Who's Coming to The International Business Awards® on Friday?

Posted by Michael Gallagher on Mon, Oct 07, 2024 @ 06:39 AM

More than 450 VIPs, 2024 Stevie® Award winners, and their guests will converge on the InterContinental Hotel in Istanbul, Türkiye this Friday evening, October 11 for The 21st Annual International Business Awards®, the world's premier honors for achievement in the workplace.

53257700764_291ea4a867_wWinners of the Grand, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and People's Choice Stevie Award trophies and medallions were announced in August and September.  Winners in attendance will be celebrated and give their acceptance speeches at Friday's gala event.

This will mark the first time since 2010 that the annual IBA awards ceremony will be staged in Istanbul.  In the intervening years winners of IBA Stevie Awards have been feted in Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, London, Paris, Rome, Seoul, and Toronto, among other global centers.

This year's Stevie Award winners were determined by more than 300 professionals around the world, acting as judges on 11 juries

Here is the list of organizations that will be represented in Istanbul on Friday.

8X8
A.S. WATSON
ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions
ACEN RES
afina
Age SA
Ak Finansal Kiralama A.Ş. (AKLease)
AKTIF YATIRIM BANKASI A.S.
Aljazeera Media Institute
Allianz Technology SE
Arkas Holding
Aselsan A.S.
Atos Customer Services
Atos Türkiye IT & Consulting
ATREVIA COMUNICACIÓN S.L.U
B2Press
Banco Popular Dominicano
Bases Conversion and Development Authority
BAYER TÜRKIYE
BELBİM AŞ
Benaa
Boehringer Ingelheim Ilaç Ticaret A.S.
boneArtis bioRec AG
Borusan Otomotiv Grubu
BORUSAN
Bubble CiTea
CarrefourSA
Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd.
Cathay United Bank
CEASA Food Bank, Comida Boa.
Çelebi Aviation Holding
Ceyhinz Link International Inc.
Condé Nast
CPM India Sales & Marketing Pvt Ltd
DanceSyndrome UK
DDB Group Philippines
Decathlon Turkiye
Design Pop LLC
DHL Express Europe
Divina Law Offices
DocuWare Corporation
Dynamic Ace Global
EasyCep
ebebek Magazacilik
Enerjisa Enerji
Entek Elektrik
Espark Shopping Center
Exemplar Global Inc.
Fiba Group
GFT Technologies SE
Gunsan Electric
HALKBANK
Hase & Igel GmbH
HAVELSAN
Hayat Kimya
HCLSoftware
HELLENiQ ENERGY Holdings SA
Her Unapologetic Success
HeyMo® The Experience Design Company
IBM Institute for Business Value
Infinix Mobility Limited
Is Asset Management
Is Sanat
Jenolite
Jobsplus
KIBAR HOLDING A.S
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
Kyndryl
LC Waikiki
Lenovo International Services Support (ISS) - Latin America Spanish
Lenovo
Leobit
Lounge Group
Lumitel
Marmara Park
Mastek
meet taiwan
Meralco
Metrobank
MettaComms
MONLOVE
National Centre for Vegetation Cover & Combatting Desertification
Newday Media JSC
Nicole Schmitz Leadership Coaching
NTT Data Inc
Oksijen Events
Öksüt Madencilik A.S. (OMAS)
One Meralco
OneBPO
OPET
OTOMOTO Pay
Philip Morris International
PHUSE
pladis
Planet Tax Free LLC
Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation
PRecious Communications
Provincial Government of La Union
PT Adaro Indonesia
PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk
PT PGAS TELEKOMUNIKASI NUSANTARA (PGNCOM)
PT PGN LNG Indonesia
QNB Finansbank Dijital Kˆpr¸ (Digital Bridge)
QNB Sigorta Saglik Hayat ve Emeklilik A.S.
QNBFinansbank
rankingCoach
Resolute Software
Revomed (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Robert Bosch GmbH
Rudaw Media Network
SABC Pension Fund
Safaniya Offshore Producing Department - SOfPD - Saudi Aramco
Sandoz AG
SAP SE
Savers Value Village
Secure Future
Sharjah Media City
Sisecam
SOCAR Türkiye Enerji A.S.
SOCAR Türkiye
SolarWinds
Stamps Creative
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
TAV Technologies
TEB Faktoring A.S. Istanbul
TELUS
TEMSA
The Operations Genius
The Stories and Wisdom Company
TurkTraktor
UIC Digital
Ülker
Umbrella IT
Vanderbilt University
Viettel Cambodia Pte., Ltd.
Virtualstock
Watsons Personal Care Stores (Philippines) Inc.
Watsons Türkiye
Welspun Transformation Services Limited
Yeşilırmak Electricity Distribution Inc.
Yesilirmak Elektrik Perakende
Zenutna Holdings Corporation
Ziraat Participation Bank

The 2025 (22nd Annual) International Business Awards will begin accepting nominations in February.  Visit www.StevieAwards.com/IBA to learn more and to request your copy of the entry kit.

Topics: International business awards

Winners of 2024 People's Choice Stevie® Awards for Favorite Companies Announced

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Wed, Sep 18, 2024 @ 09:00 AM

Winners were announced today in the 2024 People's Choice Stevie® Awards for Favorite Companies, an annual feature of The International Business Awards®, the world's only international, all-encompassing business awards program, now in its 21st year.

The worldwide, public vote was conducted from mid-August through 13 September, with the highest number of votes deciding the People's Choice winners in a variety of industries. More than 56,000 votes were cast. All Stevie Award winners in the Company/Organization of the Year categories in this year's International Business Awards (IBA) were eligible to be included in the vote.

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Winners of the crystal People's Choice Stevie Awards will be honored during the IBAs' awards banquet on Friday, 11 October at the InterContintal Istanbul, in Istanbul Turkey. Tickets for the event are now on sale.

The winners of peer-adjudicated Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards - selected from more than 3,600 nominations received from organizations in more than 62 nations - will also be recognized during the ceremony.

The winners of the 2024 People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Companies are:

Advertising, Marketing & PR: Pixel Co Creative & Marketing
Apparel, Beauty & Fashion: ACE Sunglasses
Banking: Ziraat Katılım Bankasi A.Ş.
Business or Professional Services: Athena
Computer Services: Stefanini
Computer Software: MYBUSYBEE, INC.
Conglomerates: SM Investments Corporation
Consumer Products & Services: Dr. Phone Fix
Diversified Services: Welspun Transformation Services Limited
Energy: ESCON
Financial Services: Planet Tax Free LLC
Food & Beverage: Bubble Citea
Government or Non-Profit: Megaworld Foundation, Inc.
Health Products & Services: Compass CHC of Barnstaple
Hospitality & Leisure: Beyond the Valley
Insurance: Thai Life Insurance Plc.
Legal: Avant Law LLC
Manufacturing: Makers Nutrition
Materials & Construction: Ayala Land, Inc. - Makati Development Corporation
Media & Entertainment: Jasmine Norris Photography
Real Estate: AyalaLand Logistics Holdings Corp.
Retail: Yeşilırmak Elektrik Perakende
Telecommunications: TELUS
Transportation: Royal Line Logistics Inc
Utilities: YEDAS AI

Entries for The 22nd (2025) International Business Awards will be accepted starting in February. More information is available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

Request the Entry Kit

 

Topics: International business awards

Grand Stevie® Winners Announced in 21st International Business Awards®

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Tue, Sep 03, 2024 @ 09:00 AM

The Stevie® Awards, organizers of the world’s premier business awards programs, have announced the winners of six Grand (“best in show”) Stevie Award trophies in The 2024 (21st Annual) International Business Awards®, the world’s leading business awards competition.

Nominees in the 2024 IBAs were not able to apply for Grand Stevie Awards directly. Winners were determined by a points system based on the total number of awards won in the IBAs with a Gold Stevie win counting for three points, a Silver Stevie win for two points, and a Bronze Stevie win for 1.5 points, as well as having the highest average score in selected categories.

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This year’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners in The International Business Awards were announced on 14 August. They and the winners of the Grand Stevies announced today will be recognized during an awards gala in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 11 October.

Winners of the 2024 Grand Stevie Awards are:

Organization of the Year
With 55 award points earned by Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie wins by multiple units under its umbrella, Ayala Land, a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation of the Philippines, is the most honored organization in The 2024 International Business Awards®.

Most Honored Marketing Agency
Lounge Group, one of the biggest full-service communications agencies in Hungary, earned 20 award points with four Gold and four Silver Stevie wins on behalf of clients Budapest Airport and MVM Group. This is the first-ever Grand Stevie win for Hungary.

Most Honored Public Relations Agency
Weber Shandwick’s office in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, wins with 34 award points earned on behalf of a single client, Miral Destinations, a leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences. This marks the seventh Grand Stevie Award won by Weber Shandwick over the years, and the first since 2017.

Highest-rated Nomination of the Year
There is a tie for this Grand Stevie prize this year, with both nominations receiving average scores from the judges of 9.86 out of a possible 10.

  • LLYC, Llorente y Cuenca, founded in Madrid, Spain, and now with 16 offices in 13 countries, earns a Grand for its nomination “StepbyWater,” winner of the Gold Stevie Award for Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Digital Creativity, on behalf of client StepbyWater. This marks 13 Grand Stevie wins for LLYC in the past 11 years.
  • UNICEF Thailand, Bangkok’s Gold Stevie-winning nomination for Best Annual Report - Non-Profit Organizations, “A Tale Of Two Thailands - UNICEF Thailand Impact Report 2023” earns a Grand Stevie. This marks the second Grand Stevie win for UNICEF, with their Cambodian chapter having won in the 2022 IBAs, and the third Grand win for Thailand.

Highest-rated New Product or Service Nomination of the Year
With an average score of 9/10, Azul, of Sunnyvale, California, USA, provider of “the Java platform for the modern cloud enterprise,” wins their first Grand Stevie Award for their nomination of Azul Platform Prime, Gold Stevie-winner for Best New Cloud Application or Service.

Maggie Miller, President of the Stevie Awards, remarked,The six Grand Stevie Award winners exemplify the exceptional range and caliber of entries we received at the IBAs in 2024. Top organizations continue to adapt and thrive in a world of constant change, and our judges were truly impressed by the outstanding creativity, resourcefulness, and skill demonstrated by these winners in propelling their organizations forward over the past two years. We eagerly anticipate honoring these Grand Stevie Award recipients at the upcoming gala in Istanbul.

The International Business Awards feature a wide variety of categories to recognize achievement in every facet of work life, including management awards, new product awards, marketing awards, PR awards, customer service awards, website awards, and more.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements in the 2024 IBAs were determined by the average scores of more than 300 professionals worldwide in the three-month judging process. Winners were selected from more than 3,600 nominations submitted by organizations in 62 nations and territories.

The nomination process for the 2025 IBAs will open in February. For more information about The International Business Awards, including a complete list of all Stevie Award winners in the 2024 competition, visit www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

Topics: International business awards

Stevie® Awards Announce Winners in The 21st Annual International Business Awards® from Across the Globe

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Wed, Aug 14, 2024 @ 09:00 AM

High-achieving organizations and executives around the world have been recognized as Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie® Award winners in The 21st Annual International Business Awards®, the world's only international, all-encompassing business awards program. The IBAs have been called “the Olympics for the workplace.”

Winners were selected from more than 3,600 nominations submitted by organizations in 62 nations and territories.

IBA24 Winners Announced - Rectangle

A complete list of all 2024 Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners by category is available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

More than 300 executives worldwide participated on 11 juries to determine the Stevie winners.

The top winner of Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards is Ayala Land of Metro Manila, Philippines with 25 Stevie Award wins.

Other winners of multiple Stevie Awards include, among others: Halkbank, Istanbul, Türkiye (18), Tata Consultancy, worldwide (14), Viettel, Hanoi, Vietnam (13), Akbank, Istanbul, Türkiye (13), DP DHL, worldwide (13), Miral, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (13), IBM, worldwide (11), Cathay United Bank, Taipei, Taiwan (10), Data Dynamics, Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA (9), PLDT and Smart, Makati City, Philippines (9), Abu Dhabi Customs, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (8), Cathay Financial Holding Co. Ltd. Taipei, Taiwan, (8), China Resources Land Limited, Shenzhen, China (8), Lounge Group, Budapest, Hungary (8), Manila Electric Company, Metro Manila, Philippines, (8), Atos Customer Services, Istanbul, Türkiye (7), BELBİM AŞ, Istanbul, Türkiye (7), Everise, Plantation, FL USA (7), pladis, Istanbul, Türkiye (7), Russell Harris Event Group, North Hollywood, CA USA (7), Sandoz AG, Basel, Switzerland (7), WNS, Mumbai, India (7), Wolters Kluwer, worldwide (7), A.S. WATSON, Hong Kong, China (6), Beyaz Kağıt San. ve Tic. A.Ş., Adana, Türkiye (6), Ceyhinz Link International Inc., Irving, TX USA (6), HKRI Taikoo Hui, Shanghai, China (6), LLYC, Madrid, Spain (6), Pan American Energy, Buenos Aires, Argentina (6), TELUS, Vancouver, BC Canada, (6), Thai Life Insurance Plc., Bangkok, Thailand (6), ZIMAT, Mexico City, Mexico (6), Mastercard, Miami, FL USA (6), Cisco Systems Inc, San Jose, CA USA (5), DDB Group Philippines, Taguig City, Philippines (5), Dito Telecommunity, BGC Taguig, Philippines (5), HCL Software, Noida, India and Santa Clara, CA USA (5), King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (5), KoçZer, Istanbul, Türkiye (5), KoçSistem Bilgi ve İletişim A.Ş., Istanbul, Türkiye (5), SOCAR Türkiye, Istanbul, Türkiye (5), FPT, Hanoi, Vietnam (5), Sleepm Global Inc., ON Canada (5), TriNet, Dublin, CA USA (5), and Yapi Kredi Bank, Istanbul, Türkiye, (5).

IBA24 Winners Announced - Rectangle (2)

All organizations worldwide are eligible to compete in the IBAs and may submit any number of nominations in a wide range of categories for achievement in management, marketing, public relations, customer service, human resources, new products and services, technology, websites, apps, events, and more.

Winners will be celebrated during a gala event in Istanbul, Türkiye, at the InterContinental Hotel on October 11, 2024. Tickets are on sale now.

Nominations for the 2025 edition of the IBAs will be accepted starting in February.

Topics: International business awards

Final Entry Deadline Extended in The 21st Annual International Business Awards®

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Thu, Jun 13, 2024 @ 09:00 AM

Nominations will now be accepted through 17 July

The Stevie® Awards, organizers of The International Business Awards®, announced today that the final entry deadline in the 2024 (21st annual) edition of the awards has been extended through 17 July by popular demand. The original final entry deadline was 12 June.

The International Business Awards are widely recognized as the world's premier business awards competition, attracting nominations from organizations in over 70 nations and territories each year.

All individuals and organizations worldwide—public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small—may submit nominations to The International Business Awards. Entry details are available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA

Call for Entries Horizontal Template (1)

Request the Entry Kit

“The extended entry period will give organizations additional time to prepare and submit their nominations," said Stevie Awards President Maggie Miller. 

Juries featuring more than 300 executives worldwide will determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners. Winners will be announced on 14 August and celebrated at a gala banquet in Istanbul, Turkey, at the InterContinental Istanbul on Friday, 11 October. Grand, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and People's Choice Stevie Award trophies and medallions will be presented to winners on stage in Istanbul. Tickets for the awards banquet will be available starting 14 August, when winners are announced.

“We are thrilled to announce that this year’s International Business Awards banquet will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, added Miller. We anticipate over 300 executives from more than 20 nations to attend the awards ceremony.”

The International Business Awards recognize achievement in every facet of the workplace. Categories include:

There are many new and revised features of The International Business Awards for 2024:

  • There are a variety of new Technology Solution Categories for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Solutions, split into subcategories for Financial, Generative (audio, graphics, text, video), Healthcare, and other solutions. There are additional new technology categories for Cybersecurity, Digital Asset Management, Digital Employee Experience, and Knowledge Center/Help Sites. 
  • There are many new Event Categories for Cause & Green Events including CSR Experience, Employee Giving & Volunteerism, Inclusive Events, and other Brand Experiences/Events by type including Gamified Experience, Pop-Up Experience, and Immersive Experience. 

Stevie Award winners in the 2023 IBAs included Ayala Land Inc. (Philippines), Anexa BPO (Mexico), Empire Eagle Food (Taiwan), EY Global Services Limited (USA), IBM Corporation (Worldwide), LLYC (Spain), Ooredoo Group (Qatar), Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia), TalkLife (United Kingdom), Turkish Aerospace (Turkey), HALKBANK (Turkey), The Dubai Digital Authority (United Arab Emirates), Viettel Group (Vietnam), and many more. 

Request the Entry Kit

 

Topics: International business awards

Webinar: Insider Tips for Crafting Winning Stevie® Awards Nominations

Posted by Amanda Del Signore on Mon, May 06, 2024 @ 10:00 AM

Are you ready to take your business to the next level with prestigious awards recognition? Join us for a game-changing webinar on "How to Prepare an Effective Stevie® Awards Nomination"!

Business awards are not just accolades, they're powerful tools that showcase your credibility, elevate your brand, and pave the path for future success. Crafting a compelling Stevie® Awards nomination, however, requires reflection, finesse, and skill.051424-Webinar-v1b-x1080

This 1-hour webinar will take place on Zoom on May 14, 2024, at 10:00 AM EDT. 

We invite individual professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders from organizations worldwide—large and small, public and private, for-profit and non-profit—to register for this free learning opportunity.

Hosted by the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Stevie Awards, Michael Gallagher, this exclusive webinar will provide invaluable insights from past winners, seasoned judges, and industry experts.

Learn firsthand what it takes to clinch that coveted Stevie accolade! Here's what you can expect:

  • Behind-the-scenes peek into the awards entry and judging process
  • Pro tips and best practices from Stevie Award winners, judges, and industry gurus
  • Learn the art of storytelling to captivate judges and highlight your unique value
  • Understand the criteria and nuances that set Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Grand Stevie Awards apart
  • Guidance on navigating the nomination process, from account setup to submission
  • Expert advice on selecting the right competitions and categories to maximize your chances.
  • Access to a treasure trove of Gold Stevie Award-winning nominations for inspiration.

 Guests you can expect to hear from in the webinar include: 

  • Susan Turkell, Chief Executive Officer, PAIRELATIONS, LLC
  • Çağatay Kayabaş, President of Business Awards Consulting, and the official Stevie Awards representative in Turkey

In the last section of the webinar, attendees can engage in a live Q&A session to get answers to all their burning questions.

Register now to secure your spot and unlock the secrets to crafting award-winning nominations. Plus, enjoy on-demand access to the webinar and presentations until the end of 2024.Register for Free

Topics: International business awards, American business awards, stevie awards for women in business, great employers

Achieving Marketing Goals With AI-Driven Content Optimizer Anyword

Posted by Amanda Del Signore on Thu, Mar 28, 2024 @ 12:08 PM

23 spotlight Square-2-1Stevie-winner Anyword specializes in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven content optimization solutions. Established with a focus on enhancing digital content effectiveness, Anyword utilizes cutting-edge AI technology to empower businesses to improve their online communication strategies.

By analyzing vast amounts of data and leveraging natural language processing algorithms, Anyword assists organizations in generating more impactful and engaging content across various digital platforms.

Anyword's core mission is to provide businesses with advanced tools to optimize their online presence and communication efforts. Through a combination of machine learning algorithms and linguistic analysis, its platform offers actionable insights and recommendations to enhance the performance of digital content.

Anyword was originally created as an AI tool called Keywee intended for publishers to grow their subscription base using AI and natural language processing. Keywee quickly gained success and was adopted by leading publications like Bloomberg, National Geographic, and The New York Times. The founders realized that through Keywee they had a unique opportunity to train an AI model based on top-performing ad copy and create a tool that would revolutionize the industry for marketers by predicting what content would succeed for specific audiences before it was published.

Unlike other generative AI platforms that help users create content at scale, Anyword solves the more significant problem of creating content that will help achieve specific marketing goals such as conversions, engagement, and reach. Anyword can do this because of its homegrown AI model, which was trained on over 2 billion marketing data points. By analyzing this data, Anyword offers valuable insights on performance, target audiences, demographics, and more.

Whether it's crafting compelling ad copy, refining website messaging, or optimizing social media posts, Anyword enables companies to achieve higher levels of engagement, conversion, and overall effectiveness in their online communications.

Using Anyword, users can generate any copy and see how well it will perform for their marketing needs, from ads, SEO-optimized blogs, engaging social posts, emails, landing pages, and more. Anyword's ability to optimize campaigns in real-time helps marketers achieve immediate impact and meet their specific marketing goals.

Since Winning Their Stevie Award
Anyword has launched a Google Chrome extension that works directly inside ChatGPT, Notion, and Canva, turning them into smart marketing content generators and allowing marketers to access Anyword's capabilities wherever they create content.

Anyword won a Bronze Stevie Award for Tech Startup of the Year- Software in The International Business Awards®.

Interested in entering the 2024 edition?

Request the Entry Kit

Topics: International business awards

From Peer Support to Professional Guidance, TalkLife's Online Mental Health Support Platform Connects Millions

Posted by Amanda Del Signore on Thu, Mar 28, 2024 @ 12:02 PM

23 spotlight Square-Mar-28-2024-04-01-31-7168-PMStevie-winner TalkLife is an online peer support community platform, currently supporting millions of people globally.

Founded to foster a supportive community for individuals struggling with mental health challenges, TalkLife offers a safe space where users can connect with others, share their experiences, and receive encouragement and advice. The platform utilizes a combination of peer-to-peer support and professional guidance to create a comprehensive ecosystem aimed at improving mental well-being.

Through its online forums, chat features, and personalized resources, TalkLife enables individuals to access support whenever they need it, regardless of their location or time zone. The company's approach is rooted in inclusivity and accessibility, catering to a diverse range of users from different backgrounds and experiences.

By leveraging technology to facilitate connections and provide evidence-based information and coping strategies, TalkLife strives to empower individuals to manage their mental health effectively and navigate challenges with confidence.

With their free public platform TalkLife, their student platform TalkCampus, and their employee platform TalkLife Workplace, they have championed key geographies where mental health provision is lacking including India and the Middle East. They also provide services for free for students in Ukraine.

TalkLife's platform offers a variety of features designed to address different aspects of mental health, including anxiety, depression, loneliness, and self-esteem issues. Users can engage in one-on-one conversations with trained volunteers or licensed professionals, participate in group discussions, and access a library of articles and resources covering a wide range of mental health topics.

Additionally, TalkLife employs advanced moderation tools and algorithms to ensure a supportive and safe environment for all users, actively monitoring content to prevent harmful or inappropriate interactions.

As an advocate for mental health awareness and destigmatization, TalkLife actively collaborates with mental health organizations, researchers, and experts to promote positive dialogue and provide accurate information about mental health conditions. By fostering a sense of community and breaking down barriers to seeking support, TalkLife aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and encourage more open conversations about mental health.

Through its innovative platform and collaborative approach, TalkLife continues to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals worldwide, offering hope, connection, and support to those in need.

TalkLife won a Gold Stevie Award for Company of the Year - Health Products & Services - Small in The International Business Awards®.

Interested in entering the 2024 edition?

Request the Entry Kit

Topics: International business awards

Female-Owned FunkkOFF! Develops Sustainable Solution for On-the-Go Oral Care

Posted by Amanda Del Signore on Thu, Mar 28, 2024 @ 11:24 AM

23 spotlight Square-Mar-28-2024-03-22-01-1890-PMSilver Stevie-winner FunkkOFF!® Inc. is a lifestyle brand company creating oral care, beauty, and personal care products.

FunkkOFF! was formed in 2019 by two lifelong friends, Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell. Their friendship started in seventh grade when they attended a small all-girls Catholic school where they learned about teamwork, integrity, and responsibility.

On July 2, 2021, they officially launched FunkkOFF! TeethRefreshers®, a unique two-in-one toothbrush plus toothpaste product that is reusable (30x), 100% natural, vegan, and offers on-the-go teeth whitening.

The genesis for the product occurred when Joelle was wine tasting in Napa. She loved her red wine but loved her white teeth more—Joelle carried around a toothbrush and toothpaste to remove the purple “Funkk™” “OFF!” of her teeth. One time, Joelle pulled out her lipstick and thought, “Why isn’t there something compact, reusable, and easy to use like my lipstick—but to refresh my teeth?” 

Joelle began inventing a solution and eventually filed eight US patents on her designs and three US trademarks. She joined forces with Sonia who had spent decades in brand management in major consumer packaged goods companies. They worked together to refine the product design and usability and build a supply chain to manufacture the product. They formulated their proprietary tooth gel and completed product development in early 2021. Now they have 10 US patents (Utility & Design) and one Patent Cooperation Treaty Patent.

FunkkOFF productsThe only competing products on the market are one-time-use solutions or teeth wipes—both formats are used once and then disposed of. FunkkOFF! TeethRefreshers can be used 30 times, making them a more sustainable solution for on-the-go oral care maintenance. Furthermore, throughout the supply chain, FunkkOFF! is committed to sustainable practices that reduce the impact on the planet. 

Growing Product Demand
TeethRefreshers grew steadily with a robust direct-to-consumer business on their website and Amazon and sold out in just three months. When back in stock, they entered the retail market and have since gained distribution in 90+ stores in 40+ states. They were discovered organically and listed by a number of retailers including SHEN Beauty and Uncommon Goods. They were also discovered by the QVC Personal Care Buyer and received a large Purchase Order and airdate of August 28, 2023.

FunkkOFF! achieved international recognition in February 2023 when featured on Shark Tank Season 14 Episode 14 and received a $250,000 deal from Robert Herjavec. After the appearance and unanimous rave reviews by all the Sharks, demand has since skyrocketed. Sales in the first six months of 2023 were 350% higher than 2022. When FunkkOFF sold out in the first quarter, consumers placed preorders and were willing to wait three or more months for delivery.

Joelle and Sonia created the product and manufacturing supply chain from virtually nothing and have built a successful company with tremendous demand. Joelle's persistence in the early years led to extensive patent work which puts her among the 2.5% of women-only patent holders.

As minority business owners, they compete against oral care giants but also prioritize giving back. A portion of their sales is donated to Girls on the Run, which helps young women entrepreneurs find their potential and pursue their dreams.

FunkkOFF! Inc. won a Silver Stevie® Award for Startup of the Year - Consumer Services Industries in The 2023 International Business Awards®.

Interested in entering the 2024 edition?

Request the Entry Kit

Topics: International business awards

From Legacy to Cloud: Impetus Technologies' LeapLogic for Enterprise Transformation

Posted by Amanda Del Signore on Thu, Mar 14, 2024 @ 03:13 PM

23 spotlight Square-Mar-14-2024-07-11-01-4940-PMStevie-winner Impetus Technologies is a digital engineering company focused on delivering expert services and products to help enterprises achieve their digital transformation goals.

Impetus offers data platform engineering, artificial intelligence/machine learning, devOps, application modernization, and more. Established in 1991, Impetus has been the "Partner of Choice" for several Fortune 500 enterprises. They arefocused on creating powerful and intelligent enterprises and data products through advanced data, analytics, and AI solutions.

Their most recent achievements in cloud and data engineering include the following projects:

  • Built a patented solution for an AI-powered sales enablement platform for one of the largest credit card companies. It transformed their sales and marketing technology solutions, helped increase new cardholders, and reduced marketing spend significantly.
  • Helped build a patent-pending data ingestion and cataloging solution for one of the biggest global airline companies.
  • Helped launch one of the first mobile-based travel readiness apps for the airline, to ensure a touch-free and contactless check-in and boarding solution for consumers.
  • Helped launch a one-of-a-kind insurance platform for the shared economy, which helps B2B companies in the "shared economy" insure their transactions.

Flagship Product: LeapLogicimpetus leap logic product logo
LeapLogic is Impetus' automated cloud migration accelerator to help enterprises migrate workloads from legacy to cloud-native stacks. Specifically, the solution automates the end-to-end transformation of legacy data warehouse, analytics, Mainframe, reporting, and Hadoop workloads to native cloud platforms for optimum cost and performance.

LeapLogic has demonstrated its utility to large enterprise organizations thus far. Partner organizations were burdened with highly expensive legacy technologies and renewals and were unable to transform their data. This also inhibited them from building a single source for their data. LeapLogic solved this by helping them leapfrog to modern cloud-native stacks with minimum disruption.

With the help of LeapLogic, they are working to transform and automate the cloud transformation journey for various Fortune 500 enterprises. The biggest case example is their work with United Airlines. They established a modern data platform with integrated analytics, built-in governance, and intelligent data profiling capabilities.

They provided support for 200+ batch and 30+ real-time multiterabyte data pipelines with automated infrastructure setup and deployment. Their solutions helped the airline improve the passenger experience by:

  • Personalizing bundle offers to include customer-preferred amenities (e.g., Wi-Fi, entertainment options, etc.) using ML models
  • Reducing wait time at the airport gates by predicting passengers’ adherence to COVID travel requirements
  • Auto-approving travel readiness by verifying the validity of COVID documents like test reports, vaccinations, government forms, etc.

The flexible and scalable platform enabled unified governance and consumption and equipped the airline’s business teams to process data faster for real-time decision-making and improved cost efficiency.

Impetus Technologies Inc. won a Gold Stevie® Award for Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year - More Than 2,500 Employees, and two Bronze Stevie Awards for Achievement in Technology Innovation and for Company of the Year among Large Computer Services organizations in The 2023 International Business Awards®.

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Topics: International business awards