• McEwen’s new PEA presents a new strategy that converts from conventional milling to a heap leach process
• Three principal reasons for changing the implementation strategy include the company’s environmental footprint, reduced permitting risk, and the advantages associated with the production of fine copper cathodes
• The copper cathode process eliminates the dependency on third-party smelters, allowing for direct industrial use

McEwen Mining (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX), an asset-rich, diversified gold and silver producer in the Americas with large exposure to copper through its subsidiary, McEwen Copper, owner of the Los Azules copper deposit in Argentina, recently released the results of an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) on a copper leaching phase of development at the Los Azules project. The 2023 PEA evaluates the economic potential of the project from the perspective of heap leaching with cathodes production. PEAs are completed before pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, which are important parts of the developmental process for mining projects (https://ibn.fm/FuvQR).

The 2023 PEA includes an updated independent mineral resource estimate, which increased to 10.9 billion pounds of copper (Cu) indicated at a grade of 0.40% and 26.7 billion pounds of copper inferred at a grade of 0.31%. McEwen Copper’s Los Azules project is 52% owned by McEwen Mining and is expected to be a game changer, turbocharging MUX by creating the world’s next copper unicorn.

Base case highlights of the 2023 PEA include:

• The average annual copper cathode, the amount of pure product in the electrolysis process, production of 401 million pounds during the first five years of operation and 322 million pounds over the 27-year life of the mine.
• After-tax net present value of $2.659 billion, with an internal rate of return of 21.2%, and a payback period of 3.2 years – at $3.75 per pound Cu
• Average C1 cash costs of $1.07 per pound Cu and all-in sustaining costs of $1.64 per pound Cu (AISC Margin of 56%).
• 1.182 billion tonnes of mineralized material placed on a heap leach pad with an in-situ total copper grade of 0.46% and in-situ soluble copper grade of 0.31%

The base case development strategy selected in the 2023 PEA for Los Azules was distinctly different from that presented in the previous PEA, completed in 2017, which was considering a conventional mill and flotation concentrator producing concentrate for export to international smelters. The new PEA proposes a heap leach project using solvent extraction-electrowinning, a two-stage process used to concentrate materials in an organic solution and recover them, to produce copper cathodes for sale in Argentina or international markets.

There are three principal reasons why the implementation strategy was changed to a leaching process in the 2023 PEA – environmental footprint, reduced permitting risk, and producing cathodes.

• Environmental Footprint – Fresh water consumption is reduced by approximately 75%, electricity consumption is reduced by approximately 75%, GHG emissions are reduced by approximately 57%, aligning with the company’s goal of reaching net-zero carbon by 2038 with some offsets. The Los Azules copper cathodes will thus be attractive to environmentally conscious end-users.
• Reduced Permitting Risks – The new project plan will utilize technologies already in use in San Juan today. The process eliminates tailings and tailings dams, conserves water, and reduces the complexity of the mine, all of which optimize the permitting process.
• Producing Cathodes – The leach process produces cathodes that can be directly used in industry, eliminating the need for third-party smelters. Cathodes also eliminate emissions associated with transportation and pollution associated with smelting, and pricing risks are reduced.

The full 2023 PEA report can be found at https://ibn.fm/cldYp.

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

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

• Automatic Emergency Braking (“AEB”) uses sensors to monitor and detect obstacles and apply the brakes to either prevent the collision or reduce impact severity
• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (“IIHS”) conducted a study revealing that AEB with pedestrian detection was associated with a 29%-30% reduction in pedestrian injury crash risk
• The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) recently announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requiring AEB on all new passenger cars and light trucks
• Cepton’s Vista(R)-X90 Plus is billed as the “world’s smallest” lidar with extensive integration capabilities allowing manufacturers to seamlessly embed the system without disrupting the vehicle’s design
• Cepton engages with all top 10 global OEMs, develops solutions for ADAS, early-warning intrusion detection, crowd analytics, airport terminal monitoring, railway-level obstacle detection, free-flow e-tolling, and other perception solutions for smart infrastructure

Automatic Emergency Braking (“AEB”) is a vehicle safety feature designed to help prevent or mitigate accidents. This technology uses sensors to monitor, detect obstacles and apply the vehicle’s brakes to avoid collisions or reduce impact severity.

AEB uses various sensors, and there has been a rising trend in the automotive industry to add lidar into the sensor suite for increased accuracy – an acronym for “light detection and ranging”. A lidar sensor emits light pulses, which bounce back when they hit an object, to measure distance based on time of flight. Cepton (NASDAQ: CPTN), a Silicon Valley lidar innovator, advances high-performance lidar technology suitable for advanced driver assistance systems (“ADAS”), including AEB features, that can be easily integrated into automobiles without disrupting the vehicle’s design.

In a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (“IIHS”), AEB with pedestrian detection was associated with a 29%-30% reduction in pedestrian injury crash risk (https://ibn.fm/F6Zvq). Considering the growing evidence supporting the use of AEB, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) recently announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requiring AEB on all new passenger cars and light trucks (https://ibn.fm/nHdkE) that, specifically, would perform in low-light conditions and at high speeds.

“Today, we take an important step forward to save lives and make our roadways safer for all Americans,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Just as lifesaving innovations from previous generations like seat belts and air bags have helped improve safety, requiring automatic emergency braking on cars and trucks would keep all of us safer on our roads.”

CPTN engages with all top 10 global OEMs and collaborates with numerous worldwide partners to develop lidar solutions that balance performance, reliability, and affordability for mass-market adoption. The Company recently unveiled the Vista-X90 Plus, billed as the “world’s smallest” adaptive long-range lidar (https://ibn.fm/rPZbZ). Compared to its predecessor – the Vista-X90 – the Vista X90 Plus is 62% slimmer and features an expanded Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”) chipset (https://ibn.fm/59SAV).

Lidar sensors can be strategically mounted in numerous locations on the automobile, depending on the manufacturer, model, and type. Placement on the front bumper typically detects objects ahead of the vehicle, while rear bumper placement helps prevent collisions during parking or reverse maneuvers. Lidar sensors placed on side mirrors improves detection in blind spots, and roof placement enables a larger coverage of the automobile’s surroundings.

At just 120(W) x 24(H) x 120(D) mm, the Vista-X90 Plus takes sensor embeddability even further with additional integration options, including the headlamps, vehicle fascia, and behind the windshield. Further, Cepton’s dedicated ASICs improve performance, speed, and digital signal processing while helping manufacturers achieve price points critical for mass-market lidar adoption.

CPTN’s lidar solutions extend beyond AEB and ADAS to include early-warning intrusion detection, crowd analytics solutions, airport terminal monitoring, obstacle detection at railway-level crossings, free-flow e-tolling, and perception solutions for smart transportation infrastructure. Led by lidar pioneer and technologist Dr. Jun Pei, the Company is headquartered in San Jose, California with a center of excellence facility in Troy, Michigan.

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

• Rare earth elements (“REEs”) are metals in high demand for modern technologies ranging from phones to F-35 jets
• China currently maintains a commanding global control over the world’s REE supply chain, from mining to production, and has generated international controversy by introducing price increases and export restrictions
• The European Union imports 98 percent of its REE supply and the United States imports 78 percent of its REE supply from China
• Canada-based Ucore Rare Metals Inc. is demonstrating an REE process technology it regards as an improvement on the standard processing technology used by China, and Ucore intends to use its development for commercial REE processing in Louisiana
• Ucore has received a $4 million award from the U.S. Department of Defense to help demonstrate its capabilities, and is raising further financing through a brokered private placement announced June 16

Critical technology metals supply chain innovator Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) is continuing to build supportive financing for its push to build a North American base for rare earth element (“REE”) processing.

Ucore announced earlier this month that it had garnered a $4 million project award from the U.S. Department of Defense to demonstrate the capabilities of its RapidSX(TM) solvent extraction process (https://ibn.fm/k7XZ2), and built on that development with the announcement June 16 of a brokered private placement offering for minimum gross proceeds of $4 million and maximum gross proceeds of $5.35 million (https://ibn.fm/vpoHB).

Forbes noted earlier this year that China controls 36.7 percent of the world’s REE reserves, 63 percent of its mining capacity, and over 90 percent of its refining capacity, including 85 percent of the world’s REE processing and 92 percent of the REE magnet production that supplies technologies ranging from hybrid and electric vehicle motors and cordless tool motors to wind turbine generators, MRI scanners and military uses in Abrams tanks and F-35 jets.

The report noted that the European Union imports 98 percent of its REE supply from China and the United States imports 78 percent of its supply from the Asian nation (https://ibn.fm/TFtWw), underscoring the concerns Western-allied nations have expressed since China began flexing its REE supply muscle with temporary export restrictions and price increases over a decade ago (https://ibn.fm/AltAc).

Ucore’s RapidSX(TM) solvent extraction process is expected to improve on the industry standard SX solvent extraction process used to separate REEs from their host ores, accelerating their production time and lessening the environmental impact of the process. The company has been demonstrating the RapidSX(TM) technology at a plant in Canada and is preparing to begin construction this year on a Louisiana facility where it will have its first commercial-scale application.

Ucore expects to be processing 2,000 metric tons of total rare earth oxides by the end of 2024 and up to 5,000 metric tons by 2026 (https://ibn.fm/SqQnB).

“Having recently participated in the Critical Minerals Institute Summit in Toronto, we are more confident than ever that Ucore’s planned rare earth separation facility in Louisiana will be a critical component of a North American rare earth supply chain,” Ucore Chairman and CEO Pat Ryan stated in the June 16 news release.

The private placement offering will be available to purchase in all the provinces of Canada except Québec, and may also be offered in the United States, providing funding to complete the demonstration commissioning process in Canada and generating additional working capital for the company.

A second REE extraction facility will eventually be built in Canada and Ucore also controls a rare earth mining prospect in Alaska that it intends to eventually develop. The mine prospect holds more than 4.7 million metric tons of indicated rare earth ore — the equivalent of about 63.5 million pounds of collective rare earth metals (https://ibn.fm/2zVF1).

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

The Maine Cannabis Convention, billed as the largest B2B event in the state, will move from Portland to Augusta this year for its seventh annual gathering in a state where sales of recreational cannabis nearly doubled last year.

Since the Maine adult-use market’s first full month of operation in October 2020, the state’s industry saw new records set every month through August 2022, and by year-end the sales figures were still close to that peak (https://ibn.fm/tiarC).

The 2023 Maine Cannabis Convention take place August 12-13th and will continue the series’ tradition of bringing together the region’s best speakers on multiple programming tracks, a congregation of decision-makers and cannabis/hemp business people attendees, and floorspace for exhibitors who display all kinds of products and services, ranging from cultivation to accounting.

The details are still coming together but, if the previous conventions are any indicator, attendees can expect to mingle with hundreds of delegates and about 150 exhibitors.

Businesses interested in exhibition space can register at https://ibn.fm/7mcg9. More than 50 booth spaces have already been reserved, including a spot for last year’s Vape Cartridge NECANN Cup winner HIGHTECH Labs.

The NECANN Cup is the largest cannabis competition in New England and provides an opportunity for innovators to shine, particularly in the crowded marketplace that Maine’s cannabis industry has become.

This year, the convention will work in partnership with the Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine (MMCM) to combine the annual event with MMCM’s HomeGrown TradeShow, bringing patients and their caregiver advocates into the mix.

Medical-use cannabis has been allowed in Maine since 1999, with voter-approved dispensary and state registry becoming legal a decade later (https://ibn.fm/2RAdJ). The MMCM was organized in 2010 as a volunteer trade association dedicated to the support and promotion of safe access to medical marijuana, and the MMCM HomeGrown TradeShow is now in its 11th year of scheduled events in Augusta.

Key takeaways:

• Combining for the first time with the Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine’s (MMCM’s) HomeGrown TradeShow in Augusta, Maine, for the largest B2B cannabis industry event in the state
• Taking place Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12-13
• About 150 business exhibitors expected, with more than 50 already registered
• Attendees include decision-makers and cannabis/hemp business people for those interested in networking
• Competition for the NECANN Cup in a variety of categories

Behind the scenes:

Since 2014, the New England Cannabis Convention (NECANN) has sponsored events including annual conferences in celebration of hemp, medical marijuana and adult cannabis use, and the organization is widely known as a leading force in the adoption and celebration of cannabis consumption from Maine to Oklahoma as the popularity and legality of the market continues to spread.

For more information about this event and to register, please visit https://ibn.fm/GhEo9.

• D-Wave’s technology is geared toward optimization problems commonly faced by the public sector
• Governments worldwide are engaging with quantum computing to solve public sector problems and build domestic supply chains and workforces

D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS), a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services focused on delivering value via practical quantum applications, is helping fuel the adoption of near-term quantum computing solutions against a backdrop of increased government assessment, investment and legislation. As more governments start to consider quantum applications and the use of quantum technologies to solve public sector challenges, D-Wave offers solutions oriented towards addressing optimization problems commonly faced by government agencies.

Countries around the world, including the United States, are prioritizing quantum computing. While they continue their basic research on hardware, they are expanding the focus to include quantum applications and computing technologies that solve public sector problems and build domestic supply chains and workforces. D-Wave is already providing these solutions to its broad portfolio of commercial and government customers, solving problems such as logistics, artificial intelligence, materials sciences, drug discovery, scheduling, fault detection, and financial modeling. Public sector solutions for emergency response, sustainability, supply chain, infrastructure, telecommunications and energy can all benefit from D-Wave’s quantum technology.

Many governments are increasingly investing in national quantum efforts, including Canada, Australia, Germany, France, India, UK, and more, as global spending on quantum is expected to reach $36 billion during 2023 (https://ibn.fm/XYCns). Many of the new or updated quantum strategies that have been announced are focused on near-term quantum application development and deployment to spur commercialization and adoption, including:

• Australia: New quantum strategies have been released along with previously announced support using quantum computing for transportation network optimization
• Canada: The industry Committee in the House of Commons recommended creating a quantum sandbox program to support application development and accelerate commercialization
• EU: Multiple activities are underway in support of quantum and near-term use of the technology within the EU commission and member communities
• UK: A 10-year quantum strategy has been introduced that explicitly includes quantum annealing in the UK’s SparQ program, and a current call for application development in an 18-month or less timeframe

The United States national quantum initiative is up for reauthorization by September 2023 – with many in Congress pushing for the adoption of near-term application programs. These programs focus on developing and deploying demos, proofs of concepts and pilots within a 24-month or less timeframe. Think tanks and tech policy organizations are calling for the United States government to begin utilizing quantum technology that is available now, including the Center for Data and Innovation and the Hudson Institute’s Quantum Alliance Initiative. Current near-term legislation include:

• Quantum Sandbox bill
• Quantum in Practice Act
• Use of Quantum Computing bill
• NDAA Pilot Program for Near-Term Applications
• Wildfire DEMO Act

Ready to support the governmental prioritization of near-term quantum development, D-Wave’s Advantage(TM) quantum computer is commercial-grade and production-ready, featuring more than 5,000 qubits and 15-way qubit connectivity. This provides 2.5x more connections and more than double the number of qubits than the company’s previous generation quantum computer, helping organizations solve some of their most computationally complex problems.

D-Wave is strategically positioned within the quantum industry – already providing solutions for blue-chip commercial customers like Volkswagen, Mastercard, Deloitte, ArcelorMittal, Siemens Healthineers, Unisys, Accenture, BBVA, NEC Corporation, Pattison Food Group Ltd., DENSO, and Lockheed Martin. The company has the focus and track record to provide the platforms necessary to propel governments into the future of quantum.

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

• IBN has been named a new Channel Partner within XESP’s Channel Partner Program
• The value-add approach gives customers additional growth-focused services from a trusted point of contact
• XESP and IBN previously announced signing mutual definitive service agreements between the parties, with Channel Partner as a natural progression of the relationship

Electronic Servitor Publication Network (OTCQB: XESP), a market disruptor for B2B companies using cutting-edge data analysis and smart technology, has announced a new Channel Partner with the addition of InvestorBrandNetwork (“IBN”), a multifaceted financial news and publishing company for private and public entities (https://ibn.fm/fw5k4).

The XESP Channel Partner Program allows digital and traditional agencies who provide market-specific content and digital strategies, to offer XESP’s technology and expertise, including the company’s Digital Engagement Engine(TM), as a co-branded service. This value-add approach gives Channel Partner customers additional growth-focused services from a trusted point of contact.

XESP and IBN previously announced the signing of mutual definitive service agreements between the parties, and the addition of the Channel Partner Program is a natural progression in the company’s expansion into a multiple vertical service provider.

“We are excited to partner with an experienced industry leader that has built trust and deep relationships over the last 17 years with both public companies and those looking to go public,” said Peter Hager, CEO of XESP. “Michael McCarthy, IBN’s pioneering CEO, delivers unparalleled value for their clients through continuous innovation and world-class execution in helping companies build their audiences and reach throughout the world.”

Announced in April, XESP’s Channel Partner Program is part of its overall business strategy. It includes providing the company’s managed service, branded as “Growth as a Service”, through its Channel Partners to their customers. The benefit of the program to Channel Partners is the increased capability of driving value for their customers while de-risking the investment in new technologies and staff. The managed service allows immediate scale into any vertical, including regulated markets.

The company’s Digital Engagement Engine(TM) utilizes a combination of automation, unique data management, and a modern workflow built on a microservices architecture, to achieve greater reach and lift for digital content. This technology allows clients to maintain control of their content while dynamically engaging their targeted audiences. The Digital Engagement Engine(TM) isn’t just another marketing tool but a way to develop real connections with target markets to drive growth – representing the future of marketing.

XESP’s laser-focused approach makes customers feel they are being talked to directly. The Digital Engagement Engine(TM) works by:

• Using cutting-edge data analysis
• Identifying the narrowest of niches within target markets
• Creating tailored content to meet exact customer needs
• Precisely delivering the message to educate and sell at the right moment

According to ReportLinker, the global customer engagement solutions market size is expected to grow from $19.3 billion in 2022 to $32.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period. The growth of the market is driven by the rapid digitalization of enterprises, focusing on streamlining operations and improving customer experience (https://ibn.fm/L6ozu).

XESP focuses on three important digital elements to improve client outcomes – connecting with the audience, relating to the community, and influencing positive customer relationships. Implementing XESP services is effortless for clients and is managed by XESP’s team. The implementation lets clients focus on their brand, product offering, and content creation.

For more information on its “Growth as a Service” offering, 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

• Adoption of fuel cell technology hinges on the availability of high-purity graphite for specific fuel cell components
• The Ruby Graphite project is the only known combined graphite flake and vein graphite source in the U.S., recent samples assay at 95.8% to 98.4% total carbon
• RFLXF acquired the Ruby Graphite project in 2022, holds mining rights for 755 hectares with 96 federal lode mining claims
• Other graphite applications include the use of specialized fire retardants, in high-speed machinery; as a refractory material in certain manufacturing processes; as a crucial component in lithium-ion batteries; and as a moderator in specific types of nuclear reactors

Fuel cells use an oxidation-reduction reaction to convert fuel into electricity, making them critical to electrification initiatives aimed at improving air quality and reducing fossil fuel dependence. The technology is constantly evolving, however its ultimate success hinges on the availability of high-purity graphite for specific components within the fuel cell stack.

Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF), a strategic minerals company, is actively exploring its Ruby Graphite project and aims to prove the economics of the historically producing mine and eventually position itself as the premier North American supplier of high-purity natural graphite for advanced technological applications. The company focuses on locating and developing economic properties in the strategic metals and advanced materials space, including the ZigZag Lithium Property in the Thunder Bay Mining Division of Ontario, Canada, and the Ruby Graphite Project in Montana.

The Ruby Graphite project produced roughly 2,400 tons of graphite from 1902 to 1948. It’s also the only known combined graphite flake and vein graphite source in the United States, with recent samples assaying at 95.8% to 98.4% total carbon. The company acquired a 100% interest in the property in 2022, and now holds mining rights for 755 hectares with 96 federal lode mining claims.

RFLXF’s initial drilling program includes 3,500 total meters of drilling cored to an average depth of 130 meters. Targets for the drill program were identified using data gathered for the initial 43-101 technical report dated January 31, 2023, and historical data from original mining operations. The company submitted a permit application to the Montana Bureau of Land Management in March 2023 and expects to start drilling this summer.

RFLXF has also engaged with Lone Star Tech Minerals (“LSTM”), a Texas-based graphite and industrial minerals marketing consulting firm, to help advance the project (https://ibn.fm/iIqAn). Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will develop a production plan, marketing strategy, customer database, and technical data sheet.

According to a recent report by Research and Markets, the graphite market is expected to reach $25.70 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 8.2% between 2021 and 2028 (https://ibn.fm/P4oPS). Besides powering fuel cells, graphite is also used to produce refractory materials for steelmaking, foundries, and glass manufacturing. Other applications include its use as a dry lubricant in high-speed machinery; as a key component in lithium-ion batteries for portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems; and as a moderator in some types of nuclear reactors.

Graphite demand is expected to surge as the world shifts to electrification. Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. is preparing to meet that demand by developing the Ruby Graphite Deposit and other strategic economic properties in the strategic metals and advanced materials space.

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

• FEXD’s aggressive expansion plan not only lines up with its core mission but is also a step toward carving out a significant market share in the global fintech market, which is projected to hit $500 billion in valuation by 2028
• The company is exploring blockchain technology, banking on how easier access to mobile phones has helped make money transfers more accessible
• FEXD is also optimistic that the technology it will not only cut down on the cost of transactions but also significantly grow its annual revenues
• Its management is confident in this approach, citing that the investments so far will give the company a “solid competitive position”

Fintech Ecosystem Development (NASDAQ: FEXD), a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”), is constantly exploring new ways to grow and improve the financial sector, specifically in line with creating and growing a global financial services ecosystem that addresses unmet mobile needs. Its focus has been on industrialized and developed countries and markets, all built on the understanding that digital money is fast replacing physical cash.

To this effect, FEXD has embarked on an aggressive acquisition plan that has seen the announcement of definitive agreements for business combinations with companies such as Rana Financial Inc., a Georgia corporation, and Mobitech International LLC, a limited liability company organized in the United Arab Emirates. These acquisitions are not only in line with the company’s core mission but also a step in the direction of carving out a significant market share in the global financial technology market, which is currently valued at $194 billion and projected to grow to nearly $500 billion by 2028, representing a CAGR of 18.97%.

One area that FEXD is exploring is blockchain technology, an advancement in tech that is changing the remittance industry by doing away with intermediaries in the money transfer process, ultimately making transactions cheaper, faster, and more secure.

Blockchain has reduced processing times from days to minutes, particularly given that traditional processes involve different intermediaries such as payment systems, foreign exchanges, and sender banks. With the remittance market showing signs of incredible growth in the coming years, there is a growing need for players in this space to devise and adopt new ways of conducting their operations, and blockchain is proving to be the best way forward (https://ibn.fm/xtJd4).

FEXD’s focus on this technology is reflective of the general direction that the industry is taking. Key players in this space have made significant strides in blockchain adoption, with a handful of traditional remittance entities partnering to allow crypto recipients to cash out digital currencies conveniently. Some have even built a stable coin-based platform for money transfers. Other players in this industry have launched their crypto offerings, allowing people to send money to recipients, primarily in African countries, where they can then be converted and withdrawn in the receiver’s local fiat currency, providing instant liquidity.

The average cost of sending $200 was 6.01% in the second quarter of the 2022 calendar year, falling short of the Sustainable Development Goal (“SDG”) target of 3% (https://ibn.fm/3Vl6C). FEXD acknowledges that one way this SDG target can be achieved is through the adoption of blockchain technology. Given how easier access to mobile phones has played an integral role in making money transfers more accessible, the company is optimistic that this access will be a perfect avenue for implementing and deploying blockchain technology for the consumer’s benefit.

FEXD plans to adopt this technology by making strategic acquisitions which it is confident will also significantly help its annual revenues.

“We are seeking to acquire and merge with high growth global fintech acquisition targets primarily operating in South Asia with a high volume of customers and a large network of agents,” noted FEXD’s official communication.

FEXD’s management is confident that this approach and these investments will give the company a “solid competitive position,” especially in the emerging Fintech 3.0 global markets, allowing it to provide neo-banking services in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, and India.

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

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

• Texas-headquartered Freight Technologies (aka Fr8Tech) is a technology innovation company dedicated to sustaining over-the-road (“OTR”) commercial shipments within the USMCA (formerly NAFTA) North American trading area
• The company’s core Fr8App product is a cloud-based freight matching platform that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help shippers and carriers match up their loads, capacity, and destinations
• Fr8Tech is growing its artificial intelligence development, appointing Dr. Umberto León-Domínguez to oversee the creation of a dedicated AI department
• Fr8App was recently cited by Google Maps Platform’s blog as an innovative use of advanced markers from the platform to interactively help end users track the progress of their shipments

Commercial freight transportation technology developer Freight Technologies (NASDAQ: FRGT), aka Fr8Tech, is quickly moving toward the next stage in its evolution by incorporating artificial intelligence controls into its infrastructure, beginning with the appointment of Dr. Umberto León-Domínguez to oversee the creation of a dedicated AI development department within Fr8Tech.

León-Domínguez’s appointment as the director of the company’s AI division was announced May 23, heralding growth goals for the company’s existing AI solutions for cross-border and domestic shipping as well as plans to develop new AI functionalities for the supply chain industry (https://ibn.fm/Poauz).

Fr8Tech’s family of brands works together to sustain efficient, transparent and effective merchandise shipments throughout the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) trade area.

León-Domínguez will oversee the company’s global AI operations from Fr8Tech’s operations center in Monterrey, Mexico.

“The vision of a future where AI fundamentally transforms goods transportation is exhilarating. In particular, the emergence of autonomous trucks and unmanned aerial vehicles holds the promise of increasing delivery efficiency and significantly reducing labor costs,” León-Domínguez stated in a recent company news release (https://ibn.fm/f2i6X).

“The shift towards the shared economy is also reshaping the warehousing industry,” he added. “In response to this, AI and robotics are increasingly being implemented in warehouse environments, from optimizing management to improving the precision of operations, thereby enhancing productivity and contributing to a safer work environment.”

Fr8Tech’s B2B freight matching platform Fr8App is the company’s core product. It is a solution powered by AI and machine learning that helps shippers and carriers grow by simplifying the once-complex process of international over-the-road (“OTR”) shipping. 

Fr8App allows shippers to post their USMCA-destined load with price and amount details, promptly matches it to a secure carrier, and then tracks it in real time en route to its destination with regular updates.

Following Google’s annual developer conference, Google Maps Platform’s blog (Google I/O 2023 Series) took note of Fr8App’s use of advanced markers from Google Maps Platform to help end users track the progress of their shipments through the various stages of the transport, citing it as an example of early adoption of leading-edge technology to create interactive and insightful visual experiences.

“Our priority is always the end user,” Fr8Tech CEO Javier Selgas stated (https://ibn.fm/0vYto). “We are constantly looking for new ways to improve their experience, and the implementation of the advanced markers capability from Google Maps Platform has been a key factor in achieving this … helping them save time and money while increasing engagement.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Fr8Technologies.com and its matching platform information site at www.Fr8.app.

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

Corporate Communications
IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork)
Los Angeles, California
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
310.299.1717 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

Golf is about doing something you like, with people you like – what a concept.

It’s hard to blame players and golf lovers from feeling blindsided by the announcement of a full-blown merger between two of golf’s major tours. The unexpected agreement between PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi businessman Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (“PIF”), that the PGA and LIV Golf would suddenly merge, was out-of-the-blue. After months of increasingly rancorous suits and court battles, “merger” wasn’t a term seen on a lot of radar screens.  

The PGA Tour, hosting tournaments in North America, and the DP World Tour, representing tournaments in Europe, had over time cooperated to build the world’s senior golf tours.  But when Golf Saudi (part of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, PIF) decided to fund a new “Super Golf League”, later launched as LIV Golf in 2021, PGA’s Monahan didn’t take to the competition, and flat-out barred any LIV players from participating in the PGA Tour. That soon led to player lawsuits against the PGA, and months of expensive back-and-forth legal battles. 

Eventually, according to ESPN, Monahan apparently decided that PGA’s financial model “wasn’t sustainable while fighting Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which reportedly has $620 billion in assets” (https://ibn.fm/6Us5s). Part of this, of course, was the fact that the PGA was also being forced to up the ante in competition with LIV to get top players on their tour. 

Not surprisingly, some key players who felt pressured to take sides in the fight suddenly found themselves blindsided by the shift, and decided to let loose on social media. Ireland sports website Balls.ie (https://ibn.fm/bb6rC) pointed to a Times (UK) report (https://ibn.fm/4L2TM) indicating that “several players had called on Monahan to resign as a response to his public dishonesty in slamming LIV while arranging the merger deal with them behind the scenes.”  

A tweet from Todd Lewis of the Golf Channel said that “Most of those players were offered @livgolf_league money but turned it down to be loyal to the Tour. Those players told me they feel betrayed and manipulated.”

An Inside Golf report (https://ibn.fm/8CWTa) popped up some sample tweets:

• Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we said we’d never do that with.
• I feel betrayed, and will not be able to trust anyone within the corporate structure of the PGA TOUR for a very long time
• Very curious how many people knew this deal was happening. About 5-7 people? Player run organization, right?
• Tell me why Jay Monahan basically got a promotion to CEO of all golf in the world by going back on everything he said the past 2 years.

In fairness, a number of players have gradually come around to the deal, at least suggesting that the move could be good for golfing in the long run. But ask anyone who has used GolfLync why maybe none of this had to happen in the first place. And sure, GolfLync is designed to work with actual golf players and not multi-national organizations, but it rests on a solid, if sometimes forgotten idea. In case you’re not a golfer, GolfLync is the new thing golfers use to ensure that they always play with people they actually enjoy (go to www.GolfLync.com, or see the Apple App Store for 5-star reviews). Anyway, without going into details, maybe leaders of the biggest golf organizations in the world should take a tip from GolfLync and remember the earliest rule of the game: Golf is about doing something you like, with people you like – what a concept.

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

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