In collaboration with Boonoob, Canopy and Mediacy Global (media sponsor), Web3 is a Joke brings you the comedy roast event Web3 is a Joke in San Francisco. The event will be hosted by founder Mona Shaikh, a seasoned comedian who has been featured on CNN, Forbes, and MSNBC. Mona and her team of comic entertainers present the epic comedy evening on Friday, January 26, 2024, at Canopy Jackson Square, 595 Pacific Ave 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA.

Web3 Is A Joke is a Web3 comedy roast show known for its laugh-learn-link style. The comedians present important learning topics of Web3 in a great comedy format. The impressive line-up of entertainers will deliver an unmatched comic experience while discussing the complex technical jargon of Crypto, AI, Metaverse, and NFTs. Attendees can have a great learning experience with outstanding comic entertainment in the comfortable ambiance of Canopy Jackson Square, including an open bar and a sumptuous food spread. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the program commences at 6:15 pm sharp.

Mona Shaikh acclaimed for her outstanding humor and comedy will serve as the roast master for the event. Joining her on the dais are some very special guests, including Paige Wesley (standup comic, podcaster, and Bread Mage) from Roast Battle SF; the entertaining Jack Weiler from San Francisco’s Mutiny Comedy; Shalini Ramachandran a Radio VJ; Amanda Wick, Founder and CEO of Women in Crypto and Peter Wang.

And that’s not all, the event will feature a special guest appearance by Jen aka Adultarts. Enjoy a memorable evening of humor (and learning) with Mona and her team of popular comedians and influencers.

To know more, please visit https://ibn.fm/SYkeg

• Canadian metals supply company Ucore Rare Metals Inc. recently announced completion of the third and final stage of its Demonstration Plant commissioning process for the separation of critical rare earth element (“REE”) metals used in various important technologies
• The commissioning process is a key part of the company’s demonstration of its proprietary RapidSX(TM) REE processing technology as it prepares for commercial production
• Ucore is at the forefront of companies attempting to break China’s virtual monopoly on REE production and separation processes by developing American-based supply chain solutions
• The company will now focus on proving its RapidSX(TM) technology in response to U.S. and Canadian government-funded projects seeking a direct techno-economic comparison between conventional solvent extraction (“CSX”) and RapidSX(TM)
• Ucore will also begin work on building its commercial operation for REE separation using RapidSX(TM) in Louisiana this month

Strategic metals supply chain innovator Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) recently completed the commissioning of its superior technology being put to the test for commercial use in separating heavy and light rare earth elements (HREEs, LREEs, or REEs) that are key ingredients in permanent magnets helping to drive modern computerized products.

Ucore has been racing to launch commercial REE separation production at its Louisiana facility to fill a vital unmet need for American-based supply operations that will ensure the flow of the components making up technologies used in a range of critical applications, from cell phones to fighter jets. Given the REE industry’s near-total current dependence on Chinese companies, whose mining and metal element separation operations can be controlled by Chinese government policy, companies and government leaders around the world have been concerned about building secure access to REEs should international tensions disrupt their current supply.

The company’s commercial demonstration program at an Ontario facility, with commercialization partner Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. (“KPM”), has been establishing the capabilities of Ucore’s trademarked RapidSX(TM) processing solution for use in the mining industry in head-to-head comparisons with the existing standard CSX process, and will now turn to demonstrating its ability to satisfy government interests while completing the Louisiana operation.

Ucore has received millions of dollars in funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Government of Canada for qualifying heavy and light critical magnet materials with automotive, wind energy and consumer original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) that further national interests.

“The objectives of this program are to establish a direct techno-economic comparison between conventional solvent extraction and RapidSX(TM) for separating heavy and light rare earth elements and to establish RapidSX(TM) technology for commercial deployment in North America,” Ucore Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Mike Schrider, P.E., stated in the company’s Dec. 21 announcement about the commissioning process (https://ibn.fm/hF78d).

China has made significant changes to its rules guiding exports of several metals this year amid growing tensions between the Asian nation and Western countries over the control of critical minerals and China’s need to protect its national interests and market dominance.

China introduced permit requirements for the export of computer chipmaking materials gallium and germanium in August, and then similar processes governing the export of several types of graphite beginning Dec. 1. China expanded its ban on exporting technology for the separation of critical REE materials Dec. 21, adding regulations regarding select REE magnet metals, as reported by Reuters (https://ibn.fm/90How).

“Recent events in China are a remarkable development,” Ucore Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pat Ryan stated Dec. 27 (https://ibn.fm/YFAHu). “Ucore’s focus on the separation and refining of these critical materials is of increasing strategic importance to the burgeoning North American rare earth supply chain. Our recently commenced US DoD Demonstration Program could not come at a more important time.”

Ucore’s 80,800 square-foot brownfield REE separation and oxide production facility in Louisiana will work its way up to an estimated throughput of 7,500 metric tons of total rare earth oxides (“TREOs”) per year. Work on building the Louisiana operation is expected to begin this month.

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

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

• Astrotech’s newest subsidiary, Pro-Control, will use the company’s mass spectrometer technology to improve purity, and yields of distilled chemicals
• Pro-Control delivers value by improving lost yields and delivering found profits directly to the bottom line with little, which the company believes will lead to an overall increase in profitability
• Astrotech believes that the Pro-Control MVP has the ability to routinely improve yields from 20% to 30%
• The company is introducing its proprietary ATi Mass Spectrometer Technology into the vast chemical manufacturing and process control markets

Astrotech (NASDAQ: ASTC), is an instrumentation company that is focused on commercializing its proprietary ATi Mass Spectrometer Technology(TM) that is now used in airports and agriculture applications throughout the world.

Astrotech continues to expand its ATi Mass Spectrometer Technology into new markets and has announced the introduction of its newest Pro-Control-1000(TM) product line of instrumentation designed to improve chemical manufacturing efficiencies.  Astrotech is also announcing the creation of its newest wholly owned subsidiary, Pro-Control, Inc. that has been awarded an exclusive ATi field-of-use license for worldwide chemical manufacturing and process control applications.

The Pro-Control-1000(TM) mass-spec is ideally suited for use in the chemical manufacturing industry due to its rugged design and highly reliable chemical analysis.

The Pro-Control-1000(TM) is easy to operate with daily auto-calibration and auto-tune.  The custom library feature makes it easy to create a unique chemical library.  And the programable user interface adapts to every chemical manufacturing application and testing protocol.

The Pro-Control-1000(TM) product line includes two models:

• The Pro-Control-1000-D1(TM) is a fully automated mass spectrometer that is configured to continually analyze the process gases while adjusting the PLC controls (temp, flow, pressure), for Maximum Value Processing (max purities and yields).
• The Pro-Control-1000-D2(TM) is a manually prepared test that analyzes in-process liquids while providing graphical feedback needed to adjust the operating parameters (temp, flow, pressure) for maximum efficiency.

According to Mordor Intelligence, the global mass spectrometry market is estimated to reach $6.37 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $8.63 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 6.25%. The market’s growth is being driven primarily by the technological advances in the mass spectrometer device market. The key market players are continuously working to advance existing products and launch innovative advanced mass spectrometer devices into various applications including chemical manufacturing (https://ibn.fm/BWkRK). Pro-Control is offering its proprietary mass-spec technology to customers that are interested in significantly improving the purity and yields and profits from the manufacturing of distilled chemical products.

Thomas Pickens, CEO and CTO of Astrotech said, “The company is very excited to be introducing our new Pro-Control, Inc. subsidiary along with the very capable Pro-Control-1000(TM) family of rugged mass-spectrometers. The ideal Pro-Control customer is a large-volume manufacturer of chemical products seeking to improve bottom line profits. We believe that Pro-Control MVP can routinely improve manufacturing yields from 10% to 30% and we are excited to introduce our technology to the vast chemical manufacturing market.”

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

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

• Correlate Energy, a distributed energy solutions company, just announced the successful commissioning of another solar project, this one located in ATD’s Huntersville headquarters
• The anticipated benefits for ATD go beyond environmental gains and into the expected generation of substantial cost savings by reducing reliance on traditional energy sources
• ATD’s solar power project follows Continental Envelope’s rooftop solar installation announced earlier

Correlate Energy (OTCQB: CIPI), successfully capitalizing on the continued corporate push for financially positive decentralized energy generation, just announced the successful commissioning a major solar project located in American Tire Distributors’ (“ATD”) Huntersville, North Carolina headquarters. This follows the successful commissioning of a solar project at Continental Envelope’s manufacturing plant in Geneva, Illinois, making it one of the state’s largest rooftop solar facilities (https://ibn.fm/TfiYN).

In the next two decades, the ATD solar power system installed will reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 5,463 tons, the equivalent of approximately 12,442,130 miles of car travel. The company is also optimistic about the benefits beyond environmental gains, specifically, ATD’s ability to generate substantial cost savings by reducing reliance on traditional energy sources.

“We are thrilled to unveil this remarkable project, reflecting our dedication to providing clients with best-in-class sustainability solutions and reducing their carbon footprint,” noted Todd Michaels, Correlate’s CEO (https://ibn.fm/kmnw9).

So far, ATD operates over 120 distribution centers, serving approximately 80,000 customers nationwide. Its move to adopt renewable energy sources, specifically Correlate’s rooftop solar project at its headquarters, affirms its commitment to environmental responsibility and its goal of growing its margins and becoming even more profitable through cost savings. For Correlate, this move demonstrates how businesses can proactively reduce their carbon footprint and bolster energy resilience, all while still enjoying economic benefits.

The project also strengthens Correlate for upcoming projects in the new year, such as a Reading, Pennsylvania, project that just commenced. That project, which has grown from 3.8 MW to 5.2 MW, will be Correlate’s biggest thus far and, once completed, will be Pennsylvania’s largest corporate solar installation.

The just-completed ATD solar power installation reflects Correlate’s competence in its space, and its growing position as an industry leader. It also shows its understanding of the market and strategic approach to carving out a significant market share. As such, it looks to have a successful year 2024, building on the momentum and success gained so far.

“Completing this project at another nationally recognized headquarters building is a major milestone as this initiative showcases the powerful link between sustainability and profitability,” noted Mr. Michaels.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Correlate.Energy, including the following:

• Breaking Down Barriers To Your ESG Goals While Generating Additional Net Operating Income: www.Correlate.Energy/Our-Process
• Platform Generates New Rent And Operating Income, Allowing You To Meet Your ESG Goals: www.Correlate.Energy/Program

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

• Despite challenges in the self-consumption photovoltaic sector, Turbo Energy achieved remarkable milestones, including the launch of the SunBox Industry product line, securing a patent, and forming strategic partnerships
• The company raised $5 million through its American Depositary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market, demonstrating its financial prowess amid industry headwinds
• Despite industry challenges, Turbo Energy maintains an optimistic outlook, leveraging diverse product offerings based on AI-driven energy optimization

In the midst of challenges faced by the self-consumption photovoltaic sector in 2023, Turbo Energy (NASDAQ: TURB), a Spain-based photovoltaic energy storage innovator, achieved notable achievements. Despite revenue decline due to headwinds like high interest rates and subsidy cuts affecting its European stronghold, the company maintained a streak of success over the past 12 months (https://ibn.fm/Ij8i5).

June witnessed the launch of its SunBox Industry product line, a strategic move targeting the commercial and industrial self-consumption market. In September, Turbo Energy successfully raised $5 million with its American Depositary Shares debuting on the Nasdaq Capital Market. October marked a milestone with the company securing a patent in Spain for its innovative residential photovoltaic software. November brought about a strategic partnership with Leroy Merlin and the introduction of Turbo Energy’s GoSolar offering through a collaboration with Movistar, a telecommunications leader in Spain and Latin America. Leadership changes saw the appointment of Mariano Soria as CEO in a bid to cement the company’s vision for the future (https://ibn.fm/a4GXd).

Despite industry challenges, Turbo Energy maintains an optimistic outlook. With decreasing prices of photovoltaic components, the company anticipates robust global sales growth in the coming years. Its focus on AI-driven energy optimization and diverse product offerings places it strategically at the industry forefront.

With the growing focus on decarbonization, new challenges emerge, and artificial intelligence (“AI”) takes center stage in offering solutions. Balancing electricity supply and demand has become more challenging than ever. Grid operators have traditionally recognized that seemingly minor factors, such as the timing of popular television shows, can result in surges in energy demand. However, the added complexity arises from the supply side, which now fluctuates more unpredictably than in the past as intermittent wind and solar energy sources gain momentum (https://ibn.fm/IMOWi).

This is where AI comes in. The indispensable role of AI in steering the transition to renewable energy is becoming increasingly evident to the point that this transition is not imaginable without AI (https://ibn.fm/hLxGt). Karen Panetta, a distinguished fellow at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and professor of electrical and computer engineering at Tufts University, emphasizes the surge in real-time sensor data collected from homes. While this data enhances demand forecasting, Panetta asserts that the true power of AI is indispensable for correlating trends and significantly improving forecasting accuracy.

Other applications involve employing AI to scrutinize visual data and creating lists of potential customers for companies marketing rooftop solar systems. Furthermore, AI is pivotal in orchestrating the delicate balance of supply and demand for users of “mini-grids,” compact electricity networks that provide energy to rural communities in developing nations.

With a product suite encompassing lithium-ion batteries, inverters, and Sunbox—an AI-based software system monitoring the generation, use, and management of photovoltaic energy—Turbo Energy aspires to be at the forefront of sustainable energy innovation. The synergy of AI-driven solutions and a diverse product range uniquely positions the company to meet the evolving demands of the renewable energy sector.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Turbo-e.com.

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

• Sigyn Therapeutics in May 2023 announced patent and trademark applications for its ImmunePrep commercialization platform
• In October 2022, the company announced patent and trademark applications for ChemoPrep and ChemoPure to enhance chemotherapy and reduce toxicity
• Sigyn Therapeutics in September 2022 announced plans to conduct first-in-human feasibility studies in end-stage renal disease patients
• In August 2022, the company commenced trading on the OTCQB Venture Market

Sigyn Therapeutics (OTCQB: SIGY) is a development-stage medical technology company headquartered in San Diego, California. The company’s therapeutic candidates include Sigyn Therapy(TM) to address pathogen-associated inflammatory disorders, the ImmunePrep(TM) platform to enhance the performance of immunotherapeutic antibodies, ChemoPrep(TM) to improve the delivery of cancer chemotherapy and ChemoPure(TM) to reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy.

Sigyn created each of these technologies with two prerequisites in mind: 1) they must offer to overcome a clearly defined limitation in healthcare, and 2) their successful clinical advancement would offer a potential competitive advantage to established therapeutic organizations.

Sigyn Therapy(TM)

The company is advancing Sigyn Therapy(TM) to treat pathogen-associated inflammatory disorders that are not addressed with FDA approved drugs. Candidate treatment indications include community-acquired pneumonia, drug-resistant virus and bacterial infections, endotoxemia and sepsis, which is the leading cause of hospital deaths in the United States.

The technology has the following attributes and capabilities.

• Sigyn Therapy(TM) incorporates a formulation of adsorbent components that have more than 200,000 square meters (~50 acres) of surface area on which to adsorb and remove therapeutic targets from the bloodstream.
• In vitro studies have demonstrated the ability of Sigyn Therapy(TM) to eliminate life-threatening pathogen and inflammatory disease targets from human blood plasma. In these studies, 12 relevant targets, including viral pathogens, bacterial toxins and inflammatory cytokines, were validated. Subsequent animal studies were completed at the University of Michigan.
• Sigyn Therapy(TM) is highly efficient, as the entire circulatory system of a patient can pass through the device ~15-times during a four-hour treatment.
• To allow for broad deployment, Sigyn Therapy(TM) is designed for use on the established infrastructure of dialysis and continuous renal replacement machines already located in hospitals and clinics around the world.

First-in-human studies of Sigyn Therapy(TM) plan to enroll dialysis dependent end-stage renal disease (“ESRD”) patients with endotoxemia and concurrent inflammation, which are highly prevalent and associated with increased mortality in the ESRD population. There are more than 550,000 individuals with ESRD in the United States, which result in approximately 85 million dialysis treatments being administered each year.

The ImmunePrep(TM) Platform

Immunotherapeutic antibodies to treat cancer are among the most valued assets in global medicine. However, these drugs suffer from a severe limitation: they are poorly delivered to cancer cell targets, and, as a result, a majority of patients do not respond to therapy.

The Sigyn team recognized that just a small fraction of an antibody dose reaches its cancer cell target, yet a significant portion of the same dose can be sequestered by circulating decoys that display the target (antigen) binding site of the antibody. In response, Sigyn designed the ImmunePrep(TM) platform to leverage the use of therapeutic antibodies to create extracorporeal blood purification devices that sweep antibody decoys from the bloodstream prior to the subsequent infusion (normal delivery) of the same therapeutic antibody.

The company believes its reverse decoy mechanism will increase the availability of antibodies to interact with their intended disease targets, and, simultaneously, the devices will also extract disease targets from the bloodstream to further improve patient benefit.

The opportunity to enhance the performance of therapeutic antibodies is significant. Consider that Pfizer’s $43 billion acquisition of Seagen Inc. and Amgen’s $27.8 billion acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics were the highest valued M&A deals of 2023. In both cases, transaction values were driven by market-cleared antibody assets.

Perhaps more revealing were the values placed on clinical-stage (pre-revenue) therapeutic antibody candidates. In this regard, consider Merck’s $10.8 billion acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences and Roche’s $7 billion acquisition of a clinical-stage antibody from Roivant Sciences.

In the backdrop of these M&A transactions, the immune checkpoint antibody Keytruda (Merck) became the world’s best-selling (non-vaccine) drug in 2023, with anticipated revenues of ~$24 billion.

ChemoPrep(TM) and ChemoPure(TM)

Recent scientific publications have reported that only 1% of chemotherapy is delivered to the tumor cell targets of cancer patients. In response, the Sigyn team designed ChemoPrep(TM) to overcome a delivery limitation of the most commonly administered drug to treat cancer.

The company is developing ChemoPrep(TM) to reduce the circulating presence of tumor-derived exosomes (tumor exosomes), which interfere with chemotherapy delivery. High concentrations of tumor exosomes in the bloodstream correspond with poor treatment outcomes, whereas low concentrations of tumor exosomes correspond with more favorable outcomes. As compared to non-cancer subjects, exosome populations are reported to be 10x to 500x higher in the bloodstream of cancer patients. Based on these factors, the company believes there is a compelling scientific rationale to reduce the circulating presence of tumor exosomes prior to chemotherapy administration.

Inversely, the Sigyn team recognized that if 99% of chemotherapy was missing its target, then there was a need to eliminate off-target chemotherapy from the bloodstream to reduce toxicity and limit organ damage. This factor led to the design of ChemoPure(TM) to reduce treatment toxicity by reducing the presence of off-target chemotherapy from the bloodstream. The company believes that a reduction in chemotoxicity may also alleviate treatment-related fatigue and potentially temper the long-term health consequences associated with chemotherapy administration.

Management Team

James A. Joyce is Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Sigyn Therapeutics. He has more than two decades of public company CEO and corporate board leadership experience and is an inventor or co-inventor of 20 pending or issued patents, including those underlying ImmunePrep, ChemoPrep, ChemoPure and Sigyn Therapy. Previously, he was founder and CEO of Aethlon Medical, a therapeutic technology company that he built from a start-up to a Nasdaq-traded company. Under his leadership, Aethlon developed the first medical device to receive two breakthrough device designations from the FDA. Mr. Joyce graduated from the University of Maryland.

Annette Marleau, Ph.D., is Chief Scientific Officer at Sigyn Therapeutics. Prior to joining the company, she was Chief Technology Officer at Immunicom Inc. and Director of Research at Aethlon Medical Inc. Additionally, she is an inventor on pending and issued patents underlying blood purification therapies targeting cancer, inflammatory disorders and life-threatening infectious diseases. She holds a Ph.D. from Western University, an M.S. from the University of Guelph and a B.S. from the University of Waterloo in Canada.

Jerry DeCiccio, CPA, is CFO at Sigyn Therapeutics. He has more than 40 years of financial industry experience. Previously, he was CFO/COO at Intech Electromechanical, CFO/COO at GTC Telecom, CFO at Incomnet Communications and President at Cerebain Biotech Corp. He also served in senior financial roles at Parker Hannifin Corp., Waste Management Inc. and Newport Corp. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Loma Linda University and an MBA in finance and systems technology from the University of Southern California.

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

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

• Microcap conferences have transformed to adapt to the needs of tech-focused investors
• Digital platforms have expanded the reach of microcap conferences to provide real-time updates, company profiles, and interactive features for enhanced research and networking
• Investors can maximize the value of microcap conferences by prioritizing key agenda items and creating a schedule that aligns with their goals
• Physical events are back and better than ever, set against the backdrop of exciting locations and featuring a variety of social events and activities

Picture the investment events of the past: the drab conference rooms, coffee cups that were too small, heavy binders you never used again, and mini danishes.

Thankfully, the mini danishes are still around, but almost everything else has changed thanks to the digital advancements and a higher call for quality.

Technology has transformed the landscape of microcap conferences, revolutionizing how investors engage with information and opportunities. Digital platforms have allowed participants to connect before, during and after the event. Online portals now serve as comprehensive hubs, offering real-time updates, company profiles, and interactive features that facilitate research and networking.

The quality of information has also improved through AI-powered applications and data analytics that allow investors to analyze vast amounts of information efficiently to make more informed decisions.

And it’s not just the conferences that have changed.

Investors have evolved to become faster, sharper, and smarter, as they must be – because the markets are volatile, and opportunity seeks those who are prepared.

To make the most of a modern microcap conference, next-gen investors are researching in advance, identifying companies of interest, and focusing on near and long-term opportunities. And now that in-person events are back, attendees are getting clear on what they want to achieve at the conference by studying the agenda and identifying key presentations, panels, and networking sessions that align with their goals.

Active participation is critical to maximizing the value of investment events, and today’s investors make sure to take advantage of company presentations, one-on-one meetings, and panel discussions to gain deeper insights and address specific concerns. In-person events also allow attendees to actively engage with industry experts, fellow investors, and company executives, leading to networking connections post-conference that unlock new opportunities.

The Microcap Conference, hosted by DealFlow Events, promises to tick all these boxes against the exciting backdrop of Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino. It’s a leading independent event for microcaps, featuring company presentations that draw in institutional investors, fund managers, investment bankers, deal advisors, law firm partners, accountants, and more.

You’ll gain valuable insights into trading strategies, risk assessment and mitigation, regulations, tax issues, and other topics critical to generating alpha in today’s volatile investment environment. And the best part is that it’s focused on the microcap community, where undiscovered opportunities await you across a wide range of innovative industries.

Join 500+ investors in Atlantic City for this year’s Microcap Conference at Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino on January 30, 31, and February 1, 2024. You will gain valuable investment insights and network with the industry’s leading players while enjoying the location’s stellar entertainment activities – including an exclusive poker tournament and live concert with Grammy winner, Soul Asylum.

No invitation is required, and admission is free for investors.

Reserve your spot at www.TheMicrocapConference.com.

• The Digital Engagement Engine(TM) allows companies to maintain complete control of their content while creating meaningful relationships with new customers and revenue streams
• XESP focuses on three important digital elements to improve client outcomes – connecting with the audience, relating to the community, and influencing positive customer relationships
• XESP plans to expand business development planning and communications through channel partners and consultants, and fully engage in efforts to create rapid expansion and adoption of its managed service product across multiple verticals

Electronic Servitor Publication Network (OTCQB: XESP), a digital engagement company, recently announced the finalization of its purchase of assets of PhiTech Management, LLC, a digital activation and engagement technology company. PhiTech provides customer and content workflow applications to connect people with customized content through dynamic content provisioning, creating relevant digital relationships (https://ibn.fm/w4lQ3).

The December 22, 2023, agreement between XESP and PhiTech included PhiTech’s proven proprietary Digital Engagement Engine(TM). This sophisticated tech stack is built on a microservices architecture that helps companies enhance the reach and lift of their content to new or targeted audiences.

The Digital Engagement Engine(TM) combines automation, unique data management, and a modern workflow to achieve superior reach and lift. Using sophisticated data analysis and smart technology, the Digital Engagement Engine(TM) allows companies to maintain complete control of their content while creating meaningful relationships with new customers and revenue streams. It isn’t just another marketing and technology tool but a way to develop real connections with target markets.

“The asset purchase of PhiTech allows XESP to further automate and enhance our foundational digital activation and engagement technology —the Digital Engagement Engine —while bringing increased value, efficiencies, and growth for our customers,” said Peter Hager, CEO of XESP.

XESP focuses on three important digital elements to improve client outcomes:

1. connecting with the audience
2. relating to the community
3. influencing positive customer relationships

Implementing XESP services is effortless for clients and is managed by XESP’s team. XESP has positioned itself as the go-to company for clients looking for growth through optimizing their digital contact with target audiences in non-face-to-face situations.

XESP previously accessed PhiTech technologies, processes, and support through a licensing agreement signed in October 2021. The agreement provided XESP with rights to use PhiTech technology and services for the eSports and eGaming markets, with the right of first refusal for other industries for additional fees. XESP now owns the technology.

“We are excited about this acquisition that further strengthens our capabilities and enhances shareholder and client value. Over the past two years, we had the opportunity to fully assess the capabilities of PhiTech’s technologies through our licensing agreement and to check their fit with the commercialization of our managed services and with our strategic plans,” said Thomas Spruce, XESP COO and sole director. “It quickly became apparent that the fit was a good one, and we then began to pursue bringing those assets into our company.”

XESP plans to expand business development planning and communications through channel partners and consultants and fully engage in efforts to create rapid expansion and adoption of its managed service product across multiple verticals. Through the company’s “Growth as a Service” offering, clients can focus on their brands, core product offerings, and content creation – while XESP manages the technology and outcome.

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

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

• National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) signed into law on December 22, 2023
• NDAA includes quantum pilot program dedicated to near-term quantum computing applications, which D-Wave has already been developing, and calls for consideration of all quantum technologies (annealing, hybrid and gate model)
• Legislation promotes cultivating and strengthening relationships between the Department of Defense, academic institutions, small enterprises, and unconventional defense contractors

D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS), the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers, software, and services, commends U.S. policymakers for including a groundbreaking quantum pilot program, dedicated to near-term quantum computing applications, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) signed into law December 22, 2023 (https://ibn.fm/5teyZ).

The initiative establishes a program that primarily focuses on developing near-term applications to tackle complex computational problems faced by the Department of Defense (“DOD”), including those affecting the Armed Forces. Its core objective is to assess, evaluate, and implement quantum and quantum-hybrid applications that address pressing issues within our defense, military, and national security domains. The program aims to meet the imminent requirements of our warfighters, with an emphasis on the utilization of all types of quantum technologies, including annealing quantum computing and quantum-hybrid technologies offered by D-Wave.

This legislation promotes cultivating and strengthening relationships between the DOD, academic institutions, small enterprises, and defense contractors. This is a noteworthy development, given the significant quantum innovation originating from small enterprises like D-Wave.

The pilot program is geared towards creating and advancing demonstrations, proof of concepts (“POCs”), and pilot projects that leverage all viable quantum computing systems. This will enable the U.S. Department of Defense to harness the most advanced quantum technology to achieve its mission objectives. D-Wave has already developed a range of global demos, POCs, and applications for governments and businesses, successfully addressing optimization challenges. The technology required to collaborate with the U.S. government is readily available.

For example, commercially accessible annealing quantum computing solutions have been employed by SavantX at the Port of Los Angeles to optimize cargo pier operations, addressing critical global supply chain issues. More use cases are highlighted on D-Wave’s website (https://ibn.fm/0okpD).

D-Wave and its customers have created near-term applications and demonstrations for various defense and public sector scenarios, such as last-mile resupply during emergency responses for the Australian Army, carbon emission reduction, and optimizing tsunami evacuation routes in Japan. Applications have also been developed to mitigate potential threats, including missile interceptor assignments and radar scheduling applications.

Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave, expressed his appreciation for this pivotal step. “We applaud Congress and the Administration for taking this critical step to accelerate the use of quantum to provide solutions for critical challenges facing DOD and our military. This bipartisan action also moves us closer to other global leaders who have already begun to build applications that benefit national security,” Dr. Baratz said. “D-Wave and its customers have already built several quantum-hybrid applications that can provide important benefits for the military, and we look forward to working with the government to advance this new pilot program.”

This innovative program aligns seamlessly with other Congressional initiatives related to quantum technology, emphasizing developing near-term applications and including annealing, gate-model, and quantum-hybrid technologies. These initiatives are expected to progress further in various pieces of legislation in the upcoming year.

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

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and may not be indicative of future results. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the implementation of the initiatives established by the NDAA and the development and implementation of other Congressional initiatives related to quantum technology. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, various factors beyond management’s control, including the successful implementation of the initiatives and programs established by the NDAA; whether the other pieces of legislation related to Congressional initiatives regarding quantum technology continue to proceed through the legislative process; general economic conditions and other risks; the company’s ability to expand its customer base and the customer adoption of its solutions; risks within D-Wave’s industry, including anticipated trends, growth rates, and challenges for companies engaged in the business of quantum computing and the markets in which they operate; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the company; risks related to the performance of the company’s 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 the company’s products; the effects of competition on the company’s business; the risk that D-Wave will need to raise additional capital to execute the company’s business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that D-Wave may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that D-Wave is unable to secure or protect the company’s intellectual property; volatility in the price of the company’s securities; the risk that the company’s securities will not maintain the listing on the NYSE; and the numerous other factors set forth in D-Wave’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release in making an investment decision, which are based on information available to the company on the date hereof. D-Wave undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

• Ucore, a company engaged in the exploration for and separation and scalable production of REEs in Canada and the US, is in the process of perfecting and ultimately commercializing the separation and purification of critical metals
• This is in a move to slash reliance on Chinese rare earths technologies and its toxic by-products
• The company has made incredible headway over the years and is on track to commercially separate U.S.-friendly sources of REES, using its RapidSX(TM) technology, by 2025
• The commissioning of its RapidSX Demonstration plant in Kingston, Ontario, earlier this year affirms its commitment to actualizing the goal of re-establishing a North American rare earths supply chain

Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF), a company engaged in the exploration for and separation and scalable production of rare earth elements (“REEs”) in Canada and the U.S., understands the current state of the rare earths market, currently dominated by China. As a nation that has spent 30 years mastering solvent extraction, China has gotten the upper hand in the industry, leaving the West playing catch up in what appears to be a challenging position for players therein. Ucore, however, is seen as being ahead of the game, through having developed a more efficient processing technology for extracting REE products (https://ibn.fm/g4S5L).

Through its RapidSX(TM) technology, the company is perfecting and ultimately commercializing the separation and purification of critical metals, a move that would slash reliance on Chinese rare earths technologies and its toxic by-products. More importantly, it would add to the commercial viability of Western rare earths, allowing companies in this region to charge premium prices for the strategic minerals, thereby boosting the economy and allowing for the growth of various industries while at it.

“Our goal is to re-establish a North American rare earths supply chain,” noted Michael Schrider, Ucore’s COO.

Recently, China announced controls on reporting exports for REEs used strategically for permanent magnets in computerized products. This is the latest in an ongoing trade war between China and the U.S., which only puts more pressure on Western countries and their independence from China-based supply chains (https://ibn.fm/1s2HH). With the country controlling 60% of mined REE resources globally, Western nations are under a lot of stress, with their only hope being enterprises such as Ucore refining their processes and cutting off this dependence on China.

Ucore has since made incredible headway over the years, made possible by the funding from the Pentagon. The company is on track to commercially separate friendly sources of REEs and supply OEMs with rare earth oxides (“REOs”) required to produce rare earth permanent magnets (“REPMs”) by 2025. This will help grow the electric vehicle industry, generators, and even computers, all in response to the global transition to electrification and sustainable energy sources.

“This entire sector as a whole needs to grow outside of China in order to support the energy transition,” noted Mike Crabtree, CEO of the Saskatchewan Research Council (“SRC”).

Earlier this year, the company began commissioning its RapidSX Demonstration plant in Kingston, Ontario, a facility designed to demonstrate the commercial capabilities of the technology platform. The plant, located in Ucore’s 5,000-square-foot RapidSX Commercialization and Demonstration Facility, will be integral in actualizing the company’s goal of re-establishing a North American rare earths supply chain. It also affirms the company’s commitment to creating shareholder value, all while stamping its position as a leader in its segment.

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

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