Latest news with #Aleph
Finextra
5 days ago
- Business
- Finextra
Storonsky-founded fund Quantumlight raises $250m for AI-guided investments
QuantumLight, a quantitative venture capital firm founded by Revolut's Nik Storonsky has closd on a $250 million fund for backing founders across AI, Web3, Fintech, SaaS and Healthtech. 0 The $250 million Fund I, which closed at hard cap, is backed by a global group of top-tier LPs, including billionaire tech founders and prominent institutions. Since launching in 2022, all 17 of the company's deals to date have been recommended by its proprietary AI model. Speaking to Sifted, CEO Ilya Kondrashov, says: 'We just believe that machines are able to do it better. Not only do they have perfect memories, they are also not swayed by emotion, by fear of missing out on a certain hyped deal.' The Fund's proprietary AI model, Aleph, is purpose-built to identify outlier growth-stage companies. Says Storonsky: 'Our ambition is to build the world's best systematic venture capital and growth equity firm - and support the new generation of founders by sharing some of the operating principles that we developed at Revolut.' This includes the launch of playbooks for portfolio companies to learn from the success of Revolut in hiring top talent and driving high-performance companies. Says Kondrashov: 'Our goal is to make the invisible operating systems behind iconic companies like Revolut visible and replicable. Founders shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to building high-performing teams. By sharing these tools and frameworks, we're helping scale-ups move faster from day one.'
Evening Standard
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Natalie Portman says the size of her baby bump was mocked at the 2011 Oscars
The Black Swan actress, 43, won an Oscar at the ceremony for her role in the film - but she says people were remarking on the size of her bump while she was expecting her first child, Aleph.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Natalie Portman admits she found it 'hard' attending the 2011 Oscars pregnant because 'fellow stars mocked the size of her bump'
Natalie Portman has admitted she found it 'hard' attending the 2011 Oscars pregnant because fellow stars mocked the size of her bump. The American actress, 43, who was pregnant with her first child Aleph, now 13, shared the sad and offensive reason during an appearance on Nick Grimshaw & Angela Hartnett's Dish from Waitrose podcast. Natalie said she had people come up to her inside the ceremony saying she 'looked like she was about to pop' despite only being four months pregnant. The A-list, who won Best Actress that year for her role in Black Swan, explained: 'I was so big, like everyone was like, "Oh, you're gonna pop", like, and I was like, "I'm four months pregnant". 'Like everyone was like, "You must be giving birth tomorrow! Hope it doesn't happen on the red carpet", I was like, "I got five more months to go!" From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Um… yeah, so I was probably the only actress eating my way to the, to the Oscars', she added. Laughing off the memory, Natalie said she equally found it difficult being sober at the award ceremony while being surrounded by everyone drinking. She quipped: 'I was pregnant when I went through that award season, so I couldn't drink at all during like all of those events [laughs]. Which was hard. 'It's a lot of stress. It's a lot of attention. And I was sober while everyone else was not.' Natalie shares her two children Aleph and Amalia, seven, with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied, 47. The actress and the choreographer, who wed in 2012, started dating after they met on the set of Black Swan in 2009 and announced they were engaged the following year. They finalised their divorce in February 2024 after amid reports from Page Six he had allegedly cheated on her with a then-25-year-old woman named Camille Étienne. Natalie is reportedly not 'surprised' her ex-husband Benjamin started a new romance 'pretty quickly' after their divorce. A source shared how she is feeling after he was snapped kissing a mystery woman. The insider told Us Weekly: 'Natalie isn't surprised that Benjamin has moved on because of how their relationship ended. She thought he'd move on pretty quickly.(Natalie) hopes Benjamin is happy.' Another insider told the publication: 'Benjamin's dating life doesn't really have any bearing on Natalie. 'She's super happy in her life right now and has been prioritizing family and friends.' And yet another source told Page Six: 'Natalie doesn't really care who Benjamin is dating. She moved on a long time ago.' Natalie is set to star in the upcoming film Fountain of Youth opposite John Krasinski. The Apple TV+ feature follows two estranged siblings reuniting in search of the mythical source of eternal life and will be released on May 23. Meanwhile, The Gallerist does not yet have a confirmed release date. When asked what excites her most at this stage in life, Natalie said: 'My kids are always a source of excitement, because you just see them develop into the individuals they are. 'And also, I've been spending a lot of time with my friends, with their kids and my kids; that's pretty fun.' She also said her films are 'usually not appropriate' for her children. The Oscar-winning actress loves that her children will actually get to watch The Fountain Of Youth The star told Extra: 'They have not seen it yet and I can't wait to show it to them because A, I like never get to show my kids my movies because they're usually not appropriate, and then B, it's so fun. 'I think they're gonna have the best time watching it.' Natalie also relished the experience of working alongside John, describing him as a 'great actor'. The celebrity duo have actually known each other since they were children, and Natalie loved being reunited with her showbiz pal. She said: 'I get John Krasinski as my brother, who's, like, the greatest and so funny and such a great actor. 'I think it's so fun to have a brother-sister relationship at the centre of the film. I think it's quite unusual in this kind of adventure and makes sense for 'Fountain of Youth' to be with someone that has known you since you're a child.' Dish from Waitrose is available on all podcast providers.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Natalie Portman 'lost' an iconic hair prop she took from 'Star Wars' set
Actress revealed she took a hair memento from ' ' at the end of filming 20 years ago. The 43-year-old actress, who played in the space saga's prequel trilogy between 1999 and 2005, said she took a piece of hair belonging to co-star when filming wrapped on ' ' as a souvenir two decades ago, but she has no clue where it is anymore. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During an interview with UK TV show 'This Morning' on ITV, she said: "I took one of the Anakin braids at the end of shooting... They were all clip-on things, and there were many of them obviously, because they had to do it every day. "So, I took one them - but I don;t have it anymore. I lost it... I shouldn't even have admitted that!" Portman also confirmed she would gladly return to the 'Star Wars'. which is still expanding on Disney+ and the big screen, although there have been no talks yet, reports She added: "Sure! No one's asked me, so I don't wanna start any rumours! I'm open to all of it, yeah!" Portman, who has son Aleph, 13, and daughter Amalia, eight, with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied, said her children are the "main" inspiration behind any projects she takes on at this stage of her career. She said: "Oh, one hundred percent! It's a main, main driver of my decisions." Portman's latest film is "Fountain of Youth" a heist action adventure film directed by Guy Ritchie. It stars John Krasinski, Eiza Gonzalez, Domhnall Gleeson, Arian Moayed, Laz Alonso, Carmen Ejogo, and Stanley Tucci. The plot follows a pair of estranged siblings who team up and embark on a journey to find the famed Fountain of Youth.
Business Insider
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana ranks 10th in Africa's hotel devt
Africa's hospitality sector is witnessing a significant upswing in hotel construction, with 577 projects comprising 104,444 rooms currently underway as of the first quarter of 2025. Africa is experiencing a significant rise in hotel construction projects, with 577 projects comprising 104,444 rooms in progress by Q1 2025. The growth rate of these developments increased by 13.3% year over year, demonstrating robust activity in the hospitality industry. These trends showcase growing international confidence and demand in Africa's hospitality market, particularly in regions like North Africa and Western Africa. This marks a 13.3% increase compared to the same period last year, according to a new industry report. Here is the rewritten and paraphrased version of your story in British English, with corrected grammar, italicised quotes, and subheadings: Africa's Top 10 Countries Driving Hotel Development in Early 2025 10. Ghana Ghana ranks tenth in Africa's hotel development pipeline with 22 projects totalling 3,125 rooms, of which 68.9% are under construction. The majority of these developments are centred in the capital, Accra, where global hotel giants Hilton and Marriott International dominate the market. Emerging players such as Aleph, Eurostars, Index, and CityBlue are also expanding their footprint, with a Radisson Individuals property currently being built. Ghana's appeal continues to rise as it becomes a favoured hub for business and tourism. 9. Tanzania Tanzania takes the ninth spot with 29 hotel projects and 3,432 rooms, although only 37.9% are under active construction. Zanzibar stands out as the primary development zone, with ten resort openings scheduled between 2025 and 2026. The island is attracting a mix of midscale and luxury brands, including Moxy, Protea, Anantara, Four Seasons, and Ritz-Carlton, positioning it as a growing regional tourism hotspot. 8. South Africa With 28 hotel developments and 4,076 rooms, South Africa ranks eighth. Of these, 64.3% are already under construction. The country continues to see consistent investment across its major cities, maintaining its position as a key hospitality destination on the continent. 7. Tunisia Tunisia comes in seventh with 17 hotel projects comprising 4,336 rooms, 66.1% of which are currently being built. Although the overall number of projects is modest, the high construction rate indicates serious commitment to growing the nation's coastal tourism infrastructure along the Mediterranean. 6. Kenya Kenya holds sixth place with 26 projects and 4,344 rooms, with 62.8% already under construction. The country continues to attract significant investment in both city and resort areas, spurred by a robust tourism sector. Many of these hotels are expected to open in the next few years, signalling a strong pipeline and sustained growth in Kenya's hospitality industry. 5. Cape Verde Cape Verde ranks fifth with only 16 hotel projects but an impressive 5,565 rooms. Just 37% are under construction. The standout feature is the average size of its resorts—348 rooms—nearly double the African average, with a clear focus on European beachfront tourism. Boa Vista is the epicentre of activity, home to three of Africa's ten largest hotel pipeline projects, including Meliá's enormous 835-room White Sands Resort. The pipeline includes large-scale developments by Hilton, Meliá, TUI, and Marriott. However, only one resort—TUI's 595-room Magic Life—is expected to open in 2025. 4. Ethiopia Ethiopia ranks fourth with 33 hotel projects and 5,648 rooms, a staggering 83.8% of which are under construction. Addis Ababa, known as Africa's diplomatic capital, hosts most of these projects, including 19 properties. Leading the city's development are Marriott (six hotels), Accor, Radisson, and The Ascott, each with three properties. Fifteen of the hotels are set to open between 2025 and 2026, potentially placing pressure on occupancy rates if all open as planned. 3. Nigeria Nigeria is third with 48 hotel projects totalling 7,320 rooms. However, only 39% of these are under construction, indicating slower progress. The country slipped behind Morocco due to fewer new deals in 2024. Lagos leads the market with eight Marriott hotels (1,228 rooms), followed by Accor, Radisson, Wyndham, and Hilton. Abuja, the capital, has 14 planned projects, mostly from Marriott and Radisson, but nine remain in pre-planning stages. No new openings are expected in 2025. 2. Morocco Morocco climbed to second place with 58 projects and 8,579 rooms, with 72.4% under construction. The country outpaced Nigeria after securing 13 new deals in 2024 and achieving a 50% opening rate among scheduled projects. Casablanca holds about one-third of the national pipeline, with 60% of its rooms expected to open by 2026. The city is welcoming several brand firsts, including Accor's Mama Shelter, Marriott's Moxy, and Eurostars' African debut. Five new hotel openings are planned for 2025. 1. Egypt Egypt leads the continent with 143 projects totalling 33,926 rooms—representing 32.5% of all rooms under development in Africa. Despite this, only three of 12 scheduled hotel openings occurred in 2024. A significant 154 are projected for 2025. Greater Cairo accounts for 17% of the continent's total pipeline, led by development in New Cairo. Accor, Marriott, Hilton, and IHG are major players, collectively responsible for 14,630 rooms. Approximately 30% of Cairo's hotel projects are slated to open by 2026.
