Latest news with #StartupWorldCup
Forbes
20-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How ‘Minority Report' Gave Birth To DISPL, An AI-Led In-Store Retail Media Platform
Retail media has become a growing force as brands and retailers pursue all sorts of ways of communicating with, and finding out more about, their customers. Emarketer puts the value of the U.S. market this year at $62.35 billion with a forecast CAGR of over 17% to 2028. Pushing the boundaries in this sector through AI-powered audience analytics and smart digital signage is Cyprus-based startup DISPL. After just 2.5 years, the company has raised more than $2 million and hired a team that includes former executives from companies like New Jersey-based cloud tech company Avaya and omnichannel communication platform Jivo. Last year, DISPL also represented Cyprus at the final of the Startup World Cup 2024 in San Francisco. Co-founder and CEO Serge Gale, a serial entrepreneur, is the driving force behind the DISPL. He has taken the best part of a decade and five pivots to bring the company to where it is today. DISPL's path began with mobile apps, inspired by the future-set 2002 Steven Spielberg-directed Minority Report. One scene featured a holographic salesperson and this made Gale think about creating all kinds of AI-driven solutions for retail that could redefine how businesses interact with customers. Gale, met the other co-founder Alex Rekish in 2012, and now DISPL's CTO, when they worked together at an outsourcing development studio that Gale founded. In 2016, Lina Fleitman, who had worked at Avaya, was brought into the fold as chief revenue officer. After some iterations, DISPL has become a platform for implementing retail media in-store. 'We help retailers, brands, and distributors unlock new revenue streams by monetizing physical spaces—making offline marketing measurable and seamlessly connected to digital,' said Gale. What does this mean? The platform collects real-time customer demographics and behavior data, allowing retailers to understand foot traffic, optimize staff performance, and deliver personalized marketing experiences directly in-store. This can enhance customer engagement to drive sales and position retailers to capture more market share. In providing these services, DISPL stressed that it is fully committed to ethical AI usage, prioritizing privacy and regulatory compliance. 'Our solutions comply with global data protection standards, ensuring no personal data storage or facial recognition,' emphasized Gale. DISPL's expansion model has been to establish strategic partnerships in different parts of the world to get the word out faster and show the platform's effectiveness. One of them is with Brazil's GlobalTera, with a view to reshaping Brazilian retailing through AI. The company, part of GT Holding, specializes in technology solutions targeting gas stations, supermarkets, and other stores. Bruno Lyra, the founder of GlobalTera, said: 'The ability to track visitor traffic was a game-changer. This type of technology is rare in Brazil, and when we show it to clients, they're immediately intrigued. DISPL's mix of digital signage and analytics was exactly what we needed.' The Brazilian company is using DISPL to expand in the country's retail market, which remains quite traditional and in need of a tech boost. Precisely understanding the audience that is in a store is becoming essential, but something retailers often neglect. Lyra said: 'It was love at first sight with DISPL, based on what we already knew from the market. The platform can control digital screens and analyze the audience. We decided it was the technology we needed to eliminate barriers and drive our expansion.' Rio de Janeiro state's supermarket chain Rede Economia, with just under 40 stores, was one of the first adopters in Brazil. Other South American markets are also a target for DISPL. Gale said: 'We are aggressively scaling across Latin America and also setting the foundation for major expansion in North America. Our platform is already powering in-store marketing across top-tier retail chains like PriceSmart, the membership warehouse club operator in Latin America, USA, and the Caribbean, as well as some brand zones in Mexico's Chedraui, and Walmart. It is changing how offline businesses run their marketing and analyze its impact.' In the latter two cases, DISPL has been implemented, through a partner, to help optimize brand spaces and fridge displays with AI-powered audience insights. 'Achieving these results is a strategic leap for us, and we're just getting started,' said Gale. 'You can also find our solutions integrated in leading car dealerships, electronics retailers, and high-traffic hospitality zones,' he added. 'While many of our flagship deployments are under strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), what we can share is this: global leaders choose DISPL when they want to combine measurable results, stable and efficient operations, and world-class tech.' Gale is now eager to get a slice of the U.S. retail media ad spend market, expected to be worth $98 billion by 2028. The tech company is currently active across the Americas, Europe, and Southeast Asia, helping retailers generate new revenue streams. The startup chose Cyprus to launch for the country's favorable business environment: a 15% corporate tax rate; European Union membership offering easy routes-to-market; and strong IP incentives. 'Additionally, our investor ASBIS Corporate VC has a hi-tech cluster here, providing office space, tax services, and support for relocating top talent, making it an ideal location for scaling up,' said Gale. However, the CEO is considering relocating the company's headquarters to Los Angeles, to tap into the much larger U.S. market and gain closer access to key partners, investors, and tech hubs. Gale said: 'The U.S. offers a dynamic ecosystem for tech growth, particularly in California, which has a strong base in media, retail, and AI—industries critical to our product. Establishing a presence here would enhance our visibility and facilitate fundraising with global VCs. Additionally, L.A. provides access to top talent in AI and marketing, which would support our scaling efforts.' DISPL says it is currently powering over 3,500 touchpoints globally with brands such as Greek electrical retailer Kotsovolos; Domino's Pizza and Indomaret in Asia (implemented by partner XION1); and Bang & Olufsen in Europe, in collaboration with ASBIS. From using digital signage to provide omni-channel experiences—where customers can, for example, scan a product with their mobile devices to access product reviews, videos, and special offers; to price checkers that also enable collection of anonymous analytics about visitors and show targeted content—the company has multiple solutions available to retailers. These interactive scenarios increase customer engagement, and the extra information provided can raise the chances of a purchase by up to 25%, also drive average transaction values, according to the company. 'Our mission is to help businesses operate smarter and more efficiently with AI technology,' explained Gale. Now DISPL is building an AI-powered analytics agent that simplifies and boosts marketing at the point-of-sale, helping retailers analyze and understand foot traffic insights, staff performance, and retail media monetization. This, the company believes, will transform physical retail spaces into data-rich marketing platforms. 'Each point-of-sale functions like an individual website, where manual marketing experiments are costly and complex,' said Gale. 'Our AI agent automates these processes, providing a programmatic approach to in-store marketing and, this year, we will launch this agent at scale. It is a major milestone that will enable our clients to manage networks of hundreds, or thousands, of stores across multiple countries by one marketing team.' Gale's ultimate aim is to make DISPL the equivalent of 'Google Ads for physical spaces.' By continuously adding useful new features, the CEO hopes to set the platform apart from competitors in the AI-powered retail media market so that retailers see it as a comprehensive go-to solution for all their offline marketing.
Associated Press
18-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize!
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 18, 2025-- Startup World Cup, the world's largest startup competition, today announced its latest series of global pitch events in collaboration with premier regional partners. This initiative will bring high-stakes pitch competitions to innovation hubs worldwide, offering startups a chance to compete for a $1 MILLION investment prize. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize! Startup World Cup is the #1 startup pitch competition in the world, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With 100+ regional pitch competitions across six continents, the competition provides a global platform for startups to showcase their innovations and secure funding. Startups can apply to pitch at our upcoming regional events and have a unique opportunity to propel their innovations onto the global stage. By participating in the Startup World Cup, startups will compete for a coveted spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale 2025, for a chance to win a $1 MILLION investment prize! The winner of each regional pitch competition will earn an invitation to the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale on October 17th, 2025 in San Francisco, California. At the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, startups not only compete for substantial funding but also gain access to an unparalleled network of global investors, customers, and media outlets, providing a launchpad for scaling their technologies worldwide. UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS: For more details and a full list of regional competitions, visit In 2025, Pegasus will host over 100+ regional events across six continents, culminating in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley in October 2025, where the world's most innovative startups will compete for the $1 MILLION global investment prize. Contact us at: [email protected] Entrepreneurs and investors interested in participating and learning more, can visit: About Pegasus Tech Ventures Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus offers intellectual and financial capital to emerging technology companies around the world. In addition to offering institutional investors a top-tier venture capital investment approach, Pegasus also offers a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large, global corporations that wish to partner with cutting-edge technology startups. For more information about Pegasus, please check out: Startup World Cup Social Media Channels to Tag & Follow: View source version on CONTACT: Janice Mok Senior Marketing Manager Email:[email protected] Phone: +1 (408) 645-5532 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FINANCE START-UP ASSET MANAGEMENT ENTREPRENEUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY CONSUMER OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Pegasus Tech Ventures Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/18/2025 07:00 PM/DISC: 06/18/2025 06:58 PM
Business Wire
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize!
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Startup World Cup, the world's largest startup competition, today announced its latest series of global pitch events in collaboration with premier regional partners. This initiative will bring high-stakes pitch competitions to innovation hubs worldwide, offering startups a chance to compete for a $1 MILLION investment prize. Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize! Share Startup World Cup is the #1 startup pitch competition in the world, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With 100+ regional pitch competitions across six continents, the competition provides a global platform for startups to showcase their innovations and secure funding. Startups can apply to pitch at our upcoming regional events and have a unique opportunity to propel their innovations onto the global stage. By participating in the Startup World Cup, startups will compete for a coveted spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale 2025, for a chance to win a $1 MILLION investment prize! The winner of each regional pitch competition will earn an invitation to the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale on October 17th, 2025 in San Francisco, California. At the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, startups not only compete for substantial funding but also gain access to an unparalleled network of global investors, customers, and media outlets, providing a launchpad for scaling their technologies worldwide. UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS: For more details and a full list of regional competitions, visit In 2025, Pegasus will host over 100+ regional events across six continents, culminating in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley in October 2025, where the world's most innovative startups will compete for the $1 MILLION global investment prize. Contact us at: info@ Entrepreneurs and investors interested in participating and learning more, can visit: About Pegasus Tech Ventures Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus offers intellectual and financial capital to emerging technology companies around the world. In addition to offering institutional investors a top-tier venture capital investment approach, Pegasus also offers a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large, global corporations that wish to partner with cutting-edge technology startups. For more information about Pegasus, please check out: Startup World Cup Social Media Channels to Tag & Follow:
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Boston Globe to Announce Fourth Annual Tech Power Players 50 List
Top Tech Leaders in New England to Be Honored at Tech Innovation Summit, Featuring Startup World Cup BOSTON, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boston Globe will announce the fourth annual Tech Power Players 50, a list of the most influential, accomplished, and interesting people working across technology in New England, at Tech Innovation Summit on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. A special online edition of the prestigious list will be published the same week, and the list with special features on select honorees will be available in print in Globe Magazine on Sunday, June 15. This year's list of Tech Power Players honors 50-plus leaders across AI, quantum computing, consumer tech, cybersecurity, health tech, sustainability, and beyond. Eighteen innovators will join the ranks of the region's Tech Power Players for the first time, demonstrating exemplary contributions to the industry and considerable career impact on technology and business in New England. "Boston continues to be a thriving hub of technology and innovation," said Linda Henry, CEO of Boston Globe Media. "This year's list of Tech Power Players tells a broad story that illustrates the vibrancy of New England's tech industry through the diverse and dynamic achievements of the individuals featured in each sector." Candidates for this year's list were selected based on the impact of their actions and accomplishments in fostering change and growth across the region. The list is vetted and decided on by the Globe's business and technology team, led by Gregory T. Huang, the Globe's business editor. "The Globe is proud to recognize the tech leaders whose forward-thinking ideas and energy for change are making a difference in this moment," said Huang. "Our region is at a crossroads in technology, and these leaders are playing a dynamic role in shaping our future success." In its fourth year, Tech Power Players 50 is a signature project of The Boston Globe's award-winning business and tech journalists. Since 2021, the Globe business and tech team has expanded its coverage to encompass the dynamic and far-reaching influence of The Hub — a region with a distinguished history in tech and an ambitious future in innovation — with offerings that include the Innovation Beat and Trendlines newsletters, profiles of prominent figures in Bold Types, investigations of consumer concerns in The Fine Print, and more. This year, the Globe's Tech Innovation Summit will also feature the USA-Boston Regional Startup World Cup. Hosted with Pegasus Tech Ventures, the East Coast Regional Pitch Competition will offer an opportunity for Boston's best and brightest to pitch their most innovative startup ideas to qualify for the Grand Finale in Silicon Valley. Learn more about the Tech Innovation Summit and competing in the Startup World Cup. Read and experience the full Tech Power Players 50 list at and in a commemorative issue of the Globe Magazine available on June 15. Contact: Boston Globe Media Communications, 888-729-4091, communications@ About Boston Globe Media:Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC is a locally owned, award-winning media company serving Boston and New England for over 153 years. Its cornerstone is The Boston Globe, a 27-time Pulitzer Prize-winning news source and one of the most successful metro news organizations in the United States. The Globe is headquartered in Boston with regional bureaus in Washington, D.C., Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The Globe has been successfully growing its direct subscriber base, today boasting the highest total number of subscribers the organization has had since 2008. The Globe hosts events that connect community members to its journalism and provides a range of digital and home-delivered advertising solutions that reach more consumers than any other New England media brand. Boston Globe Media's portfolio includes The Boston Globe, STAT, The B-Side, Globe Publishing Services, Globe Events, Studio/B, and Boston magazine. View original content: SOURCE The Boston Globe
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vocxi Health Wins 2025 Startup World Cup Silicon Valley Regional Competition
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 20, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Startup World Cup, one of the biggest and richest startup pitch competitions in the world, successfully hosted its highly anticipated flagship Startup World Cup Silicon Valley Regional competition on May 1, 2025. Out of the Top 15 finalists, Vocxi Health, which is a breakthrough breath-based diagnostic platform that detects diseases like cancer, infections, and injuries in under a minute—anywhere, anytime, became the champion. This achievement paves the way for their participation in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale to be held in San Francisco on October 17, 2025 for an opportunity to win a $1,000,000 investment prize. The event was organized and by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based global venture capital firm. A panel of independent venture capital investors from Kholsa Ventures, Samsung Ventures, First Round, Lightspeed, Engineering Capital, and more judged the pitches of the finalists and ultimately awarded Vocxi Health as the winner. "We are delighted by the quality and enthusiasm of the entrepreneurs who were competing, and the energy was amazing," said Anis Uzzaman, Founder and CEO of Pegasus Tech Ventures, who created the Startup World Cup competition in 2016. "Each year we are impressed by the quality of startups who apply and present. I look forward to seeing Vocxi Health on the Grand Finale stage." With more speakers to come, Mark Papermaster (CTO of AMD), Charly Kevers (CFO of Carta), Camilla Matias (COO of Brex), Ben Kus (CTO of Box), and more are already confirmed to speak at the Grand Finale on October 17th, 2025 in San Francisco. ( Event Details: Startup World Cup 2025 Grand FinaleOctober 17, 2025San Francisco Hilton Union Square Grand Finale Tickets: Check out the Grand Finale video highlights here. About Startup World Cup Startup World Cup is a global conference and competition with the goal of bridging startup ecosystems worldwide. The competition gives startup companies from all over the world a chance to win a US $1,000,000 prize in the form of an investment. This year, there will be 100+ regional events across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, leading up to the Grand Finale in San Francisco in September. Startup World Cup is organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based global venture capital firm. About Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale: The Startup World Cup Grand Finale will take place in San Francisco, October 17, 2025. Past Startup World Cup Grand Finale events featured prominent figures from the high-tech community, including Steve Wozniak (Co-Founder of Apple), Reid Hoffman (Founding CEO of LinkedIn), Vinod Khosla (Co-Founder of Sun Microsystems), Adam Cheyer (Co-Founder of Siri), Marc Randolph (Co-Founder of Netflix), and John Chambers (Former CEO of Cisco). The Grand Finale judging panels have included prominent investors from Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed, NEA, Intel Capital, DFJ, Social Capital, and Index Ventures. View source version on Contacts Janice MokSenior Marketing ManagerEmail: janice@ Phone: +1 (408) 645-5532
