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Decision Fuel for Smart Venues

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Today we announced the latest advancements of Evolv Insights analytics, a crucial part of our Express product. These advancements will be generally available on October 8th, but first I’d like to offer a bit more context for why we are investing so much in data and analytics, and how we expect these investments to pay off for our customers. 

The analytics enhancements we announced today represent important progress toward our Digital Threshold vision. As someone coming into physical security from the cybersecurity world, I am very attuned to the power of data, and the importance of refining data to help operators make better decisions. I’ve always liked what Clive Humby, architect of the Tesco Club Card loyalty program, said in a speech he gave back in 2006: 

“Data is the new oil. It’s valuable, but if unrefined it cannot really be used. It has to be changed into gas, plastic, chemicals, etc to create a valuable entity that drives profitable activity; so must data be broken down, analyzed for it to have value.” 

The refining process of generating useful analytics and accurate machine learning models turns raw data into the high-octane decision fuel that a modern business requires. This is especially true for facilities working to transform themselves into modern “smart venues.” Delivering breakthroughs in visitor experience and operational excellence is not easy. It requires vision, good instincts, and a constant supply of refined decision fuel. 

As a weapons screening system, our Express product illustrates the power of data, analytics, and machine learning in the hands of smart venue managers. To illustrate, let’s consider the goal of zero-wait time on arrival, or, as one stadium operations manager put it, minimizing the “mean time to beer.”  

No one loves being stuck in a line outside a venue, but few people realize how vulnerable they are standing in an unprotected crowd. That crowd is a soft target that could attract a threat actor. And every minute people are stuck in a line is a minute they are not spending at concessions or retail within the venue (e.g. “high mean time to beer”). It’s a lose-lose situation, whereas achieving zero-wait is a win-win: a better, safer visitor experience and more revenue for the venue. 

Getting to zero wait time starts with accelerating the weapons screening process, and that’s a data and machine learning problem. Our Express systems process a huge amount of data through our CortexAI models as they perform real time weapons screening. The fact that most visitors don’t have to stop and hand over their bags and dump their pocket contents is a huge step toward the zero-wait goal, but more insight and decisions are required to hit the goal. 

Even with screening that is 10X faster, it is still necessary to have the right number of lanes open in the right places with the right number of staff. That’s a data and analytics problem. Our systems precisely measure the number of visitors and the exact time of their arrival. This makes it possible to plot arrival curves by event type. Analytics like these can be crucial decision fuel for managers as they consider the staffing levels and equipment placement required to achieve zero-wait. 

Achieving zero-wait through AI-powered weapons screening and arrival curve analytics is just one way to make a venue truly smart. The analytics upgrade we announced today also allows security staff to use historical weapons screening data to retroactively simulate alarm rates and entry throughput based on different sensitivity settings. Being able to go back in time and ask “what if” allows smart venues to make intelligent decisions to maximize throughput at any given risk tolerance. This is high-octane decision fuel that’s only possible on a digital native platform like CortexAI in Express. We’re incredibly excited to help customers start using it as part of their smart venue digital transformation. 

Today’s announcement continues our steady progress in analytics, and there is more to come. We are looking at ways to integrate with more types of smart venue systems and incorporate more third-party data, always with the goal of providing even more powerful decision fuel to make venues and facilities smarter, safer, and more efficient.  

If you are an analytics-minded person in the venue and facilities industry who is inspired by the potential of what I’ve described in this post, we would love to hear your feedback and ideas. Please get in touch and let us know what’s on your mind.  

A New Standard Sets a New Milestone: Evolv Express Screens More than 100 Million People

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Our mission at Evolv is to make the world a safer place to work, learn, and play and has been since we began. Having been with the company since near the beginning, I am thrilled to share the news that we have surpassed the 100 million mark in the number of people that have safely and seamlessly walked through our Evolv Express® systems.  

To safely screen 100 million individuals has taken a lot of hard work on the part of our teams as well as our customers. It is not easy to set a new standard in any industry, and particularly one that is so fundamental to our lives as our physical safety. Evolv has been able to do it with our advanced weapons detection solutions, as this latest milestone proves.  

Only the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has screened more people than Evolv in the United States. That’s a pretty impressive feat when you consider the company was only founded in 2013.  

We can’t take full credit for reaching the 100 million mark so rapidly and for setting a new standard for security in the 21st century. We have to share the honors and accolades with all of our customers—and particularly our early partners, who had the faith and courage to believe in the boldness of our vision and our ability to achieve our mission. 

When I think of 100 million people, the number is too staggering to comprehend. Instead, I think about many of the individuals that I’ve watched as they casually walked through our digital thresholds, smiling and chatting with friends and family, typically unaware they are passing through an advanced, modern weapons detection system that is keeping them safer.  

I’ve talked to many of these patrons who told me they thought the venue didn’t have any security because they didn’t experience metal detectors stopping them in their tracks and forcing them to get in a slow-moving line, pull out their cell phones, empty their pockets, etc. When I tell them they actually passed through a new type of threshold that uses advanced sensors, cameras, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to detect weapons, they are typically amazed that such a solution exists—and grateful that the venue’s owners were committed to modernizing security in consideration of the experience and safety of visitors. 

Here’s another thing about the 100 million milestone.  It’s taken a lot of hard work to get here, but it’s only a brief stop along the way. I fully expect to be seeing more of these announcements in the future, new milestones and new achievements, and I won’t be surprised to see the pace accelerate. That’s because the Evolv Express is setting the standard in physical security for a wide range of venues where large groups of people gather—concert halls, sports arenas, theaters, other performing arts locations, casinos, schools, hospitals, tourist sites, places of worship, shopping malls and more. 

As more customers and potential customers recognize that there is a new standard for weapons detection—and it really works—they will realize that they cannot and should not be left behind using 20th-century analog solutions in the 21st-century digital world. I look forward to more milestones as we continue on our journey to make Evolv an unobtrusive yet ubiquitous part of our everyday lives.  

Evolv Technology Screens More Than 100M People

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Award-Winning, State-of-the-Art Weapons Detection Enables Faster, Efficient and More Intelligent Entry

WALTHAM, Mass. – Evolv Technology (NASDAQ: EVLV), the global leader in weapons detection security screening, announced today that it has screened more than 100 million individuals, second only to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The milestone comes on the heels of a series of new customer acquisitions and organizational achievements, as well as impressive financial results revealed in its second quarter earnings announcement issued last month detailing, among other gains, a nearly 600% increase in year-over-year quarterly revenue. Coinciding with the earnings announcement was news from Security Today magazine that it named Evolv Express® New Product of the Year in the Pedestrian Security Entrances category.

“We’ve experienced significant growth this year, and this milestone demonstrates how much people are looking for a solution that improves security without compromising experience,” said Peter George, CEO of Evolv Technology. “With Evolv Express weapons detection screening, visitors get the frictionless experience they are looking for, and can spend more time at the venue they came to enjoy.”

Evolv Technology will end the month with a strong presence at Global Security Exchange (GSX) in Orlando Sept. 27-29. For more information about Evolv Technology or to see a demo, visit our website.

About Evolv Technology

Evolv Technology (NASDAQ: EVLV) is a leader in weapons detection for security screening, securing the world’s most iconic venues and companies. Its mission is enabling a better experience and better security for venues, creating a safer world to work, learn, and play by transforming physical security to make everywhere safer. It gives sports fans, theme park visitors, concertgoers, shoppers, employees, students, and others peace of mind so that they can gather without fear of violence. Its security screening has scanned more than 100 million people, second only to the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States, and its technology combines powerful, advanced sensors with proven artificial intelligence (AI), security ecosystem integrations, and comprehensive venue analytics to reliably detect threats 10 times faster than traditional metal detectors.

Evolv Technology, Evolv Express®, Evolv Insights™, and Evolv Cortex AI™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of Evolv Technologies, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions.

For more information, visit https://evolvtechnology.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking” statements and information, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events or our Company’s performance and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual outcomes may differ materially from the information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation, the risk factors set forth in our proxy statement/prospectus, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2021, as updated by the risk factors disclosed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 22, 2021, and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC. These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Securing Entertainment Venues

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One thing entertainment venues, sports stadiums and theme park officials want to accomplish is getting people back into their seats. That is happening today—but not without understanding and technology.

In this podcast episode by Security Today, AJ DeRosa shares his insight on how COVID-impacted businesses are able to face safety and security issues with confidence and technology. We also discuss visitor expectations and how venue officials can ensure their space is secure as they welcome visitors back.

Listen Now

Boch Center Using Modern Security to Improve Safety and Experience for Patrons as Venue Reopens

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State-of-the-art weapons detection allows patrons to walk freely through the entrance, using Evolv Technology

BOSTON, Mass. – Boch Center announced today it will be utilizing the world’s leading weapons detection screening solution as it reopens its doors for the first time since closing in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wang Theatre, a venue operated as part of Boch Center, will open Saturday, September 18th, featuring four-time Grammy winner Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. The screening solution, Evolv Express® from Evolv Technology, uses advanced sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect weapons at venue entrances while providing visitors with a touchless, friction-free experience. Patrons are no longer forced to wait in long lines at metal detectors, or experience invasive bag checks, wands or pat downs by security personnel.

“Evolv Express represents the next generation of physical security,” said Eric Nell, Director of Theater Operations & Security. “As the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, our patrons want a touchless experience. At the same time, they want to have peace of mind that we are providing them with the safest possible environment to gather. Evolv is at the forefront of transforming the world of physical security and we are proud to be using their solution”

Each Evolv Express system can screen up to 3,600 people an hour, which is 10 times faster than traditional checkpoint systems. The systems use a combination of sensors, screens and cameras combined with an AI-enabled software architecture to immediately distinguish between a gun and innocuous objects, such as a smartphone.

Evolv’s solutions are used by hundreds of customers at some of the most iconic venues in the world, including Lincoln Center, Six Flags and several MLB, National Football League and Major League Soccer facilities. Evolv systems have been used to screen more than 100 million people, second only to the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration in the U.S.

 “We are proud to partner with the Boch Center to enhance patron experience and safety,” said Evolv Technology CEO Peter George. “Our vision is a safer world for people to work, learn and play, and our mission is to transform security to enhance people’s lives. We know that Boch Center shares the same sense of purpose and is committed to providing their customers with the most advanced technology for their safety, while improving their experience each time they visit.”

Guests will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the show. Learn more about Boch Center’s continued COVID-19 precautions here.

About Boch Center

The Boch Center is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits performing arts institutions and a guardian of the historic Wang and Shubert Theatres. As New England’s largest cultural venue, the Boch Center is home to theater, classical and popular music, dance, comedy, opera, Broadway musicals, family entertainment, and more.

Located in Boston’s historic Theater District, the Boch Center also offers a diverse mix of educational, cultural and community outreach initiatives, including the bochcenter.org/cslp’>City Spotlights Leadership Program and the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame; collaborates with artists and local nonprofit arts organizations; preserves historic venues; and acts as a champion for Greater Boston’s arts and cultural community. Learn more at bochcenter.org.

About Evolv Technology

Evolv Technology (NASDAQ: EVLV) is a leader in weapons detection for security screening, securing the world’s most iconic venues and companies. Its mission is enabling a better experience and better security for venues, creating a safer world to work, learn, and play by transforming physical security to make everywhere safer. It gives sports fans, theme park visitors, concertgoers, shoppers, employees, students, and others peace of mind so that they can gather without fear of violence. Its security screening has scanned more than 100 million people, second only to the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States, and its technology combines powerful, advanced sensors with proven artificial intelligence (AI), security ecosystem integrations, and comprehensive venue analytics to reliably detect threats 10 times faster than traditional metal detectors.

Evolv Technology, Evolv Express®, Evolv Insights™, and Evolv Cortex AI™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of Evolv Technologies, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions.

For more information, visit https://evolvtechnology.com.

Forward-looking Statements  

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking” statements and information, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding the potential of the Evolv Express® security system are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “should,” “could,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events or our Company’s performance and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual outcomes may differ materially from the information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation the risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our proxy statement/prospectus, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 28, 2021, as updated by the risk factors disclosed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 22, 2021, and in our other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC.

These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For more information, visit https://evolvtechnology.com

A Different Way: Reopening Performing Arts Venues in a Lingering Pandemic

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As a native Bostonian who loves the arts, the incredible performances at the Wang Theatre and Shubert Theatre feel like they have always been part of my life. I’ve enjoyed countless musicals, symphonies, ballet, and concerts at these iconic hometown venues. Their pandemic shutdown was a sad moment for me, but my feelings were nothing compared to the seemingly bottomless crisis experienced by all the talent, staff, and management who make these venues such magical places. That’s why I am so incredibly excited to see these theaters reopening this weekend using Evolv Express® as a key part of their health and safety plan. Working with the Boch Center, which manages both venues, to make this happen has been incredibly satisfying. 

Performing arts centers have always been a core segment of our business, starting with our early success in New York at Lincoln Center and later at the Phillips Center, the Kravis Center, the Fox Theatre, the Paramount Theatre, and many others. It feels great to finally have our technology protecting visitors at the Wang and Shubert on our home turf here in Boston.  

According to the National Endowment for the Arts, the performing arts sector in the United States normally accounts for $13 billion dollars of economic value add and employs over 120,000 people across over 8000 businesses. But that all came crashing down with COVID-19. Performing arts centers were forced to close indefinitely and slashed their employees by half or more, with the remaining staff often on reduced wages. When they finally were able to reopen in the pre-vaccine period, severe restrictions hobbled their operations. They used their core creative talents to cope as best they could, but everyone knows that a full return to normal is the only way to get the industry back on its feet. Even now that full reopening is finally becoming possible, the landscape feels changed and there is still a lot of uncertainty. 

The security challenge for performing arts venue is tricky in the best of times, and the pandemic has obviously made it even more complex. These venues often have a very limited number of narrow entrances opening directly onto city streets with crowds arriving rapidly right before showtime. We’ve all been there: rushing down the street from some theater district restaurant to get to the venue at the last minute. Using walkthrough metal detectors and manual bag inspections during the last-minute rush typically leaves huge crowds on the streets outside the building, creating an incredibly vulnerable soft target.  

The pandemic only increased the threat of crowded entrances at theaters. Few visitors are OK with being jammed in close with people they don’t know and whose vaccination status has not yet been verified. It’s unsafe, unpleasant, and unacceptable, especially when it’s happening in a space that is all about having great experiences. The incongruity of it all is not lost on visitors, many of whom are still sorting through their pandemic anxieties.  

In my conversations with the Boch Center team and other customers, it has become clear that they are concerned about these issues. Re-opening with the old procedures is just a non-starter. Returning arts patrons are looking for visible signs that the venues are safe. Giving them the same old entrance melee just doesn’t feel right, especially in an industry that is all about experiences. Joe Spalding, CEO of the Boch Center told me that he knew they needed to have people return in a different way, and we’re incredibly happy that Evolv Express is now part of that new way, along with new air filtration systems, vaccination verification, and other best practices.  

The federal government has stepped up to help the performing arts with $75 million in new funding to the National Endowment for the Arts in the 2020 CARES Act and an additional $135 million in the March 2021 American Rescue Plan. This money is already flowing into performing arts venues to help fund investments in technology that both facilitate a safe reopening, including new security screening technology. It’s money well spent because a feeling of safety and security is vital to getting the economy, and our lives, back on track.  

Both of the Boch Center properties in Boston are opening this Saturday 18 September with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the Wang Theatre and Manuel Turizo at the Shubert Theatre. If you are in Boston this weekend, come join me at one of these venues. I’ll be helping with the deployment of our Express systems. If you see me, just wave as you walk right in without stopping, emptying your pockets, or surrendering your bag, and enjoy the show, safely! 

Evolv Technology Forms GiveEvolv to Help End School Gun Violence Epidemic

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GiveEvolv formed to donate Evolv’s state-of-the-art weapons detection at no cost to schools in need. 
 

WALTHAM, Mass. — September 8, 2021 — Evolv Technology (NASDAQ: EVLV, “Evolv”), the global leader in weapons detection security screening, today announced it has created Give Evolv LLC, (“GiveEvolv”).   

GiveEvolv was established to help accelerate Evolv’s mission of making people and public venues safer.  By providing need-based, free-of-charge donations of Evolv weapons screening systems to schools that would not otherwise be able to afford them, GiveEvolv seeks to offer parents, students, and teachers confidence and peace of mind that schools are a safe place to learn. 

Since the Columbine High School shooting in April 1999, more than 256,000 students have been victims of gun violence during school hours. In 2018, 113 people were killed in 29 school shootings. In 2019 there were 45 school shootings, an average of nearly one school shooting per week. Despite COVID-19 school closings, there have been at least 14 school shootings since March 2020 and 2021 is currently on track to be the United States’ deadliest year for gun violence, with 296 mass shootings thus far. On-campus incidents have occurred in rural towns, cities, and suburbs, affecting poor, middle-class and affluent communities – proving that no location is immune to gun violence. 

“At Evolv, our vision is a safer world for people to work, learn and play.  We are committed to democratizing security and GiveEvolv does just that,” said Peter George, CEO, Evolv Technology. “By granting state-of-the-art technology to schools that cannot otherwise afford it GiveEvolv will help keep students and educators in areas most affected by gun violence safe and focused on teaching and learning, as they should be.” 

GiveEvolv will initially be funded by NewHold Investment Corp. (“NewHold”), Evolv’s sponsor in its recent SPAC transaction, and is expected to receive future funding from Evolv and its employees, as well as other donors. 

In connection with GiveEvolv, Evolv has formed an advisory board composed of Evolv and NewHold senior executives and directors and other leading industry experts to ensure the grants reach the appropriate educational institutions, based on their pressing needs. The initial advisory board comprises seven members, including Peter George, Evolv CEO; Kevin Charlton, NewHold CEO and Evolv Technology board member; Clarence Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities; Brian Mathis, NewHold board member; Colleen McCarthy, Founder & President of McCarthy Strategies; Chris Singleton, Inspirational Speaker and Former Professional Baseball Player; and Michael Tubbs, Former Mayor of Stockton, California. 

“Evolv is paving the way for the entire industry, proving that companies can do well by doing good,” said Kevin Charlton, CEO of NewHold Investment Corp. and member of the Board of Directors of Evolv and the advisory board of GiveEvolv. “As part of our SPAC merger with Evolv, NewHold is proud to be able to contribute to this very important mission and provide initial funding for GiveEvolv.”   

For more information about GiveEvolv, visit www.evolvtechnology.com/GiveEvolv.

About Evolv Technology 

Evolv Technology (NASDAQ: EVLV) is a leader in weapons detection for security screening, securing the world’s most iconic venues and companies. Our mission is enabling a better experience and better security for venues, creating a safer world to work, learn, and play by transforming physical security to make everywhere safer. We give sports fans, theme park visitors, concertgoers, shoppers, employees, students, and others peace of mind so that they can gather without fear of violence. Our security screening has scanned more than 100 million people, second only to the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States, and our technology combines powerful, advanced sensors with proven artificial intelligence (AI), security ecosystem integrations, and comprehensive venue analytics to reliably detect threats 10 times faster than traditional metal detectors. 

Evolv Technology, Evolv Express®, Evolv Insights™, and Evolv Cortex AI™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of Evolv Technologies, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. 

For more information, visit https://evolvtechnology.com. 

About GiveEvolv 

GiveEvolv shares Evolv Technology’s purpose to make the world a safer place to work, learn and play.  

Evolv Technology started as a small team with a clear mission: return confidence and peace of mind to people visiting public spaces. As the leader in human security, our team is dedicated to making the world a safer place by helping to protect innocent people from mass casualties.

To further Evolv’s mission, we have created Give Evolv LLC (“GiveEvolv”). GiveEvolv was established with the goal of furthering Evolv’s mission of making people and public venues safer by making grants of Evolv systems to organizations, particularly schools, that would not otherwise be able to afford these systems and where the need is greatest. For more information on GiveEvolv visit https://evolvtechnology.com/GiveEvolv. 

Forward-looking Statements  

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking” statements and information, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events or our Company’s performance and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual outcomes may differ materially from the information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation, the risk factors set forth in our proxy statement/prospectus, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2021, as updated by the risk factors disclosed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 22, 2021, and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC.  These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

GiveEvolv: A Step Toward Ending Gun Violence in Schools

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Today we announced the formation of GiveEvolv, a new charitable organization that provides need-based grants of Evolv Express weapons detection systems to K-12 schools in the United States that otherwise would be left vulnerable to gun violence. I would like to share the backstory of GiveEvolv and explain why it is so important to our mission. 

The threat of violence in schools is personal for me. My daughter is a second-grade teacher. Every tragic headline about an attack on a school sends my mind racing with “what if” scenarios that never fully fade from my mind. This issue haunts me as a dad, as a citizen, and as the CEO of a company focused on keeping weapons out of all the places where they are not welcome. 

For years I, like most of us, felt powerless to do anything to protect my daughter and all the other innocents who learn and work in schools. So it was incredibly satisfying when I joined Evolv and saw our Express weapons detection successfully deployed in a few South Carolina schools. However, that satisfaction also came with a tinge of frustration. Why? Because I knew that many vulnerable school districts wouldn’t be able to afford our current Express product.  

We designed and priced Express with commercial facilities like stadiums, industrial workplaces, casinos, and tourist destinations in mind. We knew from our research that while some larger school districts would have the budget and the scale to use Express, many simply would not have the budget for our advanced technology. We don’t regret making the tough call to focus on segments where we could reliably deliver win-win outcomes, but leaving most schools vulnerable has continued to weigh on all of us at Evolv. 

When we started getting inbound interest from SPAC partners early this year, one of our most important criteria was alignment with our mission of making the world a safe place to live, work, learn, and play. All the potential SPAC partners said the right things about their commitment to our mission. However, NewHold was unique in proposing that their partners dedicate a portion of their personal proceeds in the transaction toward charitable expansion of access to our technology. The fact that they were willing to put a portion of their personal income from the transaction on the table was inspiring, and our executive team decided to follow their example. The result is GiveEvolv. 

After we agreed on the core concept, we quickly settled on educational institutions as the initial beneficiary of GiveEvolv grants. We chose schools for two reasons. First, the threat is heartbreaking, and the impact is horrific. I’m not going to review all the incidents in this decade. Suffice it to say that since the Columbine High School shooting in April 1999, more than 256,000 students have been victims of gun violence during school hours. The second reason we chose education was that the resources to address the threat to schools are heartbreakingly scarce. Without help, we knew that advanced weapons detection technology would not come to many schools for years. 

Every school has policies prohibiting weapons on campus, but their ability to enforce their own policies is incredibly limited. Schools that can afford to install conventional walk-through metal detectors risk creating a prison-like environment that makes students feel like criminals. But more importantly, metal detector screening does just that. Detects metal.  It does not differentiate between a weapon and a laptop.   Not only does this provide a prison-like experience, but it slows students from getting into schools, creating security threats for those waiting in line.  And, worse yet, we’ve heard some security staff admit that when the morning bell is about to ring and the security line is backed up out the door, they just turn the metal detectors off and wave all the students in without any screening at all. Vulnerable students, teachers, and staff deserve much better.  

I’ve previously written about our vision for democratizing security. We intend to make high throughput weapons detection screening truly pervasive across all the places where people gather. GiveEvolv helps jumpstart our progress toward that vision. We won’t be able to give Express grants to every vulnerable school immediately, but we do believe we can make a real impact for many vulnerable schools and then expand over time. 

I believe that parents and schools will be more willing and able to invest in weapons screening at schools once they see how effective and unobtrusive it can be. I also hope to bring down costs and simplify deployment of our products to the point that every school can enjoy the security and peace of mind that advanced weapons screening. I think we’ll all sleep better when that day comes. 

We are still hammering out details of the GiveEvolv grant approval process. If you would like to nominate a school, you can sign up here.

Evolv Technology Appoints Betsy Fallon Vice President of Customer Success

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Waltham, Massachusetts – (Sept 2, 2021) – Evolv Technology (NASDAQ: EVLV), the global leader in weapons detection security screening, today announced the appointment of Betsy Fallon to a newly created global position, Vice President of Customer Success.  Betsy’s role will ensure the fast-growing base of customers continue to thrive in partnership with Evolv, during the company’s next level of growth.  The innovative technology has excelled in large part due to the deep qualitative feedback customers provide to drive continuous improvement in their security posture, and the experience of their visitors 

“Betsy brings a wealth of proven experience delighting customers, and I am thrilled to welcome her to Evolv to operationalize our customer-obsessed culture and ensure our customers have a solid partnership with Evolv.” said A.J. DeRosa, chief revenue officer, Evolv Technology. “Her expertise will be critical as we work closely with our customers to continue to improve our best-in-class detection and the experience visitors have at their venues.” 

Fallon has more than two decades of successful strategic and tactical leadership experience, building and empowering exceptional teams to drive growth and maximize customer satisfaction, while partnering with customers to ensure their success. Prior to joining Evolv, she served as Executive Vice President, Global Client Services at intelligent language and content company SDL International. AT SDL, Fallon implemented several company-wide initiatives to focus the workforce on the strategic and critical objective of delighting customers. Additionally, she led innovative advances in how the organization delivered services, maximizing the value customers gained from content management and translation management solutions. 

 “Throughout my career I have taken pride in my advocacy of customers, to ensure their engagement is meaningful and we are partnering for success.   Evolv Express has been transformative for our customers, I’m looking forward to expanding that to our fast-growing customer base,” said Fallon. “I am delighted to be joining Evolv to scale our customer-obsessed culture and fulfill our mission of making everywhere safer.” 

News of Fallon’s appointment comes on the heels of the close of the company’s merger with NewHold Investment Corp. and public listing on the Nasdaq in July, and the release of the latest version of the company’s award-winning weapons detection system. 

About Evolv Technology 

Evolv Technology (NASDAQ: EVLV) is the leader in weapons detection for security screening. Our mission is enabling a better experience and better security for venues, creating a safer world to work, learn, and play by transforming physical security to make everywhere safer. This enhances the visitor’s experience and improves weapons detection. We give sports fans, theme park visitors, concertgoers, shoppers, employees, students, and others peace of mind so that they can gather without fear of violence. Our security system has scanned more than 100 million people, second only to the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration in the United States, and our technology combines powerful, advanced sensors with proven artificial intelligence (AI), security ecosystem integrations, and comprehensive venue analytics to reliably detect threats 10 times faster than traditional metal detectors.  

Evolv Technology, Evolv Express®, Evolv Insights™, and Evolv Cortex AI™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of Evolv Technologies, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. 

For more information, visit https://evolvtechnology.com. 

Forward-looking Statements  

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking” statements and information, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events or our Company’s performance and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual outcomes may differ materially from the information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation, the risk factors set forth in  our proxy statement/prospectus, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2021, as updated by the risk factors disclosed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 22, 2021, and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC.  These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

The Digital Transformation of Physical Security

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In recent years, “Digital Transformation” initiatives have taken priority across industries. But an article last month in Industry Week cited the “deskless workforce” as the last holdout of digital transformation: and it’s not small. The article estimates that about 80% of the world’s workforce, or 2.7 billion workers, have been “left behind” by digital transformation: that is, the introduction of new technologies intended to enhance “safety, quality, and productivity” for companies.

So how can physical security, arguably one of the most important “deskless” roles throughout our society, be positively impacted by a digital transformation of its own?  

The Reasons to Transform: What’s Missing? 

Thru the years we have certainly witnessed developments in technologies for physical security. The introduction of video management systems, communications devices, and physical access systems (ticketing, badging, biometrics) have all added advancements to the industry.  

But when it comes to detecting weapons, perhaps one of the most critical roles in ensuring physical security, many venues still rely on analog metal detectors. And we are all familiar with how that works: stop while you wait in a slow-moving line. Stop to empty your pockets. Stop to hand over your bag. Then, either get waved through or sent back because you’ve forgotten to put down some metal object you were carrying. Stop to get wanded; or, worse yet, submit to a pat-down.  

This process is more than an annoyance. It may amount to a threat itself. Crowds have proven to increasingly become “soft targets” for mass casualty events—as in tragic events at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and the Boston Marathon bombing. What’s more, the health threats of close-contact crowds have been brought into sharp focus by Covid 19.  

Beyond crowded conditions, metal detectors can also overwhelm the guard resource, causing them to miss real threats in all the clutter they see on a daily basis. The reason lines are so slow-moving, of course, is that we all carry metal items with us every day.   

Metal detectors pass the work of distinguishing metal items from true threats off to guards. They simply alarm on everything, not just weapons, so guards are very used to so-called “nuisance alarms” and therefore, rightly so, don’t trust the system. That means they are left doing the brunt of the work—visually checking each person and bag that alarms. Most of the time, all they find is everyday items: laptops, tablets, smart phones, keys, etc. But this creates fatigue, because it’s easy to overlook what you don’t expect to see, and can result in security teams inadvertently letting weapons through.  

To combat fatigue or to move lines through more quickly, venues may turn off security systems when crowds get overwhelming; they may randomly sample visitors; or, they may opt for no security systems at all—each of which further raises the risk of weapons simply walking through undetected.  

The Way to Transform: What Can Technology Help Do? 

Prioritize the customer experience: The digital transformation of physical security must prioritize guest experience. If the high alarm rate is not indicative of the true number of threats entering a venue –– then a lower alarm rate reflecting the reality that most people are, in fact, not a threat will simultaneously elevate the guest experience and help security teams better pinpoint the true risks at a venue’s entryways. Allowing guests to enter at walking pace, with no interference whatsoever in the experience of visitors who don’t pose a potential threat, provides the best possible user experience both for guests and for guards.  

Let technology do what it does best… and, by extension, let people do what they do best. Technology that can detect weapons – not just metal –to by using AI and advanced sensors to distinguish true threats from everyday items relieves the burden on guards to check people that likely aren’t carrying weapons. And, it can pinpoint for guards where on a person the weapon is expected to be found. This expedites alarm resolution and improves guard efficiency by targeting only visitors who need to be checked and focusing guards only on the locations on their person or baggage to check.  

Ensure data drives decisions. Technology at the threshold of every visitor and/or employee entrance surpasses the ability of metal detectors by counting visitors, recording alarm rates and types, understanding the dates and times when rates are highest or lowest, and even allowing for the comparison of different security outcomes based on different event types. All this data provides venue security and operations teams with real-world evidence for better decision making, to meet the security and experience needs of their guests, better than guesses, gut feel, or manual counting can. Security planning and venue operations can all be data-driven to ensure the right staffing decisions are made at the right locations throughout the venue to both secure guests and elevate the guest – and guard – experience.  

Connect and communicate. With such a critical mission and so many possible security technologies also operating in the space, security technologies should never exist in a vacuum. Rather, they should integrate seamlessly together with other technologies that make up the extended security ecosystem. Options for integrated camera technologies and integrated communications provide an extension of existing security systems and staff to one of the most vital parts of the venue—its entryways. Neither should security technology require expertise that is outside the scope of existing venue resources. Technology should inherently scale—through built-in connectivity that doesn’t require an IT team to install, connect, or service—and through simple, app-like user experiences that guard staff and security leadership alike can quickly learn to operate, reducing the learning curve and training new staff members ASAP.  

Make life better. Why digitally transform if the technology doesn’t make life better for guests, guard staff, and venue leadership? When guests don’t notice security technology, they are less aggravated, with fewer frustrations to take out on guard staff, and they find the venue even more delightful. If guard staff are made more effective and efficient, they can experience higher job satisfaction and lower turnover rates. For venues, offering better customer experience plus enhanced security while reducing employee turnover are just a few of the potential benefits. Better resource use through data-driven decisions, better use of entryway space with fewer security lines and less equipment overall, and the chance to redeploy guard staff to different roles throughout the venue are all further benefits that venues can realize.  

The Imperative to Transform 

Of course, not least of all is the benefit of increased safety to the visitors of venues around the world that choose to embrace the digital transformation of their physical security. Simply put, shorter security lines through more reliable screening technology adds up to safer visitors—and lower false alarm rates mean guards can more easily pinpoint and stop bad actors—making more venues where people and their families love to gather with one another in our community safer.