Money Buzz! Europa

Category: Technology

  • XVision scans patients suspected of being infected with COVID-19

    XVision scans patients suspected of being infected with COVID-19

    XVision, a medical platform that analyzes lung radiographs using artificial intelligence, started to be used for the identification of the patients with lung injuries, associated with COVID-19.

    The solution, offered pro-bono, became part of the mobile laboratories for the detection of coronavirus, located in the outdoor spaces of the Institute of Pneumophysiology “Marius Nasta” in Bucharest, respectively of the Emergency Reception Units of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital in Timisoara.

    This new way of medical triage will reduce the risk of contamination of other patients already admitted, but also of the medical staff. In addition, this MedTech solution supports the medical team in managing the extremely high workload during this period.

    Thus, through a partnership facilitated by the Institute of Pneumophysiology “Marius Nasta” in Bucharest, XVision is used to support the triage of patients showing signs of infection with the SARS-COV-2 virus. This hospital unit has two mobile laboratories equipped with X-ray devices for tuberculosis detection. One of the laboratories was sent to the Timișoara County Hospital to facilitate the patients triage process. These mobile units will be used until the end of the pandemic to prioritize patients who require lung X-rays.

    How it works

    The triage system is based on an evaluation score developed by XVision’s radiologists’ team, benchmarked with the scores and standards used globally, at the time being. Based on the algorithm, it describes the similarities between the radiological patterns in the patient’s X-ray and those found in COVID-19 cases.

    As part of the triage, after the X-ray is done in the mobile lab, the XVision application provides a very quick result that is analyzed by the doctors, along with the initial X-ray. Based on it, a decision is made regarding the respective medical case.

    XVision detects signs of pneumonia, even in incipient form, and detects the degree of resemblance to the radiological pattern of pneumonia with that specific to COVID-19.

    The application developed by XVision, is the first of its kind in Romania. It was implemented initially in the Timișoara County Hospital where it helps doctors analyze up to 200 lung X-rays per day, meaning 20% more than in the past.

    Currently, the application generates data related exclusively to the chest area using digital X-rays as basic information. Currently the team is working on developing new algorithms that will be able to analyze chest and cranial CTs.

  • DreamLab, the app to help in the fight against COVID-19

    DreamLab, the app to help in the fight against COVID-19

    • Vodafone Foundation and Imperial College London scientists deploy DreamLab app to speed up coronavirus research;
    • DreamLab uses the processing power of smartphones to help analyse complex data while their owners sleep;
    • Data will help Imperial College London scientists identify existing drugs and food-based molecules with anti-viral properties, ultimately enabling tailored treatments for patients with coronavirus.

    Smartphone users are being encouraged to harness the collective processing power of their mobile phones to help speed up research into treatments for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) using the free DreamLab app. The app is using the common processing power of smartphones to compute complex data much faster than traditionally.

    DreamLab is a specialist app, developed by Vodafone Foundation Australia as an easy way for anyone to support cancer research while their phone is on charge overnight. Today, a new Corona-AI project has launched on the app, which will use the same technology to help in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

    Researchers believe that this work could speed up access to effective drugs and enable tailored treatments against this infectious disease.

    The project is split into two phases:

    1. To identify uses of the existing drugs and food-based molecules with anti-viral properties;
    2. To optimise combinations of these drugs and food molecules with antiviral properties for improved efficiency against coronavirus infections.

    While traditional experimental research and standard research methods could take years to develop, the mobile cloud-based processing approach of DreamLab can drastically reduce the time taken to analyse the huge amount of data that exists.

    A desktop computer running 24-hours a day would take decades to process the data, but a network of 100,000 smartphones running overnight could do the job in just a couple of months.

    The app is available to download now in Romania, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and the UK, with other countries to follow in the coming weeks.

    DreamLab is free to download in the App store for iOS or Play Store for Android. In order for the app to work in Romanian, users must have their phones set in this language previous to the download. One installed, the app will eat into monthly data allowances.

    Vodafone Romania is supporting the DreamLab project by offering free national data for all the Vodafone customers. No personal data is downloaded to or processed from the user’s device.

  • ROinvesting becomes AC Milan official CFD partner

    ROinvesting becomes AC Milan official CFD partner

    ROinvesting, a Cyprus-based CFD trading provider, announced they have sponsored AC Milan, making them their official and exclusive CFD partner.

    ROinvesting is available in multiple languages, including English, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Lithuania, and Russian today. The app offers customer support in all of these languages as well as educational material, like webinars.

    ROinvesting is also accessible to new traders with little-to-no experience, providing tools and resources that make it easy to learn how to trade.

    The minimum deposit mandated for a trading account is $250, with a variety of funding methods provided to clients, including: Klarna, MuchBetter, Neteller, InPay, PaybyBank, Skill, or credit card.

  • Babbel makes language learning free for all U.S. students

    Babbel makes language learning free for all U.S. students

    As schools and universities across the U.S. close, language learning app Babbel is offering all K-12 and college students free access to its app until the end of the term (mid June 2020).

    The move comes after the successful provision of free Babbel to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, and is designed to help students use their time at home productively and maintain cognitive activity.

    With more than 76 million students enrolled in schools and colleges in the U.S. (2018 census data), nationwide closures are likely to have an adverse effect on the learning journey of many children and young adults.

    To mitigate against the impact of closures, Babbel is offering those affected three months access for free to its app and platform, in any and all of its 14 languages offered: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Dutch, Turkish, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Indonesian, and English.

    To receive free three-month access, students (or their parents or guardian) need only apply via this link using their valid school email addresses: https://welcome.babbel.com/en/student-discount/ They will receive a coupon code for 3 free months.

    The Babbel app is available on iOS, Android, and desktop. 

  • Vodafone Romania and UPC finalised the legal merger

    Vodafone Romania and UPC finalised the legal merger

    • The acquisition of UPC is one of the most important transactions within the telecom market in Romania.
    • This process will create an important partner for complete telecommunications services that brings enriched benefits and top products for customers, companies and other socio-economical actors.

    Vodafone Romania announces the finalisation of the legal merger with UPC Romania. As a result of this, UPC Romania ceases to exist as a legal entity, being absorbed by Vodafone.

    Starting today, Vodafone Romania becomes the fixed electronic communications services provider for UPC customers. All rights and obligations UPC Romania S.A. will be taken over by Vodafone Romania S.A., without any modifications of the customers and suppliers contract’s terms.

    Tthe information from www.upc.ro will be available on www.vodafone.ro. Also, the My UPC smartphone app will be renamed in My Vodafone Fix & TV, while all its functionalities and log in customer’s credentials will remain the same.

    The contact phone numbers, 031 100 1000 and 031 100 0872, will continue to be available. The customers that are paying their UPC bills using internet banking services will have to select Vodafone – pentru servicii fixe si TV instead of UPC Romania. The beneficiaries of both fixed & TV from the former UPC company and mobile services from Vodafone will continue to receive separated invoices.

    Regarding the UPC stores, this will be transformed gradually and will incorporate the specifications and functionalities of Vodafone stores. The shops will continue to offer all the services and operations specific for fixed and TV and also specific operations for mobile services.

    Vodafone history in Romania

    Vodafone has a 23 years history in Romania.

    Along its history on the local market, the operator has been investing in innovation, being the first to provide GPRS (2001), then 3G (2005) and 4G services (2012).

    The first Call Center Service (1997), the first corporate foundation (1998), the launch of short message service – SMS – or data and fax services (1998), the first automatic speech recognition service (2014), the first NB-IoT live network (2018) and the first 5G services (2019) are among the premieres marked by Vodafone Romania on the local telecommunications market.

  • Bright Spaces has been selected to join the Pi Labs accelerator in the UK

    Bright Spaces has been selected to join the Pi Labs accelerator in the UK

    • Bright Spaces was chosen alongside 4 other European startups out of a total of over 600 registered teams
    • They will get ready for the next investment round and will have access to strategic mentoring, know-how and investors
    • The acceleration program lasts 15 weeks
    • Bright Spaces develops a digital solution that helps faster leasing of office space and addresses developers or landlords, real estate agencies and tenants

    The Romanian proptech startup Bright Spaces, which develops the complete digital platform for showcasing and offering for office buildings and spaces, has been selected in the proptech (property technology) accelerator Pi Labs in the United Kingdom.

    Pi Labs is the first venture capital firm in Europe to invest exclusively in proptech startups and Europe’s most active investor in the field. Bright Spaces was chosen, along with 4 other European startups, out of a total of over 600 registered teams.

    The Romanian startup will enter a 15-week intensive program, with the objective of developing the product and scaling the company to the size and needs of the European office market.

    As part of the program, Bright Spaces prepares for the next investment round. The core of the program is focused on strategic mentoring, collaboration with the real estate community and the opportunity to develop a network with the wider community of property and proptech, Pi Labs alumni and investors.

    The program will run from March to June and at the end of this period Bright Spaces will have the opportunity to present their products in front of an audience of investors, journalists and industry representatives.

    In the context of the travel and socialization restrictions currently imposed, the program run by Pi Labs this year will be the first to be performed remotely.

    The Bright Spaces platform specs

    • a single information point for agents and potential tenants;
    • the possibility of 3D showcasing the building and the available spaces in a completely digital environment, making it easier for the potential tenants to view the space and to ask for an offer;
    • automatic mapping of all points of interest around the building (public transport, accessibility of city centre, restaurants, hotels, cafes, fitness rooms, etc.);
    • Highlighting the major benefits for potential tenants through personalized metrics on each building and space: Employee Wellbeing Indicator, Team Productivity Indicator, Total Rental Cost;
    • highlighting the differentiators, the special qualities of the building (LEED, WELL standards, building specifications, etc.);
    • faster offer request (100% digitized) both for the agent / broker and for the potential tenant.

    Bright Spaces finalized in September 2019 the pre-seed round worth 185,000 euro for development and implementation, the funds coming from Sparking Capital, as Lead Investor, together with Growceanu Angel Investment and Ilinca Păun.

  • Gumzzz, a Romanian startup, raised an investment of €100.000

    Gumzzz, a Romanian startup, raised an investment of €100.000

    Gumzzz, a Romanian startup, has successfully closed a first round of financing of €100,000. Currently, the Cluj based startup is valued at €1 million.

    Patients who sign up before the 11th of May will receive a free consultation at any of the Romanian partner clinics from cities such as Bucharest, Cluj, Târgu Mureș or Baia Mare.

    Gumzzz will solve problems for patients and dental clinics and dental offices alike, focusing on improving the medical healthcare services selection process, as well as providing dental insurance and financing solutions for patients.

    How Gumzzz work

    Patients will have the possibility to select, for free, the most relevant dental clinic for their needs, based on transparent and validated reviews from other people. Also, the platform allows the patient to interact, in real-time, with the Gumzzz support department or with a designated person from the chosen dental facility. In addition, the platform provides the option to attach documents to be visualized and evaluated by the preferred dentist.

    For clinics, Gumzzz creates a favorable digital context where they can build a relevant virtual presence through the account on the platform. Also, the clinics have the option to interact live with their patients, as well as having a clear overview of the appointments and potential cancellations.

    Moreover, the platform offers a manageable environment where clinics can list their offers being certain that these offers will reach the desired target group who can acquire them directly from the platform.

    In the near future, the company will provide dental insurance and financing services for patients using the services of the clinics listed on the platform. Also, patients will have the option to pay online through the platform or directly to the chosen clinic, thus helping them keep a full overview of costs and dental procedures that can be accessed at any time in the user’s account on the platform.

    Moreover, Gumzzz will offer its users relevant information regarding transportation to and from the desired location and accommodation in the city of choice, including about the tourist attractions in the respective area. Thus, the platform also includes the medical tourism component, and the patients have full control over their medical services, accommodation and transportation.

    Gumzzz is a team of 15 professionals, consisting of programmers, marketing specialists, and dentists. The company is run by Vlad Șuteu, an entrepreneur from Cluj-Napoca with educational and professional experience in scaling companies in the UK and Denmark.

  • Techcelerator continues the acceleration program with nine startups

    Techcelerator continues the acceleration program with nine startups

    Techcelerator launched its fourth batch with 9 startups selected from a number of 250 initial applications, which will benefit from intensive mentoring. The acceleration program will take place exclusively online.

    With projects from areas such as HealthTech, FinTech, legal, electronics, RPA or lead generation for companies, the startups of this batch are:

    – Aggranda – creates software robots that automate repetitive processes within companies. This way, Aggranda helps employees to spend more time dedicated to activities with higher added value, and also helps companies to scale faster.

    – AMSIMCEL develops a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform to accelerate the physical verification stage of integrated circuits. The product targets the manufacturers of integrated circuits (B2B), offering high speed and precise verification that will shorten the development / production cycle.

    – credia.store: a digital consumer credit brokerage platform, available for physical retailers and service providers, which helps increase their sales and offers an additional sales channel for banks and non-banking financial institutions.

    – DATA AGAINST DATA connects personal users with any personal data operator, empowering their choices through technology and increasing the confidence in the data industry through transparency.

    – Lab7 develops SmartCover, an intelligent office chair cushion that monitors the user’s posture and provides directions, in order to take a correct position.

    – OncoChain: innovative blockchain-based platform that facilitates the collection of data useful in research, personalized medicine and patient-centered healthcare in the oncology field.

    – Soleadify: search engine for companies, used by marketing and sales teams to find the ideal customers.

    – Voxi Kids: the first platform that connects speech therapists and children through an application that offers special exercises to improve listening and pronunciation.

    – YeParking: a solution for effectively distributing, renting, monetizing and using the parking infrastructure of a city. This includes residential, commercial or private parking spaces.

    Techcelerator’s strategic partner, GapMinder Venture Partners BV, reserved up to 1 million euros for investments in the 9 companies in exchange for a stake in the company.

    The selected companies have the opportunity to access funds from TechAngels. Based on the partnership between the two entities, GapMinder will participate in any round of investments between 40,000 and 200,000 euros made by TechAngels members with a similar amount.

    GapMinder Venture Partners BV has reached a value of over 40 million euros and has invested in 35 companies so far. The venture capital investment fund is co-financed through the Competitiveness Operational Program 2014-2020, implemented by the European Investment Fund.

  • 74% of companies to increase the investments in technology to improve HR

    74% of companies to increase the investments in technology to improve HR

    Attracting top talent and keep them, developing everyone to reach their potential and improving people’s work experience, primarily by automating tasks, are the main concerns for HR leaders in 2020, according to the global survey PwC Human Resources Technology.

    To solve these challenges, 74% of the respondents intend to increase the investments in technology and 79% plan to use artificial intelligence for HR processes by 2022.

    Asked about what technologies they plan to use, HR leaders mentioned one or more areas of interest: 49% talent acquisition, 48% improved user experience for employees, 46% skills mapping/career path tools, 45% intelligent recruiting, 45% processes automation and 36% tailor learning journeys.

    ”The current generation of HR tech has a solution for every point in the employee journey and to monitor every dimension of work, bringing huge benefits. Though, in a true digital transformation, adoption of emerging technologies is just one part. The bigger goal is developing a workforce and culture open to innovation and change. Thus, the real challenge is the adoption of technologies by employees who must be supported in this endeavor with trainings and other incentives”, said Ionuț Sas, Partner, People and Organisation Leader PwC Romania.

    The survey shows that 82% of the companies say they struggle with adoption challenges when it comes to the technology in their human capital portfolio and they think about strategies of digital upskilling, incentives and gamification, to increase tech adoption rates.

    The global market of HR cloud solutions developed a lot in the last ten years, to a value of USD 148 billion. It’s a segment with many innovative start-ups that are promising to help companies keep up with smart, always-on and connected interactions employees and talent networks expect, according to the report.

    PwC’s Human Resources Technology Survey explores the effectiveness of technology investments from the views of 600 HR leaders on six continents.

  • Health startup MediQuo closes €2M funding round

    Health startup MediQuo closes €2M funding round

    MediQuo secured an investment of 2 million euros at the beginning of January 2020, from several renowned investors from the health sector as well as from various Venture Capital investors and Family Offices, with a track record in the digital health space.

    All existing investors have joined the round. With the new funding round, which includes all current shareholders, MediQuo can continue its momentum as the leading company in the Spanish medical startup sector.

    MediQuo also announces an addition to its management team. Bruno Cuevas will join the company as Co-CEO, along with founder and Co-CEO Dr Guillem Serra. Bruno is the former Vice President of Global Markets at Adevinta/Schibsted, a global group of leading online marketplaces, where he was responsible for an international portfolio of operations in Europe, Asia, Latin America and North Africa.

    He has also been board member in numerous international marketplaces, including Schibsted Spain (Fotocasa, Infojobs, Milanuncios, coches.net, etc.). Before Adevinta, he worked at Groupon and in strategy consulting.

    MediQuo will launch its PRO app

    MediQuo will soon launch its PRO app, which will allow doctors and health professionals to manage consultations online for both their own patients as well as for the users of the app.

    This is in compliance with the European GDPR regulation at all times, thus reinforcing patient and doctor confidentiality.

    With the launch of MediQuo PRO the company aims to reach a total of 14,000 health professionals and to be able to manage 1.5 million patient consultations within the next 15 months.

    This Spanish startup was founded by Guillem Serra, a medical doctor, mathematician, founder and investor in multiple startups, together with Albert Castells and José López, also founders of iSalud.com.

    Since its launch 2 years ago, MediQuo has received 4 million euros in funding. Its app has been installed by nearly 600,000 users and has been able to manage nearly one million medical consultations, multiplying by 10 the sale of premium subscriptions over the last year.

  • Social media and augmented reality, a $13 billion industry

    Social media and augmented reality, a $13 billion industry

    • Augmented reality is changing the way we see the world. 
    • Businesses can use it to promote their brands of social media giants like Facebook and Snap. 
    • For example, Taco Bell just created a Snapchat filter that can turn your face into a taco. 
    • Brick and mortar retailers can use it to try out or “try on” products while browsing on social media platforms. 
    • For example, according to Forbes, a shopper may be able to virtually try on glasses and clothes without having to leave home. 

    By 2022, AR-based advertising could create a $13 billion industry. AR may even help increase impulse buys by making products harder to resist. Such catalysts for growth are creating sizable, exciting opportunity for top companies including NexTech AR Solutions, Alphabet Inc., Facebook Inc., Snap Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. 

    NexTech AR Solutions, the industry leader in augmented reality, announced that it launched its 3D/AR Ad Network which it believes can drive substantial revenue growth in 2020. 

    What makes 3D ads a game changer for the $240 billion online ad market is dramatically improved performance metrics.

    In recent testing, 3D ads outperformed traditional static ads dramatically- showing a 633% increase in sign-up conversions and a 376% increase in click-through rates (Sketchfab reference). 

    Facebook Inc. reported financial results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019.“We had a good quarter and a strong end to the year as our community and business continue to grow,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and CEO. “We remain focused on building services that help people stay connected to those they care about.” 

    Facebook daily active users (DAUs) – DAUs were 1.66 billion on average for December 2019, an increase of 9% year-over-year; Facebook monthly active users (MAUs) – MAUs were 2.50 billion as of December 31, 2019, an increase of 8% year-over-year; Family daily active people (DAP) – DAP was 2.26 billion on average for December 2019, an increase of 11% year-over-year; Capital expenditures including principal payments on finance leases, were $4.24 billion and $15.65 billion for the fourth quarter and full year 2019, respectively. 

    Snap Inc. unveiled Duck Duck by Harmony Korine, an experimental short film shot using Spectacles 3 to explore storytelling in 3D. Released November 2019, Spectacles 3 are equipped with dual HD cameras to capture three-dimensional photos and videos, unlocking the ability to transform Snaps with 3D Effects.

    Best known for Kids, Spring Breakers and most recently, Beach Bum, cult filmmaker Harmony Korine experiments with Spectacles 3 as a cinematic tool, overlaying augmented reality onto three-dimensional scenes for immersive storytelling.

    Using Spectacles 3, Harmony Korine transforms Miami into an unbridled dreamscape of sound and color in Duck Duck — exploring the emerging disciplines of wearable cinema, augmented reality, and immersive, spontaneous storytelling. The film’s hybrid reality is brought to life through 3D Effects developed for the film, which will be available to Spectacles 3 users on Snapchat. 

    Amazon.com Inc. announced financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019. Operating cash flow increased 25% to $38.5 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $30.7 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2018.

    Free cash flow increased to $25.8 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $19.4 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2018. Free cash flow less principal repayments of finance leases and financing obligations increased to $16.2 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $11.6 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2018.

    Free cash flow less equipment finance leases and principal repayments of all other finance leases and financing obligations increased to $12.5 billion for the trailing twelve months, compared with $8.4 billion for the trailing twelve months ended December 31, 2018.

  • Accounting Seed opens a second office in the United Kingdom

    Accounting Seed opens a second office in the United Kingdom

    Accounting Seed opens a second location in Reading, UK, to better serve customers and expand their footprint in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) market.

    Having accomplished double-digit year-over-year growth for the last 10 years, Accounting Seed is both poised for continual growth and able to offer its accounting solution in the EMEA market with features such as multi-currency, multi-entity, and VAT reporting.

    “Now that the key features needed for the EMEA market have been tested and used by the current customer base, we are excited to open a London office and dive deeper into the EMEA market,” said Tony Zorc, founder and chief executive officer.

    Shane Deacon will manage their new office

    The software company hired Shane Deacon, vice president of EMEA, to manage their new office. Deacon brings 14 years of experience in the Salesforce ecosystem, having most recently worked for InvoiceIT/SteelBrick (which is now referred to as Salesforce’s CPQ & Billing) and Kaptio.

    “My goal is to use my knowledge of Salesforce to sell this robust product to organizations that are not only on Salesforce, but also those that don’t realize this kind of transformative accounting technology is out there,” said Deacon.

    In order to support EMEA prospects already in the pipeline for Accounting Seed, Zorc’s goal is to fill the UK office with more solution engineers and account executives in the next 12 months.

    “This new office is key to our ability to service our customers. I cannot wait to bring our product to more companies across the globe and watch as it transforms their businesses for the better,” said Zorc.

    Accounting Seed’s open architecture allows customers to run their accounting their way, a necessity for customers in different industries and countries.