• D-Wave is the first commercial supplier of quantum computing solutions, delivering value to customers through practical quantum applications
• D-Wave has a portfolio of use cases showcasing how its quantum annealing applications can apply to the real-life problems found in a range of industries, including manufacturing and logistics
• DENSO and SavantX have demonstrated how D-Wave’s technology has improved operational efficiencies for manufacturing and logistics through quantum-hybrid applications

As the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computing solutions, D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) is focused on delivering value to customers through practical quantum applications for a range problems, including those related to manufacturing and logistics, artificial intelligence, materials sciences, drug discovery, scheduling, fault detection, and financial modeling. D-Wave has unlocked commercial use cases for common optimization problems faced by most industries. D-Wave’s relentless pursuit of practical quantum computing has resulted in its technology being used today by some of the world’s most advanced enterprises, including more than two dozen Forbes Global 2000 companies.

Annealing quantum computing delivers optimal solutions to combinatorial optimization problems with many variables and constraints. There is a broad array of opportunity areas for quantum computing within manufacturing – ranging from chemistry and materials science to automotive and mobility, supply chain optimization, logistics, and more. Forward-thinking manufacturing, logistics, and mobility businesses have an opportunity to advance their offerings as early adopters of quantum that can accelerate time-to-value and realize business benefits much earlier with faster and smarter decision-making, enhanced risk management, lower operational costs, and higher revenue.

DENSO Corporation, a leading supplier of advanced automotive technology, systems and components for most of the world’s automakers, completed proof-of-concept work to optimize control of Automated Guided Vehicles (“AGVs”) on its factory floors. These robotic transports move materials around the factory using automated guidance systems. Together with D-Wave’s quantum computing solutions, DENSO narrowed down and ranked the optimal number of paths AGVs could take around the factory, then focused on reducing traffic congestion across the ecosystem. The quantum-backed solution showed a 15% improvement in routing of AGVs using D-Wave technology vs. classical computers.

SavantX has demonstrated how it can optimize logistics by developing the HONE (Hyper Optimized Nodal Efficiency) Engine, which uses proprietary data science and quantum computing to represent optimized solutions for use at the second largest container terminal at the Port of Los Angeles, Pier 300. With the quantum-backed HONE engine, SavantX improved Pier 300’s cargo handling efficiency by 60%. Turnaround times for the trucks picking up cargo containers was improved by 12% (https://ibn.fm/JeGaL).

D-Wave’s use cases in manufacturing represent scenarios where optimization applications are well suited for the quantum-hybrid approach, including multi-car paint shop optimization, traffic routing and mobility, and employee scheduling. Many more applicable use cases exist across a vast problem space, such as airport personnel scheduling, electric car charging station placement optimization, port scheduling/planning, and packing and placement of goods in shipping containers. D-Wave’s manufacturing use case stories can be found at https://ibn.fm/LKZSJ.

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

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This article contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, which are subject to a number of risks. Forward-looking statements in this article include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the release and performance of the Advantage2 processor. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this article will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, various factors beyond management’s control, including general economic conditions and other risks; customer acceptance of our products and services; and the uncertainties and factors set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company with the SEC on February 13, 2023, as well as factors associated with companies, such as D-Wave, that are engaged in the business of quantum computing, including anticipated trends, growth rates, and challenges in those businesses and in the markets in which they operate; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us; risks related to the performance of our business and the timing of expected business or financial milestones; unanticipated technological or project development challenges, including with respect to the cost and or timing thereof; the performance of our products; the effects of competition on our business; the risk that we will need to raise additional capital to execute our business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that we may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that we are unable to secure or protect our intellectual property; volatility in the price of our securities; the risk that our securities will not maintain the listing on the NYSE; changes in applicable laws and regulations; the effect of pandemics, geopolitical events, natural disasters, wars, or terrorist acts on our business or the economy in general; and the impact of inflation. Furthermore, if the forward-looking statements contained in this article prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In addition, you are cautioned that past performance may not be indicative of future results. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not place undue reliance on these statements in making an investment decision or regard these statements as a representation or warranty by any person we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this article represent our views as of the date of this article. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this article.

• A well-known ransomware group of hackers recently infiltrated one of the UK’s largest business process outsourcing and professional services companies, exfiltrating clients’ personal data and offering it for sale
• Preventing such attacks is the aim of cybersecurity solutions provider SideChannel Inc., whose flagship offering includes outsourcing virtual chief information security officers that can provide clients with advisement on a contract basis
• The company’s managed services under its SideChannel Complete package hinge on the technological prowess of its Enclave microsegmentation tool, which helps limit system users to network areas they’re authorized to use
• SideChannel intends to continue expanding its Enclave-centric managed services in the coming months to provide clients with a growing array of powerful solutions

Cybercrime constitutes one of the few categories of moral harm in which the victim is routinely shamed or blamed for the destructive actions of others, leading to a sense of embarrassment in reporting such incidents, as was perhaps exemplified in the recent ransomware attack on business process outsourcing and professional services company Capita.

Capita is one of the largest companies of its kind in the United Kingdom, and its services are used by the country’s government. When it suffered a data breach last month that apparently prevented access to some of its internal applications and led to the shopping of clients’ personal and financial information, Capita initially avoided revealing that it had suffered a cyberattack and that any client data had been compromised, according to a SecurityWeek report on the incident (https://ibn.fm/AnqWM).

Massachusetts-based cybersecurity services and technology provider SideChannel (OTCQB: SDCH) is driven to help companies defend themselves against cyberattacks, emphasizing the importance of always keeping security systems current and comprehensive to avoid falling victim to similar incidents and having to deal with the expense of trying to recover from such breaches as well as the reputational loss.

In the Capita case, the hackers were apparently hoping to find a buyer for the data rather than demanding that the victim pay a ransom, but in many such incidents the companies’ operating systems are essentially held hostage unless they pay off the hackers in amounts that may reach into the millions of dollars.

“We see Fortune 500s having easy access to large (cybersecurity) providers but, really, the middle market is over a million companies, and who’s working with them?” SideChannel CEO Brian Haugli said during a company webcast on SideChannel’s portfolio (https://ibn.fm/bIqSA). “The same risks exist at (larger) enterprises that exist at mid-market and vice versa.”

SideChannel specializes in outsourcing virtual chief information security officers (“vCISOs”) on a contract basis to companies that need help with cybersecurity but are unable to hire a full-time CISO. 

 The rollout of the company’s SideChannel Complete managed service program served as a “turnkey” event that allows SideChannel to “have an entire program of technology, processes, and even people” that empowers clients while “they don’t have to look at hiring full-time staff that could be costly or going through a talent-acquisition pipeline,” Haugli told Proactive Investors in an interview last month (https://ibn.fm/DOtaP).

“We are very excited about how the uptake has really taken off this last year,” Haugli said, adding that the company is anticipating adding further managed services capabilities during the coming months.

At the heart of SideChannel’s Complete managed service offering is a microsegmentation tool called Enclave that provides the company’s solution for network segmentation, which ensures that only authorized personnel have access to specific systems they’re authorized to use without lateral movement across the network as part of a “zero-trust” approach to cybersecurity.

Enclave is also available to clients to use on their own as a software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) tool on a subscription basis if they prefer to rely on their own governance.

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

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

• Inflating air pollution levels are increasingly contributing to rising respiratory infections and mortality rates around the world
• A key source of air pollution is derived from methane emissions, released by organic waste products
• RNG has emerged as a solution by which captured methane can be turned into a carbon neutral energy source
• EverGen Infrastructure has rapidly emerged as one of Canada’s leading RNG suppliers, with an ambitious long-term growth plan

India’s capital, New Delhi is a teeming metropolis and home to upwards of 25 million people; it is also one of the most polluted cities in the world. In 2019, government authorities forecast that over 1.67 million people had passed away across the country due to air pollution – largely a result of acute respiratory infections, including lung diseases, COPD, asthma add bronchial infections. In Delhi alone, it is estimated that air pollution could contribute to as many as 30,000 fatalities per annum and driving $36.8 billion in economic losses. Yet, Delhi’s air pollution conundrum is not solely due to industrial activity and construction work, factors which have often been pinpointed as the primary contributors to India’s pollution problem. Rather, a major factor contributing to Delhi’s pollution woes is far closer to home – the cooking fuel used by millions of households across the city (https://ibn.fm/trzox). At least 100 million people across India today depend on cow dung cakes and other biomass sources for cooking; methane, the chief emission released by organic waste has been found to be nearly 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of trapping heat within the earth’s atmosphere (https://ibn.fm/upCmA).

According to the International Monetary Fund (“IMF”), global greenhouse gases must be cut by 25 percent to 50 percent from 2019 levels by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5-2 degrees Celsius – the central goal of the Paris Agreement. Methane accounts for approximately 30 percent of the increase in the global temperature since industrialization; last year, methane emissions rose to record levels for a second year in a row. In November 2021, amidst the COP 26 forum taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, 125 countries signed up to the Global Methane Pledge, with participants joining the pledge agreeing to take voluntary actions to contribute to reducing methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030.

Renewable natural gas (“RNG”), a form of refined biogas, has emerged as a potential solution to global efforts towards arresting rising methane emissions. When organic waste decomposes, it naturally releases biogas – a greenhouse gas containing carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere. Companies such as EverGen Infrastructure (TSX.V: EVGN) (OTCQX: EVGIF), a British-Columbia based natural gas operator, have made containing methane emissions their core corporate mission. Through a combination of acquiring, developing, building, owning, and operating a portfolio of RNG, waste-to-energy and related infrastructure projects, EverGen has looked to combat climate change and help the communities within which it operates to strive for a more sustainable future.

EverGen Infrastructure’s RNG is derived from biogas, which is captured from decomposing organic waste found in landfills, food waste, agricultural waste matter and wastewater treatment plants; the waste feedstock is supplied to an anaerobic digester which in turn contains bacteria that breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. The resulting biogas is captured and cleaned to create carbon neutral or carbon negative RNG, which can be piped through the existing North American gas pipeline grid. Meanwhile, the liquid and solid digestate matter which results as a byproduct of the RNG production process can be recycled into fertilizer form.

The company has recently elaborated on its ambitious growth plan, publicizing its goal to own over 20 RNG-generating facilities across Canada within five years; meanwhile and with four revenue generating RNG assets already in operation, the company reiterated their ambition to grow their cumulative gross RNG generating capacity to 480,000 gigajoules of energy per annum going forward – the equivalent of providing clean energy to nearly 90 million households. Through their operations, EverGen seek to both, reduce carbon emissions and organic waste whilst providing homes and businesses with a novel source of renewable energy.

“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. “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,” he continued. I think renewable natural gas can hold its own, and at the same time solve a massive waste problem and emissions problem from waste.”

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

• Latest research shows that renewable energy from wind and solar is cheaper than electricity from coal, oil, or methane gas, dispelling any lingering doubts about their ability to compete on cost with traditional fossil fuels
• The clean electricity sector is soaring, generating 39% of global electricity in 2022, a new record high; solar remains the fastest-growing electricity source for 18 consecutive years, growing by 24% in 2022
• Companies like GeoSolar appear poised for growth as greater demand for cleaner energy creates opportunities for the sector and evidence shows that investing in renewables is not just good for the environment, but also makes financial sense

A world powered by renewable sources once seemed like a distant dream, but it is gradually becoming a reality thanks to companies like GeoSolar Technologies (“GST”), a Colorado-based climate technology company that seeks to lead Americans toward a more sustainable living.

Despite barriers to widespread electrification, including lack of adequate infrastructure, high costs, and technological challenges, the world is inescapably transitioning towards a more electrified future – and going by the latest research, the future of electricity is increasingly green (https://ibn.fm/gCUog). The fourth annual Global Electricity Review, recently published by Ember, shows that together, all clean electricity sources generated 39% of global electricity in 2022, hitting a new record high (https://ibn.fm/4HZi2).

Ember’s study also reports that the sun and wind provide more and more of our electricity. Last year, they produced a record amount, collectively reaching a 12% share of global production, increasing from 10% in 2021. This international energy think tank argues that in 2023, wind and solar could be the driving force thrusting the world into a new era of declining fossil fuel production. Of the two, solar generation has been particularly gaining traction, as it rose by 24% in 2022. Nothing short of remarkable, the sector maintained its position as the fastest-growing source of electricity for no less than 18 consecutive years.

Although the renewable energy sector has been steadily growing for years, promising a more sustainable future for our planet, fears around its ability to compete on cost with traditional fossil fuels have remained. However, as the price of renewable technologies plummeted in recent years, driven by advancements in technology and increased investment, evidence is emerging to support the growing belief that renewable energy is not only an environmentally beneficial option but a financially viable one as well. A recent report from Lazard is the latest in a growing line of findings that have shattered the lingering fears. This renowned advisory firm showed that electricity generated from renewable sources is now cheaper than power from coal, oil, or methane gas – and it remains so by every metric analyzed, including the cost of energy, cost of energy and firming, the marginal cost of energy, and cost of capital (https://ibn.fm/PfOQ5).

As both the government and consumers prioritize renewable energy, driving demand for sustainable solutions, opportunities for innovative companies like GeoSolar Technologies will continue to grow. Poised to capitalize on the greater public awareness and pressure to transition to cleaner energy sources, GeoSolar Technologies seeks to establish itself as a key player in the industry. As a pioneer in the green home space, the company aims to spearhead the green revolution in building sustainability by helping Americans live in carbon neutral homes of the future.

Its innovative SmartGreen(R) Home system, which can be deployed in both newly built and existing residences and commercial buildings, seeks to harness energy from the sun and earth to provide power without using fossil fuels. This patent-pending integrated system allows homeowners to heat, cool, cook, power, and purify their homes using sustainable energy sources, offering a greener and cost-effective alternative to traditional energy sources.

While the end of the fossil fuel age may not happen overnight, the world is on the brink of a clean power era as the momentum shifts toward a more sustainable future. Bursting onto the green energy scene, solar has emerged as the shining star of the renewable energy sector and is increasingly used to power homes, businesses, and transportation. Aiming to offer Americans access to low-carbon, climate-resilient living through green home packages, GeoSolar seeks to capitalize on this rapidly expanding market.

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 recently completed its diabetes animal model study, DIAB-A22-1, an ambitious study that explored the potential of its patented DehydraTECH(TM)-processed cannabidiol (“CBD”) for the treatment of diabetes
• The study showed at least three primary positive outcomes, including weight loss and improved triglyceride and cholesterol levels, with lower doses of DehydraTECH-CBD achieving the most optimum outcome
• The success of this study inches Lexaria closer to capitalizing on the potential of the diabetes drug market, estimated at $63.1 billion in 2021
• It also points to the technology’s effectiveness, particularly following the success of the company’s most ambitious clinical study, HYPER-H21-4, demonstrating the potential of DehydraTECH-CBD for the treatment of hypertension

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms. The company’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) drug delivery platform technology increases bioavailability, improving the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) enter the bloodstream by promoting more effective oral delivery, helping with speed of onset, and brain absorption of active pharmaceutical ingredients. They recently completed its diabetes animal model study DIAB-A22-1, an ambitious study that explored the potential of its patented DehydraTECH(TM)-processed cannabidiol (“CBD”) for the treatment of diabetes. The study produced at least three positive outcomes in what Lexaria’s management described as “encouraging,” further indicating many prospective benefits worthy of further investigation together down the line (https://ibn.fm/7ZZyw).

The study, which involved 32 male Zucker (“ZDF”) rats- 24 obese and eight lean, saw the administration of Lexaria’s “DehydraTECH-CBD 2.0” formulations at either 30 mg/Kg or 100 mg/Kg of body weight. Following initial positive early responses witnessed, the study, which was to last for four weeks, was extended to eight, with outcomes including weight loss in obese diabetic-conditioned animals, to improved triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

Across all three parameters, only the lower dose of DehydraTECH-CBD achieved the most optimum outcome, with higher doses showing no significant difference. With activity levels, for instance, lower DehydraTECH-CBD doses resulted in a statistically significant improvement in locomotor activity compared to the untreated obese control rats, with no significant difference accordingly evidenced at the higher dose. Furthermore, a lower dose of 30 mg/Kg also outperformed the higher dose of 100 mg/Kg with reductions in triglyceride levels from day 35 onwards compared to the obese animals not dosed with DehydraTECH-CBD.

No severe health concerns were observed during dosing in the animals that received DehydraTECH-CBD. Lexaria’s management was keen to express its pleasure that relatively low doses of DehydraTECH-CBD seemed to support tangible improvements in the day-to-day health of the lab animals. This showed how essential the findings are for many other prospective benefits worthy of further investigation, perhaps with other drugs that further help control glucose levels directly.

Lexaria’s unique and powerful drug delivery technology, DehydraTECH, has proven to enhance the performance of several categories of fat-soluble molecules and drugs across oral and/or topical product formats. As a result, it is an additional step easily incorporated into the formulation and manufacturing process of existing or new orally ingestible and topical products. This feature has been applied in antiviral drugs, cannabinoids, oral nicotine, PDE5 inhibitors, and more. The technology’s potential has also opened up Lexaria’s licensing opportunities, particularly given the technology’s suitability for use with a growing range of consumer products such as registered drugs, nutraceuticals, oral suspensions, capsules, pills and tablets (https://ibn.fm/XEet7).

The success of the DIAB-A22-1 animal model study inches Lexaria closer to capitalizing on the potential of the diabetes drug market, estimated at $63.1 billion in 2021 (https://ibn.fm/Sh4FG). It also points to the technology’s effectiveness, particularly following the success of Lexaria’s most ambitious human clinical study, HYPER-H21-4, demonstrating the potential of DehydraTECH-CBD for treating hypertension. This success also aligns with the company’s objective of delivering financial rewards to its shareholders, all while proving the validity of its technology.

“it is my goal for 2023 to make Lexaria Bioscience one of the top drug delivery performers in the biotech/pharmaceutical world as we continue to prove the validity of our technology, and really begin our efforts to deliver financial rewards to you, our owners,” noted Chris Bunka, Lexaria’s CEO (https://ibn.fm/5RYiA).

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

Lift Events & Experiences, a collective known for organizing Canada’s number-one cannabis industry conferences and trade shows, invites cannabis retailers, licensed producers, growers, budtenders, brands, investors, and everyday folks, for the Lift Toronto 2023 event scheduled for June 1-3, 2023 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (“MTCC”). The three-day action-packed convention is set to continue a tradition that has become synonymous with each of Lift Events & Experiences’ events: showcasing leading-edge content and premier exhibitors in a high-energy, unique setting.

The first day of the event will play host to the Lift Cannabis Business Conference, Canada’s premiere business strategy gathering that congregates regulators, researchers, top leaders, investors, suppliers, and various professionals with the intention of enabling them to learn, network, and chart a path forward for the budding cannabis industry.

The speakers will share their insights as part of planned speeches, panel discussions, and presentations, segmented into themed sessions designed to collectively spark conversations that support meaningful change and sustainable growth in the cannabis industry both in Canada and around the world. The day will kick off with a keynote addressing Canada’s cannabis industry, highlighting that October will mark five years of cannabis legalization in the North American country.

The first session, titled The CEO’s Perspective, will tackle the question of whether the future of the cannabis industry is bullish or bearish from their perspective as leaders in the space. The panel will include Niel Marotta, CEO and Founder of INDIVA, David Schwede, CEO Heritage Cannabis, Marcie Kiziak, CEO Nova Cannabis, and John Fowler, CEO Muskoka Grown & Dank Craft.

Other sessions held throughout the day will include the International Review, which will provide a deep-dive into the international cannabis industry; Truth to Power Presentations, a session looking at the cannabis industry from a legal and tax perspective; the Business Funding session; Extracts, Concentrates, & Processing session with discussions around cannabis products and manufacturing. The conference concludes with sessions around marketing and retail, Cannabis Marketing and Cannabis Retail (https://ibn.fm/Q8WCq).

The heavily attended Lift Expo on June 2-3, will then connect hundreds of companies from the entire cannabis ecosystem set to exhibit their products and services. In addition to getting to know about these companies, the two high-energy Lift Expo days will also be opportune for attendees to network with peers, experts, producers, retailers, and more.

Attendees will hear from respected leaders in the space, including founders and CEOs of licensed cannabis producers, growers, and brands from different parts of the world. From the Main Stage, or Speakers’ Corner East and West Stages, attendees will find the most innovative, game-changing, and profitmaking content showcased over the two days of unmatched professional, consumer, recreational and medical cannabis programming. Everyone in attendance is invited to join Canada’s top cannabis chefs for live demonstrations of out-of-this-world cookery, baking, mixology and munchie-making, at the first-ever Lift exclusive Diners’ Club!

As has become the norm for all Lift Events & Experiences events, attendees should expect the unexpected, as the organizer promises its signature surprises and ‘a-ha’ moments. Attendees can also expect prize giveaways, live music, and cameo appearances, not to mention a legendary official after-party set for the evening of June 3.

With a commitment to lifting the cannabis community across North America, the Lift Toronto 2023 event is specifically curated to provide a uniquely irresistible experience that educates and enables attendees to create meaningful connections while driving the industry forward.

To learn more, please visit https://ibn.fm/t5Gor.

• Lidar’s perception capabilities and seamless integration into modern vehicle designs are primary challenges facing mass-market ADAS adoption
• CPTN’s Vista(R)-X90 Plus overcomes size and performance obstacles to enable faster ADAS mass-market commercialization
• CPTN recently released Komodo, an advanced point cloud processor ASIC; advantages include increased speed, improved sensor performance, higher digital signal processing, and noise reduction
• Production of proprietary ASIC costs 10x less than legacy alternatives and reduces supply chain vulnerabilities, enabling CPTN to offer an unparalleled cost-to-performance ratio

Commercialization of lidar for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (“ADAS”) faces two primary obstacles: perception capabilities and sensor embeddability into modern vehicle designs. Lidar pioneer Cepton’s (NASDAQ: CPTN) Ultra-Slim Vista(R)-X90 Plus lidar overcomes both barriers while setting new industry standards.

Billed by CPTN as the “world’s smallest” adaptive long-range lidar, the Vista-X90 Plus is 62% slimmer than its predecessor — the Vista(R)-X90 — with a 58% footprint reduction. Besides offering an extremely streamlined solution for windshield integration, the Vista-X90 Plus can be seamlessly embedded into the roof, headlamps, and vehicle fascia.

CPTN also announced the release of Komodo – the company’s proprietary lidar point cloud processor ASIC. Along with Iguana (CPTN’s signal processing ASIC), the company’s expanded chipset will be integrated into several lidar models covering front-end signal processing and back-end point cloud processing.

“Vista(R)-X90 Plus is the second generation of the industry’s best lidar for integration behind the windshield,” said Dr. Jun Pei, CEO and Co-founder of Cepton (https://ibn.fm/DDtPj). “Its groundbreaking design resulted not only from our latest innovation in the 3D imaging technology, but also from our advancements in the development of our proprietary ASIC chipset.”

Earlier lidar technology relied on Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (“FPGAs”) and merchant silicon devices to generate a 3D point cloud, making the technology susceptible to supply chain vulnerabilities and increasing costs, which further hindered mass-market commercialization. Furthermore, FPGAs and merchant silicon devices are less efficient, larger, and consume more power.

In contrast, Cepton’s dedicated ASICs improve performance while reducing lidar unit costs, helping achieve the price points necessary for mass-market lidar adoption. Other benefits include increased speed, better sensor performance, higher digital signal processing, and noise reduction. Komodo also costs 10x less than the FPGA and merchant silicon chips it replaces, further strengthening Cepton’s cost-to-performance ratio for its lidars.

“In the context of the U.S. CHIPS bill, we see the increasing importance of minimizing reliance on the semiconductor supply chain by using our own ASICs,” said Dr. Pei. “Cepton will continue to drive its ASIC development and expand its leadership in automotive lidar at the chip level.”

Besides commercializing lidar systems for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems, CPTN also develops solutions for a range of other industries. Additional applications of the company’s technology include early-warning intrusion detection, airport terminal monitoring, obstacle detection at railway-level crossings, crowd analytics solutions, free-flow e-tolling, and perception solutions for smart transportation infrastructure.

The company is headquartered in San Jose, California with a center of excellence facility in the Motor City.

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

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

• SideChannel is on a mission to make cybersecurity simple and accessible for mid-market and emerging companies, a market that is currently underserved
• The company matches client organizations with virtual Chief Information Security Officers (“vCISOs”) who help them with developing and managing the implementation of an information security program
• SideChannel’s efforts come amid rising cases of cyberattacks, driven by an increase in attack surfaces and agility of attackers, who now work in organized groups, according to CEO Brian Haugli
• Recently, for example, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited Closed 14 properties in Ontario following a cyberattack

Cyberattacks are growing each year as hackers and ransomware gangs become more agile, and the attack surfaces increase. In 2022, for example, global attacks grew 38% compared to 2021 numbers (https://ibn.fm/26Jmm). Worse still, the global cost of cybercrime is expected to rise to $8 trillion in 2023, up from $3 trillion in 2015 and $6 trillion in 2021, according to a 2022 report (https://ibn.fm/YQ4YS). This cost accounts for damage and destruction of data, lost productivity, theft of intellectual property and financial data, post-attack disruption to the normal course of business, reputational harm, forensic investigation, and restoration and deletion of affected systems.

With a recent cyberattack on its computing infrastructure having forced Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited (“Gateway”) to close 14 properties across Ontario for close to a week (https://ibn.fm/2Np93), the cost implications are clear for all to see. One of the largest and most diversified gaming and entertainment companies in Canada with 29 gaming properties in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, Gateway first reported the incident on April 16, 2023 (https://ibn.fm/xfUXT), later updating that the locations would remain closed until at least April 21, as it continues the work to restore its IT systems in conjunction with third-party cyber professionals (https://ibn.fm/7J92o).

In explaining this rise in cybercrime and cyberattacks, SideChannel (OTCQB: SDCH) CEO, Brian Haugli, told viewers of the company’s Investor Day presentation that “Cybersecurity exists inside of the logical plane.” This means that unlike other crimes, which are physical and are visible to all, cyberattacks are not. “We can’t see everything that is happening as far as those types of crime go, which allows attackers to operate anonymously and at a much larger scale,” Haugli explained (https://ibn.fm/2d7Rx).

Unfortunately, this has triggered a rise in attacks and the cost of attacks, as well as a constant evolution of the types of attacks that cybercriminals use and prefer. This, Haugli stated, is because “The bad guys have pivoted. It is a business for them. There is an ROI; they have figured out what will make them more money for the least effort. It’s a business. The days of thinking it is some kid in a black hoodie in his basement are over. These are well-orchestrated, well-funded, and well-organized organizations out there creating a business for them; they go on holiday or vacation; they have payroll.”

But SideChannel, a company focused on making cybersecurity simple and accessible, is keen on stopping such attacks by helping organizations maintain a strong cybersecurity posture and program. “Where we step in is identifying and knowing what can slow [attackers] down, what can stop them, [and] what can be built at an organization that allows you to feel much better about your cybersecurity posture in addressing those risks,” Haugli conveyed.

The company achieves this by matching each client organization with an expert virtual Chief Information Security Officer (“vCISO”). Leveraging over 400 years of combined enterprise experience in cybersecurity and risk management, the vCISOs help organizations with developing and managing the implementation of an information security program. In addition, they work with clients’ employees, boards, and stakeholders to develop the strategic vision, resources, and protocols to maintain an appropriately sized, measured, and effective security program.

SideChannel mainly targets small and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”), which have traditionally faced challenges when it comes to limited budgets and hiring skilled cybersecurity professionals. This market has also been largely underserved compared with the larger enterprise segment, according to a McKinsey report (https://ibn.fm/F0szb). This is despite the fact that the global cybersecurity sales from the SME market category had been growing at an 8% annual rate until 2021, generating more than $40 billion. Furthermore, the report projected that this figure would exceed $50 billion over the subsequent five years.

That, McKinsey reckons, is a missed opportunity hiding in the open, especially given that SMEs are as susceptible to cybersecurity issues and future attacks as larger enterprises. But SideChannel is keen on seizing this opportunity by providing not only affordable services but also much-needed expertise.

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

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

• U.S. households generate over 40% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, a result of being plugged into an electric grid which still derives most of its energy from fossil fuel-powered sources
• A recent study has revealed that the world could save as much as $12 trillion by 2050 by switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy – a claim predicated on the declining cost of renewable energy generation
• GeoSolar Technologies is looking to promote this energy transition, with its revolutionary SmartGreen(TM) Home system permitting households to slash their household utility bills to as little as $100 per annum whilst simultaneously, reducing their carbon footprint

The U.S. energy transition movement is still in its relative infancy; as of the start of 2023, over 80 percent of the electricity generated in America’s collective power grid owed its origins to non-renewable sources such as coal or gas. Meanwhile, most U.S. households remain connected to the grid, with over half of American households boasting a major gas-powered appliance such as a furnace, water heater, or stove in their homes. That means that the majority of U.S. households are emitting greenhouse gases every time a light switch is flipped or perversely – an electric car is plugged in to charge. As such and despite statistics such as the one suggesting that three-quarters of Californians would prefer to possess efficient electric appliances powered by clean energy rather than fossil fuels, over 40 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. are currently emitted by households (https://ibn.fm/HziN3).

The Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate changed signed in 2016 by nearly 200 countries centred around mitigating pollution and avoiding climate disasters, had at its core focus a target of reducing global air pollution by 28 percent – followed by complete decarbonisation or ‘net zero’ status by 2050. However, the path towards meeting the globe’s ambitious targets require increasingly drastic measures.

A key impediment in the journey towards energy transition has been the perceived costs that such a move would entail. Famously in 2019, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond wrote to the prime minister to say that the cost of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in the United Kingdom would come at a cost of over £1 trillion, a figure equivalent to nearly a third of the nation’s annual GDP. This was a view which was shared by the Swiss-based Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (“IPCC”), which published a report in 2022 alleging that the cost of keeping global temperature rises capped at 2 degrees centigrade would result in a loss of GDP by 2050 (https://ibn.fm/ujqQq).

A new report has now sought to debunk both claims. A recent research study jointly published by the University of Oxford and Australia’s Monash University has found that switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy could save the world as much as $12 trillion by 2050, given the rapidly declining costs of renewable energy generation – particularly relative to historic fossil fuel costs (https://ibn.fm/wPsRC).

“Our latest research shows scaling-up key green technologies will continue to drive their costs down, and the faster we go, the more we will save,” says Dr Rupert Way, the report’s lead author from the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.

This is a view which is shared by GeoSolar Technologies (“GST”), a Colorado-based climate technology company pioneering an approach into clean energy solutions for households. The Company has centered its corporate mission around reducing household carbon emissions through the introduction of its proprietary SmartGreen(TM) Home system. An environmentally friendly, renewable energy-focused technology designed to harness energy from the earth and sun to power and purify homes and automobiles without the use of fossil fuels, the SmartGreen(TM) Home system has enabled households to both, reduce their carbon footprint to near negligible levels whilst slashing household utility bills to less than $100 per annum (https://ibn.fm/GWb2V).

With the average U.S. home releasing upwards of 48 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per annum – the equivalent weight of a sperm whale, tackling household emissions has become an increasingly urgent mission for authorities across the country. It is along this vein that over 48 cities across the United States have already outlawed the laying of natural gas piping in the construction of new homes and commercial buildings. With U.S. households increasingly expressing a desire to transition towards renewable energy, GeoSolar Technologies’ revolutionary technological innovations may be the answer to America’s household emission problems.

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

• Lithium-ion batteries power modern technologies, but another critical element is required to build them – graphite, the battery’s single largest component, the production of which is mainly controlled by China
• Currently, no significant production of lithium-ion battery anode material exists in North America; resuming domestic graphite production emerges as critical in reducing reliance on foreign supply and increasing energy self-sufficiency amid growing international geopolitical tensions
• Reflex Advanced Materials seeks to fill the market gap by reactivating domestic mining operations of flake and vein graphite; with direct access to top-notch supply chain partners, it is uniquely positioned in the market as a provider of domestic graphite

Essential to modern technologies, critical minerals are of strategic importance to countries around the world, especially those that rush to expedite energy transition and decarbonize the economy. This is where companies like Reflex Advanced Materials (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF), a company focused on strategic metals and advanced materials space, aim to step in to deliver minerals needed to power modern devices.

As the renewable energy sector continues to grow and more electric cars are expected to enter the market as countries pivot away from fossil fuels, the need for more raw materials to build batteries will continue to surge. Still, in public discourse about the minerals that are vital to the country’s sustainable energy plans, we have come to focus on reliance on foreign lithium supply, often leaving one other critical mineral overlooked, despite it being an essential part of modern consumer electronics, power tools, and electric vehicles. It is graphite, the single largest component in the ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries.

Although the angst about China’s tight grip on the battery metals supply chain often concentrates on lithium, the lithium supply gap could be easier to solve compared to graphite. Currently, there are no substitutes for graphite in Li-ion batteries – as an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, it is the only material that can be used to make anodes. Also, it is the largest input in batteries by weight – it takes 20 to 30 times more graphite than lithium to make Li-ion batteries. And as it turns out, China’s grip on graphite is even tighter than it is on lithium. With the latter, China does not dominate mining, only processing. But when it comes to graphite, China eclipses practically all other countries as it produces almost all graphite in the global market.

From the government to academia, there seems to be a consensus that gaining better control over the battery supply chain is intertwined with graphite production. “If we want to produce more batteries domestically, we’re going to need to increase our production of graphite,” said Northwestern University chemical engineer Jennifer Dunn, summarizing findings of a recent paper she co-authored that was recently published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal (https://ibn.fm/uqQks).

Aligned with these findings, measures like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Defense Production Act seek to boost domestic sources of battery minerals and ramp up the U.S. battery supply chain by incentivizing the use of domestically sourced materials — including graphite – in a bid to take control of clean technology supply chains away from China. Although American content is becoming a priority for a growing number of manufacturers, the U.S. supply of battery minerals is nowhere near meeting the demand since there is currently no significant production of lithium-ion battery anode material in North America. But boosting these domestic sources could become a challenge as this market has traditionally been dominated by private, family-owned businesses that have been slow to respond to an environment that maintains a pace of change.

As the role of critical minerals in the clean energy transition grows and countries scramble to secure access to these essential materials, the imbalances between their supply and demand will continue to swell. For example, it is estimated that the growth in anode demand will continue to drive a yawning gap of 8 million tonnes of graphite by 2040.

This is where Reflex Advanced Materials seeks to step in to fill the market gap by reactivating domestic mining operations of flake and vein graphite. Aiming to be more than just a mining company, Reflex Advanced Materials appears poised to transform production into manufacturing of market-ready graphite products made to customer specifications. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Company boasts direct relationships with top-notch supply chain partners – from producers and processors to end-use manufacturers – that operate world-class, industrial-scale processing facilities to deliver high-quality, USA-manufactured battery materials at scale. In contrast to other global graphite suppliers that often face quality control issues, Reflex Advanced Materials aims to be a domestic graphite producer that matches the rigorous requirements of battery producers both in terms of quality and scale (https://ibn.fm/XcjWJ).

As a critical mineral fueling a greener economy, the flake graphite market is expected to flourish, growing more than threefold by 2030, driven by the swelling demand from the rapidly growing green sectors. Reflex Advanced Materials views its capacity to process graphite in the U.S. as a source of its competitive advantage as it enables customers to increase the domestic content in their products amid growing international geopolitical tensions.

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