Latest news with #Glitch
Press and Journal
23-07-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Budz Bar developer: 'We're clearing final planning hurdle and poised to start revamp!'
Long-awaited renovation work to transform Aberdeen's former Budz Bar building into a multi-storey entertainment destination could finally be poised to get under way. After previous blueprints for the overhaul fell foul of historians, developers were sent back to the drawing board. New plans have now been submitted to Aberdeen City Council in the hopes of addressing all of the issues raised. The former Budz Bar building, which has been vacant for almost two decades, was earmarked for a major revamp by by Alpha Bravo Investments, run by Allan Smith and Bruce Porter. The venue, called Glitch, would include mini golf across several floors in a building stretching from Union Street to Justice Mill Lane. along with cocktail bars and a pizzeria. Planning chiefs rejected original plans to cover the exterior in corten steel – but the duo have enlisted the help of new designers to devise fresh plans. Mr Smith told The Press and Journal he wants to 'add something really special to Union Street', and is now within touching distance of kick-starting the costly work. While plans to rejuvenate the inside of the building were welcomed, it was the exterior which council bosses had a problem with. One of the most prominent features of the scheme turned out to be the new facade dreamed up for the Justice Mill Lane side of the complex. Design images showed the building wrapped in bronze-coloured corten steel cladding – which would light up at night like the Aberdeen letters in Union Terrace Gardens. Local historians complained about how this would look in the conservation area, with one opponent saying it would resemble 'the Las Vegas strip at night'. And ultimately, council officials agreed – rejecting the overhaul due to these concerns. Now, Mr Smith and Mr Porter have come back with a new plan – which keeps more of the traditional frontage intact. And this, they say, could actually turn out to be a bit of a selling point. The new design has the corten steel replaced with a traditional shopfront look, with three archways – harking back to the building's original design. Mr Smith told The P&J: 'We've been in talks with the heritage team in Aberdeen to make sure we preserve the building's character. 'It's over 200 years old, and we want to respect that.' The duo have taken inspiration from The Washhouse in Manchester – a popular speakeasy disguised by a laundrette. 'What you see from the street gives the impression of one thing, but when you step inside, it's something completely different,' Mr Smith added. And with these new plans now officially lodged, Mr Smith is raring to go to get his new venue open. He said that planning permission is the only hurdle left to overcome, and that if the council give the go-ahead, he's ready to start the renovations. 'We're excited about the new direction and keen to push on,' the leisure boss said. 'With the updated team and approach, we're confident that we can deliver something that works for the council, community and adds something really special to Union Street. 'Then we can get on with the fun inside!' He added. You can view the full plans here.
Irish Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Meet Glitch, the AI platform helping small firms master big ads
A big headache for SMEs and start-ups is managing their advertising budgets. Digital campaigns in particular can burn through cash, and companies are often in the dark about what's working – or not – and why. As someone steeped in start-up culture, Aisling Browne knows how frustrating it is to spend time and scarce resources on advertising with little or nothing to show for it. She was convinced there had to be a better way – and that AI held the key. In 2023, Browne and software engineer Kingsley Kelly met at the Dogpatch Labs Founders Talent Accelerator. They quickly discovered they were approaching the same problem from different angles and teamed up to develop Glitch, an AI-driven platform that autonomously runs and optimises digital advertising campaigns to give companies the best bang for their buck. 'The idea started from my own frustration at seeing the same pattern across multiple start-ups,' Browne says. 'Most teams couldn't afford a top-tier agency to help them and didn't have an in-house expert who truly understood performance marketing. So, they were spending money on ads but without a good return on their investment. Kingsley, who has built systems for Web Summit and also spent five years with Google Ads, witnessed the same problem, but from inside the platform. 'When ChatGPT launched its game-changing functionality in October 2023, we realised that AI had finally caught up to the challenge,' Browne adds. 'While most builders were chasing ecommerce and B2C, B2B was being left behind. We knew we could change that by creating an AI-driven approach that levels the playing field for lean, fast-growing B2B teams.' Browne says most existing advertising tools are built for ecommerce or assume a company has deep pockets and a full marketing team in place. Glitch, by contrast, has been designed specifically for B2B. 'Glitch sits in the space between ad tech tools, AI marketing platforms and traditional agencies,' Browne says. 'We're filling the gap for marketing teams who need intelligent automation that's tuned for lead generation, not online retail. 'Our edge is strategic AI that understands the nuances of longer sales cycles, niche audiences, multiple funnel stages and complex decision-making processes before it even launches your first campaign. 'It continuously shifts budget to whatever's working – the best copy, the right keywords, the most effective campaigns – and then translates everything into clear performance data that both marketing and sales teams can act on. [ AI use by Irish companies doubles# Opens in new window ] 'With Glitch, a company can see who's engaging, where they're located and which messages are resonating,' Browne adds. 'We turn raw ad data into decisions a company can feel confident about making. It's like having a strategist who thinks, a team-mate who collaborates, and a machine that scales – all in one. It's agency-grade performance without the agency price tag.' Glitch's prime market will be companies that want to invest in their online growth strategy but don't have the time to stay on top of the constantly changing advertising landscape. 'Advertising today is more fragmented and technical than ever. Teams are under pressure to do more with less, but platforms are evolving too fast to keep up with them all,' Browne says. 'Glitch acts as an always-on campaign manager. It learns, adapts and continually improves results. At its heart is our automated optimisation engine that handles everything from targeting and bidding to copywriting and real-time performance tuning.' With Google Ads accounting for the lion's share of many companies' advertising budgets, Glitch is kicking off its offering with an initial focus on the tech giant. However, the intention is to go cross-platform – a task that Browne says will become even more challenging as traditional channels such as LinkedIn and TikTok are joined by a slew of others. 'The ad space is going to change dramatically because you have these new LLM (large language model) platforms that are changing how people are searching,' she says. 'There will still be room for the large advertising agencies to service big corporate clients, but Glitch makes economic sense for smaller businesses.' [ How an Irish firm is using AI to make websites accessible to people with a disability Opens in new window ] Glitch is based in Dublin and employs five people full-time. Its product is currently in gated beta with customers in the Republic, the UK, the US and Canada. Expansion into non-English-speaking markets is in the company's strategic plan, but slated for further down the road. The typical advertising budgets of potential customers will run between €5,000 and €100,000 a month. The company's revenue model is a standard tiered SaaS. To date, Glitch has raised €750,000 in pre-seed funding from angel investors and Enterprise Ireland. Support for the company has also come from Dublin LEO (Local Enterprise Office) and Dogpatch Labs. Glitch is a designated Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start-Up and is in the process of raising a seed round of €2 million. Browne comes from a family of entrepreneurs and got her taste for the start-up scene in London before joining Irish fintech Wayflyer as head of European partnerships. 'I witnessed Wayflyer becoming a unicorn and experiencing unbelievable growth – the type that most people only ever read about,' she says. 'That period shaped my appetite for high-growth environments and gave me the confidence to take the leap and co-found Glitch, where I'm combining my lack of marketing expertise – we're building for people like me – with a passion for impactful technology for B2B companies that will scale globally.'
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Time of India
Millions of Americans use these 2 apps, now they are closing forever, and you might get a payout
If you've ever saved an article to or coded on these 2 apps, you'll be interested in this news. The two apps, which were once staples for readers and developers, will be shut down permanently in July. However, there is one positive aspect for many users as well. Which apps will shut down? Pocket and Glitch, two popular apps used by millions of Americans, will be permanently shut down on July 8. If you are a subscriber, you may be due a refund automatically, reported The Sun. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo When subscription sales also ceased in late May, Pocket was taken down from app stores. However, Pocket Premium members might be eligible for reimbursements for the unused portion of their subscriptions, as per a report by The US Sun. Am I getting a refund automatically? The read-it-later app subscription costs $4.99 a month or $44.99 (£32.99) annually. Therefore, you should anticipate receiving a portion of your money back on the card you used to make the purchase if you paid for an annual membership that will not be fulfilled. Live Events The app's owner, Mozilla , stated that refunds for yearly subscribers will be issued after July 8. You just need to wait for the money to arrive. ALSO READ: Trump underwater in every key swing state, and now he's slipping in Texas too Refunds will be given to those who paid $96 (£70) for an annual subscription to Glitch Pro and still have time remaining. What happens to my saved data? Before all the data is permanently erased, users have until the end of the year to download their projects. Notably, users will have until October 8th to download their saved data before all Pocket data is permanently erased, even though the app will be shutting down the following week. Web developers are the target audience for the Glitch app, which is also giving its users refunds, as per a report by The Sun. FAQs When will Pocket and Glitch officially shut down? Both applications will be closed on July 8. Following that, users have a limited amount of time to save their data before it is permanently deleted. How do I receive my refund? You do not have to do anything. Refunds for unused subscription time will be automatically issued to the card you used after July 8.
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Two popular apps loved by millions to shut down forever in DAYS – and you might be owed some cash
No action is necessary - just wait for the money to land NOT 'APPY Two popular apps loved by millions to shut down forever in DAYS – and you might be owed some cash TWO popular apps used by millions of mobile users are set to shut down next week - and it might mean you're owed some cash. Mobile apps Pocket and Glitch will both close on 8 July. Advertisement 3 But Pocket's Premium subscribers may be owed refunds for the remaining time left on their subscriptions Credit: Mozilla 3 The Glitch app, aimed at web developers, is also handing out refunds to its subscribers Credit: Glitch Pocket was removed from app stores in late May, when sales of subscriptions also stopped. But Pocket's Premium subscribers may be owed refunds for the remaining time left on their subscriptions. A subscription for the read-it-later app costs $4.99 per month or $44.99 (£32.99) per year. So if you paid for an annual membership that will not be fulfilled, you should expect some money to be deposited back onto the card you used for payments. Advertisement Mozilla, which owns the app, said annual subscribers will receive their refunds after 8 July. No action is necessary - just wait for the money to land. It's worth noting that while the app will shut down next week, users will have until 8 October to download their saved data before all Pocket data is permanently deleted. The Glitch app, aimed at web developers, is also handing out refunds to its subscribers. Advertisement Those who forked out $96 (£70) for an annual Glitch Pro subscription and have paid time left will receive a refund. Users have until the end of the year to download their projects before all the data is wiped for good. Huge Global Data Breach: 16 Billion Accounts at Risk
The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Two popular apps loved by millions to shut down forever in DAYS – and you might be owed some cash
TWO popular apps used by millions of mobile users are set to shut down next week - and it might mean you're owed some cash. Mobile apps Pocket and Glitch will both close on 8 July. 3 But Pocket's Premium subscribers may be owed refunds for the remaining time left on their subscriptions Credit: Mozilla 3 The Glitch app, aimed at web developers, is also handing out refunds to its subscribers Credit: Glitch Pocket was removed from app stores in late May, when sales of subscriptions also stopped. But Pocket's Premium subscribers may be owed refunds for the remaining time left on their subscriptions. A subscription for the read-it-later app costs $4.99 per month or $44.99 (£32.99) per year. So if you paid for an annual membership that will not be fulfilled, you should expect some money to be deposited back onto the card you used for payments. READ MORE ON APPS Mozilla, which owns the app, said annual subscribers will receive their refunds after 8 July. No action is necessary - just wait for the money to land. It's worth noting that while the app will shut down next week, users will have until 8 October to download their saved data before all Pocket data is permanently deleted. The Glitch app, aimed at web developers, is also handing out refunds to its subscribers. Most read in Tech Those who forked out $96 (£70) for an annual Glitch Pro subscription and have paid time left will receive a refund. Users have until the end of the year to download their projects before all the data is wiped for good. Huge Global Data Breach: 16 Billion Accounts at Risk 3 No action is necessary - just wait for the money to land Credit: Cover Images
