Whalar Group, which is the global Creator company on a mission to liberate the creative voice, announced that they have secured strategic investment from a group of notable investors: Marc Benioff the visionary founder of Salesforce, Shopify, and Neal H. Moritz the acclaimed Hollywood producer & founder of Original Film.

This funding marks a significant milestone in Whalar Group’s journey as the company continues to scale its ecosystem, which is built entirely around Creators. And Whalar Group has built a fully integrated ecosystem to support them, spanning brand partnerships, talent management, product incubation, digital operating system, physical campuses, and gaming innovation. Whalar Group’s unique ecosystem features six companies:

1.) Whalar: The world’s leading independent Creator and social agency.

2.) Sixteenth: A leading, global, 360° Creator talent management company.

3.) The Lighthouse: The first-of-its-kind IRL campus for Creators and their teams to Learn, Make, and Belong.

4.) Foam: The operating system for managing digital talent.

5.) Moby Ventures: A venture studio that brings Creators’ ideas for brands and products to life.

6.) Umi Games: A gaming studio that connects brands to Creators, building the most immersive experiences within Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft.

KEY QUOTES:

“The Creator Economy is now mainstream. What started as mostly part-time influencers has evolved into a professionalized industry. Creators are hiring teams, embracing new technologies and new ways of working to create valuable IP, build thriving communities and develop businesses with diverse revenue streams. This investment validates that we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible. We’re doubling down on building infrastructure that lets Creators operate like major entertainment companies, but with the agility to rapidly adopt new ways of thinking and creating that give them a distinct competitive advantage. The future isn’t just about content, it’s about Creators building the next generation of entertainment and media powerhouses.”

Neil Waller, Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Whalar Group

“Creators are powerhouses of commerce. They’ve built an entire ecosystem around their communities – an ecosystem that’s built on Shopify, and supercharged by Whalar Group. We’re arming creators with the tools they need to turn their communities into businesses from day one.”

Harley Finkelstein, Shopify President

“Creators today have the power, reach, and originality that used to be reserved for studios and networks. We’re excited to partner with Whalar Group on the infrastructure for Creators to help them scale that power into lasting IP.”

Neal H. Moritz, Founder of Original Film

Baungartner will work as a liaison with agencies such as the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), the Federal Revenue Service, the Central Bank, COAF, as well as certifying entities and approved laboratories. His duties include preparing the company for advances in the regulatory environment.

“Hugo’s arrival strengthens our ability to act strategically in a sector that is constantly changing. He brings an experienced, technical perspective that is aligned with the principles of governance and innovation that guide the group’s companies,” says Darwin Filho, CEO of Esportes Gaming Brasil.

“Brazil is experiencing a crucial moment in the regulation of the sector, and being at the forefront of this movement with such a relevant group is a challenge that motivates me. We will work to ensure that our operations continue not only in compliance with legal requirements, but also as a reference in good practices, innovation and expansion,” highlights Hugo Baungartner.

With a solid track record in the technology and gaming sectors, where he has worked for over 28 years, the new director will also be responsible for developing partnerships with global providers, evaluating mergers and acquisitions (M&A) opportunities and legally structuring new projects, ensuring compliance and regulatory alignment. Previously, Hugo worked for companies such as Grupo Aposta Ganha, RCT Gaming and Prohards.

Accredited by SPA/MF to operate throughout the country, with authorization published by the Ministry of Finance, Esportes Gaming Brasil’s license includes the group’s two companies: Esportes da Sorte and Onabet.

With 100% Brazilian operations, Esportes Gaming Brasil is one of the main groups in the sector, operating significantly and always supporting market regulation.

The group is also committed to developing effective control mechanisms to support users in managing a healthy routine of entertainment and fun.

Employing hundreds of people, its contribution to society goes beyond the betting sector, through sponsorship of projects in the areas of sports and culture. In football, Esportes da Sorte sponsors traditional Brazilian clubs, such as Corinthians, Ceará, Ferroviária and Náutico.

In the events and entertainment segment, Esportes da Sorte also has a strong presence in the largest and most important projects in the country, such as Galo da Madrugada and Carnaval de Recife.

With great strength in the digital sphere, Onabet relies on relevant digital influencers to generate content for the brand.

Source: GMB

The professional esports organization NTMR has recruited Joseph “Lep” Cambriani and Julian “Rokit” Pizana from Northwood’s Varsity Overwatch roster.

“Watching Joseph and Julian grow into world-class competitors has been incredible,” said Northwood Esports Coach Jacob R. Jacob. “Their signings with NTMR are a testament to their talent and drive, and to the high-performance culture we’ve built at Northwood. We’re proud to see them represent our program on the global stage — and we’re equally enthusiastic that they will be continuing their academic journey with us.”

Cambriani, a student from Plano, Texas, initially competed for Northwood during the 2021-22 school year and helped bring the program its first championship in the Overwatch Collegiate Championship Series in 2021. That following summer, he signed to play professionally for the Houston Outlaws. Due to competition restrictions from the Overwatch League, he had to take a break from his education to focus on his new professional career.

Rules changed after the Overwatch Champions Series was introduced in 2024 as the premier international Overwatch circuit, becoming the successor to the Overwatch League. Now students can compete in collegiate esports events while also being signed to professional rosters.

“Flash forward to 2024, Joseph has decided to return to Northwood and finish his education while competing in the game he loves — thanks to this new era of the Overwatch Champions Series,” explained Assistant Coach Aden Frosch.

Pizana, a student from El Paso, Texas, returned to Northwood this spring after signing with the professional esports organization, TSM, in 2024. Like Cambriani, Pizana is focused on finishing his education while taking advantage of the unique resources that Northwood offers so students can grow as competitors and future leaders.

Pizana and Cambriani currently are focused on qualifying for the Esports World Cup this summer in Saudi Arabia, where they could potentially reunite with other current and former Northwood Esports players, including Christopher “Cjay” Smith, Landon “Landon” McGee, and Diego “Vega” Moran.

Cambriani is grateful to be back at Northwood and excited about this new opportunity with NTMR.

“It’s been a personal challenge getting back into this level of competitive form, and without Northwood and its dedicated resources, I don’t think it would have happened as fast,” Cambriani said. “Being around friends in a focused environment helps us all — even if we’re on different teams in the professional Overwatch Champions Series.”

“Northwood Overwatch is such a close-knit family that I didn’t realize how much I loved it until I left for TSM,” Pizana noted. “It feels great to be back, and I’m looking forward to what Joseph and I can accomplish next school year — especially now that we’re teammates again. We plan to be a real force, not just for the remainder of the Overwatch Champions Series season but heading into the next collegiate season.”

Since its inception in 2019, Northwood Esports has built a reputation for developing high-caliber players, with five Overwatch players signing professional contracts over the past five years.

For more information about Northwood Esports, visit https://esports.northwood.edu/ or utilize this inquiry form to connect with the Northwood Esports coaching staff.

PepsiCo is officially in the prebiotic soda market: the food and beverage giant this week finalized its $1.95 billion acquisition of Poppi, one of the brands that has helped propel the functional beverage category that is forecast to reach $62 billion in sales by 2027 from $50 billion in 2022.

“[Poppi’s] rapid growth, strong consumer engagement, and differentiated functional positioning make it a dynamic addition to our portfolio. We are excited to scale poppi’s momentum and unlock new growth through our capabilities — we’re just getting started,” said Ram Krishnan, CEO of PepsiCo Beverages U.S., in a press statement announcing the deal’s closure.

PepsiCo called out Poppi’s “community- and culture-first approach,” inclusive of its social media presence, viral TikTok campaigns and influencer partnerships that have helped the brand engage crucial Gen Z and millennial audiences. That marketing strategy was on full display last month with the launch of Poppi’s latest flavor, Alpine Blast. With a citrus taste, 55mg of caffeine and its mountainous moniker, Alpine Blast appears to be the latest prebiotic soda to take on PepsiCo’s Mountain Dew, following a cheeky campaign from competitor Olipop around its Ridge Rush product.

Gaming as a ‘no brainer’

With the introduction of Alpine Blast, Poppi made its first marketing push into gaming — a space that has long been associated with soda, including Mountain Dew —  with several cultural activations.

“Soda has integrated seamlessly with gaming culture from the beginning,” said a Poppi spokesperson in emailed comments. “As a digital-first brand, it’s a no-brainer to bring their better-for-you sodas into this space.”

To put itself on one of the most popular gaming platforms for brands and consumers, Poppi teamed with licensed Fortnite studio Creator Corp to launch an exclusive Fortnite mini-game that was amplified by Twitch streamer Cody “Clix” Conrod. And in a shot at gaming nostalgia, the brand launched Alpine Blasters, a retro arcade-style game that saw about 126,000 plays in just four days. The top 1,000 players of the web-based game, of about 24,000 overall, received a branded mailer. 

The dual activations allowed the brand to reach multiple audiences — Gen Z and Gen Alpha in Fortnite, older arcade-era gamers in Alpine Blasters — and helped craft a “cross-generational conversation,” per the brand.

Coachella and beyond

In addition to the gaming activations, Poppi dropped an eight-piece, limited-edition merchandise collection on a microsite, with prices ranging from $12 to $120. Merch drops continue to be a way for brands to elevate themselves into culture. Some of those goods were on display in April at a Coachella-adjacent event that featured creators, friends of the brand and Coachella headliner — and Poppi investor — Post Malone.

The brand on April 12 hosted a BBQ-style kickback event with music, food, cocktails and ping pong. Along with Malone and influencers including Gavin Casalegno (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”), Bobby Pombo, Georgia Costello, Christina Kirkman, Luann Diez and Alexa Jay, the gathering featured two fans who won a trip to attend.

The launch of Alpine Blast allowed Poppi to get back on track after a Super Bowl ad and stunt campaign proved controversial and gave Olipop an opening to swipe at its rival. For Poppi, the backlash was an opportunity to listen, learn and vow to do more for its community.

“That campaign sparked a huge wave of attention, and we saw firsthand how powerful it is when traditional media and social storytelling work together,” a spokesperson said. “We’ve continued to build relationships with creators and community members, all of whom align with our brand, focusing on people who can translate that big brand moment into authentic, everyday conversations.”

AUGUSTA, GA — Eight Peach Belt Conference baseball players have earned All-Region honors as the NCBWA and D2CCA each released their teams.   Five of those players were named to both All-Region squads with North Georgia’s Andrews Opata named first-team on both.  All first-team selections are eligible for All-America consideration.

Georgia College & State University’s Bradley Wilson  and Lander’s Grant Sherrod were first-team selections by the D2CCA and second team by NCBWA.  Lander’s Dominic Puccetti and Phillip Ard of North Georgia were named second-team by both organizations.

The Division II Conference Commissioners’ Assocation (D2CCA) team is selected by athletic communications professionals in the southeast region.  The NCBWA team is selected by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

2025 D2CCA Baseball All-Southeast Region Team

First Team

P – Rijnaldo Euson, Francis Marion

P – Kolton Casson, Carson-Newman

P – Bradley Wilson, Georgia College

P – Matty Brown, North Greenville

RP – Hayden Simmerson, Catawba

C – Cole Stanford, Lenoir-Rhyne

1B – Charlie Bussey III, Francis Marion

2B – Brett Bloomquist, North Greenville

3B – Cole Hales, Catawba

SS – Lane McLean, Mount Olive

OF – Mackenzie Wainwright, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Andrews Opata, North Georgia

OF – Grant Sherrod, Lander

DH – Sal Carricato, Lenoir-Rhyne

UT/P – Landon Lucas, UNC Pembroke

UT – Eli Maddox, Flagler

 

Second Team

P – Payne Stolsworth, Catawba

P – Dominic Puccetti, Lander

P – Spencer Cipro, Belmont Abbey

P – Graham Edwards, Young Harris

RP – Eli Norris, Carson-Newman

C – Jaylen Mack, Coker

C – Julian Sauger, Shorter

1B – Phillip Ard, North Georgia

2B – Cole Laskowski, Lenoir-Rhyne

3B – Drew Bray, Young Harris

3B – Steven Smith, Emory & Henry

SS – Kasten Harvey, Lincoln Memorial

OF – Luke Hatcher, Young Harris

OF – Owen Blackledge, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Caleb Burr, Belmont Abbey

DH – Kade Smallwood, Young Harris

UT/P – Gage Shaver, Southern Wesleyan

UT – Jon Howard, Mount Olive

Player of the Year – Mackenzie Wainwright, Lenoir-Rhyne

Pitcher of the Year – Kolton Casson, Carson-Newman

NCBWA All-Southeast Region Teams

First Team

C – Cole Stanford, Lenoir-Rhyne

1B – Charlie Bussey III, Francis Marion

2B – Brett Blomquist, North Greenville

3B – Cole Hales, Catawba

SS – Kasten Harvey, Lincoln Memorial

OF – Mackenzie Wainwright, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Andrews Opata, North Georgia

OF – Luke Hatcher, Young Harris

OF – Owen Blackledge, Lenoir-Rhyne

DH – Sal Carricato, Lenoir-Rhyne

UT – Jeremy Begora, Young Harris

SP – Rijnaldo Euson, Francis Marion

SP – Kolton Casson, Carson-Newman

SP – Matty Brown, North Greenville

SP – Payne Stolsworth, Catawba

RP – Hayden Simmerson, Catawba

RP – Matthew Taubensee, North Greenville

Second Team

C – Chase Waddell, Barton

1B – Phillip Ard, North Georgia

2B – Jonny Smith, Young Harris

3B – Steven Smith, Emory & Henry

SS – Lane McLean, Mount Olive

OF – Grant Sherrod, Lander

OF – Caleb Burr, Belmont Abbey

OF – Josh Sharp, USC Aiken

OF – Dylan Driver, Catawba

DH – Kade Smallwood, Young Harris

UT – Evan Wickeri, Lander

SP – Dominic Puccetti, Lander

SP – Bradley Wilson, Georgia College

SP – Spencer Cipro, Belmont Abbey

SP – Andrew Harlow, Lenoir-Rhyne

RP – Britton Adams, Coker

RP – Seth Willis, UNC Pembroke

Player of the Year | Mackenzie Wainwright, Lenoir-Rhyne

Pitcher of the Year | Rijnaldo Euson, Francis Marion

Coach of the Year | Jim Gantt, Catawba

By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing

This summer, thousands of young summer campers diving into hands-on programs such
as robotics, culinary arts, archaeology, LEGO engineering, Esports, filmmaking, hospitality
and more will take over the University of South Florida.

High school students can even stay overnight on the Tampa or St. Petersburg campuses
during select weeks, turning their camp experience into a mini college preview.

These programs are part of USF’s record-breaking lineup of 56 week-long educational
summer camps, running June 2-Aug. 2. More than 2,500 students in grades two through
12 are expected to attend.

That’s double last summer’s participation.

“The growth in our program is largely due to the expanding partnerships we’ve established
across the university, leading to new camp programs,” said Caryn Preston, assistant
director of USF’s Office of Youth Experiences, which oversees the summer camp program.
“Then, as more people learn about the exciting opportunities we offer, interest continues
to rise. To meet this increasing demand, we’ve also added more sessions to certain
camps. Many students are eager to spend their summer exploring potential career paths
and discovering what they might want to pursue in the future.”

USF’s Office of Youth Experiences has added several new camps this year. The Brick-by-Brick
Robotics Camp introduces young learners in third through fifth grades to the exciting
world of robotics and engineering using the LEGO© Spike Prime system. The Archaeology
+ Art Camp allows middle schoolers to explore history through hands-on archaeology
and creative art projects.

High school students will gain experience in the hospitality industry through the
new Wyndham Hospitality Experience camp, which takes place at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater
Beach hotel.

“They’ll be in the kitchen, learn about accounting, housekeeping, sales, revenue management,
set and prep a banquet, and learn to run their own big event,” said resort general
manager Seth McDaniels.

Faculty from USF’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management will also make presentations
on the industry and discuss how the university can further prepare them for a career.

 “We owe it as hospitality leaders to make sure that we’re out there creating awareness
for younger people and understanding how much fun it really is and how great of a
career it is,” McDaniels said.

Also in its inaugural summer, Camp Bullseye, in collaboration with the city of St.
Petersburg, offers middle schoolers hands-on experiences in marine science, entrepreneurship
and digital marketing through on- and off-campus pursuits.

“They will get to do really cool St. Pete-themed activities like taking an art tour
of the city,” Preston said.

Camp Bullseye students can also stay overnight at Ibis Hall on the St. Petersburg
campus, providing the opportunity for more field trips into the city.

“The city of St. Petersburg is proud to support Camp Bullseye and their efforts to
equip St. Pete’s next generation with the skills and knowledge to drive innovation
and sustainability in our community,” Mayor Kenneth T. Welch said. “In alignment with
our ‘Education & Youth Opportunities’ Pillar for Progress, the city of St. Petersburg
looks forward to this continued partnership with the University of South Florida.”

Summer camps back by popular demand include Everyone Can Code on the Tampa and St.
Petersburg campuses, Esports on the Tampa campus and the JGHC Summer Scholars Institute
Mock Trial Intensive on the Sarasota-Manatee campus.

During Everyone Can Code, fourth–sixth graders explore the world of Minecraft, robotics,
and, of course, coding. The Esports camp helps middle and high schoolers elevate their
gaming skills, while the Mock Trial Intensive, also for high schoolers, dives into
court proceedings, essential legal knowledge and critical thinking skills.

One of the unique summer programs is the emergency management-themed camp on the Tampa
campus. Led by experts from the U.S. Coast Guard, USF Police Department, Medical Response
Unit, Office of Emergency Management, Campus Recreation and Hillsborough Fire Rescue,
campers learn essential first aid, map out evacuation plans and master advanced disaster
response strategies – all while applying them to an exciting and fictitious zombie
survival scenario.

“This is a different take on last summer’s Bulls Disaster Camp that was hurricane-themed,”
Preston said. “We wanted to come up with something even more creative for this summer.
So, we thought we’d teach the kids about things like CPR and how to become a police
officer and incorporate the lessons into humans vs. zombie games.”

Regardless of which Tampa campus camp they choose, all high schoolers during select
weeks can spend four nights in Juniper-Poplar Hall as part of the new Rocky’s Residents
program.

“It’s like sleep-away camp, but during the day they’re going to different camps, and
in the evening, all of those campers all across campus gather together for fun activities
on- and off-campus,” Preston said. “One night they’ll do moonlight canoeing, and another
they’ll explore the Marshall Center.”

USF also offers summer camps focused on filmmaking, creative writing, photography,
cybersecurity, music, bioengineering, finance and more.

“There are so many programs,” Preston said. “USF is not just a place behind a fence
that is inaccessible to the public. We are part of the community. These summer camps
provide kids with a place to learn and have fun while spending time with USF.”

Click here for a full list of camps, dates and signup information