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Acronis starts deployment of data protection technology at Scuderia Toro Rosso

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Acronis, a global leader in hybrid cloud data protection and storage is commencing the implementation of the world’s fastest and most innovative data protection technology into Scuderia Toro Rosso’s IT infrastructure. Acronis and Scuderia Toro Rosso celebrated the occasion with over one hundred partners and IT service providers at the last race of the 2016 Formula 1 racing season in Abu Dhabi.

Scuderia Toro Rosso is currently building a new racing car, the STR12, in order to comply with the new set of technical regulations issued by the Formula 1 governing body, the FIA, earlier this year. While Toro Rosso’s factory has the capacity to design and manufacture most of the new car parts in its factory in Faenza, Italy, time constraints force the production team to outsource some of the manufacturing process to third party providers. This forces Toro Rosso to release parts of its intellectual property to outside vendors, exposing the need for a robust file sharing technology.

Scuderia Toro Rosso will address this need with Acronis Access Advanced. The new way of sharing sensitive data comes with advanced data security and user management features, which includes tracking user behavior and keeping comprehensive file access history.

The process of designing and testing the new car is entirely data driven. Scuderia Toro Rosso generates over 15TB of new data every day — 50 percent more compared to the volume generated only a year ago. This data needs to be stored and protected from tampering. Scuderia Toro Rosso will gradually optimize data storage by deploying Acronis Storage with Acronis Notary blockchain data watermarking mechanism, which will enable the Formula 1 racing team to validate the authenticity of important data in the future.

Scuderia also plans to deploy other data protection technology powered by Acronis Hybrid Cloud architecture. These include Acronis Backup to achieve the world’s fastest backup and restore speed, Acronis Disaster Recovery Service to guarantee business continuity in case of a natural disaster, such as earthquakes, which are frequent in the region where the factory is located, and Acronis Monitoring Service for comprehensive monitoring and rapid resolution of IT incidents.

Scuderia Toro Rosso Team Principal Franz Tost, says, “Acronis came on board in the middle of the season and it didn’t take long for their presence to make itself felt, as far as our IT department is concerned. Not only do we have to ensure that our data is protected and safe, we also want to access any part of it almost immediately in some situations, for example, when it comes to making a snap decision relating to race strategy. As leaders in hybrid cloud data protection, Acronis is able to meet both those requirements and we have already seen the benefits during the second half of the season.”

The partnership also promotes innovation and the delivery of new technologies through Acronis R&D centers in the U.S., Singapore, and Russia. This year Acronis released a number of innovative technologies to support the needs or motorsport teams and always-on businesses. These include Acronis Notary data notarization, Acronis CloudRAID software-define storage redundancy, Acronis Instant Restore data recovery technology, and much more.

“Acronis is delighted so far with the results that the Toro Rosso partnership has generated — it is becoming a win-win situation for both sides. Racing teams are extremely efficient in using the collected data for rapid innovation and developing new technology. Here at Acronis we do the same. This partnership has created a synergy that is beneficial not only for the racing industry, but for the entire business world that depends on data,” said Serguei Beloussov, Acronis’ Founder and CEO.

Acronis Technology has had some significant successes in the region’s market of late, providing simplified data storage and data protection for all businesses, which, like Scuderia Toro Rosso, rely on data availability.
For example, Belhasa, Dubai-based international consortium that has over 8,000 employees in 40 different locations in the Middle East, selected Acronis technology to protect a vast network of Windows servers and workstations.

“Acronis has cleverly solved the major pain points of managing our valuable, complex and distributed volume of data,” said Syed Abbas, Group Senior Systems Engineer with Belhasa International Company. “We can say with confidence that this backup solution gave us the best flexibility, with the lowest cost footprint on our existing platforms,” he added.

Acronis has embraced the Formula 1 values through its entire portfolio of solutions, which include the following products for consumers and service providers:
• Acronis True Image — #1 Personal Backup
• Acronis Backup 12 — #1 SMB Backup
• Acronis Backup Cloud — #1 Cloud Backup
• Acronis Storage — #1 Software Defined Storage

According to the vendor, the partnership with Scuderia Toro Rosso has already proved to be beneficial for partners and service providers using these products. In just five months since the beginning of this partnership, Acronis has hosted over 1,000 guests at the Acronis Racing Weekends with Scuderia Toro Rosso around the world. Following the races, Acronis partners reported increased interest in Acronis products, and improved sales.

This has also resulted in 50% Acronis partner growth globally, compared to the same period prior to the sponsorship. This includes new partnerships with Synapsys Systems and Innovix Distribution, key Cloud Service Providers in the African Region and Southeast Asia respectively.
In the APAC region, Acronis Cloud Business has grown over 50% YoY in 2016, currently amounting for over 20% of total revenue. From a Middle East and Africa regional standpoint, Acronis has seen its Cloud Business grow by 50% YoY in 2016 with consistent growth of enterprise and consumer backup products.

According to Gartner, public cloud services in the Middle East and North Africa region is forecasted to reach $880 million in 2016, an 18.3% growth compared to the year before.

According to the vendor, its new Hybrid Cloud Architecture is specifically designed to help partners and customer take control over their data, and Acronis has allocated sufficient local resources in every region, to support the market growth.

Financial

SemanticPay: Pioneering Seamless AI Transactions for the Agent Economy

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SemanticPay

A cutting-edge AI startup emerges from stealth, announcing the launch of SemanticPay, a groundbreaking solution designed to power the emerging AI agent economy. SemanticPay is set to become the essential infrastructure that enables AI-powered agents to seamlessly transact and create value in the digital world. Developed by a team of AI, FinTech, and Web3 experts, SemanticPay will establish the monetization layer necessary to support autonomous AI agents, positioning itself as the first mover in this transformative space.

The rapid evolution of AI, decreasing compute costs and breakthroughs in AI models like DeepSeek R-1 are democratizing access to powerful AI leading to the proliferation of autonomous “AI agents” – intelligent systems capable of executing complex tasks, optimizing workflows, and unlocking new revenue streams. However, the current internet infrastructure, designed for human interactions, presents significant challenges for AI agents to transact seamlessly. “The internet was built by humans for humans, not agents,” says one of the co-founders of SemanticPay. Challenges arise such as compatibility issues with human-centric systems, regulatory uncertainty that slows adoption rate, restrictive firewalls that misidentify agents as bots, and outdated monetization models not suited for microtransactions.

This is where SemanticPay steps in – building the “Visa for AI” – a comprehensive platform that addresses these challenges and empowers AI agents to become full participants in the digital economy. SemanticPay builds a robust transaction infrastructure that allows AI agents to securely interact, access services, and engage in economic activity. By developing a specialized infrastructure, they will eliminate these constraints and unlock new opportunities for an AI-powered economy.

Key Features of SemanticPay Include:

  • Access: SemanticPay’s Agentic API layer ensures that AI agents can access web services and data sources seamlessly, unlocking new opportunities for interaction and information retrieval.
  • Identity: Traditional internet structures often categorize AI agents as bots, blocking their ability to perform legitimate tasks. Through Agent ID and “Know Your Agent” (KYA) protocols, SemanticPay establishes a secure, compliant framework for transactions, building trust and ensuring regulatory adherence.
  • Payment: The platform will offer optimized payment rails, supporting fiat currencies, stablecoins, and cryptocurrencies for high-frequency, low-value transactions crucial to the AI agent economy.
  • Empowerment: Value-added services such as data analytics, decision-making tools, and access to specialized AI models will enhance the capabilities of AI agents, driving efficiency and growth.

Rooted in the GCC, SemanticPay aims to scale globally, with its team currently having a presence in APAC and Europe. They are building the foundation for a new AI-powered economy that bridges the gap between web operators and AI agent builders – paving the way for a future where these intelligent agents play a vital role in our digital world, driving innovation and creating value for all stakeholders.

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Hasnae Taleb and Jeff Ransdell to Drive Innovation in UAE with a $45 Million to Support UAE Startups

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Mintiply & Fuel Venture

Jeff Ransdell, Managing Director and Founding Partner of Fuel Venture Capital, and Hasnae Taleb, Managing Partner of Mintiply Capital, are making waves in the UAE investment landscape by introducing a $300 million vintage fund. This ambitious initiative dedicates $45 million specifically to fuel the growth of startups within the GCC region. The fund is strategically structured to offer regional investors a rare opportunity to capture exponential returns by backing high-growth ventures before they reach public markets.

The collaboration between Mintiply Capital and Fuel Venture Capital takes the form of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), leveraging both firms’ unmatched expertise in capital markets and venture investments. With decades of collective experience, Ransdell and Taleb are uniquely positioned to guide companies through the critical phases of growth, scaling, and eventual public listings. Their shared vision is built on the understanding that private market investments in pre-IPO companies have the potential to generate immediate returns of up to 200% from day one, presenting a transformative proposition for investors across the UAE and broader GCC region.

The vintage fund provides access to an elite portfolio of high-potential startups backed by Fuel Venture Capital. Notable names include:

            •           Betr – A disruptive sports betting platform co-founded by Jake Paul, integrating real-time engagement with microbetting.

            •           Curve – A fintech innovator providing a single card that aggregates all financial accounts into one seamless experience.

            •           CookUnity – A chef-to-consumer platform redefining meal delivery with curated, gourmet-quality meals.

            •           Novopayment – A fintech infrastructure company driving digital payments innovation across the Americas.

            •           Aexlab – A pioneer in virtual reality gaming and social engagement technologies.

These companies are not just building market-leading products; they are poised to reshape industries and create outsized investment returns when they enter the public markets.

Jeff Ransdell and Hasnae Taleb believe in creating pathways for local investors to participate in the most promising global opportunities. This vintage fund provides GCC-based investors exclusive pre-market access to disruptive businesses that would otherwise remain out of reach until a much later stage.

Jeff Ransdell, founder of Fuel Venture Capital, brings a remarkable career spanning decades in public markets. As a former Managing Director at Merrill Lynch, he led a team responsible for managing a staggering $130 billion in assets for some of the world’s most influential investors. His deep understanding of capital markets, asset management, and scaling high-growth companies provides him with a unique ability to identify and nurture disruptive startups poised for exponential success.

Hasnae Taleb shattered barriers as the youngest equity trader on Wall Street and the first Arab African woman to achieve such recognition in global capital markets. Known for her sharp analytical mind and fearless decision-making, Taleb earned the nickname “Shewolf of Nasdaq” for her unparalleled ability and navigate high-stakes trading scenarios with precision. Now, as Managing Partner of Mintiply Capital, she leverages her expertise in trading, equity markets, and entrepreneurship to build ecosystems that empower innovators and investors alike.

“Both Jeff and I understand what it takes to list companies and the immense value creation that occurs before a company goes public,” said Hasnae Taleb. “We are bringing this opportunity to investors in the region to give them access to exceptional returns and a strategic advantage over traditional investment avenues.”

Jeff Ransdell added, “The GCC market is evolving rapidly, and there’s a growing appetite for sophisticated investment vehicles. This fund delivers exactly that — it empowers investors to support transformative businesses while capturing the kind of returns typically reserved for institutional players.”

The introduction of this vintage fund and the strategic partnership between Mintiply Capital and Fuel Venture Capital reflect a shared commitment to enhancing the financial ecosystem in the UAE and KSA. By supporting visionary entrepreneurs and scaling innovative businesses, the duo aims to foster sustainable economic growth and establish the region as a hub for entrepreneurial excellence and venture capital success.

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SEE Holding and Arabian Gulf Steel Industries Forge Partnership to Advance Sustainable Construction Practices

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SEE Holding & AGSI

SEE Holding, the parent company behind The Sustainable City brand, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Arabian Gulf Steel Industries (AGSI), marking a significant step towards advancing sustainable construction practices in the region. The partnership will prioritize the integration of low carbon steel in future projects, reinforcing SEE Holding’s commitment to selecting sustainable materials to achieve its net zero ambitions. Additionally, both entities will explore opportunities to promote circular economy practices, focusing on recycling and repurposing steel products to minimize waste and environmental impact.

The MoU signing ceremony was held at SEE Institute, SEE Holding’s knowledge partner and the region’s first operational net zero emissions building, underscoring a shared commitment to environmental responsibility.

Faris Saeed, Chairman & CEO of SEE Holding, stated: “Achieving net zero emissions requires a holistic commitment to reducing both embodied and operational emissions across every facet of the built environment. Our partnership with Arabian Gulf Steel Industries reaffirms our dedication to selecting materials that align with our net zero strategy while driving innovation in sustainable cities and communities. Through this collaboration, we aim to inspire transformative change in net zero construction practices across the region, redefining how sustainable infrastructure and cities are designed and built.” The collaboration extends beyond material selection, focusing on research and development (R&D) to innovate and refine techniques that enhance the adoption of low carbon steel in construction processes. Both parties will work together to develop new methodologies that optimize energy efficiency and reduce embodied emissions in building projects.

Asam Hussain, the AGSI’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “The partnership with SEE Holding represents a significant step forward by driving sustainable transformation in construction practices in the UAE. Our collaboration will ensure that we structurally embed demand for low-carbon materials to seize the opportunity of accelerating decarbonization of the hard-to-abate sector. Together, we are advancing environmental sustainability and driving positive economic and social impact.”

AGSI is the World’s first Carbon Neutral Steel Plant and Low Carbon Steel Manufacturing Facility based in the UAE. The company is pioneering low carbon products play a critical role in decarbonizing not only the steel industry but also the built environment. By incorporating 100% recycled low carbon steel SEE Holding aims to significantly reduce embodied emissions while maintaining the highest standards of durability and strength required for modern construction. AGSI’s state-of-the-art facilities are designed to minimize waste and energy consumption, aligning seamlessly with SEE Holding’s ethos of responsible urban development.

AGSI has also signed the Memorandum of Understanding with SEE Institute with a shared vision of advancing knowledge. Both companies will work together to introduce training programs targeted at architects, engineers, and construction professionals to raise awareness of low carbon steel benefits and foster its adoption across the sector. The partnership will also prioritize performance monitoring, implementing robust reporting mechanisms to track environmental impact, measure emission reductions, and enhance project transparency.

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