South Carolina State Representative Joe Jefferson to Run for Re-Election

Read More

PINEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – State Representative Joseph “Joe” Jefferson (D-Berkeley) will run for re-election to the South Carolina House of Representatives to represent the people of House District 102 in Berkeley and Dorchester counties.

“I’m running for re-election to continue working for the people of Berkeley County and Dorchester County. I believe we have a lot of work to do to support public schools, fix our roads and bridges, and bring more jobs to the Lowcountry,” Rep. Jefferson said. “I’m fighting to make South Carolina the best place to live and work.”

During his time in the State House, Rep. Jefferson has been a leading voice for supporting public education, expanding access to affordable health care, and building a local economy that supports good-paying jobs.

He serves on the Labor, Commerce and Industry (LCI) Committee, which oversees legislation relating to businesses in South Carolina. He also serves as the 1st Vice Chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee, which supervises state government agencies.

House District 102 covers portions of Berkeley County, including St. Stephen, Russellville, Pineville, and parts of Bonneau, Cross, and Cane Bay, and Dorchester County, including Ridgeville and Harleyville.

For more information on Rep. Joe Jefferson’s campaign, visit jefferson102.com.

Coming this June, 2024: Wit’s End Comedy Lounge to North Charleston, SC – Raising the Bar of Comedy!

Read More

This June, 2024, the Charleston area comedy scene is going to be raised to a new level. Local comedian and promoter Josh Bates is bringing his passion to the masses with this Wit’s End Comedy Lounge scheduled to open June 1, 2024. The club is located at 3324 Rivers Avenue (You can’t miss the giant red building with Richard Pryor on the side).

Featured acts will come from the Charleston area and stretch to Savannah, Columbia and beyond.

Here is what you need to know:

Wit’s End Comedy Lounge will feature a full-service bar, a 90-seat theater, a rentable podcast studio (available in July, 2024), green room and a pending VIP space with a pool table and arcade machines.

  • Location: Wit’s End Comedy Lounge – 3324 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston SC 29405
  • Hours: 4:00 PM – Midnight – Closed on Tuesdays
  • Official Website
  • Follow on INSTAGRAM
  • Click HERE for tickets to upcoming shows

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

1st Choice AC, Heating, Plumbing, & Gas Announces Exciting Relocation to Better Serve Charleston, SC Area

Read More

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Just weeks shy of their third anniversary on April 5, 2024, 1st Choice AC, Heating, Plumbing, & Gas is thrilled to announce their relocation to a new, larger facility to better serve the Mount Pleasant, Islands, Charleston, and surrounding tri-county areas. The trusted home comfort company will be moving to 2079 Wambaw Creek Road, Unit 3, Charleston, S.C. 29492 effective April 1, 2024.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support of our customers over the past three years,” says Tim Myers, Owner of 1st Choice AC, Heating, Plumbing, & Gas. “This move allows us to expand our service capabilities and provide an even better experience for our valued clients.”

The new location offers several advantages for 1st Choice customers:

  • Increased Space: The new facility provides significantly more space, allowing 1st Choice to expand its inventory and streamline operations, leading to faster service for customers. It will allow them to have the best in-house training available for the entire team, a full sheet metal shop to make custom fittings and ductwork and to do custom metal fabrication for other companies. They will be able to keep their excavator and other heavy equipment on site and be ready to install, repair and replace water lines, drain lines, sewer lines and gas lines through the plumbing and gas departments.
  • Enhanced Customer Experience: The expansion of the dedicated customer service and in house accounting departments will make scheduling and completing transactions a breeze.

“This relocation signifies our commitment to continued growth and exceptional customer service,” says Tim. “We look forward to continuing to be their trusted 1st Choice for all their home comfort needs.”

About 1st Choice A/C, Heating, Plumbing & Gas: Many homeowners struggle to find a reliable and honest A/C, heating, plumbing, and gas service provider. Our highly trained technicians give each job their full attention so homeowners get the best solution for their homes and budget. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Visit their website http://www.1stChoiceforAC.com or call 

843-518-1479. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn at @1stChoiceforAC.

Charleston, SC based Ignite Digital Services cements Databricks Partnership

Read More
Integration concept. Industrial and smart technology. Business and automation solutions.

Ignite Digital Services Cements Databricks Partnership

CHARLESTON, S.C. – March 19, 2024 – Operational consulting company Ignite Digital Services continues strengthening its data management expertise by partnering with data and AI company, Databricks. By joining the Databricks partner program, Ignite Digital is better positioned to offer innovative and comprehensive data solutions at scale.

“Databricks offers a critical platform that helps bring about a data-forward enterprise,” shares Marc Murphy, president of Ignite Digital. “We can build client solutions with data, analytics and AI working together to enhance the user experience within one unified platform – the data lakehouse.”

Databricks’ Data Intelligence Platform helps organizations unify teams for all data-driven use cases. From streaming analytics and AI to business intelligence (BI), Databricks provides a modern lakehouse architecture that brings data engineering, data science, machine learning and analytics to a single collaborative, cloud-based platform. This architecture – comprising data lakes and data warehouses – prioritizes a highly adaptable and collaborative data environment where data scientists, engineers, and business analysts can work together seamlessly. 

“Databricks is highly adaptable and delivers a comprehensive data and AI platform,” adds Murphy. “Positioning our consulting expertise, our industry knowledge and our digital capabilities with a platform partner like Databricks results in tailored data solutions that serve our clients well.”

To explore Ignite Digital’s data capabilities, including its Databricks platform solutions, visit ignite-digital.com.  

About Ignite Digital Services

Ignite Digital Services harnesses the power of digital technology and effective business solutions to ignite digital transformations for the national security industry. With a keen focus on purposeful results and innovative capabilities, the company offers unparalleled value that supports mission-critical initiatives. Learn more about Ignite Digital Services at ignite-digital.com.

Top 25 Artificial Intelligence Companies of 2024

Read More

The Software Report is pleased to announce the Top 25 Artificial Intelligence Companies of 2024. Officially coined in 1956, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a single technology but rather an umbrella term for any hardware or software that can perform cognitive functions we usually associate with the human mind. This includes but is not limited to speech recognition, computer vision, machine learning, natural language generation and artificial neural networks. The global AI market is set to reach a value of $1.35 trillion by 2030, and to contribute $15.3 trillion to the global economy that same year. The breadth of companies recognized this year spans early-stage startups making significant inroads in niche markets, to established giants pioneering AI research and application and showcasing a diverse range of expertise and groundbreaking achievements.

Among this year’s awardees is Clari, a company that is revolutionizing revenue management by improving revenue collaboration governance. They are transforming how businesses forecast and achieve revenue growth, making the entire revenue process more efficient and predictable. Aurigo builds software that helps build the world. They offer advanced cloud-based solutions to stakeholders in capital infrastructure projects and the private sector, helping them manage large-scale projects such as the construction of roads, bridges, buildings, and utilities. Dstillery provides laser-focused targeting with custom audience solutions. They specialize in AI-driven ad targeting, enabling brands and agencies to target their most valuable prospects via effective programmatic advertising campaigns.

The selection process for the Top 25 Artificial Intelligence Companies was highly competitive.  It involved the evaluation of software effectiveness, technological innovation, organizational capabilities, management team caliber and workplace culture, among other factors.

Please join us in recognizing the accomplishments of the Top 25 Artificial Intelligence companies of 2024.

1. Fractal Analytics

Fractal, a key AI provider for Fortune 500 companies, is dedicated to enhancing every enterprise decision with AI, engineering, and design. Its portfolio includes Crux Intelligence for AI-driven business insights, Eugenie.ai for sustainable AI solutions, Asper.ai for revenue growth management, Senseforth.ai for conversational AI, and Flyfish for generative AI in sales. Fractal has also incubated Qure.ai, a healthcare AI player detecting tuberculosis and lung cancer. 

Founded in 2001, it now has more than 4000 employees globally, and operates in 16 locations, including the US, UK, Ukraine, India, Singapore, and Australia, and maintains dual headquarters in Mumbai and New York City. They have raised a total of $685 million in funding over 5 rounds, the last of which was in January 2022. 

In 2023, Fractal launched Flyfish, the first generative AI sales platform for consultative customer experiences. In 2022, it announced Asper.ai, an interconnected AI solution for consumer goods, manufacturing, and retail. Fractal continues to lead AI innovation, shaping industries directly. 

2. Dynatrace

Dynatrace, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, is a global leader in ensuring flawless software performance. With a singular focus on making the world’s software work perfectly, Dynatrace offers a unified platform that combines broad and deep observability, continuous runtime application security, and advanced AIOps. The company’s mission is to empower innovators to modernize and automate cloud operations, deliver software securely and efficiently, and ensure impeccable digital experiences.

Boasting a comprehensive approach to observability, Dynatrace simplifies cloud complexity, enabling global organizations to innovate faster in the modern cloud landscape. They have over 3,600 enterprise customers, 4,200 employees, and a total addressable market exceeding $50 billion.

Recent milestones include the acquisition of Runecast to enhance cloud-native security and compliance, as well as the launch of a new Kubernetes experience for platform engineering teams. Additionally, Dynatrace has expanded its reach by launching its SaaS-based Enterprise Observability Platform on AWS in India.

3. Clari

Clari is recognized as a leader in revenue collaboration and governance, providing the only enterprise platform to run the most important business process: Revenue. It serves over 1,500 leading organizations, including Okta, Adobe, Workday, Zoom, and Finastra, helping them enhance win rates, prevent deal slippage, forecast accurately, and increase productivity for all employees involved in revenue activities.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, with a substantial $520 million in venture capital funding, Clari has solidified its presence with an impressive user base of 220,000+ across 170 countries. The recent acquisition of Groove has strengthened its leadership in the revenue platform domain, responding effectively to customer demands for technology consolidation and accelerated revenue.

Clari has also introduced innovative tools like RevGPT, which provides revenue teams with prescriptive insights and strategies to maximize revenue potential. The launch of the Integration Hub emphasizes Clari’s dedication to facilitating seamless revenue management processes for enterprises. With a committed team of approximately 800 employees, Clari is at the forefront of transforming Revenue Management worldwide.

4. Sprinklr

Sprinklr, a New York City-based enterprise software company, leads in transforming customer-facing functions. Their Unified Customer Experience Management (Unified-CXM) platform, driven by advanced AI, ensures consistent human-centric experiences across modern channels. Operating globally with 25 offices in 16 countries, Sprinklr collaborates with over 1,400 enterprises, including major brands like Microsoft, P&G, and Samsung, representing over 50% of the Fortune 100.

Sprinklr’s impact lies in breaking down silos within teams and enhancing customer satisfaction. Recently, they introduced Conversational AI+, streamlining bot creation for swift and more efficient self-service interactions. Noteworthy partnerships, such as collaboration with Cosentino for a unified social media and marketing strategy, and alliance with infinit.cx for AI-powered contact center solutions, cement Sprinklr’s position as a leader shaping the future of customer experience management.

5. Simpplr

Simpplr, based in Redwood City, California, is a leader in revolutionizing the employee experience through a modern intranet platform with advanced AI-powered technology. Continuously learning and adapting, Simpplr aims to inspire and engage individuals while enabling leaders to make informed decisions. The company operates globally, with offices in India, Canada, and the UK.

Simpplr has a customer base exceeding 1000 and over 2 million active users. They deliver 2 billion experiences annually, with a 95% customer retention rate and a significant 282% ROI for clients.

In 2023, Simpplr made strategic moves, acquiring Socrates.ai, an AI-powered virtual assistant, to enhance employee productivity. The introduction of a new employee recognition product further underscores Simpplr’s commitment to fostering organizational culture and performance. Securing $70 million in new funding, Simpplr has strengthened its role in providing personalized employee experiences that lead to measurable business outcomes. This commitment to excellence drives both individuals and organizations toward substantial achievements.

6. Five9

Founded in 2001, Five9 is a leading provider of cloud contact center software. With over 20 years of experience, Five9 focuses on transforming contact centers into customer engagement hubs. The company’s suite includes digital engagement, analytics, workforce optimization, and AI-driven automation, enhancing agent productivity and delivering concrete business outcomes.

With a global workforce of more than 2,500 employees, Five9 serves over 2,500 enterprise, mid-market, and SMB customers across 104 countries. They have collaborated with over 1450 global SI, channel, and technology partners, highlighting their commitment to expanding industry influence. Recent partnerships, such as the extended collaboration with BT and the introduction of Agent Assist 2.0 with AI Summary, demonstrate Five9’s dedication to advancing cloud adoption and improving global customer experiences. The strategic partnership with MCM Telecom and XTT Mexico further underlines Five9’s focus on delivering integrated CX solutions in the LATAM region.

7. SymphonyAI

Founded in 2017, SymphonyAI is a major player in enterprise AI SaaS products, driving digital transformation across pivotal sectors like retail, consumer packaged goods, finance, manufacturing, media, and IT/enterprise service management. As part of the SAIGroup, it benefits from a $1 billion commitment from entrepreneur Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, rapidly expanding its team to over 3,000 professionals.

Recent milestones include a remarkable 30% growth in Retail CPG ARR, propelled by AI innovations expanding software to an additional 80,000 retail stores. In a strategic move, SymphonyAI joined forces with Microsoft to revolutionize the retail landscape with next-gen AI solutions. These developments underscore SymphonyAI’s significant role in shaping the future of enterprise AI and its commitment to driving innovation across diverse industry verticals.

8. Aurigo Software

Aurigo specializes in developing software that plays a pivotal role in global construction efforts. Offering advanced, cloud-based solutions, Aurigo empowers owners in the capital infrastructure and private sectors to plan effectively and ensure quality in their builds. Managing over $300 billion in capital programs, Aurigo’s software is the choice of more than 300 clients across key industries such as transportation, water and utilities, healthcare, higher education, and government, overseeing more than 40,000 projects throughout North America. Leveraging proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, Aurigo enables executives to make informed decisions, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of capital programs. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Aurigo is a privately owned corporation with a global presence, including offices in Canada and India.

The company recently marked significant milestones, partnering with Erie County to modernize its capital improvement program and expanding its reach with a new facility in Mysore in January 2024. Orange County has also recognized the value of collaboration, choosing Aurigo Software to streamline right of way and project management. Aurigo continues to be a driving force in shaping the future of infrastructure development worldwide.

9. AlphaSense

AlphaSense, a market intelligence and search platform, has been a pivotal player in empowering global enterprises and financial institutions since its establishment in 2011. With a workforce exceeding 1,000  spread across offices in the U.S., U.K., Finland, Germany, India, and Singapore, AlphaSense is a leader in leveraging AI-based technology to deliver unparalleled insights. The platform curates information from diverse sources such as equity research, company filings, event transcripts, expert calls, news, trade journals, and clients’ proprietary research content.

In a recent milestone, AlphaSense introduced the AlphaSense Assistant, an innovative GenAI-powered chat experience, enhancing user interaction and accessibility. Furthermore, the company secured a strategic investment from Singapore-based global investor EDBI and achieved a remarkable $2.5 billion valuation with a successful $150 million Series E funding round led by BOND. Mark Leadercramer has been appointed to spearhead AlphaSense’s expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, establishing the company’s global footprint in the competitive market intelligence landscape.

10. ConcertAI

ConcertAI, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusets, is a leader in real-world evidence (RWE) and generative AI technology in healthcare and life sciences. With a mission to expedite insights and outcomes for patients, ConcertAI collaborates with biomedical innovators, healthcare providers, and medical societies, leveraging cutting-edge data, AI technologies, and scientific expertise. The company’s impact resonates across 1,900 clinical sites and 45 biomedical innovators through its comprehensive solutions.

ConcertAI recently acquired CancerLinQ, establishing a significant healthcare learning and research network in oncology. The company has also formed agreements with a leading cancer center to advance precision oncology with AI-enabled imaging solutions. Additionally, its collaboration with Caris Life Sciences has led to the development of a Clinico-Genomic research platform. ConcertAI’s commitment to innovation positions it as a key player in improving healthcare through the integration of AI and real-world evidence.

11. ExpertusONE

ExpertusONE is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and was founded in 1998. An award-winning global leader in learning management systems (LMS), it transforms corporate training and development delivery. It features a design that combines elegance and intuitive functionality, offering an easy-to-use learning experience. The platform is mobile-ready and supports a wide user base across various environments and devices. It caters not only to company employees but also to external customers and partners, delivering diverse training types including product, sales, compliance, and skills training.

ExpertusONE integrates LMS, learning experience platform (LXP), and skills into a single cloud-based system. It accommodates all training formats, from SCORM and xAPI to multimedia and virtual reality, through one platform interface. Its industry-specific solutions meet the compliance needs of sectors such as manufacturing, software/technology, healthcare, retail, and finance. The platform’s extensible architecture integrates with applications like Salesforce, Slack, and Microsoft Teams, enhancing collaborative and seamless learning experiences.

Using artificial intelligence, ExpertusONE offers personalized content and training recommendations, alongside comprehensive dashboard insights for managers to track performance, and manage LMS reporting and analytics. It is the preferred choice for businesses ranging from small enterprises to Fortune 1000 companies, looking for a scalable and innovative training and development solution.

12. Care.ai

Based in Orlando, Florida, with a total of $27 million in funding, care.ai is pioneering the use of AI in healthcare with the world’s first advanced AI-powered smart care facility platform. With healthcare’s leading always-aware ambient intelligent sensors, care.ai transforms physical environments into self-aware smart care spaces. This innovation enhances safety, efficiency, and the quality of care in both acute and post-acute settings. Simultaneously, it autonomously improves clinical and operational workflows and enables new virtual care models for smart care teams, including smart-from-the-start virtual nursing solutions.

Recently, care.ai expanded its capabilities through a partnership with Google Cloud, integrating advanced solutions for nurses that leverage generative AI and data analytics. Additionally, strategic alliances with Get Well and Samsung underscore care.ai’s dedication to accelerating the integration of virtual care in smart hospitals. These collaborations equip smart care teams with high-fidelity virtual care experiences, showcasing care.ai’s commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery through innovation.

13. Dstillery

Dstillery, a prominent AI ad targeting company headquartered in New York City, empowers brands and agencies to reach their most promising prospects through high-performing programmatic advertising campaigns. They have raised a total of $60.4 million in funding over seven rounds, the latest in 2019 from a series D round. With the support of award-winning data science, Dstillery has obtained 19 patents (and is still counting) for its AI technology, which drives precise and scalable audience creation.

Their latest innovation, ID-free Custom AI®, represents a privacy-focused targeting solution that performs on par with cookies but without relying on identifiers. Furthermore, their premier product, Custom AI Audiences, which is based on identifiers, tailors its targeting exclusively to the brand it serves. It continually assesses hundreds of millions of users to provide the best and most unique audience segments. Some of their most notable customers include T-Mobile, Hyundai, and Advil.

14. Findem

Findem is the only talent data platform that combines 3D data with AI. It automates and consolidates top-of-funnel activities across the entire talent ecosystem, bringing together sourcing, CRM and analytics into one place. Only Findem’s 3D data connects people and company data over time – making an individual’s entire career instantly accessible in a single click, removing the guesswork and unlocking insights about the market and competition no one else can. Powered by 3D data, Findem’s automated workflows across the talent lifecycle are the ultimate competitive advantage. By enabling talent teams to deliver continuous pipelines of top, diverse candidates while creating better talent experiences, Findem transforms the way companies plan, hire and manage talent.

Recently, Findem launched their Talent Data Cloud, which automates and consolidates top-of-funnel activities across the entire talent ecosystem, bringing together sourcing, CRM and analytics into one place. They also integrated GenAI capabilities throughout the Talent Data Cloud, enabling talent teams to get trusted AI-assisted answers to questions no one else can answer about candidates, talent pools and the market.

Furthermore, Findem launched an AI-powered Copilot for Sourcing that automates repetitive tasks across multiple talent channels, giving time back to recruiters to focus on higher-value activities that deliver more value to the business.

15. InformedIQ

San Francisco-based company Informed.IQ, is trusted by leading lenders for instant verifications of income, assets, residence, auto, and credit stipulations, enabling unbiased, real-time credit decisions. Their AI models, trained on various document types and consumer-permissioned data sources, automate stipulation clearance for lenders. They have raised $20 million in funding over three rounds.

In 2023, Informed.IQ processed almost 6 million consumer credit applications for US lenders, automating over $125 billion in loan originations with 99% accuracy in seconds, without human intervention. Their robust knowledge graph and data consortium, encompassing more than 60 million records and 1.5 billion lending data points, empowers a configurable, verticalized AI platform. This platform enables financial institutions to seamlessly scale their entire portfolio of documents and data.

In June 2023, Informed.IQ introduced AI-Powered verifications for financial institutions in the AWS marketplace. In November 2023, they were granted a new patent, significantly improving the quality of information extraction based on contextual analysis from multiple documents. December 2023 saw them launch an AI-powered copilot and human-in-the-loop services, streamlining lenders’ operational processes. This innovative approach augments their top-tier AI capabilities in extractions, verification, and fraud detection with a human-in-the-loop copilot. This enhancement boosts the efficiency of loan officers, ensures the highest possible extraction rates, and empowers lenders to automate a greater portion of their applications.

16. Amelia

Amelia, an enterprise AI solutions provider based in New York, delivers concrete business outcomes through purpose-built applications. With a proven track record and deep business insight, Amelia specializes in Conversational AI for enhanced customer and employee engagement.

Trusted by thousands of companies, Amelia provides front-line service and measurable bottom-line results. Notable collaborations, like the 2023 partnership with UiPath, and a recent $175 million strategic investment from BuildGroup and Monroe Capital, emphasize Amelia’s commitment to shaping the future of AI-driven solutions.

Amelia’s context-aware, natural language conversational capabilities create personalized interactions, improving customer satisfaction. Businesses can optimize their workforce by training Amelia to handle manual tasks, freeing up human resources for more impactful activities.

17. Clarity AI

Founded in 2017 in New York City, Clarity AI is a leading sustainability technology platform, utilizing machine learning and big data to provide crucial environmental and social insights for investors, organizations, and consumers. They have raised $80 million over six funding rounds. Analyzing over 70,000 companies, 420,000 funds, and 400 governments, Clarity AI stands as a key tool for end-to-end sustainability analysis in investing, corporate research, benchmarking, e-commerce, and regulatory reporting.

The platform’s impact is unrivaled, reaching more than 150 million consumers and integrating with partners such as BlackRock – Aladdin, Refinitiv, BNP Manaos, CACEIS, and SimCorp. With offices in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, Clarity AI serves a client network managing trillions in assets, including major players like Invesco, Nordea, BlackRock, Santander, Wellington, and BNP Paribas.

Recent milestones, including a strategic partnership with Radient AI, the introduction of an SFDR-aligned sustainable investment index methodology, and collaboration with Aspiration to meet rising consumer demand, showcase Clarity AI’s commitment to advancing sustainability across various sectors.

18. Lucidworks

Lucidworks empowers clients by turning search into a powerful asset for superior digital experiences. With a strong belief in the impact of effective search and browse functionalities, Lucidworks uses AI and machine learning to connect users with products, content, and information. Global brands like Crate & Barrel, Lenovo, Red Hat, and Cisco Systems trust Lucidworks’ products to fuel their commerce, customer service, and workplace applications, enhancing customer satisfaction and employee capabilities.

With four global office locations, 304 employees, and 15 years in the industry, Lucidworks is synonymous with search excellence. They have raised a total funding amount of $209 million. Recent enhancements to the Fusion search platform and Lucidworks AI™ include integration capabilities for all generative AI and large language models. In collaboration with Google Cloud, Lucidworks provides a comprehensive solution for commerce, customer service, and the workplace. With 300,000 everyday users, Lucidworks continues to shape the future of digital engagement.

19. OpenSpace

OpenSpace, the global leader in reality capture and AI-powered analytics for construction projects, empowers builders of all scales globally. Funded in part by NASA, the California-based company boasts a user base exceeding 186,000 across 93 countries. OpenSpace offers a cutting-edge solution to capture comprehensive visual records of construction sites, enhancing verification processes, dispute resolution, and team accountability. Leveraging AI-powered computer vision and analytics, OpenSpace enables seamless comparison of building information modeling (BIM) to as-built structures, automated progress tracking, and adherence to project schedules. The platform streamlines workflows, promoting effective communication, optimized resource allocation, and prompt decision-making.

In recent advancements, OpenSpace introduced 360° reality capture and AI enhancements, facilitating faster coordination between field and virtual design and construction (VDC) teams. Additionally, collaborations with industry leaders like Revizto and enterprise agreements with companies like Performance Contracting, Inc. underscore OpenSpace’s commitment to advancing reality capture technology in construction.

20. Resolve Tech Solutions

RTS is a global technology services company headquartered in Texas. RTS caters to both Fortune 500 enterprises and small to medium-sized businesses across diverse sectors, including telecom, retail, government, aerospace, defense, utilities, oil & gas, and real estate. For seven consecutive years, RTS has held the title of the largest services partner to SAP in North America. With over two decades of deep technical expertise in ERP consulting, the company manages an impressive SAP-related workloads, marking one of the most substantial footprints of SAP ERP in the public cloud.

Recognizing the complexities of cloud migration initiatives, RTS excels in providing best-in-class managed cloud delivery services. Leveraging its extensive SAP and public cloud experience, RTS ensures seamless transitions and transformations for any cloud project. They boast a track record of successfully handling more than 6000 managed cloud virtual machines, completing upward of 150 projects, and accumulating over 25 years of ERP consulting experience. RTS saves an impressive 10 million+ manual hours through business process improvement. Resolve Tech Solution’s ability to take the complexities of ERP systems such as SAP and automate tedious tasks while providing intelligent reporting especially for those utilizing RISE with SAP, Along with the launch of JUNO Labs (www.junolabs.ai), has made RTS a recognized leader in AI.

21. Conversica

Conversica, headquartered in San Mateo, CA, is reshaping revenue teams’ dynamics with its AI-powered digital assistants, propelling growth through authentic, strategically crafted conversations. With over a decade of refining billions of interactions, Conversica’s AI assistants, distinguished from typical chatbots, excel in influencing customers across the entire journey, maximizing revenue opportunities, and fostering brand loyalty.

Conversica has partnered with Salesforce for a groundbreaking conversational AI project and seamlessly integrated its generative AI conversational platform with Salesforce Marketing Cloud. A strategic collaboration with Quantum Sports + Entertainment further underscores Conversica’s expanding reach. The recent introduction of an enterprise-ready GPT-powered chat solution demonstrates the company’s commitment to delivering highly personalized experiences.

Notable achievements include a staggering 1.2 billion interactions, a $101 billion revenue opportunity generated, and an impressive 24x return on investment.

22. Aisera

Aisera is a leading provider of Generative AI Solutions that helps enterprises boost revenue, improve user productivity, lower operating expenses and create magical user experiences. Aisera’s products are AiseraGPT, AI Copilot, AI Search and AiseraLLMs which are built on the AI Experience (AIX) platform that serves as an enterprise Generative AI stack for organizations to buy or build solutions. Aisera solutions deliver human-like interactions while providing contextually rich conversations that boost workforce productivity. Aisera’s AIX platform with pre-trained domain-specific LLMs is customizable to customer data, such that enterprises can get better accuracy, lower hallucinations and increased resolution rates. Aisera offers these domain-specific LLMs across a wide range, including IT, HR, Finance, Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Life Sciences, Healthcare, Financial Services, and Retail.

Aisera compliments these offers with action bots that are built-in and customized AI workflows through a Visual studio to take actions and improve business process automation. Organizations can unlock human potential to save millions of operations costs, enhance productivity by 80%, and achieve 75% auto-resolution rates – all while reducing support costs by 80%. Aisera is an award-winning, top-tier VC-funded startup headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, recognized as a leader in multiple industry analyst reports.

23. Aktana

Aktana, a pioneer in intelligent customer engagement for the global life sciences industry, tailors customer experiences for over 350 brands. Their AI-powered contextual intelligence engine is the go-to tool for commercial and medical teams worldwide, optimizing personalized omnichannel engagement at scale. With a client roster boasting over half of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies, Aktana has firmly established itself as the industry leader.

In a strategic move, Aktana recently acquired Tact.ai’s Field Engagement and Conversational AI Technology, expanding its capabilities. Additionally, the company introduced Contextual Intelligence 360, a rapid deployment solution designed to bolster pharma brand product launches. This is particularly significant for life sciences companies navigating patent cliffs and smaller pipelines. Headquartered in San Francisco, Aktana maintains a global presence with offices strategically located in major biopharma regions. They have raised a total funding amount of $99.2 million over 8 rounds, the latest in January 2021.

24. OfferFit

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, OfferFit is a leader in automated experimentation platforms, transforming how enterprises approach testing and learning. Using reinforcement learning, a subtype of self-learning AI, OfferFit empowers marketers to extract optimal business value from their first-party data, specifically focusing on identified existing customers. The platform serves top brands in telecommunications, energy, retail, travel, and financial services, including clients such as MetLife, Foxtel Group, and Brinks Home, highlighting OfferFit’s industry impact.

In a significant development, OfferFit recently secured a substantial $25 million Series B funding round, led by Menlo Ventures. With a dedicated team of 90 employees, OfferFit continues to redefine automated experimentation, setting new standards for efficiency and effectiveness in data-driven marketing strategies. 

25. Arize AI

Arize AI is a machine learning observability platform that helps machine learning (ML) teams deliver and maintain more successful AI in production. Arize’s automated model monitoring and observability platform allows ML teams to quickly detect issues when they emerge, troubleshoot why they happened, and improve overall model performance across both structured data and image and large language models. Arize is a remote-first company with headquarters in Berkeley, CA. They have raised a total funding amount of $61 million.

In recent developments, Arize AI introduced industry-first features, including prompt engineering and retrieval tracing workflows tailored for troubleshooting LLMs. The company also launched Phoenix, an open-source library dedicated to evaluating large language models like OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Google’s Bard. These tools target production deployments, strengthening validation and risk management for LLM integration into vital business systems. Arize AI is at the forefront of reshaping machine learning observability, asserting its leadership in the field.

Source link: The Software Report

Gwyneth Paltrow and Moments of Space launch groundbreaking eyes-open meditation app

Read More

 LONDON, March 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In collaboration with wellness and beauty icon Gwyneth Paltrow, the groundbreaking new meditation app Moments of Space is set to redefine mindfulness through a unique fusion of ancient Dzogchen teachings and cutting-edge tech. With their powerful ‘eyes-open’ approach, Moments of Space aims to make awakening accessible to all.

Credit: Greg Williams
Credit: Greg Williams

The AI-powered app introduces a distinctive ‘eyes-open meditation’ approach that challenges perceived notions of silent and solemn meditative practice by allowing users to engage with the world while developing a deep connection with their inner selves.

Gwyneth Paltrow, known for challenging convention and bringing new ideas into the mainstream, is at the forefront of this transformative venture as one of the co-owners, bringing her passion for mindfulness to a global community.

Once you learn how to do eyes-open meditation – something you can literally incorporate at any time – you can be engaged with the world but still very connected to yourself,” said Gwyneth. “I rely on it to feel more whole.”

Moments of Space founder Kim Little is a Buddhist and software developer who believes that life and meditation can become one. “Moments of Space was born out of a desire to make meditation an integral part of my daily life“, said Kim. “I was highly motivated to create an app that truly does justice to the teachings I experienced during my meditation retreats, and puts them in people’s pockets – making them practical and personal, any place and any time.”

Through their innovative approach that utilizes the latest tech to help users integrate ancient practices seamlessly into their busy modern lives, Moments of Space set themselves apart from meditation platforms of the past, and aim to bring forth a global awakening.

As Gwyneth Paltrow puts it, “I think we’re living in a time where there’s a lot of bifurcation and people have gone into their corners – closing in, closing down, closing ranks. I believe eyesopen meditation could be potentially important for changing the world and deepening how we connect to ourselves, and others.”

Key Features of Moments of Space include:

  • Eyes-Open Meditation: The app guides users through a unique form of meditation with their eyes open, allowing for engagement with the world while remaining deeply connected to oneself.
  • Accessible Any Time, Any Place: With eyes-open meditations and walking practices, Moments of Space ensures that users can find a moment of space at any time and in any place. The app promotes an achievable and provenly beneficial ‘little and often’ approach.
  • AI-powered Personalization: With a Reflect feature that captures how you are feeling on a regular basis, the app uses artificial intelligence to find just the right content and for your needs and can serve this to you intelligently in Walking Mode or while commuting. This innovative approach allows users to seamlessly incorporate mindfulness into daily activities like walking between meetings or riding the bus.
  • Next Generation Meditation: While mindfulness practice has become mainstream, Moments of Space takes an innovative approach by delivering content in a ‘little and often’ format throughout the day. A number of scientific studies have shown this has greater benefits to cognitive function and lower levels of perceived stress than a single session.

Moments of Space is available to download today on the Apple App Store and the Google Play store. A VR version for the Apple Vision Pro is in development for 2024.

About Moments of Space:

Moments of Space is a next-generation meditation platform, powered by AI personalisation, delivering a unique eyes-open meditation practice that can be done anytime, anyplace. By practicing ‘little and often’ throughout the day, users benefit from a continuity of mindfulness in their daily lives which has greater benefit than a single daily meditation.

1 See below for scientific studies referenced

Studies showing little and often is better:

A study published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement in 2019 found that practicing brief meditation sessions (10 minutes) multiple times a day resulted in greater improvements in cognitive function and well-being compared to a group that practiced a single 40-minute meditation session per day.

(Bormann, J. E., Becker, S., Gershwin, M., Kelly, A., Pada, L., Smith, T. L., & Wear, E. A. (2019). Brief and frequent mindfulness meditation: A survey and experimental study. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 3(1), 40-49. doi:10.1007/s41465-018-0112-2)

Another study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 2018 found that practicing brief mindfulness exercises (two minutes of breath awareness) four times a day was associated with greater improvements in emotional regulation and attentional control compared to a group that practiced a single 20-minute mindfulness meditation per day.

(Biegel, G. M., Brown, K. W., Shapiro, S. L., & Schubert, C. M. (2018). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of adolescent psychiatric outpatients: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(9), 875–888. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000341)

A study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology in 2015 found that practicing brief mindfulness exercises (three-minute breathing exercises) several times a day resulted in lower levels of perceived stress and increased job satisfaction among employees, compared to those who practiced a single 15-minute mindfulness exercise per day.

A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience in 2018 found that practicing short meditation sessions (10 minutes) three times a day was associated with greater improvements in attention and working memory compared to a group that practiced a single 30-minute meditation session per day.

About Kim Little
Kim Little is a software developer, lifelong meditator and practicing Buddhist. He co-founded a semantic AI start-up that was acquired. Drawing from his dual passions – technology and spirituality -Kim founded Moments of Space in London, UK.

SOURCE Moments of Space

Mattamy Homes introduces Bloom community in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina

Read More

Mattamy’s Bloom community will provide flexible housing options for prospective homeowners seeking rural charm, in a convenient location

RALEIGH, N.C., March 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – Mattamy Homes, North America’s largest privately owned homebuilder, continues its expansion in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, with the purchase of 187 acres of land in Harnett County. This community – to be known as Bloom – will mark Mattamy’s fifth community in Harnett County.

“As Raleigh continues to grow, more people are looking to purchase homes outside of the historically core market,” says Bob Wiggins, President of Mattamy’s Raleigh Division. “By adding Bloom to Mattamy’s existing line-up of thoughtful communities in Harnett County – just two miles from the Wake County line – we are providing further housing options and choice to prospective buyers who are seeking rural charm, in a convenient location.”

Bloom will encompass a collection of 138 single-family homes on lot sizes averaging ¾ acre to one-acre or more, in ranch and two-story variations. Floorplans will range from 2,100 to 3,500 square feet, with three-car garage options available. Pricing is anticipated to start from the upper $300,000’s, with sales expected to open later this year.

Situated between Raleigh (approximately 18 miles northeast) and Fort Liberty (approximately 28 miles southwest), Bloom will offer convenient access to main transportation corridors (NC-210 and US-401) as well as a variety of shops, entertainment, educational institutions, employment opportunities and more.

Designed to promote social interaction and wellbeing, Bloom will include amenities such as shared green spaces and social spaces, a community pond with a gathering area, and colorful gardens that will elevate the area’s natural beauty.

“Once built, the entrance to Bloom will create a true sense of arrival with rows of North Carolina wildflowers blooming to the left and right, and sections of rustic fencing, draped with string lights,” says Renee Carlson, Director of Marketing for Mattamy’s Raleigh Division. “To continue the floral theme, the street names of Bloom will also reflect several wildflower species that are native to Harnett County.” 

Bloom joins Mattamy’s Providence CreekStonebarrowCardinal Landing and Riverfall communities in Harnett County with more developments on the horizon.

 About Mattamy Homes

Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, with 45 years of history across the United States and Canada. Every year, Mattamy helps more than 8,000 families realize their dream of homeownership. In the United States, the company is represented in 11 markets — Dallas, Charlotte, Raleigh, Phoenix, Tucson, Jacksonville, Orlando (where its US head office is located), Tampa, Sarasota, Naples and Southeast Florida. In Canada, its communities stretch across the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton. Visit www.mattamyhomes.com for more information.

SOURCE Mattamy Homes Limited


Leonardo DRS selects Berkeley County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation

Read More

Approximately $120 million investment expected to create 58 new jobs

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Leonardo DRS, through its subsidiary, DRS Naval Power Systems, today announced it selects Berkeley County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation. The company’s approximate net investment of $120 million is expected to create 58 new jobs. 

Leonardo DRS is a leading provider of defense products and technologies. Its subsidiary, DRS Naval Power Systems, provides naval power and control technology solutions for the U.S. Navy and allied navies, and for commercial applications.

The company will build a 140,000-square-foot manufacturing and test center at 1588 Bushy Park Road in Goose Creek. This facility will expand the company’s capability to integrate its next-generation propulsion system into current and future naval platforms including the U.S. Navy’s priority program, the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.

Operations are expected to be online by 2026. Individuals interested in joining the Leonardo DRS team should visit the company’s careers page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project.

QUOTES

“We are proud to be building the next-generation electric propulsion system for the new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine. This new facility in South Carolina expands our capability to support our U.S. Navy customers on this and other critical programs that enhance the nation’s submarine industrial base.”
-Leonardo DRS CEO Bill Lynn

“The defense industry is an integral part of South Carolina’s economy. We are proud Leonardo DRS, a company that serves the U.S. Navy, chose to invest in our state and our people. We look forward to a strong and successful partnership for many years to come.”
-Gov. Henry McMaster 

“Congratulations to Leonardo DRS on a substantial investment in Berkeley County. We are anxious to witness the impact this investment will have on our state and the opportunities it will create for our people.”
-Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“We proudly welcome Leonardo DRS to one of the top industrial sites in Berkeley County. This project highlights our county’s continued support for the United States military. Berkeley County, the greater Charleston region and our country will surely reap the rewards of this milestone technology and economic development opportunity.”
-Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb

“We are excited that Leonardo DRS, a renowned multinational defense firm, has chosen the Charleston region for their new manufacturing location. Today’s announcement is a testament to our region’s strong workforce, pro-business climate and world class industrial parks. We welcome Leonardo DRS to Berkeley County and look forward to continued collaboration and success.”
-Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board Chair Chris Fraser

FIVE FAST FACTS

  • Leonardo DRS selects Berkeley County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation.
  • The company’s approximate net investment of $120 million is expected to create 58 new jobs.
  • Leonardo DRS is a leading provider of defense products and technologies. 
  • The company is located at 1588 Bushy Park Road in Goose Creek, S.C.
  • Individuals interested in joining the Leonardo DRS team should visit the company’s careers page.

Sonja Ogletree Satani, professor, Air Force veteran, wife and mother announces her run for the South Carolina House, Dorchester County district

Read More

Sonja Ogletree Satani Files to Run for SC House 98

Lowcountry Democrat announces campaign for Dorchester County district.

SUMMERVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA– Dr. Sonja Ogletree Satani will file to run for South Carolina House District 98 today at 12:00pm at the Dorchester County Voter Registration and Elections Office (201 Johnston Street, St. George, SC 29477).

Dr. Ogletree Satani is a wife and mother of three, Air Force veteran, professor, and small business owner. Her diverse background includes roles in international public relations, community organizing, military and government contracting, and education.

“I’m running because our interests aren’t being represented in the State House,” Dr. Ogletree Satani said. “I’m focused on economic growth, support for public education, and more funding for infrastructure projects in our community.”

Dr. Ogletree Satani criticized her opponent, incumbent Chris Murphy, for his support for extremist legislation. “He voted for the extreme abortion ban, he voted to take away money from public schools and send it to private schools, and just last week he voted to let 18 year olds openly carry guns without any training or a background check. If I’m elected, I’ll work to protect women’s rights, support public education, and bring common sense to Columbia.”

House District 98 is a competitive district that has trended towards Democrats in recent years. The district sits in Dorchester County and includes parts of Summerville and North Charleston. For more information about Dr. Sonja Ogletree Satani’s campaign, visit www.sonjaogletreesatani4sc98.org.

The Radical in Asheville, NC: The newest, hippest, urban boutique hotel, restaurant and rooftop bar experience

Read More

The Radical is a bold, daring new boutique hotel and living art installation that just opened in the fall of 2023. This new boutique experience is located at 95 Roberts St, Asheville, NC 28801.

Housed in a once-abandoned 1920s warehouse that was formerly a cereal factory, the hotel is Asheville’s newest destination for travelers and locals alike with 70 unmistakable guest rooms and suites, plus a flagship wood-fire restaurant named Golden Hour, a rooftop bar, and a cafe and bar called after/glow. Each of the food and beverage concepts are from local Asheville resident and two-time James Beard-nominated restaurateur Jacob Sessoms. 

Espresso Martini at after/glow – Photo by Savannah Gibson

The hotel’s name is inspired by the moniker “RAD,” short for the River Arts District, an Asheville neighborhood that runs along the French Broad River and houses working studios and galleries of hundreds of artists focused on painting, pottery, jewelry, glass, metal, wood and much more. The Radical brings together a collective of buzzing energy, creative characters and shared experiences designed to inspire guests to be fearlessly radical. 

Ongoing and timely happenings at The Radical include:

  • Girls in the Booth (Every Thursday, 7-10pm) – Thursdays at after/glow are all about Girls in the Booth! The morning, noon and night spot invites guests in for their new series, Girls in the Booth, highlighting a different local female DJ every Thursday from 7-10pm. Check after/glow’s Instagram for the latest lineup.
  • Supper at Six (Monthly) – Golden Hour’s new series is made for talented women across all industries. This monthly women in business supper club is an opportunity for great minds to eat, drink and gather. For $45 per person, attendees can enjoy a three-course supper and one glass of bubbly. Check The Radical’s Instagram for the latest.
  • Art Sessions with Live Demo and Q&A (2nd Saturday each month) – Coinciding with the River Art District Gallery Walk, The Radical hosts an art session the second Saturday of every month. Highlighting a different local artist each time, the sessions include a live demo of the artists’ work from noon-5pm followed by a Q&A with the artists at 5pm.
  • Breakfast at after/glow – The cafe is now serving fresh and hearty pastries and breakfast items from The Radical’s chefs and bakery team. Guests can pair their morning coffee with savory items like the Everyday Breakfast Sandwich with baked egg, bacon, cheese & a house English muffin, Grits & Greens Bowl with poached eggs, parmesan chili crisp & toast and more. See here for the full menu.
  • Brunch at Golden Hour – Later this month, Golden Hour will be launching a new weekend brunch menu and hosting a special Easter brunch. More details to come!
Dessert at The Golden Hour – Photo by Evan Anderson

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

The 70-room contemporary hotel breathes new life into a historic building while preserving beautiful evidence of its past lives — from a 1920s breakfast cereal factory to a graffiti artists’ vacant paradise. With rebel luxe interiors by Suomi Design Works, the hotel’s richly layered design effortlessly melds with towering raw concrete pillars, exposed brick walls and original street art, including work from decades past as well as modern pieces. Paired with distinctive guest touchpoints created by Might & Main, the result is a place that feels like nowhere else. Simultaneously spectacular and ultimately approachable, The Radical is a decadent and welcoming destination for all within the gritty RAD neighborhood

The Radical’s guest rooms are a revelation, where lush contemporary design honors and evolves decades of organic artistic expression preserved on the walls of the historic building. Guests can immerse themselves in sumptuous curtained headboards, serene marble and brass bathrooms, broad windows to let the Asheville sunlight pour in, and blackout curtains for when it’s time to retreat to the darkness or mix up a drink under dramatic mood lighting.

The Radical offers eight room types including suites, river views and ones with spacious seating areas, plus black-out curtains, writing desks, smart TVs and wet bars. Reservations start at $239 per night depending on when you stay. Check rates and availability here.

THE ART

The Radical is a living, evolving museum of street, classical and modern art. The previously vacant building was covered in wall-to-wall graffiti, and instead of erasing it, the owners adopted the artwork as design inspiration, incorporating the concept into the hotel. 

To honor the history of the building and reflect the surrounding River Art District community, The Radical team engaged veteran local artist Ian Wilkinson to foster the tradition of graffiti in the building and curate what is now a world-class collection of art. The hotel features over 200 unique and original works of art, and Wilkinson and a team of talented artists – from Asheville and beyond – designed and painted murals in each guest room plus large-scale immersive works featured throughout the hotel’s common areas.

Wilkinson has collaborated to produce many landmark murals, fostering creativity and artistic expression for people of all ages. His passion has extended to organizing street art events, showcasing a commitment to community engagement. Specializing in archival mural production, Wilkinson serves as a valuable resource for fellow artists and has forged solid relationships with many preeminent figures in the mural and street art world. His work continues to add to the vibrant tapestry of cities around the world, like Miami, New York, Denver, Sacramento, Denver, San Francisco, Paris, Lyon and others.  

Artists involved in The Radical include Ishmael, Patch Whisky, KOMBS, Brett Bell, Brian, O’Rourke, Gillian Maurer, Stacy Kraft, Colton Dion, Dan Reid, Roan Allen, Shannon Owens, Maryanne Pappano, Emery, Joey Hindi, Mason Arana and Ian Wilkinson.

THE FOOD & DRINK

Helmed by celebrated local Asheville restaurateur Jacob Sessoms, The Radical takes guests on a culinary journey with three in-house food and beverage concepts. Golden Hour, the downstairs wood-fire restaurant. Open daily for dinner starting at 5pm and offering a full bar, Golden Hour is an easy-going yet refined spot for hotel guests and locals alike to grab a bite or drink. The free-flowing space is centered around a racetrack bar in the middle of the dining room and an open kitchen featuring a custom-made, wood-fired grill that fuels the buzz of the restaurant. The space seats 85 people inside and about 45 people on a beautifully terraced outdoor patio.

Centered around locally sourced, farm-driven ingredients, guests can expect a focus on seasonal dishes like ‘Country Captain’ Salad with market vegetables & walnuts and Wood-Grilled Skewers including BBQ’d Japanese sweet potato, chicken, shrimp or local & cultivated mushrooms, as well as a chophouse menu of bold, shareable dishes coming off the wood-fired grill. Highlights include Braised Lamb Shank with winter roots & beans, Whole Sunburst Trout with Lee’s rice & vierge and Half or Whole Chicken. Other tasty menu items include the Big-Ass Hamburger Sandwich with house fries, Pork Chop with pepper relish and small bites like Shellfish Beignets, Brave Potatoes, Deviled Crab Dip and more. See here for the full menu.

Golden Hour’s beverage program includes crafted cocktails with a twist alongside an exciting wine list with around 100 bottles, many of which are from natural, organic and Biodynamic producers.

Rooftop Bar – Photo by Evan Anderson

Guests looking to unwind or get work done can head to after/glow, a coffee bar that evolves into a cocktail lounge each afternoon. The morning, noon and night spot is open from 7am-9pm Sunday-Wednesday and 7am-11pm Thursday-Saturday and offers daytime counter service including espresso, drip coffee from North Carolina-based Counter Culture Coffee and Dobra teas. Plus, guests can enjoy specialties like the chilled and frothy after/glow “draft latte” and a bright, rich and heady Honey Lavender Cappuccino. Cold and blended drinks include The Day Starter with honey, peanut butter, strawberry & banana and the Earlyglow with cold brew, banana, granola, oat milk & vanilla-orange. Housemade morning bites rotate often and include staples like croissants, danishes and sweet and savory pastries.

Come 3pm, after/glow transitions into a down-tempo bar serving handcrafted cocktails with music from a live DJ every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. after/glow serves playful, coffee-forward cocktails like Irish Moonlight – lush, rich, dark and warm, Bitches Brew – not your morning matcha latte, the Player’s Anthem – a cold frothy rum creamsicle and an Espresso Martini – say less! See here for the drink menu.

The Roof is a 125-person capacity rooftop bar overlooking the French Broad River and Asheville’s River Arts District. Open from noon to midnight when the weather is right, the Roof’s open-air bar serves up an inviting atmosphere with the best views in town for nibbles, sunset cocktails and weekly live music.

Sessoms is the founder and chef-partner at Perfectly Ad Hoc Hospitality Group and opened the iconic Asheville restaurant Table in 2005, launching the first of numerous successful culinary ventures in town. Today, the group also encompasses All Day Darling, a neighborhood café in Asheville’s historic Montford neighborhood. Sessoms, who oversees menu development, sourcing and operations at each concept, believes food should be soulful and heartfelt, and ingredients and attitude matter – no matter fine dining or casual. Each concept sources products locally from farmers and artisans he and his team know personally, and they make nearly everything in-house. A father of two, he aims for all of his restaurants to serve food that he would be happy to serve his own family.

Unique and bold bathrooms – Photo by Hatteras Sky

Photo by Hatteras Sky

By Hatteras Sky

Photo by Hatteras Sky

One of a kind art and decor – Photo by Matt Kisiday

Photo by Matt Kisiday

Photo by Matt Kisiday