Latest news with #NextLevel
Business Journals
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
Empowering entrepreneurs fuels economic growth in Greater Washington
Most people outside of Greater Washington define our region with grand federal buildings and the seat of government. But what if the real engine of economic growth is emerging elsewhere — inside converted warehouses, co-working spaces, bustling storefronts, and corporate campuses from Baltimore to Richmond. Here, the next generation of entrepreneurs is building the companies and jobs that will define our future, with leading employers making room for innovation, investment, and inclusive growth across the entire corridor that is shaping our economic identity. Nearly 2.2 million people across the region are employed by small businesses, representing almost half of the entire workforce and accounting for 43% of annual payroll dollars in the Baltimore-D.C.-Richmond corridor. This data tells a clear story: the vitality of our regional economy goes hand in hand with the success of our small business community. Inc. Magazine recently illustrated this when it named 42 Washington D.C. businesses to its 2025 Best Workplaces list. As regional leaders, we hold a responsibility to help champion and facilitate its growth. If we don't double down on the entrepreneurs and small businesses driving our local economies, we risk missing out on inclusive growth, new industries, and job creation that lifts the entire region. Our region's leading employers are committed to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. Representing diverse industry sectors, the Greater Washington Partnership's board of more than 30 CEO's and corporate executives from top employers like Deloitte, JPMorganChase, Amazon, Ampcus, Inc. and CareFirst are helping power our Next Level small business accelerator program, as well as program sponsors like Events DC and Kaiser Permanente — a program designed to help small businesses scale and thrive Next Level is more than curriculum — it's access. Access to the very people who shape markets, direct procurement pipelines, and unlock growth capital in our region. Its centerpiece is a masterclass model that brings senior executives from some of the region's largest employers to the table with entrepreneurs over the course of the program. More than a workshop series, it's a direct connection to seasoned corporate decision-makers who control procurement pipelines and capital flows. Each class, the instructors dive into their specific company's approach to the topic, provide real-world examples, and connections between the cohort and board partners. For example, Deloitte kicked off the series with a session on business planning, while JPMorganChase led a class on financial management. Legal guidance came from Akin, and culture-building was covered by Exelon. Later sessions explored marketing with JBG Smith, sales strategies with Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and procurement and supply chain strategies co-taught by Clark Construction and Ampcus, Inc. These company-led discussions allowed entrepreneurs to both learn and network in the same session. expand The Next Level program culminates with a pitch competition that gives six standout businesses the chance to compete for a $25,000 prize and a tailored mentorship experience with members of the Greater Washington Partnership's board. Entrepreneurs walk away with insights into business planning, sales strategy, branding, and legal compliance — all taught by practitioners who manage these functions for billion-dollar organizations. Most importantly, they leave with relationships that can lead to real contracts, investments, and growth. expand The inaugural cohort of the Next Level program saw strong results, with 83% of participants reporting they felt better equipped to navigate RFPs and contracting opportunities. Three out of four gained a deeper understanding of how to market their businesses effectively, and many saw tangible benefits: 60% received referrals for contract opportunities and 33% were connected to potential funding sources. Our 2025 Next Level participants represent a dynamic cross-section of small and emerging businesses from across the Greater Washington region, with particular strength in high- growth sectors including energy and environmental innovation, IT and healthcare technology, construction, and government contracting — all of which are key drivers of regional economic growth, underscoring the program's relevance across both traditional and emerging markets. To date, over 150 relationships have been formed between the region's procurement executives and emerging entrepreneurs, strengthening the ecosystem for small business growth and opening the door to future business leads, mentorship, and long-term support. Investments like these are turning small business success into real economic impact across the region. In 2023 alone, small businesses were responsible for more than 90% of net new job creation in Maryland and over 80% in D.C. New business formation remains high. Applications to start likely-employer businesses in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are up 23% compared to 2019, with Virginia seeing a 28% increase. The work of our Next Level program advances our 10-year blueprint for regional growth — an action plan that treats small businesses as essential infrastructure for a future-ready economy, making the Baltimore-to-Richmond corridor a national model for innovation. Realizing this vision takes shared commitment. Public and private sector leaders are already making a difference, contributing their expertise and resources every day. Our call to action is simple: Entrepreneurs are ready. The infrastructure is in place
Pink Villa
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
aespa's Winter reveals her brother was supposed to debut under SM Entertainment: 'Auditioned three times...'
Winter from aespa recently shared interesting insights regarding how her dreams to become a K-pop idol finally got real. Her revelation about her brother being the first preferred trainee candidate of her agency, SM Entertainment, surprised fans. She also shared her journey of overcoming challenges to debut under her dream entertainment label, and also discussed aespa's transformation in concept. Was Winter's brother supposed to debut under SM Entertainment instead of her? Kim Min Jeong aka Winter recently appeared on the popular YouTube show Salon Drip 2, hosted by Jang Do Yeon. The episode featuring the aespa member was released on June 1. During her candid talk about her career, Winter revealed that it was her brother who caught the eyes of SM Entertainment initially. 'At a dance festival, the staff actually intended to cast my brother, who came with me. But I ended up doing better than him— though I still didn't make it at the time,' the aespa member shared. Check out the full episode featuring Winter here She revealed that SM was her dream company and she desperately wanted to debut as a K-pop idol under them. The Dirty Work singer recalled, 'I auditioned three times for SM.' How did Winter finally get to debut as a aespa member? After being rejected twice by SM, Winter played her last shot. 'I was in contact with someone at SM, and when I said I might go to a different agency, they invited me for one final audition," she said. It was during then, that her talent and charisma won over the auditioners. After that, she signed with SM Entertainment in 2017 and trained for three and a half years, before debuting as an aespa member alongside Karina, Giselle and Ningning. Winter's revelation about aespa's concept change Winter said, 'Ningning and I were originally trained in pure and cute styles during our trainee days, and we ended up recording Next Level, which felt more like an OST remake.' It is absolutely different from aespa's current image as a group known for powerful concepts. The reason for the shift might be related to the group's evolution in style and music, adapting to the industry's trends and fan expectations.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘DD Next Level' OTT: Santhanam starrer to stream on THIS date
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Tamil actor Santhanam made his grand comeback with the horror comedy film 'DD Next Level' and after a mediocre theatrical run, the movie is gearing up for OTT release The much-awaited Tamil horror comedy 'DD Next Level' is set to premiere on OTT on June 13. A franchise film with friction 'DD Next Level', starring comedian-actor Santhanam, generated buzz not only for its genre-bending plot but also for controversy. One of the songs in the film drew criticism for allegedly disrespecting the revered Tirupati shrine, sparking backlash from certain religious groups and fans. While the team refrained from a direct response, the incident overshadowed much of the film's promotional run. What's the story? Devil's Double Next Level - Official Telugu Trailer The film's core revolves around a film critic who suddenly finds himself trapped inside the very horror movies he routinely mocks. But this isn't your usual jump-scare fare. Instead, 'DD Next Level' dives into a surreal 'horror-verse,' ruled by a ghost — not just any spirit, but a failed filmmaker seeking posthumous vengeance. As the critic navigates this paranormal realm, he must follow eerie clues, confront supernatural dangers, and ultimately reckon with his own arrogance and cynicism. The narrative offers a mix of horror, satire, and self-awareness, giving the genre a meta twist. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like SNS에서 화제인 그 팔찌, 예쁜데 의미까지... 굿네이버스 더 알아보기 Undo Streaming details and what to expect; our review Zee5, in its announcement on X, called the film '2025's biggest horror comedy blast', highlighting its quirky premise. Whether the OTT audience will respond more favourably than theatregoers remains to be seen, but DD Next Level's quirky setup, paired with Santhanam's signature humour, could find its footing in the home viewing space. ETimes gave the movie a rating of 2 stars out of 5 and our review reads, 'On a technical level, the film isn't without merit; the set designs are reasonably imaginative, and the VFX are competent. But these polished visuals serve as mere window dressing for a comedic structure that feels decidedly shaky. When the most memorable parts of your comedy are the awkward silences where the jokes were supposed to be, it's a clear sign that the script might have needed a few more levels of refinement.'
Business Upturn
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
FreedomPay Powers Pret A Manger's Payment Experience Globally
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FreedomPay, an innovative leader in Next Level Commerce™ technologies, has partnered with freshly made food and organic coffee shop, Pret A Manger. This collaboration is already powering Pret in three major markets—the United Kingdom, United States and Hong Kong with further deployments planned in Europe later in 2025 —providing a seamless and resilient payment experience for customers worldwide. This partnership provides Pret with a robust and reliable platform to support its continued growth. FreedomPay's industry-leading solution ensuring payment acceptance is consistently available and operational, a critical factor for success in the fast-paced quick service restaurant (QSR) industry. The platform's store-and-forward functionality ensures uninterrupted transaction processing even during connectivity disruptions, allowing Pret to maintain business continuity and maximize revenue. Chris Matthews, Global Retail Technology Director at Pret A Manger said, 'At Pret, we are committed to providing a frictionless and enjoyable experience for our customers. Partnering with FreedomPay allows us to leverage their best-in-class technology to ensure secure and reliable payment processing, no matter where our customers are in the world. This partnership is a key ingredient in our recipe for international success, allowing us to focus on what we do best: delivering delicious, freshly made food and organic coffee.' 'We are thrilled to partner with Pret A Manger to bring our secure and innovative commerce solutions to their expanding global market,' said Chris Kronenthal, President at FreedomPay. 'This collaboration reflects our commitment to empowering QSR brands with the technology they need to thrive in today's digital landscape. We look forward to providing Pret with data-driven insights to enhance their operations and customer satisfaction through our integrated Next Level Commerce™ platform.' About FreedomPay FreedomPay's Next Level Commerce™ platform transforms existing payment systems and processes from legacy to leading edge and enables merchants to unleash the power of pay. As the premier choice for many of the largest companies across the globe in retail, hospitality, lodging, gaming, sports and entertainment, foodservice, education, healthcare and financial services, FreedomPay's technology has been purposely built to deliver rock solid performance in the highly complex environment of global commerce. The company maintains a world-class security environment and was one of the first payment solution providers in North America to be validated by the PCI Security Standards Council. FreedomPay's robust solutions across payments, security, identity, and data analytics are available in-store, online and on-mobile and are supported by rapid API adoption. The award winning FreedomPay Commerce Platform operates on a single, unified technology stack across multiple continents allowing enterprises to deliver an innovative Next Level experience on a global scale. About Pret A Manger Pret A Manger is a beloved sandwich and organic coffee chain commonly referred to as Pret and based in the United Kingdom. The first shop opened in London in 1986 where the company is headquartered today. Pret's sandwiches, salads and wraps are freshly handmade each day in shop kitchens using quality ingredients and all coffees, teas and hot chocolates are organic. Pret operates more than 650 shops worldwide with more than 9,500 team members in 18 markets (United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, Hong Kong, France, Dubai, Kuwait, India, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Belgium, Singapore, Germany, Canada, Italy, Spain, Qatar, Greece). For more information, please visit Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SM Entertainment Artists Celebrate 30 Years With SMTown Live L.A.
Fans of SM Entertainment-signed K-Pop acts braved an unseasonably hot day for a chance to see members from 13 groups perform at Carson's Dignity Health Sports earlier this month. Known as one of Korea's 'big three' K-Pop agencies, SM brought members from acts dating back to 2003 as a part of their well-known SMTown Live concert series. This year marked the agency's 30th anniversary. It's been 13 years since the last SMTown Live in California, which took place in Anaheim. More from The Hollywood Reporter Bono Weighs in on Trump-Bruce Springsteen Drama: "There's Only One Boss in America" Sean "Diddy" Combs' Assistant of 8 Years Accuses Him of Multiple Sexual Assaults During Testimony Sean "Diddy" Combs' Ex-Assistant Testifies He Sexually Assaulted Her and Used Violence to Get His Way It was an all-day affair for fans who opted to purchase the red-carpet ticket, which gave them a chance to see their idols relatively close and kicked off before 1 p.m. Some performers stopped by the barricade of fans to snap selfies or say a quick hello. Several groups teased new music and exciting performances. TVXQ, Super Junior, SHINee's Key and Minho, EXO's Suho, Chanyeol and Kai, Red Velvet, NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, aespa, Riize, Hearts2Hearts and SMTR25 all performed; NCT Wish was slated to perform but was unable to attend due to visa issues. Girl group aespa seemingly teased their future plans at SMTown Live. 'We're about to release music very, very soon, so please stay tuned for that,' Winter told The Hollywood Reporter. The group described their performance of the night in one word: fire. The crowd went wild for the four-piece group, performing hits such as 'Whiplash' and 'Next Level.' 'It's our first time in L.A. for SMTown, and it's not every year that we can come here as a whole SMTown family,' Riize's Anton said before the concert. The group recently released their first album, Odyssey, which they previewed for fans during the L.A. show. 'It's a really special opportunity,' Anton continued. TVXQ, the eldest of the crop of performers, told THR that fans could expect to hear the duo's older songs, a promise they delivered on when they sang their 2008 K-Pop classic 'Mirotic.' The undeniably catchy track had the entire stadium singing along. 'We just want this performance to be a place where we can show a lot of synergy between the senior and the junior groups,' member Changmin told THR. Other groups like girl group Red Velvet decided to play older fan favorites. The three members who performed during the show surprised the audience with their 2018 song 'Bad Boy.' The group told THR they included it as a special treat. It was Red Velvet's first performance in L.A. in years, so they said they knew fans were 'going to love it.' On the other end of the spectrum was SM's latest endeavor, girl group Hearts2Hearts, who were fresh off a Saturday performance at Wango Tango. The eight-member outfit expressed how excited they were to be in L.A. for the first time. Stella, a vocalist, said the group was particularly looking forward to the show's final song, 'Hope from Kwangya,' where all of the night's performers come together to sing farewell. To perform that final song, all artists flocked to the stage and later waved goodbye to fans all together. SM Entertainment's next SMTown Live is set for June 28 in London. Another in Japan is scheduled for August. 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
