Latest news with #BDC
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Baby DONT Cry, First Girl Group Hailing From K-pop Icon Psy's Label, Steps Into the Spotlight (Exclusive)
'I hope for them to be not number one but the only ones,' K-pop legend Psy tells The Hollywood Reporter of his label's new group Baby DONT Cry. The four-member girl group — comprised of members Yihyun, Mia, Kumi and Beni — officially debuted Monday with their lead single 'F Girl,' which followed their pre-release track 'Bet You'll Regret It.' More from The Hollywood Reporter Mick Ralphs, Founding Guitarist of Bad Company and Mott The Hoople, Dies at 81 145 People Say They Were Stabbed With Syringes at French Music Festival Cardi B Finally Announces New Album 'Am I the Drama?' 'I feel like the song ('F Girl') really represents us well,' Yihyun, the eldest at just 19 years old, tells THR over a Zoom call from their label P Nation's Gangnam headquarters. 'I feel that the song itself is a very honest and very confident song, and I believe that all of the members are also very confident in who they are.' Mia adds, 'Speaking with all of the staff around, we were really able to discuss what type of concept would best fit our group and we ended up coming up with 'F Girl.'' The two-minute and change song, described as a baby rock track, is buzzy, fun and unapologetically youthful in nature. 'F Girl' feels like the soundtrack to a sleepover montage in a teen movie. The fun and unique sound of Baby DONT Cry, also known as BDC, comes from their producer and creative director: Soyeon. In a rare twist, BDC is being creatively helmed by the leader of K-pop girl group Idle. 'She's someone that's already achieved what we want to achieve in the future, so she was able to actually give us very realistic and very relatable advice,' Yihyun says. The girls trained for five years; an impressive feat regardless of age, but even more so when you realize the group ranges in age from 19 to 16. Beni, the youngest, was a trainee for about six years, around the time P Nation was established in 2018. 'Since then, I was looking for the right members to join Beni, and the right time for a girl group,' Psy says. He adds the timing is perfect because 'the girls are ready now.' 'There were hardships that I faced during my trainee era, but I feel like are definitely more fun and memorable moments,' Beni says when asked about her trainee days. The 16-year-old adds she was able to learn several genres of music along with other languages. The latter is typical for K-pop groups but makes sense in BDC's case as the group is poised to make a global impact, with two of the four members (Mia and Kumi) hailing from Japan. Psy explains he sees luck as 'the moment when effort meets opportunity,' when asked how the company helped prepare the girls to debut. 'Our five years of training were effort. Soyeon stepping up as producer; that was the opportunity,' he says. 'Because of that, we've been lucky, we are lucky and our luck will keep going.' Soyeon remains an inspiration for the group, but the girls also count some K-pop heavyweights as their role models. 'I personally really like all of our senior artists, but if I had to choose a few, it would be Blackpink's Lisa and Twice's Chaeyoung. I feel like the energy that they convey on stage is very impressive,' Kumi says. 'Even before I joined [elementary school], I was the biggest fan of IU,' Yihyun adds. 'If I get the chance to meet her on stage, it would be the biggest honor ever.' While debuting is only step one, the members of BDC are already looking ahead. 'I believe all of our members have confident but also lovely personalities,' Mia says when asked how she wants the group to be known. 'I really want our group in general to be perceived as that — a very lovely yet confident group.' The Hollywood Reporter has more exclusive images from Baby DONT Cry's debut below. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More Solve the daily Crossword
Toronto Star
14 hours ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
Mental Health and Productivity of Entrepreneurs Under Pressure Amid High Uncertainty: BDC Survey
MONTREAL, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mental health challenges are significantly affecting the productivity of Canadian entrepreneurs, according to a new survey from BDC, Canada's business development bank. As stressors related to economic and political uncertainty and global events or crises rise sharply in 2025—up 5 and 10 percentage points respectively, more than one-third (36%) of business owners report that mental health challenges interfere with their ability to work at least once a week. Among entrepreneurs under 40, that number rises sharply to 60%, compared to just 19% of those aged 50 and over.
Hamilton Spectator
14 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Mental Health and Productivity of Entrepreneurs Under Pressure Amid High Uncertainty: BDC Survey
MONTREAL, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mental health challenges are significantly affecting the productivity of Canadian entrepreneurs, according to a new survey from BDC, Canada's business development bank. As stressors related to economic and political uncertainty and global events or crises rise sharply in 2025—up 5 and 10 percentage points respectively, more than one-third (36%) of business owners report that mental health challenges interfere with their ability to work at least once a week. Among entrepreneurs under 40, that number rises sharply to 60%, compared to just 19% of those aged 50 and over. 'Productivity is not just about tools and processes—it's also about people,' said Pierre Cléroux, Chief Economist at BDC. 'When entrepreneurs are overwhelmed, their ability to lead, innovate, and grow their businesses suffers. By taking care of the entrepreneur, and enabling them to take care of themselves, we can help the very people that drive Canada's growth.' Support Makes a Difference Despite their demanding schedules, many entrepreneurs are taking steps to care for their mental health, with 35% indicating they sought professional help to address a mental health concern in the last year. Younger entrepreneurs are especially proactive, with 57% of those under 45 seeking professional support. For the first time, BDC's annual survey asked entrepreneurs about the benefits of professional support: Over half of entrepreneurs (51%) sought help after recognizing their own struggles, while 35% were prompted by encouragement from family and friends, underscoring the crucial role personal networks play in driving action. A New Set of Challenges for Business Owners in 2025 The survey also reveals a shift in the stressors affecting entrepreneurs. While inflation and interest rates were key concerns in 2024, broader economic and geopolitical uncertainty have become significantly more prominent in 2025 and will continue to be in the foreseeable future. Stressors that increased significantly in 2025: In contrast, concern over inflation (43%, -5 points) and high interest rates (25%, -13 points) has declined, suggesting a move toward more immediate, operational concerns. 'Entrepreneurs are navigating a more complex and uncertain environment in 2025,' said Pierre Cléroux, Chief Economist at BDC. 'While inflation has moderated, new pressures—like responding to global instability—are directly affecting how business owners make decisions every day.' How BDC Is Supporting Entrepreneur Mental Health To help entrepreneurs deal with mental health challenges, BDC launched a mental health support initiative in 2024. Through a partnership with GreenShield Health, BDC clients can access free virtual therapy sessions tailored to their needs (availability is limited and exclusive to BDC clients). 'We can't separate productivity from well-being,' said Cléroux. 'Supporting entrepreneurs means supporting their mental health so they can thrive—not just survive.' About the Survey BDC's annual survey on the mental health of business owners was conducted between March 3 and 18, 2025, with responses from 1,510 small business owners across Canada. Since 2018, BDC has carried out these yearly surveys to deepen understanding of the evolving mental health landscape among Canadian entrepreneurs and to help raise awareness of this important issue. To explore the full findings or to access mental health and well-being resources, visit . About BDC: 80 years as Canada's bank for entrepreneurs BDC is a partner of choice for all entrepreneurs looking to access the financing and advice they need to build their businesses and tackle the big challenges of our time. Our investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions to help grow the most innovative firms. BDC's development role means we are in a state of perpetual evolution – wherever entrepreneurs go and whatever the Canadian economy needs – we will be there to help them defy the odds. 80 years later, that commitment remains very much alive. BDC's financing services in 2025 alone will add an estimated $25 billion in GDP to Canada's economy over the next five years. We are one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and Canada's Best Diversity Employers, and the first financial institution in Canada to receive the B Corp certification in 2013. For more information on our products and services and to consult free tools, templates and articles, visit or join BDC on social media . Media contact Jean Philippe Nadeau, Senior Communications Advisor, Public Affairs and External Communications BDC 1-844-625-8321 mediainfo@
CNA
a day ago
- Business
- CNA
Building the intelligent infrastructure of tomorrow
In today's hyper-connected world, vast amounts of data move across networks every second – whether through emails, instant messages or social media interactions. While the cloud may seem intangible, the reality is that all online data resides in physical infrastructure: data centres. As digitalisation accelerates and technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) reshape industries, the demand for data centres is surging. These facilities provide the computing and networking backbone required to store, process and transmit ever-larger volumes of data. In Asia Pacific, the data centre sector is forecast to grow by around US$116 billion (S$155 billion) in the next five to seven years. In 2024, Singapore announced plans to add at least 300 megawatts (MW) of additional data centre capacity, a significant increase from the 80MW allocated in 2023. However, the sector's rapid expansion comes with challenges – chief among them, energy consumption and environmental impact. To address these challenges, data centres of the future must adopt a sustainable approach to ensure the harmony between man and machines. Bridge Data Centres (BDC), a hyperscale data centre infrastructure solutions provider, has an extensive track record of delivering and operating mega facilities with reliability, speed and efficiency. The Singapore-headquartered company recently released its environmental, social and governance (ESG) report, outlining its commitment to responsible growth. Said Mr Eric Fan, chairman of BDC's ESG committee: 'The report reflects our core belief that the long-term success of our company is inseparable from the health of our planet, the well-being of our communities and the trust we earn from our stakeholders.' With full-stack in-house capabilities, BDC develops hyperscale infrastructure solutions that are future-proof and designed to support sustainable, scalable growth on demand. ADVANCED SOLUTIONS FOR PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY As data centres power energy-intensive technologies like AI, the heat generated by servers and IT equipment can impact hardware performance. Managing this thermal output is critical to ensuring seamless operations. BDC uses advanced liquid cooling technology to enhance energy efficiency and optimise cooling processes. Its X-Cooling System Series comprises multiple solutions – including air-cooled, liquid-cooled, cold plate liquid cooling and immersion liquid cooling – to ensure optimal performance across diverse operational needs. Its hyperscale, build-to-suit computing-power infrastructure solutions have driven hyperscale data centre development in the Asia-Pacific region over the past decade. With more than 588 patents and ongoing investments in cooling systems, power supply efficiency and waste-water management, it provides customers with access to best-in-class green energy technologies that meet both local and international standards. Its sustainable design also supports international green initiatives, including the Global Green Computing Certification Programme. BDC's facility in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, has been awarded the LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. BDC's strong culture of innovation has led to milestones, such as achieving a power usage effectiveness of less than 1.2 in its best-use case in 2024. Additionally, its innovative rainwater recycling system has saved around 36,000 cubic metres of water – equivalent to about 14 and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools – to date. Efficiency extends beyond energy and water use. In 2024, BDC's construction cycles were shortened by 30 per cent, enabling a swifter time-to-market for clients. As part of its zero-carbon computing strategy, BDC prioritises collaboration with like-minded suppliers and partners, signing five memoranda of understanding with renewable energy providers in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The company is also a member of RE100, a global initiative of businesses committed to operating on 100 per cent renewable energy. BDC aims to fully power its digital infrastructure with renewable energy by 2040. BDC's commitment to sustainability was recognised with the Green Mark Data Centre Platinum rating in 2024. In addition, BDC has submitted targets to the Science-Based Targets initiative, aligning its emissions pathway with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Its carbon reduction roadmap is anchored in international best practices. BDC is also working with Singapore-based software firm Red Dot Analytics to develop advanced AI platforms that reduce energy use and boost resilience, helping systems stay functional and perform reliably during unexpected disruptions. This enhanced platform is expected to achieve annual savings of over 1 million kilowatt-hour through intelligent energy and cooling controls. A REGIONAL NETWORK FOR OPTIMAL CONNECTIVITY Over the past three years, BDC's rapid growth has driven new levels of economic activity in Malaysia, Thailand and India, where its data centres are located. In 2024, the company saw a 24.1 per cent increase in new job opportunities over the previous year. Many of these roles were in security operations, where human expertise complements robust, multi-layered security systems to ensure data integrity. BDC customers benefit from round-the-clock support, monitoring and technical assistance, ensuring uninterrupted operations and a reliable infrastructure. Mr Fan said BDC is committed to working closely with its partners and stakeholders as part of its sustainable approach to building intelligent, environmentally friendly infrastructure. 'This includes advancing energy conservation, reducing emissions, promoting resource recycling and protecting our shared environment,' he said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rand Capital Announces Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results Conference Call and Webcast
BUFFALO, N.Y., July 21, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rand Capital Corporation (Nasdaq: RAND) ("Rand" or the "Company"), a business development company providing alternative financing for lower middle market companies, announced that it plans to release its second quarter 2025 financial results before the opening of financial markets on Monday, August 4, 2025. The Company will also host a conference call and webcast to review its results that day. Second Quarter 2025 Conference Call Monday, August 4, 20251:30 p.m. Eastern TimePhone: (201) 689-8263Webcast: A telephonic replay will be available from 5:30 p.m. ET on the day of the call through Monday, August 18, 2025. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter replay PIN 13754384. The webcast replay will be available in the investors' section at where a transcript will also be posted once available. ABOUT RAND CAPITAL Rand Capital Corporation (Nasdaq: RAND) is an externally managed business development company (BDC). The Company's investment objective is to maximize total return to its shareholders with current income and capital appreciation by focusing its debt and related equity investments in privately-held, lower middle market companies with committed and experienced managements in a broad variety of industries. Rand primarily invests in businesses that have sustainable, differentiated and market-proven products, revenue of more than $10 million and EBITDA in excess of $1.5 million. The Company's investment activities are managed by its external investment adviser, Rand Capital Management, LLC. Additional information can be found at the Company's website where it regularly posts information: View source version on Contacts Company: Daniel P. PenberthyPresident and CEO716.853.0802dpenberthy@ Investors: Deborah K. Pawlowski / Craig P. MychajlukAlliance Advisors IR716-843-3908 / 716-843-3832dpawlowski@ cmychajluk@
