diff --git a/helm/hpcc/Chart.yaml b/helm/hpcc/Chart.yaml
index cb470dd97e6..470bde5a5aa 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: 9.8.43-closedown0
+version: 9.8.44-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: 9.8.43-closedown0
+appVersion: 9.8.44-rc1
diff --git a/helm/hpcc/templates/_helpers.tpl b/helm/hpcc/templates/_helpers.tpl
index e480670bb56..8f3557dbf09 100644
--- a/helm/hpcc/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/helm/hpcc/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -1477,7 +1477,7 @@ Pass in dict with .root, .visibility defined
 {{- end -}}
 
 {{- define "hpcc.generateHelmVersion" -}}
-helmVersion: 9.8.43-closedown0
+helmVersion: 9.8.44-rc1
 {{- end -}}
 
 {{/*
diff --git a/version.cmake b/version.cmake
index dd9d4686b9a..1970cc2be1b 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 8 )
-set ( HPCC_POINT 43 )
-set ( HPCC_MATURITY "closedown" )
-set ( HPCC_SEQUENCE 0 )
-set ( HPCC_TAG_TIMESTAMP "2024-11-22T13:57:35Z" )
+set ( HPCC_POINT 44 )
+set ( HPCC_MATURITY "rc" )
+set ( HPCC_SEQUENCE 1 )
+set ( HPCC_TAG_TIMESTAMP "2024-12-03T16:43:17Z" )
 ###