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Prodigy Finance Establishes another $350 Million Facility for International Masters Students with Citi, Schroders Capital, and SCIO Capital

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LONDON, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Prodigy Finance, a social impact driven FinTech and a leading international student loan lender, is proud to announce a $350 million facility with Citi, Schroders Capital and SCIO Capital. This is the first transaction that Prodigy has closed under their new multi-issuance special purpose vehicle structure.
The joint initiative between Prodigy Finance and their funding partners represents a significant commitment to providing accessible financial support to aspiring masters students from around the world. To date, Prodigy has funded over $1.8 billion in postgraduate education loans to more than 35,000 high-potential students from over 100 different countries.
According to 2022 market intelligence firm HolonIQ, a ‘most likely’ scenario will see around 8 million internationally mobile students register in foreign institutions by 2030 – and in line with this finding, the $350 million facility will be dedicated to financing international masters students, allowing them to bridge their financial gaps and pursue their educational aspirations with confidence.
As of 2022, 86% of Prodigy Finance’s borrowers hail from emerging markets, while 67% are first-generation students. With this facility, Prodigy Finance aims to further democratise access to education, fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment that celebrates talent from every corner of the globe across a variety of degree programmes. Notably, Prodigy Finance saw a rise of 97% in applications submitted for financing in STEM degrees in 2022, compared to 2021.
By offering competitive interest rates and flexible repayment options, the facility aims to make pursuing a master’s degree more financially viable for deserving students, who will be able to apply for finance to fund more than 5,000 courses across the fields of computer science, information systems, analytics, engineering management and more in 19 countries – including Prodigy Finance’s recent expansion of approved courses in Australian universities.
“We are thrilled to secure this facility from Citi, Schroders Capital and SCIO Capital, which we will deploy to enable international masters students to unlock their full potential,” said Neha Sethi, CFO at Prodigy Finance. “Education is a catalyst for societal progress, and we believe that financial barriers should not hinder anyone’s pursuit of knowledge. Through this initiative, we are committed to empowering students to realise their dreams and contribute meaningfully to the world.”
“We are pleased to continue our financing relationship with Prodigy,” said Michelle Russell-Dowe, Global Head of Securitized Product & Asset-Based Finance at Schroders Capital. “As access to credit globally becomes more scarce we appreciate the opportunity to find attractive investments facilitating education, and we are happy to complete our second financing with Prodigy in this area.”
“SCIO is excited to continue to support Prodigy Finance’s journey and their important mission of providing equal access to life changing education around the globe,” said Jason Harris, CRO at SCIO Capital.
To learn more about this transformative initiative, please visit Prodigy Finance’s social impact page.
About Prodigy Finance
Founded in 2007, Prodigy Finance is an international student lender that has helped over 35,000 international masters students attend the world’s top universities. To date, Prodigy Finance has disbursed over $1.8 billion in funding to students from more than 150 countries.
Prodigy Finance is fueled by impact investors, and other private qualified entities who invest in tomorrow’s leaders whilst earning a financial and social return. Prodigy Finance’s borderless lending model enables students to apply for a loan based on their future earning potential and not just their current circumstances and credit history.
Schroders Capital
Schroders Capital provides investors with access to a broad range of private asset investment opportunities, portfolio building blocks and customised private asset strategies. Its team focuses on delivering best-in-class, risk-adjusted returns and executing investments through a combination of direct investment capabilities and broader solutions in all private market asset classes, through comingled funds and customised private asset mandates.
The team aims to achieve sustainable returns through a rigorous approach and in alignment with a culture characterised by performance, collaboration and integrity. 
With $90.6 billion (£75.3 billion; €84.8 billion)* assets under management, Schroders Capital offers a diversified range of investment strategies, including real estate, private equity, secondaries, venture capital, infrastructure, securitised products and asset-based finance, private debt, insurance-linked securities and BlueOrchard (Impact Specialists).
*Assets under management as of 31 December 2022 (including non-fee earning dry powder and in-house cross holdings).
Schroders plc
Founded in 1804, Schroders is one of Europe’s largest independent investment management firms by assets under management. As at 31 December 2022, assets under management were £737.5 billion (€831.3 billion; $887.2 billion). The founding family remain a core shareholder, holding approximately 48% of the firm’s voting shares. Schroders has continued to deliver strong financial results. It has a market capitalisation of circa £7 billion and employs over 6,100 people across 38 locations.
Schroders has benefited from the most diverse business model of any UK asset manager by geography, by asset class and by client type. Schroders offers innovative products and solutions across their five business areas of solutions; institutional; mutual funds; private assets & alternatives; and wealth management. Clients include insurance companies, pension schemes, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations. They also manage assets for end clients as part of their relationships with distributors, financial advisers and online platforms. Schroders’ Wealth Management offering reflects their strategic ambition to provide wealth management and financial planning services to clients across the wealth spectrum.
Schroders’ strategic aims are to grow their asset management business, build closer relationships with end clients and expand their private assets and alternatives business. Schroders’ purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. The business channels capital into sustainable and durable businesses to accelerate positive change in the world. Schroders’ business philosophy is based on the belief that if they deliver for clients, they deliver for Shareholders and other stakeholders.
Further information about Schroders can be found at www.schroders.com.
Issued by Schroder Investment Management Limited. Registration No 1893220 England. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For regular updates by e-mail please register online at www.schroders.com for our alerting service.
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Vehere’s AI Network Security at GITEX Global 2024: A Catalyst for Middle East’s Digital Transformation

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DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Vehere is set to participate in GITEX Global 2024, the largest and best-rated technology event in the world, from October 14–18, 2024, in Dubai. As a global cybersecurity company aiming to conquer new heights, Vehere will showcase its AI Network Security technology, which acts as a “Second Line of Defense” to protect corporate networks from the most advanced cyberthreats.

Vehere AI Network Security is a unified solution of Network Detection & Response (NDR) and Network Forensics (NF). Vehere NDR detects abnormal system behaviors by leveraging behavioral analytics/AI-ML. It detects and contains post-breach activity such as ransomware, APTs, insider threats, or lateral movements. Vehere NF supports security incident response and investigation of the source of an incident, analyses and reconstructs attack timelines, and provides evidence for legal proceedings.
Vehere AI Network Security stands out as the top choice for enterprise security due to its key differentiators:
Monitoring both East-West & North-South trafficsLossless Packet CaptureBehaviour-based Application DetectionUltraHunt 2 million IOCsRetrospective Breach DetectionFlexible DeploymentAvinash Garg, Vice President – Sales MEA of Vehere, said, “GITEX Global is an event of monumental magnitude where attendees will gain an understanding of Vehere AI Network Security, a technology built for empowering organizations to safeguard their critical assets and maintain business continuity by proactively identifying and neutralizing threats.
Also, the Middle East region is undergoing a significant digital transformation, and Vehere is committed to supporting organizations in this process. As businesses in the Middle East accelerate their digitalization efforts, our technology provides a path to modernization that promotes economic growth, operational efficiency, and security.”
In line with its participation, Vehere will offer live demonstrations, insights into product offerings, and the opportunity to interact with its experts to explore customized solutions.
Catch Vehere at GITEX Global, India Pavilion: H23-C17D, World Trade Center, Dubai. Register with us and get free passes to visit the biggest tech show in the world.
About Vehere:
Vehere is a revolutionary cybersecurity software company specializing in AI Cyber Network Intelligence. For more than a decade, Vehere has been supporting counter-terrorism analysts in Defense and Intelligence communities. Vehere is now trusted by cyber-analysts in Fortune 500 companies, including Telecom, Financial Institutions, and Smart Cities to protect their critical infrastructure against real-time cyberattacks.
Vehere. HUNT BEFORE BREACH™
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Zinnov estimates Digital and Engineering R&D Spends will surge 1.4X to touch USD 3 Trillion by 2027

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NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Global Management Consulting firm, Zinnov, released its industry-leading study on Enterprise Digital Engineering spends today. Zinnov shared that Digital Engineering spends remain strong, even in a potential recessionary period, having now stabilized at USD 1,032 Bn, at a 13% CAGR. Despite macro-economic headwinds such as inflation, geopolitical tensions, recession, and supply chain disruptions, investments in Digital Engineering are on an upswing, spurred by CXOs prioritizing operational efficiency, cost reduction, and the adoption of advanced technologies including AI, analytics platforms, automation tools, and IOT devices.  

Zinnov’s analysis reveals that Enterprise Digital Engineering spends will reach USD 1,654 Bn by 2027, owing to the unrelenting pace of technological innovation. The study, Digital Engineering report 2023, is a benchmark for business leaders across verticals that helps them identify strong partners for rapid and efficient deployment of Digital Engineering-led services initiatives across geographies.
ER&D investments in Europe showed resilience and grew by 9.5% in 2023, the highest since 2020. This increased ER&D spend is primarily driven by sectors such as Aerospace & Defense, Pharmaceuticals, and Industrial. Meanwhile, North America’s ER&D spend slowed due to inflation control measures, geopolitical pressures, and shifting demand patterns, despite traditionally being a leader. This has impacted industry investments, large deals, and talent sourcing. Interestingly, APAC’s ER&D spends exceeded expectations with a ~3% growth rate in late 2023, with China contributing over 10% of the global ER&D spend. Much of this spend from APAC is being channeled towards AI/ML, Robotics, Additive Manufacturing, Automation Tools, 5G, and Smart Manufacturing.
Hi-tech-led verticals continue to be the biggest contributors to the overall Digital Engineering spend at 55%, followed by Services-led verticals and Manufacturing-led verticals. The Software & Internet vertical continues to account for the lion’s share of the overall Digital Engineering spend at USD 424 Bn, fueled by a massive 425% increase in AI investments since 2020. Co-investments, partnerships, and co-innovation are the primary business models that Tech Giants and Hyperscalers are leveraging to optimize their AI investments.
Digital Priorities of Enterprises
Even though the enterprises’ digital priorities are evolving, a few key themes are emerging. Zinnov analyzed the top 2000 enterprise ER&D spenders and identified the following themes that they are channeling investments towards.  
Generative AI: Generative AI is upending industries and economies at breakneck speed by enhancing customer experience, optimizing business operations, improving productivity, and providing personalization. Its applications have expanded beyond content generation, enabling enterprises to automate workflows, enhance efficiencies, and accelerate data-driven decision-making. Automotive and Industrial verticals are early adopters of Generative AI-led efficiencies, while adoption in Healthcare, BFSI, Media & Tech verticals is slow due to stringent regulations. Interestingly, enterprises across verticals are leveraging Generative AI to save costs, that they are reinvesting in core and/or transformational initiatives including infrastructure development, offerings enhancement, customer support, model (LLM/SLM) development and integration, and Generative QA.
Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity remains a top priority across verticals. Financial institutions are investing heavily in AI-powered threat detection and Zero Trust frameworks to combat increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. In Healthcare, Cybersecurity is vital for protecting sensitive patient data amid rising threats to digital health records and IOT-connected medical devices. Critical infrastructure, including energy and telecommunications, relies on robust Cybersecurity to prevent disruptions and ensure operational continuity. As cyber threats evolve, companies across verticals will continue to strengthen their defenses, integrating advanced solutions to safeguard their systems and data.
Cloud: Hyperscalers continue to dominate the global Cloud landscape, with the demand for Cloud Computing surging across verticals. This rapid growth in the market is driven by the need for scalable, secure, and cost-efficient infrastructure to support AI, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics initiatives. Hyperscalers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud are increasingly playing a pivotal role, not only in providing core Cloud infrastructure, but also in offering advanced Cloud-native services that cater to vertical-specific challenges. Enterprises are leveraging hyperscalers to drive digital transformation initiatives by adopting hybrid and multi-Cloud strategies to optimize performance, ensure scalability, and accelerate innovation. As more industries transition to the Cloud, hyperscalers will remain critical drivers of enterprise modernization and growth.
Sustainability: Sustainability is driving significant investments from enterprises in 2024. Organizations are focusing on green technologies, renewable energy, and eco-friendly business practices to reduce their carbon footprints. In fact, between 2018 and 2023, the proportion of green talent increased by an average of 5.4% annually, while the proportion of job postings that required at least one green skill rose by 9.2% per year. From adopting energy-efficient data centers to integrating circular economy models, sustainability initiatives are increasingly shaping corporate strategies. Enterprises are not only aiming to meet regulatory requirements but also enhancing brand reputation to align with consumer demands for environmentally responsible practices.
Speaking about the study, Sidhant Rastogi, President – Strategy Business at Zinnov, stated, “In today’s hyper-digital world, technology is not just an enabler but has transformed the very fabric of modern life, reshaping every interaction, experience, and expectation. It has redefined the baseline of what good customer experience is. As the global landscape faces unprecedented challenges, the need for businesses to anticipate and innovate ahead of customer needs has never been more critical – all underpinned by technology.”
Rastogi further added, “Digital Engineering is at the forefront of this transformation, with global spends projected to surge to USD 1.65 Trillion in the next 3 years, driven by rapid advancements in AI, Cloud, IOT, and Cybersecurity. This growth is not just a trend; it’s an essential evolution fueled by interconnected ecosystems that bring together diverse expertise from across verticals – Automotive, Aerospace, Healthcare, and Semiconductor. This convergence is unlocking new frontiers in engineering, empowering businesses to not only navigate disruption but to turn it into opportunity.”
Zinnov’s Assessment of ER&D Service Providers
As part of the Digital Engineering study, Zinnov evaluated ~60 Global ER&D Service Providers for its annual Zinnov Zones ER&D and Digital Engineering ratings. The ratings encompass a comprehensive analysis of Service Providers’ capabilities across six horizontals, seven verticals, and three micro-verticals. It also includes a geographic evaluation of high-spending regions like the US and Europe, focusing on key factors such as investments, client success, and delivery capabilities in Engineering services.
Zinnov evaluated the Global ER&D Service Providers across the following areas:
Overall
Overall ER&D ZonesER&D Zones – Small and Medium Service ProvidersHorizontals
Digital EngineeringDigital Engineering – Small and Medium Service ProvidersData & AI EngineeringData & AI Engineering – Small and Medium Service ProvidersExperience EngineeringExperience Engineering – Small and Medium Service ProvidersIndustry 4.0Generative AIOverall Hyperscaler ServicesHyperscaler Services (AWS) – Top 10 SPsHyperscaler Services (Microsoft Azure) – Top 10 SPsHyperscaler Services (Google Cloud) – Top 10 SPsVerticals: Automotive, Aerospace, Consumer Software, Enterprise Software, Industrial, Semiconductor, Telecommunications
Micro-verticals: Software Platform Engineering, Medical Devices, and Electrification
Service Providers evaluated: Accenture, ACL Digital, Accion Labs, Akkodis, Alten, Apexon, Ascendion, AVL, Bertrandt, Birlasoft, Bristlecone, Capgemini Engineering, Caresoft Global, Cigniti, Cognizant, Cyient, Daffodil Software, EDAG, eInfochips, Encora, Expleo Group, FEV, Global Logic, Gopherslab, GS Lab|GAVS, Happiest Minds, HARMAN DTS, HCLTech, Hitachi Digital Services, IAV, Ignitarium, Indium, Infovision, Itransition, KPIT, LTTS, Marlabs, Mphasis, Ness Digital Engineering, Onward Group, Persistent Systems, Sasken, Softdel, Tata Elxsi, Tata Technologies, TCS, Tech Mahindra, TO THE NEW, Trigent, UST Global, VVDN Technologies, Wipro, Xoriant
*Z2000 represents Top 2000 global ER&D spenders across 20+ verticals.
About Zinnov Zones
Zinnov Zones is an annual rating published by Zinnov which assesses Global Service Providers based on their competencies, capabilities, and market success. Since 2009, Zinnov Zones (previously known as GSPR – Global Service Provider Ratings) has become one of the most trusted reports globally, for both enterprises and Service Providers to better understand the vendor ecosystem across multiple domains such as Digital Transformation, ER&D Services, IOT, Intelligent Automation, and Media & Entertainment.
This is the fifteenth consecutive year that Zinnov has assessed Service Providers for their ER&D capabilities. The detailed ratings and contact information of Service Providers are available at: https://zinnovzones.com/ratings/e-r-and-d-and-digital-engineering-services/overall/2024
About Zinnov
Founded in 2002, Zinnov is a global management and strategy consulting firm, with presence in New York, Santa Clara, Houston, Seattle, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Pune, Hyderabad, and Paris. Over the past 22 years, Zinnov has successfully consulted with over 250+ Fortune 500 enterprises to develop actionable insights to help them accelerate their technology journeys to create value – across dimensions of revenue, transformation, and optimization. With core expertise in Digital Engineering Talent, Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Outsourcing Advisory, Zinnov assists clients by:
Enabling global companies to develop and optimize a global engineering talent footprint through center setups and accelerators – in an as-a-service model, as well as optimizing their global portfolios, to achieve higher R&D efficiencies, innovation, and productivity;Advising global PE firms in asset shortlisting and target evaluation, commercial due diligence, and value creation;Growing revenue for companies’ products and services in newer markets through account intelligence, market entry, and market expansion advisory;Helping global companies outline and drive their open innovation programs, design and operate accelerator programs, and enable collaboration with start-ups across specific use cases and predefined outcomes;Structuring and implementing Digital Transformation levers enabled by technologies like AI/ML, Intelligent Automation, Cloud, IOT, etc.With their team of experienced consultants, subject matter experts, and research professionals, Zinnov serves clients from across multiple industry verticals including Enterprise Software, BFSI, Healthcare, Automotive, Retail, and Telecom in the US, Europe, Japan, and India. For more information, visit http://www.zinnov.com.
Media contact Nitika GoelChief Marketing Officer, [email protected]
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IFS strengthens Executive Board with CIO and CHRO appointments

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Helena Nimmo appointed CIO and Debra McCowan appointed CHRO to fuel IFS’s next phase of growth in pioneering and dominating Industrial AI
LONDON, Oct. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — IFS, the leading provider of enterprise cloud and Industrial AI software, has made two senior appointments to its Executive Board. Helena Nimmo joins as global Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Debra McCowan as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).

Nimmo joins from Endava, a US-listed global technology company with over 12,000 employees. As CIO at IFS, Nimmo will engage CIOs and tech leaders at IFS customers to help them with their strategic transformation journeys, as well as driving the effective application of technology within IFS to deliver better products and services to customers. With IFS leading the adoption of Industrial AI across the world, Nimmo will drive the integration of AI across the IFS community, enabling IFS customers to deliver exceptional moments of service to their clients.
McCowan was CHRO at NetApp, Inc., a Fortune 500 global data infrastructure, AI and cloud services company. In this board level role, McCowan was a strategic partner and advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team. As IFS rapidly grows beyond 7,000 employees in over 90 countries, McCowan will build on the HR transformation strategy IFS has already embarked on, to lead a high-performing global team, delivering progressive HR strategies and initiatives to rapidly grow and scale IFS’s footprint.
“I’m delighted that Helena and Debra are joining IFS at such a pivotal point in its growth journey,” said Mark Moffat IFS CEO. “Helena’s leadership has been instrumental in orchestrating company-wide transformations, developing core technology infrastructures, and implementing robust security measures. Debra is a transformational Human Resources executive with years of global leadership experience in the technology sector, making her an excellent fit for this role. I look forward to the new perspectives and ideas they will both bring to IFS and support our global mission to lead the Industrial AI revolution.”
Nimmo started her career at Nokia in Finland and has since held leadership positions in both customer-facing and internal technology functions at organizations including Symbian, Fujitsu and Thomson Reuters.
“I’m delighted to be joining IFS, the world leader in cloud enterprise software and Industrial AI,” said Nimmo, IFS’s CIO. “I am excited to add my expertise to drive digital innovation and deliver exceptional value to our customers. I have a passion for technology and a commitment to excellence and am eager to contribute to IFS’s continued growth and success.”
Prior to NetApp, McCowan was the CHRO at Equinix the world’s leading global data center and interconnection provider. She has held global executive leadership roles at Avago Technologies (now Broadcom Inc.), Hitachi Data Systems (now Hitachi Vantara), and Telstra Corporation.
“Joining IFS at a time of significant growth globally is a tremendous opportunity,” said Debra McGowan, IFS CHRO. “My mission is to continue to build a conducive environment for diverse, strategically aligned high performing teams to connect and thrive in a fast-paced business and in a dynamic workplace. I look forward to this exciting challenge.”
About IFS
IFS is the world’s leading provider of Industrial AI and enterprise software for hardcore businesses that make, service, and power our planet. Our technology enables businesses which manufacture goods, maintain complex assets, and manage service-focused operations to unlock the transformative power of Industrial AI™ to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.
IFS Cloud is a fully composable AI-powered platform, designed for ultimate flexibility and adaptability to our customers’ specific requirements and business evolution. It spans the needs of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Information Technology Service Management (ITSM), and Field Service Management (FSM). IFS technology leverages AI, machine learning, real-time data and analytics to empower our customers to make informed strategic decisions and excel at their Moment of Service™.
IFS was founded in 1983 by five university friends who pitched a tent outside our first customer’s site to ensure they would be available 24/7 and the needs of the customer would come first. Since then, IFS has grown into a global leader with over 7,000 employees in 90+ countries. Driven by those foundational values of agility, customer-centricity, and trust, IFS is recognized worldwide for delivering value and supporting strategic transformations. We are the most recommended supplier in our sector. Visit ifs.com to learn why.
Contact information:EUROPE / MEA / APJ:Adam GillbeEmail: [email protected] 
NORTH AMERICA / LATAM:Mairi MorganEmail: [email protected] 
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
https://news.cision.com/ifs/r/ifs-strengthens-executive-board-with-cio-and-chro-appointments,c4047765
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