CONNECT Recognizes Drs. Magda Marquet & François Ferré, Renowned San Diego Innovators, at Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Award Gala

CONNECTCONNECT, a premier innovation company accelerator in San Diego that creates and scales great companies in the technology and life sciences sectors, announced on April 14, that in addition to the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Award, awarded to Magda Marquet and François Ferré, Dr. Diego Miralles, president of Adaptive Therapeutics, was the esteemed recipient of The Duane Roth Distinguished Contribution Award for Life Sciences, and Brad Feldmann, president and CEO of Cubic Corporation, was awarded The Duane Roth Distinguished Contribution Award for Technology. Each of these local visionaries has made significant contributions in their respective fields and have all contributed to elevating San Diego as a leader in the global innovation economy.

“We celebrate entrepreneurs that are committed to improving our world, starting right here in San Diego,” said Greg McKee, CEO of CONNECT. “The awards presented last night recognize entrepreneurs that not only have developed amazing products and started iconic companies, but who are committed to investing in the community around them and have innate drive to make the world a better place.”

Dr. Diego Miralles, president of Adaptive Therapeutics, was selected as this year’s recipient of the CONNECT Duane Roth Distinguished Contribution Award for Life Science Innovation. Miralles joined Johnson & Johnson’s Tibotec group in 2005 and helped develop several HIV fighting drugs. Upon moving to San Diego in 2008 to head J&J’s Janssen research and development site in La Jolla, Miralles founded the innovation leading JLABs startup accelerator the same year.

Brad Feldmann, president and Chief Executive Officer of Cubic Corporation, is this year’s recipient of the CONNECT Duane Roth Distinguished Contribution Award for Technology Innovation. Feldmann has contributed to the San Diego technology community and the advancement of technology around the globe by leading several major innovation initiatives such as the implementation of IdeaSpark and HALO Array.

Finally, the co-chairs of Althea Technologies, Drs. Magda Marquet, Ph.D, and François Ferré, Ph.D, were inducted as the fourteenth and fifteenth members of the CONNECT Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. The husband and wife duo were honored for their extensive contributions within San Diego’s research, healthcare and entrepreneur industries.

An Innovation Showcase was also held prior to the event to spotlight the various companies and organizations that Magda and François support, including Althea, AltheaDx, Biomatrica, Independa, Jiyo, Mesa Verde Venture Partners, MD Revolution, Portable Genomics, Senté and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

320 people attended the annual signature event, held at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa.

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GigTown and Switchfoot to Host Private Concert for Local Music Appreciation Day at the Music Box on Monday, April 25

On Monday, April 25, GigTown, a free mobile app that allows you to discover local musicians, follow musicians’ upcoming shows and instantaneously book artists for gigs, is throwing a free private concert to celebrate Local Music Appreciation Day and thank those who have supported GigTown since its launch in San Diego last year. Teaming up with Grammy Award-winning rock band, Switchfoot, GigTown is inviting local musicians to attend the party, listen to live music and mingle with fellow artists at the Music Box.

“The local artist community has a multitude of great talent and there’s no better way to celebrate the artistry that lives here than with an awesome party where the music community can connect and come together under one roof,” said Andy Altman, Co-Founder, CEO and Grand Poobah of GigTown. “We are appreciative of the immense encouragement we’ve received thus far and this is simply our way of thanking local musicians for supporting GigTown and each other with an evening of fun, dancing and some of San Diego’s finest craft beer.”

Switchfoot began its highly successful music career in San Diego during the 1990s and is excited for the opportunity to engage and stimulate the city’s local music scene. “We are so grateful to be a part of the San Diego music scene – there is no other place with such an eclectic and supportive music community,” said Switchfoot drummer and co-founder, Chad Butler.

The lineup at San Diego’s inaugural Local Music Appreciation Day also includes singer-songwriters Ryan Hiller and Tyson Motsenbocker. Local GigTown artists over the age of 21 are invited and allowed to bring one guest. Artists will need to fill out a form to get on the list for admission as it will be on a first come, first serve basis. Doors open at 7 p.m.

GigTown is the ultimate hub where local music lives and helps to put local music in the palm of your hands. Features of the app include discovering upcoming shows in your area, finding music venues you never knew existed, listening to original songs, and checking in to shows – for each check in, GigTown tips artists five dollars. For venue managers, GigTown makes it simple to post a gig and find talent in as little as one hour.

“GigTown is a unique platform that allows musicians, venues and consumers to each have a win-win-win opportunity – it’s todays one-stop shop for local music,” said Altman. “We are grateful to have experienced an influx of downloads and sign-ups within the first year of business and look forward to continuing to host Local Music Appreciation Day in San Diego and in our other markets.”

For more information on GigTown’s Local Music Appreciation Day, please visit gigtown.com/appreciatesd.

To download and sign up for Gigtown on iOS and Android devices, please visit the App Store and Google Play. For more information on GigTown, please visit www.gigtown.com.

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About GigTown:
GigTown is an all-in-one, local music app that allows users to discover local musicians, post a gig to book live music, listen to original songs by your local musicians and more – it truly is a revolutionary platform that supports all avenues of the local music scene. The San Diego-based music technology startup launched in January 2015 by Andy and Steve Altman (former President and Vice Chairman of Qualcomm). The free app, currently available in San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Austin and New York City, is customized to meet the personalized needs of artists, consumers and venues around town. Easily downloadable and available on iOS and Android devices, GigTown is equipped with unique features and is a place for people to plug-in to local music, anywhere and anytime. The GigTown team has plans to launch in new cities as it continues to grow and is passionate about creating the most optimal music platform for local communities across the nation.

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FitPod Partners with CleanBottle™ to Create First Reusable Water Bottle with Cartridges

FITPODSAN DIEGO (April 19, 2016) – Today, San Diego-based FitPod, the first reusable water bottle that allows users to enjoy their favorite supplements on-the-go with reusable cartridges, has announced that it has reached its Kickstarter campaign goal of $25,000 in just six days. Backed by over 650 people so far, FitPod, which uses Shark Tank-backed CleanBottle technology for its eco-friendly, convenient, and hygienic design, comes with reusable cartridges that are compatible with pre-workout supplements, electrolyte supplements, liquid water enhancers of all kinds, protein powder, and more. Using the world’s best sports bottle is simple: fill the reusable cartridge with your favorite supplements or water enhancers, load the cartridge to the FitPod, squeeze and enjoy!

“I designed FitPod after scouring the market for an easy, mess-free way to enjoy my workout supplements while on-the-go; I couldn’t find anything that truly fit my needs and FitPod was born,” said Josh Hall, CEO and co-founder of FitPod. “At the time, I was active duty military and spending a good deal of time outdoors and away from home – FitPod would have been the perfect solution to staying hydrated and also having an easier way to enjoy my pre-workout shake.”

Coming with two different cartridge types, The Multi-Shot™ and The One-Shot™, the FitPod can be used with virtually any type of liquid or powder that is meant to dissolve in water. The Multi-Shot Cartridge (1 oz.) is best used with liquid water enhancers and powdered supplements for all day hydration. One can dispense the enhancers in small amounts whenever squeezed, and infuse the same drink up to 10 times a day with just one cartridge. The One-Shot Cartridge (2 oz.) is best used for larger protein and workout-related supplements; the entire cartridge is dispensed when squeezed.

The FitPod is easy to clean, dishwasher safe, leak-proof, cupholder-friendly, and 100% BPA free. For more information, visit the brand’s Kickstarter page.

About FitPod:
FitPod is the first reusable water bottle that allows users to enjoy their favorite supplements on-the-go by utilizing reusable cartridges. Using CleanBottle technology for its eco-friendly, convenient, and hygienic design, FitPod’s cartridges are compatible with pre-workout supplements, electrolyte supplements, liquid water enhancers of all kinds, protein powder, and more. Using the world’s best sports bottle is simple: fill the reusable cartridge with your favorite supplements or water enhancers, load the cartridge to the FitPod, squeeze and enjoy!

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Free Book Chapter Preview, “The Case for Managed Services,” Available for Download Online

SAN DIEGO, March 22, 2016 – The Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA), the leading association for today’s technology and services organizations, has released another chapter preview of its upcoming book, Technology-as-a-Service Playbook: How to Grow a Profitable Subscription Business, due to publish this May. Chapter 9 of the new book, called “The Case for Managed Services,” discusses how standing up a managed services (MS) business can be a gateway for technology companies to enter into the XaaS (X-as-a-Service) marketplace.

Technology-as-a-Service Playbook: How to Grow a Profitable Subscription Business, by TSIA executives Thomas Lah and J.B. Wood, was written to provide technology companies with the industry background, frameworks, and action plan they need to grow and scale a profitable technology-as-a-service (XaaS) business. Chapter 9 of the book, “The Case for Managed Services,” details the growing need for technology companies to add a managed services offer to their portfolio, and how managed XaaS offers a stepping stone for companies migrating from a legacy business model to the cloud with the added benefit of creating a profitable new revenue stream.

“Managed services is the fastest growing service line in the technology industry,” said co-author and executive director of TSIA, Thomas Lah. “There is an immense opportunity for companies to grow their service revenue by adding a managed XaaS offer into their portfolio, and it shouldn’t be ignored.”

This chapter provides readers with a background of the trends occurring within the technology industry that are driving the need for managed services, which includes the increased demand for service-based consumption models, also known as X-as-a-Service (XaaS). With changing customer preferences for how they want to consume technology coupled with new expectations of their suppliers to provide business outcomes rather than simply technology solutions, “The Case for Managed Services,” encourages technology companies to invest in managed services offers as part of their portfolio.

“The cloud is deeply intertwined in managed services right now,” said VP of managed services for TSIA, George Humphrey. “With more companies switching to cloud business models, if your company doesn’t already have a managed XaaS offer, you’re already falling behind the majority of the industry.”

Chapter 9 of Technology-as-a-Service Playbook: How to Grow a Profitable Subscription Business, “The Case for Managed Services,” is available for download on the TSIA website at http://info.tsia.com/chapter-preview-the-case-for-managed-services-and-xaas-offers. For more information about other books by TSIA, visit https://tsia.com/research/books-by-tsia.html.
About TSIA
The Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA) is the world’s leading organization dedicated to advancing the business of technology and services. Technology services organizations large and small look to TSIA for world-class business frameworks, best practices based on real-world results, detailed performance benchmarking, exceptional peer networking opportunities, and high-profile certification and awards programs. TSIA corporate members represent the world’s top technology companies as well as scores of innovative small and mid-size businesses in four major markets: enterprise IT and telecom, consumer technology, healthcare and healthcare IT, and industrial equipment and technology. TSIA’s editorial blog, Inside Technology Services, is widely recognized by technology service professionals for providing thought leadership and insights into industry trends and best practices. Visit us at www.tsia.com, follow us on Twitter @TSIACommunity, or connect with us on LinkedIn and Google +.

TSIA Media Contact:
Trisha Bright
Vice President, Marketing
858-674-5491
[email protected]

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IT Recruiting Agency Staff Smart Expands Headquarters to Accommodate Growth

staffsmart-logo_jobscience-job-boardAPRIL 13, 2016, SAN DIEGO, CA— Staff Smart, Inc., a national IT staffing and recruitment agency, has recently transferred operations to offices on 11590 West Bernardo Court located in Rancho Bernardo, a move executives say is to accommodate growth. The agency announced the addition of two Fortune 500 companies to its client portfolio as well as a 250% increase in revenue since 2010 with a majority of placements outside of San Diego County.

“The new headquarters is an investment in the future of our clients,” said Christine Hoffman-Hicks, President and CEO of Staff Smart. “We’ve run as a successful virtual business because of the high performing culture we’ve developed internally. Now we’re taking our dynamic staff and ensuring that, as we expand, we expand as a team. This has been the hottest war on talent I’ve seen in my 17 years of staffing. Finding the ‘brain trust’ takes a whole organization working with intelligence and velocity. That’s our continued commitment to our clients: we’re supporting their mission critical initiatives with the best IT professionals in the market.”

Staff Smart marked the milestone at a recent open house that welcomed a standing room-only crowd. In remarks thanking clients, candidates and friends, Hoffman-Hicks said, “It’s a proud day to share with everyone here. We’re the story of how a business started during the downturn can weather through and really thrive. It’s proof that we can be in lockstep with our partners. We can grow as our partners grow.”

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About Staff Smart, Inc.

Staff Smart, Inc., a national IT staffing and recruitment agency, was founded in 2007 by industry veteran Christine Hoffman-Hicks. The on-demand talent solution suite which ranges from contract, direct hire, consulting to executive search, is the trusted partner of IT professionals and businesses whose common goal is opportunity and innovation within a flexible framework. Staff Smart delivers a hiring process that places technical acumen front and center by employing IT professionals to do the recruiting. With over 50 years combined experience in IT hiring, Staff Smart workforce strategies are deployed nationally across diverse industries including Fortune 500, startups and government agencies. The San Diego, CA headquartered company is an active member of WBENC in addition to ASA, CSP, and NAPS which supports legal, ethical and professional best practices for the staffing industry.

Related Links
Job Board – https://staffsmart.secure.force.com/careers
Website – www.staffsmart.net
Company LinkedIn page – https://www.linkedin.com/company/381097

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eAngel – Human Proofreading App – is launching in San Diego, and is looking for Email Angels

Email is such an important part of office life that most people don’t even notice how often they use it. Regardless of where you are in the world, if you work in some sort of an office – odds are you use email constantly. Email has become almost as intuitive as natural conversation, and perhaps that’s its biggest drawback: If you make a mistake, you can’t take it back. eAngel is a service that makes sure no mistakes leave your outbox.

In the simplest of terms, eAngel is a personal proofreader for your email. Whether you’re sending too many emails a day to bother proofreading each one, have problems spelling, or are simply sending emails that are not in your mother tongue – eAngel is the perfect solution for you. The platform enables you to send email in perfect English, Spanish, French and German, without the recipient ever being aware that your email was proofread.

eAngel is now officially launching and offering its service to the public. It is the ultimate platform for people who need to communicate in a foreign language on a daily basis. The service is very affordable and the company offers a free five-email trial.

Using eAngel is a breeze: After installing the Chrome extension, You write the email as you always do, click the ‘Send with eAngel’ button and the email is sent to one of the angels. After they email is proofread and corrected, the corrected version is sent to the recipient and you get a version with the changes tracked, so you can learn from your mistakes.

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Forum Public Relations Launches in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, California – We are excited to announce the creation of Forum Public Relations, a full-service public relations and communications agency specializing in the science and arts.

“We have a passion for communicating the science of what our clients do into real-world, easily-understandable language that connects on an emotional level,” says Allyson Markey, Forum Public Relations CEO. “We understand that the future will be lead by innovators, and we want to help them communicate passionately and purposely to make the world a better place.”

Forum Public Relations was founded by a group of communications professionals who hare intimately aware of the challenges associated with architecture, engineering, and construction firms, biotech, and the arts. Allyson Markey, CEO, started her career as an enviromentel geologist before transitioning to commuintcations, while Monte Ward, Forum Public Relation’s Content Director, started in biotechnology before transitioning to journalism. Together, they have more than a decade of experience representing clients in the sciences, technology, and arts.

Forum Public Relations offers a broad suite of services, including:
Branding
Press + Media Relations
Creative Design

To learn more, please visit www.forumpublicrelations.com

About Forum Public Relations
Forum Public Relations is a full-service PR and communications agency specializing in the sciences are arts. With over a decade of experience, we exist to serve and represent those breaking the boundaries of arts and sciences while transforming the world around us. To learn more, visit www.forumpublicrelations.com

Contact Information
Monte Ward
[email protected]
C: +1.951.265.9928

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CONNECT Accepts First Companies Into Its CapitalMatch Program

– Four San Diego-based startups accepted to program for fundraising assistance –

CONNECT-hi-resSAN DIEGO (March 8, 2016) – CONNECT, a premier innovation company accelerator in San Diego that helps create and scale companies in the technology and life sciences sectors, has announced that four local startups – Fragmob, GRI Bio, Guru, and Jaan Biotherapeutics – have been accepted into its brand new CapitalMatch program. Born out of CONNECT’s commitment to support San Diego’s innovation economy and a real need in the community, CapitalMatch aims to facilitate introductions between investors and investment-ready companies in the tech and life science sectors. CapitalMatch is paving the way for local startups to receive the funding they need to thrive.

“Our goal with CapitalMatch is to develop relationships with a large network of investors across the country. We work to understand their investment interests and then introduce them to the vetted San Diego companies that meet their investment criteria,” said Shawn Richardson, Senior Director, Match Programs at CONNECT. “We believe that being a part of the CapitalMatch program will be impactful for Fragmob, GRI Bio, Guru, and Jaan Biotherapeutics as they raise capital in the coming months.”

Fragmob, GRI Bio, Guru, and Jaan Biotherapeutics are the first companies to pass the vetting process of the CapitalMatch program. As CapitalMatch companies, they will now be supported with a variety of introductions and interactions with suitable potential investors.

CONNECT is pleased to introduce the first CapitalMatch companies:
· Fragmob: An international mobile sales automation software provider, Fragmob instigates action through technology that enables Direct Selling companies to realize the benefits of a powerful mobile solution. The Fragmob mobile platform drives Direct Selling sales reps towards the most focused, effective actions for their business in real-time and delivers actionable metrics so clients and users can achieve higher sales in less time. Raised funding will provide working capital as Fragmob builds its team to meet the growth in new clients and execute upon a strong sales pipeline.
· GRI Bio: GRI Bio is a clinical stage drug development company targeting NKT cells to treat various inflammatory diseases including liver disease and autoimmune conditions. Its lead asset, GRI-0621 is currently in a Phase IIA study with a targeted indication of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The Company is currently seeking equity financing to fund a Phase IIB, proof of concept trial that would complete in late 2017.
· Guru: Guru is revolutionizing the way visitors experience museums acting as the technological bridge to the 21st century audience. Utilizing beacon technology, Guru creates a customized app for each museum that turns the ever-present smartphone into a personal concierge, expert tour guide, map and interactive tool that connects the visitor with the museum. Guru is in the process of raising $750,000 with $500,000 still open.
· Jaan Biotherapeutics: Jaan Biotherapeutics L.L.C. (JBT) is a life science company that is focused in developing first-in-class therapies that regenerate damaged heart muscle and could potentially treat heart disease, the largest single cause of death in the world. Heart disease does not discriminate by gender or race and is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Their fundraising efforts will assist in developing new treatments for heart disease.

For more information on CONNECT, please visit www.connect.org. To see how your investment-ready company may get involved with CONNECT’s CapitalMatch program, please contact Shawn Richardson at [email protected].
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ABOUT CONNECT
CONNECT is a premier innovation company accelerator in San Diego that creates and scales great companies in the technology and life sciences sectors. By creating an environment in which entrepreneurs and C-suite executives have access to the people, capital, and technology resources they need for success, CONNECT has assisted in the formation and development of more than 3,000 companies since 1985. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most successful organizations linking entrepreneurs and C-suite executives with the resources they need for the commercialization of innovative products and services; our program has been modeled in more than 50 regions around the world.

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WowYow Puts Myspace in the Top 8

SAN DIEGO– San Diego-based start-up WowYow has partnered with Myspace to provide viewers with an all-new video experience. Myspace viewers are now able to discover more about the things that interest them in a video.

WowYow’s exciting and innovative online video technology discovers what is in a scene for the viewer to explore. The people, fashion, gear, music, locations, and more can now be explored within select Myspace videos.

This application of interactive video technology is an industry first and the beginning of an all-new video strategy.

“Myspace adopted WowYow’s video plugin to increase engagement and monetization and we are excited to have them in our Top 8,” said WowYow executive, Jarett Boskovich.

Visit https://myspace.com/pages/wowyow for more information about the partnership and to experience the all-new video strategy.

Contacts
WowYow
Jarett Boskovich, 844-496-9969
[email protected]

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Announcing CONNECT’s FrameWorks Workshop CapitalMatch Education Track Inaugural Workshop on Feb. 24: Angel Investing Basics for the Start-up Community

– Brand new FrameWorks workshop series focused on preparing start-ups to pitch for capital –

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 3, 2016) – CONNECT, a premier innovation company accelerator in San Diego that helps create and scale companies in the technology and life sciences sectors, has announced the start of its FrameWorks CapitalMatch education track. The FrameWorks CapitalMatch series will provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and their mentors to learn more about the fundamentals of executing early stage investment deals. The introductory workshop, Angel Investing Basics for the Start-up Community, will provide content essential for start-ups seeking capital by the Angel Resource Institute and will be held on Wednesday, February 24 at CONNECT’s headquarters in University City.

“Presenting this new education series is a natural next step for us as we work to identify and create ways to support the fundraising efforts of start-ups in San Diego,” said Shawn Richardson, Senior Director, Match Programs at CONNECT. “So many of our Springboard companies, mentors, and entrepreneurs in residence (EIRs) are in the program getting ready to raise capital, so we are proud to be able to provide relevant and instructive information to prepare them for the discussions and issues they will experience in their capital raising efforts.”

Angel Investing Basics for the Start-up Community, presented by Troy Knauss and Susan Preston of the Angel Resource Institute, is designed for entrepreneurs and their mentors who want to be prepared for raising early-stage investment capital. This full-day seminar provides a sweeping overview of how the angel investing process works. The workshop is an interactive classroom style format that includes presentations, a panel discussion, and case studies.

Angel Investing Basics for the Start-up Community covers the following topics:

An overview of angel investing
Due diligence
Valuation of early stage companies
Term sheets
How to connect to angels

Event details are as follows:

When:
· Wednesday, February 24, 2016
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Where:
CONNECT
4790 Eastgate Mall, Suite 125
San Diego, CA 92121

Cost:
· Pre-registration (available until February 22, 11:59pm): $500; $250 for current and graduated Springboard companies and current CONNECT ERIs
· Registration (after February 23): $500 for all

Additional topics that will be covered in the 2016 series include Pitching to Investors, Valuation of Early Stage Companies, Trends in Raising Capital, Due Diligence, Term Sheets, Capitalization Tables, Post Investment and Boardroom, and Early Stage Exits. All courses will be taught by the Angel Resource Institute, which was started by the Kaufman Foundation.

To register for the event, click here. For more information on CONNECT, please visit www.connect.org.

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ABOUT CONNECT
CONNECT is a premier innovation company accelerator in San Diego that creates and scales great companies in the technology and life sciences sectors. By creating an environment in which entrepreneurs and C-suite executives have access to the people, capital, and technology resources they need for success, CONNECT has assisted in the formation and development of more than 3,000 companies since 1985. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most successful organizations linking entrepreneurs and C-suite executives with the resources they need for the commercialization of innovative products and services; our program has been modeled in more than 50 regions around the world.

ABOUT THE ANGEL RESOURCE INSTITUTE (ARI)
Founded in 2006 as part of the evolution of earlier efforts to encourage and support angel investing by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and leaders of angel groups across the United States. The real value of ARI’s content comes from the Kauffman Foundation and the collective experience and best practices of thousands of individual investors and angel investment groups. They also leverage our strong partnership with the Angel Capital Association (ACA) and their 190 members who represent 8,000 individual investors.

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