Raffi

[Noubar Afeyan @NoubarAfeyan]

The race for the AI future isn’t really about more computing power or better large language models, as important as those things are. The true revolution will happen with #polyintelligence, AI’s interactions with what I call nature’s intelligence – the logic of the natural world, evolved over billions of years – and human intelligence. This opportunity is driving much of our pioneering advances at @FlagshipPioneer
Nowhere is better positioned to facilitate those interactions and lead that revolution than #Massachusetts, with its world-leading life sciences ecosystem, highly educated workforce, and burgeoning AI sector. I shared some thoughts about how my home state can lean into the uncertainty it’s facing and win the AI future in Boston Business Journal. https://t.co/kRqdbSTYPV via @BosBizJournal

[Professor Kopalyan @hyepatriarch]

Prolific news! Firebird (AI cloud company) & Armenian government (w/ support from NVIDIA) announced plans to build $500 million advanced AI infrastructure to accelerate technology innovation and establish the Caucasus region as an AI hub.

https://t.co/IBwv42bvA8 via @ein_news

[Olivier Decottignies @O_Decottignies]

En Arménie, on n'a pas de pétrole, mais on a des idées💡 https://t.co/7eOhOlx34h

[Mkhitar Hayrapetyan @Hayrapetyan_M]

Starlink is now live in #Armenia!
Thanks to months of dedicated work by @Starlink, MHTI, and key national authorities, high-speed satellite internet is available across the country - from cities to remote regions.
A big step forward for digital inclusion and secure connectivity.

[CIVILNET @CivilNetTV]

Christian leaders appeal to Trump for urgent action on Armenian hostages in Baku https://t.co/oZ4RdWxX4Y

[Save Armenia @SaveArmeniaUS]

A coalition of American Christian leaders has sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging decisive action to free 24 Christian hostages—23 Armenian Christians and one Azerbaijani Christian convert—held by Azerbaijani authorities.

READ HERE: https://t.co/IZxsBv1MF5

[Raffi @raffiMK]

Chronicle of a murder foretold https://t.co/tVyaAdfGE0 via @YouTube

Tragedy unfolding in real time: Stalin-style sham trials, expulsion of international organizations, and methodical preparation for the murder of an innocent man - what justice looks like in Azerbaijan

[Arman Tatoyan @atatoyan]

#Armenian hostages & captives, incl. Ruben Vardanyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Davit Babayan, & others, are enduring #Azerbaijani trials designed to legitimize political motives & obscure ethnic cleansing in #Artsakh. Every minute of their detention is an absolute crime.

[Zartonk Media @ZartonkMedia]

Over 25 NGOs Call On Red Cross President To Visit Ruben Vardanyan For Independent Medical Assessment & Examine Detention Conditions Of All Armenian Prisoners
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Over 25 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have addressed an open letter to Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), calling on her to immediately visit Armenian political prisoner Ruben Vardanyan to conduct an independent medical assessment.

The letter reads:
“Distinguished President Spoljaric Egger,
We are writing to you with deep concern regarding the health condition of Ruben Vardanyan, who has been on a hunger strike for over a week while being held in a Baku prison, as well as the situation of other Armenian political prisoners who are being illegally prosecuted in Azerbaijan.

According to reports in the Azerbaijani press, during a court hearing on February 25, Ruben Vardanyan's health deteriorated. However, despite this, the court session continued. Moreover, in the widely circulated photographs, visible injuries and apparent traces of torture can be seen on his face. Given that he is being illegally prosecuted on political grounds and has been on a prolonged hunger strike, his condition could rapidly worsen, leading to irreversible consequences. Equally concerning is the situation of other Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan, who are also being prosecuted on political grounds and subjected to unfair treatment and ethnically motivated persecution.

In this context, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as an independent humanitarian organization, is obligated to act in accordance with its mandate and the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.

Therefore, we urge you to:
Conduct an immediate visit to Ruben Vardanyan to carry out an independent medical assessment.
Ensure impartial monitoring of his health condition and guarantee that he receives the necessary medical care.
Address the causes of his hunger strike and mediate to ensure the protection of his fundamental rights. In this regard, special attention should be given to uncovering the causes of the evident facial injuries, for which the Azerbaijani side bears a particular obligation.
Present an impartial report on the detention conditions and treatment of Ruben Vardanyan and other Armenian prisoners, in line with international standards.
Take immediate measures to end the hunger strike while simultaneously addressing the underlying concerns that have led to this extreme step. It is essential that the ICRC’s next scheduled visit does not come too late.
Conduct regular visits to all Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijani prisons to ensure their fair treatment.
Act as an independent mediator between Armenian prisoners and Azerbaijani authorities to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law and advocate for their immediate release.

The ICRC has exclusive jurisdiction and a mandate in the field of prisoner protection. Therefore, your intervention in this situation is not only justified but necessary. Your role is particularly critical in monitoring the treatment of prisoners prosecuted on political grounds and in preventing violations of international humanitarian law, which is a fundamental principle of the Geneva Conventions.

We trust that this issue will be treated as a matter of urgency and that immediate action will be taken to prevent potentially tragic consequences.

We look forward to your prompt response.”

[Nara @nmatini]

#FreeGevorgSujyan
#FreeArmenianHostages

Gevorg, a civilian, a founder of a humanitarian NGO, was kidnapped by Azerbaijan after the 2020 ceasefire while delivering humanitarian aid to the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. He has been sentenced to 15y in prison on fake charges.

[Raffi @raffiMK]

The latest edition of Tech Matters for @evn_report, where I focus on the interplay between tech development and societal responsibilities, in the context of AI and Armenia: https://t.co/G7P9XeTYxs

[Eric Hacopian @molon_labe97]

მადლობა @alexkavtaradze_ We need more things like this on both sides.

[Raffi @raffiMK]

Amazing Armenian success story. Ara and Vahe are not only incredibly successful entrepreneurs and leaders, but kind considerate and conscientious Armenians as well! Great role models for our future generations!

[Zartonk Media @ZartonkMedia]

🇦🇲 Armenian-Founded ServiceTitan Files For Initial Public Offering (IPO), To Go Public On Nasdaq
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On Monday, the Armenian-founded software tech giant ServiceTitan officially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is set to list its shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker ‘TTAN’, reports Zartonk Media.

The company, founded by Armenian entrepreneurs Ara Mahdessian and Vahe Kuzoyan in 2012, is a Glendale, California-based cloud software platform for trade businesses, serving residential and commercial contractors, particularly in sectors like HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning). Over the years, ServiceTitan has emerged as a prominent player in a niche market, gaining momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased demand for home renovation services.

While details about the number of shares to be listed and the anticipated price range were not disclosed on Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported that ServiceTitan plans to go public next month, citing sources familiar with the matter. The company’s public debut coincides with a wave of high-profile startups preparing for U.S. listings amid improving investor sentiment driven by expectations of a soft economic landing.

In its fiscal year 2024, which ended on July 31, ServiceTitan reduced its loss attributable to common stockholders to $241 million, down from $283 million in the previous fiscal year. During the same period, the company achieved 31% revenue growth, reaching $614.3 million.

ServiceTitan plans to use the proceeds from the IPO primarily to redeem outstanding shares of its non-convertible preferred stock, with additional funds allocated to acquisitions, investments in other businesses, and general corporate purposes. Notably, the company will allow some eligible customers, as well as friends and family members of its co-founders, to purchase shares in the IPO.

The IPO will be underwritten by leading financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Securities, and Citigroup.

Read the full article on https://t.co/jZctVUWohO

[Eric Hacopian @molon_labe97]

It is the job of every participate at COP 29 to be the voice of @bahruz_samad and all the other political prisoners, POW's and hostages held by the regime in Baku.

[Raffi @raffiMK]

Super-excited to collaborate with @evnreport on this new column on tech!

[EVN Report @evn_report]

We are pleased to be launching a new column, “Tech Matters” by Raffi Kassarjian @raffiMK. In this inaugural piece, he explores how local talent & diasporan Armenians have fueled Armenia’s tech sector growth but more needs to be done.
https://t.co/19bQNMYM9g

[Save Armenia @SaveArmeniaUS]

"We heard the stories of unspeakable horrors that Azerbaijan committed against Artsakh.

We owe the Armenian people an apology for our silence & our commitment to not remain silent as these evil forces continue to pressure this first Christian nation."

https://t.co/rVIb4pmZJP

[Dan Harre @dan_harre]

The most underreported story of the past year is the destruction of one of the world's oldest Christian communities by a regime that receives military aid from the United States. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will be held accountable in this life or the next. #SaveArmenia✝️

[Zartonk Media @ZartonkMedia]

🎤 Zartonk’s team in Armenia captured Former MGM CEO Alex Yemenidjian’s inspiring keynote speech at WCIT 2024 / DigiTec in Yerevan. 🇦🇲 His address touched on essential themes of action, excellence, and leadership, leaving the audience with powerful reflections to consider.

Yemenidjian began by highlighting the importance of taking initiative: “There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. You have to decide which category you want to be in.” He emphasized that success is not left to chance but is a deliberate choice, explaining that “reputations are made by doing things that can’t be done, and actually doing them.”

On the theme of leadership and business, Yemenidjian stressed the importance of understanding the “why” in everything we do. “If you know how, you’ll always have a job. But if you know why, you will be the boss.” He urged the audience to ask deeper questions and aim for excellence rather than adequacy, explaining that “good enough is just not good enough.”

In discussing excellence, Yemenidjian shared his belief that to truly attain it, one must be willing to “care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, and dream more than others think is practical.” He noted that achieving excellence requires a commitment far beyond the ordinary, and that attitude and motivation are far more important than IQ in reaching that goal. “You either have the right attitude and motivation, or you don’t,” he remarked, underscoring that these qualities can’t be bought, learned, or copied.

Yemenidjian’s speech was a call to embrace risk and push boundaries in pursuit of extraordinary results, reminding the audience that excellence is not about being better than most but being the best. His powerful words inspired attendees to reflect on their own personal and professional journeys, challenging them to step beyond the limits of “good enough” and reach for true excellence.
#WCIT2024 #AlexYemenidjian #Leadership #Excellence #Inspiration #TechInnovation #SuccessMindset #ZartonkMedia #Armenia

[Djorkaeff Denis 🇫🇷🇦🇲 @djorkaeffdenis]

🇫🇷🤝🇦🇲Après l’Élysée et le Président de la Republique @EmmanuelMacron, le premier ministre @NikolPashinyan a été reçu à l’hôtel Matignon par le premier ministre Français, @MichelBarnier.
@tolmajian @O_Decottignies @AraratMirzoyan

[Michel Barnier @MichelBarnier]

Cher @NikolPashinyan, je mesure les choix difficiles auxquels vous faites face courageusement. L’amitié ancienne entre la France et l’Arménie est vivante.

Le gouvernement français est avec vous pour soutenir la défense de votre souveraineté et les aspirations du peuple arménien à la paix.