Latest news with #Kora
DW
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- DW
Gambian musician Sona Jobarteh at the Berlin Philharmonie – DW – 06/05/2025
06/05/2025 June 5, 2025 Gambian musician Sona Jobarteh is taking her craft, playing the Kora, to the world. The West African string instrument is usually restricted to male players but Jobarteh is defying the norms. She's currently on tour in Europe and DW went to see her in Berlin.
DW
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- DW
DW News Africa with June 5, 2025 with Christine Mhundwa – DW – 06/05/2025
06/05/2025 June 5, 2025 Sudan's food crisis deepens as US aid cuts force soup kitchens to shut, leaving millions starving. In DR Congo, Islamist militants loot cocoa farms to fund their operations. And in Gambia, a trailblazing musician defies tradition, rising to fame with the Kora, an instrument long reserved for men.
Associated Press
29-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Cedar Unveils Agentic AI Purpose-Built for Healthcare Billing, Aiming to Help Providers Cut Costs with a 30% Reduction in Patient Billing Calls
Kora, Cedar's AI voice agent - now live with ApolloMD - enables Revenue Cycle teams to resolve billing inquiries instantly, reducing costs and manual workload for provider organizations NEW YORK, April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cedar, the leading patient financial platform for healthcare providers, announced the launch of Kora, its AI voice agent, to automate patient billing calls at leading providers, such as ApolloMD. Developed in collaboration with Twilio, the solution is unique in that it's trained on Cedar's proprietary healthcare billing data, seamlessly merging advanced technology with deep healthcare expertise. Kora represents a major leap forward in delivering high-quality, efficient, and empathetic call resolution at scale. Kora is at the heart of Cedar's modern solution for patient collections and call center operations. Available 24/7, the agent can autonomously resolve common billing inquiries on the first interaction, going beyond traditional IVR tools by clearly explaining charges, identifying payment options, and connecting patients with financial assistance. Kora understands natural language, identifies underlying issues, and responds conversationally, much like a human agent. It's designed to be compliant from the ground up, including HIPAA privacy and security safeguards. The agent will be able to detect sentiment and tone, support multiple languages, and provide empathetic, real-time support without hold times, escalating to a live agent whenever necessary. Cedar projects that Kora will automate 30% of inbound calls by the end of 2025, helping providers lower costs while allowing skilled operators to focus on complex interactions that benefit from a human touch. 'From spiraling costs and resource shortages to escalating patient expectations, clinicians are facing immense pressure from all directions,' said Dr. Yogin Patel, CEO of ApolloMD, a longstanding partner of Cedar. 'The integrated voice agent is an incredible technology already creating a meaningful, measurable impact for our support staff and our patients. By providing fast, comprehensive responses without long wait times, Kora enables our teams to dedicate more time to complex patient needs. This powerful blend of efficiency and empathy is transforming the way we deliver care.' Kora addresses urgent challenges facing health systems: rising labor costs, staffing shortages, and pressure to improve patient experience while managing operational overhead. Purpose-built for healthcare billing, the agent leverages Cedar's healthcare ecosystem and real-time data integrations to comprehensively and securely answer patient questions and offer personalized financial pathways. Kora will deliver intelligent outcomes and trust at every step while deflecting a significant portion of inbound calls, reducing the reliance on call center staff while improving access to customer support, particularly outside business hours. 'We've heard enough about AI promises. What matters now is delivering real outcomes,' said Florian Otto, CEO and Co-Founder of Cedar. 'By leveraging Cedar's deep revenue cycle and patient billing expertise, we've built AI that patients trust and that works for providers. We've been deliberate in emphasizing privacy, safety, and empathy, so talking to our AI agent feels as reassuring as talking to a skilled billing specialist.' Kora runs on Twilio's ConversationRelay service, which enables developers to create robust natural voice AI agents by seamlessly integrating real-time streaming, speech recognition, and interruption handling. And, because empathy is crucial in patient communications, Cedar selected a warm, natural-sounding voice for the agent, enabled by advanced speech synthesis technology. 'Conversational AI, especially when leveraging contextual data, is revolutionizing the way organizations and their end users can communicate across channels – making the experience better for all parties,' said Andy O'Dower, Vice President of Product Voice and Video at Twilio. 'Cedar's solution combines Twilio's leading communications platform, data, and AI to enable providers to offer personalized, efficient, and empathetic patient experiences at scale.' This launch of Kora reflects the next evolution in Cedar's broader AI strategy to transform the patient financial experience through intelligent, action-oriented technology. About Cedar Cedar helps healthcare providers connect patients with the financial resources they need to access and afford care. Our complete patient financial platform combines AI-powered technology with human-centered design to create personalized financial journeys for every patient. With deep revenue cycle expertise and a focus on intuitive user experiences, Cedar has served more than 50 million patients nationwide and processed over $10 billion in payments. Our solutions have proven to increase collections, maximize reimbursement, and improve efficiency—all while improving patient satisfaction. To learn more, visit and join us on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube. Contact Kara Spak [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Cedar
Mint
29-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Mint
Why Ayurveda is a big part of Miranda Kerr's skincare routine
Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr has re-launched her skincare brand Kora Organics in India. The 2009-born brand had stopped selling in the country during the covid-19 pandemic. In an interview with Lounge , Kerr talks about her brand, her skincare routine and how Ayurveda is a big part of her life. Edited excerpts: India has such a beautiful connection to wellness and nature, and that really aligns with what Kora is all about. I also love how knowledgeable and conscious the skincare community is there. When I started KORA in 2009, certified organic skincare wasn't well understood, but I knew it was what I wanted for my skin and my family. I'm proud that we now ship to over 140 countries and are sold in over 30 countries, including India. Absolutely! When I started modeling as a teenager, I was travelling constantly, wearing a lot of make up, and exposed to so many different environments. So I had to learn early on how to really care for my skin. I've had a consistent skincare routine since I was a teenager, but it's grown from a simple cleanse, mist, and moisturise to something much more nourishing and intentional. As I became a mum, I became even more mindful of what I was putting on my skin. I wanted products that were not only effective, but certified organic, free from unnecessary chemicals and full of powerful, skin-loving ingredients. One thing I've always been consistent with is cleansing my face every night, exfoliating every other day, and using a sleeping mask every evening. Those simple habits make a big difference. In my 20s, I focused on cleansing and nourishing my skin. In my 30s, I started seeing pigmentation and dehydration, so I added more hydration and vitamin C. Now in my 40s, I focus on hydration, anti-ageing, and sun protection. The key is consistency and listening to what your skin needs. Prepping your skin is essential. Clean, hydrated skin makes such a difference before applying make up. That's why I created our Turmeric Mask, it's like a mini facial in a tube. I also love using a face mist throughout the day to refresh my skin, and that inspired our Active Algae Minty Mist. That you need a complicated routine or really expensive products to have great skin—you don't. It's about using high-quality, certified organic products that truly support your skin's health over time. I start my mornings early with lemon water and celery juice, then I meditate—I've been doing this for over 20 years, along with yoga. Both practices help keep me grounded. During the day, I find little moments to pause, go barefoot in the garden, or take a few deep breaths to reset. In the evening, I wind down with aromatherapy and my full skincare ritual. It's a calming way to reconnect and take care of myself. I love Ayurveda and have brought many of those rituals into my routine— like tongue scraping, oil pulling, warm lemon water, golden milk, and dry brushing. I also love self-massage with warm body oil before bed. These little rituals help me feel balanced and calm. Dhara Vora Sabhnani is a Mumbai-based writer.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plata, The Most Recently Authorized Mexican Bank, Completed Its Series A Round with a USD 1.5B Valuation
Less than two years after launch in April 2023, Plata's valuation reached USD 1.5B after receiving its banking license authorization in December 2024, surpassing one million active customers in early 2025. The USD 160 million Series A equity round brings the total investment that Plata has made into the Mexican economy since its launch to over USD 750 million. Series A, which positions Plata as one of Mexico's most valuable Digital Banks*, was led by Kora. MEXICO CITY, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Plata, the Mexican digital bank that received its banking license authorization in December 2024, has successfully closed its Series A equity round with a USD 1.5 billion valuation less than two years after launching operations and after surpassing one million active credit card users. The Series A raised USD 160 million in a combined equity round, led by Kora—a global investment firm specializing in emerging digital economies—, subject to regulatory approvals. The round also saw participation from Moore Strategic Ventures, among other U.S. and European investors. Following this transaction, Plata has now secured a total of USD 750 million in debt and equity investment since its inception to deploy in Mexico. With this investment, Plata demonstrates confidence in the Mexican market and strengthens its commitment to digitalizing financial services in the country. Coupled with the recent approval of a banking license, Plata consolidates its position in Mexico as a pioneer in financial innovation. "The real value of Plata lies in the collective talent we've gathered to achieve exceptional growth while maintaining a strong financial model," said Neri Tollardo, Co-Founder and CEO of Plata. "I am confident that our focus on technological solutions, accessible through an intuitive and simple customer-facing app, sets a benchmark for financial services in Latin America. Our products have been met with incredible enthusiasm, and we couldn't be more thrilled." "We believe financial services are a powerful driver of economic development in emerging markets and have been fortunate to partner with companies driving this change across the globe," said Nitin Saigal, Co-Founder of Kora. "Plata has an exceptional team, in our view, with a unique combination of talent and integrity that positions it to be one of the key players driving this change in Mexico. We are excited to strengthen our partnership with them." "With a highly experienced team, a Banking license authorization, proprietary technology like our own core banking system, and this capital investment, we are confident that we will continue to be one of the fastest-growing digital banks in Latin America. Even more, we are poised to be a driver of change in digitalization and financial inclusion," added Tollardo Additionally to the Series A investment, some of Plata's most notable capital markets transactions completed since inception include a USD 200mln warehouse facility from Fasanara Capital, a London-based fund manager, and a USD 55mln Senior Unsecured Bond, which was the first unsecured issuance for a Mexican Non-Bank Financial Institution since 2021. A Digital Bank with a Human Touch Founded in Mexico City by international banking executives led by Neri Tollardo and Danil Anisimov, Plata started operations in April 2023, and since then, it has grown to a global team of over 1,500 employees, with close to 40% of them STEM professionals and responsible for the development of Plata's own core banking system (infrastructure, systems, and applications), enabling faster and more efficient innovation and solution implementation. This positions Plata as one of the few financial companies that, instead of outsourcing this service, develops its infrastructure internally. True to its value proposition of simplifying the financial experience through cutting-edge technology, Plata remains committed to operating as a fully digital bank. This means Plata will not have physical bank branches. Instead, it will offer all of its products and services through its digital platform, prioritizing accessibility and efficiency for its users. "While we are a 100% digital platform, we understand the importance of human contact in addressing any questions or issues. Not having physical branches leads us to make exceptional customer service one of our main pillars. We offer instant response via chat and a direct contact phone number without any phone menus," explained Tollardo. In addition to its internal development team, Plata directly hires all of its agents who handle customer requests and its ambassadors, who deliver cards to clients' homes and perform identity verification in person. About Plata: Plata is a high-tech Mexican financial platform authorized with a Banking license. Plata's promise in Mexico is to raise the standards of financial products and services through innovation, excellence in customer service, and greater benefits for people's money. Plata is on the mission of transforming the Mexican financial experience by overcoming the limitations of traditional banking. Backed by its own technology, Plata offers a simpler, safer, and more efficient financial experience. With a team of over 1,500 employees, Plata has developed its own banking infrastructure and works with the support of AI, which allows the company to make a difference in the financial landscape. In less than two years of operations in Mexico, Plata has achieved one million active customers. About Kora: Kora is a global investment firm with over a decade of experience seeking to invest alongside exceptional teams building internet and financial services businesses across emerging digital economies. About Moore Strategic Ventures: Moore Strategic Ventures, LLC is the privately held investment company for Louis M. Bacon, Founder and CEO of Moore Capital Management, LP. View original content: SOURCE Plata Sign in to access your portfolio
