Latest news with #Raise
Daily Tribune
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Raise opens investor doors
business TDT | Manama Bahrain's startup ecosystem is gaining traction with the return of 'Raise: The Art of Fundraising', a bootcamp designed to do what most founders struggle with: get them face-toface with investors. Now in its ninth cohort, Raise has opened applications for the next twoweek round of its investment readiness programme. Backed by The Labor Fund (Tamkeen) and delivered by Spring Venture Services in partnership with global VC firm Salica Investments, Raise goes beyond mentorship. It connects early-stage startups directly with investor networks across the MENA region, providing access to capital, industry leaders, and essential strategic guidance. Doors to capital The programme's track record includes eight completed bootcamps and 16 StartUp Bahrain Pitch events. Over 100 startups have benefited from tailored support in pitching, valuation, and deal negotiation. Standouts from previous cohorts, like DOO founder Ali Mohsen, credit the program for helping land funding and refine go-to-market plans. 'Raise was instrumental in refining our fundraising strategy and connecting us with investors,' he said. This time, selected startups will also join an exclusive Investor Mixer. The event places founders in front of key venture capital firms and angel investors, allowing for real-time feedback and potential deal flow. Bahrain's startup engine The initiative feeds directly into the national innovation agenda. In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank, the program culminates in a live pitch competition under the StartUp Bahrain Pitch Series banner. Winners walk away with milestone-linked cash prizes and ongoing support from Raise partners. Applications are now open via the programme's official website. For Bahrain-based founders with scalable ideas and big ambitions, Raise may just be the shortest route from pitch to funding.
Biz Bahrain
27-05-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Applications Open for Cohort 9 of 'Raise" to Empower Startup Founders in Investment Readiness
Spring Venture Services announced that applications are now open for the 9th cohort of 'Raise: The Art of Fundraising,' a two-week intensive bootcamp designed to equip startup founders with the skills and knowledge needed to secure investment and scale their businesses. The programme is supported by The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to prepare startups for institutional fundraising, with participation in the ongoing StartUp Bahrain Pitch Series as one milestone along the way. The programme is facilitated by Spring Venture Services, and global venture capital firm Salica Investments, providing founders with capital, expert in-house capability, and access to MENA's leading investors to increase the likelihood of startup success. Since its inception, 'Raise' has successfully conducted eight bootcamps in preparation for 16 StartUp Bahrain Pitch events, helping 114 startups refine their investor readiness and secure essential funding. The programme provides entrepreneurs with hands-on workshops, fireside chats, and one-on-one office hours, ensuring they gain a strong foundation in fundraising, pitching, and business strategy. A key highlight of the programme is the StartUp Bahrain Pitch Series, where participating startups will have the opportunity to showcase their businesses before an esteemed panel of leading regional venture capitalists and investors. These events are organised in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, including the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB), and StartUp Bahrain. The events conclude with the announcement of the 2 winning startups, which receive a cash prize deployed against key milestones, along with potential further funding and support from programme partners. Commenting on the success of Raise, Ali Mohsen founder of DOO, a winner of the 16th edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch, stated, 'Raise was instrumental in refining our fundraising strategy and connecting us with investors. The mentorship and expert guidance we received gave us the confidence and tools to take our business to the next level.' The upcoming cohort will feature enhanced networking opportunities and increased access to industry leaders, potential partners, and investors. Startups will also participate in an Investor Mixer, where they can pitch their businesses to a network of investors. Interested startups are encouraged to apply by visiting the programme page on [
Belfast Telegraph
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Paul Givan rapped for refusal to rethink ‘flawed' £20m programme for schools
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's active and healthy communities committee voted in December to lobby Paul Givan to reconsider the use of the 'Raise' formula for education amid fears deprived children will not benefit from the cash injection. Raise was supposed to help address educational underachievement and tackle educational disadvantage. However, it has been criticised after the eligibility criteria controversially moved from free school meal entitlement levels to include other indicators, meaning many better off grammar schools and a prep school, where parents usually pay fees, could benefit. The council sent a letter to the Department of Education in March raising concerns about more affluent schools benefiting over the less well-off. A response from Mr Givan provided last week said: 'I decided that the programme should be a regional programme, which will invest in disadvantage across all local government districts in Northern Ireland, including Newry, Mourne and Down. 'This will embed collaborative working in a high number of localities that can be a long lasting legacy after funding ends. 'I appreciate we have not been able to include all areas of educational disadvantage within NI and that there will always be areas that would wish to be included.' The Raise scheme, partially funded by the Irish Government's Shared Island Fund, was launched last October. However, major concerns were highlighted after the department's website identified almost 40 grammar schools and a prep school charging up to £5,000 a year as potentially eligible for funding. Mr Givan said he would have liked to stretch the programme further, 'but the funding available is finite and therefore an approach to prioritisation has been necessary'. 'I have prioritised investment in those areas with the lowest levels of educational attainment so that all children and young people can reach their potential. Ultimately the success of the programme will be determined on how well it improves educational outcomes, so it is right that I am investing in areas with the lowest levels of attainment,' he said. 'I am delighted that the programme will have a significant presence in Newry, Mourne and Down. This is a very important programme with significant potential to do things differently, to facilitate greater collaboration across government, local government and in partnerships with the voluntary and community sector and many others including schools. 'I welcome the ongoing engagement with the Raise programme team towards the development of a strategic plan for Newry.' Sinn Fein councillor Kate Murphy said: 'This is a very disappointing response. 'It fails to address the many concerns that educationalists and wider society have about the Raise programme, the methodology selected and how it has been applied. 'The first principle of education is that it should be child centred. Many schools are already chronically underfunded and running on deficit budgets. 'The Raise programme recognises neither of these facts and uses a flawed formula to select who will be funded and who, yet again, will not.'
Malaysian Reserve
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Malaysian Reserve
Raise the Vibes Launches 'Beyond the Game' to Help Former Athletes Navigate Life After Sports
'Beyond the Game' Equips Athletes with Tools for Identity Reinvention, Confidence Building, and Long-Term Fulfillment QUINCY, Mass., April 28, 2025 /CNW/ — Transitioning from athletic competition to everyday life presents significant challenges for many former athletes, including identity loss, uncertainty, and a lack of direction. Addressing this critical need, Raise the Vibes, LLC is launching Beyond the Game: Focusing on Identity and Purpose Beyond Athletic Competition—a 4-week transformational coaching program designed to help former athletes rediscover themselves, rebuild confidence, and align with a purposeful life beyond sports. Research shows the significant mental and emotional struggles retired athletes face. According to the National Library of Medicine, between 18% and 39% of former athletes report experiencing mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression, after leaving competitive sports. These statistics highlight the psychological toll of losing athletic identity, social support, and the structured routines that once defined their lives. 'As a former athlete, I understand the silent struggle that begins when the roar of the crowd fades. Beyond the Game wasn't just created to help us cope—it was designed to help us rise.' says Jevon Brown-Simpson, Personal Growth Coach & Founder of Raise the Vibes, LLC. 'This program is about rediscovering your identity, reclaiming your purpose, and evolving into the next best version of yourself. We're not here to relive the past—we're here to redefine the future.' The Beyond the Game coaching program includes: Mindset Training – Reframing limiting beliefs and building a winning mentality beyond competition. Purpose Discovery – Identifying core values, strengths, and passions to create a meaningful future. Personal Growth Strategies – Tools for resilience, confidence building, and authentic life alignment. Community Support – A network of former athletes navigating similar transitions. The first cohort launches June 1, 2025, with enrollment now open. Limited spots are available. Former athletes ready to redefine their purpose and reignite their confidence can visit to learn more and reserve their place in the Beyond the Game program. About Raise the Vibes, LLC Raise the Vibes, LLC is a personal growth and mindset development company dedicated to helping high-performing individuals evolve into their most aligned, empowered selves. Through coaching, workshops, and digital programs, Raise the Vibes supports sustainable success and confident life transitions. For media inquiries, please contact:Email: admin@ Instagram: @raisethevibes_ Photo –
CBS News
15-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
342 children in Colorado are available for adoption, and Raise the Future creates family permanency
In Colorado there are currently 342 children who are living in the foster care system and eligible for adoption. Among that group, the nonprofit Raise the Future specializes in finding caring adults for the older youth, sibling groups and young people who have special needs. "At Raise the Future, we find families for kids who don't have them," said Ann Ayers, CEO of Raise the Future. Those kinds of connections transform a child's life. In 2023, 711 teens were adopted out of foster care. A recent report from the Colorado Department of Human Services found that 70% of kids with Raise the Future found forever homes. That's compared with 44% who got traditional services. Raise the Future also works to keep those families together. "These are kids who maybe have gone through a lot of rejection," Ayers said. The nonprofit helps children 9 years old or up who have been in five or more homes. "They're worth it. They're worth something," Mekialaya White, reporter and anchor at CBS News Colorado, said. CBS Colorado hosts A Day for Wednesday's Child to celebrate the families that are created through adoption out of foster care. The donations collected throughout A Day for Wednesday's Child help to pay for the intensive recruiting that Raise the Future does to find those caring adults who will step up for a child in foster care. This year, A Day for Wednesday's Child is April 16. Kids in foster care with a supportive connection are 110% more likely to go to college, 50% less likely to experience homelessness, and 200% more likely to seek and get mental health support, according to Raise the Future.
