A.L.T. CULINARY VOYAGES AND A SOUTH AMERICA CIRCUMNAVIGATION

From Carnival in Rio to truffle season in Tuscany, Silversea’s newest sailings place guests at the heart of the world’s most captivating cultural moments across 56 countries

MIAMI, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Silversea, the leading experiential luxury and expedition travel brand, has revealed new sailings within its Voyage Collection 2028-2029, ‘Let the World Surprise You.’ Itineraries are timed to the world’s most captivating cultural moments, from Carnival in Venice and Rio de Janeiro to New Year’s Eve in Funchal and Sydney, alongside new S.A.L.T. Culinary Voyages built around Europe’s truffle season and Southeast Asia’s iconic markets. Spanning September 2028 to May 2029, the program comprises 103 voyages across 219 destinations in 56 countries, including 29 new ports of call across the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and South America. General sales open on October 8, 2026. 

“Our Voyage Collection 2028-2029 offers industry-leading depth across every region,” said Bert Hernandez, president, Silversea. “Guests can select a voyage designed around a culinary season through our new S.A.L.T. Culinary Voyages, take on an entire continent aboard Silver Nova during Grand South America 2029, or spend an afternoon on the exclusive island of Canouan, where our Destination Experience carries guests from a Carnival welcome to a beachside celebration. These moments are what allow our guests to experience each destination at its most authentic.” 

New features across these sailings include: 

• A TWO-SHIP MEDITERRANEAN DEPLOYMENT: A two-ship deployment in the Mediterranean, with 17 sailings aboard Silver Nova and Silver Dawn, including immersive experiences at Venice Carnival and Funchal’s New Year’s Eve fireworks. 
• NEW S.A.L.T. CULINARY VOYAGES: Wine & Truffle voyages across Spain and Italy, and new Asian Markets voyages between Singapore and Hong Kong. 
• CANOUAN – A SPECIAL DESTINATION EXPERIENCE BY SILVERSEA: A full-day call at Canouan, a secluded island within St. Vincent and the Grenadines, featuring a Carnival welcome and a beachside soiree. 
• GRAND SOUTH AMERICA 2029: A round-trip circumnavigation of the continent aboard Silver Nova, including Antarctic Peninsula scenic cruising. 

THE MEDITERRANEAN AT ITS MOST INTIMATE

Silver Nova and Silver Dawn will welcome guests on 17 Mediterranean voyages between October 2028 and March 2029, calling at 53 destinations across 12 countries, including new calls at Brindisi and Imperia. Overnight stays are scheduled in Cadiz, Funchal (Madeira), Fusina (Venice), Genoa, Istanbul, Livorno (Tuscany), Naples, and Valletta, with the two-ship deployment enhancing combinability between the Eastern and Western Mediterranean. 

Silver Dawn‘s overnight calls in Venice will allow guests to experience the Carnival after dark, including an evening event inspired by Casanova. A separate sailing positions the ship in Funchal, Madeira, for New Year’s Eve, with the island’s fireworks display visible from the ship, before continuing on to Casablanca and Tangier. Silver Dawn will also add three sailings featuring Alexandria, including a Great Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum excursion, alongside two additional sailings calling at Istanbul. 

A NEW COLLECTION OF S.A.L.T. CULINARY VOYAGES

Silversea is also making new additions to its S.A.L.T. Culinary Voyages – a collection of itineraries shaped by the seasons, rooted in regional cuisine, and led by local experts, master chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists. Three Wine & Truffle sailings will take guests across Italy and Spain aboard Silver Dawn from October through December, tracing the truffle trail from Livorno, gateway to Tuscany, to Palamos, on the edge of Catalonia’s truffle country, with truffle-hunting excursions, guided vineyard tours, and onboard tastings and chef programming. Four Asian Markets sailings aboard Silver Muse will journey between Singapore and Hong Kong, with shore excursions led by local food experts, chef-led market tours, and visits to hawker stalls and street food destinations. 

SILVER NOVA AND SILVER RAY LEAD SILVERSEA’S CARIBBEAN DEPLOYMENT

Silver Ray, Silver Nova, Silver Spirit, and Silver Shadow will anchor Silversea’s Caribbean and Central America deployment, spanning 38 voyages between November 2028 and March 2029, and calling at 34 destinations across 21 countries, including a new call at La Romana, Dominican Republic. All four ships offer round-trip departures from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or San Juan. 

Silversea will also offer an exclusive Destination Experience at Canouan during the season: a private beach day featuring a Carnival-style welcome with local dancers and a steel band, along with a beachside soiree with light bites, flowing drinks, and live music. Silver Ray and Silver Spirit will each depart on round-trip Miami sailings of eight to 12 days, featuring St. Barts alongside Antigua, Anguilla, or St. Kitts. 

GRAND SOUTH AMERICA 2029 VOYAGE

Silver Nova will host the Grand South America 2029 voyage, a 75-night round-trip circumnavigation of the continent departing Fort Lauderdale on January 13, 2029, and returning March 29, 2029. The voyage includes a Panama Canal transit, scenic cruising of the Antarctic Peninsula, and overnight stays in Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Callao (Lima), and Cartagena. 

Three exclusive events are planned for guests on this voyage, starting with a sunset reception in Gustavia, St. Barts, where guests will gather with champagne and local cocktails, followed by dinner and live music in a setting inspired by the atmosphere of Saint-Tropez. Guests will then watch Rio’s Carnival from a reserved space at the Sambadrome, with preferred seating along the parade runway and dedicated hospitality service throughout the evening. Before returning to Fort Lauderdale, the ship will call at Cartagena for a private event at a rooftop venue overlooking the bay, featuring live music, dancers, and cultural performances. 

NEW YEAR’S EVE IN SYDNEY AND EIGHT NEW PORTS ACROSS ASIA

Silver Moon will spend the season in Australia and New Zealand, covering 10 voyages between October 2028 and March 2029 and visiting 42 destinations across three countries, including new calls at Batemans Bay and Phillip Island, and a scenic cruise through Dusky Sound. New combination voyages in New Zealand – including a round-trip Melbourne itinerary – and new routes linking Australia and Indonesia expand how these itineraries can be combined. Silver Moon will also host an overnight New Year’s Eve call in Sydney. 

Silver Moon and Silver Muse will together complete 26 Asia voyages between September 2028 and May 2029, calling at 62 destinations across 11 countries. This collection adds eight new ports, including Yeosu, Hitachinaka, Miyako-jima, Vigan, Muara, Sihanoukville, Makassar, and Maizuru (Kyoto), and introduces Kobe and Bali as new turnaround ports, expanding how guests can combine itineraries. Sailings are timed to Japan’s cherry blossom season and Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year. 

General sales for these sailings within Silversea’s Voyage Collection 2028-2029 open on October 8, 2026, following a preview for Venetian Society members on October 6. 

For more information on Silversea’s Voyage Collection 2028-2029, visit https://www.silversea.com/lp-new-winter-itineraries-2028-2029.html

About Silversea

Silversea is the leading experiential luxury and expedition travel brand, offering guests immersive experiences on all seven continents, personalized service, and an innovative culinary offering aboard its 12 intimate ocean and expedition ships. Silversea’s itineraries encompass an unparalleled range of destinations worldwide, from the Mediterranean and the Caribbean to the Galápagos, both Polar Regions, and hundreds of fascinating places in between. Set to strengthen its destination leadership starting in 2026, the brand is developing the southernmost hotel on Earth, The Cormorant at 55 South, in Puerto Williams, Chile – offering guests a uniquely seamless journey to Antarctica. Silversea brings its like-minded guests closer to their destination in uncompromised comfort, championing the joy of travel, an enriching spirit of discovery, and an enduring commitment to Silversea’s signature “To Finding More” promise. Silversea is owned and operated by global cruise company Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL). For more information, visit www.silversea.com. Media can stay up to date by visiting the brand’s press center. 

Silversea, Otium, S.A.L.T., The Cormorant at 55 South, To Finding More, and the various ship names are registered trademarks of Silversea Cruises LLC. 

About Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group is a leading global vacation company spanning cruise, one-of-a-kind destinations, and land-based vacation experiences. The company operates 71 ships sailing to more than 1,000 destinations across all seven continents through its three wholly owned brands – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea – and a 50% joint venture interest in TUI Cruises, which operates the Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd brands. 

The Group is expanding its portfolio of private destinations through its Perfect Day and Royal Beach Club collections, and the company will enter river cruising in 2027 with Celebrity River Cruises. Powered by innovative brands, advanced technology, and an industry-leading loyalty program, the company has built a connected vacation ecosystem, turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations. 

Named to the Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies 2026 list and to Forbes’ 2026 Best American Companies lists, Royal Caribbean Group is guided by its mission to deliver the best vacations responsibly. For more information, visit royalcaribbeangroup.com.

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femtoAI Opens Developer Community to Build New AI Powered Products

SAN BRUNO, Calif., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — femtoAI, a leading full-stack AI silicon and compression platform, today announced open access to its developer community after a successful beta program. Developers now will have access to femtoAI’s full-stack compression AI platform including the femtoAI Sparse Processing Unit (SPU) chip evaluation kit, compressed models, compiler and Sparsity Studio™ that easily enable development of new AI powered products. femtoAI technology turns patented neural-network sparsity and advanced model compression into real savings, delivering a 10X lower power draw and 10X smaller memory footprint without sacrificing accuracy. Developers can now see what’s possible with femtoAI tools and systems at developer.femto.ai.

“We’ve been working behind the scenes in our developer community with dozens of enterprises as they create new products based on femtoAI’s unique full-stack AI silicon and compression platform. The time to open this experience to more enterprises and developers is now,” said Bill Hoppin, Chief Business Officer, femtoAI. “Customers such as Legato and Marshall gained a competitive advantage by easily developing and deploying using our developer tools and systems. By now opening up the experience for everyone, we can’t wait to see how developers across all industries innovate with the power of our full-stack AI compression platform.”

Key features of the femtoAI developer community include: 

• SPU Evaluation Kit: Order your own kit to access the SPU chip
• Self-service development: Access to the full suite of femtoAI tools, compilers and models
• Model flexibility: Bring your own model, use one of femtoAI’s prebuilt models, or develop from scratch with easy-to-use tools and agent-friendly documentation readily available.
• Sparsity Studio^™: See actual power and memory savings unlocked by femtoAI sparsity with this measurement tool
• Community Forum: Ongoing open discussion and Q&A with femtoAI experts and developers 

“At femtoAI, not only do we deliver first-class sparsity in both our hardware and software tooling and applications,” said Sangnam Choi, VP of Audio & Sensing at femtoAI, “but we also apply advanced model compression techniques that have allowed us to deliver open-source models such as OpenAI Whisper at 10X less memory, and develop custom solutions like local voice commands.  Our team continues to unearth and implement emerging techniques and methods, and in turn, we’re able to deliver with an even lower power and memory footprint. We’ll continue to push the possibilities on performance without sacrificing accuracy.”

femtoAI developer community enables faster time-to-market

The femtoAI developer platform has already been instrumental for work across femtoAI’s audio and sensing business with customers such as smart glasses disruptors Legato, and headphone and earbud icon Marshall and innovative companies like NewSound have leveraged femtoAI’s technology to build AI enhanced audio solutions with 10X less memory and 10X less power.

“Integrating advanced AI audio solutions on the femtoAI platform has been a tremendous success for us. The combination of easy-to-use tools, innovative capabilities, and amazing support helped us achieve a level of hearing performance for Legato Frames that was previously impossible in the form factor on a remarkable timeline,” MehulTrivedi, CEO at Legato Hearing said. “We’ve loved working with the femtoAI team and are excited to continue delivering industry-leading products with them. It’s an extraordinarily valuable partnership for Legato, both now and as we grow.”

Join the Community

Meet the femtoAI team on Wednesday October 7 for an SF Tech Week developer happy hour at Barebottle Brewing Company’s beer garden located at Salesforce Park. You’ll enjoy drinks, light bites, and an exclusive walk-through of the developer community from femtoAI experts. RSVP today to join us.

To join our developer community and access the femtoAI platform, visit developer.femto.ai.

About femtoAI 

femtoAI is a leading full-stack AI silicon and compression platform that turns patented neural-network sparsity into real savings for enterprises. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, femtoAI was founded in 2018 by researchers from the Brains in Silicon Lab at Stanford University. femtoAI’s full-stack AI silicon and compression platform enables low-latency, 10X lower power draw and 10X smaller memory footprint for customers like Marshall, NewSound and Legato. From wearables and household appliances to smart glasses and robotics, femtoAI brings the power of AI to every device.

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