• Nickel demand as a green energy metal is expected to continue growing exponentially over the coming years and decades as the world continues its electrification revolution towards net-zero emissions
• Nickel is expected to witness continued demand from EV manufacturers, with the average EV containing upwards of 25 kilograms of nickel, as well as many other emerging battery uses and technologies
• High-grade sulfide nickel deposits are low in carbon intensity and make for cleaner, safer mines than Indonesian or Chinese sources, with carbon emissions 5-10x higher than Canadian high-grade nickel, not to mention many other environmental issues
• Fathom Nickel are seeking to participate in this move through the discovery and eventual development of two high quality magmatic nickel sulfide deposits located in Canada’s Saskatchewan region

Climate change has become an undeniable force around the globe, with news of widespread droughts, record temperatures, forest fires, and ravaged agricultural harvests increasing in frequency. In response, global leaders came together during 2021’s COP26 event in Glasgow to propose a global Net Zero initiative, aimed towards achieving a balance between global greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and those being removed from the atmosphere. While a number of countries have since published their own legislation, detailing the measures and timeframes through which they expect to achieve a net zero status, there is a common consensus amongst all – the change will not be easy. Forecasts by the International Energy Agency now suggest that to reach global net zero emissions by 2050, annual clean energy investment around the globe will need to more than triple to approximately $4 trillion per annum by 2030 (https://ibn.fm/Y7xCK).

The shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources is resulting in a spending surge, which is set to directly benefit businesses entrenched within the global renewable energy supply chain; in particular, commodities such as nickel – a critical component within green energy technologies – are poised to witness a dramatic uptick in demand.

The average battery electric vehicle (“EV”) today contains approximately 25.3 kilograms of nickel, with carmakers continuing to opt for high-nickel content batteries to deliver long-range performance, whilst increasingly extending use of these batteries to entry level models as well. Meanwhile, the Adams Intelligence EV Battery Capacity and Battery Metals Tracker, which also includes plug-in and conventional hybrid vehicles within their study, revealed that the average nickel content across the electric vehicle universe had risen by 8% YoY as of July 2023, reaching just over 25 kilograms per vehicle sold (https://ibn.fm/Fl5xc).

Whilst the manufacture of wiring and stainless steel continue to rank amongst the principal uses of nickel, nickel-cadium and nickel-metal hydride batteries are increasingly taking share; the global demand for nickel derived from electric vehicle batteries alone is forecast to grow from 60 thousand tons in 2018 to a relatively significant 665 thousand tons by 2025 (https://ibn.fm/8dBZu), accounting for approximately 21% of annual global nickel consumption. 

Fathom Nickel (CSE: FNI) (FSE: 6Q5) (OTCQB: FNICF), a Calgary-based Canadian natural resource exploration and resource development company, is looking to target high-grade nickel sulfide developments, for use in the rapidly growing electric vehicle market. Led by a management team boasting over 100 years of combined mining and exploration experience and having raised gross proceeds of approximately C$7.5 million over the past six months to fund its incremental exploration work, Fathom Nickel have set their sights on developing two key nickel projects – the Albert Lake Project and the Gochager Lake Project, respectively.

Albert Lake hosts the historic Rottenstone Mine, which operated for roughly 5 years in the 1960s.  The Rottenstone Mine was one of the highest-grade polymetallic nickel deposits in Canadian history, with an average grade of some 3.28% Ni, 1.83% Cu, and 9.63 gpt Pd+Pt+Au. Today, Fathom Nickel’s Albert Lake Project comprises some 90,460 hectares of land in north-central Saskatchewan, over 80,000 hectares of which remains unexplored. With the site nestled within the prolific Trans Hudson Orogeny Corridor, Fathom Nickel have plans to drill high-priority targets surrounding the historic Rottenstone Mine whilst simultaneously carrying out further surface geophysical programs and mapping and prospecting tasks during the upcoming summer season.

Gochager Lake Property

Similarly positioned within Saskatchewan’s Trans Hudon Corridor, the 22,620-hectare Gochager Lake Project has previously played host to a historic resource identified in 1967, comprised of 4.2M tons of 0.29% Ni and 0.08% Cu grade. Fathom has recently uncovered robust borehole electromagnetic (“BHEM”) responses in 8 out of 9 holes drilled in 2023, with strong evidence of multiple, high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt chutes within the area’s historic deposits.

With total EV sales anticipated to swell from 2.5 million vehicles in 2020 to a massive 31.1 million electric automobiles in 2030, EV’s are expected to comprise as much as 32% of total new vehicle sales within the next 6 years. Moreover, and with nickel-based technologies expected to comprise an ever-greater proportion of EV batteries going forward given its ability to support higher performance and greater mileage, Fathom Nickel are well situated to capitalize on the world’s ongoing energy transition transformation and provide clean, green, Canadian nickel.

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

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

• Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) has become an increasingly prominent tool in the battle against climate change
• AI can now be used across a myriad of use cases, ranging from tracking small-scale deforestation through to measuring the melting rate of the polar icecaps
• Turbo Energy has looked to harness AI technologies within its core product portfolio, including its SunBox and GoSolar home energy systems
• AI has emerged as a key tool within solar energy management systems, driving efficiency and lowering costs across the solar energy production supply chain

Home to over 5 million square kilometers of tropical rainforest and storing over 200 petagrams (1 petagram = 1 billion tons) of carbon, the Amazon Basin ranks amongst the world’s most important ecosystems with direct implications for both, regional and global climate. Nevertheless, and until recently, authorities were unable to track the rise of small-scale deforestation taking place across significant swathes of the Amazon rainforest. Forest loss within the Amazonia has been monitored by the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (“INPE”) since 1988; however, INPE studies are woefully limited in scope. The research agency’s focus has historically been confined to the Brazilian Amazon, with its technology solely able to track disturbances greater than 6.25 hectares in area (equivalent to approximately 8 football fields) (https://ibn.fm/1QinW). Now, and capitalizing on the technological advances offered by artificial intelligence, companies such as Scotland-based Space Intelligence are able to remotely map millions of hectares of land from space using satellite data, with the company’s innovative technology able to track metrics such as ongoing deforestation rates or calculate the carbon storage content within a forest (https://ibn.fm/nqdSZ).

Whether it is tracking ongoing deforestation rates around the world, predicting weather patterns to help communities better adapt to climate change, or measuring the meltwater released by icebergs on a real-time basis, the use of AI is gaining ever increasing prominence in the battle against climate change.

Solar energy management has emerged as yet another area where AI is gaining increased prominence, given the technology’s ability to provide efficient solutions to many of the issues faced by solar energy producers and their offtake partners.  Ranging from predictive maintenance, where AI-driven analytics can identify and diagnose potential system malfunctions or failures ahead of time; through to load forecasting, where AI-based algorithms can help provide predictions on future energy loads thereby allowing for the rapid adjustment of production; and achieving supply optimization, where AI systems can optimize supply chains by analyzing current and forecasted conditions, AI is revolutionizing the field of solar energy management.

Turbo Energy (NASDAQ: TURB), a designer, developer and manufacturer of photovoltaic energy generation, management, and storage equipment has emerged as a pioneer in harnessing AI within its solar energy solutions.

The company’s ‘SunBox Home’ system encompasses an all-in-one AI-powered energy storage solution, designed to assist households in managing their power consumption. Directly linked to a household’s solar panel generation unit, the SunBox system allows users to choose between settings including ‘maximum consumption’ or ‘maximum savings’, conserve a portion of its energy reserves in the event of unexpected electricity blackouts or rather, sell excess power back onto the grid.  The groundbreaking energy storage system additionally boasts the capacity to track weather forecasts, thus ensuring its batteries are fully charged in the event of a storm (https://ibn.fm/4Q9jh).

Similarly, the company has recurrently begun marketing its revolutionary ‘GoSolar’ household solar energy system in partnership with Solar360, the energy division of Movistar – Latin America’s largest telecommunication company and one of the world’s 500 most valuable companies (https://ibn.fm/Oi0ie). Comprised of a small microinverter and lightweight, flexible PV panels which can be plugged into a conventional household outlet, Turbo Energy’s GoSolar system allows households the ability to capture solar energy power within their homes without the need to apply for special permits or recruit professional installation support.

“Turbo Energy’s Artificial Intelligence and optimization system is the best on the market,” stated Turbo Energy’s CEO, Mariano Soria in a recent interview. “Two years ago, we began working on the development of software linked to Artificial Intelligence.  The goal was for storage to be smart, that could not only serve the purpose, but save money directly from the end user’s pocket. [In addition to having] the capacity to offer the end customer the best solution in economic savings [our] software is the basis for the continued development of the company [as well as giving us] the ability to incorporate other elements in the future]. We envision the ability to make use of it, not only for individuals but for communities such as energy communities or virtual power plants.”

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

• SuperCom, a global leading provider of traditional and digital identity solutions, is pushing its EM solutions, specifically in the field of preventing domestic violence
• Its products and services have so far been adopted by various governments and institutions around the world, among them two recent new clients in North America
• According to Ordan Trabelsi, SuperCom’s President and CEO, this is a testament to the undeniable effectiveness and reliability of the company’s solutions

SuperCom (NASDAQ: SPCB), a global leading provider of traditional and digital identity solutions offering advanced identification and security products and solutions to governments, has, since 1988, been a trailblazer and leader in its space. So far, it has carved out a significant market share globally, and this all stems from a deep understanding of the problems on the ground and offering sustainable and practical solutions that have proven, time and time again, to work.

Its offender monitoring services and solutions are evidence of this. By combining its SuperCom Electronic Monitoring (“EM”) platform with LCA’s EM programs and community-based services, SuperCom can deliver efficient operations, outstanding compliance, and highly successful outcomes. This is the product of decades of experience implementing RFID solutions and large-scale government projects, which has birthed offerings such as the PureSecurity(TM) platform and products that offer a life-saving, preventive solution for domestic abuse victims (https://ibn.fm/jrVBj).

The overall effectiveness of this offering can be affirmed by its adoption by various governments and institutions worldwide and their raving reviews of SuperCom’s EM solutions. It is a testament to the value of technology and its role in protecting domestic abuse victims, especially at a time when countries are desperately looking for solutions to ongoing threats of domestic violence.

In January 2024, the UK’s Home Office announced a £2m pot for individuals who lack the money to escape an abusive partner. The pot would see domestic abuse victims claim payment of up to £500 for stapes such as food and nappies or apply for up to £2,500 to go towards housing. This program took into account the fact that having kids, a lack of money, a lack of confidence, and the fear of reprisal kept so many domestic abuse victims locked into dangerous and harmful situations for far too long. With the funding, the program gives the victims the resources to distance themselves from their abusers and hopefully start a new life (https://ibn.fm/OJCjA).

While it is a noble course, it is not sustainable, mainly because the program will only run until March 2025 and is a costly solution. In addition, there is no guarantee that the perpetrator still won’t get close to the victim and potentially abuse them again. With slightly over 600 people having benefitted from the program so far, the management is optimistic that it will get to help hundreds more by the time it comes to a close. However, SuperCom offers a more viable alternative with its EM solution, which doesn’t involve the victims fleeing but allows them to maintain their lives.

This overall superiority of its offering is evidenced by Finland’s Ministry of Justice’s adoption of SuperCom’s EM technology for incarcerated individuals and those on probation. From the onset, Finland’s main objective was to empower Finnish authorities, safeguard victims, and proactively prevent domestic violence incidents, ultimately enhancing the safety and well-being of Finnish citizens (https://ibn.fm/hzbGg). Evidently, SuperCom’s solution is more practical and effective and does not involve the victims uprooting their lives, moving elsewhere, and starting again from scratch.

“We are delighted to secure another program for our innovative Domestic violence Solution; this time in Finland,” noted Ordan Trabelsi, President and CEO of SuperCom, while announcing the securing of a new national program with the government of Finland.

“This {also} acts as another testament to the undeniable effectiveness and reliability of our solutions,” he added.

This partnership with the Finnish government demonstrates the incredible work SuperCom has done in perfecting its products and services and the lengths it has gone to make it the go-to brand for EM solutions, particularly for victims of domestic violence. It is expected that as time progresses, even more governments around the world will adopt the offering, thereby amplifying its impact and bringing relief to millions of domestic abuse victims around the world.

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

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

Women executives, professionals, influencers, solution providers, government organizations, investors, and those interested or involved in the pharma, biotech, medical device, and other healthcare systems, are invited to attend the 12th Advancing Women’s Leadership Skills & Opportunities in Pharma & Healthcare conference being held at the Hotel Tampa Riverwalk from March 25-27, 2024, in Tampa, FL.

As women expand their leadership roles to move up in their career paths, this summit offers them an important platform to seek and impart knowledge. They can connect with industry peers and leaders for meaningful connections. Top women pharmaceutical and biotechnology professionals will share their success journeys at the DGE forum to help and inspire aspiring women leaders.

Reasons to attend:

• Get know-how on the latest topics of importance in the healthcare spectrum
• Learn ways to close the gender disparity gap and empower everyone’s roles
• Understand the strategies to bring the best work culture and leadership skills to your organization
• Learn the best business secrets from veteran women leaders
• Connect with imminent industry leaders for collaborations and prospects
• Find your voice and bring about a change
• Aspiring women professionals can ally, learn, and support their colleagues

The event will feature a keynote speaker panel focused on overcoming challenges, empowering women, and speaking about the importance of allyship in the workplace. It will also be an educational session on breaking through the glass ceiling. Experts will speak about the importance of executive presence and how it enables women empowerment to cultivate personal branding and leadership goals. This is an in-person as well as a live-streaming program.

To know more, please visit (https://nnw.fm/BjcPn)

• A maiden mineral resource estimate for the Storm Copper Deposit is anticipated to be released in Q1 2024; an expanded drilling program is planned for 2024 to significantly increase the resource, and work is already underway to advance the low capex open pit mining opportunity toward development.
• In October 2023, the company closed a brokered private placement and a concurrent non-brokered private placement for proceeds of C$2.5 million.
• In March 2021, the company entered an option agreement that allows American West Metals Limited to earn an 80% interest in Aston Bay’s Storm Copper Project and Seal Zinc Deposit; America West is responsible for all exploration expenditures at Storm until completion of a bankable feasibility study.
• Aston Bay continues to explore for high-grade discoveries in the down-dip and along-strike potential at its Buckingham Gold Project, as well as for the critical metals copper, zinc and cobalt throughout North America.

Aston Bay Holdings (TSX.V: BAY) (OTCQB: ATBHF) is a publicly traded Canadian minerals exploration company focused on exploring high-grade copper and gold deposits in North America. The company owns the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit in Nunavut, Canada, and is currently exploring the Buckingham Gold Vein and critical metals prospects in central Virginia. Aston Bay is also in the advanced stages of negotiation on other properties with high-grade critical minerals potential in these areas.

The company believes in responsible exploration and carries out its work programs to the highest standards of social responsibility, environmental stewardship and health and safety. Aston Bay cares about leaving a net positive impact on the communities in which it works and engages with local representatives, Indigenous groups and government agencies to build respectful relationships through dialogue and collaborative processes. Depending on the stage of exploration, these efforts may include employment, contracting, training, community benefits and other agreements.

Aston Bay conducts exploration through safe, socially and environmentally responsible and sustainable work practices. The company embeds core values of health and safety throughout its operations by adhering to strict health and safety standards and practices that meet and/or exceed industry standards and government codes and regulations.

The company is headquartered in Toronto.

Projects

Storm Copper

The high-grade Storm Copper Deposit is located 112 kilometers south of the community of Resolute Bay, Nunavut, on western Somerset Island, just south of the past-producing Polaris Pb-Zn Mine. The property comprises 173 contiguous mining claims, including the Storm Copper and Seal Zinc projects, covering an area of approximately 541,795 acres.

The property has good access to established shipping lanes, and the landscape provides favorable conditions for development of roads and a protected deep-water port. Exploration is supported through excellent infrastructure in the nearby hamlet of Resolute Bay.

Aston Bay is partnered with American West Metals (ASX: AW1) at Storm. American West is responsible for all exploration expenditures, having aggressively advanced the project toward production and earned an 80% interest. This affords excellent optionality to the company’s shareholders, as Aston Bay is free carried with no required expenditures until the completion of a bankable feasibility study.

American West recently completed an Australian JORC-compliant Maiden Resource Estimate for Storm; the North American 43-101 compliant resource estimate is expected in Q1 2024. American West is cashed up and plans a multimillion-dollar resource expansion and new discovery drilling program for the summer of 2024.

The Buckingham County Gold Project

The gold-bearing system at the Buckingham County Gold Project in Virginia lies within a belt hosting past producing mines, current gold mines and advanced gold explorations, stretching through Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Buckingham hosts a “Kirkland Lake-style” high grade gold vein returning values consistently over one ounce gold per ton and is underexplored both at depth and along almost one mile of strike length. These types of veins have excellent ESG qualities, as they are typically mined using a small footprint underground method, with gold extracted using simple and environmentally friendly gravity methods.

Market Opportunity

The World Gold Council, the industry association for the world’s gold producers, estimated in 2023 the physical financial gold market, which is made up of bars, coins, gold ETFs and central bank reserves, is worth nearly $5 trillion. The council reports that gold mine production adds approximately 3,500 tons of the precious metal to the world’s supply annually, equivalent to about 2% growth.

This historical scarcity and relatively slow production of new supply, as compared to other commodities, is a primary reason gold has retained its value for millennia, according to the council.

A report from Acumen Research and Consulting, a global provider of market intelligence and consulting services, valued the global copper market at $304.1 billion in 2022 and forecast that it will reach a market size of $496.8 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% over the forecast period.

The report identifies a growing demand for copper in the electronics industry, as well as an expanding copper supply due to increasing production from existing mines and the rising number of mine development projects in developing nations, as driving factors in the rising value of the copper market.

Management Team

Thomas Ullrich is CEO and Director of Aston Bay. He has over 30 years of experience in mineral exploration and geoscience. Before joining Aston Bay, he was Chief Geologist North America for Antofagasta Minerals plc, investigating copper potential through extensive property evaluations and management of drill programs in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Prior to that, he was Senior Geologist for Almaden Minerals.

Sofia Harquail handles Investor Relations and Corporate Development at Aston Bay. She has over 15 years of experience in the private and public sectors of the mining industry. Before joining Aston Bay, she worked as a consultant for the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and for exempt market dealer Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. Ms. Harquail holds an M.A. from the University of Uppsala in Sweden and received her CPIR designation from the CIRI/Ivey Investor Relations Program. She also sits on the board of the Young Mining Professionals Toronto and is CSC Certified.

Aston Bay has a talented Board of Directors bringing broad experience from across the industry, encompassing resource expansion, mine development, mergers and acquisitions, and mining finance.

Ms. Jessie Liu-Ernsting has over 15 years of experience in the mining industry, spanning capital projects engineering, debt capital markets, private equity and corporate strategy at several firms, including Hudbay Minerals and Resource Capital Funds. She is currently VP Investor Relations and Communications at G Mining Ventures Corp.

Mr. Jeffrey R. Wilson has over 25 years’ experience in the mining industry, having served as a director, officer and advisor of multiple public and private companies in the mineral exploration and mining investment industries. Mr. Wilson is currently President & CEO of Precipitate Gold Corp.

Mr. Gary O’Connor has over 40 years of diverse experience as a mineral exploration and development professional in the management of successful resource projects as well as the evaluation, technical due diligence, and supervision of large mineral exploration and development projects through-out the world. While with Freeport, Mr. O’Connor worked on the due diligence and discovery of a major gold fraud on the Busang gold “deposit” in Kalimantan by Bre-X.

Mr. Mark J. Pryor is a geologist with a 40-year track record of successfully advancing multiple precious metal, copper, coal, REE and Li projects from discovery through to exploitation. He is currently Executive Vice President of the Exploration Division at The Electrum Group.

For more information, visit the company’s website at https://astonbayholdings.com.

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

• Sekur launched new solutions to benefit small to mid-sized businesses in the United States due to increased cyberattacks and business email compromise (“BEC”) attacks during the presidential election year
• Sekur SMB Privacy and Security solutions are equipped with countermeasures against BEC, including privacy communications solutions
• Sekur also released SekurRelay as part of its Sekur Enterprise solution, addressing a common hurdle for large corporations and government agencies in adopting SekurMail

Sekur Private Data (CSE: SKUR) (OTCQB: SWISF) (FRA: GDT0), a cybersecurity and internet privacy provider of Swiss-hosted solutions for secure and private communications, recently announced the launch of new solutions to benefit small to mid-sized businesses in the United States due to the increase of cyberattacks and business email compromise (“BEC”) attacks during the presidential election year. Sekur SMB Privacy and Security solutions are equipped with countermeasures against BEC, including privacy communications solutions (https://ibn.fm/bfDMD).

Sekur has expanded its marketing efforts for SMB solutions in the USA, utilizing online channels initially and planning to roll out channel marketing programs soon. This initiative aims to introduce Sekur’s anti-BEC attack solutions to small businesses nationwide. The strategy has gradually increased the average revenue per user (“ARPU”) by up to 40%, with the current monthly ARPU at approximately $9.

Sekur has consistently raised its prices, including a recent increase in the monthly fee for BEC protection email for consumers from $7 to $10. As a result, the popular consumer solutions, SekurVPN and SekurMail, are now priced at $9 and $10 per month, respectively, pushing the ARPU for consumers beyond $10 per month, as half of the users subscribe to more than one solution.

The SMB solutions, priced 50% higher than consumer offerings for SekurMail, offer additional features such as mass user onboarding for all business plans and communication archiving for SekurMessaging. The bundled SMB package costs $31 per month, compared to the $22 per month for consumer bundles. The SMB solutions target specific sectors affected by significant cyber breaches, such as the recent Mr. Cooper hack in the real estate mortgage industry. In 2021, the FBI reported 20,000 BEC attacks in the USA alone.

Sekur recently unveiled SekurRelay as part of its Sekur Enterprise solution, addressing a common hurdle for large corporations and government agencies in adopting SekurMail. SekurRelay allows corporate executives and management to divide their company email domain, enabling them to utilize SekurMail’s privacy and security features without migrating the entire workforce. This “Inbound Relay” feature ensures that C-level and management emails are protected from BEC attacks while employees continue using their existing email hosting providers. Additionally, SekurRelay filters all employee emails through its security measures, regardless of whether they use SekurRelay.

This solution caters to enterprises and government upper-level employees seeking enhanced email security without the cost and complexity of migrating thousands of emails. SekurRelay is bundled with Sekur Enterprise email accounts for $25 per month or $275 per year, with a minimum of 10 users per Enterprise account. Each SekurMail account includes 250GB of redundant storage.

By offering seamless integration with existing IT infrastructure and no migration costs, SekurRelay aims to simplify sales to larger businesses, enterprises, and government entities, providing comprehensive protection against data mining, email phishing, and BEC attacks.

Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur, said, there is a dramatic increase in cyber-attacks in the USA due to the global conflicts at the present time, and due to the current presidential election campaign for the November 2024 presidential elections. “Having our SMBs protected from BEC attacks is a prime directive, and we are very happy to be able to offer this protection with our SekurSend/SekurReply easy-to-use feature and technology,” he said. “We are also working on improving both the Sekurmail and SekurMessenger applications to increase load speeds and add more features, and we have just launched a new web version of SekurMessenger for SMBs.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SekurPrivateData.com or the company’s product site at www.Sekur.com.

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

The Alternative Products Expo is coming to Miami March 14-16, 2024. A leading organizer of CBD & Hemp products, the Alternative Products Expo offers niche manufacturers and service providers a common forum to network and showcase their products.

The Alternative Product category includes a broad spectrum of herbal products, mood enhancers, vape products, energy boosts, cannabis derivatives, and dietary supplements, to name a few. As Florida is a major hub of alternate lifestyles and trendsetting products, Miami emerges as a suitable venue for the Expo.

ZJ Events hosts these events for the CBD community to present the newest product innovations and trends, and detailing important updates on evolving industry regulations. It’s an exciting learning experience in a safe and conducive environment, also offering exceptional show-exclusive deals.

A coveted event for smoke shop professionals, the Alternative Products Expo reveals the most innovative and unique products that shops can buy to stock their inventory. From kratom, vaping products, CBD products, glass & smoking accessories, to hemp derivatives and mushrooms, attendees can find a huge range of products. Discover innovations and the most trendy products, and connect with a vibrant community of common goals and lifestyles at the Alternative Products Expo.

Exhibitors can showcase their products at their booths to get discovered by key industry professionals to expand their market reach. Vendors will exhibit their products, unveil their brands, and connect with buyers, at a wealth of exhibit booths. The Alternative Products Expo features industry experts and leaders who will share their valuable insights on the latest market moves, innovations, and prospects.

The expo represents a great and easy opportunity to connect with a wider counterculture community and build robust networking ties. A meeting point for wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, and buyers, this expo offers critical brand exposure that can help businesses reach their long-term ROI.

To know more, please visit https://altproexpo.com/

• Early-stage lending fell 44% year-over-year in the first six months of 2023 following Silicon Valley Bank collapse
• Demand for venture debt remains strong for companies that aim to preserve control, stay autonomous, and maintain flexibility over capital structure
• Hosted by DealFlow Events, The Venture Debt Conference on March 6, 2024, in New York City features 30+ experts, interactive panel discussions, and opportunities to meet with the largest group of dealmakers in the lending business
• Emerging venture debt lenders bring expertise to startups and new companies navigating complex financial arrangements
• Attendance is free for qualified C-level executives representing a venture-backed or emerging growth company

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB last year had a  significant impact on the venture debt market, resulting in a 44% year-over-year drop in early-stage lending during the first six months of 2023. Despite SVB’s failure, demand for venture debt remained strong. What was initially a major debt hole has since been filled by lending firms offering high-level insights and technological expertise.

Venture debt is favored by many startups and high-growth companies – especially those that want to preserve control and maintain autonomy without giving up equity. Venture debt can also provide startups with predictable repayment schedules and interest rates, enabling them to optimize cash flow management while allocating resources toward strategic growth initiatives.

Despite the market rebound, not all venture debt lenders are equal. Interest rates, repayment structures, covenants, and industry expertise vary greatly among lenders, with risks that include overleveraging, restrictive terms, and equity dilution if warrants are exercised.

The good news is that the market has evolved significantly since SVB’s collapse. Emerging leaders in venture debt financing are bringing practical experience and industry knowledge to startups and new companies navigating the complexities of funding. By tapping into this wealth of expertise, startups can access invaluable resources to fuel growth initiatives, scale their businesses effectively, and optimize their capital structure.

“One possibility that venture debt could unlock for the tech startup ecosystem is serving as an additional pathway to raise funding,” notes a recent Deloitte report on the state of venture debt in 2024. “And it could work well both for the lender (less risky) and the borrower (access to funds of smaller ticket size). Beyond traditional VCs, venture debt could serve as an alternate asset class for tech startups to keep the innovation engine on.”

Learn more about non-dilutive financing strategies for startups and emerging growth companies at the Venture Debt Conference coming up March 6, 2024, in New York City. This one-day event features 30+ speakers, educational sessions, interactive panel discussions, and opportunities to meet with the largest group of dealmakers in the industry.

Discussions will cover a wide range of subjects, including deal terms, asset-backed lending, and financing options. You’ll also have numerous opportunities to connect with industry professionals and explore potential partnerships during networking breaks and a cocktail reception. Join us for this exceptional learning and networking opportunity at The Edison Ballroom, one of the most luxurious venues in Manhattan.

Attendance may be free for qualified C-level executives representing a venture-backed or emerging growth company.

Learn more about the Venture Debt Conference and review the full program agenda.

• Utah-based Diamond Lake Minerals is establishing its reputation as an innovator in digital assets and government-regulated security tokens through strategic partnerships and investments that strengthen its vertically integrated offerings
• DLMI’s suite of industry-agnostic subsidiaries serves as a gateway to digital asset investment by imbuing those subsidiaries with registered security token offerings that shareholders accustomed to real world assets can use to dip a toe into the emerging digital market
• DLMI recently invested in registered market infrastructure provider Avrio Worldwide, PBC, to provide itself with the trading engine technology necessary to “capture and scale market opportunities” in accordance with best practices that suit a regulated environment
• DLMI is also partnering with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)-registered digital asset exchange INX to provide heightened security to their digital offerings, avoiding some of the legal woes afflicting many crypto issuers 

Salt Lake City-based Diamond Lake Minerals (OTC: DLMI) recently entered a strategic investment that will help the digital asset development and SEC-registered security token company to build a regulated digital financial market infrastructure for its tokenization needs.

Avrio Worldwide, PBC, made the announcement Feb. 20 (https://ibn.fm/bXzEx), reporting that DLMI will acquire a 24 percent stake in Avrio. Avrio is the parent company of a suite of companies that includes Arkonis, the operator of a broker dealer and Alternative Trading System (“ATS”) in the United States.

The company’s ATS technology is designed to provide the trading engine for private market operators involved in the issuance and secondary trading of securities using the blockchain for a protocol-agnostic approach to settlement of their fintech solutions.

Diamond Lake was established in the 1950s as a mining resource company but has since transitioned to creating a powerful parent umbrella company for a wide variety of vertically integrated subsidiaries across all potential industries, imbuing those assets with SEC-registered security token offerings (“STOs”).

DLMI’s strategy therefore helps establish its real-world assets as a gateway to the digital asset market for investors who are newcomers to the emerging world of tokenization.

“With a state-of-the-art dFMI (digital financial market infrastructure) stack, Avrio is the financial services technology engine to enable the DLMI network of companies and projects, across many industries, including: financial services, real estate, media / entertainment / gaming / and sports, hospitality, consumer products, technology and aerospace, and education and healthcare, while unlocking access to liquidity and value for investors through a registered platform,” Diamond Lake CEO Brian J. Esposito stated as part of the Avrio announcement.

DLMI has partnered with SEC-registered security token exchange INX to ensure that trade is regulated according to U.S. government guidelines, eliminating the insecurity that has troubled many crypto-based transactions because of the SEC’s attempts to bring a legal system crackdown on unregulated companies pooling crypto assets in transactions designed to generate returns based on the crypto issuer’s efforts (https://ibn.fm/rtL1g).

“The current philosophy and model is not tokenizing the shares, but it’s actually tokenizing business units within our subsidiaries. So there’ll be an attachment to some revenue-generating mechanism within the subsidiaries that we would go out to the public markets with … and offer participation in those businesses to a global audience,” Esposito told the Cryptonized webcast last month (https://ibn.fm/SQEWG).

Arkonis provides “exchange management (‘EM’), order management (‘OM’), portfolio management (‘PM’) and client management (‘CM’) for transacting in registered securities, ETFs, and funds in public markets,” according to the Avrio announcement.

The blockchain-agnostic platform “enables clients to capture and scale market opportunities while creating standardization and best practices designed to prevent fraud, protect investors, and comply with know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance laws,” it states.

Avrio’s dFMI is available on the Abu Dhabi Global Markets Financial Services Regulatory Authority Digital Lab, which is a virtual environment hosted by the internationally renowned financial center and free zone in the United Arab Emirates that has become an attractive regulatory jurisdiction for digital asset companies (https://ibn.fm/toPie).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.DiamondLakeMinerals.com or LinkedIn page at www.LinkedIn.com/company/Diamond-Lake-Minerals/.

In addition, for information on the company’s security token SEC regulated exchange partner INX, and the development of the INX Way, visit https://www.inx.co/inx-ebook/. This free security token bible, written with the SEC on the rollout of security tokens and the future of digital assets, will greatly deepen your understanding of security tokens.

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

• By 2060, the older Asian population in the U.S. is expected to reach 8.5 million, making up 9% of the country’s elderly demographic, signaling a significant increase from 4% in 2014
• Astiva Health is leading the charge in creating essential healthcare solutions tailored for this expanding demographic, demonstrating a deep understanding of their unique healthcare needs
• Astiva Health has introduced groundbreaking programs, including language-specific healthcare services and wellness initiatives, specifically designed for the diverse aging Asian American community

Astiva Health is working serve the Asian American community, which is undergoing a considerable demographic shift, with a growing segment of the population requiring more healthcare and support. The company is proactively meeting the unique needs of this rapidly aging group by providing healthcare services that are culturally sensitive and honor the diverse traditions and values across Asian cultures.

An Urban Institute report highlights the overlooked segment of seniors within the Asian American community facing financial insecurity, despite the broader perception of financial and educational success. This demographic is projected to swell to 8.5 million by 2060, constituting 9% of the U.S.’s older population—a notable increase from its 4% representation in 2014.

Astiva Health’s commitment to culturally sensitive care acknowledges the importance of traditional values such as filial piety and communal living, which are prevalent across various Asian cultures. By offering comprehensive health plans that promote independence while respecting cultural practices, Astiva addresses the challenges of traditional caregiving structures.

Aware of the barriers faced by Asian American seniors, including language difficulties and economic disparities, Astiva Health is dedicated to providing affordable healthcare solutions. The company recognizes the necessity of addressing higher poverty rates among Asian American seniors with targeted interventions.

By investing in the growth of the community, Astiva Health taps into the rich cultural heritage of the Asian American elderly to foster programs that encourage intergenerational exchange and learning. This effort not only enhances the cultural fabric of the communities Astiva serves but also addresses isolation by fostering a supportive community network through initiatives like language-specific healthcare services and senior wellness programs.

As the Asian American population ages, Astiva Health remains at the forefront of tackling the broader societal challenges of aging, healthcare, and cultural integration. With a commitment to delivering high-quality, culturally responsive care, Astiva Health is building a legacy of support for elders from all backgrounds, ensuring they receive the healthcare they deserve. Through strategic initiatives and compassionate care, Astiva Health is shaping a future where the aging Asian American community can thrive with dignity and robust support.

For more information about Astiva Health’s culturally sensitive healthcare solutions, please visit www.AstivaHealth.com.

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