• Starco Brands launches Lime Whipshots(TM) flavor in collaboration with Cardi B., kickstarts “Whip It, Beaches” campaign with teaser post earning nearly 2 million likes in one day
• Whipshots Lime is available now in-store and online on June 14
• “Whip It, Beaches” features a 30-second video and series of images showcasing the product’s use in a variety of summer cocktails
• Whipshots is infused with 10% premium vodka, other flavors include vanilla, caramel, and mocha
• Over 2 million cans of Whipshots have been sold since 2021 launch
• Other Starco Brands offerings include the Art of Sport athletic body care line co-founded by Kobe Bryant, Skylar hypoallergenic perfumes, Winona popcorn spray, Soylent plant-based food product line

Starco Brands’ (OTCQB: STCB) “Summer of Whipshots(TM)” kicked into high gear with the launch of Lime Whipshots – the company’s latest addition to its vodka-infused whipped cream product line featuring global icon Cardi B (https://ibn.fm/BOJRg). Currently available in retail stores, Lime Whipshots is scheduled to drop online on June 14 as part of the brand’s “Whip It, Beaches” campaign.

“Whip It, Beaches” features Cardi B. in a 30-second video and series of images showcasing the product’s use in various summer drinks, including mojitos, margaritas, and daiquiris. The campaign is already generating significant buzz among Cardi’s 164 million followers, with nearly 2 million likes on the product’s initial pre-launch post (https://ibn.fm/NEqr8).

“We are thrilled to dive headfirst into the ‘Summer of Whipshots’ with Lime as the latest flavor in our Whipshots family,” says Ross Sklar, CEO of Starco Brands (https://ibn.fm/eHLtC). “Having recently surpassed two million cans sold, Whipshots continues to offer consumers a fun and innovative way to celebrate all year.”

Whipshots Lime joins other flavors in the product line, including vanilla, caramel, and mocha – all infused with a premium 10% premium vodka kick. Starco Brands launched the product in 2021 in collaboration with the Republic National Distributing Company and has since sold millions of cans to make it one of the “largest consumer product launches of the year”, according to the company (https://ibn.fm/mwNzM). Whipshots has also gained widespread industry recognition with several awards, including the “Rising Star” award at the Beverage Dynamics’ 2023 Growth Brands Awards and four medals at the 2023 DB&SB Spring Blind Tasting segment of the Global Spirits Masters Competition (https://ibn.fm/0qs52).

Starco Brands is a modern-day “invention factory” that invents or acquires novel products and advances them using behavior-changing technologies. The company’s revenues grew from approximately $2 million to a current run rate of approximately $67 million in annual revenue in one year through a powerful end-to-end strategy that first identifies game-changing products in eight core consumer spaces, and then disrupts the market with the power of globally recognized celebrities and influencers.

Other Starco Brands offerings include Art of Sport, a line of premium body and skincare products co-founded by Kobe Bryant and engineered to power and protect athletes; Skylar, a prestige line of hypoallergenic fragrances distributed through Sephora and Nordstrom and a large DTC subscription business; Winona, first indulgent theater-popcorn spray powered by air; and Soylent, known as the “world’s most perfect food.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.StarcoBrands.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to STCB are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/STCB

• The world’s top polluters are on a mission to limit climate change to “well below” 2 degrees C, but time is moving quickly to meet goals over the next three decades
• GeoSolar Technologies offers a comprehensive, integrated package that heats, cools, and powers a home with 100% renewable energy
• A SmartGreen(TM) home includes rooftop solar system, geothermal heating and cooling technology, CERV air filtration, upgraded insulation, electric heat pump, EV charging station, and more

The goal is clear: limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees F). According to Climate Watch’s Net Zero Tracker, 91 countries, representing 95 countries and 78.9% of global greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, have communicated a net-zero target, including 71 either via law or document. As detailed in a recent report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (“NRDC”), the most impactful path to meeting net-zero targets by 2050 is through carbon-free electricity in combination with energy efficiency upgrades. As the window narrows to reach emissions goals, companies like the Colorado-based GeoSolar Technologies (“GST”) are providing comprehensive, cost-effective solutions, while setting the benchmark for a building’s efficiency.

There is a growing choir of voices regarding the sense of urgency that has emerged. IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) warns that GHG emissions will need to be cut essentially in half by 2030 to reach net zero by 2050. “Net zero” has become a mainstream phrase simply meaning that any emissions from human activities are offset by removing carbon from the atmosphere. The shortest pathway is by eliminating emissions created from fossil fuels (mostly used for energy, albeit cars, factories, homes, etc.).

Reaching net zero by 2050 is not only about reducing emissions but also about enhancing carbon sinks. Restoring and conserving forests, promoting sustainable agriculture, and investing in carbon capture and storage technologies can significantly boost our carbon absorption capacity. These actions, too, need time to show their effect, underscoring the urgency of starting now.

The World Meteorological Organization says that the world has warmed 1.2 degrees C since before the industrial revolution in the late 1800s. The Paris climate accord has the goal of reducing warming by “well below” 2 degrees C, ideally to 1.5 degrees C. Exceeding a rise of 1.5 degrees C has scientists concerned that heatwaves and droughts will become more severe, nearly all coral reefs could die, sea level will rise 10-30 inches, and transitions in biomes will occur, such as grasslands turning to desert and tundra becoming forest.

Understand that not reaching net zero doesn’t mean that all these things happen at the stroke of midnight January 1, 2050. The target is set based upon current science, which points to the idea that further after 2050 the target is met, the greater the odds of exceeding a rise of 1.5 degrees C becomes. As 2060 approaches, it will be a near certainty and require even greater efforts to bring the planet back into the safer limit. Simply put, every delay in reducing emissions increases the pace and magnitude of the changes required later.

GeoSolar Technologies has developed a solution, dubbed the “SmartGreen(TM) Home system,”  that is applicable to tens of millions of homes in the U.S. alone to eliminate their need to use fossil fuels. SmartGreen(TM) homes utilize the power of the sun, ground, and modern technology to makes homes that are heated, cooled, and powered with 100% natural energy sources and capable of operating off-grid.

The patent-pending integrated system spans roof-to-underground. It begins with a thorough home analysis and upgraded insulation as required. From there, a roof-top photovoltaic (“PV”) solar system is sized and installed to provide all the electricity for the home. Gas appliances can be replaced with high-efficiency electric. Fossil-fuel heating and cool systems are exchanged with high-efficiency heat pumps, which include geothermal ground loops. Leveraging science behind the ground temperatures remaining warmer than the air in the winter and cooler in summer, air is forced through piping that changes its temperature, which is subsequently used to heat or cool the home.

To that point, integrated floor loops and air ducts provide heating, cooling, and hot water year round for a SmartGreen(TM) home. CERV(R) Air Filtration is built into the system for healthy and safe indoor air quality that prevents COVID-19 and other pollutants. Charging stations are also part of the package for those with (or wanting) an electric vehicle.

GST even makes sure its customers are reaping every possible financial incentive and benefit to transition to carbon-free energy and also helps secure financing.

A SmartGreen(TM) home is the embodiment of NRDC’s advice as to the fastest path to net zero and the data supports it. GST home technology has been installed in multiple test homes in Colorado with exceptional results, including some of the most impressive energy efficiency ratings in the industry as measured by HERS, the gold standard in validating home efficiency.

Action now allows for the harnessing of the economic opportunities inherent in the transition to a net zero economy. Renewable energy, green infrastructure, and sustainable technology can become engines of growth, generating millions of jobs, and driving innovation. But to seize these opportunities, we must create an enabling environment today. Investments made now will yield returns over decades, fostering a more resilient and sustainable economy.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.GeoSolarPlus.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GeoSolar Technologies are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/GST

• Lexaria just announced the completion of batch manufacturing of its patented DehydraTECH(TM)-processed CBD and placebo materials for its FDA Phase 1b HYPER-H23-1 human clinical study
• This is in line with the company’s IND filing with the FDA, which it looks to complete this summer, with potential authorization within 60 days
• FDA authorization will mark the commencement of Phase 1b trial patient dosing, with the study evaluating the safety and tolerability of DehydraTECH-CBD in hypertensive patients
• Filling into capsules of the manufactured DehydraTECH-CBD is expected to be completed before the end of this month, after which analytical release and stability testing will be conducted

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, announced an ambitious plan to embark on its Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)-registered, U.S. Phase 1b Investigational New Drug (“IND”) hypertension study, HYER-H23-1. Earlier in May, the company announced the awarding of the contract for clinical research organization (“CRO”) services to California-based InClin, Inc. Since this announcement, it has completed batch manufacturing of its patented DehydraTECH(TM)-processed cannabidiol (“CBD”) and placebo materials for the study (https://ibn.fm/cb444).

Lexaria retained the services of a U.S. contract manufacturing organization to produce these study materials, in line with current Good Manufacturing Practice (“cGMP”) regulations as directed by the FDA. With everything on track, the company looks to file the IND this summer, with potential authorization by the FDA within 60 days in what will mark the commencement of Phase 1b trial patient dosing, possibly in October 2023.

Titled “A Phase 1b Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of DehydraTECH-CBD in Subjects with Stage 1 or Stage 2 Hypertension,” Hyper-H23-1 will explore the safety and tolerability of its DehydraTECH-CBD in hypertensive patients. It will also monitor the efficacy evaluation in reducing blood pressure together with detailed pharmacokinetic testing, building on the five previous human clinical studies which evidenced significant reductions in resting blood pressure over both acute and multi-week dosing regimens with zero serious adverse events.

The filling into capsules of the manufactured DehydraTECH-CBD is expected to be completed before the end of this month, after which analytical release and stability testing will be conducted to gather essential quality control data essential for the IND filing. So far, DehydraTECH-CBD has shown the potential to have pronounced clinical benefits relative to available anti-hypertensive therapeutics. In addition, none of the other published studies thus far have shown a sustained decrease in resting blood pressure following multiple weeks of oral CBD dosing, demonstrating DehydraTECH-CBD’s superior power to reduce blood pressure over other oral CBD formulations.

Finalized DehydraTECH-CBD batch manufacturing marks a significant step towards IND filing and subsequent FDA approval for Lexaria. It also marks a notable achievement for the company, especially given the multiple human clinical studies conducted since 2018 and the over 130 healthy and hypertensive persons that have taken part in the studies so far. Its management is optimistic about the HYPER-H23-1 clinical study and is confident that results from the company’s previous efforts will be replicated, if not exceeded.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LEXX

• Analysts at Aegis Capital Corp. continue to recommend shares of the company with a Buy rating and a $70 target price
• Data from pre-clinical trial indicate that BiondVax’s NanoAb may effectively serve as both a therapeutic and protective prophylactic drug, further enhancing its value proposition
• BVXV reiterated further NanoAb development beginning with NanoAbs targeting immune system cytokines such as IL-17 as drug candidates for the potential treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
• BiondVax aims to optimize the use of assets and generate additional revenues by offering its drug development services and cGMP manufacturing capabilities to others

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: BVXV), an innovative biotechnology company developing unique NanoAb immunotherapeutic products for the treatment of infectious disease and large market autoimmune disorders, recently published the financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 – Q1 2023 – and provided a business update (https://ibn.fm/GBZmz).

The Q1 2023 results were in line with analysts’ expectations. R&D expenses increased about $800k from Q1 2022 which BiondVax attributed to the initiation and ramp-up of R&D activities for its innovative nanosized VHH antibody (“NanoAb”) platform. In particular, the company finalized a preclinical proof-of-concept study of its inhaled anti-COVID NanoAb drug, reporting in January that the therapy virtually eliminated the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the lungs of infected hamsters (https://ibn.fm/jbZbP) and virtually prevented illness when inhaled prophylactically (https://ibn.fm/F8lWc). These results built on previously announced data indicating the NanoAb treatment led to significantly milder illness and faster recovery among hamsters in the experimental group compared with the control group (https://ibn.fm/ednie).

Bullish about BiondVax, the analysts at Aegis Capital Corp. continue to recommend shares of the company with a Buy rating and a $70 target price. The analysts noted that the “Results were generally in-line with our expectations.” The analysts specifically highlighted R&D expenses of $5.8 million, which were in line with expectations, BVXV has announced intent for further NanoAb development starting with NanoAbs targeting large market immune system disorders such as psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The company’s R&D efforts are the product of several exclusive and definitive agreements BiondVax entered with the Max Planck Society (“MPG”) and the University Medical Center Göttingen (“UMG”), both in Germany. In 2021, for instance, BiondVax signed its first set of agreements, announcing entry into a strategic collaboration and exclusive worldwide license for the development and commercialization of innovative COVID-19 NanoAbs (https://ibn.fm/uPGQq).

These agreements were part of a broader partnership that was crystallized in a definitive collaboration agreement announced last year for the development of NanoAbs addressing diseases with significant unmet medical needs and attractive commercial opportunities, such as asthma, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and macular degeneration. The collaboration agreement also gave BiondVax an exclusive option for an exclusive worldwide license for further development and commercialization of resultant therapies (https://ibn.fm/VBf9M).

“BiondVax’s recent achievements leave me very optimistic about BiondVax’s growth potential and ability to deliver value to our stakeholders,” said BiondVax CEO Amir Reichman in the press release announcing FY 2022 results. “Looking forward, I’m excited to exercise our option to obtain an exclusive license at pre-agreed financial terms to anti-IL-17 NanoAbs targeting safe, effective, and convenient treatment of psoriatic lesions; scale up in-house NanoAb manufacturing; and conduct an in vitro proof-of-concept study and potentially also a preclinical trial of the IL-17 NanoAb as a therapy for psoriasis.”

And as BiondVax continues to prioritize its NanoAb pipeline development in line with its core focus, it has also sought to optimize the use of its assets and generate revenues. For example, the company stated in its business update that it is offering its cGMP manufacturing capabilities to interested parties, including an aseptic fill and finish suite, state-of-the-art technical R&D and quality control laboratories, and experienced professionals for CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) services. According to the company’s website (https://ibn.fm/A0uce), its assets for potential clients’ CDMO needs include the following:

• cGMP-ready production clean rooms
• Aseptic fill and finish for clinical trials and pilot-scale manufacturing
• Ambr(R) 250, 2L, and 5L fermenters for upstream process development and optimization
• 30L and 300L fermentors for upstream GMP production
• Downstream GMP production: Akta Process, BPG columns, single-use mixers
• Analytic tools
• Water for injection (“WFI”)
• Media and buffer preparations, with equipment such as 50L to 1500L single-use mixers, 200L and 500L storage containers, a power transfer system, and a suction arms system

BiondVax boasts unique big pharma competencies, positioning it to bring innovative therapies to market quicker and at lower cost compared to other companies of similar size. With a $70 price target and currently trading under $2 per share, those that understand risk reward ratios should keep BVXV on their radar.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.BiondVax.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to BVXV are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/BVXV

• As more and more consumers choose to curb their environmental input and governments prioritize decarbonization in a bid to fight climate change, the electric vehicle industry is gaining momentum; this achievement owes much to the progress made in critical minerals
• Graphene, a form of graphite that is just one atom thick, emerges as a wonder material with a wide range of potential uses; it is being explored as a potential replacement for traditional Li-ion batteries
• Poised to produce a critical mineral in America for American customers, Reflex aims to re-activate previous supply of graphite and has recently also made a strategic investment into BGS, a graphene cleantech producer, to leverage complimentary fit to its supply chain solution goals

In line with the rapid expansion of the electric vehicle (“EV”) industry, the demand for battery production is experiencing rapid growth, with over five terawatt hours (“TWh”) per year of gigafactory capacity expected globally by 2030 (https://ibn.fm/smgqT). A sector that has paved the way for this success story over the past years is the critical minerals industry. Here, graphite, a key component in lithium-ion batteries that power most of today’s EVs, attracts much attention as consumers adopt electric vehicles and governments design policies to reduce carbon emissions. “With the supply chain that really hasn’t started yet, you think of all these gigafactories, all these big companies that are announcing these big, big plans to have terawatt-sized businesses, which is fantastic. We like shiny things and getting involved with this stuff, but where are these critical elements coming from?” said Paul Gorman, CEO and Director, Reflex Advanced Materials (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF), a mineral exploration company based in British Columbia, as he explained the main industry challenges in a recent interview during Benchmark Mineral Intelligence’s World Tour Toronto 2023 (https://ibn.fm/BPVpn).

As a form of carbon, graphite makes a perfect anode material and, as such, dominates today’s commercial lithium-ion battery market. Still, as the industry continues to evolve, another material to burst onto the critical minerals scene. Graphene, a one-atom-thick form of graphite, has also emerged as a key material for developing clean technology and a potential replacement for traditional lithium-ion batteries. 200 times stronger than steel and with a weight 1000 times lighter than paper, it is often cited as a wonder material with a wide range of potential uses, spanning from electronics to airplanes.

Due to graphene’s high conductivity, it is believed that batteries made from graphene could have the potential to deliver faster charging times, higher energy density, and longer lifetimes compared to current battery technologies. Adding to their allure, graphene batteries are cheaper and simpler to produce, which could bring the price of EVs down and make them more accessible to consumers. It is not difficult to see why the graphene market is expected to explode in the coming years. Valued at USD 175.9 million in 2022, this market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 46.6% from 2023 to 2030 (https://ibn.fm/m6anE).

Today, most of the world’s graphite and graphene is produced in China. But Reflex appears poised to be a part of the change that intends to shift the tide. With plans of supplying graphite, Reflex has recently also agreed to make a strategic investment in Bio Graphene Solutions Inc., a nanotechnology company that has developed a scalable, cost-efficient, and controllable graphene cleantech production process from 100% organic source materials (https://ibn.fm/BlRKY).

The company intends to collaborate with BGS on potential cross-development projects, including exploring downstream applications that complement graphite sourced from its Ruby Graphite project. “There is currently zero commercial graphite produced in America for American customers. BMI has talked about the fact that they need 97 new graphite mines to actually just cover off their EV requirements to 2035. Reflex just wants to be a little piece of that,” said Gorman. “North American graphite sources are going to be needed to supply all these gigafactories with graphite in the next three or four years. There is support from the DLA, the DoE, and the USGS,” he concluded.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ReflexMaterials.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to RFLXF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/RFLXF

• The market for EVs has grown rapidly in recent years and is expected to continue growing at a fast pace over the coming decade
• MULN’s two manufacturing facilities are gearing up for increased production volume
• The company is meeting noteworthy milestones with each of its EV brands

As the EV market steadily rises in the coming years, Mullen Automotive (NASDAQ: MULN) is positioning itself to be a strong player in the space. The Southern California–based automotive company recently released a corporate update outlining the impressive growth it has seen in the past few months (https://ibn.fm/nhIqM).

“The market for electric vehicles (‘EVs’) has grown rapidly in recent years and is expected to continue to grow at a fast pace over the coming decade,” reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its “Beyond the Numbers” February publication. “Electric car sales in the United States increased from a mere 0.2 percent of total car sales in 2011 to 4.6 percent in 2021.

“Although forecasts for the rate of EV adoption over the next decade vary widely given rapid changes in both government policies and the auto manufacturing industry in recent years, many forecasts expect a strong acceleration in EV adoption,” the article continued. “S&P Global Mobility forecasts electric vehicle sales in the United States could reach 40% of total passenger car sales by 2030, and more optimistic projections foresee electric vehicle sales surpassing 50 percent by 2030.”

Mullen Automotive is strengthening its presence in this growing market. The company has two manufacturing facilities — one in Mishawaka, Indiana, and one in Tunica, Mississippi — and offers an array of electric vehicles through Bollinger Motors and Mullen’s Commercial and Consumer Vehicle Programs. The company also created Mullen Advanced Energy Operations, in partnership with Global EV Technology and EV Technologies, to focus on improving energy-management technology in EVs in order to offer greater range and better vehicle performance.

The update noted that enterprise data infrastructure—including fiber optics, new servers, and security systems—has been installed in the Indiana facility, which produces its Mullen FIVE and Bollinger B1 and B2 vehicles. The updates are designed to support volume manufacturing. In Mississippi, the production line for Mullen’s Class 3 trucks will become operational in July 2023. The company anticipates delivering vehicles and generating revenue by August or September. Additional trim and chassis assembly lines are planned for the facility to accommodate new models.

In addition, the company is meeting noteworthy milestones with each of its brands, including the Bollinger B4 pick-up truck chassis cab engineering nearing 90% completion and vehicle testing of the B4 chassis cabs staying on schedule. The Randy Marion Automotive Group has placed $263 million in purchase orders for the Mullen Class 1 and Class 3 EV vans and trucks, and the company reported that all required RMVSS tests for vehicle crash worthiness and occupant safety validation for its Class 1 EV van have been completed. The company is planning on revealing the production design of its Mullen FIVE and FIVE RS at CES in January 2024, and a drivable version of the Mullen GT will be part of the company’s August 2023 Strikingly Different EV Tour, which will also feature the Mullen FIVE and FIVE RS and Mullen commercial Class 1 and Class 3 vehicles.

Mullen Automotive is a Southern California-based automotive company building the next generation of electric vehicles (“EVs”) that will be manufactured in its two United States-based assembly plants. Mullen’s EV development portfolio includes the Mullen FIVE EV Crossover, Mullen-GO Commercial Urban Delivery EV, Mullen Commercial Class 1-3 Evs and Bollinger Motors, which features both the B1 and B2 electric SUV trucks and Class 4-6 commercial offerings. On Sept. 7, 2022, Bollinger Motors became a majority-owned EV truck company of Mullen Automotive, and on Dec. 1, 2022, Mullen closed on the acquisition of all of Electric Last Mile Solutions’ (“ELMS”) assets, including all IP and a 650,000-square-foot plant in Mishawaka, Indiana.

For more information about the company, visit www.MullenUSA.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to MULN are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/MULN

• Renewable Gas production has rapidly come into vogue, partially due to a wide array of tax credits provided to the sector under the auspices of the U.S.’ Inflation Reduction Act
• The push to develop RNG generation capacity has led to a spate of M&A within the sector, headlined by BP’s $4.1bn acquisition of Archaea Energy in late 2022
• EverGen Infrastructure has been an early mover within the industry, with ambitious stated plans to own and manage 20 RNG-generating facilities across Canada within 5 years
• The company is seeking to capitalize on the exponential growth trends within the sector, which is seeing further momentum as a series of Canadian and American regional governments mandate the obligatory inclusion of RNG within their natural gas feedstock

North American grocery stores toss out billions of pounds of expired meat, rotten fruit and moldy bread every year. Most of that food ends up rotting in landfills, where it releases methane – a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Now however, a growing effort is underway to rescue that trash and turn it into energy instead.

EverGen Infrastructure (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQX: EVGIF), a British-Columbia based natural gas operator, is seeking to do just that. The firm operates several facilities dedicated towards processing organic waste via an anaerobic digestion process to generate both, renewable natural gas and renewable fertilizer and composting products. The renewable gas which emerges from this process is subsequently injected directly into existing pipelines, where the fuel is combined with conventional produced natural gas.

EverGen Infrastructure has been an early mover within the renewable gas field, publicizing its intentions to own and manage over 20 RNG-generating facilities across Canada within five years; meanwhile and with four revenue generating RNG assets already in operation, the company has expressed their ambitions to grow their cumulative gross RNG generating capacity to 480,000 gigajoules of energy within a medium-term horizon. The move comes as the rest of the industry wakes up to the renewable energy source’s increasing potential.

The United States’ recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which has driven much of the recent momentum within the renewable natural gas sector, offering tax credits for companies which are able to build equipment like anaerobic digesters and produce RNG. Meanwhile, the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard as well as California’s Low-Carbon Fuel Standard both provide lucrative incentives for companies that can turn methane-emitting waste products into clean fuel sources.

BP PLC (LON: BP) made perhaps the most significant move over the past year, spending upwards of $4.1 billion to acquire RNG producer, Archaea Energy. The purchase was rapidly followed by a spate of smaller deals within the sector, with companies such as Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX), Republic Services Inc. (NYSE: RSG), and Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) all seeking to gain a foothold in the sector (https://ibn.fm/lsmwD).

“If you look back at the last five years in shale, with the race to secure the best acreage, and what people were willing to pay to do that, you’ve seen a lot of the same in RNG,” Brian Hlavinka, a vice president at gas pipeline operator Williams Companies Inc. (NYSE: WMB).

In 2021, RNG production within the United States was equivalent to 660 million gallons gasoline equivalents (“GGE”), an increase of over 20 percent relative to the previous year. While that is a lot of RNG, it remains just a fraction – about 3 percent – of the total natural gas consumption within the U.S. In Canada, the pace of growth has been even faster. The Canadian Biogas Association recently revealed that the production of biogas and renewable natural gas had the potential to halve the nation’s methane emissions by as much as half as of 2030. The movement has gained further impetus with various Canadian provinces introducing mandates to boost RNG use in recent years; in 2019, Quebec mandated that its gas grid would blend a minimum of 1-percent RNG into its feedstock mix, a figure set to rise to as much as 10 percent by 2030.

EverGen Infrastructure has sought to capitalize on the move towards increased RNG production through both, their ambitious expansion plans as well as a series of long-term offtake agreements signed with a number of Canadian utilities. By mid-2023 and following the conclusion of ongoing works at their Alberta-based GrowTEC operation, EverGen anticipates its production capacity to amount to upwards of 230 gigajoules per day of renewable natural gas – the equivalent of powering 100 British Columbia homes for a month.

“We are a renewable natural gas energy company. We’re a developer, owner and operator of projects that take organic waste and convert that organic waste into renewable energy in the form of renewable natural gas (‘RNG’),” stated Chase Edgelow, Co-Founder and CEO of EverGen Infrastructure Corp. “If you look back at the benefits of bringing in other sources of energy 20 years ago, there wasn’t one silver bullet for the electrical grid to be as renewable as it is today, with wind, solar and hydro. I think renewable natural gas can hold its own, and at the same time solve a massive waste problem and emissions problem from waste,” he concluded.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.EverGenInfra.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to EVGIF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/EVGIF

• Starco Brands reported revenue of $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 – a YoY increase of 1,060%
• Starco Brands had revenues of $11.1 million Q1 of 2023, increasing 1,107% over the prior year period
• Leveraging an aggressive M&A strategy to disrupt the CPG industry, Starco Brands sparks excitement in the everyday
• Starco has completed the acquisition of three vertical-defining brands since Q3 2022, putting it on a run rate of roughly $67M in annual revenue

Starco Brands (OTCQB: STCB) is a modern-day invention factory holding fast to its unwavering mission to invent and acquire consumer products and brands with behavior-changing technologies that spark excitement in the everyday. Since 2022, the company has adopted an aggressive M&A strategy to fuel its expansion and disrupt the CPG industry.

In September 2022, Starco Brands acquired the Art of Sport, a line of premium body and skincare products engineered to power and protect athletes, by acquiring The AOS Group, Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Co-founded by the late Kobe Bryant, Art of Sport is positioned as the number one body care brand for athletes. For the year ended December 31, 2021, Art of Sport recorded revenue of $10.1 million – up from $9.2 million the year prior. The acquisition has already proven to be a powerful catalyst for Starco Brands’ growth initiative.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, Starco Brands recorded revenues of $7.8 million – an eye-popping year-over-year increase of 1,060%, highlighting the unique ability of Starco Brands’ management team to efficiently and seamlessly integrate vertical-defining brands into the company’s portfolio.

Starco Brands has cranked up momentum with subsequent strategic acquisitions. In December 2022, the company added Skylar, the first and only line of hypoallergenic perfumes, to its portfolio and gained a significant foothold in the $50+ billion global perfume market. In February 2023, Starco Brands expanded its portfolio offerings again by acquiring the renowned brand Soylent, known as the “world’s most perfect food.” Starco Brands is prepped and ready to capitalize on the massive growth projected for the plant-based nutrition space, which was valued at $29+ billion in 2020.

With its rapid portfolio expansion and the introduction of groundbreaking innovations like Whipshots(R) (a first-of-its-kind alcoholic whipped cream in collaboration with celebrity partner Cardi B. that sold more than 2 MILLION cans in just over a year), Starco Brands is ready to hit the gas for even greater growth throughout 2023 and beyond. In a short span, the company has transformed from a few million dollars in revenue to a mind-boggling run rate of approximately $67 million in annual revenue.

Starco Brands offers a unique combination of an aggressive M&A strategy and a commitment to in-house innovation – all guided by a proven leadership team with decades of experience building successful brands. The company is making the moves necessary to put the CPG world (and savvy investors) on notice. With the explosive growth that’s already been posted and more expected, Starco Brands doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. It just might be time to jump on the train for those interested in high-growth opportunities, or, at the very least, keep it on the radar to see what eye-popping numbers Starco Brands posts next.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.StarcoBrands.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to STCB are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/STCB

Heads of talent acquisition, recruiters, and talent operations consultants are invited to attend the GSMI Talent Acquisition Week from July 17-21, 2023. The high-energy virtual event aims to bring together sourcing, recruiting, and talent acquisition strategies, to deliver the most comprehensive learning experience.

The summit will provide insights into the latest trends of employer reputation, recruitment, approaching talent, sourcing, executive search, and more. It’s a great opportunity for attendees to meet industry leaders, learn the best practices in talent acquisition, and navigate through the hiring funnel.

The post-pandemic job market calls for out-of-the-box sourcing, recruiting, and employer branding strategies. The GSMI virtual event will have acquisition tech leaders and speakers from the top MNCs. Attendees will get an exclusive opportunity to learn advanced perspectives to attract a diverse candidate pool.

Empowering Talent Acquisition Teams

Hiring has never been more competitive. Businesses eager to succeed in the present competitive landscape must take a completely different approach toward talent acquisition. Today, employees are looking for rewarding, inclusive jobs that value their hard work. Employers willing to source quality talent need to refine their hiring practices.

Effective recruitment strategies and the assessment of skilled professionals is at the core of the GSMI virtual event. Focused on operational flexibility, the GSMI Talent Acquisition Week will feature talented industry experts sharing insights into unconventional hiring strategies. They will reveal the secrets to navigating through volatile times and making innovative success strategies.

Experts will share case studies depicting the latest technologies for improving the hiring pipeline. The panel discussions will include holistic recruitment strategies to anticipate the potential challenges and create innovative best practices to tackle them. Attendees will get access to virtual workshops and networking roundtables as part of the virtual summit.

To learn more, please visit https://ibn.fm/wzvOC.

The Green Label Expo 2023 edition will be held at the World Market Center in Las Vegas on the 13th & 14th of September, welcoming thousands of CBD experts, alternative product professionals, counterculture experts, and business owners to discover a vast array of global suppliers in trending sectors such as beauty, health & wellness, pet products, foods, business services, and more. As the need for embracing alternative products surges, the vibrant city of Las Vegas is set to welcome the largest trade show for CBD and alternative product professionals. This two-day event will feature an extensive showcase of innovative products/services, industry leaders, and live entertainment bringing the industry closer together while catering to the growing demand for alternative options.

The Green Label Expo will feature thought-provoking seminars and interactive networking sessions throughout the show floor. An impressive lineup of keynote speakers will share the industry trends, latest innovations, and best practices to excel in the fast-growing emerging industries including CBD, psychedelics, and cannabis. This dynamic event aims to inspire participants to embrace alternative products and provide education on how to make a positive impact on society.

By bringing together businesses and individuals, the expo will empower attendees to make informed decisions, gain industry insights and expert consultations from leaders in areas such as payment solutions, financial services, logistics, marketing, compliance and more. The only event in Las Vegas designed specifically for CBD professionals and alternative product suppliers and buyers, this is the business event not to be missed.

The #1 Destination for Alternative Product Suppliers and Buyers

Supported by industry experts, the educational program provides opportunities to learn valuable insights into topics such as sourcing products, growing revenue, regulatory & compliance guidance, and more. This premier event will enable participants to meet industry leaders, learn advanced skills, and implement them in their upcoming projects.

Focused on connecting the industry, The Green Label Expo offers a perfect platform to forge new connections, consult with industry experts and learn best practices. It will also serve as a marketplace for potential buyers to gain a competitive edge. Reserve your free ticket today and bring a friend to discover the latest in the emerging world of alternative products.

To learn more, please visit https://ibn.fm/ZHL3M.