Latest news with #Assaf
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Novisto helps companies track their sustainability efforts. Check out the 17-slide deck it used to raise a $27 million Series C.
Novisto has secured $27 million in Series C funding to expand its corporate ESG tracking platform. The platform automates sustainability data management, working with companies like Meta and Sanofi. Check out the 17-slide pitch deck the startup used to secure the fresh funding. A startup that's helping companies track their ESG efforts has just secured a $27 million Series C. Canadian startup Novisto, launched in 2019, offers a software platform for clients to monitor and measure their sustainability impacts. "We have an accounting-like platform for broader sustainability-related data for corporates," cofounder and CEO Charles Assaf told Business Insider. "What is unique about that platform is that it becomes the system of records that really drives not just the reporting and the disclosure exercise, but also the broader management of the sustainability functions," he added. Novisto's platform automates the collection and management of a company's sustainability data — a task that can otherwise be time-consuming if done manually. It then compares a company's ESG efforts according to industry benchmarks and outlines how well itis doing in relation to its competitors, for example. "When your board is requesting specific targets to be tracked, these targets can't sit in an Excel sheet — they have to sit in a system of record that ensures the auditability of that information," Assaf said. "So a lot of companies have proceeded with externally assuring their ESG reports, and we have a mechanism to support this." As an enterprise software startup, Novisto makes its money by charging a monthly subscription fee to clients. Customers include the likes of Meta, JetBlue, and pharma giant Sanofi, among other conglomerates and blue-chip companies. Amid fluctuating attitudes toward ESG policy globally, fueled in part by a change in the US administration, climate tech startups have been facing more headwinds while fundraising. As a result, startups in the sustainability sector have found more opportunities to expand in Europe, where there are more stringent guidelines for ESG reporting. The Series C was led by Inovia Capital, with participation from all previous investors, including White Star Capital, SCOR Ventures, and Sagard. This brings the startup's total funding to $55 million. With the cash injection, Novisto will grow its team in Europe. Check out the pitch deck used to secure the fresh funding. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Novisto helps companies track their sustainability efforts. Check out the 17-slide deck it used to raise a $27 million Series C.
Novisto has secured $27 million in Series C funding to expand its corporate ESG tracking platform. The platform automates sustainability data management, working with companies like Meta and Sanofi. Check out the 17-slide pitch deck the startup used to secure the fresh funding. A startup that's helping companies track their ESG efforts has just secured a $27 million Series C. Canadian startup Novisto, launched in 2019, offers a software platform for clients to monitor and measure their sustainability impacts. "We have an accounting-like platform for broader sustainability-related data for corporates," cofounder and CEO Charles Assaf told Business Insider. "What is unique about that platform is that it becomes the system of records that really drives not just the reporting and the disclosure exercise, but also the broader management of the sustainability functions," he added. Novisto's platform automates the collection and management of a company's sustainability data — a task that can otherwise be time-consuming if done manually. It then compares a company's ESG efforts according to industry benchmarks and outlines how well itis doing in relation to its competitors, for example. "When your board is requesting specific targets to be tracked, these targets can't sit in an Excel sheet — they have to sit in a system of record that ensures the auditability of that information," Assaf said. "So a lot of companies have proceeded with externally assuring their ESG reports, and we have a mechanism to support this." As an enterprise software startup, Novisto makes its money by charging a monthly subscription fee to clients. Customers include the likes of Meta, JetBlue, and pharma giant Sanofi, among other conglomerates and blue-chip companies. Amid fluctuating attitudes toward ESG policy globally, fueled in part by a change in the US administration, climate tech startups have been facing more headwinds while fundraising. As a result, startups in the sustainability sector have found more opportunities to expand in Europe, where there are more stringent guidelines for ESG reporting. The Series C was led by Inovia Capital, with participation from all previous investors, including White Star Capital, SCOR Ventures, and Sagard. This brings the startup's total funding to $55 million. With the cash injection, Novisto will grow its team in Europe. Check out the pitch deck used to secure the fresh funding.
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Review: Watching ‘Hobal' at the Saudi Film Festival was an immersive experience
DHAHRAN: Watching 'Hobal' at the 11th Saudi Film Festival, hosted at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, was cathartic. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ The setting in which the film was screened was significant. The cinema is close to Ithra's Energy Exhibit, which allows visitors to explore the journey behind oil extraction and energy resources in the Kingdom on the very land where black gold was first discovered in 1938. Attentive faces, bathed in the glowing light of the screen sat with popcorn-scented hands. Together, we embarked on a journey — both collective and deeply personal — without moving an inch. 'Hobal' tells the story of a Bedouin family, set in the early 1990s, living in extreme isolation, led by a paranoid patriarch (Ibrahim Al-Hasawi) who believes the end of times is near, and strongly forbids anyone from his family to venture into town. The title, 'Hobal,' is apt. It references a pre-Islamic figure whose word became gospel, offering deeper layers to the film's exploration of power and belief. The family's situation intensifies when Rifa (Amal Sami), the teen girl, falls gravely ill with a highly contagious case of measles and is forced to isolate even further in a tent alone. Her anguished mother (Mila Al-Zahrani) is consumed with worry, but the men, under the strict guidance of the patriarch, refuse to leave the desert to seek medical help. The women — and young teen boy, Assaf — are confronted with a dilemma: Survival or obedience. With the hissing desert winds, surrounded by stubborn tents and the suffocating grip of impending grief and unearthed betrayal, the question arises: Will they stay or will they go? The film's cinematography is a standout. One particularly stunning shot lingers — a mirror leaning into the sand, reflecting Rifa and Assaf in deep conversation seemingly side-by-side but while apart. The desert engulfs them but they seem grounded. It is shatteringly beautiful. The wisest figures seem to be the youngest. Set against the backdrop of the Gulf War, the real battles feel internal. What made watching 'Hobal' even more powerful was experiencing it in a Saudi cinema — not too far, geographically, from where the Gulf War broke out, knowing this was a story entirely brought to life by local talent. There is also a strong Ithra connection. The film was written by Mufarrij Almajfel, who also wrote the award-winning 2023 Ithra film 'Hajjan' (about camels), which also starred Al-Hasawi — honored at this year's festival for his remarkable career. Camels, the symbolic 'ships of the desert,' make several meaningful appearances here too, helping to move the story along. Directed by Abdulaziz Alshlahei and produced by Sharif Almajali (along with Alshlahei and Mohammed Al-Turki as executive producers), 'Hobal' is a collaborative effort between Shaf Studios, Film Clinic and Peninsula Pictures Group. The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah and was released in cinemas across the Kingdom in early 2025. Since then, 'Hobal' has grossed an impressive SR21.6 million (about $5.8 million) in its first month, quickly becoming the fastest-growing box office hit in Saudi cinematic history. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Most Retirees Saved Enough for a Comfortable Retirement: 9 Lessons Pre-Retirees Can Learn
Despite major challenges including a pandemic, market volatility and rising costs, most recent retirees feel good about their current financial situations. According to the latest Fidelity Investments State of Retirement Planning study, 72% of recent retirees said their retirement is going as planned, and 70% said they have saved and planned appropriately for a comfortable retirement. Find Out: Read Next: Pre-retirees are not feeling as optimistic, however. According to the report, 62% of Americans in their retirement planning years are uncertain whether their retirement savings will last forever. Here's a closer look at the possible reason for this generational divide, plus, what pre-retirees can learn from current retirees. The report found that most current retirees believe they have saved enough for a comfortable retirement, while the majority of those in the planning stages believe they will run out of money in retirement. 'The optimism many current retirees feel can be attributed to the fact that a majority of them have access to multiple sources of predictable retirement income, like pensions and Social Security,' said Rita Assaf, VP of retirement products at Fidelity. 'This helps make budgeting for things like housing and food a lot simpler, since their living necessities are covered by a fixed stream of retirement income each month.' Many current retirees can cover all their needs with pensions and Social Security, allowing for wiggle room in their budgets. 'Their retirement savings can be used for their discretionary expenses — those 'nice to haves' that so many envision during their golden years — like travel and hobbies,' Assaf said. Learn More: While current retirees may have a financial leg up over future generations who may not have access to the same guaranteed income sources, there are still some valuable lessons pre-retirees can learn from this generation. According to Assaf, 'Our study finds the top pieces of advice retirees have for people who are starting their retirement [preparation] include: Starting to save as early as possible, even in small amounts Taking advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k) [plans] Paying down high-interest debt before focusing heavily on retirement savings Making sure you are educated on Social Security and retirement benefits in general.' Retirees also offered advice specifically those who are nearing retirement age. 'For those just five to 10 years out from retirement, retirees say some of the best actions you can take include: Paying off any remaining debts, like mortgages and credit cards Maximizing contributions to retirement accounts Leveraging catch-up contributions when possible Planning for healthcare costs, including Medicare and long-term care Practicing living on a retirement budget to prepare yourself for a reduced retirement income.' More From GOBankingRates 5 Types of Vehicles Retirees Should Stay Away From Buying 5 Cities You Need To Consider If You're Retiring in 2025 4 Things You Should Do if You Want To Retire Early Here's the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper Class in 2025 This article originally appeared on Most Retirees Saved Enough for a Comfortable Retirement: 9 Lessons Pre-Retirees Can Learn Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Most Retirees Saved Enough for a Comfortable Retirement: 9 Lessons Pre-Retirees Can Learn
Despite major challenges including a pandemic, market volatility and rising costs, most recent retirees feel good about their current financial situations. According to the latest Fidelity Investments State of Retirement Planning study, 72% of recent retirees said their retirement is going as planned, and 70% said they have saved and planned appropriately for a comfortable retirement. Find Out: Read Next: Pre-retirees are not feeling as optimistic, however. According to the report, 62% of Americans in their retirement planning years are uncertain whether their retirement savings will last forever. Here's a closer look at the possible reason for this generational divide, plus, what pre-retirees can learn from current retirees. The report found that most current retirees believe they have saved enough for a comfortable retirement, while the majority of those in the planning stages believe they will run out of money in retirement. 'The optimism many current retirees feel can be attributed to the fact that a majority of them have access to multiple sources of predictable retirement income, like pensions and Social Security,' said Rita Assaf, VP of retirement products at Fidelity. 'This helps make budgeting for things like housing and food a lot simpler, since their living necessities are covered by a fixed stream of retirement income each month.' Many current retirees can cover all their needs with pensions and Social Security, allowing for wiggle room in their budgets. 'Their retirement savings can be used for their discretionary expenses — those 'nice to haves' that so many envision during their golden years — like travel and hobbies,' Assaf said. Learn More: While current retirees may have a financial leg up over future generations who may not have access to the same guaranteed income sources, there are still some valuable lessons pre-retirees can learn from this generation. According to Assaf, 'Our study finds the top pieces of advice retirees have for people who are starting their retirement [preparation] include: Starting to save as early as possible, even in small amounts Taking advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k) [plans] Paying down high-interest debt before focusing heavily on retirement savings Making sure you are educated on Social Security and retirement benefits in general.' Retirees also offered advice specifically those who are nearing retirement age. 'For those just five to 10 years out from retirement, retirees say some of the best actions you can take include: Paying off any remaining debts, like mortgages and credit cards Maximizing contributions to retirement accounts Leveraging catch-up contributions when possible Planning for healthcare costs, including Medicare and long-term care Practicing living on a retirement budget to prepare yourself for a reduced retirement income.' More From GOBankingRates 5 Types of Vehicles Retirees Should Stay Away From Buying 5 Cities You Need To Consider If You're Retiring in 2025 4 Things You Should Do if You Want To Retire Early Here's the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper Class in 2025 This article originally appeared on Most Retirees Saved Enough for a Comfortable Retirement: 9 Lessons Pre-Retirees Can Learn Sign in to access your portfolio
