Latest news with #Fairground
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Xumo CEO's AI-Powered Fairground Raises $4M, Debuts Dracula And Robin Hood Shows With Viant And Myspace Founder Support
A new player in AI entertainment is stepping into the spotlight, and it's already making bold moves. Colin Petrie-Norris, the former CEO and co-founder of Xumo who helped pioneer the free, ad-supported television movement, is now betting on the future of AI-generated television with his latest venture, Fairground Entertainment, according to Variety. The startup, based in Laguna Beach, California, has raised $4 million in seed funding. The round was led by Viant Technology (NASDAQ:DSP), a programmatic advertising firm that originally co-founded Xumo alongside Panasonic. The move extends a longstanding partnership between Petrie-Norris and Viant CEO and co-founder Tim Vanderhook, who previously served as CEO of Myspace, Variety reports. Don't Miss: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Fairground aims to create and distribute TV series entirely generated with AI tools, with a special focus on animation, sci-fi, horror, and kids' content. According to Variety, the first slate of original programming is set to launch in the third quarter of this year. Among the debut titles are reimagined versions of public domain classics like Dracula and Robin Hood. Petrie-Norris told Variety that his team is in talks with studios to secure licensing rights to more widely recognized IPs in the future. Fairground's creative process has at the core a curated group of AI creators who are using a range of generative platforms to produce high-quality, engaging content, and according to Petrie-Norris, more than a dozen AI-powered series are currently in development. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — According to The Desk, Fairground is focused on helping creators apply existing tools to bring their stories to life, not looking to reinvent the technology behind AI. The studio will act as a creative and strategic partner, guiding projects from concept to completion using the best AI platforms available. 'I'm not trying to compete with the generative AI services; I'm here to sell picks and shovels to the coal miners,' Petrie-Norris told The Desk. 'I don't profess to be an expert in AI. I am an expert in the entertainment industry first. I know how monetization and distribution works.' Vanderhook voiced strong support for the venture, telling The Desk that the startup 'shares our vision for innovation in streaming, centered on the transformative power of AI.'Vanderhook, along with his brother, Chris, has long been a force in the digital media space. Their company Viant was acquired by magazine publisher Time in 2016, but the Vanderhooks later bought back the company's shares and took it public in 2021, Variety says. Petrie-Norris also had words of praise for the Vanderhook brothers. 'This team led by the Vanderhooks are world-class, and some of the best ideas and the best entrepreneurs you can get,' he told The Desk. Their work in AI mirrors the kind of innovation Fairground is leaning into. Fairground's approach reflects a broader shift in how entertainment may be conceived and produced in the future, The Desk says. With its strong backing, a slate of recognizable IPs, and a founder who spots trends before they go mainstream, Fairground is positioning itself as a next-gen content studio to watch. Read Next:Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Former Xumo CEO's AI-Powered Fairground Raises $4M, Debuts Dracula And Robin Hood Shows With Viant And Myspace Founder Support originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. 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
Arab Times
26-04-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
KFH Assesses Community Engagement with Diraya Campaign
KUWAIT CITY, Apr 26: Kuwait Finance House (KFH) conducted a community banking experiment to assess public banking awareness and offer guidance on the risks, types, and avoidance of financial fraud. This initiative is part of the Diraya banking awareness campaign, launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait in collaboration with the Kuwait Banking Association and Kuwaiti banks, and aligns with KFH`s corporate social responsibility efforts. Conducted during the Derasti exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairground in Mishref, the experiment focused on testing students` banking knowledge. Its aim was to enhance financial awareness and highlight fraudulent activities customers may encounter through various channels, such as SMS, email, phone call, and social media. The experiment elicited a range of responses from the students. Meanwhile, a KFH representative reassured the participating students that the bank would never solicit personal details through email, SMS, or phone call. KFH stressed the critical need to disregard such communications, identifying them as deceptive schemes aimed at acquiring banking credentials and pilfering funds or data. KFH urged customers to safeguard their banking information by never sharing OTP codes and exercising caution with electronic links, as clicking them could lead to the theft of confidential data. The bank also advised enhancing account security by avoiding the storage of sensitive information like card numbers and PINs on phones, keeping PINs secret and unwritten, and always logging out of banking apps or websites after use. KFH successfully utilized all its e-channels on social media platforms and its website, mobile app to disseminate awareness content. These endeavors amassed a significant interaction with customers due to the distinctive and useful contents of KFH`s cutting- edge services and products. In conjunction with the rollout of its new digital services, KFH has published several awareness pieces. These services include Kuwait`s first instant printing of credit and prepaid cards, WAMD instant payment in collaboration with KNET, transfers via the Western Union network, and the AFAQ instant transfer service. KFH`s awareness efforts also encompass explanatory videos on topics such as new user registration on the mobile app, cardless cash withdrawals, ATM services, and how to benefit from KFHOnline financial solutions. These videos and other awareness posts are available on KFH`s social media channels (@KFHgroup). In line with the continued awareness efforts, KFH is committed to participating in initiatives and forums that focus on raising banking awareness. These include its participation in the 5th Gulf Conference and Exhibition for Cybersecurity Challenges titled 'A Secure Digital Environment'. During its participation, KFH shed light on the concept of fraud in general, with a specific focus on cyber fraud, explaining the various types of fraud that pose a threat to both individuals and the community.
