The Blockchain Business School and the startup studio PyratzLabs recently announced a partnership to launch a very ambitious scholarship program called the Pyratz scholarship. With a budget of one million euros, this program aims to fund 300 specialized training places in blockchain.
- Financial support for students: The Pyratz scholarship offers four different funding options, including the “Kryptosphère” funding allocated to students of the same association. Additionally, the “PTZ” funding of 250,000 euros is intended for individuals wishing to pursue one of the two specialties in the Tech Lead or Product Manager programs. By focusing on Artificial Intelligence and DeFi, this initiative addresses the skills shortage in the Web3 sector. Indeed, the demand for blockchain talent continues to rise, with 86% of companies planning to recruit in this field this year.
- Promoting diversity of profiles: This initiative aims not only to provide financial support to students but also to encourage a greater diversity of profiles in the blockchain sector. Bilal El Alamy, CEO of PyratzLabs, states that their current model does not favor students and recent graduates to follow their programs, which is unfortunate. By promoting a greater diversity of profiles, it is certain that this will only foster innovation and mutual learning.
Vertbaudet bets on the circular economy with youzd
Vertbaudet, a brand specializing in children’s products, recently announced a partnership with youzd to give a second life to children’s furniture returned by customers. Thanks to the intermediation of VIR by JP, the leading French company in home delivery of bulky products, Vertbaudet will be able to manage its returns in an eco-friendly and economical way by selling these almost new furniture pieces with discounts of up to 60%.
– An eco-friendly and economical initiative: This collaboration allows Vertbaudet to offer a sustainable alternative to its customers by providing high-quality furniture at attractive prices. The returned items are sold on the youzd platform and are delivered with the same quality standards as new products. This enables families to enjoy products from the circular economy while contributing to waste reduction and preserving the environment. Each item also comes with a 12-month warranty.
Innovation in accessibility: a signbot for the deaf and hard of hearing
IVèS, in collaboration with Sopra Steria and IBM, recently announced the launch of IRIS, the first conversational assistant in sign language. This “signbot” uses IBM watsonx Assistant technology as well as Sopra Steria’s Alive Intelligence solution (SSAI) to enable communication in multiple sign languages, making technologies more inclusive for the deaf and hard of hearing.
A cutting-edge technology: Deployed across various platforms, IRIS represents a major advancement in digital accessibility. Using sophisticated algorithms for natural language processing and computer vision, this signbot can detect and interpret gestures and interact in sign language with the deaf and hard of hearing through an avatar. This solution facilitates communication and provides a seamless experience for individuals using sign language.
Mastercard and PrestaShop want to revolutionize online payments together
Mastercard has partnered with PrestaShop to launch Click to Pay, a passwordless payment solution that aims to improve secure online transactions across Europe. This solution uses EMVCo standards for interoperability and offers a convenient alternative to traditional payment methods by reducing cart abandonment.
– An enhanced user experience: Click to Pay enables centralization of all payment-related information in a unique and secure profile, thus simplifying the online shopping process. This solution will initially be offered in France, Spain, Italy, and the UK, before being extended to the rest of the European and international markets. Through tokenization, Click to Pay provides a seamless and secure user experience while boosting consumer confidence in online payments.
In conclusion, the corporate announcements from the Blockchain Business School, Vertbaudet, Sopra Steria, and Mastercard promise to bring significant innovations in their respective fields. Whether financing blockchain training, promoting the circular economy, making technologies more inclusive for the deaf and hard of hearing, or simplifying online payments, these companies demonstrate their commitment to innovation and improving user experience. Therefore, these announcements promise to revolutionize our week by bringing new solutions and opportunities.
