diff --git a/helm/hpcc/Chart.yaml b/helm/hpcc/Chart.yaml
index fcfaf9d730d..7b8c957548c 100644
--- a/helm/hpcc/Chart.yaml
+++ b/helm/hpcc/Chart.yaml
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ type: application
 
 # This is the chart version. This version number should be incremented each time you make changes
 # to the chart and its templates, including the app version.
-version: 9.4.95-closedown0
+version: 9.4.96-rc1
 
 # This is the version number of the application being deployed. This version number should be
 # incremented each time you make changes to the application.
 
-appVersion: 9.4.95-closedown0
+appVersion: 9.4.96-rc1
diff --git a/helm/hpcc/templates/_helpers.tpl b/helm/hpcc/templates/_helpers.tpl
index b633efc6628..70018ec81a8 100644
--- a/helm/hpcc/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/helm/hpcc/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -1473,7 +1473,7 @@ Pass in dict with .root, .visibility defined
 {{- end -}}
 
 {{- define "hpcc.generateHelmVersion" -}}
-helmVersion: 9.4.95-closedown0
+helmVersion: 9.4.96-rc1
 {{- end -}}
 
 {{/*
diff --git a/version.cmake b/version.cmake
index e3a2fdcb7f0..e57591289b4 100644
--- a/version.cmake
+++ b/version.cmake
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ set ( HPCC_NAME "Community Edition" )
 set ( HPCC_PROJECT "community" )
 set ( HPCC_MAJOR 9 )
 set ( HPCC_MINOR 4 )
-set ( HPCC_POINT 95 )
-set ( HPCC_MATURITY "closedown" )
-set ( HPCC_SEQUENCE 0 )
-set ( HPCC_TAG_TIMESTAMP "2024-09-05T16:41:07Z" )
+set ( HPCC_POINT 96 )
+set ( HPCC_MATURITY "rc" )
+set ( HPCC_SEQUENCE 1 )
+set ( HPCC_TAG_TIMESTAMP "2024-09-13T14:45:54Z" )
 ###