• The company has introduced a Self-Service Mortgage Experience (“SSME”) allowing borrowers to review loan customized scenarios and lock rates online without speaking to a loan officer.
• The feature provides a 24/7 digital mortgage pathway, reflecting growing demand for self-directed financial services among Millennials and Gen Z.
• Beeline’s AI-powered platform processes applications in seconds and presents personalized mortgage rate options rather than static rate quotes.
• The company’s broader digital infrastructure enables loan closings in 14–21 days, significantly faster than the traditional mortgage timeline.
• The platform targets two major demographic opportunities: younger homebuyers an investors seeking entry into property markets, plus older homeowners accessing home equity.

Beeline Holdings (NASDAQ: BLNE),  a fast-growing digital mortgage platform redefining the path to homeownership, announced the launch of a new automated lending pathway designed to streamline the home financing process. The company recently introduced its Self-Service Mortgage Experience (“SSME”), a platform feature that allows borrowers to explore customized loan options, model mortgage scenarios and lock interest rates entirely online. According to a company announcement, the first phase of the feature launched on March 11 and is currently available to roughly half of conventional mortgage applicants using Beeline’s platform (https://ibn.fm/ekxEb).

The feature reflects a broader shift across financial services as consumers increasingly expect digital-first experiences similar to those offered by technology platforms. In the mortgage sector, where loan approvals and document processing have historically involved multiple intermediaries and extended timelines, companies are investing heavily in automation to reduce friction.

Beeline’s platform allows borrowers to complete several steps of the mortgage process independently. After submitting an application through the company’s digital portal, the system processes borrower data and produces customized loan rate options within seconds. Borrowers can then explore scenarios and request a rate lock at any time. The system operates continuously, giving customers the option to progress through early stages of the mortgage process without waiting for business hours or scheduling a call with a loan officer. A digital assistant known as “Bob” is embedded in the platform to answer questions during the process. Borrowers can still connect with Beeline loan specialists if they prefer human guidance.

Jess Kennedy, chief operating officer of Beeline Financial Holdings, Beeline’s principal operating subsidiary, said the platform was designed to give borrowers greater transparency earlier in the lending process. “Customers can review potential loan scenarios and request a rate lock when they’re ready—on their own timetable—while still having the ability to connect with a Loan Guide whenever they want support,” Kennedy said.

The rollout is the first stage of a broader development roadmap intended to digitize additional parts of the mortgage process. Borrowers on the platform already complete steps such as signing disclosures, uploading documentation and paying for appraisals online. Future iterations are expected to allow borrowers to complete even more of the mortgage workflow independently.

The initiative comes as demographic shifts reshape the housing market. Millennials and members of Generation Z have become a growing share of mortgage applicants, yet homeownership rates for those cohorts remain below earlier generations. According to analysis cited by the company, about 26.1% of Gen Z adults and roughly 54.9% of Millennials owned homes in 2024, a modest increase from the previous year. Limited access to mortgages has been cited as a key barrier for younger buyers, according to reporting from National Mortgage Professional (https://ibn.fm/d0OKI). Beeline is positioning its digital mortgage tools partly as a response to that challenge.

The company says its AI-based underwriting engine can provide applicants with a preliminary qualification decision in approximately seven to eight minutes, offering borrowers a clearer understanding of their financing prospects early in the process. That capability is expected to appeal particularly to gig-economy workers and self-employed borrowers, whose income patterns often complicate traditional mortgage underwriting. Beyond first-time homebuyers, the platform is also targeting younger investors interested in acquiring rental properties. Beeline reports that a meaningful share of its loan originations support buyers purchasing investment real estate.

By lowering friction in the mortgage process, the company aims to make property investment more accessible to younger borrowers who may otherwise face barriers when navigating conventional lending systems. At the same time, the platform is designed to address a separate demographic opportunity among older homeowners. Many baby boomers hold substantial equity in their homes after decades of price appreciation.

Industry estimates suggest U.S. homeowners collectively hold roughly $10 trillion in home equity, creating demand for financial products that allow older borrowers to access that capital without selling their properties. Beeline has developed a range of lending and home-equity products to serve that segment.

The company operates through its primary lending subsidiary, Beeline Loans Inc., and also runs Beeline Title, an integrated closing and settlement services provider. Together, these operations form what the company describes as an end-to-end digital mortgage ecosystem.

Automation plays a central role in that system. Beeline’s proprietary production engine, known as Hive, manages much of the loan workflow, enabling the company to complete mortgage closings in approximately 14 to 21 days. That timeframe is significantly shorter than the traditional industry average, which can exceed a month. By expanding the number of mortgage steps borrowers can complete independently, the company is attempting to reduce costs, shorten timelines and provide customers with more control over the financing process.

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

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

The relationship between growth companies and the capital markets has rarely been static. Periods of economic expansion often reward bold innovation and aggressive scaling, while more disciplined market environments place greater emphasis on operational execution, capital efficiency, and strategic clarity. As markets continue to recalibrate following several years of volatility and shifting interest-rate expectations, the dialogue between investors and emerging growth companies has become increasingly focused on fundamentals.

That evolving conversation will be front and center at the 38th Annual ROTH Conference, taking place March 22–24, 2026, in Dana Point, California. The event is expected to bring together approximately 500 public and private companies across a broad range of sectors, including consumer, technology and media, sustainability, industrial growth, AgTech, energy, metals and mining, healthcare, services, and insurance.

Industry gatherings have long played an important role in the growth-company ecosystem, but their function has evolved alongside the market itself. Investors today are increasingly focused on identifying companies capable of translating innovation into durable operating performance. For management teams, that means demonstrating not only the strength of their market opportunity, but also the discipline behind their capital allocation and long-term strategy.

The structure of the Roth Conference reflects this dynamic. In addition to company presentations, the program features industry panels, analyst-led fireside chats, and structured one-on-one and small-group meetings between investors and corporate leadership. These formats allow participants to move beyond headline narratives and engage in deeper conversations about strategy, sector trends, and the broader forces shaping the growth-company landscape.

Another defining characteristic of the event is the diversity of industries represented. Bringing together companies from multiple sectors creates opportunities for investors to identify emerging themes and cross-industry trends that may not be visible within a single vertical. For executives, it provides valuable perspective on how capital is flowing across different parts of the innovation economy.

Equally important are the connections formed through direct interaction. One-on-one meetings between investors and management teams remain one of the most effective ways to build long-term capital relationships, particularly in the small- and mid-cap universe where understanding leadership and strategy can be just as important as analyzing financial performance.

As the growth-company landscape continues to evolve, events like the Roth Conference serve as an important forum for these conversations. By bringing together investors, corporate leaders, and industry experts in a single setting, the conference provides a platform where new ideas are exchanged, relationships are formed, and the next generation of market leaders begins to take shape.

For companies navigating today’s capital markets, and for investors seeking the next wave of innovation, the discussions taking place in Dana Point this March are likely to offer valuable insight into where the growth economy is headed next. For more information on the conference, visit www.Roth.com/38thAnnualConference.

• Designations granted by leading global regulatory agencies play a critical role in advancing drug-development programs.
• The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency granted Promising Innovative Medicine designation to Soligenix’s SGX945 (dusquetide) for the treatment of Behçet’s disease.
• The recent designation in the United Kingdom builds on other regulatory recognitions previously granted to dusquetide.

Regulatory recognition from international health authorities can significantly shape the trajectory of emerging therapies worldwide, particularly in rare disease development where clinical pathways are often complex and resource intensive. Soligenix (NASDAQ: SNGX), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for rare diseases and unmet medical needs, recently received such recognition as its investigational therapy SGX945 was granted Promising Innovative Medicine (“PIM”) designation by the United Kingdom’s (“UK’s”) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”).

Designations granted by leading regulatory agencies play a critical role in advancing drug-development programs. These recognitions often signal that a therapy shows potential to address serious conditions where few treatment options exist. According to the UK MHRA, the PIM designation is awarded to medicines that appear to offer a major advantage over existing treatment options or benefit patients who currently have no adequate therapy available. The designation serves as an early step in the UK’s Early Access to Medicines Scheme, which was created to help patients with life-threatening or seriously debilitating conditions gain access to promising treatments before full marketing authorization.

Programs such as the Early Access to Medicines Scheme reflect a broader global effort among regulators to accelerate development pathways for therapies that address urgent medical needs. Regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and the European Medicines Agency, have developed similar initiatives designed to encourage innovation while maintaining safety standards. The FDA’s accelerated approval and breakthrough therapy pathways, for example, are intended to speed the development of drugs that treat serious diseases and fill an unmet medical need. These programs recognize that patients with severe or rare conditions often cannot wait for the traditional timelines associated with drug development.

Such designations are particularly important in the rare-disease sector, where patient populations are small and the scientific challenges are often complex. The World Health Organization notes that rare diseases collectively affect an estimated 300 million people worldwide. Because most rare diseases still lack approved treatments, regulatory frameworks that encourage innovation and accelerate access to promising therapies have become essential components of modern drug development.

Soligenix’s recent regulatory milestone reflects this global environment of collaboration between biotechnology innovators and health authorities. Earlier this month, the company announced that  the UK MHRA granted PIM designation to its SGX945 (dusquetide) for the treatment of Behçet’s disease. This designation recognizes the therapy’s potential to address a serious condition with limited treatment options and represents an important step toward possible inclusion in the Early Access to Medicines Scheme.

SGX945 is an injectable formulation of the innate defense regulator, dusquetide, designed to modulate the body’s natural immune response, help to balance inflammation, enhance pathogen clearance and support tissue healing. This approach represents a novel strategy for treating inflammatory and immune-related disorders, particularly those involving chronic or dysregulated innate immune responses. 

The therapy is being developed to treat Behçet’s disease, a rare and incurable inflammatory disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation throughout the body. The condition can produce recurring symptoms including painful oral and genital ulcers, skin lesions and inflammation affecting multiple organ systems. Because Behçet’s disease can significantly impact quality of life and may lead to serious complications, the development of new therapies remains an important focus within rare disease medicine.

Clinical data highlight the potential of SGX945 in addressing these symptoms. In a phase 2a pilot study involving patients with Behçet’s disease, treatment with SGX945 demonstrated improvements in oral ulcer outcomes, with positive responses observed in seven of eight treated patients. The therapy was also reported to be well tolerated in the study, with no treatment-related adverse events observed during the trial period.

The recent designation in the UK builds on other regulatory recognitions previously granted to dusquetide. The therapy has received fast track and orphan drug designations from the FDA for Behçet’s disease, reflecting the therapy’s potential importance in treating a rare condition with limited available treatment options. 

In addition, earlier this year, the European Medicines Agency Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products provided a positive recommendation on the company’s request for orphan drug designation with the next step in the process being ratification of the positive opinion by the European Commission. Such designations can provide incentives that support continued clinical development, including regulatory guidance and potential market exclusivity benefits once a therapy is approved.

Soligenix continues to advance a diversified pipeline built around its specialized biotherapeutics platform. The company’s programs target rare inflammatory conditions, oncology indications such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and additional infectious disease applications. By leveraging its scientific platforms and focusing on diseases with limited therapeutic options, the company seeks to develop innovative treatments that address areas of significant unmet medical need.

The PIM designation granted to SGX945 represents another step forward in that strategy. As regulatory agencies around the world work to accelerate the development of therapies for serious and rare conditions, recognitions such as this help signal scientific progress while opening pathways that may ultimately bring new treatment options more quickly to patients who currently have few alternatives.

For more information, visit www.Soligenix.com.

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

• Safe Pro Group delivers AI, drone-based services, and ballistic protective gear, to customers in the defense, law enforcement, humanitarian, and homeland security industries.
• At the heart of the company’s mission is a computer vision technology used to rapidly detect and identify small explosive objects such as landmines in drone footage, enabling safer and more efficient field operations in both conflict and post-conflict zones.
• The company maintains close communication with government and commercial clients, recently signing and completing key contracts.

Safe Pro Group (NASDAQ: SPAI) is a technology company delivering advanced security and defense solutions to customers in government and industry, such as homeland security, law enforcement, defense, humanitarian, and commercial markets.

The company is addressing the global multi-billion dollar need for scalable defense, demining, and public safety solutions. Safe Pro Group has three business units that each play a distinct role in supporting these efforts and missions across the world.

Safe Pro AI

Safe Pro AI’s AI-powered computer vision technology helps to rapidly analyze drone footage to autonomously identify and detect small explosive objects. The flagship product, SpotlightAI(TM), is capable of detecting and identifying over 150 types of explosive threats such as landmines, cluster munitions, and unexploded ordnance (“UXO”).

The platform is built on more than three years of real-world usage in Ukraine and also includes imagery being gathered from Africa, Asia Pacific and more recently, the Middle East. In total, the platform boasts a dataset of over 2.4 million images and has identified well over 45,600 threats.

Airborne Response

Airborne Response is the company’s Mission Critical Unmanned Solutions subsidiary and provides drone services using U.S. Government-compliant small uncrewed aircraft systems (“sUAS”) (or drones). It serves companies in industries like telecom, utilities, and insurance, and offers a full-range of inspection and monitoring solutions as well as Drone-as-a-First Responder (“DFR”) services for public safety and law enforcement.

Safe-Pro USA

This is the company’s ballistic protection subsidiary that provides American-made ballistic protection systems including body armor, ballistic plates, and complete Explosive Ordnance Disposal (“EOD”) suits, bomb blankets, and demining aprons. All products it makes meet or exceed NATO and U.S. standards, and are designed, engineered, and produced in the USA.

Safe Pro Group recently secured a contract from the U.S. Government to supply AI-powered edge processing systems valued at $1 million. The company executed the delivery of the systems only 15 days after receiving the award. In addition, the company’s subsidiary, Airborne Response, recently received a purchase order from a multinational telecommunications firm, for the use of drones to conduct aerial inspection and asset management services supporting communication infrastructure used by first responders in South Florida, ensuring that it is resilient and reliable.

Safe Pro Group maintains communications with the U.S. Army, recently demonstrating the company’s integrated AI capabilities during the U.S. Army’s Transforming in Contact (“TiC”) 2.0 Autonomous Breach Event at Fort Hood, Texas (https://ibn.fm/9Dxch).

The company’s team is led by the CEO, Dan Erdberg, who has more than 20 years experience as a tech executive under his belt. He’s led multiple Nasdaq listings in the drone, 5G, and satellite communications sectors, and has raised more than $50 million in growth capital.

About Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI)

Safe Pro Group is a mission-driven tech company that offers AI-powered security and defense solutions to a range of clients. The core of the company’s mission revolves around computer vision technology that rapidly identifies and detects small explosive threats in drone imagery, to make field operations safer for ground teams.

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

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

• Recent research shows how chemotherapy and immunotherapy can complement each other when used together.
• Within this evolving scientific landscape, LIXTE Biotechnology is pursuing a strategy designed to improve the performance of existing cancer treatments.
• Inhibiting PP2A with LB-100 may increase tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiation while also enhancing immune system activity against cancer cells.

Experts working across oncology are exploring how different treatment approaches can work together to improve outcomes for cancer patients. One area drawing significant attention involves combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy to help the immune system better recognize and attack tumors. LIXTE Biotechnology Holdings (NASDAQ: LIXT) is working within this emerging field through the development of its experimental compound LB-100, which is designed to enhance the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies by targeting biological mechanisms that influence immune recognition and tumor sensitivity to treatment.

Interest in combining therapies stems from the reality that many cancers do not respond adequately to immunotherapy alone. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which block proteins such as PD-1 or PD-L1 to enable immune cells to attack tumors, have transformed treatment for certain cancers but still leave many patients without durable responses. Researchers therefore continue to investigate methods that can make tumors more visible to the immune system and improve the effectiveness of immune-based therapies.

Recent research shows how chemotherapy and immunotherapy can complement each other when used together. The research explains that chemotherapy can sometimes increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy by altering the tumor microenvironment and increasing the release of tumor antigens. These antigens serve as signals that help the immune system recognize cancer cells as targets. According to Dana-Farber researchers, chemotherapy may also reduce certain immune-suppressive cells within tumors, which can make immune checkpoint inhibitors more effective.

The concept behind this approach is that certain therapies, including chemotherapy, may help convert tumors that are immunologically “cold,” meaning they attract little immune attention, into tumors that are “hot,” meaning they are more visible and vulnerable to immune attack. Scientific reviews explain that treatments capable of inducing tumor antigen release and increasing immune cell infiltration can remodel the tumor microenvironment and improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy. As researchers note, strategies that increase T-cell infiltration and immune activation may transform cold tumors into hot tumors, thereby enhancing response to immune checkpoint inhibitors and other immune-based therapies.

Complementing this perspective is a National Institutes of Health article that examines the broader mechanisms underlying tumor immunogenicity and immune response. The review highlights how tumor immunogenicity, antigen presentation and T-cell activation play key roles in determining whether immunotherapies will be effective. Tumors that lack sufficient immune recognition signals often resist treatment because the immune system does not adequately identify them as threats.

The study further explains that therapies capable of altering the tumor microenvironment or increasing antigen production may enhance the response to checkpoint inhibitors and other immunotherapies. Strategies that increase neo-antigen formation, promote immune cell infiltration, or activate T-cell responses are being actively studied as ways to overcome immunotherapy resistance. These scientific insights have fueled growing interest in drugs that modify tumor biology rather than directly killing cancer cells.

Within this evolving scientific landscape, LIXTE Biotechnology is pursuing a strategy designed to improve the performance of existing cancer treatments. The company is developing LB-100, a small-molecule inhibitor that targets protein phosphatase 2A, commonly referred to as PP2A. This enzyme plays a role in regulating cellular processes such as DNA damage repair, cell cycle progression and immune signaling pathways.

According to the company, inhibiting PP2A with LB-100 may increase tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiation while also enhancing immune system activity against cancer cells. LIXTE’s research suggests that PP2A inhibition can stimulate neo-antigen production and promote T-cell proliferation, potentially improving immune recognition of tumors. This mechanism aligns with broader research, which emphasizes the importance of improving tumor immunogenicity to increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

LIXTE describes its approach as one that complements existing cancer treatments rather than replacing them. By targeting cellular pathways that influence how tumors interact with the immune system, LB-100 may help make traditional treatments more effective. The company is therefore investigating the compound in combination with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors in various research settings.

Clinical studies have been exploring the potential applications of LB-100 across multiple tumor types. Information available through clinical trial registries indicates that LB-100 has been evaluated in early-stage clinical trials involving patients with advanced solid tumors to assess safety and therapeutic potential. These studies aim to determine whether the compound can enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies in difficult-to-treat cancers.

Beyond its clinical trials, LIXTE continues to explore how PP2A inhibition may influence immune signaling and tumor response in different cancer types. The company believes the mechanism behind LB-100 may be applicable across several solid tumors where resistance to immunotherapy remains a major challenge. If therapies such as LB-100 can successfully improve immune recognition of tumors, they may help expand the number of patients who benefit from modern immunotherapies.

The broader oncology community continues to investigate new ways to overcome the limitations of current treatments. Combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy, along with developing agents that modify tumor immunogenicity, represents a promising direction in cancer research. These strategies aim to transform tumors that evade immune detection into ones that can be effectively targeted by the immune system.

As these approaches evolve, companies working to enhance existing therapies may play an increasingly important role in oncology innovation. Through the development of LB-100 and its research into PP2A inhibition, LIXTE Biotechnology Holdings is participating in the scientific effort to improve how the immune system recognizes and attacks cancer. By focusing on mechanisms that influence tumor immunogenicity and treatment sensitivity, the company aims to contribute to the next generation of combination cancer therapies.

For more information, visit the company website at https://lixte.com.

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

Disseminated on behalf of LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) and may include paid advertising.

• LaFleur Minerals is a Canada-headquartered near-term gold producer, leveraging its mine and mill assets in the prolific Abitibi Gold Belt, Quebec, to restart gold production in Q22026
• LaFleur’s top management will conduct a live webinar on Tuesday, March 24, to discuss the company’s recent developments, the pending resumption of gold production within the next few months, and LaFleur’s long-term vision of consolidation and scalability
• The company’s Swanson Gold Project and Beacon Gold Mill assets have the potential to produce significant economic returns under a capital-efficient strategy, per the recently released positive PEA
• In addition, LaFleur announced important changes to its Board of Directors, adding experienced senior mining executives to direct the next stages of LaFleur’s growth

Near-term gold producer LaFleur Minerals (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) has announced changes to its Board of Directors, adding the experienced insights of top management to the group as the company prepares for a live corporate webinar to discuss company developments and the pending restart of its wholly-owned gold mill in Canada’s largest and most prolific gold producing region.

LaFleur’s senior management team will lead the live webinar, including a follow-up question-and-answer session with investors, on March 24 at 9 a.m. PST / Noon EST. It can be accessed via Zoom at https://ibn.fm/hiCgy.

LaFleur has named CEO Paul Ténière and Nicola Mining CEO & President Peter Espig to the Board of Directors, as well as senior mining executive Jeff Swinoga, succeeding Preet Gill and Harveer Sidhu. Swinoga has held senior executive and financial leadership roles with Barrick Gold, Torex Gold Resources, Hudbay Minerals, North American Palladium and Golden Star Resources, according to the March 16 news release. Espig, an advisor to LaFleur, has led Nicola from being a company under creditor protection to becoming a producing mining enterprise with increased market capitalization (https://ibn.fm/8k6sV).

LaFleur has established a significant asset base in the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Eastern Canada, including the recently refurbished Beacon Gold Mill that has now undergone ~30% of recommissioning work for gold production restart, and the nearby district-scale Swanson Gold Deposit and its recently increased 2026 Mineral Resource Estimate. The company benefits from infrastructure and the Project’s proximity to existing labor and equipment suppliers in the nearby Val d’Or, Quebec mining camp, along with ability to establish direct rail line access from one site to the other enhancing the development potential of its mine-to-mill model.

The company recently reported the results of a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) that will help the company to develop its roadmap to production profitability, and the results of the PEA will feature as a key element of the webinar presentation on March 24.

The webinar presentation will include an update on ongoing technical work and planned next steps for the company as it aims for restart of gold production at LaFleur’s Abitibi Beacon Gold Mill during the second quarter, a mill with ~$70 million replacement value that was last in operation in 2023. Management will also discuss the company’s long-term vision. The company has benefited from savvy strategic benchmarks positioning it as a junior gold developer with both a clear path to production and potential upside through resource expansion.

LaFleur’s news release also details efforts to increase the company’s visibility with new marketing service contracts providing exposure from Native Ads Inc., InvestorsHub and Mayfair Media Operations Pty Ltd (trading as mining.com.au).

The company’s gold project encompasses approximately 19,214 hectares (47,479 acres) and includes prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. LaFleur’s mission is to develop mining projects with significant potential to deliver long-term value, with low-cost and quick pivot to revenue generation, anticipating that the Swanson and Beacon assets are positioned to fill that need.

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

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

Qualified Person Statement:

All scientific and technical information contained in this article has been reviewed and approved by Louis Martin, P.Geo. (OGQ), Exploration Manager and Technical Advisor of the company and considered a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

• The company aims to deliver a 100-megawatt fusion reactor in 2026, with an earlier 5-MW pre-production system currently in development.
• Initial deployments are expected to focus on behind-the-meter power generation for data centers and industrial facilities.
• Management intends to sell electricity under long-term contracts priced around $0.0625 per kilowatt-hour, competitive with some renewable power sources.
• The company’s plan targets 1 gigawatt of delivered capacity by 2028, followed by rapid expansion if early deployments prove successful.
• Management is preparing a Form 10 registration and potential uplisting, initially to the OTCQB and eventually to a major exchange.

Fusion energy has long been discussed as a potential source of reliable, carbon-free electricity. For decades, however, the technology has remained largely confined to research laboratories and government programs. Now a growing number of private companies are attempting to shorten that timeline. Among them is Renewal Fuels (OTC: RNWF) (d/b/a American Fusion(TM)), an advanced energy platform company focused on the development and commercialization of fusion energy technologies through its subsidiary Kepler Fusion Technologies.

During a recent interview on The Stock2Me Podcast, Kepler’s chief executive Brent Nelson outlined how the company intends to move from development to commercial deployment of its Texatron(TM) fusion system, providing insight into a strategy aimed at bringing fusion power into industrial and infrastructure markets (https://ibn.fm/M6M8r).

Nelson said the company is pursuing what many observers consider an aggressive timeline. “The idea here is that we’re going to be putting electrons either behind the meter or in front of the meter by the end of this year,” he said during the interview.

According to Nelson, the company is currently developing nine different Texatron(TM) models and is now constructing two of their reactor designs: a 5-megawatt system to showcase the technology and a 100-megawatt unit to test commercially. The 100-MW design forms the basis of the company’s commercialization plan. The modular approach allows the firm to build generation capacity in standardized units that can be scaled over time.

In practical terms, Nelson explained, ten 100-MW reactors would equal one gigawatt of generation capacity, providing a framework that investors and infrastructure planners can easily model.

Rather than initially connecting reactors to large power grids, the company plans to deploy units behind the meter, meaning directly at the customer’s facility. That strategy reflects the regulatory complexity associated with connecting new power plants to public electricity networks. “Going behind the meter, it’s really a piece of cake, especially here in Texas,” Nelson said.

Potential customers include data centers, industrial parks and other large electricity consumers. Such facilities often require reliable, round-the-clock power and may benefit from on-site generation.

The company expects grid-connected deployments, sometimes described as “in front of the meter,” to take longer because they require interconnection approvals and regulatory review.

Kepler’s commercial model is structured around power-as-a-service contracts, a structure increasingly common in energy infrastructure projects. Under this approach, the company would build and operate fusion reactors while customers purchase electricity under long-term agreements.

Nelson said pricing in Texas could be around 6.25 cents per kilowatt-hour, which he indicated would allow a 100-MW reactor to generate roughly $54 million in annual revenue if operating at expected output levels. He suggested operating margins could exceed 80% once units are running, though the economics will ultimately depend on construction costs, utilization and operational performance.

If the initial units are deployed successfully, the company plans to expand production rapidly. Nelson said the firm’s internal projections target 1 gigawatt of delivered power capacity by 2028, followed by accelerated expansion in later years.

The scalability of the design is central to that plan. Smaller reactor modules, he said, could be manufactured and transported relatively easily. “A 10-megawatt reactor can fit in the back of a pickup truck,” Nelson said, emphasizing the compact nature of the proposed systems. Such modular designs could allow installations to plug into existing energy infrastructure similar to solar or wind generation sites.

Alongside hardware development, the company is building an intellectual-property portfolio around its Texatron technology. Nelson said the firm is pursuing priority patent filings and a trade-secret program covering key aspects of the reactor design and operating systems.

Patent applications are currently moving through the standard examination process, which can take several years. However, priority filings may be reviewed sooner. Management expects the intellectual-property portfolio to expand significantly as the technology matures. “We’re looking at, probably, at least 260 to 300 patents by the end of this year,” Nelson said.

Demand for electricity in the United States is projected to rise as data centers, electrification and artificial-intelligence infrastructure expand power consumption. Nelson suggested overall U.S. electricity demand could grow roughly 30% over the next several years, creating opportunities for new generation technologies.

The company is also exploring potential partnerships with government agencies and defense organizations. Nelson mentioned discussions with entities including NASA and the Department of War regarding possible future applications. Such engagements typically involve competitive proposal processes and can take years to result in contracts.

From a financial perspective, the company is preparing for a transition to more formal reporting status. Last week, management filed a Form 10 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which would move the company toward full SEC reporting. Nelson said the company also plans to raise approximately $50 million in capital as part of its early commercialization phase.

An uplisting to the OTCQB market is expected to be the first step, followed by a potential move to a larger exchange such as NASDAQ or the planned Texas Stock Exchange.

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

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

Disseminated on behalf of Trilogy Metals Inc. (NYSE American: TMQ) (TSX: TMQ) and may include paid advertising.

• Trilogy Metals holds a 50% interest in the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects land package in Alaska, hosting two high-grade undeveloped copper deposits, placing the company within the American push to secure critical mineral independence.
• The Trump Administration is speeding up policies targeted at reducing dependence on foreign-controlled supply chains.
• Trilogy Metals is poised to benefit from long-term structural demand for copper and other critical minerals essential to electrification, energy infrastructure, and advanced technologies.

As geopolitical tensions reshape global supply chains, critical minerals have become integral to economic and national security. Trilogy Metals (NYSE American: TMQ) (TSX: TMQ) is becoming increasingly aligned with this shift, as the U.S. Administration ramps up efforts to counter foreign dominance, especially China’s, across key mineral markets (ibn.fm/4iKSR).

China’s long-standing control over critical mineral processing and export capacity has highlighted vulnerabilities in American supply chains, especially following recent export restrictions aimed at rare earths and battery-related materials. In response, the Trump Administration has launched policy initiatives aimed at improving domestic production, speeding up permitting, and deploying capital to secure long-term resource independence.

In this evolving landscape, Trilogy Metals, operating through Ambler Metals LLC, its 50/50 joint venture with South32 Limited, stands out as a result of its flagship Arctic Project in Alaska, one of the largest known undeveloped copper deposits in North America. Although copper is not classified as a rare earth element, it is increasingly gaining prominence as a critical mineral because of its role in energy infrastructure, electrification, and data centers.

Arctic’s scale and strategic location positions it as a key asset in the government’s “America First” resource strategy. With federal agencies expanding loan guarantees, funding tools, and direct investment mechanisms, including initiatives like Project Vault and Defense Production Act-backed financing, projects like Arctic could greatly benefit from quicker development pathways and improved access to capital.

Government support not only reduces project development risk but may also speed up partnerships across the American private sector. American semiconductor manufacturers, automakers, and tech companies, which are increasingly becoming more dependent on a stable copper supply, are important potential partners. With electrification trends intensifying, the demand for copper is expected to greatly increase, further strengthening the case for large-scale domestic projects.

In addition, the government’s push to “cut through bureaucracy” indicates a pivot toward quicker permitting and deregulation. Although this may speed up the timelines for projects like the Arctic and Bornite deposits within the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects, it also brings to focus some critical reputational and environmental considerations. 

Mining operations face increased scrutiny connected to water quality, land use, and community impact. The company emphasizes a framework of trust, respect, integrity, and partnership, working closely with Alaska Native stakeholders to ensure its development aligns with expectations around environmental stewardship, responsible land use, water quality, and long-term community impact. Companies capable of aligning with both responsible environmental practices and regulatory acceleration are likely to maintain better long-term positioning. 

In addition to the domestic considerations, the broader geopolitical environment continues to play a huge role in market dynamics. Sanctions, trade tensions, and shifting alliances are changing the way minerals are sourced. The American government’s increasing involvement in equity investments, supply chain alliances, and international partnerships underscores a recognition that mineral security is critical to technological and economic advancement.

The convergence of geopolitical urgency, government backing, and structural demand growth is changing the investment landscape as it affects critical minerals. For Trilogy and its Ambler Metals joint venture, this opportunity is not only limited to resource development but also extends to the national strategy aimed at securing supply chains, limiting foreign dependence, and building the foundation for the future of technological and industrial growth.

For more information, visit www.TrilogyMetals.com.

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

Disseminated on behalf of SPARC AI Inc. (CSE: SPAI) (OTCQB: SPAIF) and may include paid advertising.

• The vulnerability of satellite navigation has become a serious concern for both defense planners and civilian infrastructure operators.
• The SPARC AI platform is designed for target intelligence, geolocation and autonomous navigation in GPS-denied environments.
• In defense technology, a software-only or software-first navigation layer can be attractive because it may reduce hardware burden, improve flexibility and potentially integrate with existing unmanned systems.

Modern warfare increasingly depends on precise positioning and timing signals, yet those same signals are becoming more vulnerable in contested environments. Electronic warfare capabilities that can jam, spoof or otherwise disrupt satellite navigation systems are forcing military and technology developers to explore alternative navigation methods. Companies such as SPARC AI (CSE: SPAI) (OTCQB: SPAIF) are working in this emerging area, developing artificial intelligence–driven spatial computing technologies designed to support navigation and situational awareness when traditional satellite signals such as GPS are unreliable or unavailable.

The vulnerability of satellite navigation has become a serious concern for both defense planners and civilian infrastructure operators. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency states that positioning, navigation, and timing services are critical to infrastructure and warns that heavy reliance on GPS creates vulnerability if those signals are disrupted, manipulated or degraded. Because GPS supports everything from transportation and communications to financial timing and emergency response, interference can ripple across multiple sectors at once. The same vulnerability matters in war zones, where GPS signals can be jammed or spoofed by adversaries looking to degrade navigation, targeting, and communications.

Recent analysis shows how serious that threat has become. In its 2025 Space Threat Assessment, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (“CSIS”) notes ongoing GPS jamming and spoofing activity in and around conflict zones, including Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East, underscoring how electronic warfare has become a persistent feature of modern military competition. In a separate event overview focused on civilian impacts, CSIS reported that GPS spoofing has been reported in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Gaza, southern Israel, Iran, Turkey, China and Pakistan, illustrating how widespread these disruptions have become.

That environment is pushing governments and industry to pursue alternatives. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (“DARPA”) has for years funded efforts to develop positioning, navigation and timing technologies that work in GPS-denied settings. DARPA’s 2026 Robust Optical Clock Network (“ROCkN”) program update states that contested and GPS-denied environments require new approaches to precision timekeeping and coordination, while its Precise Robust Inertial Guidance for Munitions (“PRIGM”) program is explicitly designed to support positioning, navigation and timing in GPS-denied environments using advanced inertial sensor technologies. These efforts show that the issue is no longer theoretical. Reliable navigation without GPS is now an active development priority.

This is where artificial intelligence (“AI”) enters the picture. Rather than relying exclusively on satellite signals, AI-enabled navigation systems can use cameras, onboard sensors, terrain recognition, landmark identification and real-time data analysis to estimate location and direction. These systems are often grouped under the broader category of spatial computing, where software interprets the physical environment and turns it into actionable navigation intelligence. In military and autonomous systems, that can mean maintaining awareness and control even when an adversary is trying to blind or confuse satellite-based tools.

SPARC AI is building its technology around this challenge. The SPARC AI platform is designed for target intelligence, geolocation and autonomous navigation in GPS-denied environments, allowing drones and other systems to operate without depending on radar, lidar, satellites or traditional GPS signals. The company’s target acquisition system is described as a software-only platform that provides precise geolocation and autonomous navigation for drones in denied environments, using known landmark coordinates and real-time visual processing to calculate and correct position.

The company has also been developing a broader product suite around this capability. SPARC AI’s Overwatch platform is described as a GPS-free target intelligence system designed to support drones and autonomous platforms with detection, classification, tracking and location awareness. The company describes its offerings as part of a wider GPS-denied autonomy framework, with software aimed at covert navigation, target intelligence and flight correction where conventional navigation methods may fail. 

That emphasis on software is notable. In defense technology, a software-only or software-first navigation layer can be attractive because it may reduce hardware burden, improve flexibility and potentially integrate with existing unmanned systems. SPARC AI says its platform works by using known landmark coordinates to reduce drift and improve accuracy in denied environments, which is particularly relevant in contested airspace where even small navigation errors can compromise a mission.

The broader opportunity is not limited to defense. GPS disruption also has implications for logistics, robotics, inspection systems and autonomous mobility in commercial settings. But the military use case is especially urgent because jamming and spoofing are already active threats. As DARPA, CISA and defense analysts continue to stress the vulnerability of satellite-based positioning, navigation systems that can function without GPS are becoming a strategic necessity rather than an experimental upgrade. 

By focusing on AI-powered spatial intelligence and GPS-denied autonomy, SPARC AI is aligning itself with one of the clearest technological needs emerging from modern electronic warfare. If GPS is becoming less dependable in contested environments, then systems that can navigate without it may become increasingly valuable. SPARC AI’s work suggests that artificial intelligence may be one of the most promising paths toward that future.

For more information, visit the company’s website at https://sparcai.co.

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

Disseminated on behalf of Lahontan Gold Corp. (TSX.V: LG) (OTCQB: LGCXF) and may include paid advertising.

• Lahontan Gold is planning to bring the past-producing Santa Fe mine in Nevada back into operation and expected to receive final construction approval by the end of 2026 or in early 2027.
• The company has had successful drilling results at the flagship Santa Fe mine, but the West Santa Fe project has also delivered impressive results.
• Lahontan recently announced that the company is mobilizing a second drill rig to Santa Fe, to focus on drilling areas that have seen little to no exploration drilling.

Lahontan Gold (TSX.V: LG) (OTCQB: LGCXF), a mine exploration and development company, is looking to breathe new life into the past-producing Santa Fe mine in Nevada. It has not only a strong history in mining, dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, but also plenty of future potential.

Lahontan’s land package in Walker Lane has had strong infrastructure in place, such as three wells, secured water rights, a substation, and a road that’s accessible all year. The previously reported resource of just under two million ounces is already history from the company’s perspective, as an update is planned in the coming weeks and is likely to report a significantly higher number.

This potential update is not solely due to mining success, but also a strategic land acquisition, as Lahontan secured 27 additional claims in the historic York Mine.

However, that’s not to say that recent drilling results haven’t also been successful. In fact, at the York Deposit, 114 m of 0.33 g/t gold equivalent was encountered at a depth of 76 m, including 18 m of 0.9 g/t. At the Slab deposit, 68 m of 0.45 g/t gold equivalent was drilled at a depth of 45 m.

Another value driver in this area are the old waste dumps. In the past, the cutoff grade was 0.56 g/t, and what remained was material around 0.33 g. When gold prices were low this wasn’t interesting, but today, is a source of real value. Beneficial to Lahontan is that Nevada in general is one of the most important gold mining jurisdictions in the world, with the Walker Lane region specifically getting plenty of interest thanks to its high-grade mineralization and underexplored potential.

The company has a feasible, yet ambitious, roadmap in place, and expects to get final construction approval by the end of the year or by the first quarter of 2027 at the latest.

Gold is a haven asset, and with ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, many people are turning to gold to hedge or limit other losses in their portfolios. As a result, many exploration companies are racing to bring new projects online in the industry.

Elements that benefit from long-term trends such as battery storage, global electrification and the rapid growth of artificial intelligence infrastructure, particularly silver, may hold a unique position in the resource sector, supported by both strong industrial demand and its longstanding role as a monetary metal.

Considering new projects, Lahontan Gold is also focusing on just a short distance from Santa Fe, called West Santa Fe. Drill holes at this location have also delivered promising results, as the most recent drilling report mentions 36.6 m with 3.11 g/t gold equivalent from surface, including 10.7 m with 5.75 g/t. Overall, management sees the potential for 0.5 to 1 million ounces of gold and silver at West Santa Fe.

However, the company is still putting plenty of focus on the flagship Santa Fe project. In fact, the Lahontan recently announced that the company is mobilizing a second drill rig to Santa Fe. The new drill rig will focus on drilling areas of the project that have seen little to no exploration drilling so far.

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

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